by Tia Wylder
“Welcome to the Crown Jewel, Beverly Hills’s finest hotel. How may I help you?”
I smiled warmly. “I’m Gianna DiFaba – I called a little while about a suite.”
“Oh, yes, Ms. DiFaba,” the concierge replied. “May I see your identification and your credit card?”
I blinked.
“There’s a deposit of four-hundred dollars that will be refunded to you upon check-out,” the concierge said. “And we need to run your card.”
“Um, why do you need to see my ID?” I bit my lip. Something about that didn’t feel right, and suddenly I remembered all of the identity theft scams that my father had talked about.
The concierge rolled her eyes. “For one thing, miss, I need to see that you’re over twenty-one.”
I frowned. “I’m twenty-five,” I snapped. “And I doubt you need a piece of plastic to see that!”
The concierge pointed to a small sign on the desk, and I flushed hotly.
All cherished guests of Crown Jewel must show proper photo identification upon check-in.
Biting my lip, I handed over my ID and my credit card. The concierge typed away at her keyboard and finally passed me a paper packet of two plastic keys.
“Enjoy your stay,” she said, but she didn’t sound like she meant it.
“I will,” I said. I made a face at her before turning around and walking over to the elevator banks. The hotel really was beautiful – the lobby was all brass and red velvet, with a big glass dome and lots of green plants. It reminded me of something from an old movie but in a good way. Besides, I thought as I rode upstairs and unlocked the door to my suite. If I’m going to be a famous actress, I need to get used to staying in places like this.
The suite was beautiful and modern, completely unlike the lobby. I sighed as I set my bag down on the bed and rubbed my shoulder – after carrying around my laptop all day, I was sore. The bathroom was huge, with a giant soaking tub and a shower big enough for six people to fit inside. As eager as I was to leave the hotel and start exploring my new home, I felt grimy from being on a plane all day. I ran a long, hot bath for myself and stripped out of my clothes before sinking into the deliciously warm water. The whirlpool jets were almost enough to make me fall asleep, and after a long soak, I was feeling much better.
The only question was this: what should I do on my first night in Los Angeles?
I’d brought just one change of clothing with me – my favorite distressed jeans and a black silk blouse – and I got dressed as soon as I was dry from the bath. Taking my phone from the charging cradle, I called Diane.
“Gianna!” Diane exclaimed. “It’s like, ten-thirty here!”
“Sorry,” I said, although I didn’t really mean it. “How are you?”
“Mom and Dad are going nuclear,” Diane replied. I could tell by the sound of her voice that it was even worse than she’d said. “They called the police and everything. Dad actually tried to file a missing person’s report, but the cops said that if you left voluntarily, there’s nothing they can do since you’re an adult.”
For the first time since leaving, I felt a twinge of guilt. “Did you tell them?”
Diane sighed. “Gianna, I had to,” she said. “If I hadn’t, the police would be out there looking for you right now…and I know that’s not what you want.” She chuckled. “Besides, what are Mom and Dad going to do? Ground me? I’m twenty-one years old, for god’s sake.”
“Yeah,” I said, biting my lip. “I’m still sorry, though. I shouldn’t have put you in that spot.”
“Well, too late now,” Diane said. She laughed again. “Besides, now they’re actually thinking about Barnaby at me!”
“That should be funny,” I said. My guilt vanished, and suddenly I felt like laughing. “He’s going to be so pissed!”
Diane and I burst out laughing.
“How is it?” Diane asked when she’d stopped giggling. “God, I’m so jealous – I bet the weather is gorgeous.”
“It is,” I admitted. “It’s sunny and hot, but really nice.” I yawned. “I’m really tired, though. No one ever tells you how hard traveling is.”
“I bet,” Diane said. “I mean, you did cross hundreds of miles in just a few hours. What are you doing tonight?”
I rolled onto my belly and frowned. “I don’t know,” I said. “I’m starving, though. I’ll probably go out and get something to eat.”
“You should meet a guy,” Diane said. There was a trace of mischievousness in her voice. “You know, like a…welcome to LA kind of thing.”
“Yeah, because I bet all the successful men are dying to sleep with a twenty-five-year-old virgin,” I said. “That’s not going to happen.”
“You don’t have to tell him,” Diane said. “I mean, it’s like…just go out and get it done? Everyone says the first time sucks anyway.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t know,” I said. “That seems kind of gross to me.”
“People have one night stands all the time,” Diane said.
“How do you know that?”
Diane didn’t answer.
“Diane!” I said loudly. “Are you telling me you’ve slept with someone before?”
“Maybe,” Diane said nonchalantly. “I mean, what’s the big deal? I wanted to get it over with. And it hurt, a lot. And it didn’t feel great. But that’s what everyone says.”
“You’re giving me such an incentive to go out,” I groused.
“Oh, come on, Gianna,” Diane said. “Just go out and have fun. Besides,” she added. “I know it drives you crazy that there’s one thing I’ve done that you haven’t.”
I wouldn’t have admitted it, but she was right.
“I think I’m going to get something to eat,” I said.
“Make sure a man is on the menu,” Diane said. She giggled.
As annoyed as I was with her at the moment, I joined in. “Yeah, we’ll see about that,” I muttered before hanging up.
By the time I left the Crown Jewel, the sky was streaked with pink and orange. The evening air was intoxicating, and I noticed that as I walked down the street, everyone was staring at me. I was used to that – it had happened plenty of times in Boston, even when my parents had been around. But this was different – the stares weren’t just polite acknowledgements of my looks, but full-fledged come-ons. I began feeling sexy, and when I almost rolled my ankle on the concrete, I realized that I’d been swaying my hips from side to side. When I got to Wilshire, my feet were aching from the pinched stilettos I wore. Stopping on the corner of the street, I looked up and saw a steakhouse on the corner. It looked nice – not too flashy, all dark wood and brass – and my stomach growled. Biting my lip, I pushed the doors open and strode inside, making my way to the bar.
The lighting inside was dim, but it didn’t prevent me from getting a good look around. The restaurant was intimate and cozy – exactly the kind of place I’d wanted. I smiled as I sat down at the bar, putting my clutch beside me.
“What can I get you, miss?”
The bartender was gorgeous, with bright white teeth and dark blonde hair. I batted my lashes at him. “Vodka martini please,” I said. “Extra dirty, with olives on the side.”
The bartender flashed me a big smile before going to make my drink. I felt a little odd, sitting in the bar alone, without anyone to talk to…but part of it was exciting, too. As I watched the couples and groups around the restaurant, I almost felt like a spy, like I was getting to see a part of their private lives that no one else saw. Was the man in the corner here with his wife, or his mistress? And was the group of people laughing because they were happy, or because they’d had so much to drink they could hardly stand up?
That was when I saw him for the first time. He was sitting in the middle of the restaurant, at a table with another man, but something about the way they were talking told me that they weren’t together. His bright blue eyes and tousled dark brown hair reminded me of a famous actor, and even though he was wearing a suit, I
could tell he was well-muscled underneath. Just looking at him was enough to make my heart thud faster in my chest.
“Miss?”
My head snapped up, and I saw the bartender, holding my martini. He didn’t look nearly as handsome as he had before. I passed him my credit card and took the drink from his hands, sipping it slowly as I turned around to get another look at the man.
He seemed to be in the middle of a very serious conversation, but suddenly, he looked up, and we locked eyes. I flushed and whirled back around, downing my whole drink in one gulp.
“Another martini,” I called loudly as my cheeks burned with shame.
The bartender slid me another drink, smirking. “Bad night?”
“No,” I said, tossing my head. “In fact, I’m just getting started.”
As much as I wanted to turn around and stare at the gorgeous man again, I knew that I couldn’t. It was creepy and weird, and then what the hell would I do if he came over and explained that he was flattered but married? Or flattered, but gay? This time, I sipped my drink much more slowly. I was feeling buzzed and happy by the time I popped the last olive into my mouth and chewed.
“This one’s on the house,” the bartender said.
“Thank you.” I’d just taken the drink in my hands when I saw the gorgeous man sit down at the bar, one stool away from me.
Be bold, I told myself. This is your chance!
Biting my lip, I turned to him and smiled. “Hello.”
The man grinned. “I’m Barnes.” He stared at me, letting his eyes travel the full length of my body. Suddenly, I knew I didn’t have to worry about him being married…or gay.
“Gianna,” I said softly.
“Are you waiting for someone?”
Just you, I thought as I stared into his bright blue eyes. You’re the only one I need.
--
Ten minutes later, I couldn’t tell where Barnes’s mouth ended and mine began. We were in the back of a cab, kissing so passionately that I was moaning into his mouth. As he pulled me onto his lap and slipped a hand inside my black silk blouse, I felt a hot pang of lust mingled with embarrassment. I can’t believe I’m about to sleep with a guy I just met in a bar, I thought excitedly as our kisses grew more intense. And we’re practically doing it right here in the cab!
It was something I’d never done before, and somehow the shamelessness of the act was turning me.
“Whoa,” I whispered, pulling away and pressing my forehead close to Barnes’s. “Maybe we should wait until we get back to the hotel.”
Barnes cupped the back of my head in his hand and brought my mouth to his, sucking and nibbling on my lower lip until I felt my resistance melting away. I moaned softly and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling myself close to his muscular body. Beneath the finely knit material of his trousers, I could feel his hard cock throbbing between his legs. I shivered every time Barnes ground against me – I had no idea how something that huge was going to fit inside me. Just thinking about it was enough to make me scream with lust.
The cab screeched to a stop and Barnes breathlessly pulled out his wallet, tossing a few crumpled bills at the driver before scooping me into his arms and carrying me inside the Crown Jewel. I knew everyone in the lobby had to be staring at me as Barnes carried me to the elevator bank, but I didn’t care. All I knew was that unless Barnes made passionate love to me, I would die on the spot.
“Gianna,” Barnes growled, pushing me against the wall as he pressed the ‘up’ button for the elevator. “I want you so badly.”
Hearing him say it aloud sent my lust spiraling to all-new heights and I shivered, arching my back as Barnes pressed his scorching lips to my neck and kissed a long, wet trail down the sensitive flesh. When I felt his lips rubbing over my stiff nipples through the thin silk of my shirt, I tangled my hands in his brown hair and tugged at his scalp until he moaned.
When the elevator doors dinged open, Barnes slipped a hand under my knees and picked me up as if I weighed nothing at all. He carried me inside, and his mouth was on mine before the doors were closed again. As we ascended skyward, I felt like my heart was going to burst free of my chest and run away. I’d never felt anything like this before – blind passion and lust. I’d never before experienced how it felt to be desired by such a gorgeous man. It was almost hard to believe that it was really happening. But as Barnes carried me down the hall, I shuddered happily in his arms. This is real, I thought. And god, it’s thrilling!
We entered my suite in a tangle of arms and legs, mouths searching and kissing and licking and sucking. I knew I was wet between the legs – every time I moved, the wet silk of my panties rubbed against my crotch and sent tiny hot thrills down my spine. Barnes dropped me on the bed and crawled on top of me, pinning me down and covering my mouth with his. He grunted and growled, shoving a muscular thigh between my legs and grinding it against the crotch of my jeans.
“Oh my god,” I moaned, closing my eyes and arching my back as the pleasure building inside of me grew and grew.
Barnes put his hands on my waist, pulled my shirt free of my jeans, and yanked it over my head, tossing it to the side. I wasn’t wearing a bra, and he licked his lips as he stared appreciatively at my breasts before lowering his head and taking a hard nipple into his mouth. When I felt his tongue lapping at me, I began to writhe in a lustful frenzy. His teeth scraped against the surface of my nipple, and it hurt, but somehow the pain mingled with the intense pleasure I was feeling and made it even stronger. I put my hands on Barnes’s strong shoulders and soon I found that I was leaning into his kisses and caresses, like I couldn’t live without them. As he sucked one nipple, he took my other nipple between his fingers and began pinching and rolling the swollen flesh. It felt so good that I had to bite my lip to keep from shrieking and crying out.
“Do you like that,” Barnes growled. He lifted his head from my breasts and looked me deeply in the eyes. “Tell me, Gianna.”
I nodded my head, aware that my cheeks were bright red with lust.
“Tell me,” Barnes growled. “I want to hear you say it.”
“I like it,” I said in a shaky, quiet voice. “It feels so good.” The more words I spoke, the more turned on I could feel myself getting. It was crazy – I’d never imagined that talking dirty would excite me. But suddenly, it was thrilling and dangerous and new.
Barnes crawled further down, nuzzling my taut stomach. He swirled his tongue in my belly button, and I giggled. As he nuzzled the waist of my jeans, I felt a powerful throbbing between my legs. It felt so good that I was paralyzed on the bed as Barnes expertly unfastened my jeans and put his hands on my slender hips.
“I want to see you, Gianna,” Barnes growled.
“I want you to look at me,” I said.
I looked down at Barnes, and we made eye contact as he slid my jeans down my hips and over my legs. A powerful, musky scent filled the room, and I blushed hotly when I realized it was the smell of my own lust. Barnes dipped his head between my legs and inhaled deeply. My first instinct was to push him away – I couldn’t believe that someone would want to smell a part of my body that I’d always heard was ‘dirty.’ But after a few moments, it didn’t feel so strange. I realized that I wanted Barnes to smell my pussy, to lick my clit, to slide a finger inside of me and play with me as he pleasured me.
A small moan escaped my lips as Barnes hooked his thumbs in my panties and pulled the silk material down my legs. He grinned at me and took the soaked pair of underwear in his hand, lifting it to his nose and inhaling deeply. The sight of him smelling me was incredibly arousing, and my cheeks burned with a mingled blend of lust and astonishment.
“Your pussy smells so good,” Barnes said in a low voice that made me shiver. He tossed my panties to the floor and slid a hand between my thighs, gently but forcefully pushing them apart. As he crawled between my legs, I closed my eyes and tangled one of my hands in his hair. Barnes licked the inside of my thigh, and I shuddered. When I felt his tongue on my p
ussy, I gasped. It felt heavenly – better than anything I’d ever experienced, better than I ever thought sex could feel. Barnes wrapped his arms around my thighs and held me firmly as he licked and sucked, finding my clit and wrapping his lips around it. Hot pleasure built in my lower belly and I shivered and groaned, writhing around on the bed as Barnes continued to lap at my skin.
“God,” I moaned softly. “Barnes, I want you!”
Barnes lifted his head and smirked at me before wiping his mouth on the back of my hand. He got to his knees, and I realized he was fully dressed. Barnes locked eyes with me as he unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it to the side, revealing a perfectly sculpted chest and torso. When he unzipped his pants and kicked them aside, I watched his cock spring free. It was huge, and I shivered as he reached for his wallet and took a foil-wrapped square from the interior. Barnes ripped open the packet with his teeth and unrolled the latex condom over his hard manhood before crawling between my legs once again and kissing me. His lips and chin were soaked with my juices, but I didn’t mind, and I eagerly licked them away as our kiss grew more intense.