Unconventional Fling (A Working Girl’s Guide, Book 1) (4 page)

Her pulse screamed in response, pounding between her legs. The trepidation of performing for this almost-stranger mingled with the excitement—that he might get off from watching her do the same. She stepped away until the back of her legs hit the edge of the bed. “Sounds like fun.”

“Don’t move.” He vanished into the bathroom and returned a moment later with a hand towel. He spun the chair at the desk around and dropped into it, eyes never leaving her for more than a couple of seconds. Every time his gaze travelled over her, her skin grew warmer and her slick need begged louder for attention.

Her hands shook as she undid her own jeans, hooked her thumbs in the waistband, and dropped the rest of her clothes to the floor. Straightening up, she stood in front of him. Her embarrassment at being so exposed was tempered by excitement.

He undid his pants, working himself free, gliding his hand up and down his shaft. She winced in regret. It would’ve been nice to have him pounding inside her, stretching her out. But this was wicked enough on its own. She dropped onto the edge of the bed and then hesitated.
What first?

“Play with your tits.” A controlling edge lined the suggestion.

She cupped her breasts and pinched the swollen nubs, moaning at the contact. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back as she massaged the flesh, tugging harder when he grunted.

“Lay back.” A deep husk ran through his voice. “And use one hand to spread yourself open for me.”

The direct orders made her head swim. She gasped when her fingers brushed her swollen sex.

“Your pussy is so gorgeous.” His breathing grew heavy. “Shove two fingers inside.”

She did as commanded, arching her back at the penetration. She pumped against her hand, pinching her nipple hard with her other.

“Fuck, I want to be buried inside you.” His growl filled the room.

A need built in her chest. This was incredible. But she wasn’t going to finish like this. Not by herself.

“Please?” Her breathless request slipped out before she could stop it.

He chuckled. “Please what?”

“Let me come for you?” She bit her bottom lip.

“I like that.” His abbreviated grunts teased her senses. “Okay. Play with yourself until you come.”

She slid her hand up, gasping when she found her swollen clit. Fingers on either side, she stroked slowly at first. She couldn’t hold out, though. Her pace increased, and from his ragged breathing, his had too. Moans tore from her throat as her climax built. Her back arched as she peaked, waves of pleasure washing over her as she continued to finger herself. A tiny part of her registered his cries mingling with hers. But she was too lost in the rush to look.

The mattress shifted with a new weight. His hand covered hers, keeping her from pulling away from the now hypersensitive skin. She opened her eyes to find him studying her, expression still dark with lust.

“I want you to come again.” The control was still there. He propped himself up on his elbow and lowered his mouth to her breast, sucking the raw nipple.

He pushed her hand against her sex, prompting her to keep stroking. The contact on the swollen bits made her head swim, and she didn’t pull away.

“I want…” His voice was broken up by frequent nips to her swollen nub. “To hear you scream again…”

The order itself was almost enough to push her over the edge. She lost herself in the sensations, a second orgasm building quickly and rolling through her. She shuddered as the climax gripped her and then slid away.

His rough attentions slowed, hand resting on her leg, thumb stroking the inside of her thigh. He kissed her nipple softly one more time before pressing his lips to hers.

She pushed up on her elbows, crushing her mouth against his, tongue darting around. It was several seconds before they broke apart.

His fingers trailed up her stomach, over her chest, and along her neck. “Absolutely amazing.”

She flushed at the affection in his touch and voice. “Definitely.”

* * * *

Jade sighed at the light brush of lips on the back of her neck, floating halfway between consciousness and sleep. Brandon’s bare chest warmed her back, and his arm draped her hip, holding her close.

“Go back to sleep.” His soft whisper caressed her ear.

“Mhm…”
That sounds nice.
Especially if it meant she could stay wrapped up a little longer. She nestled against him and willed her brain to fall back asleep.

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but she was just drifting off again when the bed shifted, pulling her back awake. Cold enveloped her before the sheets fell back into place. She rolled over so she could see him and frowned as he pulled on his T-shirt. The red numbers on the clock next to him told her it wasn’t even five a.m. yet.

“Is something wrong?” she asked quietly.

He jumped but didn’t turn to face her. “I hoped you wouldn’t wake up.”

“Too late.” She failed to push aside her creeping disappointment. There was nothing to be upset over. It wasn’t like they were going to spend the rest of the weekend in her room, getting to know each other in every way possible. She’d known before she went down to the bar that this would be a one-night thing.

He slumped forward, dropping his face into his hands for a moment before standing. He still wouldn’t look at her. “I need to get back to my own room. I had a great time.”

She shouldn’t stop him. This was exactly the way things were supposed to go. A sliver of light from the hallway fell across her and then vanished again as he stepped through the door.

Right. Exactly how it’s supposed to go.
She rolled onto her back, wide-awake now, staring at the ceiling. At least it was fun while it lasted. Maybe she could get a couple more hours sleep before she hit downtown to play tourist.

Brandon leaned his head against the wall of the shower, and the cool of the tile seeped into his forehead. Scalding water poured over his back. For the first time since he’d started touring the con circuit, he was dreading spending the day with the crowds and fans. Not because his appreciation for it had changed any, but because he would rather have spent the time with Jade, ordering room service, getting to know each other, and if they could get away with it, never getting dressed.

Well, maybe getting dressed long enough to drop by the hotel gift shop for a box of condoms.

But then what?
They’d still have to go their separate ways tomorrow. And it was never meant to last more than one night. She’d never implied she wanted otherwise, which was a shame as far as he was concerned. A woman like that deserved better than a random fling in a hotel room.

At least this way his agent wouldn’t kill him for adding a layer of truth to the rumors.

He pushed the regrets aside. It was over, and it had definitely been amazing. No reason to ruin the memories by focusing on the downside. And they were good memories; her fingers digging into his back, her quiet sighs, and her loud moans. His cock reacted to the images.
No time for that.
He switched the water to cold. He had things to do today.

Fifteen minutes later, he was dressed and riding the elevator down. The familiar scents of bacon and coffee teased him as they wafted from the hot breakfast buffet below. Running into her again would be awkward. He should grab his food from the drive-thru down the street. He’d still be back in plenty of time for his first panel of the day. Despite his resolve, he cut a straight line for the complimentary coffee, only taking his attention away from the lobby long enough to mix cream into his drink.

He found a spot away from most of the crowds—one that had a good view of the room. Part of his brain screamed that he was acting like a lovesick puppy. The other half stepped in to remind him she wasn’t here for the con. His odds of seeing her in the costumed crowds were slim.

“Brandon, I was hoping I’d run into you.” A pleasant tone interrupted his surveillance.

He hid his wince. Trent from Funami, the company that refused to work with him anymore. Brandon pasted on a smile, turned to face the other man, and returned his handshake. “How’s it going?”

Trent was a few inches shorter than Brandon and thin, but the confidence the blond man exuded always made him seem taller. Trent’s posture was casual, one hand in his slacks pocket. “Could be better, but could be a lot worse. You must be busy lately.”

Brandon almost choked on the pleasantry. He’d never seen sarcasm pulled off so flawlessly. “Not as busy as I could be. Always looking for my next gig.”

“Really? Then it’s too bad we can’t get Michelle to return our calls.”

The words slammed into Brandon’s brain, making him fumble.
Calls?
“I’m sorry, what?”

Trent laughed. “It’s why I was hoping to run into you. I hate to go around your agent, but we’ve picked up this new series we really think you’d be perfect for, and we want you to come in and read.”

Brandon’s jaw worked up and down for a few seconds, fumbling for a response. “What about the rumors?”

“The…” A blank look crossed Trent’s face. “The love-’em-and-leave-’em complainer?”

The cold assessment of the situation bothered Brandon. He may not have been interested in her, but he still didn’t like that she’d been hurt by the whole thing. “I suppose.”

Trent waved a hand. “Shit like that happens all the time, you can’t let it get to you, you know? Kids—whether they’re fifteen or fifty—say things that just aren’t true. You can’t let something like that keep you from going after work.”

Brandon was missing something. But at least he was catching up quickly enough to realize that the “something” seemed to be on his agent’s side and not on Funami’s. “Good point.”

“Glad to hear it.” Trent clapped him on the shoulder. “Have Michelle call us, set up a time, and we’ll get you in to read. You’re free next week?”

“Yeah, definitely.” Brandon’s thoughts were racing out of control. Why had Michelle lied to him? “I can be in on Thursday. I’ll let her know myself.”

“Perfect.” Trent exchanged a few more pleasantries with him and then was gone, chasing down another distributor.

The moment he left, Brandon pulled out his phone. He had Michelle’s number up in seconds. Each ring in his ear was another layer of aggravation and need for answers. Her voice mail clicked on.

He wanted to leave her a furious message. But part of him was hoping it was just a misunderstanding. That, and he would hash it out with her in real-time if it wasn’t. He wasn’t letting her off with something as sterile as a voice mail. “It’s me. Something’s come up and it’s important. Call me as soon as you can.”

Fury pumped through his veins. Why had she lied to him? The person he paid to make sure he got work, and she’d all but cut him off from a source of income. What the hell was going on?

On top of that, he’d walked away from a fantastic night based on meaningless threats. But…a sliver of glee wormed through his irritation. That meant no one actually cared if he saw Jade one more time before the weekend was up.

A quick glance at his watch told him he still had an hour before his first panel. He glanced at the already growing pack of people in front of the elevator and sprinted up the stairs instead. By the time he reached the sixth floor, he had to pause in the stairwell to catch his breath. Okay, probably not the smartest thing he’d ever done. But worth it. He strode toward Jade’s door, pace slowing as it came into sight. The cleaning staff was in there, and she wasn’t.

He tried to be subtle about peeking through the crack in the door, but he couldn’t see enough of the room to tell if her stuff was still in there or not.
Please, please let her just be out for the day.

He stopped by his own room on the way back to the main floor. Like a lot of the cons, this one had given him two passes: one for him and one for a guest. He’d just never had a reason to use the second one before.

He rushed back down to the lobby and made a straight line for the front desk. The girl behind the counter greeted him with a pleasant smile.

He gave her what he hoped was a winning grin. “I’m trying to find out if Jade in six-ten has checked out yet?” Maybe he should’ve at least gotten her last name.

Her expression faded, even though her smile didn’t dim. “I’m sorry, sir. I can’t give out guest information.”

Of course.
“Yeah, no, totally understand.” He set the passes on counter—one for the con and one for the concert that night. “If she’s still here, can you make sure she gets these?”

She didn’t touch them. “If she’s not here, I’ll just have to throw them away.”

Did that mean she was gone? “Do what you have to. Thanks.”

Brandon fell back into his routine as the day wore on. At least he didn’t feel obligated to hide in his room this time. If no one cared who he was friendly with, he could still talk to the fans and enjoy some of the other panels.

He tried to ignore it, but as the hours ticked away with no sign of Jade, his disappointment grew; it was aggravated by the fact that Michelle still hadn’t called him back.

Jade pulled her rental car into one of the last empty spots in the hotel lot. Historic Franklin was gorgeous. She was glad she’d stuck around for the weekend. She was even happier that she’d gone out to enjoy the town. Staying in her room all day with a random stranger would’ve been an absolute waste of the gorgeous day.

And for the number of times she’d told herself that throughout the day, she almost believed it.

Throngs of people in costumes milled around the entrance and spilled through the front doors. They seemed to have doubled in number since the night before. It must be nice to be that enthusiastic about something. She shouldered her way through the groups. She wouldn’t look for Brandon. Not even a glance. She was heading straight for the elevator.

She’d go upstairs, put on a pair of heels and her leather skirt. Then take a cab downtown and drink until she couldn’t think, drowning herself in live country music.

Perfect plan.

“Miss Whitman.” A voice struggled to carry over the crowd.