Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Miles
T he turbulence was rough flying in from Tuscany, Italy—rougher than usual—and my stomach is still doing somersaults long after the plane lands. I always hated that part of our missions when I was a Navy SEAL, but at least the flights I take nowadays are a hell of a lot better than some of the ones from my SEAL days. Military flights don’t have first class accommodations.
The airline’s customer service attendant gives me the usual pleasantries, but all I can focus on is the fact that my luggage has mysteriously vanished into the abyss of the airline’s system. Not exactly the best start to what was already shaping up to be a dreadful trip.
I sigh and make my way through the airport, still on the phone with the airline’s customer service as they assure me that my bags will be delivered "as soon as possible." I hang up, knowing full well what that really means. I’ll probably never see them again.
I check into my hotel—a high-end beachside hotel that costs an arm and a leg per night, but one chosen for its proximity to the winery I’m supposed to review—but after the flight from hell, it feels more like a prison than a retreat. The staff is polite enough, and the room is larger than I’d expected, so that’s good, at least.
I toss my laptop bag onto the bed and slump into the armchair by the window, running a hand through my hair. I’m supposed to meet someone tomorrow for the tasting, but all I can think about is how unmotivated I feel.
Screw it. I need a drink.
My mind drifts to a local spot next to my hotel—Jumpin' Jacks, a beach bar that I saw on my way in. It sounds exactly like what I need right now. A little alcohol, some waves in the background, and maybe a distraction from the chaos that has been this trip.
The bar is everything I hoped it would be. Low-lit, laid-back, with the smell of saltwater and fried food hanging in the air. The place is buzzing, but not too crowded. Just enough noise to fade into the background and enough space to relax without feeling claustrophobic.
I make my way to the bar, and that’s when I see her.
She’s sitting at the far end, nursing what looks like whiskey. Her posture is a mix of exhaustion and confidence, like someone who’s had a long day but isn’t about to let it get to her. Her red hair falls in soft waves around her shoulders, and there’s something magnetic about the way she stares into her glass, lost in thought.
I don’t hesitate even though I know I should. I should just sit down at the other end of the bar, have a drink, and focus on writing my reviews. But something about her draws me in and I’m not one to do anything I should do. Never have been.
I stand next to her, trying to appear casual. “Rough day?” I ask, my voice coming out smoother than I feel.
She glances at me, and for a split second, I wonder if I’ve made a mistake. But then her lips quirk into a small smile, and I know I’m in.
“You could say that” she replies, turning slightly to face me. Damn! She’s even more striking up close—beautiful long, red hair, with a sharp yet playful look in her bright blue eyes.
“Mind if I join you?” I ask, gesturing to the stool beside her.
“Be my guest,” she says, her tone a mix of intrigued and amused.
I order a drink as we sit in silence for a moment. It’s not uncomfortable, though. There’s a certain tension in the air, but it’s the good kind. The kind that makes you feel alive.
I steal another glimpse at her as I sip my drink. She’s not like most women I’ve met. There’s a quiet confidence about her, a calmness that somehow makes my whole chaotic day feel more bearable. We talk a little about the business of the bar, but then it gets quiet between us again.
“So, what brings you to a place like this?” she asks, finally breaking the temporary silence.
I shrug, my fingers tracing the rim of my glass. “Business. But I like to mix business with pleasure whenever I can.”
She chuckles. “And which one am I?”
I grin and lean in slightly. “I’m hoping the latter.”
The conversation flows easily after that. It’s light, fun, flirtatious. There’s no pressure, no expectation. Just two people enjoying each other’s company, the drinks, and the night. We laugh, we exchange stories, and the more we talk, the more I find myself drawn to her… wanting her.
She’s sharp—quick with a witty comment and never missing a beat. But there’s also something vulnerable about her, something that makes me want to know more. Not that I’m asking too many questions. I get the sense she’s not one to open up easily, and honestly, I don’t need to know everything. Not tonight.
As the drinks flow, the space between us shrinks. We’re leaning in closer, our voices lowering, the rest of the bar fading into the background. There’s a charge in the air, something electric that’s hard to ignore.
I finish my drink and set the glass down and stand from my barstool, my eyes meeting hers. “I’ve got a room nearby,” I say, my voice low and filled with suggestion.
She doesn’t answer right away, but I can see the decision playing out in her mind. Finally, she gives me a slow, deliberate nod.
“Lead the way,” she says, her voice soft but confident.
We get to the door of my hotel room, and I hesitate before inserting the key card. “I suppose I should tell you my name. It’s…”
She places her fingers on my lips. “Tonight, there are no names, no histories, no consequences, no nothing. I just want to feel. I’m on birth control, I’ve just had my annual physical and I’m clean, but I’d prefer if you used a condom.”
I’m a bit shocked that she’s so forthright, but it kind of turns me on even more. I’m used to people who want something from me and make things complicated as they work to get whatever it is. “That works for me.”
She takes the key card from my hand and uses it to open the door. “Then what are you waiting for?” she asks, grabbing my shirt and pulling me inside.
We barely make it through the door before she pushes me up against it. There’s an urgency between us, a hunger that’s been building from the moment I sat down at the bar, but I’ve never been passive where sex is concerned. Who am I kidding? I’ve never been passive about anything in my life.
I push the door shut behind us, and then her lips are on mine—hot, demanding. I respond with equal fervor, my hands tangling in her hair as I press her against the wall. The intensity of our kiss grows, matching the arousal and need that seems to course between us like some kind of electric current. I press my body into hers, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her closer. It’s as if we’re the only two people left in the world, and nothing and nobody else exists.
The only sounds I can hear are our ragged breathing, the slightly off-key and aging air conditioner, and the faint television static from another room. But none of it compares to the rhythm of the low moans and groans that escape our lips.
My hands roam her body, caressing the sensitive skin of her neck before moving down to the curve of her waist. I can feel the heat of her skin through her blouse, and it sends shivers down my spine. I kiss my way down her neck, my lips leaving a trail of fire against her skin. My hands find the buttons of her shirt and work frantically to undo them, eager to feel her skin against mine.
I let my lips trail down her throat to kiss the tender skin above her collarbone. I fumble with the fastening of my own shirt. Finally freeing myself, I pull her closer, our bodies melding together in a desperate dance of need and desire.
My hands find the clasp of her bra, and with a swift flick of my fingers, it’s undone and her ample breasts spill into my hands. Eager to explore, I cup them, my fingers gently massaging the soft skin. She arches her back, pressing herself against me, a creature of want and need.
Her fingers find my hair and she pulls me up, her lips finding mine in a searing kiss. Her hands slide down my stomach, finding the button of my jeans. With a deft flick, she undoes it and pushes the zipper down to get to my thick, hard cock. I hiss in a breath as her hand closes around me, freeing my shaft completely.
Time to change things up. She is mine for this one night, and I intend to make the most of it. By tomorrow morning, she’ll find it difficult to walk.
I haul her closer to me, my lips brushing against hers, our tongues dancing together in a passionate embrace. My other hand reaches around to cup her ass as I push her skirt and panties down her body to pool at her feet. Freeing her completely from her blouse and bra, I know I can’t hold back much longer.
Turning us around so that my back is now against the door, I walk her backwards to the bed and tip her onto it. A small look of insecurity crosses her face. I know I can take care of that. “Fuck you’re gorgeous,” I say, and realize I mean it.
I back away, fishing my wallet from my pants and removing a condom. I have a condom because I’m a fucking optimist, and for once that optimism is going to be well compensated. Opening the foil packet, I roll it over my dick and watch her watch me.
She is propped up on her elbows, the soft light that filters through the window’s blinds caressing her skin. She is the very essence of temptation, and I have no intention of not indulging.
I move back to the bed, covering her body with mine and making a place for myself between her thighs by lifting them up and open. “Wrap your legs around me, darlin’.”
She smiles sweetly, and her eyes go soft as she does what I tell her. There’s no slow build-up, no hesitation. This is raw, intense, and everything I need right now. I angle my cock at her entrance and slam into her, hitting her core.
“Fuck! Do that again,” she orders me.
“Like this?” I tease her, pulling out and entering her slowly.
“God, no. Harder.”
“Oh, you mean like this?” I ask, pulling out again and then slamming back into her.
“The second one!” She grips my ass with her legs, pulling me closer to her. “Again!”
She moves against me, her breath hitching as I trail kisses down her neck. Her nails dig into my back, leaving divots I’m sure I’m going to feel for days. I relish the way her body responds to mine, the way we fit together like two pieces of a puzzle.
“I want to taste you, but we’ll save that for round two.”
“There’s going to be a round two?”
I chuckle. “Oh, darlin’, there’s going to be a round three and four, but at the moment I can’t stop myself. I need you. This.”
I pull her nipple into my mouth and bite down as I roll the other one between two fingers.
She hisses and then does some kind of ninja move. Before I know it, I’m on my back and she’s riding me like I’m some kind of bronco and she’s a rodeo cowgirl.
“I like a woman who knows what she wants and takes it.”
“Really? Good to know. Hold on, buddy. You’re gonna love this.”
She flips her hair over her shoulder and then moves forward and up, hitting her clit on my pelvic bone.
“Fuck!” I grab her hips, hoping she gets the hint. Whatever she’s doing feels incredible.
She tosses her head back and laughs. “I was hoping you’d like that.”
Over and over, I guide her movements as she rides me, and I enjoy not only the sensations, but the visual of her breasts bouncing. She resembles a beautiful, wild Valkyrie.
My cock twitches and swells. I’m so close, but so is she. I flick her clit with my fingers, swirling around her little nub before giving it a hard tug and a pinch. She cries out as she explodes all over my cock, milking me so hard my eyes cross. I pull her down, grinding into her as I release everything I have into the condom.
She collapses on my chest, her head notching into my neck. We’re both breathless and I hold her close to me. There’s something about what just happened between us—I feel a need to hold her just for a minute. Easing her off my body, I settle her on the bed while I dispose of the used condom in the bathroom. Joining her back in bed, I pull her close again.
For a while, the world outside ceases to exist. There’s no stress, no deadlines, no missing luggage. Just her and me, lost in the moment.
I wake up the next morning to the soft light that’s filtering through the curtains blinding me. My head is pounding, my mouth is drier than the desert, and I can feel the familiar haze of a hangover settling in. But it’s not just the alcohol that’s left me feeling dazed.
I glance over at the empty space beside me, the sheets still warm from where she was lying. She’s gone, leaving nothing behind but the faint scent of her perfume and the memory of last night.
We never exchanged names.
And somehow, that just doesn’t feel right.