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One Night Only
One Night Only
By Katherine King
Table of Contents
Title Page
One Night Only
Sneak Peak! Katherine’s Third Novel “Undeniable”
Mick
Maggie
Dedication:
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Chapter 1
The crowd goes wild in the warm California night as the band finishes with fireworks exploding up from the stage. From my vantage point beside the entrance to the Ferris wheel, I am able to see over the heads of the crowd gathered but I am too far away to be able pick out anything about the band member’s facial features. From what I had heard, they had sounded pretty good for an up and coming band.
Sighing, I brace myself for the onslaught of customers now that the concert is over. Given it is Halloween, the park will be open until midnight to allow extra time for celebrations, making it a long night for anyone working, but I don’t mind.
I am truly going to miss this place, I think to myself as I smile at the first person approaching the entrance. Taking their ticket, the first of many yet to come, I unhook the chain to allow them entry.
For the past five years of college, this place has been my social outlet and has helped to pay my tuition. I had tried to keep this as a part-time job after starting my day job in September but the long days of learning the ropes of an advertising executive assistant is making it impossible to keep up this pace. I had mournfully decided that to excel in my new grown up job, I have to let go of the job that I started in my late teens, finally letting the last attachment to the days of my youth go.
Giving my notice two-weeks ago had been hard but I had consoled myself by making my last night of work Halloween. It was always great at the park on Halloween. Visitors dressed up, happy to pretend to be someone else for this one day a year, came in throngs to enjoy the amusement park rides but also to take in the evening concert and the spectacular firework display immediately afterwards.
I had always loved the vibe on Halloween.
The next couple of hours pass swiftly and it is on the last ride of the night that I look up for a moment to look down the line. My gaze becomes riveted on one guy. His costume is a black mask that covers his eyes and part of his nose, leaving his sensual mouth exposed. With his long, lean, toned body encased in a black t-shirt and black skinny jeans, I flush. This guy has sex appeal that radiates from him and with his intent gaze boring into me, I feel myself involuntarily flush.
Lifting my chin, I tear my eyes away from him to continue looking down the line past him but they inevitably come back to him.
He grins knowingly.
I quickly move my eyes away from the cocky bastard and focus them on the girl in the front of the line.
"Next!" I shout with my eyes purposely trained on her, and not on him as I drop the chain to allow her access.
The line continues and as I let people through, I am aware that the black masked guy is moving closer and closer. I focus my gaze on collecting tickets, not on looking up to see who is next.
But my body feels, reacting of its own accord to his close proximity, when he is next.
"Hey," he says softly upon reaching me, his tone deep and sensual, his voice reverberating throughout my body.
"Ticket please," I force myself to say stoically.
His right hand comes out to grasp mine and I jump while noticing a cross tattoo just over his thumb. His action has my startled eyes coming up to his.
Such beautiful green eyes.
"What time are you off?" he asks in a murmur.
Clearing my throat, not quite understanding why I do, I respond, "After this ride."
Nodding, he says softly, "I'll be back," then squeezes my hand before handing me his ticket with the other, causing me to notice the multitude of tattoos over each of his arms. When he releases me, I realize my breathing is hitched. His smile is erotically gentle, like he knows I am attracted but also that I am weary, as he turns from me to climb into the seat.
As the wheel continues to move, moving him further and further up into the air as more people climb on, I silently wish I was with him. To look out over the park, the crowd, but then to look skywards, and watch the stars.
Finally, the line-up of people is down to one and I let the last person through. The big wheel begins its tedious process of grinding to allow everyone the vantage point of feeling like they are on top of the world. As my mystery-masked guy is lowered, his gaze finds mine, holding it, until he is taken back up into the air again, cutting off our visual connection. But he always searches and holds my gaze each time he is lowered.
As the big wheel grinds to a stop, my heart picks up its beat.
I could leave now but something keeps me here. Waiting...
As the wheel turns, allowing passengers off, my masked guy comes into view again. He holds my gaze until it is his turn to exit the ride. He thanks Billy, the operator, as he steps off before heading over to where I am standing.
He doesn't hesitate as he takes my hand, threading his fingers through mine. I watch as he brings it up to his mouth for a kiss.
I want to swoon. What guy born in this century thanks an amusement park operator and then strides confidently over to you, even though he don’t know you, to kiss the back of your hand?
"Shall we go someplace?" he asks quietly.
With my body on high alert, so highly attuned to him, I try to focus my brain. To think.
"You're a stranger. I was always told never to go anywhere with a stranger," is my mumbled, stupid reply.
He grins as he teases, "I never said I was whisking you away to some place where we would be alone. I asked if you wanted to go somewhere, of your choosing."
My cheeks flush further. I feel like an idiot.
With him still holding my hand, he gently gives me a tug, prompting me to move, for me to guide us to anywhere I want to go.
"There's another way out, away from the crowds," I confide.
"You lead, I'll follow," he says gently.
I guide him around the Ferris wheel onto a path that encircles the entire park, which allows employees to move around the park quickly instead of through the hordes of crowds. It is relatively quiet, except for an occasional fellow employee who stops to wish me well, telling me they will see me tomorrow evening for my going away party.
"You are finishing up here tonight?" the masked guy, walking next to me, holding my hand asks.
I nod.
"What's your name?" he asks.
I flush again, scolding myself that I am walking and holding hands with a guy I just met and I didn't even think to ask his name.
"Cass," I reply.
"Borden," he replies in turn.
I nod, flustered.
"You have another job, Cass?" he asks. Hearing my name on his lips sends a flush of desire through me.
Clearing my throat, I answer, "Yes. I started as an advertising executive assistant in September."
I force my mind to think, to stop looking down at our joined hands, to stop wondering how his hands would feel on me.
Clearing my throat, I ask, "Do you have a job?"
I lick my lips as I look up at him walking next to me. His long dark hair curled down around his strong neck is enticing. I envision pulling his head down so that I could trace his jawline with my tongue.
My nipples pucker and I flush.
"I do," he admits but pauses before continuing, "I'm a musician."
"Are
you any good?" I blurt out.
He chuckles as he responds lightly, "Some people think I'm good."
As we near the exit for the park, I suddenly have no idea what to suggest.
Bringing him back to my place is out of the question, it's too forward. But it's what I want.
"Do you have a car?" I ask.
"Not with me," he replies.
"Okay..." I stop in the parking lot, torn. I really shouldn't be in my car with a stranger I just met. He stops beside me, waiting for me to make a decision.
Flustered, awkward, I say, "I shouldn't offer to take you in my car."
"No, you shouldn't," he replies. He stands quietly, waiting patiently.
He does nothing to persuade me in any direction, only stands there, looking hotter than any guy I have even met, waiting for me to decide.
"Come on. This way," I say after a few moments, tugging him to my car.
I hear him chuckle.
I reach into my back pocket to pull out my car keys and press the unlock button. As the locks whir open, Borden reaches down to pull open the driver side door. I let go of his hand and settle myself behind the driver's seat, flushed once again at his gentlemanly ways.
I watch as he crosses the front of my car to walk to the passenger side. I continue to watch as he slides in next to me, his jeans pulling even tighter. I notice the large bulge between his legs.
Shocked, I whip my head up to stare straight forward. Fumbling, I start my engine.
We don't say much as I drive and I realize he is letting me make all the decisions, giving me complete control.
I feel myself relax a little. I glance over at him, to find him staring at me intensely. He reaches out and places his hand on my jean clad thigh causing my muscles to jump underneath the material. Liquid seeps through my core.
I want him. Very badly.
Whether it's my mind or my body that makes the decision, I take the turn towards my apartment building.
We will just go for a late-night swim, I convince myself silently.
The drive doesn't take long and I see his eyes move to my face appreciatively as I pull into my parking space.
His hand squeezes my leg as he says quietly, "Thank you for trusting me."
I nod but admit, "We are only going as far as the pool."
He chuckles softly as he nods, his smile sexy, making my fingers itch to reach out and trace his sensual lips. He releases my knee and I try to bring my breathing back to normal. I watch as he opens his car door, focused on his long fingers and the cross tattoo as it flashes in the street light. He crosses to my side and opens my door for me. Taking my hand, he swings the car door shut behind me before walking with me to the pool area.
Taking a seat on a lounger, he pulls me down next to him. My entire body feels more alive than it ever has. My breath hitches as he reaches up to brush my hair back over my shoulder, exposing my neck. His hand softly wraps around the back of my neck, his thumb grazing the pulse underneath my jawline. I am sure he can feel how fast my pulse is throbbing.
"So beautiful," he whispers.
I swallow thickly.
"Are you going to take off your mask?" I ask quietly. I love the secrecy but I want to see his face more.
I feel him stiffen slightly before he replies uneasily, "If you want me to."
Wondering why he has become suddenly uneasy, I nod, wanting to figure what he is hiding.
I watch as he reaches behind him, untying the mask. As it falls from his face, I have my first full look at him.
He is stunning.
His gaze penetrates me, as if searching for something, as I reach up to touch his facial features.
"You're the one that is beautiful," I admit quietly as I trace the slope of his cheek, down to his lips.
I can't help myself as I lean forward, pressing my lips to his. It's electric.
Chapter 2
I feel my breath, hitching, coming out slowly as she leans back from me. Her simple kiss has a profound effect on me, one that I have never experienced before.
And I have had tons of experience.
I had been concerned about removing my mask, afraid that she would recognize me.
I capture her gaze and unable to resist touching her, I reach back up with my hand to wrap it around the back of her neck again. I run my thumb underneath her jawline, then over her cheek, to her lips. Lightly grazing them, I watch as her mouth opens slightly, taking tiny gasps of air as her chest rises and falls.
This time I lean forward, and just before touching her lips, I whisper, "I know I don't know you, but I want you." I inhale and then exhaling softly, I add, "So bad."
She doesn't move away from me and with my heart pumping, I lean in to close the gap between us.
Her soft lips, opening underneath mine causes my head to explode, my body filling with lust. With my free hand, I pull her tighter to my body and wait for a reaction. She softens against me, her hands coming up into my hair.
I deepen the kiss, tangling my tongue with hers, tasting her for the first time.
I want more.
I push her down onto the lounger, my heart racing, my cock throbbing. Settling between her legs, I move my lips down to her neck, tasting her skin, allowing myself that small luxury, before coming up to whisper in her ear, "I think we should stop. Maybe go for a swim."
I feel her freeze underneath me. I lift my head so I can look into her eyes.
"Trust me. I want this to go further but if you want this to stop before it goes too far, we have to stop now," I whisper and place a light kiss on her lips.
I hold her eyes as I see indecision there.
I question myself, my actions. Usually I never hold back from seducing a girl, only wanting the next sexually satisfying, no strings attached encounter. There had been plenty available since my band and I had started to make it big a few months ago, willing to accept one night stands only. It was one of the perks of being a musician.
But with Cass it is unexplainable different somehow. Even though I have a flight in the morning, taking me to my next tour date, I don't want to rush things with her. I have the feeling she’d be worth the wait.
I hear her soft sigh as she begrudgingly whispers, "A swim might be a good idea."
Reluctantly pushing myself off of her, I quickly tug my t-shirt over my head before unzipping my jeans, feeling her eyes on me as I tug them off completely along with my low-rise boots. Standing in only my underwear, her eyes slowly wander over me, making my erection jump and pulse against my shorts.
Turning to the pool, I do a running dive, wondering what this girl has done to me as I break through the water. I kick my way to the surface to see Cass is still standing, fully clothed, watching me.
"You coming in?" I tease, grinning at her.
She bites her bottom lip and then she shyly requests, "Turn around."
Chuckling, I do as I am told until I hear a splash in the pool.
Turning back around, I see Cass in her underwear and bra, swimming towards me. As my eyes take in her full breasts bobbing in the water from the movement of her strokes, moving over the curve of her waist before venturing over the flare of her hips, I realize suddenly that I want this woman more than anyone I have ever met before.
She is so exotically sensual.
Her long brown hair, piled high on top of her head, with her light skin is not my usual type. But for some reason, since the moment I first saw her standing at the end of the line accepting tickets, I knew I had to meet her...if only for one night.
She swims in a circle around me, grinning, then laughing, as she splashes me with her legs before she tries to swim away from me.
I reach out and grabbing her leg, I pull her back to me. She sputters, her laughter increasing, becoming a whole-hearted laugh as I wrap my arm around her small waist. I sink us beneath the water, kissing her. Her arms come around me first and then her legs, fitting her body perfectly to mine, as she returns my kiss eagerly.
I bring us b
ack to the surface, both of us breaking apart to catch our breaths, not from being submerged, but from the intensity flowing between us.
Holding her gaze, I push her back against the pool wall, my hands braced on either side of her, allowing her to escape if she chooses. Leaning forward, I press my lips to the pulse of her throat. I feel it thrumming just under the skin and I open my mouth to gently suck it in. Her hands come up to my hair, her fingers entwining. I move my lips from her pulse down to the swell of her breast. Her white bra leaves little to the imagination as it clings to her exotically full breasts, her nipples clearly outlined.
"You're so sexy," I moan softly against her skin.
Using my teeth, I gently take one of her covered nipples into my mouth and lightly tug, causing her to gasp. I watch it harden further under the confines of her bra, wishing I could rip the bra off her.
Now assured that she wants to be here as much as I want her here, I hold her eyes I move my arms to encircle her, bringing her breasts into contact with my chest. I kiss her again, and moving one of my hands, I cup her ass.
She moans, encouraging me.
I slip my finger and then my whole hand under her underwear so I can cup her bare ass. Her skin feels like silk. So soft, so seductive.
I want more.
"Cass..." I whisper heatedly against her lips. My cock is going to explode at any moment.
And I desperately want to be inside of her.
"We have to stop..." I pant, trying to force myself to let go of her.
She lifts her head from mine, shaking it, making my insides tense, hopeful.
"I don't want to stop," she whispers, lightly grazing her lips over mine.
I pull my head back from hers, to look her in the eye.
"I leave in the morning. I probably won't see you again," I whisper truthfully, knowing as I admit this that I am probably ruining my chances with her.
But for a reason I can’t explain, I'd rather walk away than have her hate me for not telling her.
She holds my gaze, considering me, weighing my words, for a moment.
She finally brings her lips back to mine, about to touch them, as she asks, "So this will be a one-night sort of deal?"
One Night Only Page 1