In the dimly lit room,Taylor slinked out of bed as soon as Jagger rolled away. She wanted to avoid any awkward “morning-after” conversations or empty promises about getting together. His life—his new life—was out west. She was a realist who lived on the East Coast. Their “no strings” night had been phenomenal and she wanted to remember him in that vein. Even so, melancholy snaked its way around herheart.
It was five forty in the morning. They’d barely had two hours’ sleep. As she slipped into her dress, she glimpsed herself in the mirror. Their lust-filled evening flooded her consciousness and her insides clenched with desire. He’d played her body like a virtuoso, until she succumbed to the ecstasy. She’d no idea who this Loving guy was, but she was confident he wastrouble.
Though she’d never had a one-night stand, she knew from listening to her girlfriends that this was no ordinary hookup. Playboy or not, the man was a sexgod.
Instead of jotting down her phone number, she left her panties on the bed.A little something from Raven.She could only find one shoe, so she left it, too. If he found the other, he could donate the pair to acharity.
Before scurrying out, she regarded him one last time. Silky strands of his mussed hair feathered the pillow. She longed to run her fingers over the majestic phoenix inking his broad back. But it was his calm, rhythmic breathing that beckoned. If she didn’t escape now, she’d never want to leave him.Ever.
She’d had her fun. Time to let himgo.
With a heavy heart, she quietly closed the suite door and padded to the elevator in the deserted hallway. Down to the second floor, and then a mad dash to herroom.
Once inside, she shed her clothing, unpinned her hair, and headed for the bathroom. After flipping on the faucet, she stepped beneath the spray. Streams of hot water sluiced her tired body while she imagined Jagger’s handsome face. Bright eyes that never left hers, chiseled cheekbones, and a strong jaw, covered in a sexy goatee. But his sensual mouth and the passion behind his kisses kept them lip-locked forhours.
As she shampooed her hair, she envisioned his arms holding her tightly and the possessive way he moved inside her. His deep, rumbling laugh. The thickness of his thighs, those bulging biceps, and that light dusting of chest hair. Her insides throbbed with need.So sexy.Pretending to be Raven had given her the courage to share her ultimate fantasy, and partake in his. A shudder ran through her.What if he’s married?Oh, god, no.She vowed not to Googlehim.
After dressing, she hurried downstairs to check out. She’d taken another day off from work to help Melissa close loose ends with the fundraiser. Though they’d not planned to meet until nine, she didn’t want to bump into Jagger in the hotel lobby orrestaurant.
In the parking garage, she hurried to her vehicle and stopped cold. The spot where shethoughtshe’d parked her car was vacant. She surveyed the area, but her BMW wasn’t there. Had she gotten off on the wrong floor? She checked the other parking levels, but her car wasn’t on those, either. The magic of her evening vaporized in a puff of panic. What had happened to her vehicle? Rushing back inside, she spoke with the hotelmanager.
“I’m very sorry,” said the manager. “Several cars were stolen during the night. The police will be here shortly and I’ll let you know when they arrive. In the meantime, breakfast is onus.”
Seriously?She didn’t want food. She wanted hervehicle.
And she didnotwant to run intoJagger.
With no other choice, she waited in the dining room, but she couldn’t eat, not with her stomach inknots.
* * *
Full of energy,Jagger shot up onto his elbows. Alone in the king bed, he didn’t need to check the suite to know she’d bolted. The room felt cold without her. “Dammit.”
He dropped back onto his pillow and stared at the beveled ceiling. “Christ, I didn’t even get her phone number or her last name.” As he pushed out of bed, he glanced at the blank notepad on the night table.She would have left it, if she wereinterested.
Rolling into the bathroom, a headache took root behind his eye. Hoping a scalding shower would drown his frustration, he turned on the faucet and waited for the spray toheat.
While he’d agreed to one night, he’d never had anyone walk out on him. Even at the height of his “nail any attractive woman who crosses my path” phase, he would offer to take her to breakfast in the morning. Playboy, yes, but a cad, noway.
Twenty minutes later, while adjusting his tie in the bathroom mirror, their zesty mirror sex crashed into his thoughts. His chest heated, his dick stirred. Clearly, his body hadn’t caught up with the fact that his birthday present had vanished as quickly as she’dmaterialized.
“Happy birthday.” His stern reflection glaredback.
He ran his fingers through his damp hair, zipped his Dopp kit, and powered into the bedroom. He’d had no intention of telling Raven it was his birthday, but as he drifted to sleep with her snuggled in his arms, he couldn’t wait for breakfast in bed. And a bite to eat after devouring her. Jagger was slow to anger, but there was something about the way she snuck out before dawn that rubbed him the wrongway.
With phone in hand, he replied to a few emails requiring his immediate attention. Everything else could wait. As he grabbed his bags, he spied her pink panties on the bed and her stiletto on the floor. Then, he spotted the other shoe sticking out from beneath the bed.She’d been in some hurry to leave, hadn’t she?That realization pissed him off even more. He packed the shoes in his overnight bag. Those, he’d donate. Had things been different, he would have returned them to herpersonally.
He shouldered his bag and strode toward the front door.Don’t leave her panties. He retraced his steps, grabbed her underwear, and shoved them inside his carry-on. If a photo of those panties—in his suite—ended up on social media, he’d never hear the end of it.Even I deserve some damnprivacy.
As he rode the elevator downstairs, he considered asking Melissa for Raven’s number. But Raven would have jotted it down if she were interested. In reality, their chances of getting together again were slim-to-none.No strings. No regrets.The bitter taste in his mouth remained, and the need to see her wouldn’t goaway.
He entered the hotel lobby and made his way into the restaurant for a breakfast meeting. Even at seven-thirty, the room was buzzing with sleepy-eyedguests.
“Jagger Loving, party of two,” he said to thehostess.
“Yes, sir, your guest has arrived. Right thisway.”
* * *
