Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Jules
I arch a brow at Blair when I find her on the outskirts of a downtown hotel ballroom, a champagne flute in each hand. “Double-fisting it?”
“Not the way I’d like to be,” she says lightly, passing me a glass. “But at least I can live vicariously through you.”
“I don’t want it. I can’t carry it around while I’m taking photos.”
“Have a sip and I’ll carry it for you.”
I clear my throat, scanning the room for Noel. The fundraising event for the Cleveland Crush is black tie, and I know he’ll be wearing the hell out of his tuxedo. I picked out my floor-length emerald dress with a slit starting at mid-thigh with him in mind.
“I’m good,” I say dismissively.
“Jules.” My sister’s no-nonsense tone makes me look at her. “The promise.”
I give her a look, whispering. “I never promised you I’d drink if I didn’t want to.”
“Don’t. It’s me, and I see through your bullshit. You’re afraid to drink because you think you’ll turn into her.”
“We’re not having this conversation here.”
She sets the glass down. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
I wave at Leo, who’s standing with his wife, Mara.
She’s beautiful. In her red dress, with her hair up in a sexy style, she looks like a model or an actress.
Her pregnancy isn’t showing yet. And even though I’d like to congratulate her, Leo asked the teammates and staffers who know about it to keep it under wraps.
“Can I get a photo of you two?” I ask.
“Of course,” Leo says. “Jules, this is my wife, Mara. Babe, this is Jules, our new social media coordinator.”
Mara gives me a radiant smile and hugs me. “I feel like I already know you from your beauty page. You’ve made me into a massive Smashbox fan.”
“Ah! Love to hear that! Their primer is life changing.”
“For real. I use it every day. You aren’t giving up your beauty pages for this job, are you?”
“No, I’m doing both.” I wave Blair over from a few feet away. “This is my sister Blair, she’s my plus-one tonight.”
They greet her warmly, Blair a little starstruck by meeting one of the players in person. Leo isn’t single, so he’s not on her spreadsheet, but since I started with the team, she’s learned fun facts about every player and shared them with me.
His first year as a pro, Leo played a very physical game and then tripped on the way to the locker room and broke a tooth. He’s a spokesman for a mental health organization, and it’s one of the beneficiaries of tonight’s fundraiser.
I take a couple photos of Leo and Mara, about to move on when Leo says, “Our fearless leader is here.”
We all turn to see Carter and Suki walking in. He looks the same as usual, but with his arm in a sling. Noel is behind them, and my heart races just from the quick glance I get of him.
I can’t stop thinking about our few hours together. It’s been almost a week since it happened, and he seems to be avoiding me. I had a feeling he’d regret what happened between us, but I don’t.
I want more. When I’m not around him, I’m a reasonable person. I think about being hungry, or tired, or the work I need to finish up.
Put me in the same room with Noel Turner, though, and a switch inside me gets flipped. I can’t think about anything but him. The feel of his tongue on my nipples. His clean, masculine smell. The deep, satisfied groan he released when he came.
No matter how much I want to focus on something else, I can’t.
It frustrates the hell out of me. He frustrates the hell out of me.
He’s standing with our team owner, Hudson McClain, smiling and talking with a couple.
The woman is draped with expensive jewelry, and I’m sure they’re wealthy, like McClain is.
That’s Noel’s world. Power, prestige, and money. His ex-wife looks like she has a punch card at a plastic surgeon’s office. I’m not proud of how much I’ve looked up online about Noel and his personal life.
There’s very little to be found on women. Nothing since he got divorced.
“Hey,” Blair says softly. “Why don’t we step out for a second?”
I shake off my daze and look at her. “Yeah, okay.”
It’s October, and it’s too cold to go outside, so we walk into the hotel lobby instead. The polished marble floor gleams, with huge potted tropical plants and fountains giving the spacious two-story room a warm feel.
Blair leads me to a cream leather love seat, where we both sit.
“You looked like you could use some air,” she says, squeezing my hand.
She’s been listening to me rant about Noel for days now. He hasn’t even acknowledged my presence. No calls. No texts. Not so much as a glance. It hurts because he was more to me than just a quick way to get off.
“We can go,” she says. “Not home, because this is as close as I’ve been to a date in years. But like, out for pizza or something. The boys love Kayla and it’s so nice to be dressed up and out.”
She gave me full control over her look tonight. She’s wearing a champagne-colored sparkly gown, her hair blown out in big waves. Her makeup is just a notch past natural, because I know she doesn’t feel comfortable in heavy makeup.
“We can’t. I have to take photos all night. And you need to meet all the guys from your spreadsheet.”
She scoffs. “That was for you, not me. And I think you need to move on to Magnus Lundgren. He bought his mom a house and put all his siblings through college. He seems like—”
She stops talking just as Noel walks around the giant plant, blocking my view of the ballroom entrance.
“Hey, Jules,” he says in greeting.
“Stalker daddy,” Blair blurts.
I give her an incredulous look, my eyes wide and my cheeks flaming. What the hell kind of wingwoman does that?
“Sorry.” She grins up at him. “I thought you were someone else. I have to go get a drink.”
She tries to rush away, but it’s not happening in her heels.
“I have no idea who that is,” I say, my pulse racing.
He has stubble—like the well-cut tux, perfectly styled hair, Rolex watch and memories of getting myself off from dry humping with him aren’t enough. Just a barely noticeable coating of stubble, the same salt-and-pepper shade as his hair.
Setting something down on the love seat’s empty spot, he says, “Room 511. I’m going there now on the stairs. Wait five minutes and take the elevator.”
I’m sweating. Just from his closeness and his voice. I can’t even come up with an answer—not that he would have been around to hear it. He told me what to do and then walked away, and my lady bits aren’t mad about it.
How dare he show up after almost a week and slip me a room key? I hate how eager I am to run to him. He said he thinks about me all the time, but he sure as hell hasn’t thought about me since we stayed up making out and dry fucking until we had to pack and leave the hotel for our flight.
I text Blair that I’ll meet up with her later. Palming the room key, I stand and smooth the front of my dress, trying to look like a boss as I walk across the lobby to the elevator.
I definitely don’t feel like a boss. More like a gullible fool. If Noel thinks he’s getting a quick fuck out of me, he’s going to be disappointed.
The elevator is empty, so I take it to the fifth floor alone and walk to the room. Part of me wants to go back to the event and leave him there waiting.
My traitorous body won’t let me, though. Even now, I crave him. With a sigh, I tap the key card to the reader, the light turning green.
He’s standing at the foot of the king-size bed, facing me. And he’s still fully clothed, so maybe he doesn’t want sex. Maybe this is going to be the “I made a huge mistake” conversation.
“God, you look incredible.” He drags his gaze down my body and back up to my face. “I can’t be in the same room with you in that dress and not—”
“No.” I cross my arms and glare at him.
His shoulders drop a notch. “I’m sorry for the lack of communication, Jules. There’s been a lot going on with Audra, but that’s no excuse.”
“You made me feel like a dirty mistake. Not a word. Not even a text.”
He nods slightly, his expression sheepish. “My phone is work issued. HR reviews the bills, and I didn’t want to risk calling or texting.”
Tears form in my eyes. “That’s nice, Noel. You could text hookers, but not me.”
His brow furrows. “That’s not fair. I’m not the only one who would get fired.”
“I’d get fired?” My anger turns into worry.
“It would be up to Deb.”
I scoff and put a palm up. “Wait a minute. You’re in a higher position than I am, and I’m the one who would get in trouble?”
“There’s nothing in my contract about it, but there’s something in yours.”
“Of course,” I mutter, disgusted.
He walks over to me. “It’s not fair, and I’m the first to admit that. I could have found a way to reach out to you, but I didn’t. I’m sorry. The truth is, you caught me off guard. I’ve spent a few days thinking about it.”
I balk. “I caught you off guard? When you asked me to stay in your room? Or wait, you told me I was. I didn’t get a choice.”
A smile tugs on the corners of his lips.
“Easy, tiger. That’s not what I meant. You caught me off guard the moment I met you.
I had a plan, and I was never letting another woman get under my skin.
But you ...” He cups my cheek. “You’re everywhere.
When I wake up in the morning, when I’m in the shower, when I’m supposed to be thinking about hockey—you’re on my mind all the time. ”
I lean slightly into his touch, relief coursing through me. It’s not just me who’s a mess over this. He is, too.
He moves closer to me, his breath brushing over my lips. “I guess I’m old-fashioned. I think some conversations need to be face to face.”
“I thought you regretted it.” My voice betrays how hurt I’ve been feeling.
“No. When I say something, I mean it, Jules. I told you I wouldn’t. I tried to fight it, but every time I saw Isaac flirting with you, I wanted to beat him bloody with a hockey stick.”
I hum a note of laughter. “Isaac? He doesn’t flirt with me.”
He laces the fingers of his free hand through mine. “He does, and I fucking hate it.”
“Noel.” I breathe in the scent of him. “I’d love to quit my job right this second so I could stay here, but I can’t. I have to take photos of this event.”
He sighs softly. “Don’t leave yet. Give me ten minutes.”
“I don’t think Deb will approve of me walking into that ballroom looking like I just got fucked.”
He groans. “Fucking Deb.”
“Total cockblocker.”
“Stay here with me tonight. After the event.”
I drove Blair here, but she can drive home in my car. I want to agree immediately, but now I’m worried about getting caught. “Are you sure? We’ll have to leave tomorrow morning in the clothes we’re wearing tonight.”
“We’ll be careful. I need a full night with you.”
My heart soars happily. His imploring tone matches the way I feel. Desperate to be with him again.
“Okay.” I reach for the door handle. “I’ll see you later.”
He frowns. “I still want my ten minutes.”
I give him a puzzled look. He grabs my waist and pulls me to him.
“I won’t be able to fix my hair and makeup in time, Noel.”
His grin is devilish as he presses a single, soft kiss to my lips. “You won’t need to.” He leads me over to the bed and stops at the foot of it. “Can you get that dress up to your hips without taking it off?”
“I can, but you’re not hearing me. I can’t—”
He puts a finger on my lips. “Stop arguing and do it.”
When he takes a step back, his gaze is locked onto me, a hungry gleam in his eyes. I can’t refuse him. My body is hooked on the way he’s looking at me like it’s an illicit drug.
I’ve enjoyed sex with other men, but Noel puts them all to shame. I’m achy with an all-consuming need that only he can satisfy. I work the dress up to my hips, not caring about the practical nude cotton underwear I’m revealing.
He falls on me like a wolf on its prey. One hand presses to my lower back and the other cups my pussy through my underwear.
“This pussy is mine,” he says against my mouth. “I want to brand my fucking name on it.”
He drags the back of his knuckles down the fabric, making me whimper. I put my arm around his neck, my eyelids fluttering closed as he strokes me.
“I could fuck this sweet pussy right now, but you don’t want it.”
He slides the fabric aside and strokes his fingertip over my seam lightly, making me moan and sink my fingers into his shoulder.
“We’ll go back to the party for now, but later I’m going to fill this pussy with cum.”
“Oh my god, Noel.” I rock my hips forward.
“What’s the matter?” he teases, sliding a finger inside me. “I’m just doing what you asked me to and waiting.”
His fingertip lightly brushes over my clit and I jolt, so turned on I think I might come just from that. He moves it away, sliding it inside me.
“So fucking wet and ready to be my whore tonight, aren’t you?”
I’ve never been with a man who talked to me like this, or touched me like this. I had no idea how incredible a man could make me feel with a single finger.
Then he adds his thumb, using it to gently rub my clit as he fucks me with his finger. I ride his hand, crying out as I’m about to fall over the edge.
He moves his hand away, putting the crotch of the underwear back in place and kissing me softly.
“Are you fucking serious?” I practically wail. “I was half a second away from coming.”
He grins. “You’ll thank me later.”
“No, I don’t think I will.” I scowl at him as I push my dress back down. “Two can play at this game, asshole.”
“I hate you.”
I can still feel the almost orgasm. My body is sending out all the WTF tingles of confusion.
“I’ll make it up to you. Promise.”
I smirk at him. “Better wash that hand well; you’ve got a lot of hands to shake tonight.”
“It’s still nice and wet, maybe I’ll jerk off with it when you leave.”
My jaw drops. “You’re leaving first. Go wash your hands and get the fuck out of here.”
He kisses me again. “I’ll be waiting here for you later. And even though it feels like I’m ignoring you down there, you’re all I’m thinking about.”
His words are the hit of euphoria I need to get through the next few long, painful hours. I adjust my dress, check myself in the mirror, and walk over to the door, looking at him over my shoulder.
“I know you’ll be thinking about me. You’ll have no choice.”