13. Margeaux
13
MARGEAUX
Steam billows out of the shower as I pull back the curtain, filling the small, simply decorated bathroom. I grab a towel from the rack, inhaling deeply and letting my lungs expand, and my eyes try to adjust to the opaque conditions. Ooops, didn’t mean to fog it up that much.
I step out of the shower and crack the door slightly, shivering as the cool air slips in, hitting my damp skin. Or maybe the shivers are from all the excitement coursing through me at what I know awaits me on the other side of that door—a date with Gus.
Really, it could go either way. Although my money is on the latter.
Because I haven’t been able to think of much else since he called me his girlfriend. Or since he told me how much he likes my brain. My brain . Pretty sure I never saw that pickup line coming. But damn, Gus looking me in the eye, those magnetic green irises holding on to my soul like a fully laced corset, telling me how much he values my mind? Well, fuck.
He might as well have taken me right then and there .
He didn’t though. Like the gentleman he is—or he is outwardly, since I have experienced firsthand what happens when grumpy Gus Hayes loses control—he showed restraint and left me wanting. For now.
I run the towel through my hair, trying to catch some of the excess water, before wrapping it around me. Enough of the condensation has evaporated that I can start to see myself in the mirror and know I need to get a move on. I don’t know what time our reservation is at the restaurant downstairs, but I also haven’t gotten to see almost any of Savannah since we got here and wouldn’t object to a walk around the square before we eat.
The 17Hundred90 Inn, the beautiful, historic—and haunted—hotel that Gus booked for our stay is nestled right in the historic part of downtown Savannah. Surrounded by gorgeous trees, squares, shops, and more, it reminds me of many of the old buildings we have in New Orleans, each with their own story to tell. I’m certain this one is no different, and I want to make sure we make time to explore.
Leaning forward, I wipe away the rest of the moisture on the mirror, discarding the damp washcloth on the floor. The soft thud fills the air, followed by a long creak. The kind of sound an old floorboard makes when someone steps on it.
“Gus?” I call out, assuming that’s him moving around.
The long day at the expo center left both of us feeling like we needed a shower before dinner. Not that said feeling stopped us from trying to round second base when we made it back to the room. I was three seconds away from suggesting that we kick things up a notch and move our party for two to the shower when my phone rang, my grandfather’s name appearing on the screen. If there was ever a lady-boner killer, it’s your grandfather calling as you’re trying to be Babe Ruth and call your shot .
So Gus took the shower first, leaving me to my call. And, as fate would have it, as soon as he was out, his phone rang, someone back in Hickory Hills needing his attention. All for the best, really. It gave us both time to cool our jets, letting the anticipation continue to build.
Although at this point, I’m so pent-up I’m ready to shoot off like Old Faithful at any moment.
The floorboards creak again, this time accompanied by an actual footstep.
“Gus?” I call out again.
He must still be on the phone. Although it’s a little weird that I can’t hear him talking. This room is big, but it’s not that big.
Securing the towel under my arms, I open the bathroom door the rest of the way, peering out into the room. The U-shape design of the renovated space gives the main living area privacy from the door that leads to the main hotel corridor, with a mini hallway inside the room that passes by the bathroom. Sticking my head out, I look both ways, as if I was crossing the street, trying to listen for Gus’s voice, but again, hear nothing.
Weird…
I step into the room, turning the corner toward the bed. I could have sworn I heard a?—
Slam!
“Ahhhh!”
I shriek, whipping around toward the door. My heart jackhammers against my rib cage, adrenaline racing through me like I’m lined up at Churchill Downs and have been waiting on the gun. I can feel my fight-or-flight response lock and load, ready to engage, a sheen of sweat appearing across my skin.
“Margeaux? ”
Gus…
My entire body relaxes, and I can feel the letdown as he turns the corner, brows raised, first in confusion, then in excitement as he discovers me in my towel. A whole new heat envelops me as he drags his gaze up and down my body, and I have to fight the urge to run to him. His charcoal dress pants paired with a solid black button-down fit him like they were cut especially for his muscular frame. The monochrome look paired with his dark features is almost too much to bear, overwhelming in every delicious sense of the word.
“You…you weren’t in here?”
“No, I stepped out to get you this,” he says, handing me a single red rose. He smirks, stepping into me, placing his hands on my hips. The weight of them is soothing, as if somehow they had been missing from there and are now back in place. Right where they belong. “Wanted to give you some space to get ready.”
“Oh.”
“You okay?”
He cocks his head to the side, his gaze once again roaming over my body. But this time it’s a thorough examination—thoughtful care to make sure that no harm has come my way, rather than a committing to memory for potential use later on. My body reacts in much the same way though, his eyes on me making me feel special—adored—regardless of the reason.
“Yeah…I just…” I shake my head to clear the cobwebs. “I just heard something.”
“Margeaux, are you afraid of ghosts?” he teases, tightening his grip.
Defiance rises in me. He did not just go there. Does he not know who he’s talking to? Where I grew up?
“No,” I inform him, rocking back, putting some space between us. Cocking one hip to the side, I fold my arms across my chest, fully aware of what it does to my boobs in this towel. And frankly, I don’t care one bit.
“Maybe it was Anna.”
“Anna?”
My voice comes out a little more strangled than I would like. Then again, he did just drop another woman’s name while I’m standing in a towel, so I feel I’m justified here.
“The ghost that haunts the inn.”
Oh…is that all…
“Folklore says she was a bride from an arranged marriage who fell in love with a sailor back in the early 1800s, and threw herself out of a window when his ship sailed away rather than marry the guy she was supposed to. Apparently she’s pretty friendly though, and just likes to make her presence known by moving some things around.”
I shiver at Gus’s words. I’m not sure if it’s from Anna’s tragic story or the thought of her moving my things while I was in the shower. But either way, the thought of having her here—friendly or not—puts me slightly on edge.
“Ohhhh…”
“So you are afraid of ghosts…”
That same defiance surges again, but this time mixed with the need to prove a point. Because I’m not afraid. Not exactly.
“No. I am not afraid. I believe in giving them the space and respect they deserve.”
Gus chuckles, seeing right through my answer. “My little New Orleans firecracker is afraid of ghosts. Would have thought with all that voodoo?—”
“First off,” I cut him off. He wants to call me a firecracker, then he’ll get to see sparks. “My family is French Cajun and Irish. So we’re Catholic. Second, like I said, having been raised in New Orleans, I believe in giving the spirits the space and respect they deserve and?—”
Bam!
The loud slam of the bathroom door echoes throughout the entire room, even making the floor rattle. My heart leaps out of my chest, the rest of me following, lunging straight into Gus’s open arms.
Sans towel.
The cotton of his dress shirt feels soft against my bare skin, my nipples already starting to contract from the combination of contact and cool air. Not to mention the way Gus’s hands feel on me—one making its way down my back, the other trailing up my arm to tuck a wisp of still damp hair behind my ear.
“Looks like Anna is on my side here.”
“Is that so?”
“Mm-hmm.” His smirk quirks upward, devilish and knowing. It’s more than enough to get me going, my pulse quickening with each second. “Why else would you be naked in my arms?”
“Towel slipped.”
“Oh, I see.”
Sliding his hand around my body, lazily dragging his fingertips along my skin, Gus finds my breasts, cupping each one in a hand. My breath hitches as I try to keep my composure, which isn’t easy to do as he stares me down like I’m his next meal.
Yes, please…
The pads of his thumbs graze over my taut nipples, pleasure shooting through me. My knees wobble, and I choke back a moan, still trying to hold on and not let him know he’s getting to me.
“And these? Standing at attention only because it’s cold?”
No …
“Yup.”
Swiping again at my nipples, Gus chuckles, knowing exactly what he’s doing and enjoying every second of it. A ripple of lust courses through me, wetness starting to pool between my legs. If he keeps this up, I’m going to be a full-on puddle before he even kisses me.
“So, what you’re telling me, Miss Margeaux,” Gus taunts, leaning down and nipping at my ear, “is that you aren’t interested in picking up where we left off at your desk?”
“I didn’t say that.”
I hook my fingers into the loops of his dress pants, yanking his hips into me. I move, slowly, seductively, rubbing against that bulge that’s now very present.
“Oh? Then, what, pray tell…”—grabbing ahold of my hair, he tugs it back, exposing my neck and kissing his way down toward my clavicle—“are you saying?”
I swallow hard, trying to catch my breath. I want to make sure I make this perfectly clear. Lifting his head up, I stare him in the eye, feeling powerful and full of fire. I hope he’s ready.
“That if you, Gus Hayes, want to fuck me, then do it. Don’t use some phantom as an excuse. Throw me on that four-poster bed, and have your way with me.”
The inferno that rages in his eyes only lasts a second. Or at least, I only see it for a second. Because I’m airborne before I can fully exhale, Gus’s hand meeting the bare skin of my ass. The sweet sting radiates through me as he does exactly as I asked—tosses me onto the bed.
“I don’t think you know what you’re asking for, pretty girl,” he growls.
“I’ll take my chances.”
Gus’s nostrils flare at my challenge. Placing a hand on either side of my head, he looms over me, looking like a villain, a whole new rush of desire taking over. He’s still fully dressed, the contrast between us only serving to fuel the moment. Capturing my mouth in his, Gus kisses me—really kisses—for the first time since he walked back into the room. It’s hard, hot, borderline punishing.
And I fucking love it.
I grab hold of him, trying to deepen it. I seek out his tongue with mine, wanting more of him. More of his taste. More of the things he’s making me feel right now. All the way into my toes. He’s not having it though. Grabbing my hands, he pins them above my head, not once letting up on the kiss.
Oh, fuuuuuck…
“Time for touching later, baby,” he whispers, kissing along my jaw.
“But you’re touching me.”
“And I plan to do more than just touch…”
Moving his way down my body, the soft, peppered kisses turn hot, wet, and open-mouthed. More like a branding iron, leaving their mark along my skin. Marking me as his. Each new touch sends me reeling, a new set of nerves brought to life. As if each one was waiting for Gus to flip a switch.
And flip it he does.
“Know what I want more than anything?” he asks, nudging my thighs apart. Cool air hits me, sending a shiver up my spine, making Gus laugh. But only for a second. The look like he’s ready to devour me returns in an instant, and he licks his lips. “Another taste of this perfect pussy.”
I bite my lip, holding in a moan. His deliciously dirty words are the stuff that dreams are made of, and I can’t help but wonder if he knows how many of my fantasies he’s fulfilling right now. And how many more he’s about to fuel.
As if I was a gift left for him, Gus runs his hands up my thighs, right at the apex, skirting where I want him the most. So close, yet so far. I’m not surprised he’s drawing this out, taking his time, like we don’t have any place to be. Even though we do. It’s payback for all my sass earlier. And frankly, I probably deserve it.
Still, I wiggle my hips, trying to coax his fingers to where I want them. He doesn’t take the bait. Instead, he continues to trace along the outside of my pussy, teasing me with his touch. My clit throbs, each beat of my heart calling to him to zone in.
“I thought you wanted a taste…”
“I do…” he replies, sinking a finger into me.
Oh, fuck!
I throw my head back, ready to scream out his name. My orgasm is suddenly present, and ready to report for duty, hovering just under the surface. Damn, this man is talented.
Adding in a second finger, he starts to move them in the perfect rhythm, hitting that sweet spot just right every time.
“But I needed to make sure I maximized that taste.”
Without another word, his mouth is on me, tongue hitting my clit. I scream. At least, I think that’s me. And I think it’s a scream. It might not even be audible. For all I know, the only person who is able to hear the sound I’m making is Anna on whatever spirit plane she exists.
My hands grab the bedspread, trying to find something to hold on to as I’m rocketed into outer space. Wave after wave of bliss wash over me, as I lose control. Gus, however, doesn’t let up. He continues, his focus on me like a madman who only knows how to do one thing. And that one thing? Wring out life-altering orgasms.
I don’t know how long it lasts—both forever and not long enough—but I finally come back down. My chest heaves, hands still clutching the bedding as if my life depends on it. But now, only one thing matters.
And that’s getting Gus naked .
We didn’t have time for this the other night, and I’ll be damned if we get cut short now.
I sit up in a flash. I’m a woman on a mission. Grabbing ahold of his collar, I yank him in for a kiss, pressing his lips to mine. I can taste myself on his tongue and I get lost in it, enjoying the knowledge that this is something only he and I share. But he’s still wearing too many clothes.
“Naked. Now,” I order.
“Bossy.”
“Now!”
I start on the buttons of his shirt, making quick work of them, thankful they move easily. If they didn’t—well, we might have been searching for a few later on. Gus focuses on his belt, and in no time, I have what I want. Almost.
But Gus in his skivvies is still a sight.
Leaning forward, I palm his cock through the thin black fabric. Gus groans and I don’t bother to hold back my smile. Oh, how the tables have turned.
“Finally, my turn to play.”
Slipping my thumbs under the elastic, I yank them over his hips, watching as his cock springs free. My mouth waters, the sight of him even more impressive than I imagined. And trust me, I’ve imagined.
I don’t say anything. There’s no need to. Just one simple move that will say everything that I want to communicate.
Moving to the end of the bed, I park myself on the edge, staring up at him. I stroke his cock—once, twice, a third time—and then I lean down, taking him in my mouth.
All of him.
“Fuuuuck…”
I keep eye contact, not letting up as I move, letting him see as I take him. I feel his shudder, and love knowing that I’m getting to him. Lust swirls inside me as the fire returns to his gaze. I don’t have much longer until he loses control .
“Margeaux…”
I pull back, swirling my tongue around the tip. Gus curses again and I know that’s it. That’s all it’s going to take.
“I need to fuck you. Now.”
Stepping back, he fumbles for his pants, pulling out his wallet and a small foil pack. Before I blink, he’s sheathed himself and is scooting me back onto the mattress. My pulse is thundering, the anticipation of this moment taking over.
Lining himself up, Gus pauses for a moment, kissing me. It’s soft, tender, totally different from everything leading up to now. Yet it’s exactly what the moment calls for.
“Margeaux…” Gus whispers, pressing his forehead to mine.
“Gus,” I return. My breath is heavy, heart thundering, a flood of adrenaline taking over.
I tug him closer, running my hands through his hair. Letting him know I’m here. That I’m in this. All in.
Taking that as his cue, Gus presses forward, sinking into me. His movements are unhurried, purposeful, like he wants to commit this moment to memory. I gasp, tightening my grip on him, the glorious stretch from him taking over in a way that makes my heart squeeze. If that organ hadn’t already been a part of this, it is now. Although, I’d be lying if I said she hadn’t been calling the shots since day one.
He stays like this for a long second, letting our newly joined bodies adjust. Time seems to stop, Gus’s kisses soft and lingering, and the way his tongue dances with mine makes my head spin.
Then, he moves.
Slowly dragging himself in and out of me, I feel every inch of him, my body coming alive. Hips rolling against mine, every nerve snaps to attention, rising to the surface, ready to fire at will. Suddenly I’m a live wire, sparks flying aimlessly .
The easy going only lasts so long though, both of us ready for more. Picking up the pace, Gus slams into me, hard. I cry out, digging my nails into his back, silently begging for him to continue.
“My girl likes that…” Slamming into me again, Gus grunts, not letting up.
My girl…
I moan again, unable to form words. Instead, I shift my hips, wrapping my legs around him, digging my heels into the small of his back. Understanding my silent plea, Gus ups the ante, shifting his weight and thrusting harder. Faster.
Soon enough, Gus finds a rhythm that has us both chasing that glorious high. We’re a mess of limbs and movement, a coordinated act that only the two of us know and understand.
But it’s still not enough.
Grunting, Gus wraps his arms around me, pulling me into him. I bury my head in the crook of his neck as he sits us up, back on his haunches, placing me in his lap. The move is quick, almost jarring, and I have to readjust my grip on his biceps to stay in place. It’s also more than enough to change the angle, hitting me in a whole new spot.
Holy shit…
That telltale tingle creeps up on me, each thrust adding to the surge that is about to push me over the edge. At this rate it’s not going to take much more, and I want nothing else but to fall apart in the arms of this man.
“Gus…I’m so close…” I whimper, trying to pull him closer.
“Close isn’t good enough, baby.”
He reaches down, running his thumb over my clit, and that’s all I need. My vision goes hazy, every nerve ending firing at once, sending me soaring. The muscles in his arms tighten around me, and his hips piston against me, every thrust hitting deeper and deeper.
And then, I’m free-falling…
I see stars. I hold on for dear life, riding out my orgasm, letting it take me on this wild ride. Time stands still, everything and nothing happening all at once. Somewhere off in the distance I hear a roar, Gus going taut underneath me.
We crash onto the bed, our chests heaving. My head rests soundly against his pec, the hard muscle not much of a pillow, but I don’t dare move. There is nowhere else I’d rather be.
The sound of his heartbeat matches mine, and I can’t help but smile as I lie here, listening to them beat together. Gus Hayes is a lot of things to a lot of people. But right here, right now, in this moment, the only thing he is…is mine.
It’s a long moment before we can speak again, words eluding us. But that doesn’t matter. They aren’t needed. We said everything that we needed to with our bodies.
Rolling over, Gus picks up the small alarm clock from the bedside table. “So…about our reservation…”
I laugh, pushing up to one elbow. I cup his face with my palm, noticing the bruise forming under his eye socket for the first time since he walked back into the room. “I’m going to assume we missed it.”
“Actually, depending on how fast you can get dressed, we can still make it.”
I consider it. We did just work up an appetite. And Gus has been raving about the inn’s braised short ribs and eggplant napoleon ever since we got here. Then again, we could just order in and go for round two…
“Depends on how interested you are in taking off my little black dress later,” I say, running my thumb over purplish skin, wondering if it hurts. If I should offer to kiss it and make it better .
Gus pretends to think, reaching for my hand, placing a gentle kiss on my palm. His eyes flash dark again as he reaches over, yanking me on top of him.
“Does said little black dress allow for me to be able to have access during dinner? And maybe under a live oak while eating ice cream from Leopold’s?”
“Maybe…” I wink.
“Get dressed.”