Chapter 3
THREE
ZOE
A warm body with a hard chest is pressed against my back. I sigh with contentment before my brain catches up and …
What did I do last night?
I wasn’t that drunk.
Oh crap. Caitlin was. I remember getting her back to our room, and then …
He moves behind me, raising his hand to my breast and giving it a squeeze. His lips press against the nape of my neck. “Good morning.”
That voice. It’s not enough that Declan O’Leary has those movie-star looks. His voice is all deep and gravelly, and sexy as sin.
He slides his other hand down my thigh and between my legs. The man’s insatiable, but I’m not complaining.
“Morning,” I whisper. My stomach gurgles, and I let out a laugh .
“Hungry?” he asks, his index finger sliding over my clit.
I let out a sigh, arching my back as he gently bites my shoulder. My head’s still fuzzy from last night, but I want him. “A little.”
“I want you for breakfast.” He chuckles, and slips his finger into me. I have no shame. The man makes me want more, even when we barely know one another.
He barely needs to do anything. I roll my hips and rub myself against his hand. My body heats as I ride his fingers to find my own pleasure before he pulls me onto my back.
“Give me something to remember our night together.” I laugh.
His eyes darken. “I think I can do that.”
Maybe it’s because he’s so damn good at it. But every nerve in my body is alive, and Declan has a magic tongue.
He slides his hands under my arse and grips it, pulling me tight against his face as he devours me. I don’t ever want to get out of bed.
Two orgasms later, he slides into me. I close my eyes, basking in his attentions as he caresses my body. It’s like he’s trying to remember every inch of it before our time together comes to an end.
Oh, how I love his touch.
He slips his hand between us, coaxing one more orgasm out of my body right as he shudders, pulsing inside me.
My stomach rumbles a second time, and I giggle.
“It’s time I fed you,” he says. “Although I know that means I’m one step closer to letting you go.”
I brush my fingers against his cheek. This man. He doesn’t need to be so sweet given that we’re not likely to ever see each other again, but it’s nice.
Another kiss, and he’s out of bed. I miss his warmth the second he leaves.
But he’s only gone a moment.
I stretch and yawn as he walks back into the room.
“Food is on its way.”
“I need coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.”
He makes his way to my side of the bed until he’s standing over me. His eyes drink me in, and he reaches down to rub my shoulder. “Feeling seedy?”
“A little. Something to eat and lots of water and I’ll come right.” I raise my face to look at him, and he leans over and kisses me.
I don’t want this to end.
The way he kisses me, I don’t think he does either as he lingers on my lips.
“I should get dressed,” I say.
He lets out a sigh, running his gaze down my bare breasts. “It’s such a shame to, but yes. Come and get some breakfast when you’re ready.”
It’s an impressive sight watching Declan round the bed to grab his boxer shorts, still as naked and unashamed as he was last night. I know he’s older than me—how much older I’m not sure, but he’s so cut and I feel out of shape in comparison.
But the way he looks at me, I feel like a queen.
It’s not much fun sliding my dress from the night before over my head, and I tuck my panties and pantyhose into my clutch rather than put them back on again. but by the time I’m dressed and out of the bedroom, the food has arrived and the familiar aroma of toast makes my stomach grumble.
I’m surprised I’m not feeling worse, but then again …
Caitlin .
I grimace. She’ll be a hot mess today.
She’ll also wonder where I am if she’s awake.
I flick her a quick text.
Me: Just having breakfast and I’ll be back
Declan looks up as I approach the table and smiles.
“I figured we needed something basic, so there’s toast. How do you take your coffee?”
“White. One sugar. Thank you.” I drop my clutch on the table and take a seat.
That first mouthful of buttered toast is divine, and I moan.
“Keep that up and we’ll be back in that bed.” Declan winks at me and I smile.
“Thank you for last night. It was wonderful.”
“You’re very welcome. I was wondering …” He looks away as if he’s embarrassed. This is insane. I’m the one who should be all shy and retiring. I’ve heard stories about Declan O’Leary—seen him on magazine covers. He parties.
“Wondering what?”
“If I could use your number sometime.”
I swallow hard. Do I tell him that last night is quite fuzzy? I don’t want him to think he took advantage of me—I knew what I wanted as much as he did. And I know the sex was amazing, but I can’t remember the finer details of what happened between us.
“Sure.” He must say this to all the women he’s with. Maybe it’s the easiest way to get them to sign an NDA.
He takes a sip of his coffee before slowly placing the cup back on the table. “I’m no good at this. I’m the last person you want to get entangled with. I can’t make any promises,” he says.
I reach across and place my hand on his. “I get it. And I’m good. If this is all this is, then I’ll have the memory of getting my brains fucked out by a movie star.”
Declan chuckles. “I hope you think more of me than that.”
“Of course I do. What you are doesn’t matter to me. Who you are does.”
He rolls his eyes. “That sounds like a line.”
“Maybe it does, but it’s true.”
His eyebrows twitch as he gazes at me. “I don’t know if anyone’s ever said anything like that to me before.”
I frown before standing and make my way around to his side of the table. He grins as he pushes back his chair and I drop onto his lap. “You’re more than your job, Declan. I spent the night with you because I think you’re hot—not because you’re in movies.”
His eyes flash with amusement. “You think I’m hot.”
I run my fingers through his hair. “Who wouldn’t? I’m not some silly starstruck girl.”
He studies me intently. “No, no you’re not.”
“Thank you. For everything.”
“Oh, you are very welcome.” He smirks. “But I should be thanking you. I came here to have one last blow-out before I reset my life. I thought my night would be more like Caitlin’s was than the night we shared.”
“Really?”
His eyes search mine. “I don’t know what my future looks like, but I’m glad I found you last night.”
I slap his shoulder. “Don’t you go getting all sentimental on me.”
“I’ll treasure our time together forever, Zoe. Now go on and do great things with your life.”
Oh, he’s not going to call me.
Did he suggest he would to soften the blow of this being a one-night stand?
If we had more time together, I’d tell him what I’ve done so far—that I’ve done great things and now I’m trying to work out what does come next. But that’s not a conversation to be had today.
“Right back at you,” I whisper.
He grips my arse and kisses me softly. “I don’t want to cut this even shorter, but I’m checking out today.”
I nod. “I get it.”
He gives me one more lingering kiss before I leave.
As I step outside his room, I look down at how I’m dressed. I’m still wearing my little black dress from the night before.
I’m doing the walk of shame.
However, once I get in the elevator and it starts to move down toward my floor, stopping every so often to pick up other guests, I realise that in a Las Vegas casino, people are gambling at all hours of the day and night, which means my clothing doesn’t stand out among everyone else’s. For all they know, I’ve been sitting beside a slot machine for hours.
I reach my floor and sigh. Declan and I’ll only ever have one night, but I can’t help but feel I’ve left a part of my heart in that hotel suite.
It’s with great reluctance that I make my way back to our hotel room.
Maybe Caitlin messed up her weekend, but mine has been unforgettable. Even if last night is a little hazy.
I swipe the card and let myself in. The room’s dark, and I turn on the lamp beside my bed. The gentle light doesn’t do much to illuminate the room, but it gives me enough visibility to see the lump in the bed next to mine.
“Caitlin?” I whisper.
A long, loud moan comes from the bed, and I clamp my lips together to stop myself from laughing. I’d thought I’d had a heavy night, but apparently that was nothing compared to my best friend’s.
“That bad, huh?” I finally say.
“I think a herd of stampeding elephants have set up home in my brain.” She rolls over, flicking on her bedside light, and I can’t help it—I bark out a laugh that makes her wince.
If she’d been more with it, I might have helped her take her makeup off before she fell asleep, but now her mascara is smeared, and her hair looks like she’s stuck her finger in an electrical socket.
“Just as well we’re not going home today. I don’t think you could handle that.” I tilt my head.
She rubs her face with her hands. “God no. Any turbulence and I’ll be hurling all over the cabin. ”
I bite my bottom lip to stop myself from laughing more. “I’ve had breakfast. Do you want anything?”
“The thought of food makes me want to puke.”
I nod slowly. “Fair enough. How about coffee? And a big bottle of water.”
She opens one eye. “Never mind that. Where have you been?”
I sit on her bed and grin. “Oh, I’ve got a story to tell you.”
“Is it anything to do with where you’ve been all night? You weren’t here when I woke up stupidly early, so I assume you’ve been up to no good.”
My cheeks flush red, and her mouth drops open. “You could say that.”
“Well, woman. Spill the beans.”
I draw in a deep breath. “After we left you here, Declan called his car and we went for a drive around Vegas. We didn’t really stop anywhere, but I got to see so much?—"
Caitlin’s hand lands on my arm. “Can we please get to the dirty bits?”
I snort. “Is that all you want from me?”
She lets out a yawn. “I had too much to drink and went to sleep early. You spent the night with a movie star, and I want to know everything. Please, Zoe. I need some excitement in my weekend.”
Biting my lip, I hold up four fingers.
Her eyes widen. “Four times? You did it four times?”
“Three last night and once this morning before breakfast.”
She smiles. “You look happy, and I love it. This is out of character, but so good for you. You’re glowing. ”
I sigh with contentment. “It was really good. He’s amazing.”
“I’m glad you had a good night.” She raises her arm to cover her face. “I’m an idiot.”
I shake my head. “No, you’re not. You’re happy and excited, and you got carried away. We’ll just have a quiet night tonight. I’ll order you some breakfast. You need to eat something.”
Patting her on the hand, I move to the couch and pick up the phone. After ordering some French toast and coffee, I close my eyes and smile at the thought of last night.
My body hums at the memory of Declan’s touch. That man knows how to make a girl happy. I’m going to eat out on that memory for months if not years.
And speaking of eating out …
I’ve never known a man who enjoys oral sex the way Declan does.
I get so lost in my thoughts I nearly miss the quiet tap on the door.
“Caitlin, food’s here.”
“Can you not be so loud?” she grumbles.
Once the food’s delivered, I tip the waiter and roll the cart closer to our table before moving the food. I ordered two lattes with triple shots for each of us, and I breathe in the aroma.
Banging and crashing sounds come from the bathroom, and I snort with laughter as Caitlin emerges. Her panda eyes are gone, and her hair isn’t so wild, but she still looks as if she needs more sleep.
“That coffee smells amazing.” She walks to the table. “My stomach is doing flips though. I’m not sure how much I can eat.”
I sit on the other side of the table to her. “Get a couple of bites in and it might make you feel well enough to eat the rest. You know it’s what you need.”
“Thanks, Mom.” She drops into the seat and sighs. “How are you not hungover?”
“I am. I’m just not as bad as you. I’ll have an early night tonight.”
She lets out a groan. “I don’t want to eat this.”
“It’ll make you feel better.”
Her gaze doesn’t drop from mine as she grimaces and then lifts up her toast. I snicker at her extreme facial expressions when she takes exaggerated bites and then winces.
“You’re such a drama queen.” I throw a napkin at her.
“I’m allowed to be.” She pouts. “I’m losing my freedom in two weeks, and I just screwed up my last weekend away.”
I snort. “I thought it was Brandon who was supposed to be going on about losing his freedom. Isn’t that what men do?”
She laughs. “Ignore me. I’m just feeling sorry for myself. Especially after the night you had. I could have been cruising around Vegas with Declan O’Leary.”
Sitting in the back seat of that car watching the bright lights go past, moving in close against Declan, his arm around me …
“Zoe? Are you even listening to me?”
I blink rapidly. “What?”
“You’re so preoccupied. Was he that good? ”
I smirk. “I think my vagina needs a holiday to recover from our weekend break.”
Caitlin rolls her eyes. “Stop rubbing it in. My mom is going to be so jealous.”
I smile to myself.
“How lucky are you though?” Caitlin continues. “A one-night stand with a sexy movie star.” She sighs.
“He said he might call me sometime.”
Her eyes widen. “No way.”
“Yes way. I could always call him. I’ve got his number too.”
Caitlin lies back on the couch. “Lucky bitch.”
I laugh. “You know it.”
“Are you going to call him?”
I swallow hard. That’s the thing about swapping numbers. Would he reject me if I called?
“We’ll see.” I blow out a breath. “Can we just not talk about this again? It’s not that I want to forget it, but this whole thing is out of character for me, and I’m not ashamed of it, but it’s personal.”
Caitlin leans over and places her hand on mine “Of course. Whatever you want.” Her blue eyes disarm me. “I bet he fucks like a beast.”
I snort. “You are feeling better.”