What We Did Last Night

What We Did Last Night Karenna Colcroft After six months of self-imposed dating exile, Lissa is ready to get back on th...

Author: Colcroft Karenna

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What We Did Last Night Karenna Colcroft After six months of self-imposed dating exile, Lissa is ready to get back on the horse. She isn‟t looking for a date, just a one-night fling with the hottest man she can find—and she finds Ross, a guy who takes control and orders Lissa into one of her wildest fantasies. When Lissa runs into him again the very next evening, Ross wants another chance to do what they did last night…

Ellora‟s Cave Publishing

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What We Did Last Night ISBN 9781419935572 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED What We Did Last Night Copyright © 2011 Karenna Colcroft Edited by Jillian Bell Cover design by Syneca Model: Alex Photography: Syneca; bart78 and Valentino Ristevski/Shutterstock.com Electronic book publication October 2011 The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora‟s Cave Publishing. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora‟s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher‟s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author‟s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author‟s imagination and used fictitiously. The publisher and author(s) acknowledge the trademark status and trademark ownership of all trademarks, service marks and word marks mentioned in this book. The publisher does not have any control over, and does not assume any responsibility for, author or third-party Web sites or their content.

WHAT WE DID LAST NIGHT

Karenna Colcroft

Karenna Colcroft

Chapter One The heavy, low beat of the music throbbed through the club. The entire building vibrated to it and sensual energy from the many people there filled the air. Between Lissa‟s legs a pulse beat in time with the song. The dance floor was packed. No surprise on a Saturday night. Bodies in various stages of intoxication—both from alcohol and from the music—undulated together on the dimly lit floor. The smell of sweat mingled with perfumes and colognes. Every move Lissa made brought her in contact with someone. Not that she minded. The physical touches and sexual tension in the place heightened her desire for more intimate touch. This wasn‟t her usual thing. She‟d gone to clubs in the past, but lately she‟d become more of a homebody. But after months of dating exclusively, followed by months of hiding from even the idea of dating, she was ready to try again. Even though it had taken someone else‟s insistence to make her realize it. Somewhere in the crowd her friend Kerri was dancing. Lissa had lost sight of Kerri a while earlier. She wished she could let her know how much she appreciated being dragged out of her six-month-long self-imposed exile. Since her last relationship had ended, Lissa had moped at home every weekend with only her battery-operated boyfriend to take the edge off her sexual frustration. She hadn‟t wanted to try meeting any new guys. Her ex had taken her heart and stomped on it. She refused to risk having that happen again. Now moving to the beat, she wished she hadn‟t wasted so much time sulking. She‟d complained during the entire drive to the club about Kerri‟s insistence that they go out but she was glad her friend hadn‟t let up. If she just had someone—some man— to share the music with, the night out would be completely worth it.

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What We Did Last Night

She stepped backward and bumped into a firm, moving body. Lissa started to turn to apologize but a deep voice said, “Stay right where you are.” His hot breath against her skin sent a shiver through Lissa, as did his words. Usually she didn‟t like taking orders, and certainly not from total strangers, but something about the way he spoke implied that he expected to be obeyed. His confidence intrigued her to the point that she had no intention of doing otherwise. Besides, the way he‟d given the command aroused her. She had a secret desire for a man to take control. This guy might be just what she was looking for. He wrapped one arm around her and rested the palm of his hand against her abdomen. The heat of his touch ignited a flame inside her. Her nipples perked up and, without giving herself time to think, she ground her ass against him. “That‟s it,” he said. “You‟ve been turning me on since you got out here on this dance floor. Better watch out or you‟ll get more than you bargain for.” She didn‟t answer. That sounded a little too much like a threat. Maybe he didn‟t want her to look at him because he didn‟t want her to be able to describe him after he attacked her. And maybe she was letting her imagination run away with her. She was safe enough in the club. There were too many people around for him to try anything. The desire his touch and words sent through her told her he couldn‟t be all bad, but she would be careful if this dance led to more. Lissa thought the song might have changed but she couldn‟t be sure. The only thing she‟d been able to distinguish of the music was the low beat that went straight to her core. The beat had stayed nearly the same through all the songs the DJ had played. At least she assumed the songs had changed, because she‟d been dancing a long time. Despite the thrill of her new partner, her legs were starting to ache. She tried to pull away from him. He wrapped his arm more tightly around her. “Where do you think you‟re going?”

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This time she turned to face him and looked up about eight inches into a thin, tan face with the deepest blue eyes she‟d ever seen. His reddish-blond hair, so tousled it had to be deliberate, flopped over one side of his forehead. He was so gorgeous that for a moment Lissa forgot what she‟d wanted to say. He grinned. “Did I knock you speechless?” Lissa swallowed a couple of times and finally remembered why she‟d turned around. “I want to sit down,” she said, pitching her voice to be heard over the song and crowd. “Then I‟ll go with you.” He took her hand. “I‟m Ross.” The jolt that traveled up her arm from his touch startled her again into nearly forgetting what she needed to say. “Lissa,” she managed after a few seconds. I must be hornier than I thought if this guy’s having this much of an effect on me! Now that she saw him, her instincts told her he wouldn‟t hurt her. Unless she wanted him to. “Nice to meet you.” He leaned closer to her and she smelled the rum and Coke he‟d apparently been drinking before he walked onto the dance floor. “Let me buy you a drink? I promise I don‟t have any nasty motives.” “Oh, nasty wouldn‟t be too bad, depending on what you mean by nasty.” Lissa winked and led him off the floor, still holding his hand. She was surprised at her boldness, but the guy was hot and she was through playing things safe the way she‟d done for months. The bar was packed three or four people deep with two bartenders trying to keep up with all the orders. Ross pushed into the crowd and within minutes had the attention of one of the bartenders. “What do you want?” he asked into Lissa‟s ear. “Daiquiri.” She felt lightheaded and didn‟t know whether the heat of the club or the heat of being so close to Ross caused it.

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Ross ordered their drinks and kept one arm around Lissa while they waited. She was both grateful for and aroused by the gesture. Once they had their drinks, Ross cut a path through the crowd to the side of the club where several small tables waited for people who were tired of dancing. They found a vacant one and Ross helped Lissa up onto one of the tall, wooden-backed stools. “I could have managed,” she said as she arranged her black stretch miniskirt to avoid showing too much. “I‟m a gentleman,” he paused, “Mostly.” He sat across from her. Although the noise of the club still made conversation difficult it wasn‟t quite as bad as it had been on the dance floor. “What brings you here?” Ross asked. “My best friend.” Lissa grinned. “She thinks I spend too much time alone.” “And what do you think?” He took a gulp of his drink. “A woman like you doesn‟t have to be alone if she doesn‟t want to be.” “I wanted to be. Now I don‟t.” She looked him in the eye and steeled herself against another physical reaction to him. Since she‟d been looking at him for several minutes now he didn‟t affect her quite as strongly as when she‟d first laid eyes on him. Her desire for him hadn‟t lessened any though. If anything she wanted him more. She hadn‟t wanted anyone in a long time. Too long. This isn’t anything to do with him. I’m just plain horny. She didn‟t quite believe that. Maybe her dry spell had something to do with it but there was also something about Ross. “So what are your plans after the club shuts down?” Ross asked. “Or are you planning to stay that long?” “I don‟t know. I think that might be past my bedtime,” she teased. “Maybe you need someone to tuck you in,” he suggested.

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“That might be.” She picked up her drink and took a sip, hoping the cool liquid would quench some of the fire building inside her. One-night stands with strangers had never been her thing. But she knew she wouldn‟t be leaving the club alone. “So tell me about yourself,” Ross said. Ah, the getting-to-know-you talk. Lissa hadn‟t dated in so long that she‟d nearly forgotten the awkwardness of first conversations. She almost wished she hadn‟t insisted on leaving the dance floor. There hadn‟t been any need to talk while she‟d been pressed against Ross. Their bodies had done all the communicating necessary. Still, if she planned to go home with him tonight it wouldn‟t hurt for them to know a little about each other. Even though they‟d probably never see each other again. She wasn‟t looking for a relationship. When she‟d left her apartment she hadn‟t been looking for anything at all, though she wasn‟t averse to a little fun that night. After the night ended Ross could go his way without hurting her feelings at all. She felt deliciously dirty just considering the idea of taking this man home and fucking his brains out. Being a good girl hadn‟t gotten her anywhere. She was coming out of her dating exile with a vengeance. “I‟m waiting.” Ross didn‟t sound impatient but an undertone in his voice let Lissa know that he expected an answer. “I‟m trying to think of something about myself that won‟t bore you to death,” she replied. “I‟m not that fascinating a person. I‟m in advertising. I live alone.” She kicked herself for telling him that. Rule one of hooking up—don‟t tell a stranger you live alone until you‟re sure you trust him enough. Of course he would figure it out if she took him to her place. “A woman like you doesn‟t have to be alone,” he said again. “Not tonight, anyway.” Looking him in the eye, she ran the tip of her tongue over her upper lip. “So tell me about yourself, Ross.”

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He grinned. “I think you know everything you need to know. I‟m here, I‟m available and after watching you and dancing with you I‟m horny as hell.” He glanced at the gold-colored watch on his left wrist. “It‟s almost eleven. Do you want to stay in this crowd or should we find a quieter place to talk?” He didn‟t waste any time. Now that he‟d issued a direct invitation, Lissa wasn‟t sure what to say. She didn‟t care much what he thought about her but giving in too quickly might give the wrong impression. Then again, she‟d already made up her mind that she would leave with him tonight. Obviously he was thinking along the same lines. “I need to find my friend,” she said. “I can‟t just bail on her. I have to tell her I‟m leaving.” “Of course.” He finished off his drink and stood. “I‟ll go with you. If she‟s a good friend she‟ll want to make sure you aren‟t leaving with an axe murderer.” “Yes, she will.” Lissa took another sip of her daiquiri and debated whether to take it with her on her search for Kerri. She decided against it. With so many people in the club she would likely get jostled and end up with daiquiri on her new white satin tank top. She took a final sip and stood, leaving the glass on the table. “Will you lead the way?” she asked Ross. “I don‟t know what your friend looks like,” he pointed out. “You lead and I‟ll make sure people get out of your way.” He took her hand and pulled it to the bulge in his faded jeans. On reflex Lissa squeezed gently and Ross smiled his approval. “Don‟t take too long,” he warned. “I won‟t.” She rubbed his cock and a shiver ran over her skin. She‟d done this to him, to a complete stranger. She‟d made him hard and ready and she definitely wouldn‟t make them wait any longer than they had to. He yanked her against him and cupped her ass with both hands. Before she could take a breath he crushed his lips against hers so hard she felt his teeth through their lips. Her nipples stiffened again and moisture rushed to her pussy. She hadn‟t been touched 10

Karenna Colcroft

this way in longer than she remembered. Her previous lover had prided himself on being gentle, even when she‟d told him that sometimes gentle just flat didn‟t do it for her. This kiss with Ross did all kinds of things for her. She barely managed to catch her breath but it hardly mattered. Her body, her libido and her desire were the only things she focused on. He broke the kiss as abruptly as he‟d begun it and swatted her ass before he let her go. “Preview of coming attractions. Now let‟s find your friend.” Dazed and hornier than ever, Lissa pushed her way through the crowd with Ross so close behind her his breath warmed the skin of her neck below her pixie-cut hair. They dodged elbows, drinks and a couple of fists as Lissa tried to scan the crowd for Kerri. She hadn‟t seen her friend in at least an hour but she knew Kerri wouldn‟t have left without letting her know. She had to still be somewhere. After a few minutes Ross clamped his hand on her shoulder. “Do you have a cell phone?” “Of course.” She fished it out of the tiny purse she‟d slung across her chest and held it up. “Text her,” Ross suggested. “This is like looking for a needle in a haystack and I‟m not patient enough for that.” He again brought her hand to his cock, which felt even harder than before. “Keep this up and I‟ll fuck you on the dance floor.” A thrill ran through Lissa at the thought of being taken in public. Her face heated. She‟d never been an exhibitionist either. Apparently the night and Ross were having more of an effect on her than she‟d realized. Or maybe it was just the daiquiri. She texted Kerri that she was ready to leave and waited for a reply. She spotted Kerri standing at the edge of the dance floor just as the response hit her phone and she took Ross‟ hand and led him to her friend. Kerri‟s eyes widened slightly when she saw Lissa holding Ross‟ hand, then she smiled. “I see going out tonight was a good idea after all. You‟re leaving, you said?” 11


“Yes.” Lissa braced herself for her friend‟s argument. “Can I speak to you privately?” Kerri‟s glance at Ross clearly told him to get lost. “I‟ll be at the front door.” Ross slid his hand over Lissa‟s ass. “Remember, don‟t make me wait too long. Ten minutes and I‟m gone.” He winked and smiled at her. “Probably.” The last word was all that kept Lissa from seeing him as a total jerk, though his command sent another frisson of desire through her. She did like a man who took charge. “I‟ll be there,” Lissa promised. Unless Kerri talks me out of it. Not that she planned to let her friend talk her out of the one thing she‟d really wanted in the past six months. Ross walked away without looking back. Lissa watched him go, admiring his ass in the just-right-tight jeans until she no longer saw him through the crowd. Then she turned back to Kerri, who was watching her with an impatient frown. “You just met him tonight,” Kerri said. “We danced,” Lissa replied. “We kissed. We fondled. I want him, Kerri.” “Dry spells take away rational thought.” Kerri sighed. “Are you sure this is a good idea? You don‟t know anything about him. What if he turns out to be a nutjob?” Lissa tensed, clenching her jaw to keep herself from snapping at her friend. Kerri just wanted to look out for her. That was what friends did. “If he turns out to be a nutjob I‟ll stab him with one of my steak knives and call the police,” she said flippantly. “I don‟t think there‟ll be any problem. We‟ve been talking. It wasn‟t just, „Hey, want to get laid tonight?‟” “You shouldn‟t take him to your place,” Kerri said. “Find a motel or something. Neutral ground.” That wasn‟t a bad idea, though Lissa doubted whether her credit card would handle charging a room. She would mention the thought to Ross. “Good plan. And I‟ll call you if there is any problem, I promise.”

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“Call me even if there isn‟t,” Kerri said. “If I haven‟t heard from you by midmorning tomorrow, I‟ll be the one calling the cops.” “Deal.” Lissa hugged the other woman. If it hadn‟t been for Kerri she wouldn‟t have had anyone looking out for her. She certainly wasn‟t much good at it herself. “Thanks for bringing me here.” “Well, it definitely seems to have worked out for you.” Kerri smiled. “Have fun, be careful and don‟t do anything I wouldn‟t do.” “That doesn‟t leave much,” the two women said in chorus. Lissa hurried to the door. At first she didn‟t see Ross and her heart skipped a beat. She hadn‟t been talking to Kerri that long. Ross wouldn‟t have left already. Then she spotted him outside leaning against a streetlamp pole. A group of women walking by turned in unison to look at him but he didn‟t react. His eyes were on the club door and his face broke into a grin when Lissa walked outside. He came over and embraced her. Lissa melted into his arms as if she‟d been feeling them around her forever. She understood Kerri‟s concern but she knew she‟d made the right choice by going home with Ross. It’s a one-night stand, she reminded herself. This isn’t going anywhere except to bed. “Ready to go?” he asked. “And where and how are we going?” “I rode here with Kerri.” Lissa couldn‟t resist kissing the side of his neck. She wanted him so much she almost tasted it. “We should get a hotel room, maybe.” “Split the cost?” he suggested. “Yeah.” She still doubted her credit card‟s ability to cover the price but at least she wouldn‟t have to pay the whole thing herself. “Sounds good. I‟ll drive, you pick the place.” He kissed her and pushed his tongue between her lips. The surprise and intimacy of the kiss nudged Lissa‟s arousal closer to the boiling point. She would have to choose the nearest affordable hotel. She wouldn‟t make it much farther than that. Not that she

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was completely sure where that might be. She‟d grown up in the suburbs and hadn‟t gotten to know the city at all until she‟d moved there a few years earlier. She‟d never had a reason to spend a night in a hotel. She knew there were hotels close to the club, but most of them were pricy, upscale chains that probably cost a week‟s pay for a single night. Ross‟ hand stole under her skirt and between her legs and she gasped into his mouth. Everyone can see! Somehow the thought didn‟t bother her as much as she felt it should have. Instead it only added to the excitement of going to a hotel with this man. The thrill of knowing her self-imposed dry spell was finally at an end. People could see what he was doing to her and she didn‟t even care. Her pussy craved a touch from something other than her own fingers or a piece of plastic and even through her panties, Ross‟ finger gave her exactly what she wanted. He broke the kiss and hoarsely whispered, “Preview.” He pressed his finger hard against her clit. Lissa bit her lip to keep from crying out. She might have convinced herself she didn‟t care if they were seen but that didn‟t mean she wanted passersby to hear her. Grinning, Ross let go of her. “My car‟s this way.” He nodded up the street. “I think we‟re ready to leave now.”

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Chapter Two Lissa‟s legs trembled as she followed Ross to the parking lot. His teasing had left her intoxicated by the ecstasy his touch had almost brought her. Almost, because he‟d stopped too soon. Then again the busy sidewalk in front of a dance club was hardly the place to bring someone to orgasm no matter how desperately the other person might want it. He stopped and turned to look at her with a tolerant smile. “Knees shaking too much to walk?” “You might say that.” She caught up to him and took his arm. “I think you‟d better help me to your car after that little stunt. If that was just a preview I can‟t wait to see what happens when we‟re alone.” “We‟ll be alone in my car,” he mused. “Maybe I should give you another little preview there. I think I left you seriously wanting just now.” Lissa closed her eyes and an image of herself sprawled on the front seat of Ross‟ car, exposed to him and anyone else who happened by, filled her mind. She shuddered with mixed fear and excitement. She would never dare do anything so public and yet the thought turned her on so much she wasn‟t sure she could resist acting on it. “We‟ll get to my car a lot faster if you can see where you‟re going,” Ross said. “Um, yeah.” Face heating, Lissa opened her eyes. Ross led her to a light-colored SUV in the parking lot behind the club. In the orange glow of the streetlights Lissa couldn‟t tell the exact color of the vehicle. The color didn‟t matter to her anyway. The important thing was that the car was more than large enough to accommodate the little fantasy she‟d just had.

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Ross took out his keys and pressed the button to unlock the doors then opened the passenger side door and gestured inside. “Get in if you‟re sure you dare,” he said in a teasing voice. “I dare.” Not quite gracefully, Lissa climbed into the car. As she tried to arrange herself on the seat her skirt rode up past the point of decency. She started to adjust it but stopped herself. Ross had touched her between her legs; she had no reason to hide herself from him. And if anyone else happened by— She shivered and settled herself on the seat. The soft leather cradled her. He apparently hadn‟t owned the vehicle long. The typical “new car smell” filled Lissa‟s nose. Along with it came a whiff of the slightly spicy cologne Ross wore. “Are you trying to give me a show?” Ross asked. “Previews,” she replied, throwing his own word back at him. “I see.” He shut the door and went to the driver‟s side to get in. He put the key in the ignition but didn‟t start the engine. “Know any good hotels?” Lissa shook her head. “I don‟t usually go to hotels.” “You usually bring men to your place?” He raised an eyebrow. “That isn‟t very safe.” “I don‟t usually bring men anywhere.” Her face warmed again as she realized how her words sounded. “I mean, I haven‟t been out to clubs or anything in months and before that I was in a relationship. I haven‟t done anything like this since college.” “Really?” He sounded surprised. “Interesting.” He rested his hand on her thigh. “So we don‟t know where we‟re going. Maybe we should just hang out here.” Slowly he moved his hand up her leg. “I think we can find some fun things to do.” “I‟m sure we can.” She held her breath and waited to see just how far he would go. And how far she was willing to let him.

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If her body had its way they wouldn‟t leave the parking lot. She‟d been on the edge since she‟d first bumped against Ross on the dance floor and every touch and glance had fueled the fire within her. Her skin tingled with the need to be touched even more intimately. The need to feel his bare skin against hers. His hand reached the spot where her thigh and pelvis joined and he paused there, looking into her eyes with a mischievous glint in his own. “Should I?” he whispered. “How far will we go, Lissa? What do you want me to do to you?” “Anything.” The word escaped her before she could stop herself and she knew she was lost. Desire had overtaken reason and she no longer cared if they were seen. Or how uncomfortable fucking in a vehicle, no matter how large, might be. All she cared about was having his body against hers, his hands roaming her, his cock inside her. “Anything, huh?” He yanked his hand away and started the engine. “For the „anything‟ I have in mind I think we‟re going to need a bed. So let‟s go find that hotel.” How can he do this to me? Stunned, Lissa stared at Ross‟ profile. He didn‟t return her gaze. He acted as if nothing had just happened and meanwhile she sat there with a pulse throbbing between her legs, desperate for some relief. He couldn‟t possibly be serious about making her wait. He put the SUV in drive and steered out of the parking lot. Apparently he was serious. The club sat on a side street in the boutique district of the city. The hotel Ross drove to, a tall cinderblock building dating from the late 1800s, was several blocks away and far outside Lissa‟s price range. Instead of passing it, Ross slowed and pulled into the semicircular drive out front. “This isn‟t what I had in mind,” Lissa protested. “Do you want me to keep driving?” Ross asked. He put the vehicle in park and turned to look at her. “I‟ve been teasing you all night. You were teasing me before I even spoke to you even if you didn‟t know it. I could drive around and try to find a

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cheaper hotel but I think that would waste time we could better spend on other things. I‟ve stayed in this place before when I‟ve hosted people for business. It‟s very nice.” “It looks it.” She agreed with his reasoning but there was no way she could cover even half the cost of a room in this place. Not without blowing her budget for the month. “I know we said we‟d split the cost,” Ross said as if he‟d read her mind. “Don‟t worry about it. You chip in what you can and I‟ll cover the rest. I mean, if this is the first time in a while that you‟ve had a little adventure like this, we should pull out all the stops.” Lissa couldn‟t argue with that. She did deserve something special. “Okay.” Ross drove up to the door and handed the vehicle over to the valet, then took Lissa‟s hand and led her through the revolving door into a lobby larger than Lissa‟s entire apartment. Potted plants sat in brass pots against gleaming posts. The front desk, trimmed in gold-colored metal, was discreetly tucked against one wall. This late at night the lobby was sparsely populated. The people who were there wore tasteful dresses, suits, or casual wear. Lissa felt acutely out of place in her outfit, especially when the desk attendant frowned in their direction and called, “May I help you?” “Yes.” Ross pulled Lissa over to the desk before she had a chance to protest. “We‟d like a room for the night, please.” “You have no luggage,” the clerk pointed out. “Very observant.” Ross took out his wallet and pulled out a platinum credit card, which he laid in front of the man. “We do, however, have this. We‟d like a room for the night, please.” “Of course.” Apparently the credit card changed the man‟s opinion of them. He started rapidly clicking keys on the computer in front of him. “We have a room with a queen bed on the fourth floor. No smoking.”

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“That will be fine.” Ross put his arm around Lissa. “I think the bed will be large enough for what we need.” The man glanced up, startled, and immediately looked down again. He picked up Ross‟ credit card and Lissa opened her purse to take out her own. Ross grasped her wrist. “Pay me back later,” he whispered. “This guy‟s already close enough to giving us a hassle.” He had a point. Lissa didn‟t like the idea of his paying for the entire room himself but it would only make the clerk more suspicious if she and Ross paid with two separate credit cards. She would figure out some way to get the money back to him. It wouldn‟t be easy since she didn‟t expect ever to see him again. She would do her best. The clerk finally handed them a small cardstock folder containing two key cards. “I‟m afraid our snack bar and restaurant have both closed for the night but there are vending machines on each floor. We begin serving breakfast at six a.m. Continental in the snack bar and a full buffet in the restaurant.” “Thank you.” Ross took the folder. “Have a nice night.” He led Lissa to the glass elevator in the center of the lobby. As they ascended to their floor Lissa looked around. Breakfast in this place would definitely be something but she doubted she and Ross would be here that long. Even if they did end up spending the entire night he would probably be in a hurry to leave in the morning. She might be as well, depending on what occurred in the meantime. Their room sat directly across the plushly carpeted corridor from the elevator. Ross unlocked the room and pushed open the door to reveal a room papered in textured cream with a burgundy carpet even thicker than that in the corridor. Most of the room wasn‟t visible from the door. A short hallway with a door to the left opening into the bathroom separated them from the rest of the room. “After you,” Ross said, gesturing grandly.

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Lissa entered, eyes wide. She‟d never been in a room like this and couldn‟t believe Ross had paid for such luxury just to get laid. She touched the wallpaper and looked toward the floor-to-ceiling window at the far end of the room. “This is amazing.” “It sure is.” Ross flipped on the lights and let the door swing shut behind him. Abruptly he pinned Lissa against the wall and held her arms above her head. She caught her breath, unsure for a moment whether he meant to hurt her. “You look scared,” he growled. “What do you think I‟m going to do to you? After all, you did tell me to do anything I wanted.” “I did,” she agreed, trying to breathe evenly to slow her pounding heart. Even with the fear, his forcefulness sent flames through her. If he was as intense in bed as standing here this would definitely be an amazing night. “Then why do you look so frightened?” He nuzzled her neck just below her ear. “I‟m not going to hurt you. Believe me, nothing we do tonight is going to hurt.” “That—that‟s good to know,” she stammered. He let her go and studied her. For a few seconds she kept her arms where he‟d left them. Then she realized nothing was making her hold them there and lowered them to her sides. “Shy now that we‟re here?” he asked. “You shouldn‟t be. I can see you a lot better now. You‟re beautiful. Sexy as hell.” “Thank you.” Her face warmed. She wasn‟t shy. At least she didn‟t intend to be. At the club and in Ross‟ car she‟d barely been able to wait until they arrived here. But after his sudden move she was a little less certain about her decision. He wouldn‟t hurt her, she was sure of that. But she‟d come to a hotel with a total stranger. Of course she‟d be a little uncertain. And a lot turned-on. Stop thinking and get on with it!

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She smiled at Ross and ran her tongue across her upper lip. His eyes lit with lust. “So I guess I owe you for paying for this room,” Lissa said in a seductive tone. She tossed her purse onto the bureau. “You don‟t owe me a thing,” he said. “But if you‟re bent on paying me back I‟m certainly not going to stop you.” He reached for her again and this time pulled her into an embrace that was the complete opposite of his forceful act a few moments earlier. “Fast or slow, it‟s up to you,” he murmured. “You know how turned-on I am and I know I left you ready to explode. That doesn‟t mean we have to just start fucking. We have all night long.” “I know.” She cupped his face with her hand. The tender gesture felt out of place in this situation. “Let‟s see what the bed looks like, shall we?” “I think that sounds like a good idea.” The bed was covered in a comforter patterned in cream, burgundy and forest green. Several pillows were piled at the cushioned head of the bed. The room smelled perfectly clean, as if no one had ever stayed there before. The window looked out at the city skyline, lit with thousands of tiny dots in the windows of the office buildings and skyscrapers. The sight almost took Lissa‟s mind off the reason she and Ross were here. Only almost. The moisture between her legs and the blood rushing through her veins with the still too-fast beating of her heart wouldn‟t let her forget completely. She toyed with the hem of her top, pulling it up just enough to reveal a tiny bit of skin between it and the top of her skirt then lowering it again. She looked at Ross to see an amused expression on his face. “Don‟t tease me,” he warned. “Why not? You teased me plenty.” She repeated the move. He walked across the room and pulled the dark green drapes closed over the window. “If you‟re going to put on a show it‟s going to be a private one.”

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“I don‟t think anyone would be looking into a fourth-floor window.” She was a little disappointed that he‟d closed the drapes. Even though it was unlikely that anyone would have seen her, the possibility that someone might have spiked her arousal, just as it had in his car. “I‟d rather not take the chance.” He pulled his shirt out of his jeans and mimicked Lissa‟s teasing move. “So tell you what. I‟ll show you mine if you show me yours.” “We‟re going to play a game, huh?” She twitched her shirt between her fingers. “I could just tell you to strip or else.” He lowered his voice to a growl. “You don‟t know how long I was watching you in that club before I finally went over to dance with you. The way you move had me hard as a rock before I went anywhere near you.” “Really?” She‟d known she was a good dancer but hadn‟t thought her dancing was anything special. “Really.” He pulled her against him. The hardness in the front of his jeans pressed against her belly. “And I‟m still hard. That‟s barely gone down since I started talking to you. You wanted to play in the SUV and I didn‟t let you because I would have gone off like a fucking rocket if you‟d touched me.” “You made me touch you,” she reminded him. “I wanted you to see what you‟d done to me.” He ran his hands down her sides and she shivered. “I wanted to do the same thing to you. When I saw you dancing I couldn‟t wait to touch you. You were so fucking hot I was amazed no other guy got to you first.” “I guess you‟re the lucky one.” She leaned against him, bringing their bodies even closer together. Her cunt moistened further and tingled as if begging for his touch. Under other circumstances the way he talked about watching her in the club might have given her the creeps. Here and now, after dancing with him and touching him, it made her hot as hell to know that she‟d had such an effect on him. He‟d wanted her so much he‟d made his way across the dance floor to talk to her.

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So much he‟d paid for this hotel room, which was going to waste because they were just talking and teasing. She didn‟t want to tease anymore. The effects of the “previews of coming attractions” he‟d given her hadn‟t worn off and being so close to him in a place where fucking was more than possible, it was inevitable, only added to her desire. With a lustful smile, she stepped back from him and yanked off her tank top, leaving only the sheer white lace bra she‟d worn beneath it. She tossed the top toward the bed and Ross caught it. “I might just have to keep this,” he said. “Otherwise I might not believe tonight happened after it‟s over.” “If you keep it I‟ll have to go home half naked,” she pointed out. “And that would be a bad thing?” He stripped off his T-shirt and threw it to her. “There. Now we‟re even.” His muscled chest had just a scattering of reddish-blond hair the same color as the hair on his head. Lissa itched to run her fingers over that hair and find out if it was as soft as it looked. Her palms tingled at the thought of running over his skin and down his pecs to his flat abdomen. He‟d only taken off one item of clothing but her body reacted as if she were seeing him completely naked. Which she could hardly wait to do. Having felt his cock through his jeans she knew it would more than satisfy her. She wanted to see just how large it was. Apparently he would only take off his clothes if she started it. After a moment‟s consideration during which she carefully avoided looking at him because she didn‟t want him to see in her eyes the intense lust she had for him, she unzipped her skirt. “Are you sure you want to do that?” he asked. “Very sure.” She started to push the skirt down. He grabbed her wrist. “I don‟t want you to. That skirt is short enough to stay right where it is while we play. Who says you have to get naked?”

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Proving his point, he shoved the skirt up around her waist and yanked her panties to the ground. She shivered at the cool air that stroked her wet pussy. Forceful was much more of a turn-on than playful. She met his eyes and challenged, “I‟m naked enough. What about you?”

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Chapter Three “I said we don‟t need to be naked.” Ross unfastened his jeans and pushed them down just enough to free his long, thick cock, nested in reddish curls. Lissa‟s mouth watered at the sight of a tiny droplet at the tip. “You can see everything you need to, can‟t you?” he asked. Lissa nodded and swallowed. “Everything.” “Good.” He lunged at her and grabbed her shoulders. She barely had a chance to breathe before he pushed her down onto her knees. She didn‟t protest but allowed him to control her. Right then they both wanted the same thing—her mouth on his shaft. He thrust his hips forward and his cock brushed her lips. “Suck me,” he ordered. “I‟ve been fantasizing about this since I saw you in the club.” Instead of obeying, Lissa touched her tongue to the moisture at his cock‟s tip. The sweet salt on her tongue sent sparks straight between her legs and she almost unknowingly reached down to touch her swollen clit. “Don‟t you dare,” Ross warned. “This isn‟t your turn, it‟s mine. You suck my dick and I‟ll make it worth it to you. You can wait.” She glared up at him. “You left me so fucking horny I wanted to scream and now you‟re going to make me wait longer?” “Damn straight.” He twined the fingers of both hands through Lissa‟s hair and held her head still. “You can open your mouth or not.” “You won‟t force me to do anything.” She sounded more sure than she felt. This was more of the forcefulness that had attracted her to him at the club. She wasn‟t completely certain that nothing else lay beneath it.

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“I‟ll only force you as much as you let me.” As she tried to puzzle out that statement he shoved his cock between her lips. A second of her being startled gave way to instinct and she began to suck him, savoring the soft texture of his skin against her tongue. He moaned softly and tugged her hair, urging her to move her mouth along his length. She obliged, taking him as far into her mouth as she could and then sliding her lips back to his cock head. The slight salt of his sweat touched her tongue. On impulse she took her mouth off him entirely and licked down his length to his balls. Gently she mouthed each. He shivered and moaned more loudly. “That‟s fucking hot. Keep that up and you‟ll get a mouthful before you expect it.” She expected it soon. His cock twitched, indicating just how close he was. She swirled her tongue back to the tip of his cock and engulfed his shaft again, sucking lightly. With one hand she squeezed the part of his shaft she hadn‟t fit into her mouth. The small noises he made told her how much he approved of that move. She sucked for several seconds then repeated the downward spiral with her tongue. His sounds picked up in urgency. Knowing how close she was bringing him to climax made her nipples and clit perk up. Just thinking about how much pleasure she was giving him brought her own orgasm closer. She might come without either of them touching her. Even though she doubted such a thing would be possible she couldn‟t deny how incredibly aroused she had become. She‟d almost forgotten how powerful it was to have a man under this kind of control. “I‟m going to come,” he moaned. Lissa didn‟t miss a beat. She slid her lips up and down his shaft and increased the pressure of her hand on the base of his cock. His moans became urgent grunts and he gripped her hair more tightly, to the point of pain. She didn‟t protest. Everything other than her heightened desire barely registered. “Lissa!” 26

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With only that for warning, he bucked and her mouth filled with the tang of his cum. She swallowed reflexively and smiled around his cock, looking up at him through her lashes. His eyes were closed and his face beamed with pleasure. Breathing heavily, he bucked again. Another spurt struck her tongue and again she swallowed. Ross trembled and spasmed through another jolt of climax and Lissa‟s smile grew. She had done this to him. She had made him come. She had power over him no matter how forceful he‟d tried to be over her. Ross relaxed his hands in her hair and she was able to move her head again. She kept her mouth on him a moment longer to be sure she didn‟t miss a drop of his fluid then rocked back on her heels with a triumphant grin. His breathing slowed gradually and he opened his eyes. “Damn. You‟re one hell of a cocksucker, you know that?” “I‟ll take your word for it.” She licked her lips. “You do that.” He exhaled a long sigh and sat on the edge of the bed. “Whew. It‟s going to take me a few minutes to get my breath. I never dreamed you‟d make me come that hard.” Lissa stood, feeling smug. She‟d considered herself out of practice at giving oral but apparently she hadn‟t been as rusty as she‟d thought. “Is it my turn yet?” “Get over here and find out.” He held out his hand to her. Lissa took his hand and he yanked her forward onto the bed. She tried to turn over to look at him. “Don‟t,” he ordered. “Stay just like that.” “I want to see you,” she said. “You will later. Right now, if you want your turn, do what I say.” With her face against the comforter, Lissa saw nothing. She had no idea what Ross planned to do and she was a little afraid to find out. But that part of her that had found it so exciting to be pinned against the wall or groped on the dance floor found the absence of visual input thrilling.

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Hands roughly pushed her skirt up again since it had ridden down a bit while she‟d sucked Ross. Cool air touched her wet cunt, followed by a surprisingly gentle finger that stroked her clit then thrust inside her. Apparently Ross didn‟t plan to waste time on kissing or playing with her breasts. He meant to get her off quick and hard just like she‟d done to him. Another finger entered her and touched the sweet spot just inside. She shivered and moaned into the comforter. The flame that had ignited within her now grew to a bonfire, consuming her with the need to be touched. The need to be fucked. A need she couldn‟t give voice to because her face was pressed against the comforter. And something told her if she tried to speak Ross would stop his explorations and leave her desperate again. Another hand caressed her ass and paused for just a moment between the cheeks. Lissa held her breath, wondering whether Ross would dare touch that part of her. Then his hand continued and she exhaled. She unquestionably enjoyed his actions but there were some things she just wouldn‟t do with a stranger. The fingers inside her thrust in and out more rapidly and she found it more difficult to breathe, not only because of the comforter between her and air. If it became too hard to catch her breath she would turn her head regardless of what Ross said. For the moment she had enough oxygen in her lungs. She didn‟t want to look at him yet. She wanted to wait and find out what he would do next. Sensations built within her. Flame. An explosion that would send her spiraling and crying out. Something she hadn‟t experienced with anyone but herself in far too long. She yearned for the climax, reached for it. Ross withdrew his fingers and stroked her clit again. Lissa whimpered in frustration and anticipation. Her entire body tingled and trembled as her orgasm bore down on her. He had brought her so close earlier and their physical contact and his words since then had done nothing to dampen her arousal. Now, with his fingers finally exactly where she wanted them, it was only a matter of time before she came.

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“You like this, don‟t you?” His rough voice was close to her ear and his warm breath against her skin sent shivers through her. “Lying there exposed to me. I can touch you however I want and you won‟t know what I have in mind until I do it. This is turning you right the fuck on, isn‟t it?” “Mmm.” The murmur was all she could manage. All she dared to say, because with the electrifying sensations rushing through her she was afraid she might scream if she tried to find words. “What would you do if I stopped?” He couldn‟t do that to her. Not again. She started to turn around to glare at him and he put his hand against the back of her head. “Don‟t,” he said. “I guess you wouldn‟t be too happy if I stopped. So I won‟t. Yet.” He pressed his finger hard against her clit and she cried out, her voice muffled by the comforter. She ached for release and wanted to beg him to make her come but again didn‟t quite dare to find words. And after another moment she didn‟t need to. The delicious friction of his finger against her clit pushed her over the edge. Her cunt clenched and her hips bucked against the bed. Her entire body seemed to fly apart and for several seconds she barely felt the mattress beneath her. Her limbs didn‟t seem to belong to her any longer. She shouted again and again into the comforter as her climax took her over completely. “That‟s it.” Through the rushing in her ears she vaguely heard Ross‟ voice. “Come for me, Lissa.” His words and intense tone, and the fact that he hadn‟t stopped his play, sent another orgasm ripping through her before the first had fully subsided. She could do nothing but lie there and cry out, thankful that her noises were muffled as she entirely lost control of her body and her mind. Nothing existed in that moment except ecstasy. Gradually she came down from the high of the climax. Her awareness of her surroundings returned and she dimly realized that Ross no longer touched her. She

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turned onto her side to inhale more deeply and saw him sitting cross-legged beside her with a proud smile. She took a breath. “Damn.” He chuckled. “I thought you might say something like that. Haven‟t come like that in a while, I bet, huh?” “You‟re pretty sure of yourself.” She propped herself on one elbow and studied him. His cock was hard again, poking out from his open fly. He had a triumphant gleam in his eye. He looked hot as hell and despite the climax she‟d just had Lissa craved his touch again. A more intimate touch this time. “I‟m very sure of myself,” he replied. “I saw how hard you came.” “Yeah. It was good.” She breathed deeply as a small aftershock rocked her. “I think I‟ll remember that for quite some time.” “Then we should give you a few more memories.” He stretched out on his back with his hands behind his head and looked at her. “As soon as you get your breath back I want you on top of me. I‟m going to fuck you so hard this bed will bang against the wall.” “That might bother our neighbors.” She tried to hide the delighted grin that threatened to take over her face. She‟d always loved being on top but her previous lover hadn‟t enjoyed the position enough to let her have her way often. “Fuck the neighbors,” Ross growled. “That might bother them too.” He laughed. “I guess you have a point. So are you ready yet?” Looking into her eyes he stroked his erection. “Because I sure as hell am.” Watching his hand move on his shaft, Lissa licked her lips. Her mind and libido were more than ready to sit on that hard cock and let it fill her yearning pussy. Her

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body, however, hadn‟t quite gotten over the intensity of her orgasm and she didn‟t want to move yet. “Give me a minute.” “It better not be more than that,” he warned. “Getting you off made me hard as hell and I want to feel you around my dick.” “You will.” She sat up and was pleased to discover that her body was willing to cooperate with that much at least. “I want you inside me. You have something, right?” “Ah, good thinking.” He lifted his ass off the bed and pulled his wallet out of the back pocket of his jeans. “I have a couple of somethings in here. So we‟re good for at least two rounds.” “At least.” On Kerri‟s half-joking suggestion, Lissa had stashed three condoms in the inner pocket of her purse. She didn‟t want to let Ross know about those yet. His two condoms would be more than enough. He removed the two foil-wrapped packets from his wallet and tossed the wallet onto the floor. With a flourish he tore open one of the packets and held up the condom. “Would you like to help?” “You go ahead.” With her luck she would rip the thing if she tried. Watching him unroll the condom onto himself, knowing that he was doing it for her, would be incredibly hot. She became wetter just thinking about it. Slowly he unrolled the piece of latex onto his cock, his eyes on Lissa. She watched his every move and her pussy tightened at the thought of what she was about to receive. She‟d wanted for too long. Now was the time to get what she desired. With a total stranger. Of all the times for second thoughts, this was the worst. But it was her last chance to change her mind before she did something she wouldn‟t be able to change. She‟d gone six months without getting laid. Do I want it this badly now? Yes.

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So she didn‟t know Ross. That didn‟t matter. They‟d gone far enough now that turning back wouldn‟t make sense. And now he lay with his hands out to his sides and his cock sheathed in the condom. He looked at her with intense anticipation. “I‟m ready. You said you were too.” “I am.” Without giving herself even a second more to doubt, she rose to her knees and straddled him. She didn‟t lower herself onto him yet. That wouldn‟t have been as much fun as teasing him by rubbing herself on his cock, a move that sent jolts through her clit. He reached up with both hands and cupped her breasts. Her nipples stiffened at his touch and she sighed with contentment. “Fuck me,” he urged in a hoarse whisper. “We both want it. Don‟t make me wait any more to find out what your cunt feels like. Fuck me.” “Patience is a virtue,” she murmured through the haze of arousal that enveloped her. “Not one of mine.” He squeezed one breast just enough to get her attention. Startled, she yelped. “If you‟re going to tease me we‟ll have a problem,” he said. “Like you didn‟t tease me enough?” She glared down at him. He squeezed again, not as hard as the first time. Her nipples tingled. She ached to have him inside her but she refused to give in that easily just because he‟d said so. “The time for teasing is over,” he said. “I want you. I‟ve wanted you all night. I‟m done playing games. I want to fuck you until we both scream. I‟d rather do it this way with you on top of me but I‟d be happy to take over and just plain take you.” She shivered at his words and the look in his eyes. She still didn‟t believe he would do anything she didn‟t allow. The problem was that she might allow him to do exactly as he threatened. Being taken that way was one of her favorite fantasies, one she hadn‟t been able to indulge with her previous lover. He‟d been too laid-back to take advantage of her in or out of bed. That was one of the reasons she‟d let the relationship end.

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Ross would give her what she wanted. The only difficulty would be determining her desires. And how she wanted it. He grabbed her waist. “One second and then I‟m in charge.” “No.” She pulled his hands away from her and, still holding them, lowered herself slowly onto his cock. He filled her. The friction of his shaft against the walls of her still-sensitive cunt rushed her toward the brink of another orgasm. Nothing compared to the sensation of a man‟s nude body beneath her, their bodies joined. She‟d missed this more than she‟d realized.

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Chapter Four She rose on him and lowered herself again. The pleasure that shot through her was amazing. She moaned softly and closed her eyes to savor the feeling. He rested his hands on her hips, not grabbing this time but just holding and encouraging her to move. “You feel fucking incredible,” he said. “So do you.” She smiled. “I guess this was worth waiting a little while for.” “I guess it was.” He swatted her ass. “I‟m through waiting. You wanted control, take it. Fuck me.” She tightened herself around his shaft and he gasped. Smug, she grinned. She‟d nearly forgotten that move and she was glad to see it had its desired effect. “If I‟m in control I don‟t take orders.” He didn‟t reply, just looked up at her with a gleam in his eye that she could only describe as lust and possessiveness. The latter made no sense for a one-night stand but she was too involved in the physical sensations coursing through her to wonder about it right then. Slowly she rose and lowered herself again. This time Ross didn‟t protest when she stilled so she repeated the move, picking up the pace. He thrust upward to meet each of her downward movements and she became grateful for his hands keeping her in place. Unable to keep herself completely upright as their fucking became harder and faster, she put her hands on either side of Ross‟ head and leaned forward. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her down. “Lie on me,” he murmured. “I want to feel you against me.” Lissa obeyed. Ross tightened his arms around her and she burrowed her face into the spot where his shoulder met his neck. The smell of his sweat, spiced slightly with

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the cologne he wore, filled her nose and she breathed it deeply. The smell was Ross and she wanted to remember it even if she never saw him again after this night. She didn‟t want to try to figure out why she would want to remember him if she didn‟t plan to see him again. A heaviness grew in her lower abdomen, a pressure that would only be relieved by orgasm. In the position in which Ross held her they rubbed together perfectly and his cock hit just the right spot inside her. Her body tingled as if tiny sparks danced over her skin and she knew it wouldn‟t take long for her to come again. Ross moaned and grunted softly in her ear. He tensed and Lissa realized that he was closer to coming than she. Not that she minded. She didn‟t usually come from intercourse so when she did she considered it a bonus. She wanted to come with Ross inside her. She wanted to feel herself rippling along his length. As if he‟d read her thoughts, Ross murmured, “Come for me. I‟ll wait.” Lissa reached for climax and stopped herself. The surest way to prevent an orgasm was to try to have one. She moved on him and he thrust upward harder than before. She cried out and he held her more tightly. “That‟s it,” he said. Now he took control of their pace, fucking her harder than she would have believed possible in that position. She gave up trying to move and allowed him to move her with his thrusts and hands. Her breath caught in her chest and she forced herself to recall how to inhale and exhale as the waves of her climax bore down on her. His body against hers, skin to skin from the waist up. The scent of his cologne and sweat, a scent that was unquestionably male. Their mingled sounds of pleasure. Everything added to Lissa‟s arousal and took away all control and thought, leaving only the physical. Her cunt clenched around Ross‟ shaft and she cried out into his ear as the orgasm took her. Her body went limp against his as wave after wave of pleasure ran through her, leaving her trembling. He bucked against her and with a loud groan spasmed 35


beneath her several times, filling the condom with his fluid. His hold on her loosened as his climax apparently left him just as weak and unable to move as Lissa. She didn‟t want to move. Ross hadn‟t completely let go of her and she didn‟t want him to. They‟d come at nearly the same moment and that small connection made her want to stay with him just as they were, skin against skin, joined in the most intimate way possible. Eventually she would have to get off him. Eventually they would go their separate ways. This was a one-night stand, nothing more. But she didn‟t want to think about that. “Thank you,” Ross murmured. Surprised, she propped herself up so she could see his face. Total pleasure suffused his expression and he smiled up at her. “What are you thanking me for?” she asked. “For leaving the club with me.” He reached up to stroke her hair. “For coming to this place with me. For letting me fuck you. Hell, I don‟t know. The blood hasn‟t gotten back to my brain yet.” Lissa laughed. “I guess that was good for you, then?” “Yeah, you might say that.” He took a shallow breath. “Okay, off. The blood will get back where it belongs sooner if I can breathe better.” Carefully she moved off him and lay next to him on her side. He got up and peeled off the condom, which he wrapped in a tissue and tossed into the trash can. Then he returned to bed, put his arm around her and nudged her to lay her head on his chest. The tenderness touched her. She‟d figured that once they were finished fucking he would want to leave. Or would stay only because of the possibility of fucking again. She hadn‟t expected him to want to cuddle. She wasn‟t sure how she felt about it but she couldn‟t deny that she liked having his arms around her.

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Don’t get used to it, she scolded herself. Whether you leave now or in a couple of hours, you’re still not going to see him again after this. This isn’t a relationship. It’s just a fuck. Her heart sank. She‟d figured that she would be able to deal with a one-time thing but now she wished for more. Obviously she hadn‟t had a chance to get to know Ross well yet. What she did know about him made her realize he was the kind of guy she would get along with well. The kind she would look for to have a relationship. The fire from his touch, the way her body responded to his forcefulness, told her she needed a man like him in her life. He made her feel as if she were the sexiest woman he‟d ever seen just with the look in his eyes. She knew nothing about him, but some instinct told her he would be as good a partner as he was a lover. Now she wanted to know more about him. He‟d mentioned staying in this hotel for business. Did that mean he was from out of town? His business had to be doing pretty well for him to afford this place. If he was from the city, surely he would have met other women. Why had he been alone in the club? The questions rose to her lips, but she held them back. This was a one-night stand, not a freaking job interview. She didn‟t want to scare him off by interrogating him. “You‟re being pretty quiet,” he said. “Still waiting for your blood to go back where it belongs?” “Just thinking.” She snuggled against him and ignored the part of her mind that again told her not to get used to this. “Nothing important.” “Good.” He paused. “You know, I paid for the room for the whole night. We don‟t have to leave until morning. So if you want to stay I wouldn‟t mind it.” “Oh.” The unexpected invitation left her with nothing to say. She definitely didn‟t want to leave. She just didn‟t want to seem too eager to stay with him.

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“I mean, it‟s pretty late.” He nodded toward the alarm clock on the stand beside the bed, which showed that it was well past midnight. “And I don‟t know about you, but after that workout I‟m a little too tired to drive home.” “You‟d have to drive me first,” Lissa pointed out. “So yeah. Why don‟t we stay?” She would have to go home in the same clothes she‟d arrived in. That wouldn‟t be much of a problem. She would be able to change as soon as she arrived home and no one other than Ross would be likely to see her before then. They didn‟t have toothbrushes or anything else they might need in the morning, though she suspected they would be able to obtain those from the hotel. A place that fancy had to provide the basic comforts for its guests. She had no reason not to agree to stay. Especially since, as Ross had pointed out, he‟d paid for the whole night. “Good.” He kissed her forehead, another surprisingly tender gesture that gave Lissa a warm feeling. “I want to shower before we fall asleep.” “Are we going right to sleep?” she teased. He chuckled. “Well, maybe not but even if we aren‟t I‟d rather clean up before round two. Care to join me?” “I‟ll shower after you.” She‟d never enjoyed showering with someone else even though friends had told her it was the hottest thing they‟d ever done. And now that she and Ross had finished the business that had brought them to the hotel she felt awkward with him. Having him see her mostly naked before he fucked her was one thing. Having him see her completely naked now that he‟d gotten what he‟d been after was something else entirely. “I‟ll be quick.” He stood, stretched and headed into the bathroom. Lissa couldn‟t help watching his ass as he walked away. The man had one of the best bodies she‟d ever seen even though she had yet to see all of it. While Ross was in the bathroom, Lissa gathered her clothes. She straightened her skirt and put her tank top back on then sat on the bed to wait her turn. She would be 38

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spending the night with this guy and she didn‟t know what to say to him. They‟d talked mostly about sex all night. She didn‟t know him well enough to have anything else to talk to him about. As he‟d promised, he was in the shower only a few minutes. When he returned to the bed, wearing only a pair of navy-blue boxer-briefs, he looked surprised. “Why did you get dressed if you‟re going to shower?” “I don‟t know,” Lissa mumbled, irritated at herself for not having an answer. “Well, I‟ll be here when you‟ve finished your shower.” He lay on his back with his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. Lissa went into the bathroom and closed the door, ignoring her impulse to lock it. He wouldn‟t walk in on her any more than she‟d walked in on him. He probably felt as awkward as she did. If he didn‟t she didn‟t want to know. She turned on the water and studied herself in the mirror through the steam that Ross‟ shower had left there. Her hair and makeup were mussed and the too-bright fluorescent lights around the mirror washed all the color from her complexion. She looked as far from attractive as she‟d ever been. At least Ross hadn‟t seen her in this light. The lighting in the main room had been dim enough that he might not have noticed what a mess she‟d become. She shed her clothes and stepped into the shower. The warm water flowed through her hair, reminding her of Ross‟ fingers twining through the strands. A pleasant ache between her legs kept her thinking about what she‟d just done. Her body was content. Her mind, not so much. Ross had left a small, unwrapped bar of soap on the edge of the tub. Lissa used it to wash herself thoroughly, including scrubbing the makeup off her face. Without makeup, every flaw on her face would likely show but that would be better than walking back into the other room with smears under her eyes.

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After a few minutes she decided she was presentable and stepped out of the shower. She shut off the water and complete silence fell. She heard nothing from the other room and wondered whether Ross had fallen asleep. She dressed in her panties and tank top, figuring she wouldn‟t need the bra or skirt for sleeping, and walked out of the bathroom. The room was empty. Ross had left. Tears came to her eyes and Lissa impatiently blinked them back. She didn‟t have any reason to be disappointed. She‟d expected him to want to leave once they‟d fucked. The only surprise had been his statement that he wanted to stay. She shouldn‟t have believed him. A piece of paper lay on one of the pillows. Lissa picked it up and wrestled with the urge to tear it to shreds without reading it. Ross might have explained himself. Maybe he had a good reason for bailing on her without saying goodbye. Her curiosity won over her anger and she read the note.

Lissa, I’m sorry I had to leave. Something came up that I have to take care of. I hope we’ll see each other again.

He hadn‟t written his phone number. Or even an email address. If he hoped they would see each other again, he should have made sure she would be able to find him. She tore the paper to shreds and threw herself onto the bed. Stupid fucking man. Stupid me.

***** She woke the next morning wondering where she was. Her head throbbed. She had drunk more the night before than she had in months and she would pay for it today. At least her stomach didn‟t seem to be rebelling as it had the last time she‟d been hungover. 40

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The bedding on which she lay was far softer than what she generally had on her bed. She opened her eyes and remembered the previous night‟s events. Despite her anger with Ross she had stayed in the hotel room. Now it was time to leave. The alarm clock showed that it was nearly eight in the morning. She decided she would have breakfast before she left the hotel but didn‟t want to remain in the room any longer. Being there only reminded her of how she‟d been left the night before. She put on her bra and skirt and checked herself in the bathroom mirror. Her mouth tasted grimy and she wished she could brush her teeth. She rinsed her mouth with water and hoped that would suffice. Her hair stuck up at strange angles because she‟d gone to bed with it wet. Wetting it down again and smoothing it with her fingers took care of that. Maybe she didn‟t look like the perfect guest for such a fancy hotel but she would do. The hotel restaurant wasn‟t busy. A full buffet had been set out in the center. She took a plate and made her way along the warming tables, choosing small amounts of several foods that looked and smelled too delicious to pass up. Scrambled eggs, crisp bacon, a Belgian waffle and fresh fruit filled her plate. Her stomach growled its approval of her choices. A cash register on a wheeled cart sat at the end of the buffet. A short, black-haired man in a white dress shirt and black slacks sat behind it. When Lissa stepped up with her plate the man asked, “What room were you in?” She told him and he smiled. “You‟re paid for.” “I am?” she asked, surprised. “All additional charges are billed to the room. Including meals.” “Thank you.” Lissa made her way to a table beside the window and set down the plate then went back to the buffet for a cup of steaming coffee. Just the smell of it dulled her headache. She topped it off with creamer and sweetener and went back to her table 41


to stare at her food. Ross had paid for a breakfast he hadn‟t known for sure she would eat. He must have been on a guilt trip about taking off without saying anything. She couldn‟t think of any other reason for him to make such a gesture. Thinking about Ross nearly killed her appetite but the smell of the food brought it back to life. She ate slowly, savoring each bite. Since she only cooked for herself, she rarely took the time to make anything elaborate and she couldn‟t often afford to eat out. Regardless of who had paid for this meal, she intended to enjoy every second of eating it. While she ate, her cell phone rang. She took it out of her purse and her heart sank when she saw Kerri‟s number on the display. Apparently part of her had hoped it would be Ross. She should have known better. She hadn‟t even given him her number. She pressed the button to accept the call and held the phone close to her ear. “Hello?” “Where are you?” Kerri asked. Her voice was a bit slurred. Lissa couldn‟t tell whether it was from tiredness or a hangover. “Hotel.” Lissa named the place. “Eating breakfast.” “Ooh!” Kerri‟s voice brightened. “Guess leaving with that guy worked out for you after all. Is he there with you?” “No.” She didn‟t want to explain to her friend that she‟d been ditched but she knew the truth would come out eventually. “We had fun last night and he said he wanted to stay ‟til morning. I went in to take a shower and when I finished he was gone.” “That asshole!” Kerri exclaimed. “Sorry to hear that. Just when you found a guy who seemed sort of human.” “Yeah.” Ross had seemed like a decent guy. He‟d been rough but Lissa hadn‟t minded that. She‟d actually enjoyed it. The tenderness he‟d shown her after sex had suggested that a gentle man lay beneath his forcefulness.

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He‟d been the first guy in a long time to catch her attention. And then he‟d taken off without a word. “I‟m sorry,” Kerri said. “At least you had fun before he bailed on you.” “Yeah.” She pushed her eggs around her plate. Talking to Kerri about Ross had taken what was left of her appetite. “When you‟re finished eating why don‟t you come over?” Kerri suggested. “I declare a girls‟ day. We can do mani-pedis and maybe go out again tonight.” She paused. “Only no drinking this time. My head‟s about to split in two.” “Mine isn‟t much better.” Lissa considered her friend‟s offer. She just wanted to go home, shower and put on her sloppiest clothes for a hibernation day. She could rent movies and sit on her couch all day shoving popcorn into her mouth until she forgot about Ross. Or she could go home, shower and change and head to Kerri‟s for a day that would almost certainly help her forget more quickly than movies and popcorn would. “I‟ll be there in about an hour,” she said. “Sounds good,” Kerri replied. “I‟ll be waiting.” Lissa hung up and took a drink of her coffee. She didn‟t care about Ross. He was the one who‟d lost out by leaving. She would go out with Kerri again and find someone even better. That thought cheered her. Before she left she ate everything on her plate.

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Chapter Five After several hours with Kerri, Lissa was ready to hit a club again. She and Kerri had given each other manicures and pedicures and Lissa now sported bright purple polish on both sets of nails. They‟d styled each other‟s hair and had gone through Kerri‟s closet to find the perfect outfits. Lissa had joked that she felt as if she was at a high school sleepover but she‟d enjoyed the time with her friend and the distraction from thinking about Ross. She didn‟t have any reason to think about him. She‟d known all along it would only be a one-night stand and it didn‟t do her any good to be pissed at him for leaving her. They‟d made no promises to each other even if he had said he wanted to spend the night with her. “I‟m too old for this,” she told Kerri as they checked their makeup one last time before heading out for the night. “For what?” Kerri approached her with an eyeliner pencil. “You‟re uneven. Hold still.” Lissa humored her friend by allowing the makeup repair even though she hadn‟t seen anything wrong with her eyes. “For clubbing. For hooking up.” “You‟re not too old.” Kerri stepped back and studied her. “There. Better. You‟re just upset because of that jackass from last night. What you need is a good night of sober dancing and flirting.” “So you think I only went with him because I was drinking?” Lissa glared at the other woman. “I had a freaking daiquiri. I wasn‟t exactly drunk.” “You don‟t drink much. You always get buzzed from just a little.” Kerri picked up her purse. “Maybe the alcohol didn‟t have anything to do with it. Just go with the flow

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tonight. Dance with the guys you want to dance with and watch out for jerks. You look hot. You‟ll get plenty of attention.” Looking in the mirror, Lissa had to agree. She‟d borrowed a lilac tank top and a black stretch skirt that barely hit her midthigh. Along with her own black knee-high leather boots, the outfit did make her look damn good. “Ross, eat your heart out,” she muttered to herself. “Stop thinking about him,” Kerri scolded. “Come on. Time to go.” They headed to the same club as the previous night. As they entered Lissa caught herself looking for Ross. It was fairly early in the evening and not many people had arrived yet. If he‟d been there she would have spotted him. She didn‟t see him, however, and the fact that she wanted to irritated her. She and Kerri ordered colas at the bar and took them to a table near the edge of the dance floor. Over the following hour or so more people entered the club and the floor became crowded. Kerri accepted an invitation to dance with a guy who was built like a pro wrestler, with a bleached-blond crew cut and jeans so tight Lissa couldn‟t imagine how he managed to move in them. From the way Kerri pressed against him on the dance floor, Lissa suspected that her friend would be the one leaving the club with a guy tonight. After a while she got tired of moping at the table. She‟d long since finished her cola and didn‟t feel like going to the bar for another one. The music throbbed and its vibrations went through her just as they had the night before. She wouldn‟t make the same mistake twice as far as men went but that didn‟t mean she couldn‟t dance. She made her way onto the floor, now jammed with moving bodies, and staked out a small piece of floor just large enough to dance on. She moved to the beat and let the song take over her body as her mind relaxed. Someone bumped against her back. She stepped forward and a hand landed on her shoulder. “Stay where you are.”

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Ross. Even over the loud music, Lissa recognized his voice. Her body responded favorably. Her nipples perked and a tiny tingling began between her legs. Her mind wasn‟t so happy. With a deep breath she ignored the physical reaction. She whirled around, fists clenched, to face him. He wore a tight pair of jeans that might have been the same ones as the night before, along with a powder-blue T-shirt that accentuated his chest. Again her libido reacted to his presence and again she took a breath to force away the little sparks that ran over her skin. “Who the hell do you think you are?” she shouted. He held up a hand. “Come with me. Let me explain.” “You fucking ditched me after saying you‟d stay!” She narrowed her eyes. “There is no explanation. You‟re a sack of shit.” “You have every reason to be pissed.” He reached for her hand and she waved him off. “Please,” he said. “I want to talk to you about what happened. It isn‟t what you think.” “I think you‟re a lying jackass,” she said through gritted teeth. Her heart was starting to soften and she refused to let it. He would talk her into going somewhere with him again and would probably pull the same stunt. “I know you do.” He glanced down as if he couldn‟t stand to meet her gaze. “Give me five minutes to tell you what happened and if you still hate me afterward I‟ll leave you alone.” “Two minutes,” she countered. “Fine. Outside so I can hear whatever sorry excuse you have.” “Okay.” He tried again to take her hand but she yanked it away and stalked toward the door, assuming he would follow. She didn‟t bother trying to find Kerri in the crowd, though it occurred to her as she walked through the club that she should let her friend know where she was going. At least an hour had passed since the last time she‟d caught a glimpse of Kerri and she assumed her friend had wandered off somewhere with the guy she‟d been dancing 46

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with. Kerri would only tell her what an idiot she was for giving Ross any kind of chance anyway. Lissa knew that on her own. Outside a light rain had begun to fall. Fortunately the temperature was still high from earlier that day. Lissa wasn‟t cold but the prospect of getting wet while listening to Ross annoyed her. He’s already made you wet, a taunting little voice in her mind pointed out. She folded her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes. Ross didn‟t seem bothered by her anger. “Stand closer to the building,” he suggested. “The rain won‟t get you as much there.” The last thing Lissa wanted to do was follow his direction but he had a point. She stepped back against the building. “I‟m waiting,” she snapped. “While you were in the shower I got a text.” Ross pulled his cell phone from his pocket and pressed a button. “Read it. It will explain better than I can.” He held out the phone. Barely resisting the urge to smash it against the sidewalk, Lissa took it and read what was on the screen. “Ross. Need you. She‟s at it again. Please.” She frowned. The message made no sense to her. “What‟s this about?” she asked, glaring at him. He took the phone back. “My mother. She has Alzheimer‟s. She lives with my sister and sometimes she‟s a little too much for my sister to handle. She gets violent when she‟s really confused. When my sister took Mom in, I promised that any time she had a problem I‟d show up to help.” “You should have told me.” She was close to forgiving him. He hadn‟t just bailed on her after all. He‟d gone to help his family. She definitely couldn‟t fault him for that. “I should have,” he acknowledged. “I called my sister to find out what was going on and she didn‟t answer. That scared me enough that I barely took the time to put my pants back on.”

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“You took the time to write me a note.” Surely opening the bathroom door and speaking to her would have been faster. “I wrote it while I was on the phone trying to reach my sister. I figured I‟d probably have to leave either way.” He sighed. “I was afraid to tell you face-to-face. I figured you‟d be angry either way and I didn‟t want to see it. I‟m sorry I‟m a chickenshit.” “Yeah, you are.” Her anger left her. He should have spoken to her but at least he‟d left the note. And he‟d had a good reason for leaving. After hearing about his mother she couldn‟t stay mad at him. But she didn‟t want to let him off the hook that easily. “How do I know you‟re telling the truth?” “You read the text.” He slipped his phone back into his pocket. “You don‟t have to believe me, Lissa. I understand. I told you I‟d spend the night with you and I left. If you hate me that‟s fine.” “I don‟t hate you.” She held out her hand. Looking surprised, he took it. “I believe you,” she said. “You were an idiot not to say something instead of just leaving that note but I forgive you for your stupidity.” He grinned. “Thanks. I think. Does this mean you‟ll give me another chance?” “Another chance for what?” She wasn‟t about to agree to something without knowing exactly what she was getting into. “To do what we did last night.” He held both her hands in his and looked into her eyes. Lissa was unable to name the emotion she saw deep in his blue eyes but her heart swelled at the sight of it. “I really did want to stay with you,” he said. “When I picked you up in the club it was pure lust. I admit that. Somewhere along the line I started feeling more. I didn‟t want to let you go last night and I really don‟t want to let you go now.” She swallowed hard and stared at him. After all her work to convince herself that the hook-up with Ross had been only a one-time thing, he stood there telling her he

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didn‟t want it to be. What she‟d felt with him and had tried to deny, he‟d apparently felt too. If she walked away from him now she would be the one making it a one-time thing. She didn‟t want to walk away. She had no words to answer him so she kissed him instead. Only their lips and hands touched but the kiss was the most intimate she‟d ever experienced. Warmth seemed to wrap around them. The tender kiss joined them in a way even sex hadn‟t. She wanted to fuck him again but she wanted more with him as well. Tonight wouldn‟t be only a one-night stand and she wouldn‟t even bother trying to convince herself it was. Under the tenderness and connection lay desire. She still wanted him and, pressed against him, she felt how much he wanted her. Ross broke the kiss but didn‟t let go of her hands. “Wow,” he said with a smile. “And I thought you turned me on last night.” “Ditto.” She smiled back at him. “That hotel last night was very nice. Let‟s skip it this time. My place or yours?” He raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure you trust me that much?” Am I? Despite the time they‟d spent together, she still didn‟t really know him. Going to a hotel with him had been safe enough since there had been other people nearby. At her apartment or his home they would be completely alone, though if she yelled loudly enough surely a neighbor would hear. “I‟m sure,” she said. “You spent plenty on a room you barely had a chance to enjoy. And on food you didn‟t have a chance to eat. Let‟s do something a little less expensive this time.” He smiled. “I like a woman who doesn‟t expect me to break my bank over her. I don‟t mind paying for a neutral place if you‟d be more comfortable.”

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She rolled her eyes. She‟d already told the man she didn‟t want to go to another hotel. This wishy-washy guy was nothing like the Ross the previous night who had told her how things would be. That was who she wanted to spend tonight with, not someone who seemed to want her to make the decisions. “I don‟t want a hotel,” she said. “Good.” He tightened his grip on her hands. “Your place. That way you can kick me out if you get sick of me. Although I plan to make damn sure that doesn‟t happen.” “Oh, really?” she said in a challenging tone. “And how exactly will you do that?” In answer he pushed her back against the wall and held her there by her shoulders. He nuzzled her neck then lightly nipped her earlobe. She jumped and barely kept from crying out. Ross didn‟t stop there. He slipped one hand under the hem of her shirt and crept it upward, pushing the shirt up and revealing more of her bare skin than she wanted to show in public. She didn‟t stop him. Her heart raced and her breathing grew heavy. She wanted to see how far he would take this and how far she dared to let him. Passersby didn‟t appear to notice them but she was still aware that other eyes might see them. Her nipples stiffened and moisture gathered between her legs. This little display turned her on and she wasn‟t sure she cared who noticed. He stopped his hand at the bottom of her bra. “What should I do now, Lissa?” he whispered into her ear. His breath smelled of rum and cola. “Should I touch you here where everyone can watch? Hold you up against the wall and fuck you right now?” “No,” she gasped, though part of her wanted exactly that. “Are you afraid?” he taunted. “No.” She grasped his wrist. “I just don‟t want to get arrested for indecent exposure.” He laughed and withdrew his hand. “Fair enough. Then I think we‟d better find my car and get out of here. You‟re making it awfully hard to behave myself.”

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“I think I‟m making something else awfully hard.” Surprised at her own boldness, she cupped the bulge at the front of his jeans. He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. Lissa gave his cock a light squeeze and let go. “I need to try to find Kerri.” “Again?” He shook his head. “I should have guessed we‟d be delayed. If that‟s the friend you were with last night I think I saw her leave. Why can‟t you just text her?” “I could.” She doubted Kerri would have left the club without telling her but anything was possible. And her libido didn‟t want to push back into the crowded club on a search for someone who might not be there. She pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to Kerri letting her know that she was leaving with Ross then returned the phone to her purse. “There. Done.” “Good.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the parking area. “Let‟s go.” They hurried through the rain to his car. Lissa‟s top clung to her, clearly showing the outline of her bra and her nipples poking against the fabric. A couple walking toward the club did a double take and Lissa‟s face heated. “They‟re just jealous,” Ross said. “Right.” She probably looked like a drowned rat. As he had the night before, Ross unlocked the passenger door and opened it for Lissa before getting into the driver‟s seat. Lissa buckled herself into the passenger seat and tried to ignore the water dripping from her hair. “I should have brought a towel,” she muttered. “You look fine.” Ross leaned over the center console for a kiss, which Lissa happily gave him. “Better than fine,” he said. “That shirt doesn‟t leave much to the imagination when it‟s wet.” “That‟s the problem.” She looked down at herself. The top clung to her and in some places had become nearly see through. Her nipples protruded against it and she was thankful that she‟d worn a bra. “I don‟t think it‟s a problem.” He rubbed one of her nipples with his thumb and a jolt shot through her straight to her cunt. 51


She moaned softly. She was more aroused than she‟d realized and now she only wanted Ross to touch her. Even if they were sitting in his SUV in a busy parking lot. “You like that,” he murmured. “Good, because I do too. I want to touch you everywhere, Lissa. Last night we were in too much of a hurry. I was too fucking horny to take my time with you. I‟m not going to make that mistake again. I hope you don‟t have any other plans tonight. Or tomorrow.” She shivered in delight at the thought of spending hours with Ross exploring each other. She still didn‟t understand why he had so much of an effect on her but she didn‟t care. All she needed to know was that she wanted him and he wanted her. And that tonight wouldn‟t be just a one-night stand.

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Chapter Six Ross drove with one hand on the wheel and the other on Lissa‟s upper thigh. He made no move to touch her anywhere more intimate, but just the warmth of his hand spread fire through her. She imagined herself playing with his cock and maybe even sucking him as he drove. The fantasy aroused her even more and the only thing that kept her from following through was having to give him directions to her apartment. When they arrived, Ross found a parking spot in front of the building. He helped Lissa down from her seat and the two of them ran through the rain and inside. Lissa shivered, partly in anticipation and partly from being chilled by her wet clothing as they waited for the elevator to her fifth-floor apartment. “Cold?” Ross asked. “A bit.” She wrapped her arms around herself. He embraced her from behind and held her tightly. “Is that better?” Now her shivering became almost pure desire. Even though his clothes were as wet as hers, the warmth of his body heated her. A memory of his bare chest and abdomen beneath her floated through her mind. She hadn‟t allowed herself to think much that day about fucking him the night before. She‟d been too angry. Remembering now sent her desire and anticipation into high gear. “Much,” she replied. The elevator doors opened. Ross didn‟t release her as they entered. Walking with a man against her back was awkward but Lissa didn‟t want him to let her go. She wanted those arms around her for the rest of the night. Maybe longer. It would depend on how the night went.

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“This isn‟t going to be a one-time thing,” Ross said as the elevator doors slid shut. “I couldn‟t stop thinking about you after I left last night. I felt like shit for what I‟d done. I want this to be more than a night of fucking, Lissa.” “We don‟t really know each other.” She knew how stupid the comment was but had to say something to keep from blurting out how she really felt. The fact that she‟d begun to develop feelings for this man she‟d known only one night was something she didn‟t know if she wanted to share. “I don‟t care.” Ross turned her to face him. “Ever hear of love at first sight?” “No.” Of course she had. Everyone had. She just didn‟t believe in it. “Well, I have.” He kissed her forehead. “I‟m not saying I‟m in love with you. Just that I want to see what happens from here.” “Does that mean sex is out?” she teased. “Hell, no.” He cupped her ass. “I‟m not that crazy.” He kissed her hard and pushed his tongue between her lips. She pressed herself more tightly against him and felt the bulge in his jeans. No, we’re definitely not ruling out sex. She couldn‟t wait to have him inside her again. The elevator pinged its warning that they had reached her floor and Ross let go of her. “Let‟s hurry up and get inside your apartment.” “Good idea.” She was so turned-on her legs trembled as they stepped off the elevator. Her apartment door was just down the hall. She fumbled her keys from her purse and unlocked the door as quickly as she could. As they went inside, Ross stayed so close behind her his breath brushed against the back of her neck. She turned to close the door and almost bumped into him. “You‟re in the way,” she said. “No I‟m not.” He kicked the door closed and put his arms around her again. “I‟m right where I‟m supposed to be.”

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He picked up the kiss where they‟d left off, pressing his mouth to hers so suddenly she almost forgot how to breathe. He caressed her back and slid one hand around to the side of her breast. To keep him from moving the hand farther, Lissa squeezed herself against him. She wanted him to touch her but not here, just inside her apartment door. She broke the kiss enough to murmur, “In my bedroom.” “I don‟t think so.” He turned them around and pushed her against the door. “I want you good and ready before we go in there.” “You like doors and walls, don‟t you?” She swatted his ass. “Let me go. I want to be comfortable.” He flicked her nipple with his thumb and kissed her neck. She moaned in protest and arousal. If Ross heard her he gave no sign. He left a line of kisses down her neck to the cleavage that showed at the top of her shirt. Tugging the hem of the shirt, he ordered, “Take this off.” “In my bedroom,” she repeated. He pushed the shirt up. She shivered as his fingers brushed against her bare skin. Her pussy tightened and her entire body felt as if it had caught fire. Against the door of her apartment wasn‟t her first choice as a location for sex but at this rate she wouldn‟t be able to stand waiting until they reached her room. Slowly, with a mischievous gleam in his eye, Ross continued pushing up her shirt. Lissa met his gaze, refusing to back down and take off the shirt. If he wanted it removed he could either follow her into her room or he would have to do it himself. His fingers touched the bottom of her bra. Lissa failed to stifle a gasp. “Still want to make me wait?” Ross asked in a husky tone. “In my bedroom,” she said stubbornly. If he planned on undressing her here she would put up a fight. It might be fun.

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He grasped the hem of her shirt and yanked it up to expose her bra. Lissa slapped his arms and tried to tug the shirt back down. Grinning, Ross held on. “You‟re going to rip it,” Lissa warned. “I don‟t see that as a problem.” Ross licked his lips. “I get what I want, Lissa. You should have figured that out already.” “I see it as a problem.” She smacked his arm again. “This isn‟t my shirt. It‟s Kerri‟s and she‟ll be pissed if it gets ripped.” “Ah. Then I guess you‟d better let me take it off before something horrible happens.” With one hand Ross pushed both of her hands down. “Of course, you can keep fighting with me and take the risk. I don‟t think you want to do that.” She shook her head and held her arms out to her side, glaring at him. Secretly she wasn‟t as annoyed as she wanted to appear. He was taking control again and that reignited her desire. If he kept acting this way they wouldn‟t make it to the bedroom. He pulled the shirt off over her head. She took her arms out of the sleeves but gave him no other assistance. Standing in front of him in her bra with his intense gaze seeming to bore a hole straight through her, she shivered. With a small, triumphant smile he caressed her breasts. Her breathing became heavier as his touch raced through her. His hands were only on one part of her body but she felt them everywhere. And every part of her responded, tingling and yearning for him. “You‟re beautiful,” he murmured. “Did I tell you that last night?” “Last night is over.” She didn‟t want to think any more about the way that night had ended. She‟d given him another chance and she wanted to take full advantage of it. “Then I‟ll have to tell you again.” He kissed the top of each of her breasts above her bra cups. “You‟re beautiful. The way you move makes me hard just watching you from across a room. You‟re the sexiest fucking thing I‟ve ever seen.”

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“Of course I am.” She didn‟t believe a word of it. “You‟re just trying to get me into bed.” “Isn‟t that why we‟re here?” He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her lips. “Is it working?” “Absolutely.” She grinned. “And if you‟re going to get me into bed we should really be in the bedroom.” “You‟re persistent, I‟ll give you that.” He winked. “I don‟t know if I want to go to your bedroom. I think the floor looks pretty comfortable. This carpet of yours is nice and cushy.” He had to be kidding. No matter how turned-on she was she refused to agree to fuck him on the floor. One look at the twinkle in his eyes reassured her that he wasn‟t serious. “Right. I‟d never get the stains out of the carpet,” she said. “That might be a problem,” he agreed. “I suppose we can head to your bedroom now since you‟ve been so obliging about taking off your shirt.” “So that was blackmail?” “No, that was getting me turned-on enough to give in and take you to your room.” He swooped her up into his arms. She gasped. “Don‟t worry,” he said. “I promise I won‟t drop you.” She knew he wouldn‟t. He was certainly strong enough to carry her. That didn‟t mean she liked being above the floor. Though there was a certain caveman quality to it that appealed to her. It was an extension of his forcefulness and take-charge attitude and those turned her on. She‟d never thought she would be interested in a guy like that but she found the quality incredibly hot in Ross. He moved easily even carrying her weight. “That way,” Lissa said, pointing at the open door that led into her bedroom.

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Ross carried her into the room and tossed her onto the bed. Lissa fell backward and propped herself up on her elbows, breathing as hard as if she‟d been the one doing the carrying. “You look sexy as hell like that,” Ross said. “Then get over here and do something about it.” She ran one hand over her breasts. “You were having a lot of fun with these. Then you stopped.” “Because you wanted to come in here. I couldn‟t very well play with your tits while I carried you.” He stripped off his shirt and stood, hands on his hips, staring at her with such intense lust she quivered. Her lower body tightened. She wanted him badly. The sight of his bare chest reminded her of another of his body parts and what it had done for her the night before. Desire flooded through her and she reached for him. “Get over here.” “I don‟t take orders.” He grinned. “You‟ll have to give me a really good reason if you want me on that bed with you.” “This isn‟t a good enough reason?” She gestured at her lace bra and her skirt, which had ridden up around her thighs. “I would think seeing me like this would be motivation for you.” “It‟s definitely motivation for something.” He undid the button on his jeans. “Something that might need a little more coaxing.” Lissa licked her lips and slid to the end of the bed. Hooking her fingers through the belt loops on Ross‟ jeans, she tugged him toward her. He braced himself for a moment then allowed her to pull him closer. She pulled down his zipper. He caught her hands. “Not yet,” he said roughly. “I know what you want and you will get it. First I want to see more.” He pulled her to her feet. “I want to see all of you.” “You saw all of me last night.” She reached for his zipper again and he lightly swatted her hand away. “I didn‟t get to see all of you.”

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“I told you I know what you want and you‟ll have it after I have what I want.” He reached around her back and unhooked her bra before she could stop him. She folded her arms to keep the bra in place and tried not to show any sign of how much she enjoyed playing with him this way. The night before had been all about lust and passion. Tonight they would take their time and that meant they could tease each other. He frowned but the gleam in his eyes didn‟t fade. “Don‟t give me a hard time.” “I think you‟re already having a hard time.” She blatantly eyed the bulge in his jeans. “Very funny.” Ross rolled his eyes. “You know what? This is fun. But I‟m finished having fun now.” He paused then grinned. “At least this kind of fun. I‟m ready for another kind.” “So am I.” Lissa gave in. If he wanted to see her he would. She undid the zipper at the back of her skirt. With a little shimmy she slowly lowered the skirt to the floor, keeping her eyes on Ross to see his reaction. His eyes lit up as he watched her and he didn‟t speak. Once the skirt was down she stepped out of it and carefully picked it up and folded it. She set it on her bureau to make sure nothing happened to it. Kerri would want it back at some point. That left her in only her blue lace panties. She turned to Ross again to ask whether he wanted her out of those as well. One look at his face gave her an answer. There was such intense lust in his expression that her heart skipped a beat. No man had ever looked at her with such pure yearning. Not even Ross himself the night before. His look was all she needed. She removed her panties the same way she had the skirt, slowly and teasingly but with no doubt as to what the ultimate result would be. Ross stood perfectly still, touching neither her nor himself, watching until she was completely nude.

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For a brief moment Lissa felt awkward having nothing at all on in front of him. Although he‟d seen her mostly naked at the hotel she had still worn her skirt. Now there was nothing between her body and his gaze and she had a twinge of doubt about whether her body lived up to his expectations. “You‟re fucking gorgeous,” he said hoarsely. “I want to see you without clothes more often. Clothes don‟t do you justice.” Her face warmed. “Thank you. So how about letting me see what clothes do or don‟t do for you?” With a lustful smile he unzipped his jeans. He copied Lissa‟s moves as he slowly pushed the jeans to the floor followed by his boxer briefs. When he stood straight his cock curved toward his abdomen. Lissa caught herself reaching for it. “Can I touch you now?” she asked. “I think you‟d better.” He stroked himself. “I want you. Get on the bed.” A heated rush of desire coursed through her and she obeyed. She lay on her back and held up her arms to Ross. He crawled onto the bed beside her and stopped, still on his hands and knees, to study her. “I want to touch every single inch of you,” he murmured. “But I don‟t know if I can hold out that long.” “We have all night,” she reminded him. She didn‟t want to wait that long to have him inside her either. Her pussy clenched at the thought of Ross‟ cock penetrating her and she closed her eyes for a second. Smiling, she looked at him again. “Just fuck me. You can touch me all over afterward.” “We do have all night.” He slid off the bed and picked up his jeans. “Almost forgot something.” “Good thinking.” She propped herself on her elbows again and watched him withdraw a condom from his wallet and unroll it onto his cock. A tiny pang of regret that she hadn‟t tasted him first struck her. Well, she would have time for that later after they cleaned up from this round. 60

Karenna Colcroft

They had as much time as they wanted. And Ross wanted to spend that time with her. When he‟d picked her up at the club the first time she‟d believed she would never see him again but now she knew better. Anything they didn‟t manage to do tonight would be done in the future. Ross moved back onto the bed and this time crawled up the length of Lissa‟s body with his hands and knees on either side of her. Seeing him above her sent a hot chill through her. She reached up and he allowed her to pull him down on top of her though he held himself up slightly on his hands. He didn‟t try to enter her and she didn‟t encourage it. She wanted to savor his warm body against hers skin to skin. Lying with him that way, she felt a connection form between them. She felt safe. “This is nice,” he murmured. “Just feeling you like this.” “It is.” Her desire hadn‟t lessened but she could have stayed like this with him for the rest of the night and not regretted it. For a few more minutes they lay together in silence. The fire built within Lissa again and she breathed deeply to hold it at bay. But she finally reached the point where she could no longer hide how much she wanted to fuck him. “I want you,” she said. “I thought you‟d never ask.” He looked up at her and grinned. “Fuck now, cuddle more later?” “We‟ll figure out later when we get there.” He knelt between her legs. Lissa opened her mouth to protest his moving off her and he put his finger on her lips. “I want to fuck you like this. I want to see my cock sliding in and out of you.” He thumbed her clit and she gasped as a jolt of pleasure struck her. “I want to be able to do that,” he said. She nodded. “Do it.”

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He pushed her legs, knees bent, back toward her head and smiled down at her with a possessive glint in his eyes. In that position Lissa was more exposed than she‟d been to any man before. She was completely at Ross‟ mercy. She loved it. He slid his finger into her pussy and stroked her sweet spot. Lissa moaned and squirmed in delight. His finger wasn‟t what she wanted but she wasn‟t about to protest it. After a few thrusts Ross moved his finger up to her swollen clit and rubbed tiny circles on it. Each touch brought her orgasm closer. Lissa closed her eyes and reached for the sensations, for the sparks that seemed to shoot through her from his touch. “Open your eyes,” he ordered. “Look at me.” She obeyed without thinking. Victory showed in his expression. “That‟s it,” he said. “I want to see you when you come.” “I want your cock in me,” she replied, her voice broken by gasps as her climax drew nearer. “You‟ll have it.” He pressed his finger harder against her clit and she cried out. “First I want to see how far I can take you over the edge.” The incredible pleasure building inside her left her unable to think of an argument against that. If he wanted to make her come again before he fucked her, so be it. And then she did come. Her body seemed to fly apart as the orgasm rocked her. It consumed her, leaving her limp and panting, and still it tightened her cunt and sent fire through her. Ross pulled his hand away and Lissa barely noticed through the haze of ecstasy that surrounded her. She tried to breathe but managed only shallow gasps through the pleasure. As her pussy still contracted and she tried to remember how to move her arms and legs, Ross thrust his cock inside her. The friction triggered another orgasm, rolling on the heels of the first. Lissa shouted Ross‟ name and then cried out wordlessly. She kept her eyes open and looked into his

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proud gaze as he fucked her through the climax and beyond, into a place where she couldn‟t think and didn‟t try. Where only pleasure mattered. He slid in and out of her slowly, staring down at the place where their bodies joined. As she came back to herself and discovered she could move, Lissa raised her head so she too would be able to watch his cock entering her cunt. The sight was one of the hottest things she‟d ever seen. “Better?” Ross asked. “Yeah.” The word came out as a breath. “Good.” He picked up his pace and fucked her faster and harder. Lissa let herself fall back onto the mattress, unable to hold herself up against the force of Ross‟ thrusts and the mounting pleasure within her. Just as she felt herself about to topple over the brink into still another climax, Ross tightened his grip on her legs. He grunted loudly and cried her name as he spasmed against her. Breathing heavily, he thrust into her again and again, moaning and gasping. His final thrust triggered Lissa and another wave of pleasure so intense she could barely breathe washed over her. Her hips bucked and her moans and cries mingled with Ross‟ sounds. Ross withdrew from her and lowered himself to the mattress beside her. His breath was loud and hot against her cheek. She trembled as an aftershock tightened her pussy one final time, then lay limp with her arms out to her sides, one hand touching Ross‟ hand. “Fuck,” she breathed. “Yeah.” Ross brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “Wow. Hang on a minute.” He slid off the bed, removed the condom and wrapped it in a tissue before tossing it in the trash can beside her bureau. Then he collapsed, exaggerating the move, onto the bed. “That‟s better.” Slowly Lissa turned onto her side and smiled at him. “I don‟t think I‟ve ever come like that.” 63


“Glad to be of service.” He pulled her to him and put his arms around her. She rested her cheek on his chest and he kissed the top of her head. “I‟m going to need a little while to recover.” “Me too.” She sighed contentedly. She didn‟t remember the last time she‟d been fucked like that and she clung to the afterglow. “I‟m going to take a shower.” He paused. “As soon as I can move.” “I‟d better go with you,” she teased. “I‟m afraid if I let you out of my sight you‟ll take off again.” “Not this time.” He took a breath. “Damn, I‟m still getting over that one. I promise, Lissa, I won‟t leave again. Not without telling you.” “You‟d better not.” She looked into his eyes and saw something there that she hadn‟t noticed before. Something deeper than lust. “I believe you.” “Good.” He kissed her again and extricated himself from their embrace. “Then I‟m going to go shower and then you can.” “And then what?” she asked. He grinned. “And then we‟ll start all over again.”

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About the Author Karenna Colcroft is a mother, wife, and former teacher who began writing romance and erotic romance in 2006 and hasn‟t stopped since. She is multi-published in the romance genre and also is published in other genres under a different name. In her spare time… Oh, wait. Karenna has no spare time! She lives in the northeastern United States with her two daughters, her real-life romance hero husband and two cats, one of whom occasionally tries to help her type.

Karenna welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

Tell Us What You Think We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email us at [email protected].

Also by Karenna Colcroft Forever with Benefits Hear Me, See Me Seeds of Desire

Discover for yourself why readers can‟t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora‟s Cave. Whether you prefer ebooks or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.

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