All In (5 page)

“That’s okay,” he said, forcing himself out of his ridiculous stupor. “I’ll do all the moving.”

Motivated into action, he gathered her up in his arms and carried her back to the bedroom. When she snuggled her face into his neck and murmured about how strong he was, an absurd sense of macho pride suffused him. Hell, if he didn’t watch out, tomorrow would find him trying to win an enormous stuffed animal for her at Circus Circus.

Still, he laid her with care on the bed where she stretched lazily, turning on her side. One glimpse of her silky, sleek ass put his body back on track and a strong urge to take her from behind overcame him. He wanted her soft ass cheeks cushioning his hips as he slammed into her over and over. After rolling on another condom, he slid up against her back and lifted her thigh enough to push his cock closer to home.

“Is this okay?” he asked, even as he angled himself, searching for that tight, swollen slit.

When she arched back and christened the tip of his cock with her wet heat, he took that as a yes.

Pulled up against Tucker’s muscular body, Mariah surrendered to the raw satisfaction of his thick cock invading her from behind. She hadn’t thought it could get better than it had just a little while ago, but this…this was incredible. The angle of his entry intensified the sensation of every slow stroke, and she loved the sound of his breath right in her ear.

“You feel so good, Mariah,” he murmured against her neck.

Goosebumps spread across her shoulders as he nibbled on her ear. She sighed with pleasure, shifting her hips to meet his unhurried thrusts. There was something magical about being with Tucker, but she didn’t want to admit that, because in this case, it
could
be magic, which was still disconcerting.

And yet, what did it really matter? This time with him was a gift, and there was no point in ruining it with useless worry. This reunion with Tucker would be one more memorable event in her life, like a great concert, and when it was over, it would be over.

Determined to enjoy herself, she closed down the logical part of her brain and concentrated on the exquisite friction between her legs. The rhythmic push and pull suffused her with a sense of wellbeing that made her sigh in contentment. It felt as if they were ballroom dancers who knew each other’s bodies as well as they knew their own, and the sex was like a routine they’d rehearsed over and over until it was flawless and as innate as breathing.

“I wish we could stay like this forever,” she said, reaching back and caressing his cheek.

He nuzzled the back of her neck, sending a wave of shivers down her spine. “That food did rev me up again, but not quite that much,” he said with a soft chuckle.

“Slacker.” She pinched his earlobe and he laughed.

Thirty-four floors below, people bustled among the shrill shrieks and beeps of the casino while in Tucker’s room only gentle murmurs of pleasure and the soft shush of sheets could be heard. For a while, they didn’t speak, just enjoying each other and the easy rhythm. Tucker caressed her stomach, her breasts, her face as he rocked against her and Mariah slid her hand along his hip, occasionally squeezing his ass as he thrust. But eventually, the leisurely pace gave way to a need for more, and Tucker picked up speed. The steely arm he had wrapped around her waist pulled tighter. He pumped his hips faster and with more force.

Mariah arched her back, meeting his thrusts and moaning. This all seemed so surreal. She’d replayed that night with Tucker so many times in her head. She’d embellished it, changed it around, spun it into scenarios she’d be embarrassed to admit to, but having him here in the flesh surpassed all of that. Sure, in her fantasies she could make him do and say whatever she wanted, but the reality of having him initiate things, respond to her of his own free will, coerce her with that open, quirky grin he had…nothing could beat that.

She abandoned herself to the feelings building inside her. Their bodies were slick with sweat and he was grunting in her ear as he thrust harder and faster. Tucker bent her forward, then grabbed her hips and used his arms to hold her immobile as he rammed himself into her. Mariah gasped for breath. The pleasure quickly surged, then crested, and she shuddered violently as she came, her back arching, every muscle going taut. Tucker let go too. His hoarse cry echoed in the room as he drove into her one last time.

A few moments later as the last vestiges of her climax fluttered away, Mariah tried to catch her breath. Her skin felt suddenly cool from perspiration, but Tucker pulled her gently toward him until she felt his warm chest pressed against her back.

He kissed her shoulder. “Feel good?” he asked.

“Mmm. Better than good.”

“I’ll never be able to look at chocolate mousse without thinking of you.” His arm tightened around her.

Mariah gave herself a mental high-five. Her feminine pride would live on that compliment long after Tucker was gone.

Still, maybe after all this was over, she’d FedEx some mousse to him every year just to remind him.

* * * * *

The next morning, Mariah lay content in the massive bed with Tucker spooned against her back again, one of his arms around her waist and a hand clasping her breast. She’d half-believed that she was going to wake up and find it was all some dream, like in the movies, but no. The sunlight on her face was real. The tenderness between her legs was real. Moreover, the growing hardness of Tucker’s cock against her butt was real.

“Hey, Cinderella, you’re still here.” Brushing a thumb back and forth over her nipple, he nuzzled her neck with feathery kisses.

“I hope you don’t mind.”

“Mind? Hell no. I was worried that I was going to wake up this morning alone with your shoe. I hope
you
don’t mind
this
,” he said with slight shift of his hips. “It’s a guy thing we can’t control.”

“I know,” she said with a chuckle.

He sucked her earlobe into his mouth and whispered in her ear. “But, you know, if you wanna…”

As his hand closed more tightly around her breast, an irresistible wave of desire rolled through her body. Feeling slightly slutty, she wordlessly arched back in invitation, and with a low, appreciative murmur, he slowly filled her. God, it was superb, that smooth, leisurely connection. It was like a sunrise, or like a dark truffle melting on her tongue. Mariah went with it, reaching behind to caress his hip as he moved inside her. No wonder they called it morning glory.

As he withdrew just as slowly and slid back inside, he asked, “Is that okay? Are you too sore? Because I can stop if you want.”

“No, no, it’s all good,” she said, rocking back against him.

“Thank God,” he said with a chuckle, “because cold showers are not my—”

He stopped moving.

“Damn, damn, damn,” he said.

“What?” she said. “What’s wrong?”

He pressed a warm kiss against her neck and slid out. “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back. I forgot a condom.”

Tucker hustled to the bathroom, but as he returned with a fistful of Trojans, the phone rang. Dumping the packets on the nightstand, he swore under his breath.

“Damn it. I’ll make it quick, I promise,” he said, sitting on the edge of the bed and picking up the receiver.

Laughing, she said, “I hope you mean the phone call.”

After sending her a mock expression of outrage, he barked into the phone, “This better be good.”

When Mariah reached over and took one of the condoms, Tucker grinned and nodded at her.

Lying down, one hand behind his head, he said, “Normally I would, big guy, but today I can’t.”

Mariah started to rip open the packet, but then a devilish idea took hold.

“Yeah,” Tucker said, “but those Voted #1 polls are always so—oh
shit
!”

He grabbed the bed sheet with one hand and stifled a groan as Mariah engulfed his half-hard cock with her mouth.

“No, no,” he stammered as Mariah started sucking. “I-I just stubbed my toe.”

Like a woman possessed, she devoured him. Mouth and hands. Lips, tongue. Suction, rhythm, rough and quick. Tucker’s legs quivered and so did his voice.

“No, you’re better off here at the hotel. Their buffet is great. I’ve had it a zillion—fuck! No, it’s just—” His eyes rolled back into his head. “My toe is killing me.”

Loving his reactions, Mariah cupped his balls with one hand, fondled, squeezed. With her other hand she gripped his shaft and stroked hard.

“Yeah,” he said through gritted teeth. “Sorry. Can’t. Gotta go. Bye.”

Tucker threw the phone aside. “Holy shit, Mariah. I’m gonna come. Like in the next ten seconds.”

She pulled back just long enough to blurt, “Go for it.”

Tucker’s breath came in great gasps as she resumed sucking. She felt his balls tighten up and then his hips rose off the bed. Every muscle straining, he exploded. It was such a rush to feel him coating her tongue and filling her mouth with spice and sex. She reveled in every pulse of his cock as she gulped down spurt after spurt of hot cream.

After a long moment, Tucker raised his head and caught her gaze. “What a goddamn beautiful morning!”

Pleased with herself, she grinned and slid out of bed. “I’m just going to…” She gestured toward the bathroom.

“Yeah, go ahead and do what you gotta do. I’ll just lie here and recover. Holy shit.”

Not bothering with a robe, Mariah sauntered into the spa-like bathroom where she closed the heavy door behind her. The place was as big as her mother’s kitchen. A Jacuzzi tub, roomy enough for six people, dominated. There was a separate Italian marble shower, two sinks and a toilet area that had a door for privacy.

She was heading for that area when a voice said, “Hi! How’s it going?”

With a gasp, Mariah snatched a towel from the rack to cover herself. Recognizing Davina’s voice, she looked for the fairy but couldn’t find her.

“Psst. Look up.”

Davina’s sunny-cheeked face smiled at her from the flat-screen TV bolted in one corner. This time her suit was sage green with silver accessories, and her hair hung straight to her chin in a pageboy cut.

“You scared the shit out of me!” Mariah hissed.

“Sorry, but this is the first time you’ve been alone since the countdown started.”

Embarrassed to the tips of her toes, Mariah pulled the towel tighter around herself. “Have you been spying on us?”

Davina made a face. “Please. I’m not a voyeur. I came to find out if you’re having a good time. I’ve been monitoring the aura around you two, and the readings are promising.”

Through the door they could hear Tucker singing “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning”, and Mariah laughed softly in spite of herself.

“Yes,” she said, actually glad to share this with someone. “I’m having the time of my life.”

Davina bit her lip and squealed. “I’m so happy for you! I haven’t had an HEA in forever. Stupid Gertie keeps lording her Cupid of the Month Award over me and it’s getting old. Now, did you read the pamphlet I gave you?”

“Not yet. Why?”

“You should read it. If you want whatever’s going on between you and Tucker to continue—oh crap.” Davina looked at something off-screen and blanched. “Oh no.” She returned her attention to Mariah. “Look, I have to go.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I can’t explain right now,” Davina said. “Just read the darned pamphlet. It’s all there. I’ll talk to you soon.”

The TV blacked out and Mariah stared at it for a moment, trying to figure out what was going on. What the hell was an HEA? Considering Davina’s reference to a Cupid of the Month Award, Mariah figured HEA probably meant Happily Ever After. Did that mean Tucker was supposed to be her Prince Charming? And, for the sake of argument, if he
was
and they rode into the sunset together on a white horse, could she live with the fact that he’d been magically coerced into loving her?

Unsure what to do, she went about her bathroom business. She could ask questions all day long but wouldn’t get any answers until she got the pamphlet from the shop and read it. When she returned to the bedroom, Tucker was hanging up the phone.

“I just ordered some more food,” he said, still in bed. “It’s a blatant attempt to get you to stay longer, but if you’re as hungry as I am, you won’t be able to resist.”

Unshaven, his thick hair tousled, he looked so sexy with the bedcovers covering only the lower half of his naked body that Mariah didn’t hesitate before getting back into bed with him. With a big grin, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

“After breakfast we can take a bath together, huh? Then do some shopping maybe. I have to buy a wedding gift and I could use some help.”

“The wedding itself isn’t enough?” she asked.

“Nah. They gotta have something to open, don’t they? What? What is that? You’re frowning.” He kissed her, a small frown on his face too.

“No, it’s just that I do have to make the cake. Remember?”

“Oh yeah. I forgot about that.” He put a hand on her hip and stroked her gently. “Well, if you help me, I’ll help you. How’s that?”