Twenty Two

Jay

“Would you like two queen beds or one king?”

“One king,” Addy said before Jay could answer. “Please.”

“Very well.” The man behind the counter took their payment and typed something into the computer. Jay looked around, waiting, feeling impatient. The hotel was glamorous. At least, it was fancier than the Motel 6’s they had been taking refuge in. This one was nice. And it wasn’t far from Fremont Street. And, of course, they were okay with the dog. Jay knew they couldn’t get rid of him now. Addy would be devastated.

When she hurt, he hurt.

Addy took the keys from the receptionist, grabbed Jay’s hand, and pulled him toward the elevator. Vegas followed, his partially bald tail wagging as it thumped against Jay’s leg.

“There’s a pool!” Addy said as if it was the greatest thing she’d ever come across. “I love to swim!”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Jay said. He couldn’t resist pulling her into him and kissing the top of her head. She smelled so good, so familiar. It was a smell he never, ever wanted to forget.

The room wasn’t big, but the bed was enough for them both. Jay filled a bowl of water for Vegas, making a mental note to grab a small bag of dog food from the store later. Addy disappeared into the bathroom, and Jay sat down on the edge of the bed. He kicked off his shoes, finally allowing himself to relax. For the moment, all was well. He didn’t even want to think about Laurel or everything he would have to do when he found her. He had no idea what he was going to do or when. He didn’t know he would make it this far—especially with Addy. Now, things were different. They were complicated. She had turned his life and his plan upside down.

And he couldn’t even hate her for it.

A few minutes later Jay heard the water in the bathtub turn on. He stood up and went to the door, feeling like a horse straining at the bit. He knocked once. When she didn’t answer, he tried the handle. It was unlocked. Feeling antsy with excitement, Jay pushed the door open. Addy was leaning against the stone wall, naked, allowing the warm water to run over her hand from where it was pouring from the faucet. She had one leg propped up behind her

“Hi,” she said and smiled at him.

Immediately, Jay could feel himself getting hard under the fabric of his jeans. Damn, the effect she had on him was surreal. Never had someone turned him on like she did—her smile, her beautiful eyes, and the way her brown hair fell over her freckled shoulders. She was mesmerizing.

“Hi,” he said back. He felt like a bumbling idiot. Jay prided himself in being a charmer. He’d always had a way with the ladies; it didn’t matter who they were. But Addy? Well, Addy was unlike anyone he’d ever met. She was sweet and sour all at once, sometimes unable to keep her hands off him and other times nonchalant and sly. She was never just hot or cold, but a little bit of both. He never knew what he was getting into with her when he stuck his hand in the pot, and he loved that about her. Addy was the piece of him that had been missing his entire life, and now, here she was, standing naked in the shower.

Jay closed the bathroom door behind him and approached her. Still smiling, Addy reached for the button on his pants and undid the button and the zipper. Already, he was hard. He needed her. He craved her. Like a bottle of booze for an alcoholic, she was his weakness.

“You’re beautiful,” he said. Her chin tilted down, and she blushed. He reached out and brushed a strand of her hair back, and Addy turned to face him. Her complexion was makeup-free, and she was stunning. Her lips met his, and a zap of electricity sizzled through him. He took her face between his hands and kissed her hungrily. She returned the desperation, her tongue searching for his, eyes closed as a moan of pleasure escaped her lips. Jay pulled back briefly and removed his shirt, fumbling, unable to let her go for longer than a few seconds. God, he was over the moon for her. He wanted to wake up every morning and see her beautiful face smiling back at him, wanted to hold her hand in his until the end of days, wanted to be close to her at every moment of every day.

Unable to hold his excitement, Jay met her lips again. Addy ran her hands through his hair and pulled him back, toward the huge glass-encased marble shower. Once in, the shock of the warm water hit them, and Jay felt himself harden even more. The water showered down, steam rising. It was almost suffocating, but at the same time, it was sexy. Arousing. Jay reached between Addy’s legs, stroking, listening to her respond with tiny moans of pleasure. The water was warm on his skin. Addy, now soaked from head to toe, brushed her wet hair behind her and wrapped her arms around Jay, pulling his body into hers.

“Take me,” she whispered.

That was all the encouragement he needed. Unable to hold himself back, Jay picked Addy up off the ground, allowing her to wrap her slender legs around his. Desire caught him in the chest as he slammed her back against the wall, pushing himself into her, their bodies meeting with lust he’d never experienced. Addy gasped, caught off guard, but she didn’t fight in. Her legs tightened around him instead, her mouth meeting his again as he thrust into her. He could feel her tighten and then relax, taking him to the full extent. He quickened his pace, out of breath but unable to stop.

Addy had her eyes closed, face pointed into the water, moans escaping between her lips. She had a hold of his hair, wrapping it around her hand, which only drove him further. The tension built up, and he slowed, not allowing himself to be satisfied before she was. But it didn’t take long. After another few moments, with one last heavy thrust, Addy let out a long, shaky breath and let her head fall forward, onto Jay’s shoulder. Seconds later, he, too, reached climax. For a moment, they stood there, wet from passion, soaked from the shower, as they tried to catch their breath.

Jay lowered Addy to her feet, slowly, trying to retain the feeling of being inside of her. Her face felt hot, hands shaking from the intensity of their lovemaking, but she was smiling. She reached up and stroked the stubble on his face. He leaned in and kissed her, wondering how he had survived so long without this woman.

He kissed her again, resting his forehead against hers. “Where in the hell have you been all my life?”