by DRAYER, GINA
He just stared at her. Not exactly the reaction she was hoping for. Maybe she’d been too forward? The guy earlier seemed to think her refusal meant she wanted more. Maybe that’s what he was expecting. She despised games. If that's what dating was like now, Julia was doomed.
“I’m not sure I understand. You mean…like join you for a drink back in your room?” he asked.
“We can have a drink, too. The bar in the room is fully stocked.” She looked down at her hands and back up again, her confidence fading. This wasn’t going how she'd pictured it in her head. And as usually happened when she got nervous, words came tumbling out of her mouth. “I have this big room all to myself and I find you extremely attractive. When I saw your friend go off with that waitress, I thought you might be interested. I’m sorry if I read the situation wrong. Just forget I said anything.”
Julia picked up her coat and walked as fast as she could toward the entrance. What had she been thinking? She’d never been so embarrassed in her life. Thankfully she hadn’t checked out. She was going to go back to the room and hide until the entire lobby was empty, Simon included. That way she could sneak out.
She was almost to the elevator when Simon caught up with her. Now she was even more confused. Was he taking her up on her offer or just going back to his room? His expression was blank, and she couldn’t read him. Was he playing games with her? She walked into the open elevator and pushed the button for her floor. He didn’t follow her in. He looked as though he wanted to say something.
“Well?” she asked.
Just as the doors started to close, Simon pushed into the elevator and stood beside her. Neither of them spoke as the car began to rise. She watched his reflection in the mirrored doors. The way he was staring at her, as if he wanted to push her against the wall of the elevator. She glanced down at his lips, wondering what they tasted like. She could just imagine those full lips pressed against her skin, licking and sucking at her flesh.
“Just to be clear, we are talking sex, right?” he asked point blank, startling her out of the lovely daydream. He was unashamed as his eyes traced down her body.
Her skin ached under his attention, desperate for contact. Her cheeks burned, but she nodded. “Yes.” The word came out more breathy than she’d intended.
He just nodded. Did that mean he wanted to, or was he just confirming that she’d thrown herself at him? She should just tell him she’d changed her mind.
When the doors opened, Julia stepped into the hallway without looking back, and Simon followed silently. She reached her room and unlocked the door. The digital light flashed from red to green, but instead of opening the door, she turned around and looked up at him.
This was the point of no return. There was a voice in the back of her head telling her to stop, but it was drowned out by the deafening beat of her racing heart. People did this all the time. She just need to be safe. She should text Megan with his name. She could set up a safety call. They’d use protection.
Protection. Shit. That was a problem. She really hadn’t planned on this happening.
“Please say you have a condom,” she blurted out before she’d realized what she was saying.
It wasn’t the smoothest way to introduce the topic, but she wasn’t about to invite him into her room without knowing. Simon just laughed. Julia didn’t see the humor in her question. She’d dodged a bullet with Luke. There was no way she’d gamble with her health again.
“I’m not kidding. If you don’t, that’s a deal-breaker."
“I do. I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t prepared,” he said, the humor still in his voice. “I didn’t mean to laugh. It’s just I find your forwardness refreshing.”
He took a step closer and Julia pressed against the door. They needed to get inside, because if he touched her, she was almost positive she’d jump him in the hallway.
“Julia, are you sure about this?” Simon asked. “If you’re having second thoughts, I’m happy to just have that drink and talk. Just let me know.”
She was as nervous as a rabbit, twitchy and hesitant, ever since they’d boarded the elevator. The confidence she’d had in the bar seemed to have completely vanished. He was trying to prepare for her rejection, and he’d go without argument, but not without her number. It had been a really long time since he’d enjoyed just talking to a woman.
She turned around and pressed her forehead into the door, and Simon couldn’t help but feel disappointed. He waited for her to say something. To ask him to leave. To tell him it had been a terrible mistake. But she didn’t say a word. With a long exhale, she stepped back and opened the door.
“You’re a really nice guy, Simon. I’m glad I met you tonight.” She stepped into the room and turned around, meeting his gaze. That determined look was back, but there was also something else. There was a rosy hue to her cheeks and her breath was shallow and fast. It was the look of desire, and on her, that look shot right to his dick.
“I haven’t changed my mind,” she whispered. “Come inside."
Julia turned and left him standing in the hall. That was all the invitation he needed. Simon caught the door before it closed and followed her in.
She’d left the lights off and he watched her walk through the room to the bar. She set down her purse and key before turning back, her body silhouetted against the lights of the city from the open window. He took a few hesitant steps in her direction, but she was the one who crossed the room to meet him. She grabbed his shirt, pulling him in for a kiss.
It was better than he imagined. Her lips were warm and inviting and tasted sweet, with just a hint of whiskey. He pulled her body flush to his, eliciting a gasp from her. He took advantage of her surprise to deepen the kiss, and she immediately responded in kind. She slid her hands to the front of his shirt, trying to undo the buttons with a new sense of urgency. After fumbling with the buttons for a few seconds, she broke the kiss and took a step back, breathing heavy.
“Take it off,” she said.
Gone was any trace of the shy girl he met in the bar. She was replaced with a sexual goddess, demanding and wanton. And if the look in her eyes was any indication, she wanted this as much as he did. As he pulled his shirt off, she made short work of her own sweater. The bulky garment hit the floor and Simon’s fingers faltered when he caught sight of her bare flesh.
With her short stature and small hands, he had expected a thin, delicate woman, not the lean, muscular body that stood before him. Her creamy complexion took on an ethereal glow in the low light and he wanted to worship her body with his mouth. But when she turned and walked through the room, he knew exactly where he wanted to start. Running from her left shoulder down the entire length of her back was a stunning black tree dotted with blood red flowers. He usually didn't like tattoos on women, but this complimented her curves. It was true art on the canvas of her body. And it was the sexiest thing he’d ever laid eyes on.
Suddenly realizing he was standing in the entry, drooling over her instead of moving, Simon followed her to the bedroom, now desperate to touch her. He came up behind her and cupped a breast, running a finger across the nipple. She pressed into his hand. Simon navigated them back to the bed while trailing kisses and bites along her neck and shoulders. Vanilla filled his nose and that delicate scent made him want to lick and taste every inch of her.
When they reached the bed, she turned to face him. Simon took a moment to appreciate the hot blush that bloomed atop her breasts as he watched them rise and fall in time with her ragged breathing. He moved in to taste them, but she stepped aside and stripped off her pants and underwear. When she reached for the bra, Simon stopped her.
“Don’t,” he said and teased the nipple through the lace.
No, he wanted to be the one to take off the bra. But for now he wanted it to stay. He loved the way the red lace framed her breasts as if they were being presented to him on a tray, begging to be nipped and sucked. He leaned down and kissed the soft swells, giving each one his full attention. T
hen he reached around and released the hook, taking a now-free nipple into his mouth.
Words like “harder” and “don’t stop" drifted down to him on breathy gasps as he sucked and teased. Her nails raked across his shoulders, telling him exactly how much she was enjoying it. Simon knew he’d be wearing evidence of this tryst for days to come, and he loved the thought.
He pushed her down to the bed and took a step back, intending to rid himself of his pants, but when he saw her there, flush with arousal, spread out on the bed still panting, he stopped again to admire her. The little freckles peppered her skin. Her auburn hair fell loose around her face. She had this mix of innocent and vixen that didn’t come across as fake or coy. He wondered exactly who she was, because Julia wasn’t like the women he was used to.
“Where did you come from?” he said under his breath.
She looked away, shying under his attention. “Too much talking. I want you, Simon.”
“Oh, yeah? What is it you want? Tell me and I’ll give it to you.”
“I want you to touch me,” she said softly, looking back up at him under thick lashes. In the dim light, he could see the need in her expression, and he was happy to oblige.
“Where do you want me to touch?” Forgetting his pants, Simon got down on his knees and smoothed his hand up her thigh. When he reached the top, his hand slid between her legs, barely brushing her soft curls. “Here?”
“Yes,” she moaned and pushed her hips against his hands. “God, yes. Right there.”
He teased her more, gently brushing her clit with his thumb, getting off on the throaty growls she was making. He slid one, then two fingers inside her already dripping sex. She let out a ragged gasp and ground her hips onto his fingers, desperate for more friction. Simon chuckled softly. She was so fucking hot.
“You want to know what I want, Julia?” he asked as he slowly started to move his fingers.
She moaned a soft hmm in response.
“I want to watch you come.” And as if to accentuate the point, he moved up and flicked his thumb against her clit, while his fingers increased their pressure. She bucked under the added stimulation, and moved her legs open a bit wider to give him better access. Simon smiled, thoroughly enjoying her response. He adjusted his position and slowly kissed the inside of her thigh, nibbled the peak of her hip bone, licked the hollow of her pelvis. All the while slowly working his fingers, in and out. Feeling the muscles in her abdomen begin to clench and tighten, Simon removed his fingers.
“Oh, God. Don’t you dare stop,” she said through clenched teeth.
Simon wasn’t about to stop now. Not when she was right where he wanted her. Not until she was screaming his name. He lowered his lips and ran his tongue through her folds before circling her clit.
“Fuck.” The word came out as more of a plea than a curse as her hips rocked under the heat of his mouth. She gripped the comforter, raising her hips in time with his movement. It wasn’t long before her entire body was heaving and coming off the bed.
She was close. Fuck, so was he. The sounds she was making were so fucking erotic and real. Every moan and whimper she made was honest. There was no guessing with this woman. Even her fast little panting was turning him on. When he felt her tighten around his fingers, he knew she was there. He looked up, needing to watch her. Her eyes were closed and she was biting her lip. No. That wouldn’t do.
“Don’t hold back. I want to hear you come for me.”
Simon sucked her clit harder, giving it a firm thrust with his tongue, and he was rewarded. She let out a loud scream as her orgasm took her. He continued to pump into her, feeling her muscles contract against him.
“Holy shit,” she sighed and slumped against the mattress in post-orgasmic bliss.
The only sound in the room was her harsh, throaty breath. Simon stood up and fished the condom out of an old cigarette case he carried. He enjoyed the taste of her and could easily have spent an entire night lavishing attention between her thighs. Maybe some other night. He lost the rest of his clothes and slid the condom over his hard length. But just as he was approaching the bed, she stood.
Pushing him down on the mattress, Julia took charge and crawled on top of him. He didn’t mind her aggressiveness, but the combination of her playful bites and the way she rocked her hips against his hard cock was too much for him to handle.
“Fuck, darling, I need inside you now or this is going to be a really short night.”
He grabbed her hips, raising her small frame just a few inches so he could slide inside. Heat spread through his cock and up his spine as her warmth enveloped his length. She slowly rocked and Simon thought he was going to blow. It was like he was a teen again.
“Give me a minute.” He grabbed her hips hard, holding her still. He hoped she didn’t bruise in the morning, but he couldn't help himself. If she moved even an inch he’d be lost.
She didn’t seem to mind. She seemed content to explore his body. Julia ran her fingers through the hair on his chest, tracing a path down to his hips.
After he’d gained some control, he released her, letting her take charge again. She ran her fingernails down his chest one more time before shifting her position and starting the slow rhythmic pumps of her hips. She took her own pleasure, moving at her own pace. And he was fine with that. He reached up and cupped her breast, enjoying the way the small globe fit perfectly in his palm, and watched her lose herself.
She began to roll her hips at a faster pace. The bright blush across her breasts told him she was close, but if she didn’t get there soon, he was going to finish before her and he couldn’t have that. He slid his hands down her side and found her clit, circling the nub in time with her thrusts.
“Come with me. I can’t hold on.”
“Simon,” she gasped, grinding down on his cock. She arched into his touch, putting her hand on his chest for support. Despite the chill in the room, they were both drenched in sweat, breathing as if they’d run a marathon.
“Yes!” Her cry rang out as she dug her nails painfully into his skin and tensed and came apart around him. That was enough to push him over the edge. He gripped her hips and with a few more thrusts, he let his own release shudder through him.
Julia collapsed, sliding down to his side. Simon wrapped his arm around her and pulled her tight against him. He was lightheaded, exhausted, and he was pretty sure those last scratches had drawn blood. But damn if that wasn’t fantastic. When he finally came back to himself, Simon slipped out of bed and disposed of the condom.
“Holy shit,” she said, echoing his thoughts. She stretched out on the bed, arching her back like a satisfied cat. “You were perfect."
Simon’s low chuckle barely covered a yawn. “You weren’t too bad yourself.”
He wasn’t sure what she expected now, so he decided to push it and crawled back into bed. Evidently it was his lucky night, because she pulled his arm around her and closed her eyes. Simon didn’t question the action. Especially with images of having her again in the morning flooding his mind. Christ, he wanted her again, but he was content to sleep for now. He pulled the covers over their still-naked bodies and murmured a soft goodnight against her hair. There’d be time for round two in the morning.
But unfortunately, that never happened. She was gone by the time he woke up.
Chapter Three
Modern Girl Tip #1: No Muss, No Fuss—One-nighters are a good way for those of us who have a hard time separating the physical from the emotional to experience a purely sexual encounter—without ANY expectation of it turning into something more.
“Please. You have to come with me to the lake,” Megan begged for the third time. “I don’t want to stay there by myself.”
“Wasn’t that the point?” Julia looked at her over the menu, frowning. “You said, and I’m quoting here, you would need the entire summer alone at the lake if you were going to meet the deadline for your next book.”
“I didn’t mean alone, alone. I meant I needed to get
out of town. Away from distractions. But I don’t want to be alone. Have you read 'The Shining’? All work. Up there all by myself. No play time. I might go on a murderous rampage, so you have to come. You’d be doing a public service.” Megan pulled out her puppy dog eyes. “I need you. I was there for you when you needed me.”
“I only stayed with you for three months. And I thanked you by picking up that pigsty, cooking for you, and not smothering you in your sleep. I think that was more than generous on my part.”
“What do you mean, smother me?” Megan stared at her in wide-eyed confusion.
Really? It was a good thing Julia loved Megan, because she’d been tempted to kill her on more than one occasion.
“To start with, you’re a slob,” Julia tried to explain. “And you always forgot the important stuff, like turning off the oven or paying the phone bill. You constantly talk to yourself. I never knew if I was supposed to answer you or if you were talking to one of the people who live inside your head. To be honest, after I left, I thought about calling adult protective services because I wasn’t sure you were safe to live alone."
Megan perked up at that last comment. “See. You are just proving my point. I need you there. I need adult supervision and you’re the only person I know who can come.” She set her menu down and started sipping her coffee. A smug expression lit her face, as though she’d won the argument.
“Megan. I’m planning to work this summer.”
“No. You were planning a trip to London this summer, but that’s not happening. So come to Michigan with me. It will be fun, and you could use the break. All you’ve been doing is working since The Incident.”
Megan refused to even speak Luke’s name any more, and she kept calling that night Julia had caught him banging the secretary, “The Incident.” As if talking about his betrayal would send her into a spiral of depression. Sure, it still hurt a little, but now that she had time to reflect, Julia wanted to send that woman flowers. She’d probably saved her from a lifetime of misery.