AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Family.’ The word is grunted with all the feelings I have on that matter. He pulls back a bit and I suck in a sharp jab of breath, disappointed by the space between us. He grins as though he understands, but moves back further still. He’s teasing me. Tormenting me. He’s enjoying watching the effect he has on me.
Two can play that game. I take his bluff, sitting back in the seat myself, shifting a little so that the white silk blouse I wear strains across my bra. He’s not a male with a pulse if he doesn’t notice. I hold my position a moment then reach for my drink. It’s empty.
He lifts a hand to the waiter then turns to me. ‘Another?’
I shake my head. ‘I’m feeling a little...light-headed.’
His lips flick into the hint of a grin. ‘Something to eat?’
I shake my head again. I’m not hungry. At least, I’m not hungry yet.
‘Are you staying in the hotel?’
I nod.
‘What room?’
This is happening fast. I contemplate that for a second. Too fast? But hell, no. This is exactly what I need right now. A night of mind-blowing sex—meaningless, passionate sex—with someone like Zach Papandreo. It’s the perfect distraction.
‘The Orangery.’ The suite I’m staying in was named for the enormous glass living space. Built in the early twentieth century, it’s ornate and beautiful, and the glass gives it the feeling of being open to space and time.
His eyes don’t flicker from my face.
‘Have a bottle of Dom Perignon sent to The Orangery—charge it to me.’ He stands, his hand brushing then curling around mine. ‘And some oysters, chocolates and strawberries.’ He grins, shrugs, and my stomach tightens. ‘I’m a little hungry.’
I tilt my head back on a laugh, standing, but his arm whooshes me to his side and the laugh dies on my lips. My body melds to his, my slim curves pressed to his muscular hardness, and a bolt of adrenalin and desire splinters through me.
I’m going to do this and it’s going to be fucking amazing. Because Zach Papandreo will definitely not disappoint.
‘Well, Jessica Johnson, you’ve certainly brightened my night.’
I lift my eyes to his face, wondering if I’m not the only one who’s come here to run away from something.
It’s a question I don’t ask, because I’m not sure I want—or need—to know the answer. This is just about sex, no secrets and soul-baring required.
‘This way.’ I nod towards the bank of elevators, certainty forming inside me. One night, no strings and a whole lot of pleasure. Yes, please...
CHAPTER TWO
I HADN’T COME here to hook up. I had a meeting with a network exec and I like the environment at the bar of this hotel. On a Friday evening there’s a pianist who knocks out old jazz songs, and I’m recognised enough for my favourite bottle of wine to be brought to the table without any need to place an order. It’s also somewhere that does the bare minimum of Christmas decorations and for a guy like me—who hates this time of year with a passion—that’s a welcome relief. The crappy glittery abominations that line the streets right now almost make me want to gouge my eyes out. Here—it’s muted, much more my taste.
Meeting Jessica Johnson was an unexpected bonus, but I’ve never been one to look a gift horse in the mouth. And she is some kind of gift. The elevator doors open, we step inside, they zoom shut. She presses her card against the panel then selects a button. The elevator begins to move, passing each floor with a little light buzzing above the door. I look down at her. She looks up at me.
Fuck.
I haven’t felt this attracted to a woman I’ve just met in a long time. Jessica captivated me from the minute she strode to the bar wearing jeans that were like a second skin with fashionable holes in the knees, and a white silk blouse tucked in at the waist that highlighted her curves in all the right ways. Watching her order a Scotch was another turn-on. She’s a woman who knows what she wants and goes after it. There’s no meekness in her manner, just pure confidence. She exudes intelligence and power.
And those are my biggest weaknesses when it comes to the opposite sex.
Her lips flicker into a smile. Not a normal smile. This one is pure promise. As if to underscore what she’s thinking, her eyes drop lower, finding the opening of my shirt and lingering on the pulse point there, before sweeping even lower, as though mentally removing my clothes and assessing what she sees. Her eyes are huge and brown, glossy like liquid. Her lashes are long and as her gaze travels the length of my body her thick black eyelashes are like fans against her creamy skin.
Fuck it.
I reach behind her and press the ‘stop’ button on the elevator. It thuds to an abrupt halt—before that’s complete I turn my body towards hers, sweeping her into my arms and pushing her back against the wall of the elevator. She gasps in surprise, her eyes like saucers.
‘You shouldn’t look at me like that.’ The words emerge as a growl.
‘Like what?’ Innocent and sweet—my dick is already harder than a rock but somehow it tightens in my pants, making me shift my legs a bit.
