Blackout: A Romance Anthology

by Stephanie St. Klaire

  When his palms reached my hips, he hooked his thumbs over the stretchy waistband, dragging my fitted skirt down over my hips. It fell around my ankles, and I lifted one foot at a time, kicking off my shoes and sending the skirt spinning on the floor to the side.

  I stood bare before him, save my panties. As intense as last night had been, and again this morning, everything had occurred in darkness. This morning had been the thin, silvery light of dawn, that in-between time that felt not quite real.

  This moment, here tonight, with everything back in order, I felt suddenly exposed as I stood before him.

  “Ellie, you’re so beautiful,” he murmured.

  I felt hot all over, anxious for him to get closer. I desperately needed to lose myself in him, in us. He stepped closer and lifted me into his arms. He spun us around, sliding my hips onto the cool wood of the bar.

  Straightening, he watched me as he teased his fingers over the damp silk between my thighs. Shoving it out of the way, he dragged his fingers through my folds, and I let out a gasp, my hips bucking into his touch.

  “Jacob, please,” I heard myself saying, my tone pleading. I was that frantic, that needy. It wasn’t purely physical, although my physical need was bordering on out of control. It was more than that. I needed the connection because that was the only thing that could anchor me in this wild storm of sensation running amok in my body.

  Jacob curled his hands on my hips and slid them to the edge of the bar, lifting me easily as he yanked my panties off. Before I realized what he was doing, he had reached behind me. The sound of clinking came as he fished out a piece of ice. Watching me, he drew back and teased it over my hot core, the icy cold such a stark contrast I cried out, my eyes widening.

  It melted just as he dipped his head, his teeth grazing along my neck. The feel of his stubble scratching on my skin was a welcome relief, anything to give me something to focus on other than where I needed him most.

  “Don’t make me wait,” I cried out when he caught a nipple in his teeth, sucking it lightly.

  “I like it when you’re bossy,” he murmured against my skin as he nudged a little closer between my knees. I felt him dragging the head of his cock through my folds, sliding over my swollen clit. I was so close. It had never been like this before, where foreplay alone could bring me right up to the edge of release. In fact, orgasms with anyone other than myself were so few and far between, I considered it luck if it happened.

  Jacob appeared to be the exception. He alone was enough, my own personal aphrodisiac and elixir rolled up in a delicious hard body with teasing fingers and a tongue that seemed to know me in ways I didn’t even know myself.

  “Look at me,” he said gruffly as he pressed into me, the head of his cock breaching my entrance, enough of a tease to make me want more, to crave the stretch.

  At his gruff command, I opened my eyes. His dark gaze was waiting, intent on me, a wildness in his eyes which mirrored the way I felt inside.

  Then, there was the slow slide, his thick, hard length filling me. By the time he sank to the hilt, my climax was cresting.

  “Not yet,” he said, his voice harsh and his fingers digging into my hip as he held me still. My channel rippled around him, and I clung to my control.

  “I don’t know if I can hold back,” I gasped.

  “Just once,” he murmured in reply as he drew his hips back and then surged inside forcefully, his thumb pressing over my clit right as he filled me.

  My release hit me hard, snapping like a bolt breaking loose inside and pleasure crashing through me when I cried out. I dimly heard my name in his rough shout.

  Jacob’s head fell into the dip against my neck, and I felt the shudders of his climax. My breath came in ragged gasps. I was relieved to be sitting on the bar because I doubted I could hold myself up otherwise.

  The room was quiet save for the sound of our rough breathing and the rush of blood pounding in my ears. My pulse gradually slowed, and I felt Jacob lift his head.

  I was limp, barely able to lift my head from where it had fallen against his chest. When I opened my eyes, he brushed my tangled hair away from my forehead, smoothing it back.

  When our eyes collided, my heart squeezed. Something electric passed between us—invisible, but intense. With the aftershocks of my climax still echoing through my body, thoughts couldn’t quite form. I felt as if I were spinning in the eddies of a wave after it broke along the edge of the shore.

  “I meant to ask if you wanted to go out to dinner,” Jacob said softly, his words a mere rasp.

  I sensed he was trying to get his footing, just as I was. For that, I was relieved. I could hardly wrap my brain around how fierce the desire was between us. The moment we touched, it was like a flame catching in dry grass, instantly becoming a conflagration. With my heart still not fully recovered and my body feeling as if glitter was spinning through it, I stared into his eyes and smiled.

  “Dinner would be nice,” I finally managed to say. His lips quirked, a smile stretching across his face and making my belly do a little flip.

  “All right then,” he replied, leaning forward and brushing his lips against mine.

  What was nothing more than a brief touch, an almost chaste kiss, sent a sizzle of electricity right to my core.

  Jacob stepped away, starting to slide out of me, his eyes colliding with mine swiftly. “Oh shit. I forgot to use a condom. Hell, I’m sorry, Ellie. I’m usually thinking more clearly.”

  He looked quite stunned. I imagined he usually did think. So did I. But when it came to him, my ability to think seemed to go up in smoke.

  “It’s okay,” I replied quickly. “I’m on birth control. And, if you’re worried about anything else, don’t. I’m clean. After what happen with Wayne last year, I got tested for everything because I didn’t know what else he’d been up to,” I said, my words coming out in a stumbling rush. “I haven’t had sex with anyone since then. Well, except you.”

  Jacob studied me quietly and then nodded. “I wasn’t worried about that. It’s a respect thing for me. You seem to make me lose my mind,” he said with a short laugh. “I can assure you I’m clean. Because this would be the first time I’ve ever forgotten to use a condom.”

  I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Well then, I guess if it happens again, we don’t need to worry.”

  Jacob stared at me, his gaze searching. “Oh, it’ll happen again. That’s a damn guarantee.”

  I didn’t know how to interpret that, or what to say in reply, so I was relieved when he stepped back. His palms skimmed down my thighs as he drew away.

  Quickly, he returned, helping me slide off the bar. Not that I needed his help, but somehow it made me feel protected. That wasn’t a feeling I had ever craved, yet it felt so good I didn’t know what to think.

  I took stock, finding myself bare naked, and my clothes scattered like confetti around us. My skirt was in a rumple over near the couch, my blouse and bra were on the floor to one side, my shoes were to the other, and my panties had been flung almost to the wall. Jacob’s shirt had fallen beside my skirt. He leaned over, quickly gathering up our things.

  Glancing to him, I commented, “Be right back.”

  We quickly tidied up and got dressed. When we were leaving for dinner, Jacob’s hand rested warm just above the curve of my bottom, his touch both reassuring and coaxing at once. I realized as we stepped into the elevator that I would’ve been perfectly happy to stay in and lose myself in him all over again.

  CHAPTER 15

  Jacob

  Two days passed. Two days during which I practically worshipped at the altar of Ellie.

  After the power came back on, everything largely returned to normal as far as Las Vegas was concerned. The snap and crackle of the city that was always alive and pulsing kicked right back into gear. The conference—the reason I was there—resumed and quickly extended itself for a day. Considering that everything had come to a screeching stop for a day, that made sense.


  I managed to go through the motions and seem focused, yet I was in a bit of a fog. Ellie had crashed into my life like an asteroid, blowing it up and shifting everything. The sex was incredible. Beyond incredible. I couldn’t get enough.

  Meanwhile, I was busy assessing every contingency and trying to figure out how I was going to persuade her she was meant to be mine. When we were together, there was no doubt. Not for me.

  Yet, I sensed her holding herself slightly at a distance, making occasional comments about how out of the ordinary this was. It was out of the ordinary all right, but I sensed she and I were interpreting that differently.

  I needed to be here for three more days. The evening before she was due to leave, I asked her to attend a dinner function at the conference with me. She readily agreed, especially after I told her Darren and his wife would be there.

  We had spent some more time over at their place, and I knew she was considering making arrangements for Chocolate to be flown to stay with her in Seattle. She adored him, and I had to admit seeing her with him never failed to make me smile.

  I glanced to my side where we sat at a round table with Darren and his wife and two more couples, both business partners of mine. Ellie’s glossy dark hair shone under the lights from above. She’d put it up tonight, with loose tendrils hanging down to frame her face. A silver pen was pushed through the knot, holding it up, tempting me to reach over and pull it out just so I could see her hair tumble loose.

  She smiled slightly as she lifted her glass of wine to take a sip. I envied the wine because it got to touch her lips. Her mouth was so fucking sexy. Her pink lips were bow-shaped with a little dimple at the top that I loved to trace with my tongue.

  Let’s face it, I loved to trace my tongue anywhere on Ellie. She was a delectable package of sexy and sweet, and unflinchingly beautiful. Her silk blouse tempted me with what I knew was hiding behind it. It was paired with a fitted skirt that hugged her hips down to her knees. She wore those strappy sandals again, and all I could think about was bending her over, shoving her skirt up and fucking her from behind.

  She made me crazy in every way possible.

  When I looked away, I caught Darren watching me from across the table. A knowing smirk was on his face when our gazes met. I shrugged. He was right about how I felt about Ellie, and I didn’t care if he knew it.

  The business dinner was, well, business-y. The topics were rather dry. Ellie held her own, having enough knowledge of her brother’s business to comfortably interject here and there.

  I was ready for dinner to be over and get Ellie all to myself. I was so hard, I didn’t know if I’d make it from the elevator all the way up to our room. Most of the time, I didn’t care much beyond comfort for the amenities of having enough money to have a private penthouse and a private elevator. On nights like tonight, that private elevator was a fucking godsend because it shortened the time I’d have to wait to get my hands on her.

  I heard a voice over my shoulder saying my name, and I glanced back to see Wanda Dunn approaching.

  Fuck. I wasn’t worried about handling the situation, but I hoped Wanda picked up on my cues. Wanda wasn’t quite a friend, but she was a fairly close acquaintance with benefits. We crossed paths often as she ran an app company. She was beautiful, wealthy, and had no interest in a relationship, although she did like a good time and some no-strings sex.

  There was no actual arrangement between her and me. However, we had crossed paths enough there was the loose expectation that whenever we happened to be at the same conference, or in the same location, we usually had a few drinks together and capped off the night with entirely uncomplicated sex.

  I rarely knew when I was going to see her, and we didn’t communicate unless we saw each other. As such, I was taken off guard to see her approaching. When she stopped by the table, Ellie was in the middle of a conversation with Sarah. Luckily, we were seated together. This was a professional setting, and I wasn’t draped over Ellie the way I would’ve preferred to be. At a glance, I didn’t think it was obvious to Wanda that Ellie and I were together.

  Together?

  Hell, yes. Ellie is yours. If you’re not together, you have no claim.

  My train of thought was rather firm and demanding. The mere consideration of Ellie being with another man sent an entirely irrational bolt of jealousy through me. There was no man, but the idea of it practically drove me crazy.

  Wanda stopped beside me, resting her hand on my shoulder. “Hi, Jacob,” she said warmly. “I was hoping I might run into you here.”

  This line of dialogue was quite typical. On the surface, it was polite and meaningless, yet I knew the insinuations well. Hoping she might “run into” me meant she hoped we’d meet up later.

  I glanced up just as I felt Ellie turn to look at Wanda. “Wanda, hi there,” I said, keeping my voice completely level. It wasn’t Wanda’s presence that sent worry spinning inside of me. Rather, it was how Ellie might interpret her. “How are you?”

  Whatever undercurrents were floating under the surface between Ellie and me, it appeared Wanda didn’t pick up on them. But then, why would she? For the last year or more, every time we ran into each other, we had a night together.

  “I’m well. I was hoping you might be free for drinks tonight,” Wanda replied.

  I met her gaze, wishing I could say aloud what was tumbling through my thoughts. Absolutely not. I’m with Ellie. And I always will be. I just have to convince her.

  Instead, I said, “Thanks for the invite, but I’ll have to pass.”

  I didn’t even care to try to keep the situation unclear. I reached for Ellie and slipped my arm around her shoulders. I didn’t miss the fine thread of tension running through her.

  I was kind of amazed at how quickly and easily I felt this certain about her. It might’ve only been three nights, but I felt as if I knew her in a way I had never known anyone.

  Wanda’s eyes shifted away from my face to where my arm now rested across Ellie’s shoulders. She kept her expression controlled, but I saw the flicker of surprise in her gaze.

  “Of course,” she said smoothly. “It’s been a while since we had a chance to talk business. It was good to see you.” She looked over to Darren quickly and nodded toward the other couples before departing our table.

  In the brief moment with Wanda’s presence there, Ellie’s tension didn’t dissipate. In fact, I could feel her shoulders becoming stiffer. I wasn’t much for talking about feelings. Yet, I didn’t expect to have feelings I needed to discuss.

  Just now though, I wished I had time to explain so much to Ellie. That I’d been living half a life. That I kept all of my relationships superficial, except for a few key friendships.

  I wanted to tell her that Wanda wasn’t important and had never even come close to touching my heart. Not at all. I considered her a professional friend and nothing more. But I couldn’t exactly say any of that right here at the table, surrounded by people.

  Dinner continued, and with each passing moment, I became more restless. Usually, I was focused. Not so tonight. Ellie didn’t put any physical distance between us, but I could feel the invisible distance growing and could almost sense her putting up walls around herself.

  Blessedly, the function eventually ended, and we departed. I wanted to throw Ellie over my shoulder and run out of the dining room. But that wouldn’t do.

  Once we were in the elevator, I turned to face her, catching one of her hands in mine and sliding the other down her side. “What is it?” I asked.

  “What do you mean?” she returned.

  I searched her eyes, seeing the slightly guarded quality there. “I mean, ever since Wanda came over to say hello, you’ve been tense. She means nothing to me. She’s not important.”

  I didn’t care to get into much detail about Wanda, because it was senseless to try to pretend I didn’t have some sort of past. I’d done my share of dating, usually keeping it superficial with no exceptions to that.

  Ellie appe
ared slightly surprised I brought it up that quickly. “Who is she to you?” she asked.

  “Primarily a professional acquaintance. I won’t lie. We have had what might be best described as an unspoken arrangement. Sometimes when we see each other, we have drinks and so on.”

  Ellie caught her bottom lip in her teeth, worrying it and making me want to kiss her. Yet, I had enough sense to know now wasn’t the time for that.

  “Is that what we are?” she asked next, completely throwing me off.

  I was prepared for questions about Wanda and, frankly, anything in my past. I wasn’t prepared for questions about us.

  “No.” My answer came out more sharply than I intended, but it was what it was. “You are far from that. You mean a lot to me,” I heard myself saying, casually stumbling onto the field of a conversation for which I was entirely unprepared.

  Ellie’s cheeks flushed, and she kept worrying her lip, her foot starting to tap on the floor. I slid my hand over the curve of her shoulder in an unconscious attempt to soothe her anxiety. I could practically feel her vibrating.

  “I don’t know what’s happening,” she blurted out, the flush on her cheeks deepening, and her eyes showed distress as her throat worked with a swallow.

  Fuck. I knew what I felt, but I hadn’t put it into words, not even in my own mind.

  I stepped closer, releasing her hand to lift mine and brush her silky hair away from her face, lightly cupping the side of her neck, my thumb brushing across the wild flutter of her pulse.

  “I’m not sure I do either,” I finally said. “But I know this is something. It’s not the kind of thing I can walk away from.”

  Ellie stared at me, a hint of panic entering her gaze. I didn’t know what to do—much less, what to say—to soothe her anxieties. So, I did the only thing I could. Bending low, I kissed her. Because whenever we touched, everything felt right.

  She was stiff for a moment, a tremor running through her body. Then, she sighed, her mouth opening under mine. It felt as if she were surrendering, not to me, but to us, to the force between us that was alive and more potent than any words could explain.