Chapter 1 #2
“You know, let us stay vague on details. We’ve both had a tough day, and I’m enjoying our conversation too much to bring work into the mix,” I suggest.
She chuckles and throws her olive skewer to the side. “Enjoying our conversation?” She contemplates my answer and taps her fingers on the napkin. “Do you think I’m flirting with you?”
Now I have to laugh. “No. Should I be offended? I mean, am I not flirtable?”
Her cheeks raise and turn a shade of pink. “It’s not that. I just don’t want you to think I walk into bars and try to pick up random older men. Not that you’re old or ancient, I mean, you must be, what, ten years older than me? I’m rambling. That happens sometimes. Sorry.” She seems flustered.
I love this woman’s honesty and ability to speak her mind.
It’s refreshing and much like myself. I kind of thrive from speaking openly and making others feel uncomfortable to push their limits toward what I know they are capable of.
Except in this moment, while Piper thinks I must be offended, I’m the opposite.
I instantly reach out and touch her elbow. “Relax. Breathe.” She responds to my request and seems to calm. “I don’t think you’re a high-class hooker if that’s what you were implying, and I’m happy to hear that I’m not ancient.”
Her face turns red in embarrassment. “You’re in good shape. How old are you, can I ask?”
“Forty-two. You?”
“Twenty-five and ordering children’s cocktails, really demonstrating my maturity here.”
“It’s okay, you got to the martini in the end, and I won’t highlight that I’m old enough to be your dad,” I inform her. Consciously, I leave out the fact that I do have a son her age, but for now, I don’t want the age factor to be a deterrent for her to walk away sooner than later tonight.
“As long as you don’t ask me to call you daddy.” She says it so casually as she takes a sip of her drink, but the moment she realizes what she said, her face turns cherry red. “Oh my God, I did not just say that. I need to stop jabbering.” She seems mortified.
Her sense of humor makes me grin. I like that her mind may be unintentionally dirty.
Leaning in closer to her, I tease her. “It’s okay, I prefer sir anyhow.” I run my tongue along the inside of my mouth because I’m trying to restrain my enjoyment in this unexpected evening.
She looks at me, impressed with my counter remark, and her smirk grows comfortable again before she nibbles her bottom lip.
Something inside of me is eager to push her buttons. “Do I make you nervous, Piper?” I hear the hint of determination in my voice. A need to explore the curiosity that this woman sparks inside me.
I notice her throat bob with a swallow, but then she sits up straight with confidence. “No, Hudson, you don’t.” Her tone is sinfully delicious and firm. I bet she could be a little vixen because her tone was pure challenge.
She doesn’t blink, and I’m drawn into the deep blue of her eyes that has me thanking the fact that this place is lit just right so I can figure out the exact color of her eyes as they seem now more green.
“Do your eyes magically change color with the light?” I ask her, as we seem to be locked in a stare.
“Not that I know of.” Her eyes sideline to her martini, and she is quick to pick it up.
“I take it there’s no man to tell you on a daily basis if your eyes are casting a spell on him.”
She tries to suppress a smile. “That is a ridiculous line, and you know it.”
I chuckle under my breath. “You’re right. But for some reason tonight, cheesy lines are rolling off my tongue.”
Actually, a sort of light ignites inside of me. I’ve been so focused on everyone else that I forgot that I’m allowed to have a connection with someone on a physical level. Piper is the perfect reminder, and I think that I’m enamored with her.
“If that cheesy line was your subtle way of asking if I have a boyfriend, you are a little late in the conversation to be requesting that information.” The remainder of her drink disappears as she knocks back the glass then slides it back onto the bar.
“Why is that?”
“I doubt you would smirk the way you do if you thought I was off the market.”
We study one another, and I feel my pulse quicken. Call me a savage, but I think I want to throw her onto the countertop and lick her like she did her olives. This woman has the ability to steal my breath and make me laugh, and for that reason, I want to make her scream.
But instead, we chat for the next fifteen minutes about the city and food. My cheeks may hurt from laughing at every retort we bounce off one another in conversation.
I look at my watch. I know we need to get out of here soon. Piper seems to notice too that our night may be wrapping up—well, not if I have anything to say about it.
“You’re intriguing, but I don’t know why. I only just met you,” she says.
The corner of my mouth curves up. “Ah, so you are attracted to me.”
Piper doesn’t answer but looks away with a sheepish grin. “Do you do this with all the women you meet?”
“I’m not doing anything, darling, except talking to a beautiful woman who seems to be enjoying my company… and no, I don’t make it a habit of taking a woman to the hotel across the street.” Geez, even I recognize the swagger in my voice.
Her eyes widen from my statement. “Wow, how did a hotel come into this conversation?”
“We wouldn’t last the extra twenty minutes it would take to get to my place. Plus, it’s fucking raining.” I look at her with a piercing gaze because I can’t look away from this creature who sauntered into my life on a mundane Tuesday.
“Why am I not walking away from this?” she asks herself with a fixed smile because we are being two ridiculous souls acting in a way that I know neither one of us is accustomed to.
Because despite the many offers I get, I don’t pick up women in bars.
I mean, I’m not completely a saint, but I would say I have a 75% moral conscience when it comes to pursuing women.
Yet right now, I’m feeling on edge because I want her, and I’m pulling out my cocky card which could be a risky move.
“Why am I acting like a man already addicted?” I softly ponder the truth. She is like something I’ve never had a taste of, and I recognize a warning in my head that Piper may just pull me in a direction that I’m not used to.
I glance down as I begin to draw circles with my fingertip on her hand that’s resting on the bar. Her skin is silky, and I feel her body tense, but not in a bad way. She’s surprised maybe by the magnetic attraction that we seem to have.
My eyes draw a line up to her face when she blows out a deep breath.
“You have some smooth lines, Hudson. I’m really wondering why the red flag isn’t flashing in my head yet.
” She looks down at my fingers, intrigued.
“I’m normally a ‘trip to the candy store when I’m stressed’ kind of person.
I’ve never tried sleeping with a stranger to let out some bad-day vibes. ”
“Do you believe in trying everything once?”
“I do… yes.”
I move farther into her space and closer to her ear, now letting my hand travel up her arm to touch her hair.
“Listen, we need to get out of here. I’m not a serial killer, Wes has seen you with me, you can text a friend, and we can go across the street.
Drink, talk, I don’t care, but you’re curious about something and so am I. ”
She glances to me, her head angling in a way that brings her mouth near my own. Mint, she smells of peppermint. Her warm breath hits my skin. “Tempting.”
Our lips dance on their own accord. She’s drawing me in, and I really am questioning why I feel like a man who would get on his knees to beg for this woman. Something in the air feels unique, and it started the moment she walked through the door.
“Do you always make men crazy?” I whisper.
“Do you always make women do things they wouldn’t normally do?”
I scoff. “Make? No. Wanting something out of their comfort zone? Completely.”
She points a finger at me. “I’m taking a chance that you aren’t a murderer.” A grin spreads on her mouth before she hops off her chair and offers me her hand.
It was a quick check-in, no questions asked because they know me, as I stay here sometimes during the season instead of my place in the city. In no time, we find ourselves walking down the hall to the room.
I spin her until her back hits the wall near the door. I cradle her face between my hands and hold her firmly in place so her mouth is on offer.
This isn’t what I was expecting today. And by the fact that Piper is breathing heavy, then I would say this is a surprise for her too.
My eyes are fixed on her gorgeous mouth, the one I’m about to devour.
“Do we need a safe word or something?” She tries to contain her laugh. Her ability to keep the mood light is a trait that I adore.
“Fuck me,” I murmur. “I really want to know where your imagination just went.”
She wraps her hands around my waist under my open suit jacket. “I’m not sure. You’re kind of consuming my thoughts, and then I realize you’re standing right in front of me.”
“And I’m going to kiss you.”
I lean down and capture her mouth, an instant hit of lust and martini creating the only taste I want on my lips.
My tongue swipes along the seam of her mouth, and she willingly opens her lips to offer me more.
Our spark creates a wildfire that will burn down the entire earth… okay, crazy talk hitting me.
I pull her tight to my body, our lips never parting, then lift her slightly up as I stretch my arm out with the keycard. We find our way inside the luxurious suite, and the moment we finally create space between us, Piper takes in her surroundings, her lips swollen.
She notices the chilled champagne in a bucket. “Who are you? We literally checked in only five minutes ago and already this is here. Not to mention, I noticed security give you a nod.” Her question is more amused than curious.
I walk to the bottle as she continues toward the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the city.
Damn, she is a scene. She takes no notice of me as she looks out and tosses her jacket to the side.
Even when I pop the cork on the champagne, she doesn’t flinch.
Instead, she seems mesmerized by the view, at peace even.
“No champagne for me. I want to do this before I lose my nerve.” She glances over her shoulder in my direction.
I pause my work on the bottle. “You know, we can just talk.” I feel a need to reassure her, touch base, and to be honest, just sharing the same air in this room with her is enough to put me at ease and make my night.
We don’t need to do more. But her in my arms, preferably naked, would be even better.
She turns around and begins to stroll slowly in my direction. “Talk?” She tilts her head with an adorable laugh. “After that kiss? Not a fucking chance.” Then she springs into my arms.
My cock rises to the occasion, happy with her choice. Our lips are all over one another, and I debate fast or slow.
Slow.
Fast.
This is like an aggravating play in the scrimmage zone, but at least I know that I’m going to get the touchdown.
Her sounds are lost in our mixed breaths, and I have my answer.
“Slow,” I say.
Setting her down, taking her wrists gently in my hands to hold them up, I look down at her thinking she is way too beautiful to be alone for a Tuesday night. Whoever let her go is a moron, but I should send him box seats because it means I get to have her now.
“Let me take something off,” she whispers with a seductive grin.
I bring my finger to glide along her cheek. “You do that, then look out at the view that you were admiring.”
“Yes, sir,” she teases me, and I have to shake my head again. “Sit down,” she demands.
I love her confident effort to add to our dynamic, and I move to sit on the chaise lounge in the corner. I get comfortable, untuck my shirt from my pants, and begin to unbutton my shirt, with my eyes glued on the show.
She swipes her hair to one side, lifts her blouse off, then shimmies off her skirt. Her mint-green lace lingerie set is a sight for sore eyes, with the bra cups full, the color of lace a perfect contrast to her pink shoes. I could come just looking at her right now.
“An original?” I wonder as I squint my eyes as if it will magically magnify the view.
Her fingers cascade down her skin from her neck to between her cleavage. “Uh-huh, private collection in fact,” she rasps.
“Lucky me. Do you have any idea how sexy you are?” I ask.
“I do.” Piper has confidence, that’s for sure. She flashes me a coy look before walking to the window. “So, about that safe word…” She trails off.
Shaking my head ruefully, I grin, but I also can’t control the urge inside me to consume her until she melts into the mattress.
I pounce off the seat and grab ice from the bucket on my way to Piper. I throw away a few cubes until I have one trapped between my fingers. Noticing the way her body shivers, her nipples pebble, and every inch of her is screaming to be discovered, I don’t delay.
“Hands against the window, Piper,” I order.
The moment her hands hit the glass, the piece of ice between my fingers lands on the side of her stomach, causing her to flinch as the ice begins to melt against the heat of her body.
I smirk to myself, wondering if she will ever figure out my connection to football. “Your safe word can be ‘foul.’”
In response, she moans as I slide the ice lower.