by Anthology
Her lucky win giving her more confidence, she pressed the button. The doors opened and she moved to board, but back in the corner was a couple wrapped in each other’s arms. The strawberry-blonde woman looked like she was about to rip her partner’s clothes off, and Julia’s eyes went wide. She moved back and let the doors close. After a moment, another elevator opened and she stepped in, slipping her card in the slot to send the car to the penthouse level. She used the time to draw a few deep breaths and try to calm her racing heart. The passionate lovers in the other elevator had reminded her of what she was letting herself in for.
The numbers above the door lit up in turn as the glass box rose, giving her a view of the busy casino floor below. There was still time to back out, wasn’t there? The bell pinged at her floor—should she get off? Or maybe stay on the elevator, and go back to the lobby. The doors began to close again, and she reached out and held them open—if not now, when?
Overnight bag slung over one shoulder; she stepped into the penthouse hallway. There were only a few doors visible from the where she stood, and a sign on the opposite wall told her that suites 1-5 were to the left, so she took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and marched off to meet her fate.
Chapter Two
Mark was surprised to hear a knock at the door. His one-night-stand should have her own key, so he opened the door expecting to see housekeeping, or maybe room service with the drinks he had ordered. Instead, he faced a very petite, very determined looking young woman with a hand raised as if to knock again. He took in her alluring, feminine figure, wavy brown hair around a pink-cheeked face, and wide blue eyes gazing curiously back at him.
“I take it you’re not housekeeping, then?”
A pucker formed between her straight brows. “No, did you want me to be?” She jutted her chin toward him and dropped the hand that still hung in midair.
“Absolutely not,” he said, looking up and down the hallway. “I had asked for some extra towels…” He trailed off, and a moment of silence stretched out while they looked at each other. When she didn’t say anything, he smiled and said, “I’m Mark and you’re?”
“Julia.” She spoke so quietly he had to lean in to hear her.
She certainly didn’t act like someone who was brazen enough to book a one-night-stand with a stranger. “Just to be sure—Madame Evangeline sent you?”
She looked up and met his eyes. “Yes. May I come in?”
“Of course, please.” He stepped back to let her pass, following her with his eyes as she dropped her bag on a suitcase rack by the door and walked to the windows. She looked out, facing away from him. “Didn’t you get a card key, too?”
Standing between the parted draperies, she held it up for him to see. “Yep. I just felt funny using it when you were already here.”
He joined her and looked over her shoulder out the window. She froze when he stood so close behind her. That was a surprise.
The Strip lay below in all its flashing, neon glory. A faintly floral fragrance from her soft-looking hair drew his attention back to the room and the very desirable woman in front of him. Nice. He lifted a hand to touch it and then stopped, surprising himself with his hesitation. “I love the lights here.”
When she turned around to face him, Mark understood why he’d held back. Julia was utterly different than the women he spent his weekends with. And it wasn’t just the soft curves of her no-doubt natural breasts, or the minimal makeup on her lovely face. The slight tremble in her full, lower lip as she stood under his scrutiny. The whole package together took his breath away, and for once in his wild, playboy life, he had no idea what to say. Or how to begin.
***
Julia was stunned. She had never imagined that the guy Madame would send her would be so magazine-cover drool-worthy. He had tall, dark and handsome written all over him in letters two inches high. He was either lightly tanned or his natural skin color was a pale gold a couple of shades lighter than his amber eyes and much lighter than his hair, which was deep mahogany. Was there a crayon that color? Maybe in the sixty-four pack.
Her gaze drifted lower; she should probably be thinking about the six-pack right in front of her. Even lower, her blush crept into her cheeks again as she took in the tented front of his very nicely fitted slacks. Had pants always been so…eye catching? She hadn’t even had sex one time, and yet, she was focusing on the below-the-waist assets of every man in Las Vegas! Doubts assailed her, and she forced her eyes closed. It truly was too late to back out now; if she did, she’d never try it again. The image of herself as a withered spinster, left on the shelf, never having had the guts to lie with any man imprinted itself on her closed lids and made her shudder.
Her eyes slowly came back up and up, across the broad chest and the proud chin, the full lips and to his golden eyes. The guy in the lobby was nice-looking, but she’d hit the jackpot with the hunk in front of her. Madam knew her business. She couldn’t have found a sexier man if she'd built him from a kit. A virgin’s dream.
“What are you thinking?”
“I—that is, I’m thinking that you’re very good looking.” She blew out a breath. Smooth.
“Thank you.” His low, rumbling voice sent fingers of excitement right to her core. What did he think of her? She was curvier than was fashionable, but a compliment of some kind would be nice.
A long moment of silence drew out while they stood facing each other. Less than a foot apart physically, it seemed an uncrossable barrier stood between them. Finally, Julia couldn’t stand it anymore and lifted on tiptoe to brush a soft kiss across his lips. It certainly broke the ice. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her hips tight to his, bending to take the kiss to the next level. Julia wasn’t new to kissing—she had dated, after all. And she had enough experience to know that the guy was amazingly gifted. She looped her arms around his neck and surrendered the last of her doubts.
His lips were firm and insistent. When she parted her own, he took advantage of the opening to plunder her mouth. Her world contracted to just that kiss, his nip at her lower lip, the teasing tip of his tongue stroking hers until her knees threatened to give out from the dizzying sensations. He held her firmly against him, and his hands slid down to cup her ass, strong fingers digging through her silky skirt and lifting her slightly so she was back on tiptoe, and even more off balance.
Mark pulled back, let her drop to her feet again, and looked down at her, amber eyes darkened to a deep gold and smoky with desire. Before she could wonder what he might have planned next, a knock sounded on the door followed by a voice announcing, “Room service.”
When he released her, Julia grasped with both hands for the windowsill behind her and watched him go to the door to let in the waiter with a tray of drinks and a platter with a silver cover. Mark dealt with the man, his voice as cool and even as if they’d been sitting across the room from one another discussing the weather. Julia was dismayed until she saw his shoulders shake as he drew a deep breath before turning back to her. He had great self-control, but he wasn’t, thank God, unaffected by their kiss.
When he turned back toward her, he was pulling his shirt over his head. The cocky smile that was revealed as he tossed the garment into a corner belied her earlier impression. But before she could carry the thought any further, he dropped his hands to his leather belt. Julia felt like a mouse playing staredown with a snake. Transfixed. Still silent, he loosened the silver-colored buckle, pulling it out through the loops, and then began to unbutton his jeans. Moving to the bed, he sat to pull off his black leather boots, stopped, and tilted his head to the side, one boot held in his hand.
“Aren’t you going to undress?”
“Oh, yes, of course.” She smiled and tried to look confident, but the warmth of moments before chilled. When she had signed up for this evening, she hadn’t exactly been forthright. In filling out the paperwork, she had implied that her level of sexual experience was “moderate”. She was afraid the service would turn her down, tha
t maybe a virgin was unqualified for a one-night-stand under their policies.
Mark had no idea what he was dealing with, but even with her inexperience, she’d expected more seduction than this. Narrowing her eyes, she glared at him. Whether he knew it or not, it was her first time and she was not going to be rushed. If he didn’t have the sense to make this encounter special, she’d have to provide guidance
She pasted what she hoped was a sensual smile on her face. What had he asked? Oh, yes. Would she take off her clothes. Years of fantasies surfaced, thousands of romance novels devoured, imagining her own moment of truth. “I was hoping you’d do it for me.” She fluttered her eyelashes, cliché? Whatever. The gleam in his eye told her he was interested in her plan.
She turned away from him to show the row of buttons that ran all the way down her indigo blue sundress to the knee length hem. “Please? I can’t reach them all.”
***
Mark’s mouth dried. He stood quickly and took a step toward her, stumbling over the boot he still wore. Hopping on one foot, he managed to yank it off and dropped it to the floor, never halting his forward motion.
He’d unbuttoned a few dresses before, although he couldn’t remember much about them at the moment. He placed a hand on each of her hips and turned her to face him. Reaching behind her, he slipped open one after another of the tiny, fabric covered buttons. His eyes focused on her tempting, ivory throat, and he bent to press his lips against the pulse that beat there, inhaling her light, floral perfume and the underlying, spicy scent that could only be Julia.
When he’d opened the buttons to her waist, he stepped back and slipped the dress off her shoulders, revealing her white lace bra with its front hook, then her smooth, white abdomen. So feminine, he rested a hand on the softness of her slight roundness there, her skin silken and the curve doing things to his breathing that he would never have expected.
Week after week, he went out with hot women from the club scene. They were all beautiful, and not one had anything but an absolutely flat abdomen, earned through starvation and a strict workout routine. Setting her slightly away from him, he took in what he had revealed with hungry eyes. Nothing about those nearly-identical women had ever made him feel… Had ever made him feel anything except an unremarkable lust.
He pulled her close again, reached around her and opened the buttons to below her hips. With a swish, the dress slid off and fell to the floor. She followed its fall with her eyes, and when they came back up, she shuddered, just seeing him looking at her. Could she see his hunger? Her hands were still at her sides, and her eyes met his, as she stood there in her bra and very tiny white lace panties. Her breasts curved above the tops of the bra cups. Were her nipples pink or deeper, maybe coral-hued—he wanted to find out. Now.
He stepped back and finished unbuttoning his jeans, pushing them to the floor and stepping out of them. He wore the skintight boxer-briefs that so many women seemed to find sexy. Does she? They were standing only a few feet apart, but again his finesse had deserted him.
He was never hesitant in the bedroom? He slept with different women every week. Inches separated them, and he reached for her, but something in her face stopped him. Her eyes were wide and her full, lower lip trembled slightly. As did her hand, when she raised it to her cheek.
“Are you cold?” he asked. “The air conditioning is set pretty low, let me raise it.”
“No.” She moved her hand away from her face and rested it on his arm. “I’m not cold.” Her face was tilted up toward him, and he bent to capture her lips, savoring their softness, and her intoxicating scent as he moved to close the distance between them. He reached to unhook the front of her bra and looked down between their bodies as her breasts spilled out. Satisfying his curiosity.
“Lovely.” He slid his hands underneath them and cupped them in his palms. Their soft fullness caught him off guard, and he stroked their undersides with his thumbs. Most of the club girls had implants because very low body fat didn’t usually equal big boobs. But Julia’s silken handfuls were one hundred percent natural. Her nipples were a deep rose color that made his mouth water. Returning his gaze to her face, he saw her eyes were drooping. So sensual, so erotic. His cock pushed against his shorts, straining the fabric.
He stepped back and took her hand, tugging her toward the bed and pulling her down to sit with him on its edge. He kissed her again, softly, lifted her legs onto the mattress and piled fluffy pillows under her head.
“Julia? Are you comfortable?”
“Hmmm?” Her gaze me his, but her lids were lowered halfway and her breathing was an audible pant. “Oh, yes, very comfortable.” She lifted a hand and rested it on his arm, trailing her fingernails over his wrist.
He sat on the bed, taking in his one-nighter.
She looked like a renaissance painting, all lovely colors blended together. Her brown hair with its coppery highlights that made it reflect light in a golden haze, her creamy skin. Against the hotel’s indigo comforter, her eyes looked even bluer and her skin even paler. She was more vivid and more elegant than anything he’d ever seen before. And for one night, she was his.
He filled his hands with her breasts, loving their softness against his palms. He’d never realized how much he disliked hard, silicone boobs until now. Julia was a real girl.
***
Julia was a girl veering between turn-on and terror. Every touch of Mark’s hand sent new sensations racing through her body. She had indeed been bare-breasted before with a man. But there was something about the way Mark touched her and looked at her that made her heart pound and her mouth dry. Probably it was because she planned to sleep with him. No-holds barred—she wanted it all. And she hadn’t told Madame because she didn’t want some guy who was looking for a virgin to add to his woman collection. No, she wanted an exciting evening of being treated like a woman, finally.
She rested her head among the fluffy down pillows and allowed him to take the lead. He crawled up beside her, gracefully, like a jungle cat, and lay beside her, nude. She could see his underwear on the floor by the bed. She craned her neck to try to see what she’d gotten herself in for, but the angle was wrong. In just a few minutes, I’ll be done with this virginity nonsense. She closed her eyes tightly, fear overwhelming the desire, waiting for his next move.
“Look at me,” he said, and she opened them again. “Blue like the Caribbean.”
She was caught in his own amber gaze, taking in how long his lashes were and the stubble she could see on his cheek. Her fingers strayed up to touch the roughness, and she rubbed her palm across his face, liking the tingle the little hairs gave her. She wondered how it would feel against her lips, and raised her head to find out.
His rough cheek felt great, and she rubbed her lips back and forth, savoring the sensation. Why had she never taken the time to explore anyone she had been with before? She would have lost her virginity years ago. Or maybe it was just Mark. His scent drew her, something wild and spicy, cinnamon and sandalwood, and male.
He turned his head and kissed her again. Lips slightly parted, they breathed each other’s breath, slow, sweet, intoxicating. The tip of his tongue stroked her lip and she sighed before timidly reaching out with her own to touch his, tangling in a complicated, erotic dance. Julia squirmed, feeling vulnerable when he parted her legs and pinned her beneath his muscular thigh.
He reached for her breasts again and began to stroke them, speaking softly. “Julia, you have the softest skin, and your nipples are so hard. I want to lick them, bite them, make you scream.”
Her squirming increased. Moisture pooled between her thighs, and as he went on, she began to feel a wet spot on the bed beneath her. “Shall I do that, beautiful Julia? Do you want me to bite your nipples? Will you beg me to?”
“Oh, yes. I want you to.” She thrust her chest toward him, his words wiping away her fears in a wash of desire.
“What do you want me to do? Tell me.” He moved his mouth to her earlobe, nipping it with sha
rp teeth. “Is this it? Shall I use my teeth on your nipples too?”
“Yes, yes,” she said, shuddering.
“Yes what?”
“Nip me, bite me, lick my breasts, please. I want your mouth on me.”
“Where?” He gave a tug on her lobe and she felt an electric shock all the way to her toes.
“Everywhere, lick me everywhere.”
He released his hold and licked slowly down her neck, making her want to squeal. “All you had to do was ask.”
She opened her mouth to respond to his cocky remark, but closed it when he blew cool air on her stiffened nipples. Her blood rushed through her veins, and she felt so alive she almost forgot that she wasn’t the wanton woman she was showing him.
True to his word, he laved her nipples with his hot tongue, one at a time, while pinching the other with his fingertips. She tangled her fingers in his hair, her head tossed back on the pillow and eyes squeezed very tight. He was licking slowly, taking long seconds to make each circle around her nipples, and the sweet agony of waiting for each part of her areola to be touched by that rough tongue was almost more than she could stand. Suddenly, he pulled back and looked up at her from under lowered lashes, searing her with his gaze, before dropping his head back and sucking her nipple into his mouth, biting down, just enough for the pain and pleasure to mingle and she cried out.