Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Shelby
H is lips find mine in a hungry, desperate kiss, sending a jolt of electricity through my veins. We barely take time to catch our breaths because we both understand this might be our last night together, and every touch, every kiss, feels magnified by that realization.
“God, Shelby,” Spencer murmurs against my lips, his hands roaming over my body with a possessive urgency. “I can’t get enough of you.”
I moan softly into his mouth, my fingers tangling in his hair as I deepen the kiss. The taste of him and his body’s warmth against mine is intoxicating. I can feel his hardness pressing against me, and my body responds in kind, softening toward him, eager to accept him. I want to claim this man as mine, but how can I feel such intense emotions when we’ve only had a weekend together?
He breaks the kiss long enough to whisper, “I need you, Shelby.”
“Yes,”I breathe, my voice husky, almost unrecognizable. “Now. Please, Spencer.”
We stumble toward the bed, our limbs entwined, our mouths never breaking contact. I kick off my shoes, and Spencer does the same, his hands already working on the buttons of my blouse. I fumble with his belt, my fingers clumsy. My blouse drifts to the floor, followed quickly by my bra.
Spencer’s eyes darken, and he licks his lips as he takes in the sight of me, bare from the waist up. He cups my breasts, his thumbs brushing over my nipples, drawing a gasp from deep in my soul. “You’re so beautiful,”he murmurs, his voice rough with desire. “I never expected this to happen. I know how the board and others see me, but God, please believe me, Shelby, I’m not what they think. I don’t bed a different woman every week. You’re different.You’re?—”
I smile, my heart pounding wildly in my chest as I place a finger over his lips, stopping him. “I believe you, Spencer. I don’t normally jump into bed with a man so soon either.”
We shed the rest of our clothes with frantic urgency, our breaths coming in ragged gasps. When we’re both naked, Spencer lifts me into his arms and lays me down on the bed. He follows, his body covering mine. The feel of his skin against mine feels so right, so natural, so perfect. I tremble.
He trails kisses down my neck, his lips leaving a path of fire that makes my skin tingle. The scent of his cologne, a mix of wood and spice, wraps around me, heightening every sensation. His hands explore my body as if to memorize every inch. When his mouth finds my nipple, I cry out, the sensation almost too much to bear. His tongue swirls around the sensitive peak, and I bite my lip to keep me from begging for more.
With my head back, my eyes closed tight, and my neck stretched taught, I moan, my hands gripping his shoulders, feeling the firm muscle beneath my fingers. “Please...”
He understands my plea and slides one hand down between my legs, where I’m sure he finds me wet and ready. His strong, thick fingers slip inside with ease, and I gasp, my hips bucking against his hand. The friction is exquisite.
He groans, two digits moving in and out of me, driving me quickly toward climax. “I want to be inside you.”His voice is a low growl, vibrating against my skin.
“Yes,”I pant, my body quivering with expectation. “I need you inside me.”
Spencer removes his fingers and, before my eyes, licks them clean, savoring my taste, his eyes burning with passion with every swipe of his tongue. He positions himself at my entrance, his eyes locked onto mine. There’s a moment of stillness, a silent message passing between us. Then, with a single thrust, he fills me completely.
I cry out, my body stretching to accommodate him. The sensation of him inside me is overwhelming, a mix of pleasure and a delicious ache.
He stills for a moment. “Are you okay?”he asks, his voice strained with the effort of holding back.
My breath comes in short puffs. “Yes. But, please, don’t keep me waiting. Move.”
He begins to thrust, his movements slow and deliberate at first, building to a faster, more serious rhythm. Even his expression is stern.
I wrap my legs around him, drawing him deeper, my hands clutching at his back, my nails scratching his flesh. The sounds of our bodies coming together fill the room—skin slapping against skin, wet sucking sounds, harsh breathing, grunts and moans filled with desire.
The tension builds in my body, a coil of need tightening with each thrust.
Spencer’s eyes never stray far from mine, his gaze intense and focused.
“This feels... like we’ve been this dance for decades.”The last word turns into a drawn-out groan, his body moving against mine with increasing speed. “I want more. I want it all. Shelby, I want everything I can have.”
I can only moan in response, my body on the brink of release. The pleasure builds, a wave cresting, and when it breaks over me, it sends me spiraling into an orgasm so intense that it leaves me shaking and breathless. My toes and fingers curl. Stars flicker behind my eyelids.
Spencer follows me over the edge, his solid frame jerking and bucking as he shouts my name during his own release. He collapses on top of me, his breath ragged, his heart pounding hard against my breast.
We lay therefor a moment, our bodies still joined, our breaths slowly returning to normal. And then, like last night, he rolls to the side, pulling me with him, wrapping his arms around me, tucking me close.
“Wow,”he chuckles softly.
My response is as witty. “Yup”
We lay there for a while, our bodies pressed together, our hearts beating in sync. The room is quiet except for the hum of nightlife outside the windows and the air conditioning. And now the weight of the coming morning hangs heavy between us, a silent reminder that our time together is quickly running out.
Eventually, Spencer stirs, his hand trailing gently up my back. “Are you hungry? I can order something from room service?”
As though on cue, my stomach rumbles. “That sounds perfect.”
“What do you feel like having?”
“Idon’t know. What does a billionaire from New York have for a late-night snack with his Canadian weekend hookup?”I’m trying to make light of the situation, but it feels anything but a laughing matter. However, I fear I’ll cry for the rest of the night if I don’t try to laugh.
Spencer stares longingly at me for a moment before he reaches for the phone beside the bed.
“Hello, I’d like to order a large pepperoni pizza to my room please. And some ice cream with chocolate sauce if you have any. Thank you.”He hangs up and turns back to me, his eyes liquid pools. “We still have time,”he says, his voice gentle. “We’ll indulge for a bit, replenish our energy, and then spend the rest of the night making love.”
My heart aches, as though torn in two, but I scrouge up the best smileI can. “I’d like that.”
When the food arrives, we eat slowly, wrapped in robes, sitting on the sofa, soft music in the background, feeding each other bites between kisses and laughter. The tension from earlier is gone, replaced by a tender intimacy that feels almost too good to be true.
After we finish eating, Spencer leads me back to the bed, his movements tender and deliberate. This time, there’s no rush, no urgency. Instead, there’s a deep, aching need to savor every moment, every touch, every whispered word.
He kisses me as though I’m a delicate flower, his hands tracing the curves of my body with a gentle reverence.
I melt into his touch, my body responding to his every caress. When he enters me this time, it’s with a slow, caring movement that speaks of deep emotion and longing for something lasting.
Our bodies move together in a rhythm that feels as natural as breathing. The pleasure builds gradually, a slow burn that consumes me from the inside out. We breathe in each other’s breath, taste each other’s lips, feel each other’s bodies, our moans soft and intimate murmurs.
When we find our release, it’s as one, our bodies trembling with the intensity of our connection. After we hold each other tightly, our skin slick, our heartbeats racing. Tears silently running down my cheeks.
As we lie in the dark room, wrapped in each other’s arms, the reality of the coming morning begins to sink in. The thought of leaving Spencer, of returning to my life in Kingston, fills me with a deep sadness.
I shift slightly, my eyes meeting his in the dim light offered through the windows where we kept the drapes open so we could see the stars. “I wish we could have more time.”
He brushes his thumb gently against my cheek, wiping away my tears. “Me too. More than anything.”
We hold each other tightly as if we can stop time from moving forward. But morning comes all too soon,andwith it, the inevitable goodbye.
As the first light of dawn begins to filter through the curtains, I slip quietly and stealthily out from beneath his arm. Spencer is sound asleep, his breaths soft and even.
My heart is heavy with indecision as I stand by the bed and stare down at him. He looks so peaceful in sleep, and I feela pang of regret. I know I have to leave, but the thought of walking away from him, from what we shared, is almost unbearable.
Easing down on the edge of the bed, I reach out to gently touch his cheek. He stirs slightly, and I quickly pull my hand away, afraid to wake him. I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself.
“I can’t do this,”I whisper, my voice trembling. “I can’t just walk away.”But I have to. I have to protect myself, protect my heart.
I stand up, my resolve strengthening, and silently grab a notepad and pen from the desk. I start to write, the words flowing from my heart. But then I stop and crumple up that sheet. With a fresh one, I start over, keeping it simple and to the point.
Spencer,
This weekend has been incredible, and I’ll never forget it. You made me feel so special.
I’ll send the completed article foryourreview in a few days.
Love,
Shelby
I pause, staring down at the words. I feel a tear slip down my cheek and quickly wipe it away. I want to write more, to pour out my feelings,my fears, myhopes. But I stop myself, knowing that it’s better this way.
I place the note on the pillow beside him.
With one last look at his sleeping form, I turn and quietly leave the suite, closing the door softly behind me. The hallway is quiet, the hotel still asleep as I make my way to the elevator. When the doors close behind me, I leanbackagainst the wall, my eyes closing as I fight to hold back the tears.
This weekend has been a whirlwind, a dream come true. What started out as a career opportunity turned into so much more. But now, it’s time to face reality. We lead very different lives in very different cities. Countries. I’m not even close to the kind of woman a man like Spencer Hollis needs in his life. No matter what he said, he’s a very rich man with responsibilities and obligations. I’m a small-town journalist trying to make a go of writing about celebrities. We don’t match on so many levels.
This weekend was a moment. A lovely moment but a pocket of time out of our lives—nothing more.
If I hurry, I can catch an earlier flight home and avoid the risk of running into Spencer at the airport.
When I reach my room, I toss my things into my bag and change into travel clothes. What a beautiful room. And I hardly spent any time enjoying it. I glance up to the ceiling, wishing I could run back to Spencer’s room and throw myself into his arms.
Shaking my head, I grab my things and leave the room. Thankfully, an Uber is only a couple of minutes away. When I reached the airport, I was so relievedto findI could change my flight that I almost cried. I don’t think I could have sat waiting, wondering if Spencer would find me here, wondering if he’d be angry with me for leaving like I did. Worried he wouldn’t give me a second glance when he saw me.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the journey home. No matter what happens next, I know that thisoneweekend in Quebec City with Spencer Hollis will be a memory I’ll cherish forever.