by Opal Carew
Kara awoke in the darkness of a strange room, with two strong arms wrapped around her and a solid chest pressed against her back. One large hand cupped her breast. At the realization, her nipple puckered.
The handsome stranger from the plane. J.M.
Soft moonlight cascaded across the bed and she glanced over her shoulder at his sleeping form.
He was such a great guy . . . and they had incredible chemistry between the sheets. She’d gone into this—first the flirting, then spending the night together—assuming nothing would come of it, but now she wondered. It wasn’t every day a girl met a guy as perfect as J.M. Intelligent, sensitive, caring. And he sure knew how to love a woman.
At the thought, his softly uttered words scrambled through her brain.
Do you believe in love at first sight?
Oh, man, why in the world had he asked that? Did she want a guy who would believe he loved her after only a few brief hours together?
His hand tightened on her breast and she froze. Was that just a twitch or was he awake? His lips playing along the base of her neck, sending tingles down her spine, answered her question.
He lifted his head and nuzzled the side of her neck. She flicked her eyelids closed.
He chuckled. “I know you’re awake. What’s wrong, Kara? You feel tense.”
What did he think was wrong?
He stroked his finger along her shoulder, sending tremors through her.
“I hope you don’t regret spending the night.”
She rolled around to face him.
“Of course not.” She placed her hand on his cheek and gazed into his dark, moonlit eyes. “Tonight was amazing.”
He kissed her, his lips caressing hers with such passion she could feel powerful emotions welling up inside her.
His tongue delved into her mouth as his hand cupped her breast and stroked delicately. His finger teased the hardening nipple until she felt breathless. He released her mouth, then latched on to her nipple and cajoled. Then he sucked until she clung to his head, holding it tight to her chest. He switched to the other nipple as one hand slid down her stomach to her molten opening. He stroked between her legs, feeling the slickness. She opened for him, allowing him to slip his fingers inside her. He stroked her and she sucked in air, arching upward to meet his hand.
He released her tight nub and grinned at her, then shifted downward. Oh, yes, he was going to . . . He licked her slit, then stroked her clitoris with his finger. She sighed, then arched as he covered her sensitive nub with his mouth. His tongue swirled over her clit, round and round, then he sucked. She moaned, running her fingers through his hair.
His fingers swirled inside her as he licked and sucked her bud. Pleasure swept through her, rising faster and faster until she gasped, then wailed in orgasm.
He prowled upward and kissed her breast, then licked her nipple. She reached for his long, hard cock and stroked it.
“Come inside,” she urged, her voice husky.
He grinned and shifted into position, nudging her opening and then slipping inside. She sucked in air at the exquisite feel of his large cock filling her. She squeezed his marble-hard shaft. Just feeling him so deep sent her close to the brink.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him. He began to move, slowly impaling her, then drawing back, then impaling her again. He thrust deep, then held, allowing her to savor the feel of his big, hard cock inside her. He drew back and thrust again. Pleasure rippled through her as he picked up speed, driving into her again and again. She moaned at the delicious sensations sparking through her body.
“Oh, yes. I’m so close.”
His hand glided between them and he flicked her clit. Pleasure turned to pure joy and she wailed in yet another intense orgasm. He groaned and filled her with liquid heat.
She clung to him as he kissed her cheek, then under her jaw. He nibbled her earlobe and finally kissed her lips.
Tightening her arms around him, she kissed him back with exuberant passion. He stroked her hair from her face and held her close.
She felt cherished . . . and loved.
Oh, God, did the man really think he loved her?
And what about her? What was she feeling for him?
Of course, it wasn’t love. Love didn’t exist. A relationship lasted because the two people involved worked hard to make it last. It was as simple as that.
Undoubtedly, it must be infatuation. And lust, of course. The way this man made love, how could she help it? He was sensational!
Damn it, it would be hard saying good-bye tomorrow.
Kara shifted in her seat as the engines roared and the plane accelerated along the runway. J.M. placed his hand on her back and her anxiety immediately settled to minor listlessness. She automatically drew in deep breaths, just as he’d coached her to do yesterday during takeoff. It helped that the sky was blue and clear, with the sun shining brightly on the dazzling white snow, rather than the blustery blizzard of yesterday. But not as much as the heat radiating from his hand, which calmed her to an almost peaceful state.
Once they were in the air, the flight attendant passed by with a cart and served them coffee. Kara sipped her hot drink, knowing she had only an hour left with J.M., and then they’d go their separate ways.
Was it at all feasible that they could make a go of a relationship? Last night had been absolutely sensational. She could certainly learn a lot from him and that would be good for her column, but would he like being in a relationship where everything they did in the bedroom wound up in a major magazine? On the other hand, it wasn’t so much what he did, but how he did it. How could she convey that to her readers? Could she even figure it out?
Damn, the man made her feel way out of her depth. She was supposed to be the expert on sex.
“You seem deep in thought.”
She glanced at J.M. and shrugged. “Just thinking about all the work I have ahead of me when we arrive.” In fact, she hadn’t thought about the conference once since she’d met J.M. What was stressing her right now was trying to decide whether she really wanted to say good-bye to him forever.
“Didn’t you say you were traveling for pleasure?”
Damn. She’d forgotten that.
“True, but I have some work I have to finish while I’m away. I need to figure out when I’ll do that. There’s also the whole rush at the end of the trip, like getting my luggage and arranging transportation, checking into the hotel, et cetera.”
He smiled. “Ah, the fun of modern-day travel.”
He rested his hand on her arm, an affectionate rather than sexual contact, but still his touch sent heat thrumming through her. She wanted to fling herself into his arms and be swept away by his potent animal magnetism. Actually, that wasn’t quite right. His powerful attraction involved something more than basic physical appeal. Something less tangible . . . and far more dangerous . . . was at work.
Dangerous because she didn’t understand it. His mere touch could send her up in flames. How could she deal with that?
The flight attendant came by to gather their cups.
“At least we can collect our luggage together, then . . . maybe we can share a cab?”
“No,” she said a little too sharply. She shifted in her seat and stared at the seat in front of her. “I mean, I’ll be renting a car.”
J.M. watched Kara, wondering why she was so tense. Although their time together last night had been spectacular, he’d sensed her withdrawal from him as the flight wore on. He wanted to ask her where she lived, to suggest they could see each other again once they both returned home, but he sensed she would not be amenable.
Damn, he didn’t even know her last name.
The pilot announced that they would be landing in ten minutes. That meant J.M. had precious little time to see Kara before she would disappear from his life. Unless he did something about it. Unless he could convince her to see him again.
The plane was landing, but he’d wait until they got inside the
airport to discuss this with her. They’d both have to pick up their luggage, so he still had a little time. They disembarked and followed the crowd to the luggage carousels. They moved to a position where they could see the ramp feeding the conveyor, a little away from the crowd.
“I guess this will be good-bye soon,” he said to her.
She sent him a quick glance, then nodded.
“Kara, it doesn’t have to be.”
She glanced at him again, her lips drawn tight.
“We had a great time last night,” he continued. “We seem to be pretty compatible.”
She frowned and his heart sank. She drew in a deep breath, then gazed at him.
“Look, J.M. I assumed you knew this was just a one-night thing—”
He took her hand. “Kara, didn’t you think last night was special?”
Her forehead furrowed. “Of course I did. I just . . . don’t want to get involved right now. I’m very interested in my career at this point, and the last thing I need is to get sucked into something that makes me feel . . . completely out of control.”
“So what if you do?” he asked with a smile. “What if you just let yourself lose control?”
It took Kara a moment to realize he was repeating what she’d said to him at the hotel. She smiled back but averted her gaze.
The hum of machinery signaled the imminent arrival of their baggage. A big brown suitcase appeared on the moving ramp, making its way down to the conveyor belt. A few seconds later, a navy duffel bag appeared, followed by a red suitcase.
Kara stepped toward him. “I’m sorry.”
She tipped her head up and cupped his cheeks, then pressed her lips to his in a kiss. He wrapped his arms around her, savoring the feel of her body pressed the length of his. Their lips moved together in a passionate acknowledgment of their intense attraction.
How could she ignore what they had together?
She drew away, her sapphire eyes filled with sadness and, possibly, regret. She glanced at the luggage moving along the carousel behind her.
“There’s my suitcase.” She turned toward the thick crowd.
“Why don’t you wait here and I’ll grab it for you. Which one is it?”
“Thanks. It’s the black one. Right beside those two burgundy ones.”
He eased through the crowd toward the carousel, keeping ahead of the moving bag.
What was he going to do? How could he let her just walk out of his life?
He drew in a deep, calming breath. If it is meant to be, it will be. Spirit will find a way to make it work.
He stepped to the side of the carousel and reached for the bag, then dragged it to the floor. He checked that her name was on the tag, then moved back through the crowd until he’d returned to her.
“Thank you.” She pulled up the handle on the suitcase and set her carry-on on top. “I better get going.”
He stroked her cheek, then drew her in for another kiss. She melted against him, her lips moving on his with a hunger that matched his own. Then she eased away.
“Good-bye.” She grabbed the handle of her bag, turned around, and strode away without a backward glance.
He watched his perfect woman walk calmly out of his life.
“Good-bye, Kara Spencer from White Haven.”
He grinned. Luggage tags were wonderful things.
Kara tossed her bag into the cab and slumped back in the seat as the cabbie pulled onto the road. She stared out at the snowy landscape, glistening in the sunlight, and sighed.
She’d never see J.M. again. Had she made the right decision? Her fists clenched in her lap. Damn it, she couldn’t go second-guessing herself now. Sure, the sex had been great, but she barely knew the guy. It had only been a one-night thing. The fact that he’d managed to throw her emotions into a state of chaos after a simple, ordinary fling just went to show that cutting and running was the smartest way to go. And if Kara was anything, she was a smart, independent woman.
The cab pulled up in front of the hotel. She paid the driver and went inside. Twenty minutes later, she clicked open the door to her room on the seventeenth floor. After unpacking and relaxing for a bit, she decided she should go down and register for the conference. She grabbed her shoulder bag and headed out the door.
A woman wearing a dove-gray skirt made of fine wool and a matching silk blouse walked along the hall in front of her. Her short, wavy, dark blond hair bounced softly as she walked. They both turned the corner toward the elevator and the other lady pushed the call button. She glanced at Kara and smiled. The color of the blouse set off the woman’s blue-gray eyes quite nicely.
“Hi.” The stranger smiled at Kara. “You here for the conference?”
The elevator doors whooshed open and they both stepped inside.
“That’s right. I’m just going to register.”
“Me, too.” She stuck out her hand. “My name’s Grace.”
Kara shook Grace’s hand. “I really wanted to register yesterday, but our flight couldn’t get in because of the weather. I just got in a couple of hours ago.”
“I just got in today, too. With the weather so bad yesterday, I just postponed my flight.”
“Good move.”
The doors opened at the lobby and Kara followed Grace from the elevator. Kara glanced around for a sign listing the events going on in the hotel. Grace spotted it at the same time as Kara.
“Looks like we’re up two levels,” Kara said. They walked toward the escalator and traveled up, then approached a table with a big sign saying REGISTRATION FOR SSC.
SSC. Sensational Sex Conference. Kara leaned toward Grace. “I guess they didn’t want a big sign stating this was a sex conference. They’d probably get all kinds of guys propositioning the women at the table.”
Grace laughed. “You’re probably right. You know, they’re having a Sex-a-la-Gala show here at the same time, so there could be some confusion.”
“I hadn’t heard that. Why would they do that?”
Sex-a-la-Gala was an adult trade show that took place in several cities across different weeks over the winter.
“For the vendors. Many of the workshops at the SSC will talk about how to use sex toys to help enhance your sex life, so they thought it would be a good match. That way the attendees here will have a place they can go and see what’s available firsthand. Especially being away from their home environment, where they might feel more uncomfortable shopping for intimate devices.”
“You sound like a health practitioner.”
Grace smiled. “That I am.”
The person in front of them in line moved forward and Grace and Kara took a step up. Now they were at the front of the line.
“Hey, would you like to grab dinner after this?” Grace asked.
“That would be great.” Kara smiled. She’d been dreading attending a conference alone, but she’d only just arrived and had already made a friend. Things were looking pretty good.
“A friend of mine is supposed to be joining me, but I haven’t heard from him yet. That okay with you?”
“Sure. The more the merrier.”
One of the women at the registration table waved them forward. She took their names, marked them off on her list, then handed them each a name tag in a clear plastic sleeve on a red lanyard and a tote bag.
“The schedule’s inside there, along with a few goodies. Breakfast is at eight tomorrow morning in the Lotus Room, just around the corner and to the right.” The woman pointed down the corridor.
“Thanks.” Kara turned and walked beside Grace as they moved away from the line toward the escalator. She glanced down at her bag. “I’m almost afraid to see what ‘goodies’ she was referring to.”
Grace laughed as she peered inside. “I’m sure there’s nothing too . . . Oh!”
Five
“What is it?” Kara asked.
Grace stopped as she pulled out a little cellophane package and held it on her palm. Whatever was inside was silver and about two inches l
ong.
“It’s a small bullet vibrator.”
Kara opened her tote bag and pulled out an identical device. She’d just been joking when she’d made that remark. “Well, I certainly won’t be lonely tonight.”
“Oh, I’m sure you can do better than that little thing.” Grace nudged Kara’s arm. “In fact, my friend Jeremy is pretty sexy and”—she grinned broadly—“he’s a Tantra master. I could put in a good word for you.”
Ah, damn. Tantra again. In fact, Jeremy Smith was the name of the author she was supposed to interview.
“Is his last name Smith?”
“Yes. Do you know him?”
“No,” Kara said, “but I’m supposed to interview him for the magazine I work for.”
“Really? Well, that’s exciting. This will give you a chance to talk with him casually. That’s a good thing, right?”
“Sure.”
Except that the last thing Kara wanted was to spend any more time than necessary talking with a Tantra expert.
J.M. took the tote bag the woman behind the table handed him, thanked her, then turned to leave. As he walked past the line, he saw a familiar face, his old friend Quinn, who stood chatting to a young woman a few yards away.
“Quinn.” J.M. walked toward him.
His tall, sandy-haired friend glanced up and smiled. He held out his hand and J.M. shook it, then Quinn pulled him into a bear hug.
“Emma, this is Jeremy Smith, an old friend of mine.”
J.M. always went by his full name at conferences like this because he was usually speaking and promoting his books. His friends understood that.
“Nice to meet you,” the pretty blonde said. She shook his hand. “You’re doing a workshop on Tantra tomorrow.”
“That’s right.” Was his workshop that popular?
“Emma is the conference coordinator, so a good person to get to know,” Quinn said.
Trust Quinn to find the most influential person around. And attractive, too.
“I’ll leave you two to catch up.” Emma smiled at Quinn. “So, lunch tomorrow?”
Quinn smiled his devilish knock-the-ladies-dead smile. “I’m looking forward to it.”