Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 78164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
A sound makes me jump. I cover my mouth, listening closely, uncertain where it came from. I watch the bedroom door, praying it doesn’t open.
I have to get out of here before it gets weird.
With my purse and rose in one hand, and the rest of the pie in the other, I slip into the hallway.
The elevator is only a few steps away. I hit the down button and shift my weight from foot to foot. Finally, after what feels like an eternity, it opens.
Luckily, the elevator is empty, and I hit the button for the lobby.
“Oh God!” My jaw drops as I catch a look at myself in the mirrors lining the car. “I look like a tiger has mauled me.”
I set my things on the floor and try to make my hair somewhat presentable. Nothing can be done about the raccoon eyes from the mascara, and my lips are swollen from Tate’s onslaught. All I can do is hope people think it’s filler.
My phone begins to ring. Dammit. “Where are you?” I groan as I forage to the bottom of my purse, barely answering it before the elevator’s doors open.
“Hello?” I ask, sweeping my possessions into my arms without making eye contact at the couple waiting to board.
“Why do you sound … rushed?” Jamie asks.
“Because I am.” I tuck my chin and step into the hallway. “This is not a good time. Can I call you back?”
“No. Now I’m curious. What are you doing?”
I fake a smile at one of the ladies at the front desk as I scurry past to my bank of elevators.
“You probably won’t believe me even if I tell you,” I say.
“Try me.”
I sigh, hitting the up arrow to go to my room. Thankfully, it’s too early for much traffic because the elevator is waiting and empty.
“Are you still there?” she asks.
Once the doors close, I sag against the wall. “I did what you suggested.”
I drop the line in the air, the weight of it similar to a dumbbell dropped from a bridge into the sea. I can almost hear my admission sinking into Jamie’s brain.
“You had a—”
“Yes. I met him on the plane,” I say, talking fast. “He was young, insanely hot, and charmed my dress right off me.”
“Holy shit, Ror.”
If you only knew. “I can’t get into it right now. I’m almost late for my conference because not only did I get fucked until about four o’clock this morning, I fell asleep in his room, and now I’m doing a walk of shame through the hotel with no bra or panties, trying to get to my room so I can get cleaned up, dressed, and down to the conference room before I miss the keynote speech.” I suck in a hasty breath. “And I stole his pie.”
“Is that a euphemism?”
“A what?” I make a face. “No. I actually stole an entire blueberry pie. I did leave him a piece for breakfast, but that isn’t the point. Don’t get hung up on that.”
“I am so proud of you,” she says, laughing.
“This is not good, Jamie! I just had the best sex of my life, and I gave the guy a fake name,” I say, lowering my voice as I step off onto my floor.
“Why would you do that?”
“Because …” I dig around in my purse again for my key card. “Because I didn’t expect all of this to happen. I was trying to be safe and thought an air of anonymity would be fun. I don’t know. I’m not good at this.”
“Clearly.”
I march into my room and toss the pie, purse, and rose onto the bed. Then I plop down next to it.
My brain is spinning too fast to sort through all the jumbled thoughts. But there’s one I can pluck out. A very important one.
Tate.
Memories from last night float through my mind. I can feel Tate’s hands on me, both aggressive and tender. His smile warms my heart and makes my knees weak. The way he looked at me has me sitting taller. I’ve never felt more beautiful, sexier, or more desirable than I do this morning even though I currently look like a hag.
I’ll never forget a single detail of last night. I’ll probably never lose the dull ache of wanting him, either. Still, it was worth it.
I stare at the dark television and smile. “I don’t regret it.”
“I’m glad.”
“I was afraid I would,” I admit. “Maybe I didn’t play it off perfectly, and I’m not sure I’d do a fake name again because something about lying is driving me crazy. But this single encounter has split me open—in more ways than one.”
“Girl! That’s what I’m talking about.”
I laugh. “It was so good, Jamie. I’ve been fucked in ways I didn’t know were possible. At one point, I was lying on the edge of the bed, right? He lifted my legs and pulled me up and to him. I was basically lying with the top of my head on the mattress and my legs over his shoulders. I don’t know what kind of magic that was, but yeah, he was hitting my G-spot and playing with my clit at the same time while making eye contact …”