by Bella Juarez
Turning to his computer, he went through some of the non-urgent e-mails he’d left until the end of the day. He’d been answering e-mails and purging for the last hour. Tasha hadn’t come into the office or even told him she’d be late to their daily meeting. How unlike her. Concern as well as a little fear crept into his mind as he looked for her. When he reached her office, he found it empty. While he searched the entire floor for her, his phone vibrated in his pocket. In dismay, he read the short text from Tasha saying she’d see him tomorrow in Vegas.
What the fuck? Something had to be wrong. What had happened to make her forget they still had a business to run? His phone vibrated again. This time, 1Night Stand contacted him to say they’d found a match and she’d be waiting for him.
What the hell happened to my world all of a sudden?
Angrily shoving his phone back into his pocket, he’d officially had enough of women for one day. He didn’t want a 1Night Stand blind date, and he didn’t want to meet the woman his mother had set him up with. The woman he did want had suddenly become very unlike the woman he’d fallen in love with—
The thought stopped him dead in his tracks. When did that happen? The witch!
Digging out his phone, he called Tasha only to get her voice-mail. What the hell had gotten into her? After their encounter in her office, he’d been sure everything would be flawless. He’d finally found someone who understood him and his obsessive work life. She appreciated the success he’d worked so hard for. She’d been key in helping him attain his goals. Every woman he’d dated seemed happy with his money and what it got them but soon grew tired of him working all the time. His union with Tasha would be perfection, considering she’d become just as invested in this business as he. They worked so well together. What could’ve possibly happened in the few short hours they’d finally let themselves be themselves to change things? While he walked back to his office, he read the e-mail he’d received from 1Night Stand a second time and regretted ever signing up on a whim.
***
Tasha adjusted her sunglasses when she entered the San Antonio International Airport to catch her flight to Vegas. Her head pounded due to finishing an entire bottle of wine by herself last night while she cried over Aaron’s betrayal. The conversation she’d overheard him have with his mother hurt to her very core. His innocent charm and false gratitude for all of her hard work sent an ache through her, threatening to unleash a new flood of tears. He’d deceived her in the worst way by saying he regretted hiring her and should’ve hired a man in her place. The throbbing hangover and her miserable state did nothing for her current mood as she shoved past people on her way to the gate.
By the time she’d arrived home to her lonely condo overlooking San Antonio’s scenic Riverwalk, she’d decided to leave him behind to marry his stay-at-home virginal girl. Feeling like such a fool, how could she face him when he arrived at the conference and they had to work together? Her face flushed with anger when she recalled the way she’d sucked his cock in her office.
After overhearing his conversation, she’d returned to her office, grabbed her things, and answered the dating service, confirming her interest in the match they’d sent her. Thinking about it, she regretted answering, but it would be for the best if it helped her move past the most humiliating incident in her life. Thankfully, she’d been able to change her flight, so she wouldn’t have to face him any longer than necessary. Plugging in her earbuds and leaning her aching head back, she tuned out the world. Before the plane left the ground, she’d entered exhausted sleep.
Instinctively waking when the flight approached Las Vegas, she found her headache had subsided but her mood hadn’t changed. As they circled their approach, she became more determined than ever to do what she needed to. She would meet her blind date as agreed and deal with Aaron once they went back to San Antonio. Deciding to stay on at the firm until Tom returned, she’d leave once they’d all had a chance to talk and put a transition plan in place.
Arriving at the hotel, she noticed the time. Aaron would arrive in a couple of hours. She’d needed the separate trip to brace herself to see him. He’d have a lot of questions she’d have to skillfully and tactfully deflect. Thankfully, the next day would be a marathon with her on the trade show floor and Aaron sitting on a panel of architects to discuss the technical aspects of his trade. It would be easier to avoid conversation at the RAF trade booth selling the business, and she’d be able to meet her date afterward.
Settled in her suite, she relaxed in a hot bubble bath in the Jacuzzi. While she soaked, her tension melted into the warm water, allowing her to focus. Afterward, she lay down on her bed and was reading through her messages when a sharp knock at the door startled her. What the…? The knock had been so urgent and loud, she didn’t check to see who stood outside before she opened the door.
“Aaron? What’s wrong?” She wrapped her arms around her robed body.
Charging past her, he stalked in and stopped in the middle of the room.
“You tell me!” Taking several long angry strides, he closed the distance between them in mere seconds and grabbed her upper arms before she could react. “What the hell happened last night for you to leave without telling me?” Shaking her slightly, he demanded, “Answer me!”
Initially, he’d seemed angry, but when she looked closer, she saw something different. The emotional outburst he displayed told her he’d been hurt and his pain manifested in anger. She’d never seen him lose it quite like he’d just done. No matter how bad things got or how wrong a project had gone, he’d always maintained his composure and, as a team, they’d worked through it, together. It shocked her to see such a display of his temper. She hadn’t known he had one. Someone had to take control of this situation before he got any more irrational, and that someone was her. Glancing down at his hands, she fairly growled at him.
“Get your fucking hands off of me. Right. Now.”
Releasing her quickly, he blinked. She had achieved the instantaneous desired effect. He dropped his hands as if she’d suddenly turned white hot and he’d been burned.
“What happened? You never leave without us having our back brief. That’s the most important part of our day. We had a lot to discuss about this trip. Where the hell did you go? And why didn’t you answer my calls.”
Sudden anger filled her. She linked his reaction to a jealous boyfriend, which he clearly was not. How dare he come here and make demands of her? Who the hell does he think he is? Everything she’d heard last night came screaming back at her. He’d been put upon, apparently, by Tom to hire her. He didn’t believe in her skills or management of his company like he’d pretended he had. Yesterday had been a fling for him, and she’d played right into it. He’d used and taken advantage of her for his own gain and pleasure. She used every ounce of self-control not to raise her hand and slap the shit out of him. Maintaining a cool exterior to get through to him, she fought to stay focused. Being lasered in on him still didn’t keep her from wanting to hurt him as badly as she did. They needed to keep some semblance of a working relationship, so she chose her words carefully.
“I didn’t have time for you last night. I needed to get ready for this trip, remember? The little things escape you. That’s why you put me in charge of this company. I was busy making sure every detail had been addressed before we left. So, what’s the problem?”
“Bullshit! Where were you? What got so damned important you left me hanging? There’d better not be another man, Tasha. Where the fuck did you go?”
Taking a deep breath to maintain charge of the situation, she recalled with indignation all of the things he’d told his mother about meeting another woman and marrying a damn virgin and how women held no place in his company. He had the audacity to be jealous of another man? He’d made no secret about his feelings when it came to marriage and family. Trying to have a relationship with Aaron would be the biggest mistake of her life. She needed to stop this madness fast.
“I don’t have to e
xplain shit to you about what happens in my personal life. Whoever I decide to fuck I will fuck without your permission, are we clear?”
This time she’d reached him. He took a step back, and the room got unnaturally quiet while they stared at one another.
“What are you saying?”
“I made a mistake yesterday. It will never happen again.”
Not focused on his feelings anymore, she couldn’t believe the level of disrespect and how narrow-minded he was not to see it. In her current mood, she wanted him to hurt just as badly as she, and, judging by the pain in his eyes, she’d been successful at wounding him even deeper. Fighting dirty was her forte, but for the first time, she actually cared about the adversary standing in front of her. The cool military officer in him surfaced, and he went expressionless. She’d achieved her goal. He’d never come back again.
“I’m sorry I bothered you.” He strode past her and out the door.
When it closed behind him, the room abruptly felt empty and cold. When she could think again, she realized she’d driven away the only man she’d ever loved. Blinking back tears, the implications of what had just happened hit her hard. The ache at throwing away her heart almost caused her to double over in true physical pain. Feeling sick at what she’d done, she took a deep breath and reached behind her to make sure she had a place to sit before she fell. Her relationship with him would never be the same, and that recognition made her more determined than ever to forget him. She needed the release tomorrow’s her one night stand encounter would provide her.
Chapter Four
The day seemed to go on forever, and night couldn’t come fast enough for him. Aaron shifted and doodled while he sat through the question and answer session he participated in as part of the conference. He wanted nothing more than to be back at home losing himself in his work. The ache inside him didn’t dissipate as he’d hoped. Instead, it grew more painful every time he caught a glimpse of Natasha. Thankfully, she’d made herself scarce today. He’d seen her earlier at their trade show booth, greeting potential clientele. Their encounter had been professional and formal. It stung like hell to see her and not have the rapport with her he was used to.
Departing for his panel discussion, he’d left the attracting of potential clients to her and her assistants. He admired her ability to entice new clientele, and she seemed to do it without effort. He hated sales, and that dislike had been the one thing initially holding them back from growing. He and Tom had made a decent living, but when they brought Tasha on, she’d taken them to the next level and managed their growth at a comfortable pace.
Catching the whiff of a floral scent, he went slack, and his cock instantly responded to the call.
“Mr. Rosencrantz?” one of the panelists nudged.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear the question,” He redirected his attention to the audience. His laser focus had failed him, all because of her.
The member of the audience repeated the question, and he provided the detailed answers he was known for and the reason he’d been asked to sit here. His colleagues understood he was damn good at what he did. So good, in fact, he felt it his duty to use his talents to serve his country. Tasha had helped him and Tom gain the professional respect they deserved…. Tasha. Everything seemed to come back to her. The ache she’d caused slammed him again. While the discussion droned on, he made up his mind he needed to find out what had happened to them. At worst, it would provide closure for him. At best, they’d be able to work it out and get back together the way they belonged.
After the panel discussions, he went back to the trade show and found the RAF booth. The assistants they’d brought informed him she’d just left a few minutes ago. She’d avoided him. He’d be damned if he’d let her out of this situation easily. He went back to his room and prepared himself. This would be like a nasty firefight, but he’d prevail. Before he went searching for Tasha, he needed to meet his 1Night Stand date and end it once and for all.
***
Tasha decided to take to the streets of Vegas on foot as she made her way to the Carnivore Club from the hotel where she was staying. She considered how the weather cooperated with her decision to leave Aaron behind when she paused at the fountains in front of the Bellagio. The cool, cloudless autumn day refreshed her while a gentle evening desert breeze kept things temperate. The weather beckoned one to enjoy the Strip on foot. A small crowd gathered to watch the spectacular display. Alive with activity, the Vegas Strip hummed with action.
She found the club and went through the checks they had in place. The instructions from the service were clear, and the attendant at the door escorted her to a private suite where she would meet her date. When she entered the room, she took note of the time when she set her overnight bag on the bed. Instantly, she wished she were staying here instead of the hotel where the trade show had been held. What a beautiful suite. Maybe this guy isn’t so bad after all.
While waiting, she sauntered through the playroom and surveyed all of its offerings. The walls were a rich, warm redwood, and she thought about the tension heels tapping on the dark green tile floor would cause someone who’d been blindfolded. As her fingers moved through the tails of one of the floggers, she saw how neatly it hung next to its brothers along the wall. The feel of the leather falls made her shiver in anticipation. Mapping the room while she strolled through, she noted the position of the bench, where all of the toys hung or lay. She opened one of the drawers lining the wall farthest from the door and surveyed the items lying inside in neat rows. No expense had been spared, the exquisite room stocked with top-of-the-line toys.
Going back into the more vanilla part of the suite, a sculpture in the corner caught her eye. She studied it a moment. The sublime piece would appeal to anyone, and if one had no idea what the BDSM life meant, one would miss the meaning of the person sitting and the person kneeling at their feet. Peering at the name of the artist, she smirked in recognition. Emily Sanchez. Lucian championed the artist, but she hadn’t known why until seeing the statue. A curious thought crossed her mind about mild-mannered Tom and his artistic wife.
She glanced at the time and frowned. He’s late.
Taking a bottle of water from the small fridge in the room, she made herself comfortable in the massive leather chair near the huge bed with a down-comforter and soft cotton sheets that dominated the room. The masculinity of the space made her grin. What irony. With all of the big, dark furnishings, the playroom had been designed with a man in mind. Despite the virile decor, she’d been invited into a luxurious and comfortable room. The longer she waited, the more anxious she became, irritated with how late the guy had decided to run. This sort of relationship needed to be built on trust and reliability. Running late had been no way to start out. Hearing shuffling outside the door, she glanced up when it swung open and every ounce of blood in her body drained to her feet when she saw who entered the room.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
***
Aaron had been sitting at a bar for forty-five minutes. He drained his second beer while deciding what he would do about what he’d seen. He’d gone to Tasha’s room to hash things out, and arrived just in time to see her leave. She’d been walking away from him, carrying an overnight bag, so, curious, he decided to follow her. She moved with purpose and determination, much like she did at work.
Keeping his distance, he stalked her while she made her way down the Strip. She’d completely dismissed him. Had he totally misinterpreted what had happened between them? He couldn’t believe he’d been so wrong and his gut told him he hadn’t. When she stopped at the fountains in front of the Bellagio it warmed him to see her watch the show with childlike wonder. Everything about her had relaxed when she beheld the water shooting into the air. He understood how the fountains were able to work in sequence and he could explain the technical aspects of the show down to the multi-layer floors under the huge pool housing the pipes allowing the spectacular display to happen, but he wouldn’t
have ruined the magic of it for her. His happiness soon soured when he saw her enter a building not far from the fountains. He recognized the building and what waited inside.
Paying the tab, he crossed the street to the Carnivore Club. He needed to cut away all the bindings his promises had created. He wasn’t leaving the place without his woman. When he arrived, he gave the attendant at the door the card allowing him access to the private areas. While being escorted to his suite, he engaged his burly escort.
“A woman came in about forty-five minutes ago. Long brown hair, wearing jeans, high heels, and a black button-down shirt with a brown leather jacket. Did you show her to one of these rooms?”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Rosencrantz, I can’t tell you.”
Aware of the club’s strict privacy rules, he’d known the answer to his question but figured it had been worth a shot. Those rules were the only reason he’d agreed to meet his 1Night Stand date here. He had every intention of telling the woman to go to hell and then taking this place apart brick by brick to find Tasha.
“I understand,” he said.
They reached their destination, and his escort opened the door to the suite. When he stepped inside, his heart jumped into his throat. He came face to face with Tasha. She’d been taken just as off guard as he’d been, and her lovely astonished face reflected a very unwelcomed surprise. Before he could think, he heard himself raising his voice and roaring at her.