“Noelle, this is my friend Margaret. She works in the fashion industry. I was consulting with her. Margaret, this is Noelle.”
Margaret giggled. “Nice to meet you.” She slipped out the door. “See you around, Dane.”
Noelle hesitantly walked into the hotel room, looking around and taking it all in—the half-drunk glasses of champagne, the food on a pair of plates in the living room, the unmade bed. “Who was she?”
“A friend. I told you that.”
She spun around. “What was she doing here?”
“Relax, Noelle. I ran into her in the lobby. I hadn’t seen her in a long time and wanted to catch up.” He inched closer to the skittish woman. “Noelle, don’t jump to conclusions. I knew you were coming here.”
He’d wanted her to jump to conclusions. If she wanted to wield his reputation against him, let it ricochet back on her. He hoped her devastation would match his. He expected her to walk right back out the door.
Instead, she stayed and surprised him when she said, “It doesn’t matter. I don’t even care if you slept with her. I don’t care who you’ve been with before if you’ll be with me now.”
Her shirt had come untucked, and her skirt had wrinkles that made Dane wonder if she’d slept in the clothes she had on. She wasn’t wearing any makeup. Her nose was raw, and her cheeks tear stained.
He’d never wanted her more.
“Tell me why you’re here.” He took a few more steps toward her. When she didn’t back away, he crossed to her and took her hand.
“I’ve quit fighting.” Her eyes lifted, red from tears, dark circles from exhaustion. “I couldn’t stay away. I can’t stop thinking about you.” She let out a soft sob. “I could lose my job, and I don’t even care. I had to be with you.”
He took her hand. “Why?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m in love with you.”
It was what he’d wanted from her when he’d started this game. This was the moment to break her heart and walk away without telling her why. He’d never envisioned a more perfectly orchestrated opportunity.
But seeing her desperation, hearing the words he’d never expected her to say, slaked his thirst for vengeance. He couldn’t send her away now when she was giving herself to him. All his careful calculations couldn’t have prepared him for his absolute need to give himself in return.
He reeled her in and kissed her, not gently. He sucked on her lower lip and pushed his tongue into her mouth, wanting to consume her.
He couldn’t resist the disaster of her.
Her knees buckled, and he caught her up and carried her to the bed, sweeping the sheets and blankets completely off onto the floor. He unbuttoned her shirt as she breathed desperately in and out. Her skin felt like velvet as he skimmed up her stomach. He paused for a moment before unsnapping the front catch on her bra.
She sighed. “Yes. Dane. Yes.”
He leaned down and licked her nipple, and her groan brought him to total arousal.
Goosebumps appeared on her flesh wherever his fingers landed as he undressed her. She shivered. He was mesmerized by her every reaction. And she responded with needy kisses and frustrated attempts to work the last buttons on his shirt. He laughed and helped her out with the shirt but let her open his belt and unzip his pants. He slipped out of them and lay beside her, running his hand along her body. “I’ve wanted you for so long.”
“I can’t resist you. I’ve tried. But I can’t stop wanting you.”
The words unfurled something inside him. He hadn’t known how long he’d needed to hear her say them.
She worked her fingers into his hair and pulled him closer. Their lips met briefly, but he wanted to watch her as he ran a hand up her thigh and slid a finger into her. He stroked her with her own wetness, turned on by the arch of her back and the shallowness of her breath. He kicked her knee over with his and settled between her legs so he could circle her clit with his tongue, loving how she wriggled and moaned. She rocked her hips, pressing against his mouth searching for release. He buried his finger deep inside her, in and out, and increased the pressure and the rhythm with his tongue, with his lips, with his thumb until she bucked and curled away from him.
He wiped his face on the fitted sheet and crawled back up beside her, kissing her forehead. She moved languid, sensual, his. He wrapped an arm around her and lay beside her, just holding her. She must have been more exhausted than he’d known because she drifted off on him. Sighing, he got up and dragged the sheet and blanket back over her. Then he rummaged around in his suitcase for his pack of condoms and threw them into the drawer next to the bed. He called room service and requested dinner and more champagne, then jumped in the shower. After he dried off, he threw on a bathrobe, then settled on the edge of the bed to watch Noelle sleep. She’d never looked as beautiful as she had when she’d surrendered to him. Tonight, at last, she would give herself to him completely.
Sophie,
So much has happened in a week. Remember when I thought two guys were fighting for me? Well, one of them has left town. Then the other one asked me to meet him after work. The first time he asked, yesterday, he bailed on me at the last minute, which ticked me off. But maybe he’d lost his courage. He asked again, today, and when I met him, he kissed me! And he told me he really likes me and hopes we can be more than just friends.
I don’t care what you think about it. Anthony is a great guy, and I think this will turn into something that lasts more than just the summer. He told me he had been trying to take things slow because he likes me so much and didn’t want to scare me away. As if. He’s so adorable.
This internship has been the best decision of my life. And we’re just getting started! We still have a little over five more weeks. I’m going to have some things to teach you!
