One to Hold (5 page)

“Mel’s a freelance marketer,” she said, nodding at me. “I teach middle school.”

“What?” Patrick laughed. “That’s the worst age ever!”

Elaine joined him in laughter. “They’re just a misunderstood bunch. All raging hormones. But they want to be loved and accepted just like everyone else.”

I could feel Derek’s intense gaze on me, and I didn’t dare look at him. Instead I faced Patrick, a far less intimidating table mate. “So you work in internet security?”

Patrick’s hazel eyes twinkled. “That’s right, and don’t worry. We’ve already done complete background checks on both you lovely ladies.”

My throat tightened, but Elaine laughed loudly. “Liar! You don’t even know our last names.”

“You got me,” he smiled, taking a drink of cava. “But I will after tonight.”

“Maybe I’ll keep you guessing,” she said.

Their easy banter was making my head hurt. Especially in view of Derek’s continued silence. I took another drink, finishing my glass.

“So if all the bad guys are virtual now, why are you two so buff?” Elaine said, touching Patrick’s biceps lightly. “I’m pretty sure Derek’s arm is the size of my thigh!”

My eyes flickered to his upper arm, and I remembered how easily he lifted me against him, as if I weighed no more than a doll. My cheeks heated at the memory.

“Occasionally Big D has to use intimidation tactics,” Patrick said as if revealing an insider secret.

“Big D?” Elaine’s nose wrinkled.

I could hear the smile in Derek’s low voice. “It’s a joke.”

The pressure was too much. I stood, placing my napkin beside my empty plate and now-empty cava flute. “Excuse me,” I said softly.

Elaine frowned up at me. “Mel? Are you okay?”

She started to rise, but I held out my hand. “Please stay. I just… I need to go. I’ll have dinner in the room.”

“But you don’t have a key!”

“I’ll get one from the front desk. Please… just stay.” I turned and hastened to the restaurant exit.

Elaine spoke again, and the low sound of male voices joined hers, but I didn’t stop. My heart was flying, and I was out the door, fast-walking through the convention center hall in less than a minute.

I’d intended to exit the way we’d come in, but somehow, I’d gotten turned around. Now I was headed in the direction of the small bar from our very first night. Between me and it were three signs for men, women, and the large “family” bathroom. I paused, trying to remember the quickest way back to the spa side of the resort. Just then, I felt a presence approaching quickly. I started to go, but Derek’s voice stopped me.

“Wait,” he said, touching my arm.

I turned so abruptly, he bumped into me, catching me in his strong embrace, his familiar woodsy scent all around me. “Oh,” I said, clutching his solid arms, looking up into his intense blue eyes. Energy rushed through me so hard, I was sure he could see it. I almost felt like I could see it reflected in his own eyes.

“Here,” he said glancing around quickly before pulling me into the family bathroom.

I only had a moment to observe how very clean it was before he had me against the wall, pinned by his huge physique.

“You never came.” His voice was a low, husky whisper. “I waited all night.”

My hands rested on his chest, and heat flamed through me with every heartbeat. My eyes traveled up, up, up to his. They were darkened now, and I was certain he was thinking the same thing as me. He remembered how fantastically our bodies came together two nights ago. I barely registered him reaching out to lock the door.

“I’m sorry,” was all I could say.

“When you walked in the restaurant tonight… god, you’re so beautiful.” He spoke against my skin as his lips pressed into my brow, his beard roughing my closed eyelids. “Are you feeling bad?”

“No,” I managed to say despite the heat surging through me as his lips moved to my temple. “I… didn’t think I could eat.”

“Good,” he said in a thick voice before covering my mouth with his. Mine opened quickly, drawing him in. Our tongues entwined before his lips moved to my jaw then down my neck. “I thought about you all day.” His breath whispered across my skin, and I couldn’t stop a surge of desire low in my stomach. “Will you let me have you here?”

“Yes,” I barely spoke, and he dropped to his knees.

He gathered the thin fabric of my dress, shoving it up to my waist as he caught the side of my thong with his thumb. Large, strong hands gripped my inner thighs, opening them, and his nose touched the crease in my leg as his tongue explored my now-wet folds. A whimper trembled from my throat. It was the exact fantasy I’d had in the bar, and he pulled back, pressing his mouth against my thigh.

“I had to hear that sound again.” His voice was a sexy vibration against my skin, his beard scratching my charged, sensitive areas. I shuddered in his strong hands that held me as if I weighed nothing at all.

His mouth returned to my clit, and his tongue began making slow strokes punctuated by little sucks. My head dropped back with a moan, eyes closed, as my hips rotated in time with his movements.

“Oooh, god,” I sighed, threading my fingers into his thick, dark hair, never wanting him to stop. My back arched against the cold stone wall, and all I knew was his mouth, his tongue, tasting me, teasing me to the very edge. Pressure grew hot and tight low in my belly, tighter with every pull of his mouth. My hips bucked as my orgasm began, and another high-pitched whimper escaped my throat. My shudders were uncontrollable as I came.

I was still finishing when he stood quickly, fumbled with his pants a moment before I heard the familiar tearing sound, the clink of a belt buckle. In one swift movement, he lifted me easily, then slid me down, thrusting into my dripping-wet passage, filling me completely like before, stretching and massaging every place that ached for him. We both groaned loudly, and he pushed into me again, harder. My hands fumbled to the collar of his shirt, down his back, pulling the fabric up, desperate to feel his skin.

He groaned low as I managed to get his polo higher, the strapless top of my dress now pushed down around my waist, my bare breasts tingling for his touch. Our skin met, and I moaned with satisfaction.

“Fuck,” his low voice groaned as his hands gripped my butt, moving me up and down his shaft in the most amazing rhythm.

My second orgasm was building rapidly as his large cock moved in and out repeatedly. His mouth covered mine, and the small whimpers coming from my throat were like fuel to his fire. Our pace increased. The tightness in my stomach grew more intense, and my nails dug into his skin. My heart was beating so hard, and my brain had switched to repeating one phrase,
Don’t stop. Don’t stop
.

Finally the tightness reached its peak and burst through me—shaking my thighs again and making me moan.

“Fuck me,” he groaned, thrusting hard. “You’re so fucking hot.”

“Derek,” I whispered against his ear, and he let out a breath.

“Say it again,” he ground out, lifting me and slamming me hard against his hips, his rock-hard cock filling me entirely.

“Oh, god,” I cried. “Derek!”

With that, he pushed me against the wall, banging into me three swift times before holding the fourth so deep inside me, I felt his heartbeat pounding. A shiver moved through his body, and he groaned soft and low.

We didn’t move for several moments. He only held me against him, both of us panting hard.

Our location came seeping back to me through the delirium of love-making. We were in a bathroom in a five-star hotel fucking our brains out. This was nuts. I gently pushed against his arms, and he released me. As I lowered my legs, I adjusted my thong. I slid the top of my dress back to its proper location and I smoothed my hair.

I turned to the sink, unsure if I felt insane or fantastic. My legs trembled from exertion and sensation. One thing I couldn’t deny, my fears of ruining the memory of our perfect first time were unfounded. Our second time was even hotter. I turned on the water and touched my fingers under the stream as I listened to him straightening his clothes.

In a moment he was back behind me, bending down to wrap his chiseled arms around my waist and whispering in my ear like before, “Thank you.” Then he kissed the top of my shoulder.

No man had ever thanked me for sex like this, and I wasn’t sure if I liked it or if it made me feel like a call girl. I decided to go with the first option. He wasn’t offering me money, after all, just gratitude. It was a gratitude I shared. He fucked me better than anybody had in my entire life.

My eyes met his in the mirror. “Thank you,” I said back.

For a moment our gaze held each other’s. I wasn’t intimidated or afraid anymore, but I was completely bewildered and still not sure what to do with this. I barely knew him, and my situation hadn’t changed. I was not available in any way. Well, except in the way that led to flaming-hot fucks in five-star bathrooms. It was like we were animals or something. Very pampered animals, I supposed. I blinked down as warmth filled my cheeks and turned the water off.

We had to exit, and I wasn’t sure what might be waiting on the other side. Neither of us had attempted to control the volume of our voices. Had someone alerted the management? I wouldn’t even have heard if someone knocked during what just happened.

“Would you like me to go first?” His deep voice spoke to the fears in my mind.

Without answering, I reached forward and flipped the lock back, pulling the handle down and walking out casually. The passage was empty, and I exhaled with relief. No one was waiting outside, no hotel security, and the only persons I saw were hastening in our direction—but not to us, to the bar behind us.

I walked over to the water-fountain on the opposite wall. Just as I reached it, I heard the metallic door open, and I knew Derek was emerging. I stood and wiped my mouth, turning to face him. When my eyes hit his, my chest clenched. My type or not, he was gorgeous. The light blue shirt stretched across the top of his perfect chest made his eyes glow, and his dark, wavy locks were pushed back from his face. He caught my gaze with an expression of true appreciation, and my whole body warmed. What was I doing? For that matter, who was I? I had no answer.

“We should probably head back to the restaurant,” I said as he stepped toward me. “Patrick and Elaine might wonder.”

“I told them I’d be sure you got back to your room safely.”

I nodded, exhaling a short laugh, thinking of Elaine’s plans. “They might actually be glad we’re gone.”

He lifted my hand into the crook of his muscled arm. “You need to eat. Would you let me buy you dinner?”

We were slowly approaching the place where we first met, and I still wasn’t sure I had much of an appetite. “Let’s see what they’re serving at the bar.”

Only a few steps and we were there, but the music reached us outside, loud and pulsing. It sounded like a party, and not at all what I was in the mood for.

Derek stopped, placing his large hand over mine holding his arm. “Maybe we can see what they’ll bring us outside? Beside the fire pit?”

He turned and led us out the side door to lounge chairs and an arrangement that mirrored ours on the spa side of the resort.

“Will this do?” he said, holding out my hand and stepping around the wooden loveseat, over which an Indian-designed blanket was thrown.

“It’s lovely,” I said, stepping forward and sitting.

“You’re lovely,” he said softly. “I couldn’t take my eyes off you when you walked in tonight. I think red is your color.”

A feeling I would not acknowledge warmed my stomach. It was something I couldn’t allow to develop for him, not now.

“Thank you,” I said, and my mind filled with images of what prompted our last exchange of thanks. The sensations flooding my insides grew stronger.

“If no one comes out, I’ll walk in and order whatever looks good,” he said.

I nodded, and for several moments we only sat watching the orange flames dance over the coals. It was hypnotic and very relaxing. Derek was beside me on the love seat, and our sides were pressed together. After what felt like many long moments, but what was probably only five, he tugged on my waist. I glanced at him and a smile touched his lips. At that, I leaned against him, resting my head on his firm chest. His muscular arm went around my shoulder and down my side.

We were so familiar with each other’s bodies. We knew exactly how to touch one another to provoke the strongest response. But how did we relate in a casual setting like this? With our clothes on?

“Where did you grow up?” I asked, watching the fire.

“South Louisiana,” he said. I felt his fingers lifting clumps of my curls and holding them. “And you?”

“Atlanta,” I said. “But only until I was nine. Then we moved to the coast, just outside Wilmington, North Carolina. That’s where I met Elaine.”

“You’ve known each other that long?” He was still playing with my hair, and I found it unexpectedly soothing. Even though we barely knew each other, I felt incredibly safe with him.

“She’s the closest thing to a sister I have. She’s always been there for me.”

We were quiet again, and at last a waitress appeared. “Can I bring you a drink?” she asked.