Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ashley
I walked back to the hotel with Darryl, my arm tucked through his, the Vegas night warm and buzzing around us, lights flashing in a dizzying blur.
We’d spent the day roaming the strip, laughing at street performers, snapping pictures by that lion statue, and eating way too much Italian food, his sweet gestures piling up in my chest, making it hard to keep this fake thing straight in my head.
My legs were tired, my sneakers scuffing the pavement, but I was buzzing, not ready to call it a night.
We hit the hotel lobby, the hum of slot machines and chatter hitting us as we stepped in, and I tugged him toward the elevator.
“Hey,” I said, leaning into his side, grinning up at him.
“Want to grab a drink? The room’s got a minibar. ”
“Yeah,” he said, his hand sliding to my lower back, warm through my sweater, his grin soft but playful. “Sounds good.”
“Sweet,” I said, pressing the button, the elevator doors sliding open quickly.
We stepped in, his arm staying around me, my head resting on his shoulder as we rode up, the quiet hum mixing with the thump of my pulse.
The doors opened on our floor, and I led him to our room, unlocking it with a swipe, the cool air hitting us as we stepped inside.
The bed was still neat, our bags dumped in the corner, the window showing off the glowing strip below.
“Minibar time,” I said, kicking off my sneakers, padding over to the little fridge tucked under the desk.
“Pick your poison,” he said, dropping his bag, kicking his shoes off, settling onto the edge of the bed, watching me with that steady look I liked too much.
“Vodka,” I said, grabbing two mini bottles and a couple cans of soda, turning to him with a grin. “Mixers okay?”
“Works,” he said, holding out a hand as I tossed him a bottle and a can, catching them easily.
I plopped next to him, cracking mine open, pouring the vodka into the soda can, the fizz bubbling up quickly.
“Cheers,” I said, clinking my can against his, taking a big sip, the sharp bite of alcohol mixing with the sweet fizz.
“Cheers,” he said, sipping his own, his arm sliding around my shoulders, pulling me close, his warmth seeping into me. “Good day, huh?”
“Best day,” I said, leaning into him, my free hand resting on his thigh, squeezing lightly. “You’re fun when you’re not grumpy.”
“Grumpy,” he said, chuckling softly, setting his can down, turning to me, his hand brushing my cheek. “You bring out the fun.”
“Aw,” I said, setting my drink aside, scooting closer, my legs brushing his. “Sweet talker.”
“Yeah,” he said, leaning in, kissing me slowly, his lips soft and warm, tasting of vodka and soda.
I kissed him back, my hands sliding to his neck, pulling him closer, the heat building fast between us.
His hands found my waist, tugging me onto his lap, my knees straddling his hips, the kiss deepening, his tongue brushing mine, slow and teasing.
“You’re trouble,” he said, pulling back a bit, his voice low, his hands sliding under my sweater, warm against my skin.
“Trouble you like,” I said, grinning, kissing him again, harder this time, my fingers tugging at his shirt, lifting it slowly, exposing his chest. “Off,” I said, pulling it over his head, tossing it to the floor, my hands running over his shoulders, feeling the muscle there, warm and firm.
“Bossy,” he said, grinning, his hands pushing my sweater up, sliding it off me, leaving me in my bra, his fingers tracing the straps. “Your turn.”
“Fair,” I said, giggling, kissing his jaw, my lips trailing down his neck, nipping soft, feeling him tense under me.
His hands roamed, unhooking my bra with a quick flick, pulling it off, tossing it aside, his eyes dark as they raked over me.
“Like what you see?” I said, my voice teasing, pressing myself closer, my chest brushing his, warm skin against warm skin.
“Yeah,” he said, his voice rough, kissing me hard, his hands cupping me, thumbs brushing over my skin, sending a shiver through me.
I moaned softly, my hands sliding down his chest, nails grazing lightly, feeling him shift under me, his breath hitching.
“Damn,” he said, kissing down my neck, his lips hot and firm, sucking lightly at the base of my throat, leaving a faint mark, a little sting that made me gasp.
“More,” I said, tilting my head back, giving him room, my hands in his hair, tugging him closer.
He obliged, kissing lower, his mouth trailing along my collarbone, sucking harder this time, a sharp pull that left a red spot blooming, my skin tingling under his lips.
“You’re marking me up,” I said, giggling, my voice breathy, my hands sliding to his shoulders, gripping tight.
“Good,” he said, kissing down my chest, his tongue flicking out, teasing, then sucking again, leaving another love bite just above my bra line, the heat spreading fast. I squirmed, my hips rocking against his, feeling him harden under me, his hands gripping my waist tighter, holding me there.
“You’re driving me nuts,” he said, pulling back to kiss my lips again, deep and messy, his teeth grazing my bottom lip, making me moan louder.
“You started it,” I said, my hands fumbling with his jeans, popping the button open, tugging them down slowly, my fingers brushing him through his boxers, teasing. “Your turn.”
“Yeah,” he said, helping me, kicking his jeans off, his hands sliding to mine, undoing my button quickly, pushing them down my legs.
I wiggled free, tossing them aside, leaving us in underwear, his hands pulling me back onto his lap, my thighs straddling him tightly.
“Better,” he said, kissing my neck again, sucking hard just below my ear, leaving another mark, the sting mixing with the heat pooling in me.
“Much,” I said, kissing him back, my hands sliding under his boxers, tugging them down, freeing him, my fingers wrapping around him, stroking slowly and firmly.
He groaned, low and rough, his hands gripping my hips, pulling my panties down slowly, his fingers brushing me teasingly before sliding them off completely, leaving us bare, skin on skin.
“Now,” I said, my voice urgent, pressing myself against him, feeling him hot and hard between my thighs.
“Yeah,” he said, lifting me slightly, his hands guiding me, kissing my chest again, sucking hard just below my collarbone, leaving another red mark as he pressed into me, slow and deep, filling me up.
I gasped, my nails digging into his shoulders, my head tipping back, a loud moan slipping out as he moved, steady and firm, his hands holding me tight.
“You good?” he said, his voice strained, kissing my neck, sucking again, leaving a trail of bites down my shoulder, each one a sharp pull that made me shiver.
“So good,” I said, my voice breaking, rocking with him, my hands clutching his back, nails raking down his skin, leaving faint lines.
He groaned, kissing me hard, his tongue deep in my mouth, swallowing my moans, his hands sliding to my thighs, spreading me wider, pushing deeper until I was trembling, heat crashing through me.
“Darryl,” I said, my voice a whine, my body shaking as he sucked hard on my neck again, another love bite blooming, the sting pushing me over, a loud, “Oh,” bursting out as I clenched around him, shuddering hard.
“Got you,” he said, kissing me through it, his hands gripping me tight, following quickly, a low groan against my lips as he tensed, spilling into me, his breath ragged.
We stayed there, panting, tangled up, my legs still wrapped around him, his arms holding me close, slick with sweat, the room quiet except for our breathing.
He kissed my shoulder, soft now, brushing over the marks he’d left, red and tender against my skin.
“Wow,” I said, giggling softly, leaning my forehead against his, my hands sliding to his face, tracing his jaw. “You’re wild.”
“Yeah,” he said, grinning, kissing me slowly, his lips gentle now, his hands rubbing my back. “You too.”
I smiled, my chest tight, the words I love you sitting heavy in my head, but I didn’t say them, scared of what came next, what it’d mean if this wasn’t fake anymore. “Bed?” I said instead, my voice soft, pulling back to look at him.
“Yeah,” he said, lifting me gently, laying us down, pulling the sheet over us, his arm wrapping around me tightly. “Sleep.”
“Night,” I said, curling into his chest, my head on his shoulder, his heartbeat steady under my ear, the unsaid words buzzing in my mind, fear holding them back as I drifted off, warm and safe.