Chapter 8
KENNEDY
Icouldn't believe I was doing this. There was something about the way Boone had looked at me in the brew bath that sent heat through my body. I wanted him.
When we were alone, it was easy to forget about all the reasons why getting involved would be a problem.
I waited while Boone unlocked the door to his apartment. He flipped on an overhead light, and I walked inside again.
It was one large open space with a kitchen, a living room, and a bedroom. It ran the length of the workshop, and the only walls were for the bathroom.
"This is impressive."
"I wanted to live close to my shop, and I don't use it for much more than sleep."
"I think that's enough talking for one night," I quipped.
His lips twitched. "What did you have in mind then?"
I dropped my coat to the floor and pulled the sweater over my head.
He moved closer. "You're gorgeous."
I unbuttoned my jeans and started to shimmy them off when he stopped me with a hand.
"Let me."
I swallowed hard as he seemingly took me in, studying every inch of me. Then he pulled the cups of my bra down and sucked one nipple into his mouth.
I cried out, holding the back of his head, as if I could keep him there. I arched my back as he slowly pulled away from one nipple and latched onto the other.
My legs trembled, and my core heated. I needed more.
He seemed to know what I wanted because he lifted his head and pulled my jeans down. He fell to his knees, helping me lift first one leg, then the second, out of my boots and then my jeans.
I reached around my back and unhooked my bra. I flung it away, hoping I'd be able to find it later when I needed to leave.
I wasn't kidding myself about what this was. It was unprofessional and risky. But I couldn't seem to stop myself. It felt good to be with him.
Who knew when I'd find another man who was this good in the bedroom?
He was on his knees, looking up at me with such lust and desire that I swayed on my legs.
He ran his hands up the back of my legs, then hooked his fingers in the sides of my thong. He slowly pulled it down and off, keeping his gaze on me the entire time.
His gaze fell to my pussy, and he practically growled. "You're so wet."
I touched the top of his head, my fingers playing with the soft strands. "I was just in the bath."
"I don't think it has anything to do with that." He alternated licking and sucking, driving me crazy. His hand on my hip steadied me. Then he guided one leg over his shoulder.
I was completely at his mercy, open for him. One false move would send me tumbling to the hardwood floor. But I trusted him not to let me fall.
He used a finger to slide inside me, and I lost all control. I tugged on his hair, begging him to give me the release that hovered just out of reach.
"Come for me," he ground out before he used a second finger and sucked hard on my clit.
I cried out, the waves of pleasure coursing through my body as I rode his fingers. I bit my lip as I came down, wondering how he managed to play my body like it was made for him.
He stood, kissing me as he backed me up to his bed. When the back of my legs hit the mattress, we tumbled down. My legs spread for him, but all I felt was denim. I wanted to feel his hot skin naked against mine.
He pulled back to remove his shirt and then unbuckle his jeans. I waited not so patiently as he shoved off his clothes and reached for a condom.
I wanted to feel him bare inside me. But that was crossing a line that I shouldn't even be considering. This only lasted as long as I was here, and we'd have to keep it a secret. No one could ever find out.
It made everything more heightened.
He quickly sheathed himself and settled between my legs. His dick nudged my entrance, and when he slid inside, we both stilled.
My breath was coming in short pants, and I wasn't sure I was going to survive one more minute of teasing. "Boone."
He adjusted my legs so that he could move inside me. He kissed me while he continued to inch deeper. Then he adjusted me so that I was on my hands and knees. I looked over my shoulder to ask him to hurry, but he slammed inside me in one motion.
We both gasped at the sensation.
"You drive me wild," he said as he set the pace.
I couldn't respond because he was hitting something inside me that was propelling me to another orgasm. One that threatened to be bigger than the last. I wouldn't survive this.
He was wrecking me, and I couldn't be upset. I loved every minute of it.
Just when I didn't think I could take any more, he leaned over my back and tweaked my nipples before moving one hand to my clit. He circled the swollen nub, and I couldn't hold back any longer.
I bucked underneath him, and he thrust one more time hard, then stilled. He bit my shoulder, soothing the scrape with a swipe of his tongue. I collapsed to the comforter with him on top of me.
Eventually he moved to the side but kept one arm over my back.
"You killed me," I said, still feeling out of breath.
He chuckled. "That's a shame because I want to do that again. Soon."
I took that to mean I should stay the night, and I let my eyes fall closed. At some point, a blanket was draped over me, and he moved closer, his breath tickling my hair. I felt content in his arms.
For once, we weren't fighting about anything. Neither of our futures hung in the balance. We could do this, separate sex from our professional lives.
They were all lies I had to tell myself so I wouldn't get up, pull on my clothes, and get the hell out of here.
At some point in the middle of the night, I woke to his dick rubbing against my pussy.
Then his hands caressed my breasts, and I was lost to the sensations that only he could give me.
I was becoming addicted to his dick, his touch, his tongue.
There was nothing I wouldn't do to experience this again.
The orgasm was a slow wave this time, a perfect ending for the night. But when he pulled out, I felt the slickness. I rolled over. "You didn't use a condom."
"Shit. I'm sorry. I wasn't even fully awake. But that's no excuse." He got out of bed.
I heard the water running and wondered if he was freaking out. If he'd kick me out and tell me not to contact him again. Another part of me liked that I made him lose control.
He returned with a washcloth. "I'd never want to put you at risk. I'm clean."
"I am too, and I'm on the pill."
He let out a breath. "I'm sorry."
I ran a hand over his jaw. "It's okay."
He was genuinely upset, and he wasn't blaming me. He was so different than anyone I'd ever dated before. He took responsibility for his actions. He was a good guy.
But I was the wrong woman for him. I lived in Florida. He lived in Colorado. Our time was up when the job was done. We had no future. There was only now, and I intended to enjoy every minute of it.
* * *
In the morning, Boone drove me to the inn before the sun fully rose. Inside, I stripped off my clothes and stepped into the shower. I couldn't believe I'd had sex with him again.
What was I thinking?
I was going to ruin everything: my reputation, my business, this job. Nothing would be spared if I didn't find some self-control.
I had to meet Boone in the lobby in an hour so that he could give me the official tour of the inn.
I carefully dried my hair and applied makeup. I needed to put on a mask. It was my weak way of attempting to put distance between us while we were working.
I wouldn't think about how amazing last night had been or how I wanted to do it again. I could still feel him inside me. There was no way I'd be able to forget what happened, but maybe I could push it out of my mind for a few short hours.
I smoothed my hands over my slacks and took one last look in the mirror before heading downstairs to meet him in the lobby.
He stood talking to the woman at the front desk. They were laughing about something. I couldn't help the flare of jealousy that sprang up.
When he noticed me, he straightened and moved away from the counter. "You ready for the tour?"
"I'm excited to see more of the property."
"Let's start with the rooms. The ones on the third floor are unique. They started out as apartments for the family or the inn manager, and now we offer them as suites to guests."
"I'm in one of them."
"Yes, but you should see everything before you render your opinion."
I followed him without argument to the elevator where he took us back to my floor.
"There are a few rooms that are empty right now." He unlocked the first with a swipe of his card.
He swung the door open, and I stepped inside. This one had a great view of the mountains with seating on the balcony to enjoy it. The kitchen area was large and open to the living room. A big screen TV hung over a fireplace. "This suite has two bedrooms."
"Is the furniture the same in all the rooms?"
"We bought different things as we expanded."
"It's usually best to have a cohesive look. Every room has the same decor. That way the online pictures are accurate."
"We advertise that each suite is unique. Guests are excited to try a new room each time they stay here."
I had no experience with that and wasn't sure if it was something that people liked.
He took me into the other suites, and then we headed downstairs where the rooms were more uniform in size.
The inn itself was a hodgepodge of decor and furniture, and I felt a little stressed as we went through the rooms. "I'm used to the decor being the same in every room."
"When I offered to make the furniture, I wanted it to be different. Especially on the third floor to keep with tradition."
I sighed, not sure that Boone was going to be willing to consider any changes. "What amenities do you offer?"
He paused in the hallway. "We don't have many amenities inside, other than a game room and the restaurant."
I tipped my head to the side. "You don't have an indoor pool or a fitness center?"
Boone chuckled. "Those things weren't part of the original inn for obvious reasons, and we never felt the need to convert an existing space."
He led me to a game room with pool tables and ping pong. "Families love this room. Especially when it's raining and they can't go outside. We don't have room to add an indoor pool, and an outdoor one wouldn't get used often. Our summer season is short."
"I can see how that would be an issue." What could be added that would make the inn a destination? Guests needed something more than just the outdoors, especially if the weather wasn't great.
He led me through the game room into one that had floor-to-ceiling windows but contained tables, chairs, and boxes.
"Why aren't you using this for something?"
He shrugged. "We don't have a use for it."
I moved around the room, an idea coming to me. "Have you ever thought about adding a snow room?"
His forehead creased. "A what now?"
"A snow room? You know a room where it snows and lays on the ground. Guests can sit on benches to enjoy the snow and sip their coffee."
He gave me a long look. "You're joking."
"I'm being serious," I said carefully.
"Why would we need a snow room in Colorado?"
"In the summer, guests might want to experience it. It would be a talking point, a reason guests can't stop raving about Hart Inn."
"So you're saying it would only be used a couple of months out of the year? But it will be all the rage?"
I walked around the space, envisioning how it would look. "You could build the benches and the trees for the room. I would talk to an expert who's created these before. They're all the rage in warm weather cities, like Miami and LA."
"I think the entire idea is crazy. Why have a room full of snow when you can just go outside and enjoy it?"
"In Miami, there's no snow on the ground. And you don't always want to travel. The snow room is perfect for a quick reprieve from the heat."
"Well, it's winter here now, and we don't get that hot in the summers. I don't think that makes sense for us."
I blew out a breath. "You said yourself you don't have room for an indoor pool and the weather doesn't support an outdoor one.
You already have hot tubs in the suites.
You could make this a fitness room, but that's kind of boring.
Every place has one of those. But a snow room is different.
It's like your brew bath; people want to check it out.
They talk about it. You get word-of-mouth reservations," I said as my voice picked up the pace due to my excitement.
"This is Colorado. You can go outside and see snow."
I shrugged. "It's a novelty thing, even here in Colorado. Sure, it's expensive. But it's worth it. I think you should do it."
He crossed his arms over his chest. "I don't know how anyone would take that idea seriously."
His words felt like a physical blow to my chest.
Once again, my ideas weren't good enough. Why did I think that I could convince him to take me seriously?