The Desire

Prologue

REMINGTON

“ M erry Christmas,” Nic announces as we all sit around the table in his suite at his hotel in Rome.

This time last year I was off in the Bahamas, but instead, Nic insisted that Flynn, Forrest, and I spend Christmas with him and his family. It’s different than spending it on my own, but I couldn’t say no to him when he needed us. Since my mum and dad started traveling to Inverness in Scotland every year to be with my sister and her family, I try to find an excuse to be anywhere but there with them.

Kids, a cramped house full of noise, people, and of course, the cold that seeps right into your bones and brings bucketloads of snow that can leave us all snowed in together. All things that don’t rate high on my list of fun experiences at the best of times, but especially the kids part; not my scene at all. I always make sure I see my parents before they leave and give them presents to take up to my sister’s for the rest of my family. And then I plan my escape vacation, or I blame work. We are, after all, in the hospitality industry, and it’s a busy time of the year. I make out how important I am, and that I can’t be far from the office, in case we have a major problem.

This trip counts as work, especially since I’m currently dining and staying in one of the Darby Hotels which is who I work for. The only thing I hate is seeing the disappointment on my mother’s face every year, but I’m sure as soon as she is with her grandchildren, she forgets all about me.

Raising our glasses with Nic’s toast, I look around, and I can see on everyone’s face that we’re all glad he finally went after Tori. This woman had him twisted inside out, and it wasn’t fun to be around him while it all fell apart. He was a freaking nightmare the whole three months she was away, but it did make him wake the hell up—his words, not mine, although we were all thinking it.

Nic drove me, especially, fucking crazy the whole time! Wanting updates almost hourly it felt like, on where she was, was she okay, did she need him, was she seeing anyone else? The last question almost killed him waiting for my answer.

I wanted to say, “ No, you dickhead, why would she do that? She is so desperately in love with you, but she’s just off doing what women do—which is making you pay for hurting her .”

Better him than me. I’m not the settling down kind of man.

There’s too much to do in life, and being committed to anyone will just slow me down. Work is restrictive enough, but I love my job, so it doesn’t worry me. Being head of security and IT intelligence for Nicholas Darby and The Darby Hotel chain is like my dream job. Working alongside three men who have become my best friends and in a job that has me traveling all over Europe, I couldn’t have landed a more perfect role for me.

Life changed a few years ago when Nic took over the family business, and once the four of us connected, we had the dream team. He’s the boss but never treats us like that. We work on the basis of mutual respect and brotherhood. You have my back and I’ll have yours. It’s as simple as that.

Before I started working here, I had been wandering from job to job over the years, which has helped me gain valuable experience in my career field. But it also allowed me to see amazing things, have adventures, and chase the adrenaline rush, which is what I crave the most.

I almost killed my mother with worry when I was growing up. I was the stereotypical kid with no fear, jumping off roofs, riding bikes like a maniac, sitting on the handlebars while friends were steering. But as I got older and turned eighteen, not needing her permission for anything, the daredevil stunts just got more intense. The first time I told her I was going bungee jumping, she threw her hands in the air and declared, “ I give up. I don’t want to know anymore until after you have done whatever crazy-ass thing you are going to do and that you have survived.”

Life just got more exciting from that moment on. The thrill I’ve felt in every single danger I faced is the best rush. Sure, sex is up there but in a different way. They say variety is the spice of life, and believe me, I have had plenty of spice. I slept my way around the world— in a respectful way, of course. I’ve met a lot of beautiful women who have turned my head but none of this love at first sight that people talk about. Lust is a powerful thing, and I think people confuse that with love in that first initial interaction. It makes for great sex, but then real life comes into it, and that lust can very quickly turn into a drag of trying to mix your life with someone else’s wants and needs.

I’m a selfish bastard, and I’ll freely admit to it!

Flynn’s voice jolts me out of my thoughts. “Yes, Nic, finally you are merry, and the grumpy jerk has left the building,” he declares as we all clink glasses to celebrate the happy season.

“If there weren’t parents in the room then I would reply to that comment, but I’ll refrain right now.” Nic smirks at Flynn and the rest of us, including Nic and Tori’s parents, who are just laughing at them both, knowing that Flynn is right.

Dinner was perfect, as expected. Nic would not settle for anything less, and you’d have to be a ballsy chef to serve anything less than the best quality to the four top executives of the whole company. Time has gotten away from us, and the parents left a few hours ago, leaving us four men, Nic’s girlfriend Tori, and her best friend Elouise.

“This was nice, but it’s time for you all to fuck off now.” Nic stands and motions to the door.

“Nicholas, you can’t say that.” Tori jumps up, but she’s wobbling a little on her feet, and he wraps his arms around her protectively.

“You bet I can. I only have an hour left to play Santa Claus with you before the day is over.” Nic’s glare tells us all what that means. And I’m not waiting around to witness any more of this over-the-top loving between these two.

“That’s my cue to leave,” Forrest declares, standing up from his place on the couch, while the rest of us follow. The table is scattered with wine and champagne glasses, evidence of the great night of laughs and fun we had.

“Did you FaceTime Mum and Dad yet?” Flynn asks Forrest as they head toward the suite door. For two brothers, they couldn’t be any different if they tried. Although they have similar looks, personality wise, it’s like chalk and cheese.

“No. Come back to my room and we can do it at the same time. That way we can support each other to get through the crying and constant talking over each other that we are going to get. She has already thanked me twenty times for sending them to New York for a holiday. You know this call is going to painful.” Forrest, for once, is a bit more relaxed than normal. He is the serious one in the group, and it makes sense because he is the chief financial officer, a job that would bore the shit out of me, but he loves it.

“Ugh, if I have to,” Flynn complains.

“You do, so move your ass.” Forrest rolls his eyes at his younger brother as they leave.

To be honest, we are all very relaxed after good food, beautiful wine, and great company all night. No one is drunk, but you can tell the defenses are down, and it’s nice for a change.

“Rem, can you see Lou to her room, please?” Nic asks, his hand landing on my shoulder, squeezing it in appreciation.

“It’s okay, I’m only a few floors below you,” Lou says in her sweet little voice as she comes up beside us.

“Not a chance. I don’t care if you are next door, we don’t let a female friend walk on her own, at night, after a few drinks,” Nic replies in his deep voice as Tori looks up at him in admiration for looking after her friend.

I have only met Elouise a few times. She’s beautiful and she will turn any man’s eye, including mine each time I see her, but personality wise she’s so not my type. Quiet, reserved, and conservative at times, all the things I’m not. Although, when she’s with Tori, she lightens up, and with a few drinks in her can match wit with the best of us. For some reason Flynn seems to think she is his type, but he’s definitely dreaming. She could never keep up with him.

Both Tori and Elouise are thirteen years younger than Nic but only ten years younger than me. I’m the baby of our group, being thirty-six, while they are all around forty or over. The girls might be younger and have no real worldly experience, but they fit in with our group perfectly. Elouise might be the quieter one when we’re around, yet from what I’ve seen, Tori is a fiery one, and she can hold her own, that’s for sure. She has proven that already. Anyone who gets Nicholas Darby to settle down has tenacity way above her age and life experience.

“What he said,” I reply and point my thumb over my shoulder toward where Nic is now standing, then I take her hand and link it through my arm. It’s warm, but so tiny as her little fingers wrap around my bicep. I pat her hand to reassure her.

“I don’t want to bother you, Remington.” The squeak in her voice makes me look down at her. Oh yeah, there is no way she would cope with Flynn, although he hasn’t given up trying.

“No chance of that. We’re on the same floor. Now stop worrying and let’s get out of here before we see something neither of us want to be witness to.” Her giggle tells me she knows exactly what I mean.

The door of the suite closes behind us, and our footsteps are hardly noticeable on the expensive Italian wool carpet in the corridor. Silence falls effortlessly between us, and the trip in the elevator is not long, but I can tell I make her nervous. It’s not intentional, but the way she’s looking at the floor and scuffing her feet is a dead giveaway. The ding of the elevator doors opening has her looking up, and as we step out, I turn to the right, heading to her room.

“How do you know which room I’m in?” Her legs are moving fast, trying to keep up with my stride.

“Head of security, remember? I know everything about everyone in our little circle.” I chuckle at her shocked look. Reaching her door, I use my card that opens all the rooms belonging to our group. It is for safety only, and I would never use it unless there was imminent danger.

“What… how did you do that? That’s…”

I stand to the side and push the door open for her to enter. “Creepy, weird, yeah, I know, but it’s for your own safety. I need to be able to get to you in a hurry if there is ever a problem. But rest assured, I would never use it for any other reason. Your personal space is just that, unless I need to protect you.”

Surprisingly she accepts that and just steps past me into her room, turning to look me directly in the eye. “You really are the eternal tough guy, aren’t you?”

I can’t hold in the laughter at her seriousness. “Yes, Elouise, I’m your private bodyguard whether you like it or not. It comes with the territory now that you’re close to the boss man.”

“But I’m just a little nobody.” Again, her eyes drop to the ground. Oh, this woman really needs a good dose of self-confidence.

“Wrong, you are Elouise Patterson, teacher and tamer of the little people with snotty noses who can’t tie their shoelaces. Award winner of best teacher in your county last year, and from what I hear, a very well-respected staff member at your school. Daughter to Jan and Bob Patterson and sister to Robert, Neil, and Arthur who are all older than you. You are the only one in your family to have attended university, and also, impressively passing with honors. I’m sure all of that makes you an important someone to a lot of people.” I didn’t mean to spew out all my intel on her, but I have a photographic memory for the fine details, and once I recall information, it just all comes rushing back into my brain.

“Oh my…” Her hands come up on to her cheeks that are now blushing at how much I know about her. “Do you know what size underwear I wear too?”

“Do I need to answer that?” I say, chuckling at her comment.

She shakes her head at me with a smile that tells me she is impressed with her witty reply.

“Now, is there anything else you need help with? I trust your room is to your liking.” I’m trying to keep the conversation going with her to stop her from being so embarrassed.

“Um, yes, it’s so posh. I’ve never stayed anywhere like this,” she says, turning her back to me and waving her arm around the room. She is not in a suite but one of our best king-sized rooms in the hotel.

“We aim to please. Well, I will let you settle in for the night. I’m sure you would love to climb into the deep spa bath and finish the night off with some relaxation to send you to sleep.” My hand is still on the door handle, not stepping into the room uninvited.

“If I knew how to work it then I might have, but I’ll just take a shower instead.” She slowly turns to me with a look of disappointment on her face that she is trying to hide but not very well. I have a feeling she couldn’t get away with lying even if she tried.

“Why didn’t you call the concierge or one of us and we could have shown you?” I can feel the sternness on my face. “That’s what we’re here for. Damn, surely we aren’t that scary.” I know I can be at times when I’m in strict work mode, but I would hope she isn’t that worried about me.

“I didn’t want to make a fuss.” The look she gives me, I feel like there is more to it than that.

Shit!

It dawns on me now. She’s embarrassed and doesn’t want to say anything. Nic mentioned that she hasn’t traveled at all, and staying here must be like going from eating two-minute noodles to caviar in one swift jump.

I need to make her feel more comfortable here.

“Can I come in and show you? I know they are hard to work out. Took me a few tries before I got the hang of it.” Waiting for her to acknowledge, I start walking straight into the bathroom.

Everything is so tidy, and it’s like nothing has been touched. Hopefully the more she travels with us, she will become more comfortable in her room. I make a note to talk to Nic about it so he can get Tori to have a little chat with her. Elouise never has to worry about cost when she is with us. Nic has more money than he will ever know what to do with, and it’s my job to protect him and his fortune.

Turning the taps and adjusting the temperature to nice and warm, I reach for the bubble bath on the vanity to make it perfect.

“No, wait! I’m, um… allergic, yes, that’s it, allergic to bubbles.” The nervous look on her face tells me it’s a lie, but I’ll run with it.

“Shame, nothing sexier than a beautiful woman in a bath full of bubbles. The sense of mystery is fucking hot. Leaves a man wondering what’s beneath the surface.”

Her head whips up, and she stares at me so hard I swear she can see straight through me.

Fuck, why did I say that? I shouldn’t embarrass her.

But what I wasn’t expecting was the visceral reaction to the vision that is now in my head.

Both of us stand frozen, just looking at each other.

Think, fucker, say something.

“I’ll get you the other bubbles then. They will look just as good on you in the bath.” I charge past her out of the bathroom and straight to the bar fridge. Grabbing the bottle of champagne, I crack the seal and start to pour it into a glass before she comes up behind me.

“No, why did you do that? I don’t want to waste Nic’s money.” Now there is a bit more oomph in her voice. She knows how to stand her ground when she needs to.

“I can assure you, he can afford to treat you to a champagne or two.” Turning, I push the glass into her hand. “Drink up, we don’t want to waste it.” And I need a moment.

Marching back into the bathroom, I turn off the water and start the spa bath motor, and the water starts bubbling away nicely.

I push my palm into my hard cock, willing it to go down. I count to one hundred and think of all the grossest things I can imagine—and I’ve seen a few in my travels. Bull eyeballs, fried monkey balls, fresh brains with the blood still coating it. Why the hell isn’t any of that working?

I’m not sure how long I’ve been standing in here, but music starts wafting in from the bedroom.

What is she doing?

I stand in the doorway and lean against the door jamb just looking at her. She has kicked off her shoes, the champagne glass is empty, and she is swinging to the music with the bottle in her hand.

How long was I in the bathroom after I turned off the water?

The song “Sexual Healing” by Marvin Gaye is floating out from her phone. Her hips are swaying, eyes closed, and hand waving over her head in time with the music. The red fitted shirt hugs her boobs as it crosses over them, leaving her cleavage now visible, and the bottom of the top creeps up her stomach, leaving her bare skin on show.

Pale and flawless, every bad thought I tried to conjure up in the bathroom is now long gone. Shit, is that a bellybutton piercing? The tiniest sparkle catches the light as she moves.

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

I would never have expected that. Maybe there is more to this little mouse than she has shown us. What else is she hiding under those clothes?

Oh no, do not go there. Shut that thought down right now.

My cock is throbbing, and it’s wrong, so fucking wrong!

Fuck the bubble bath, she looks fucking enticing just like this!

My feet are moving across the room against my brain’s instructions, but I just want a touch. Nothing more, just one dance.

Elouise’s eyes are still closed, but she knows I’m behind her. I can tell the way her hips are now moving in more a circular motion, trying to entice me to take that last step.

I wish I had more restraint, but I’m fighting a losing battle when the words are whispered from her lips. “Dance with me, Rem.”

The innocence is gone, and the champagne courage has taken over. How can I deny such a sweet request?

“Just one dance.” The rasp in my voice already tells me I won’t be stopping at one, but I’m trying.

“Mm-hm.” Her voice is smooth and rolls off her tongue with so much sexual tension as I step in behind her, and my cock is wedged hard in her ass crack, so there is no way she can’t feel what she’s doing to me. I wrap my right hand around her waist and land straight on her piercing, and I’m unable to hold back the growl that leaves my mouth. At the same time, I run my left hand down the side of her thigh and rub up and down on her white skirt.

“You’re quite the little Christmas decoration tonight, aren’t you, but far from the fucking sacred angel you portray to the world.”

She wraps her arm around the back of my neck, with those long red nails with the Christmas pictures on them scratching my skin and making every muscle in my body hard.

“I’m a good girl.” Her breathy voice signals that her body is as on fire as mine is. The way she is rubbing her ass against my cock, she is far from a good girl.

“Maybe outside this room, but right here, right now, you want to be my bad girl, don’t you?” I whisper, running my nose up her neck and hovering just beside her ear. Every sexual pheromone in her body is lighting me up.

“Yes, fuck yessss.” She moans like she is already close to coming just from her seductive dance.

“This is a bad idea. I don’t do relationships.” I bite down on her neck and then lick the sweat off her.

“Good. I don’t want to date you, I just want to fuck you.” Who is this little vixen in my arms? Because she isn’t the woman I just sat next to at dinner.

“You say that now.” I should be pulling away, but her hand grasps tighter, the nails digging into my skin, and it feels fucking awesome.

“I’ve never had a one-night stand. Just once I want to do something reckless, want to stop being the perfectly boring teacher that everyone sees.” She turns in my arms to face me so quickly that the bottle of champagne drops to the floor. Thank God it’s empty and only a small one.

“I trust you, Rem, be my one-night stand. But you can’t tell anyone. It’ll be our secret.” Both her hands now running over my chest, and I can’t deny her, but I need to be sure.

“Are you drunk?” I ask, trying to keep my hands off her for a moment until I’m sure.

“No, just so horny. Alcohol makes me super horny, and I’m sick of using my vibrator to fix it.”

And that’s where my restraint snaps.

“Merry. Fucking. Christmas.” I slam my mouth down on hers and taste the lips that have been taunting me since I walked in from the bathroom.

This is a big mistake, so if I’m going to do something stupid, I may as well make it worth the risk.

The hint of champagne is still in her mouth as my tongue dominates her. I’m not holding back. She is begging for me to help her let loose, and that is exactly what I’m going to do. If she wants to be a bad girl, then I’m happy to take it all.

My hands are on both sides of her skirt that was knee-length at dinner, but now I’ve got it hiked up to the crease of her ass cheeks. Which means everything is nice and available to me to take.

As I lift her onto the coffee table, her little squeal and giggle is like an aphrodisiac.

“Dance for me, naughty girl, and show me how that hot little body looks… naked. Strip for me. Show me how bad you can be.”

She wants to feel sexy. Her cheeks are pink, blushing at the thought of it, but I’m going to help her.

Her phone switches to the next song, “Temperature Rising” by Tory Lanez, and it’s perfect.

I sit down on the couch in front of her. She’s still swaying, but her confidence is slipping.

“Dance for me, and I’ll make it worth your while,” I demand. Pulling my shirt from my pants, I start to unbutton it slowly. “You strip, and I’ll follow you,” I suggest, giving her the incentive she needs. Spreading my legs wide, I palm my cock that is clearly visible how hard it is.

Biting her bottom lip, I know where she wants to place that cock. And that red lipstick she’s wearing is going look perfect on my skin when I give it to her.

“If you want this, you need to earn it. I want to see you wet and desperate.”

Her hands are now moving, and the look in her eyes has changed. There is no innocence left.

Oh yes, baby, show me what you’re hiding.

The skirt I pushed up is already showing me the white lace of her panties and her bare fucking pussy, one I’m going to take great pleasure in running my tongue through as soon as she’s naked. She unbuttons her white skirt, sliding the zipper down, until it’s hanging loose on her waist. She doesn’t waste any time letting it fall down her legs, and she kicks it to the side with a flick of her foot. She is really in the moment now.

My shirt is completely unbuttoned, open with my chest on show, and I can see she’s turned on by what she sees. That makes two of us, baby!

“Show me those tits, now.” Watching her run her hands over them isn’t enough. I want to see them, nipples rock hard and ready for me to bite while she is screaming my name.

“Only if you show me your cock.” Well, look at that. The bad girl is now in the room.

“Do you deserve it?” Undoing my belt, I slide it through the loops in my pants. Popping the button as she starts teasing me with the bottom of her red shirt, pulling it up and showing me part of her breasts.

“Show me and I’ll prove I do.”

Flipping her shirt over her luscious tits, she pushes her breasts together so they stand out, ready for me to devour them.

I can’t get the zipper down quick enough, and there is nothing holding my cock back. Already the tip of it is sticking out from the top of my briefs and leaking pre-come everywhere. I need relief. Pushing my pants and briefs down, I let my cock bounce free and stand straight up on my abs. I can’t help taking it in my hand and squeezing hard just above my balls. I must slow this down. She is taking all my control away from me, and that has never happened before.

“Prove it!” I can barely voice in more than a sexual growl.

I want her, and I want her bad.

I was wrong about her not being my type, because sexually, that body is on the top of my Christmas list this year.

Her top hits the floor, and her tits are bouncing as she closes her eyes, hands in the air and her hips lost in the movement in the music. This is the most sensual thing I’ve witnessed.

Before I can say the words, it’s like she can read my mind. Her arms dropping, her left hand settles on her breast and squeezes to give her some relief, and then what I’m not expecting.

She slides her right hand under the white lace panties, and I can see her rubbing her own clit. The moans coming from her as she is lost in the moment are so sinful. I want to watch her get herself off, but my cock has other ideas. I promised her better than making herself come.

“Stop!” My hoarse voice stills her body, eyes flashing open with a small sense of panic.

“I’m the one who is going to make you fucking come like you’ve never come before.” Standing, I drop the rest of my clothes. Her body is shivering from her heightened awareness of my naked body so close to her.

“Perfect.” I take one of her nipples into my mouth and suck while I run my hands over her body covered in a fine sheen of sweat. Her body is practically on fire from her dance performance that was just for me. Already I’m feeling greedy, and I never want to think of her giving that pleasure to any other man. She’s not mine and never will be, but it doesn’t mean I can’t feel possessive of her.

“Remmmm…” Her body becomes weak in my arms as I continue to bite and tease her supple tits.

From the time I felt the first twitch in my cock as a teenager, when the testosterone was kicking in growing up, the rush always came from looking at a set of nice, plump tits. It’s my thing, and I fucking love to feel them, taste them, and slide my cock between them, the head of my cock reaching in and out of many a woman’s wet mouth as I fuck my way home. I love to coat her face in come as I shoot it into her mouth and watch her lick it off her lips. A satisfying good time before I escort her out the door.

But tonight, I want to feast on all of her, to show Elouise what it’s like to be devoured by a man. Setting the bar so high she will never settle for anything less, or if she does, then she will always remember this Christmas night.

Her breast pops from my mouth, my lips still tingling at the sensation of her hard tantalizing nipple. I drop to my knees, my hands pushing her panties down past her thighs and letting them fall the rest of the way. With our height difference with her still on the table, her sex is at a perfect level for me as I dive in and start to swipe my tongue through her bare pussy.

Fuck, I’m in heaven!

“I can’t stand…” Her voice is weak, telling me if I want her shattering on my cock, I need to move now.

I stand up, and her panting is music to my ears. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pick her up off the table she’s still standing on and carry her straight to the bed and lay her out. I push her legs apart, crawling over her, and see panic on her face.

“Condom?” She sounds scared that I’ll get angry, but little does she know it’s normally me who insists. There are very few times I have been without one. Usually because I’ve been too drunk. But tonight is different, I’m completely lost in Elouise’s body, which has never happened before.

“Shit, yep.” Pushing back off the bed, I grab my wallet out of my pants pocket, taking one from there. I’m suited up, back between her legs before she has time to lose that high she’s riding.

“Better.” A smile of relief on her face turns into to an open mouth, a loud moan escaping as I pound straight into her.

She’s so fucking tight, fits me like a glove. Her body arches off the bed as I push hard, losing all restraint. We both want this, and I want to make sure she remembers the first one-night stand she had.

My balls are tight and drawing higher. I need to finish this, and as I watch her tits bouncing below me with every thrust, they are calling me.

Dropping my head, I take her nipple between my teeth and bite down hard. Pleasure races through my cock as I bury myself deep inside her, and her pussy shatters, her come exploding all over me.

“Remington!” Her scream is all I need to start unloading inside her. My cock is still pulsing as I ride out the orgasm for both of us.

Rolling off her, I lie on the bed beside her, and it hits me what a huge mistake I’ve just made. The reasons start rattling through my head with speed.

Cutting one of my best friend’s grass, which is not cool and breaking the bro code. No matter if she is right for Flynn or not, he is still trying to get her attention.

Having a one-night stand with a woman I will see all the time, which is a big no-no.

And the worst part is she was the best fuck of my life.

What the hell have I done!

“That changes nothing, right? We act normal.” Elouise can’t even look at me, staring at the ceiling.

“Exactly.” Thank God she’s not acting clingy, no cuddling.

“Our secret, never breathe a word.” There is determination in her voice.

“I’m taking it to the grave. But tell me one thing.” I have to know.

“Sure,” she answers as I lean up on my elbow to look down on her.

“Did I tick your one-night stand off the bucket list?”

“More like you burst it off the page.” The smirk on her face tells me all I wanted to know. I blew her mind like she just blew mine.

Not that it means anything, because we both know we can’t go there. It’s a one-and-done thing.

We aren’t each other’s type, and I don’t do relationships!