After my bath, I dressed for bed in the red hot pants and tiny tank top Solara had given me, pulled a wine out of the minibar, and poured it into one of the water glasses.
I opened the blinds and sat down at the window to watch the twinkling city lights. My body relaxed as I sipped the wine. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt centered.
A light knock was at the door, and I dropped my feet from the windowsill, startled.
Slowly placing my wine on the desk, I padded to the door and looked through the peephole.
Paxton.
My heart raced, and I jumped back as if he had singed me through the door. I looked around my room frantically, as if I could hide.
I couldn’t let him in—or could I? I was hoping he couldn’t tell through the peephole that the table lamp was still on.
I calmed my racing thoughts and sat down on the edge of the bed, bringing myself back to the moment. We’d had a nice day today. He had been… He’d been normal.
“Charlotte?” he called softly through the door.
I stood and paced, wringing my fingers together. Was I ready for this? Was I overreacting?
My phone buzzed on the nightstand. When I picked it up, it was a text from Paxton: Charlotte?
Hi, I texted back.
Are you out?
No, I’m sleeping. That should work.
In your room?
I paused before responding. Yes.
I grimaced and closed my eyes.
My phone was silent. I sat back down on the edge of the bed and waited.
When nothing came through, I went to the door and looked out again. He was still there, but farther away, closer to the railing. He was looking at his phone, then out toward the open atrium, then back at his phone.
He started to text again.
My phone pinged with an incoming text, and I ran back to the bed to read it. You left your headset in the truck.
Oh, my God. This sexy, hard-ass, beautiful man was nervous. I giggled and touched my fingers to my mouth.
I ran to the door and then stopped a few feet from it, taking a deep breath. Slowing my pace, I took the last few steps to the door, took another deep breath, and then hesitantly opened it.
He turned when he heard the click. Slowly, he walked toward the door, giving me time to admire his, well, everything. When he reached me, I noticed (for the first time) that he really did have my headset in his hand.
My smile dropped, and I said flatly, “My headset.”
He held it out toward me, a wickedly humorous smile on his face. “You shouldn’t leave it behind.”
“Right.”
I took it from him and watched as his gaze slowly ran the length of my body. I flushed and felt my breasts perk.
Taking a chance, I waited until his eyes came back to mine.
“You could have given it to me in the morning.”
Our eyes were locked. Stepping back a few inches, I opened the door a bit further.
He stayed in the doorway. “I could have.”
His pupils were dilated. Sexual energy radiated between us as he put his arm up on the doorframe and rested his forehead on his arm.
I knew he was torn, but I wasn’t going to beg.
He stood up straight and stared down at the headset, then back into my eyes. He took a step forward, and I had to back up to make room for him.
When he had cleared the doorway, I let go of the handle. The door swung shut. He caught it just before it banged closed, gently letting it lock.
I stood against the wall. He reached out to lightly run the back of his fingers on the skin of my belly, below my tank top.
I inhaled and sucked in my stomach, my breaths now coming in short pants.
My arm fell to the side, the headset dangling to the floor, and I dropped my head. I stared at his fingers, spellbound, as they ran back and forth across my skin. When they went under the waistband of the short-shorts, I sucked in my breath and lifted my head, whispering, “Paxton.”
“Charlotte, I’m going to kiss you.”
“Are you asking permission?” I flirted, heat radiating between my thighs.
He lowered his head, his breath hot as his lips moved closer to mine. “No, I’m just letting you know.”
Breathily, I said, “Okay.”
His mouth descended to mine. Full, soft lips met mine, and I put out my tongue to taste him. He moaned and deepened the kiss, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close. His hands spanned across my back, holding me tight.
He walked us backward into the room. My calves hit the bed. Gently, he lifted me up and lay me on the bed. Hands around his neck, I held on until he had me lying flat.
I scooted back and smiled at him as he reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it up over his head.
“Holy Mary. You’ve been hiding this?” I sat up and ran my fingers down his chest to his belt buckle. He had an eight pack and hints of a “V” low on his belly.
His grin was devilish. “If you knew, would I have had you that first day?”
I put my finger to my lips and looked heavenward, pondering the question.
He pushed me back farther on the bed, crawled over me, and then said on a laugh, “I think not.”
Kissing up my belly, he pushed my tank top up and over my head.
I closed my eyes and let him kiss me all over. One hand gently teased my breast; his tongue circled around the other. When he took it in his mouth, I closed my eyes and arched, moaning out loud.
His mouth left me, and then he blew softly on my wet skin. My nipples tightened, and I thought I would die if he didn’t kiss me again.
Settling his body between my thighs, he looked down at me and whispered, “Gorgeous.”
I reached for his face and pulled him down to kiss me.
He paused before kissing me again, searching my eyes.
“Paxton, please kiss me.”
That was all the permission he needed before pressing his mouth to mine and giving me everything. He was an expert at this—maneuvering gently and then adding pressure. His tongue dancing with mine and reaching every depth of my mouth. He bit my bottom lip, then gently sucked on it before kissing me deeply once again. The weight of him was delicious torture. My hands ran across the strong muscles of his back, holding him close to me.
His mouth left mine and traveled down my body. Kissing. Blowing. Nipping. Licking. He licked his way down between my legs.
He knelt down at the foot of the bed, taking my panties with him as he went.
I raised up on my elbows. “Paxton?”
“Please let me give you pleasure.”
I couldn’t breathe. This man. Who was this man? I nodded and lay back.
Pushing my knees apart, he pressed his palms to my inner thighs, and caressed me with his tongue. I sighed as his tongue slid up into me. Then, he took me in his mouth, sucking and licking until I was squirming underneath him. Strong hands gripped my bottom pressing me up to his mouth as he loved me greedily.
I reached for his head, held him in place as I shook, my toes curling, and then shattered, calling out his name.
Like a wet noodle, I went limp on the bed, panting with my release. I had to blink a couple of times, and then he was all I could see above me.
I smiled up at him. “Thank you.”
He swooped down to kiss me again. “You’re welcome.”
Reluctantly, he pushed himself up off me to stand, walking to the head of the bed to pull back the covers.
Pulling myself to a sitting position, I asked. “Are you going to stay?” I was a little confused.
“No, you need to sleep.”
He picked me up, carried me to where he had prepared the bed, gently placed me on the mattress, and then covered me with the blankets.
“Don’t you want to… you know?” I looked at the bulge in his jeans. I wanted to run my hands over his broad shoulders, kiss every golden freckle I could see.
He leaned down to kiss me chastely on the cheek. “Yes, I do want to… you know—but we have time.”
“Are we…?”
He smoothed back the hair from my face and buried his head in the crook of my neck. He inhaled and gripped my hip under the blanket. “You smell so fucking good.”
Laughing, I said, “Oh good, I’m glad we fit that word in here somewhere tonight.”
He was nuzzling my neck; it tickled. Whispering in between kisses, he said, “I don’t know what we are, Charlotte, but I have been enchanted by you since I stepped into that limo and saw you looking at me from the window. Let’s just breathe for now, okay?”
I teased him. “Well, I need to rest, and you’re bothering me. You should leave, or I’m going to be super tired tomorrow. I don’t want to get in trouble with the boss. Now go.”
He reached under the blanket and caressed my bottom again. He whispered back, “I’ll see you in the morning.”
When he stood, I propped myself up on my elbow and watched him put his shirt back on. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
He leaned down to kiss me again.
When I heard the click of the door shut behind him, I rolled over to sleep, smiling like a teenager.
The next morning, I ordered breakfast from room service and ate as Solara had instructed. When I met the two of them downstairs, my eyes went to Paxton as soon as I stepped off the elevator. He was sitting on the couch watching for me, and his smile grew as I approached them.
The smile softened his face, and it was hard for me to imagine he had been such an asshat to me.
He stood as I got closer. “Good morning, Charlotte.”
“Good morning, Paxton.” My grin was so big I thought my face would crack.
From the couch, I heard, “Really?”
Solara had been working on her laptop. I looked down to see her smiling up at us, eyebrows raised.
I included her in my greeting. “Good morning, Solara.”
“Apparently.”
Paxton grabbed his bag from beside the chair and put it over his shoulder. “You two ready to go? We have a long day.”
Solara packed up her things, and we all headed out together to the venue.
The day was long and exhausting, but it didn’t seem so stressful since I now knew what I was doing. All the Denver girls had started including me in their conversations, and I felt like I was really part of the team.
My thoughts frequently turned to Paxton, and I had to shove them back down so I didn’t humiliate myself. All I wanted to do now was touch him and kiss him. But this was work, and I had to be a professional.
I did my best to avoid him during the day, which was easy since he never came backstage.
When we returned to the hotel that night, both Paxton and I held back in the lobby, waiting for Solara to head to her room.
Solara asked us if we wanted to get a glass of wine.
“No,” we responded at the same time.
Solara glanced back and forth between the two of us—and started laughing. “C’mon, Charlotte, I’ll walk with you to your room.”
It was all I could do not to say no. Instead, I said good night to Paxton and went with Solara up the elevator. We said a quick good night, and I let myself into my room.
As soon as the door was shut, I pulled out my phone. Grinning to myself, I texted Paxton: I forgot my headset.
Five minutes later, there was a knock at my door.
This time I didn’t hesitate; I flung it open to let him in.
He rushed through the door, scooping me up in his arms and burying his head in my neck. Frantically kicking off his boots, he said, “She totally cock-blocked me.”
I laughed as he threw me to the bed and climbed over me, kissing my face and neck, everywhere he could get to. “No, she was protecting me.”
Slowing his kisses, he took my face in his big hands and looked me directly in the eye. Softly, he said, “She might be right to do so.”
I shook my head gently from side to side and whispered, “No.”
His lips lowered slowly to mine, pressing gently as we melted into each other. We kissed and kissed and kissed for what felt like forever.
With finesse, he took my T-shirt and leggings off, planting kisses on every inch of skin he could reach.
When he rolled me over on top of him, I reached behind me and took my bra off.
He pulled me to him for a kiss while plunging his hand into my silk panties and slowly, gently slid his fingers inside me. I moaned into his mouth as he stroked me, loved me, and pressed the heel of his hand up against my sex until I arched my back and came, calling out his name and collapsing on top of him.
His hand gently rubbed up and down my back. His chest rumbled with subtle laughter.
He flipped me over, so he was hovering above me, and I looked at him with sleepy eyes.
With amusement, he asked, “You okay?”
I reached up and touched his cheek, marveling at him. “Mm-hmm. Stay with me tonight.”
He planted a quick kiss on my forehead. “I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because. You. Tempt. Me,” he said, between kisses to my face.
“Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do?” I pulled back and stared at him, batting my eyes.
He was sitting on the edge of the bed, putting his boots back on. He stood and tucked his shirt back into his jeans.
“Charlotte.” His tone was laced with something I couldn’t pin down. Frustration? Warning?
I sat up and pulled the sheet over me, feeling exposed. “What’s the matter?”
He put his hands on his hips and looked up to the ceiling, letting out a breath.
I pressed. “Is it your wife? Are you staying married? Is this just a game to you?”
He rushed to the side of the bed and sat down, pulling me to him.
“No,” he said, and then more emphatically, “No!”
“Then what? What is this?”
He dropped his forehead to mine. “I’m not staying married. But it’s complicated, and I don’t want to burden you with it right now. Just please be patient with me.”
I took his face in my hands and pressed my lips to his, breathing life into him. I said against his lips, “Okay.”
When he pulled away, a cold draft ran over my shoulders.
“And now, you really need to let me go, or I will fuck you six ways from Sunday, and neither one of us will get through the day tomorrow.”
I stepped out of bed. Wrapping myself in the sheet, I walked him to the door.
He kissed me again, and I whispered, “I can’t wait to get to Sunday.”