Another show. The thought crystallized in her brain, and she smiled. Yes, she wanted to go to the theater tonight, and she knew just what she wanted to see, if she could get a last-minute ticket. She’d noticed the other night thatHamiltonwas playing here, and she had been dying to see it for years.
She unlocked her phone and downloaded a ticketing app, checking tonight’s schedule. There was a showing at eight, and as luck would have it, there was a single seat in the upper balcony still available. Ruby’s heart gave a little leap as she completed her purchase. Showtime was only two hours away.
She stood and headed with purpose toward the Underground entrance at the other side of the plaza, coughing as she walked. It was a dry cough, though, and she felt fine. She was taking plenty of extra vitamins and supplements to boost her immune system for this trip. Probably, she was just allergic to something in the London air.
She rode home, stopping at the market near her hotel for a quick dinner. Back in her room, she eyed the red dress in her closet. She’d only worn it for a few hours the other night, and no one who’d seen her that night would be seeing her tonight.
Decision made, she stripped out of her clothes and slipped into it. As she surveyed herself in the mirror, a myriad of memories blew through her. She saw herself at dinner with Flynn in Pippa’s funky, amazing restaurant, holding his hand in the theater as they watchedWicked, sipping overpriced but delicious drinks together at the American Bar in the Savoy Hotel.
“Tonight, I’ll make some new memories in this dress,” she told herself, turning her attention to her hair and makeup. This would always be her London dress.
She put a few essentials in her black clutch and headed out. Since she didn’t want to ride the subway dressed like this, she let the concierge hail a taxi for her. It was a short ride to the theater, and she felt a flutter of excitement as she stepped inside, allowing herself to be swept up in the tide of patrons bustling toward their seats. She bought a glass of wine and a program before making her way to the balcony.
She busied herself with her program until the show started, sipping from her wine and feeling very sophisticated here in this glamorous theater, about to enjoy what was sure to be an amazing performance. Hoping it didn’t lessen her coolness, she spun in her seat to snap a selfie with her wineglass and the stage visible behind her.
Hamiltonwas everything she’d hoped it would be…and then some. She laughed. She cried. And she rode back to her hotel with a big, silly grin on her face. She’d had a wonderful day today, all by herself and completely agenda-free. This was her last night in London, or at least the last night she had booked at her current hotel.
Flynn had mentioned a train to Paris, and she knew without thinking that’s what she was going to do. Tomorrow morning, she’d check out and go to Paris. She could find and book a hotel while she was on the train. Then, she’d spend the last three days of her trip soaking up as much of France as she could.
That tingle of excitement in her belly was back. This was the adventure she’d come to London hoping to find.
She swiped her keycard in the door and stepped inside her hotel room, again bolting it with the Do Not Disturb sign out. But tonight, she wasn’t hiding. Tonight, she was basking in the victory of a successful day. She wasn’t tired, though. On the contrary, her blood coursed through her veins, swift and hot, vibrant, alive.
She caught sight of herself in the mirror and paused.This dress. She ran her hands over the front of it, remembering the way Flynn had touched her two nights ago, the way he’d gripped her hips, the way their bodies had pressed together. A warm ache grew between her thighs, and she squeezed them together.
She slid the zipper down her back, remembering how Flynn had paused after unzipping it to take her hair down before removing the dress. She did the same thing now, letting her hair fall down her back, tickling the exposed skin there. She stepped out of the dress and hung it in the closet. She’d pack in the morning because right now, she was…distracted.
Maybe horny was a better word for it.
Wearing just her panties, she went to her suitcase and searched through the zipper pouch that contained all the odds and ends she’d brought that didn’t belong in her toiletry bag. Nail polish, vitamins, her back-up glasses in their case, and a little cloth pouch at the bottom that contained her vibrator.
This was her make-it-up-as-she-went adventure, after all. And right now, she wanted an orgasm. She stepped out of her panties and tossed them into the pile of dirty clothes at one end of her suitcase before crawling onto her bed. The sheets were cool against her bare skin, drawing an involuntary gasp from her lips as she lay back. She slid one hand between her legs, picturing the way Flynn had looked here in bed with her, the way his eyes gleamed almost black when he was aroused, the scrape of his chest hair against her breasts, and the feel of his cock as he pushed inside her.
With a moan, she reached for her vibrator and switched it on.
8
Thinking about you right now.
Flynn stared at the text from Ruby on his phone, as surprised as he was aroused by her words. He’d seen the photos she posted on social media today, following along virtually as she explored some of London’s finer museums and then took herself to the theater. She hadn’t texted him since shortly after he left London, so he’d decided it was probably best to let things end there.
But now her name was on his screen, and his heart was pounding like he’d just finished a workout at the gym.
Is that so?he replied.
Mm hmm.
Where are you?he asked, not wanting to read too much into this, but it was nearly midnight, and it was hard to picture her anywhere other than…
In bed.
Those two words and the images they conjured sent a burst of fire straight to his groin. He leaned back in the desk chair, rolling his shoulders. He’d been deep into the design for Aidan’s new house when she texted, having spent an untold number of hours in his auto-CADD program laying the groundwork for his design. Now, he saved the program and exited, closing his laptop. Nothing was going to distract him from this project—not even Ruby—but it was late, and he’d made great progress today. He’d come at it again tomorrow with fresh eyes.
Then, before he could lose his nerve, he picked up his cell phone and dialed.
“Hi.” Ruby sounded breathless, maybe even aroused, but it was hard to read too much into one word.
Flynn adjusted himself inside his trousers, somewhat embarrassed by the reaction he was having to the sound of her voice. “How are you? Your photos look like you had a good day.”
