Jared (Coyote Ridge) (Volume 2)

by Nicole Edwards

  And that was the reason Derrick was there when Hope showed up.

  Now, as he and Hope drove away from Kaleb’s, Jared felt the tension. He’d noticed it as soon as he’d caught a glimpse of Hope standing in his doorway when Derrick had opened the door. She’d been completely shocked to see him, obviously.

  “You okay?” he asked, reaching over and taking her hand.

  Her fingers were stiff, but they eventually loosened when he linked his with hers.

  “Good.”

  Yeah. Her smile was still forced. If he was lucky, that would change when they got to AI.

  “So, did you do any research on the resort?” he asked, hoping to make casual conversation and put her at ease.

  That seemed to do the trick, because he saw her chest deflate, as though she finally let out the breath she’d been holding.

  “I tried,” she said, grinning as she glanced over at him. “Apparently, people don’t do a lot of talking about it.”

  “My cousins keep access to invitation only,” he told her. “For that very reason. Not all people are open-minded when it comes to certain … pleasures. In order to keep the hate to a minimum, Travis does his best to eliminate the problem up front.”

  “Makes sense.” Hope glanced back out the front window. “Is this place going to scar me for life?”

  Jared chuckled, then pulled her hand closer so he could kiss her knuckles. “I won’t let that happen. Stick close to me and I’ll keep you safe.”

  “How close are we talkin’?” she countered, amusement in her tone.

  He glanced over, capturing her gaze for the briefest of moments so she could see the pure lust he knew was reflected in his eyes. “As close as you’ll let me be.”

  Hope swallowed hard, and Jared fought the urge to adjust his jeans. They were getting uncomfortably tight.

  They pulled into the resort, then drove down the winding entry, stopping under the portico. Ready to get the evening started, Jared hopped out and made his way around to the passenger door. Quite frankly, he was surprised Hope hadn’t jumped out of the truck before he could get there. After all, she had done it the first night they’d gone to Marla’s Bar.

  Jared passed his keys off to the valet, then led Hope to the main doors. They were opened by a man wearing a tuxedo, and held so they could enter. “Good evening, Mr. Walker. Ms. Lambert.”

  “Good evening,” Jared returned, smiling at Hope. She looked shocked that the man knew her name. Then again, they were on the guest list for tonight.

  “I figured I’d give you a tour,” Jared told her, placing his hand at the small of her back as they moved farther into the hotel lobby. “I didn’t get us a room, but we’ve got full access to the entire place. Anything you’d like to see first?”

  Hope turned to face him, and he could see the hesitancy in her gaze. She was nervous, although she was doing her best to hide it from him. It was one thing to claim to want adventurous sex, something else entirely to indulge in it.

  Jared pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her, sliding his palms over her bare back. “We won’t do anything you’re not comfortable with,” he informed her. “I’ll show you around so you can see what it’s like. There are two clubs here, both of which are nightclubs. Nothing different than you’d find anywhere else. If you want to go there, we can. They’ve also got a restaurant if you’re hungry.” He grinned. “There are certain parts that contain the play activity. You won’t find naked bodies in the hallways, writhing on the floor.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Okay, there have been some from time to time. From what I hear.” He laughed. “But those are few and far between.”

  His words seemed to ease her somewhat, so he continued, “It’s up to you. No pressure.”

  This time she nodded.

  Jared knew he should’ve left it at that, but for some reason, he couldn’t. Instead of fighting the impulse any longer, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. He trailed his lips along her jaw. “There are a million things I want to do to you, Hope. But we don’t need an audience for that. I’m more than happy to take you back to my bed and spend the rest of the night feasting on you.”

  Her breath hitched, so he pulled back to look at her face. Her eyes were dilated.

  “I’m intrigued,” she finally said. “I mean, this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I say we go balls to the walls tonight.”

  He barked out a laugh as his dick jerked behind his zipper. Those words … said in that raspy, sexy drawl… Yeah.

  Balls to the walls.

  That sounded like a damn good plan.

  Chapter Nineteen

  HOPE WASN’T SURE when she’d become so daring. If she had to guess, it was sometime between the first day she’d met Jared and now.

  Sure, she’d been knocked a little off-kilter tonight, but the moment Jared’s lips were on hers, all of her senses had awakened. As he explained to her they wouldn’t be doing anything she wasn’t comfortable with, her nerves had settled somewhat. Then it had occurred to her that she really did have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity here.

  Might as well make the most of it.

  Now, as Jared led her through the hotel, showing her the many amenities the place had to offer, she realized that Alluring Indulgence Resort wasn’t much different than other five-star resort hotels. They had a luxury spa, an exquisite gourmet steakhouse, many full-service bars, including a wine bar that served pretty much anything anyone could ever want. There was also a state-of-the-art health club that had been added last year, according to Jared.

  “Five-star hotel, huh?” she asked, grinning up at him. “Honestly, I don’t know the difference. I think I might’ve stayed in a hotel once in my life.”

  That seemed to surprise him. “Really?”

  “Yeah. Don’t really get out much.”

  Jared chuckled. “You’ve got your own resort to deal with. The rustic version.”

  “True.”

  Hope stopped when Jared did. “Okay, cowboy. So, you’ve shown me all the fancy hotel parts. But what really sets this place apart from any other five-star hotel?” After all, something had to be different. Since he’d referred to the place as a fetish hotel, she already had a good idea.

  Jared reached for her hand, and she offered it, allowing him to lead her over to a railing that clearly overlooked a lower floor. He stopped there, stepping back so she could move closer to the railing.

  When she put her hands on the wrought iron, Jared came to stand behind her. As in, right behind her. She could feel him against her back. His hands came to rest beside hers, fingers circling the rail, his arms caging her in. She noticed he smelled as good as he always did. It had to be cologne. If not, someone should definitely bottle the scent because… Holy smokes.

  Speaking of holy smokes…

  Hope’s gaze traveled the open area below, and it took a moment to realize what she was looking at. There were black and red leather couches and chairs spread out below, along with tables that lined the periphery of the room. Large floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked what appeared to be some sort of garden. She looked up, noticing that the domed ceiling was also made of glass.

  “How discreet is a place with all of these windows?” she whispered, more to herself than anything else.

  “No one can see in,” he said reassuringly. “One-way glass.”

  It was a nice touch. She couldn’t tell now since it was dark, but during the day, she imagined it let in a lot of light.

  Although the furnishings were impressive, they certainly weren’t the main attraction.

  No, the people were the ones doing the attracting. Many of them. In various states of dress and undress, some simply talking, others participating in a wide range of, yes, sexual acts.

  “Does it scare you?” Jared whispered in her ear, his breath warm against her skin.

  She shoo
k her head, unable to find her voice. No doubt about it, she was captivated by what was going on. It surprised her a little to think that she could be turned on by this, but she definitely was.

  “These people feel safe here,” Jared explained. “Safe to explore their sexual appetites. Those who choose to come to this room are looking to either watch or be watched. They don’t interrupt others, don’t try to join in. It’s not an orgy. However, there are private rooms that can be utilized for just about anything.”

  “Themed?”

  “Some of them,” Jared said. “When Travis first came up with the idea, he built the resort to suit his own needs and those of his friends. Since then, he has expanded, incorporated other fetishes that he hadn’t thought of in the beginning. Two of his closest friends are … well, she’s a Domme and he’s a…”

  “Submissive?” Hope asked, peering back at him.

  Jared chuckled. “No, he’s a Dom, too. And they’re married. Works for them, somehow. They’ve come down for various things, including classes they’ve taught. It’s a constant work in progress, growing as time goes by. But this room remains the same as it’s always been.”

  “So I take it you like to watch?” Hope realized she was breathless, her body humming from the sexual energy now fueling her.

  Jared once again leaned in close to her ear. “I like to watch. I also wouldn’t mind being watched.”

  Maybe it was the place, perhaps it was merely the man, but at the moment, Hope found she wouldn’t mind it much, either.

  UNABLE TO RESIST, Jared leaned down a little lower, kissing Hope’s neck, lingering there so he could inhale the incredibly intoxicating scent of her.

  “Does that bother you?” he asked when she didn’t say anything.

  She shook her head. “Not as much as I thought it would.”

  Hope’s chest was rising and falling, her breaths a little louder. He knew she was affected by the sight of what was happening below them. It didn’t surprise him, either. In their position on the second floor, the people below wouldn’t see them. They probably felt eyes on them, knew they were being watched, but that was part of the allure.

  For Jared, watching a man pleasure a woman or vice versa was extremely erotic. Although he’d considered it for some time, Jared had never participated at the hotel. He’d never brought a woman here, never hooked up with one here. Hope was his first.

  The thought made him smile as he remembered her telling him something similar on the night they made out in the parking lot of the bar.

  “Can we go down there?” Hope asked. “Just to … watch?”

  “Of course.” Jared caressed her arms as he straightened, then took her hand and led her toward the staircase that spiraled elegantly down to the first floor.

  They took their time walking down, allowing Hope the chance to take it all in. The décor was elegant, not at all tawdry as some might expect. The lights were low, allowing the illusion of privacy. The red, black, and chrome theme flowed throughout. From the carpeting on the floor to the furniture. Even the drapes that framed the windows—pulled back to the sides so as not to obstruct the view—matched.

  As soon as they stepped foot on the main floor, a waitress came toward them. Jared ordered drinks for them both—Jack and Coke for him, red wine for Hope—then found a vacant seating area—which consisted of two leather chairs and a small table in between—that was tucked back near the stairs. It offered somewhat more privacy than the other seating areas, partly hidden from the room. Wanting to keep her close, Jared pulled Hope onto his lap, his hand on her lower back, his eyes on her face as she continued to watch what was going on around her.

  Several feet in front of them, a man sat in a chair similar to the ones they were in, while a woman slowly walked around him. She trailed her nail over his shoulders, his neck, as she moved behind him. When she came around in front, she let her finger slide down his chest and over the evident bulge in his slacks. Those two were just getting started.

  Against the wall on the opposite side of the room, a fully clothed man was standing against the wall, a naked woman pressed up against his chest. She was facing away from him because another fully clothed man was kneeling in front of her, eating her pussy while she writhed and moaned. If he had to guess, it was a fantasy being played out because the men were both wearing expensive suits while the woman wore nothing more than a diamond choker around her neck.

  There were plenty of other couples sitting at the tables, having drinks, watching with interest as more and more play started. Some would probably join in; others would head back to their room, ready to ravage one another in private.

  To each his own.

  After the waitress brought their drinks, Jared continued to watch Hope, sipping his Jack and Coke. He placed the glass on the table beside him, then placed his palm on Hope’s thigh, slowly sliding it beneath the hem of her dress. He wasn’t going to push her, but he was willing to give her whatever she needed. Even if that meant having the valet bring around his truck so he could take her back to his place. He had no agenda tonight.

  “What do you think?” he asked when her gaze slid down to his hand.

  “I can see why people enjoy this.” She actually blushed. “I mean, it makes me hot, I can’t deny that. I never thought…”

  “That you’d like it?” he finished for her.

  Hope nodded.

  Jared reached for Hope’s drink, then set it on the table beside his. He slid his hand beneath her hair and pulled her mouth closer to his. He hadn’t kissed her appropriately all night, and he wanted to taste her. She was quickly becoming an addiction. One he could ill afford but wasn’t willing to deny himself.

  When he pulled back, he leaned close to her ear. “From here on out, you have to tell me what you want from me. I’m not willing to assume anything. It’s up to you.” Jared pulled back and met her gaze. “And if you wish to sit here and simply watch, I’m completely on board with that, too.”

  Just being with her was enough for him.

  And that, quite frankly, scared the shit out of him.

  Chapter Twenty

  AS DARING AND as adventurous as she wanted to be, Hope knew she simply wasn’t that woman. She couldn’t have sex in public while other people watched. Sure, the idea that someone might happen upon them at any moment was thrilling, but she was fairly certain she would be mortified if someone actually did.

  So rather than act on the incredible lust coursing through her veins, Hope had remained seated on Jared’s lap for a solid hour, watching the action around her. This place was surreal and the people… Hope wasn’t one to judge, so she couldn’t say anything negative about these people. In fact, she considered them daring. Brave, in a way. And truly sexy.

  It had to take tremendous courage to act out your fantasies, to give in to your baser needs. She had a feeling that the relationships these people shared were on a level so deep most people probably didn’t understand.

  And though she wasn’t as courageous as they were, she was certainly turned on. More so because Jared was there with her. He made her feel safe. Never once did he try to cop a feel, nor did he try to seduce her with words. He merely sat with his warm hand on her thigh, his other arm around her back. When she would look at him, most of the time she found him watching her.

  And wasn’t that sexy as hell.

  “I think I’m ready to go now,” she told him, leaning in and kissing his mouth gently.

  He nodded once, as though he’d expected her to say that.

  “Are you disappointed?” she asked.

  His eyes flared with heat, but there wasn’t an ounce of disappointment reflected there. Although she sensed the man didn’t say things he didn’t mean, Hope had wondered. Being here made her want to do ridiculously salacious things, but beneath it all, her inner good girl won out. Although she still wanted erotic, mind-numbing pleasure, she wan
ted it in a place where there weren’t any eyes on her. Except Jared’s.

  “Not at all. In fact, I’m more than happy to take you back to my place, where I can ravish you in private.”

  To think, the chemistry between them had been off the charts before… Hope wasn’t sure what was going to happen when they did get naked this time. Hell, they might not even make it that far. Clothes be damned, Hope wanted this man, and sitting here, watching while men seduced women, women seduced men, men seduced men, and women seduced women—damn, it’d been hot, and now she was one spark away from going up in flames.

  Thankfully, Jared seemed to be on the same page. He led her outside, where the valet retrieved his truck, and less than ten minutes later, they were pulling up to his house. This time she didn’t wait for him to open her door for her. She was tired of waiting, and the sooner they got inside…

  Three minutes later, they were standing in his living room, and Hope was pressed up against the front door, her dress pushed up, Jared’s jeans around his hips, and he was thrusting into her hard and deep. Hope was soaring, her body ripping right in half from the incredible sensations slamming through her.

  They had fumbled their way inside, hands groping, mouths feasting. Keeping her hands off him had been impossible the instant he had shut the truck off.

  As she held on to Jared now, she allowed him to pump his hips, filling her to overflowing while she tried to hold still, which gave him better traction, allowed for more friction.

  “Hope… Fuck, baby. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.”

  She told herself not to think too much on that. Jared said it in the heat of the moment. He was referring to sex, because they both knew that this… Sex like this didn’t happen every day. Once or twice, sure. But every single time they came together, it was magnetic, explosive. So damn hot.