Harper hated her stubbornness. She hated that Matt was right. And most of all, she hated that she’d had to call on him to rescue her. Sitting on the side of the road, her gloves on her hands, scarf around her neck, her jacket zipped up tight, she shivered, waiting for him to arrive and rescue her.
She had too much time to think about the weekend she was now going to miss, how she’d really been looking forward to learning new foam techniques and making pretty hearts and squiggles in her customer’s cups. Not to mention a weekend to herself in Denver, no work, nothing to do but enjoy. Now she’d have to drive home in Matt’s tow truck with him muttering about how she could have saved them both the trouble by letting him check out her car before she left town.
Expecting it to take at least an hour for him to arrive, she was shocked when he showed up forty-five minutes later, skidding to a stop behind her car in his Tahoe and not his tow truck.
She opened her door just as he walked up to her side of the car. He wore his heavy parka. Her toes were frozen, her body almost numb. Just seeing him, his handsome face, and the worry in his brown eyes made her want to cry in relief.
“Did you fly here?” she asked, half-jokingly.
He looked down at her and a semi-smile lifted his sexy mouth. “No. Now, go get in my warm truck. Let me see what’s going on with your car.”
Unwilling to argue after hearing the word warm, she rushed to his vehicle, climbed into the passenger seat and slammed her door shut. The inside smelled like musky man, like Matt, and she breathed in deep, savoring the scent before she whipped off her gloves and held her hands up to the hot air blowing from the vents.
As she warmed herself, she watched as Matt first popped the hood and inspected the engine, then slammed it shut, a scowl on his face. From there, he opened her trunk and loaded her luggage into the back of his truck before returning to the driver’s side.
“Hey,” he said, as he slid into his seat. “So your belt is broken, which is what I thought that sound was. Good thing you pulled over before the engine overheated.”
Even his frown was sexy, she thought to herself. “Why didn’t you bring your tow truck?”
He slung an arm over the top of the seats and turned towards her. “Because I know how much this weekend and these classes mean to you, so we’re going to Denver. I’ll call someone to tow the car to the garage when we get there.”
She blinked in surprise. “I’m sorry … what? You’re not taking me back home?”
“No.”
“But –”
He rolled his eyes at her. “You’re going to argue with me when you’re getting exactly what you want?”
“No,” she whispered. But why was he being so … so … chivalrous? And nice? “How do you know about my classes? Never mind, my uncle,” she said, answering her own question.
He chuckled and gave her a nod. Turning in his seat, he started the car and headed toward her original destination.
“What about the garage?” she asked, knowing he worked long hours, and though he had employees, he liked to be there himself.
He glanced from her back to the road. “Harry can handle things for the weekend.”
Just … wow. “Matt?”
“Yes?” One hand on the wheel, he glanced over at her. He’d put on sunglasses that covered his eyes, and she drank in the sight of him.
She swallowed hard. “Thank you for coming to get me. And for taking me to Denver.” She couldn’t believe that was his plan.
“You’re welcome,” he said in a gruff voice. “What hotel are you staying in?”
She rubbed her hands together, pleased they were finally warm. Even her feet felt better, the heat from beneath the dashboard doing its job. “The Four Seasons, where the class is being held.”
He let out a low whistle. “Nice.”
“Another reason I was looking forward to the weekend,” she admitted. “Can’t beat the luxuries there.”
“I’ll bet.”
A quiet few moments passed, and she squirmed in her seat, struggling to find some subject with which to make conversation when he surprised her.
“So, tell me about these classes you’re taking.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You cannot be interested in coffee-making classes.”
“I’m asking, aren’t I? It interests you, so I’m curious. Tell me,” he insisted.
She slid her tongue over her bottom lip, shocked when she glanced at him to realize he’d been sneaking a look at her, watching the movement.
“Umm … first, there’s the foam-making class.” For the next half hour, she told him in detail about each session she was scheduled to attend, and he asked questions that indicated interest.
Not just ‘pass the time’ interest but true attentiveness. Like what she said mattered. By the time they arrived in Denver, they’d had their first real conversation about various things they each enjoyed … in forever.
“What kind of music do you like?” he asked.
“Classic rock. If the station holds while we drive, I like 105.”
With a grin, he flipped on the radio, and she discovered her favorite station was set and ready to play.
Over the course of the drive, she learned some other things, too. It was one thing to think she was in love with the man because she liked his looks and appreciated the decent man he was on the inside … despite his usual surliness towards her. Quite another to have common interests.
Matt Banks shared her love of Queen, The Who, and Guns n’ Roses among other artists. She often thought she belonged in another generation. But Matt understood her appreciation of the albums from another era. And it turned out he really loved her coffee, something he admitted to her as they pulled into the front of the hotel for valet parking.
By the time they strode up to the front desk for check-in, her feelings had gone from the abstract to the tangible. Which meant she needed her space from him, and she needed it now.
She handed the front desk her license and credit card. “I’m booked through the weekend,” she said. “Harper Sanders.”
The middle-aged clerk clicked his computer keys and nodded. “Yes. You have a king bed, Ms. Sanders.”
“Thank you. I’ll need an extra room for my … friend. He came with me unexpectedly.” And she intended to pay for his room whether he liked it or not. No matter how big a dent it put in her credit card. Her room had come with the coffee class discount.
She felt the heat of Matt’s big body behind her, his tall frame looming over hers. There weren’t many men who could make Harper feel small, but Matt accomplished that feat.
The man behind the desk clicked away at his keyboard, a frown on his face, and Harper’s stomach twisted with worry. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry, but we’re booked. We have a few conventions here this weekend. There are no extra rooms.” He glanced up, an apologetic look on his face.
“But – Do you have a room with two double beds?” She grasped for the next best thing.
Not ideal, considering she had no idea how she was going to share a room with Matt when all she wanted to do was climb his big body and attach herself to him. Naked.
The clerk shook his head. “No, ma’am. Again, I’m sorry.”
“But –”
Matt placed a calming hand on her shoulder, coming up beside her. “It’s fine. We’ll take the room you have and make do,” he said to the clerk, who was looking back and forth between them.
Make do.
She glanced at him, and her stomach plummeted at his words, a stark reminder that just because he was doing her a favor, she had no business conjuring visions of them together.
Erotic visions, no less.
* * *
Sharing a room?
That worked for him.
Of course, he’d put his foot in his mouth, too.
Matt took one look at Harper’s face and wanted to kick himself for his poor choice of words. It wasn’t how he’d meant it … but he’d said it. Now he had to make it up to her.
He took the keys from the desk clerk and thanked him before turning to Harper. “Come on. I can carry our luggage up.” They each had one small rolling piece and he’d have no trouble with them both. As soon as he realized he’d be rescuing her, he’d decided he was taking her to Denver for the weekend and staying overnight, hence his trip to his place before hitting the road.
They took the elevator to the sixth floor in silence, and though that had been their M.O., the car ride and her happy chatter had spoiled him for more than stiff, cordial interactions.
Stopping at the door of their room, he pulled the key from his jacket pocket and let them inside. The door shut behind them, enclosing them in an elegant, gorgeous space. He took in the large white bed in the center, knowing exactly what he wanted to be doing in the middle of it. The sun shone over the dark wood furniture, and a large television sat on the credenza. This was beyond his means normally, and he assumed Harper had gotten a conference rate. They might as well enjoy it.
He took off his jacket and placed it over the chair, noticing she’d removed hers and hung it in the closet.
Uncomfortable silence echoed around them until she broke it. “I missed the lunch, but I’m hungry so I’m going to go downstairs and –”
“Harper, wait.” She turned.
He took in her gorgeous face, not happy at the moment but no less beautiful, the curvy body in a pair of black pants and a light pink blouse that accentuated her lush, full breasts, and he broke.
He strode to her, cupped her face in his hand, pulled her towards him, and sealed his lips over hers. She raised her hands to his shoulders, and he mentally prepared for her to shove him away. Instead, she curled her fingers into his shirt and clung to him as her mouth parted and she let him in.
Their tongues met, teeth clashed, the kiss was hard and needy, and so many years in the making. He wanted to take his time and savor the moment, but he couldn’t. Not when he thought she was right there with him.
But she wasn’t because she pulled back, her gaze meeting his. “You do realize we have things to discuss,” she informed him haughtily.
“Yeah,” he muttered, nudging his dick at her entrance. “But can’t it wait?”
She hesitated, giving his question careful consideration before nodding. “Yes. But you’re not getting out of talking.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he promised.
Obviously assured, she pulled his shirt from the waistband of his pants, and they separated long enough to take a breath and for him to throw his shirt to the floor.
He kissed her again while bringing his hands to the buttons on her shirt, but his hands were too big, and he fumbled with them.
“Fuck it,” he muttered and pulled at the sides, sending buttons flying everywhere.
She gasped but didn’t seem to mind as she merely shrugged the blouse off her shoulders and let it glide to the floor. And what he saw, he’d only dreamed of until now. Her large breasts strained the fabric tipped in lace, creamy soft mounds of flesh plumping over the edges.
He met her gaze, shocked to find uncertainty in her blue eyes, and he couldn’t have that between them. “So beautiful.” He followed the scalloped border with one finger, his breath coming in uneven pants.
She splayed her hands on his chest, running her fingers over his skin, setting his body aflame. He kissed her again, devouring her, gliding his mouth back and forth over hers. They were in sync, every moment perfect and more than he’d imagined. And he’d done that plenty, jerking off to visions of Harper as he came.
“Pants,” she said, breaking the kiss. “I want them off. I need to see you. Touch you. I need to know this is real.”
“It’s as real as it gets,” he assured her.
But he wanted the same thing she did, so he stepped back and undid his jeans, yanking them down along with his boxer briefs, aware that she was doing the same, ridding herself of the remainder of her clothing.
Once freed, his cock sprung upright against his abdomen, desire pulsing through his veins. And when he caught sight of her body, creamy white flesh, delicious curves, all his dreams come to life, it pulsed once more.
He stepped toward her, and she backed up, falling against the mattress with a soft laugh. She pushed herself back to the mound of pillows and he followed, coming over her, wanting nothing more than to thrust hard and deep into her slick, waiting sex.
“I’m not going to last long this first time,” he told her.
She lifted her eyebrows in a way he found both enticing and adorable. “First time?”
“You don’t dream about something as long as I’ve dreamt of you and get your fill in one shot.”
“Good to know,” she said with a sexy smile, writhing as he positioned himself, the head of his cock poised and ready.
Until he realized one important thing. “Condom.” He jumped up, grabbing his jeans and retrieving one from his pocket.
“Men,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Always prepared.”
“It’s older than dirt,” he informed her. “But not that old that it won’t work. Oh, shit.” He just kept putting his foot in his mouth.
She shook her head and laughed. “Never mind. I get it. Just hurry up!”
He returned, his cock once again at the entrance of her sex, and immediately pushed in … slowly because he knew he was a big man with a big dick … and he felt himself stretching her tight inner walls.
God, had anything ever felt so good? So perfect?
“Faster, Matt, please.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
She pinched his shoulder. “Move or I’ll hurt you.”
She’d released him from the constraints restraining him, and he was barely holding on as it was. He began to move in and out, taking her hard and fast, and she accepted him, having no trouble with his pace or how hard he thrust into her. She arched her back, pulling him deeper, and he saw stars, then she wrapped her legs around his waist until their bodies practically joined.
Jesus, she was killing him, and he loved every minute.
Bracing his hands on the bed, he raised himself enough to rock and grind into her, their bodies in complete unison. He rolled his hips and she started to shake, her hands pulling at his hair.
“Oh, God, Matt, yes. Keep going.”
He ground into her, and suddenly she moaned, low and deep, writhing in his arms. Her climax set off his own, and he thrust into her again and again, knowing this was what had been missing from his life for so long.