Stay Beautiful

by Trina M. Lee

  Poor Violet. She was in snow up to her knees, shaking it from her jacket with a frantic little dance. With her hair still in slight disarray from their bedroom romp and the incredulous expression on her pretty face, she was just about the most adorable thing he’d ever seen.

  She trudged her way over to him and threw herself into his arms, covering him with snow. He couldn’t resist kissing the tip of her nose. It was red and ice cold. He moved to her lips, reveling in the heat of her mouth. It was a delicious contrast against the frigid air that surrounded them.

  “Sorry about that. Couldn’t resist.” Jonah drank in her warmth, shivering against her.

  In a swift motion Violet gave him a push, sticking a foot behind his at the same time. They went down together in a heap. The snow was thick and fluffy, cushioning their fall like an icy pillow.

  “I didn’t see any reason that I should suffer alone.” A splash of snow in his face accompanied her words.

  They wrestled playfully, like kids without a care for who may see or hear them. It didn’t take long for snow to find its way into places that made Jonah’s insides shrivel. Hopefully he wouldn’t end up with the flu after horsing around like this. Although it might just be worth it.

  “I don’t know about you, but my ass is soaked and freezing. Let’s take a quick walk and head back inside.”

  They huddled together as they walked down the block. It was hard to find areas that were packed down. Nobody had walked through in a while. Violet pressed close, her hand finding his.

  “You never told me if you’re single or if you have a house full of kids to go back to.” She glanced up at him with a smile but there was a serious glint in her gaze. “Or do I really want to know?”

  “No wife and no kids. I do have an ex-fiancée though that really likes to make my life hell. We’ve been apart for months now but we’re still dividing up some shared assets.”

  “Ex-fiancée huh? Dare I ask?”

  Jonah hesitated. How much did he want to share with her? It was easy to talk to Violet. A little too easy.

  “We don’t have a big, crazy breakup story. We were both too involved in our careers and over time, things just kind of faded.”

  They stopped in front of the hotel doors. Violet looked up at the sky and frowned. The snow had quit falling. She almost appeared to be disappointed by that.

  “Do you think it was real? I mean, do you think true love can fade away?” With a shake of her head, she laughed. “Don’t feel like you have to answer that. I’m just being nosy.”

  “If we were meant to be, then we’d be. That’s the long and short of it as far as I’m concerned. I love her, you know? But I’m not in love with her.”

  The quiet was shattered by the approach of a plow. Violet and Jonah were cast in an orange glow as the flashing lights passed over them. If the snow didn’t start up again, it wouldn’t be long until the city was functioning properly.

  “Have you had your fill of winter fun for one night?” Jonah asked while unsuccessfully trying to hide how badly he was shivering. “I’m more than ready to get back inside and into that warm, king-sized bed. Our fake fire was pretty nice too.”

  “It was. Yes, I’m done here. Let’s go in and warm up. I can think of a few good ways to do that.” Standing on her tiptoes to kiss him, Violet brazenly rubbed a hand over the front of his jeans. Immediately his body responded to her, despite the cold chilling him.

  “Get your cute ass moving before I decide I should fuck you right here.” It was a gruffly spoken command. His dick stirred as the blood began to rush south, abandoning his already chilled limbs.

  Violet gave him an I dare you look and turned to go inside. He watched her for a moment, admiring the curve of her behind. Yeah, she was nice to look at all right. And damn did she ever feel good with her legs wrapped around him and her hot pussy sliding along his cock. Unfortunately, she was also amazing company.

  He didn’t come here looking to meet an irresistible woman. It had been his job that led him to the city and the weather had kept him there. If he’d been more of a sap he may have thought there was a reason for that.

  The heated lobby was almost too warm for their cold, bare fingers and frosty noses. They giggled and laughed their way over to the elevator while the front-desk clerk watched them from behind her romance novel. The hotel was otherwise quiet.

  The mirrored elevator walls reflected their red cheeks and snow-covered hair. The doors slid shut. Jonah shrugged out of his jacket and hit the button for the twelfth floor.

  “That was refreshing. Thanks for dragging me out there, Violet. It’s got to be at least fifteen years since I’ve actually played in the snow.”

  “Really?” Violet’s jaw dropped. “You don’t do a lot of outdoor activities? Or you just don’t do winter?”

  “I don’t take the time to do these kinds of things. I suppose I should.” Jonah briefly met his own eyes in the mirror. They were lit up with a light he hadn’t seen in a long time. “I spend a lot of time at work. It involves a lot of travel.”

  He couldn’t help but notice how great they looked together as he gazed at their reflection. Violet was an exotic beauty with her ebony hair and sharp features. It was her love of laughter and positive personality that captured his interest far beyond her looks. Would it be a dumb idea to keep in touch with her after this? Or would that just be asking for trouble?

  “What exactly do you do anyway? I don’t think you told me.”

  Before Jonah could reply the lights flickered and went out. There was a series of noises as the elevator jerked to a sudden stop, knocking them off balance. Violet let out a little shriek followed by “Oh my God!” three times in succession.

  Jonah reached out to steady her, feeling blindly in the dark. The sound of his heartbeat in his ears was rapid and deafening.

  “Are you all right? The snow must have knocked the power out.”

  She clutched his arm so tight it hurt. “I’m fine. Just not a fan of small spaces or plummeting to my death in an elevator shaft!”

  “Stay calm. It’s not moving. I think it’s between floors.” Jonah groped his way along the wall until he found the emergency phone. Dead. “What the fuck? Since when do regular phones need power?”

  “They don’t. Do you have your cell phone? I left mine in your room with my purse.”

  “No. Mine is up there too.”

  “Oh my God. We’re stuck in the fucking elevator.” Her voice held a note of disbelief though she shook with panic beside him.

  “It’s going to be fine. Someone will know. There’s got to be an alarm or something. It could just be a surge and the power will come right back on.”

  They waited silently as if it would do just that. It didn’t. The darkness was consuming. It was impossible to see anything. Jonah pulled Violet in close, hugging her to him.

  “We should get these cold, wet coats off before we get sick or something.” Violet pulled away. The sound of her jacket being unzipped and dropping to the floor was loud in the dark quiet.

  Jonah couldn’t help the thought that popped unbidden into his mind. What hot-blooded male wouldn’t have thought of it? After taking his coat off as well, he reached for her, finding her easily in the small space. Her scent was stronger with the absence of sight and he breathed it in hungrily.

  “Outside sales rep for a software company.” Jonah laughed when he sensed her confusion. “That’s the answer to your question, about what I do.”

  “Oh, right.” She rested her head on his shoulder. Her lips brushed his neck when she spoke. “That sounds kind of boring. Do you like it?”

  A smile crossed his face. He loved how she said what she was thinking without sugar coating it. “I like the travel. I meet some amazing people, like you. And I see some places I may never otherwise go. But the work itself, no. I hate it. It was something I got into years ago. A friend of a friend gave me a job and it paid well. I never left.”

  “You still could, you know. Start over
.” She made it sound so simple.

  “I wish it was that easy.”

  Violet gave a deep sigh and ran her fingers through his hair. “I wish we weren’t trapped in an elevator about to plunge to our deaths at any moment.”

  There was no holding back his laughter. Jonah was uneasy too. It wasn’t his ideal situation either but he didn’t really believe they were in any danger.

  “We will be just fine. Let me take your mind off it.”

  Jonah made sure her back was against the wall and then he dropped to his knees before her. He started by sliding off her boots. They felt like suede. Feeling his way along in the pitch black was exciting.

  “Are you serious?” The utter shock in her tone made him grin. “Jonah, you’ve got to be kidding me. Here? In the elevator?”

  “Are you telling me nobody has ever gone down on you in an elevator before?” He wasted no time stripping her of her leggings. It was a delightful surprise to find she had left her panties back in the room with her cell phone.

  “Very funny.”

  Despite her words she made no move to stop him when he pressed his face to the cleft between her legs. The musky scent of her sex was intoxicating. With one hand on her thigh, Jonah ran the tip of his tongue along her slit, just barely touching. He continued to tease her with slight flicks of his tongue until she moaned with the need for more.

  He delved deeper inside to taste her warm honey. Just the taste of her sweetness made Jonah’s cock ache to be buried deep within her. Violet’s heavy breathing and soft moans were especially intense to Jonah’s heightened focus on the sense of sound. He purposely avoided her clit, waiting until she was beside herself with need. Just when he thought she was getting ready to smack him for teasing, Jonah sucked the tender bud into his mouth.

  Violet’s cry echoed in the confines of the elevator. One hand held tightly to his hair. It hurt but in that great way that confirmed success. Jonah grasped one of her legs and slipped it over his shoulder. It gave him better access to enjoy all of her while he drove her over the edge.

  She was close already. He could feel it. Her body tensed and her breath came faster. Every flick of his tongue had her crying out. Jonah held her securely with both hands on her sweet ass while he manipulated her entire being with his mouth.

  Violet’s body spasmed and she came hard. Jonah eagerly lapped at her feminine juices, proud of himself for bringing her so fast and hard. If only he hadn’t left the condoms in the room with everything else. Fuck!

  There was a sudden, startling noise as the elevator launched into motion. The lights came on, blinding them momentarily. Violet snapped into action, frantically trying to get her clothes back on before the doors opened. The word “fuck” became her newest repetition and Jonah choked on a laugh.

  Rather than continue its climb to the twelfth floor, the elevator stopped at the nearest floor and the doors slid open. Nobody was there but voices could be heard from down the hall. Jonah held the door while Violet hastily shoved her boots on. She shot him a phony glare as they darted out of the elevator.

  “You ass! I know you think this is funny.”

  “Hell yes I do.” Relieved their elevator experience had been short lived, Jonah kissed her with a passion fueled by a growing affection. “Let’s take the stairs.”

  A few people stood at the opposite end of the hall discussing the power failure. Jonah and Violet took the nearest exit to the stairs, laughing and talking with the excited tones of two people soaring on an adrenaline rush. Taking the stairs from the seventh floor wasn’t fast or convenient but they didn’t mind.

  When at last they burst through the door to floor number twelve, they were breathless and tired but still laughing. Violet turned to him when they stood outside his hotel room door, a wary look on her face.

  “Please tell me one thing you do have is the key to this room.”

  Jonah dug through the pockets of his jacket, finding nothing. “Oh, shit. No wait.” A search of the inside pocket revealed the key card. “There we go.”

  Violet slumped against the wall. “Don’t scare me like that. Good Lord I need a drink.”

  “Water or wine?”

  Jonah shoved the door open and they all but fell inside. He’d never been so grateful to see the inside of a hotel room.

  “Both. But make it whiskey.”

  He went to the mini fridge in the corner and retrieved two bottles of water. Studying the remaining contents of the fridge, Jonah found it to be lacking.

  “I didn’t come as prepared as I should have. There’s whiskey all right. There’s also vodka, rum and tequila. This thing is stocked with about fifty of those small two-shot bottles.” Jonah looked up from the refrigerator to find Violet disrobing of her damp clothing. She wrapped her lithe frame in the hotel bathrobe and sat on the end of the bed, eyeing him expectantly.

  Her lips curved into a sexy grin and she raised a brow. “Wanna play a drinking game?”

  Chapter Four

  “Have you ever played the ‘Never Have I Ever’ game?” Violet picked through their drink options, wrinkling her nose at the rum. “Do you have any preferences here? I’m not a rum drinker myself.”

  “Nope. Haven’t played it. But I know the one you mean. I know how it works. And no, I have no preference. I’ll drink anything you don’t want.”

  It was almost two in the morning though Violet didn’t feel tired in the least. Their little adventure outside and on their way back up had both sobered and awakened her. She was charged now and looking forward to enjoying more time with Jonah. Especially now that they were back in the room where they could enjoy each other in private.

  They sat facing one another on the bed, the small mountain of miniature liquor bottles piled between them. They were each clad in a hotel robe with nothing beneath. Violet was comfortable with him. Entirely at ease.

  “Want to go first? Remember, you have to drink if you’ve done it. ” Violet tossed a bottle at him at random, claiming a whiskey for herself. Jonah indicated that she should go first. She had to ponder that for a moment. “All right. Never have I ever slept with a coworker.”

  She waited, watching Jonah closely. He met her gaze then looked down at the bottle in his hand.

  “Dammit.” Lifting the tiny bottle to his lips, Jonah tossed back the entire thing.

  “I knew it!” Violet declared with a giggle. “These are two shots. You don’t have to drink the whole thing at a time.”

  “Good call. I don’t want to get whiskey dick.” Jonah eyed her for a moment. “You really haven’t slept with a coworker?”

  “Never. Your turn.”

  “Let me think. Hmm. Never have I ever been given oral sex in an elevator.”

  The stare he gave her smoldered with sex. She tried to muster a dirty look but it only ended in a snicker. “No fair, Jonah. I think that’s cheating.” Opening her bottle, she drank back half of it and grimaced. “Never have I slept with siblings.”

  “Ha!” Jonah leaned forward to capture her lips in a quick kiss. “I haven’t done that. But I bet you thought you’d get me on that one too.”

  She reached to hold him close, kissing him again, a slow slip of tongue. “I thought it was a possibility.”

  “Sorry, lovely lady. I’m smart enough not to screw more than one chick in a family. Better luck next time.” There was a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Never have I ever had a same-sex experience.”

  Heat rushed to Violet’s cheeks and she quickly looked away. “Shit! I should’ve seen that one coming. For the record, it was only once. And it was awesome.” She tossed back her shot and threw the bottle aside.

  “Very hot. I was hoping to get you on that one.” Jonah ran a hand up her leg to stroke a finger along the inside of her thigh. “I don’t suppose you’d like to tell me all about it. In great detail, of course.”

  Violet mustered a coy look. “But nice girls don’t kiss and tell.”

  “Don’t try to convince me you’re a nice girl, Violet. I
won’t buy it.”

  Capturing the hand that caressed her inner thigh, she brought it to her lips and sucked his little finger into her mouth. She swirled her tongue around the tip before releasing him.

  “It wasn’t one of those college experiments if that’s what you’re thinking. It was one of those things that just happens even though it seems unlikely. She was the sister of a friend. We ran into each other out one night, had some drinks and like they say, one thing led to another.”

  “Yes. Go on.” Jonah’s tone was strained, his gaze locked on her lips.

  Hoping to tease him a bit, Violet ran her tongue slowly over her bottom lip. “She had beautiful breasts, all natural. One benefit of being with a woman is that they are guaranteed to know a woman’s body. She touched me almost like I touch myself. That was one experience I’ll never forget. I’m sure you can imagine the rest.”

  “Would you say it was your best sexual experience?”

  “Is that a trick question?” Violet lightly traced a finger down her neck to her cleavage in a slow, seductive motion. Being with Jonah made her lose her inhibitions in a way that even alcohol couldn’t do. He was entrancing. “No it wasn’t the best though it was one of the best. Hey what happened to our game? I think it’s my turn.”

  “I’d like to hear more about your night with a woman.”

  “Moving on.” Violet laughed. “Never have I ever slept with someone who was married.”

  Jonah’s jaw dropped. He reached for a bottle. “You’re determined to expose me as a total pig, aren’t you?”

  “Seriously? Oh my you are a bad boy, Jonah. I really wasn’t sure about that one.”

  He took a shot from a tequila bottle and made a face of disgust. “Allow me to defend myself. It was a moment of weakness. I knew she was married. I admit it. It was at my ten-year high school reunion. She was my first girlfriend back when we were teens. Seeing her after so long…we got to talking. She was married but unhappy. Like you said, one thing led to another.”