I think he pulled out of me and we nestled against each other, our breath caressing each other’s skin as we lay there in each other’s arms… I think, because about then my memory becomes hazy. I believe that was the point the wine and exhaustion took over.The next thing I knew, my eyes were squinting open in pain.The bedroom was dimly lit, with just a ghost of sunlight coming through those crazy sci-fi windows with the fade-up glass – but it felt like floodlights were aimed right at the back of my brain.A voice was coming from the other room, indistinct and muted.I looked over beside me and saw that Connor’s side of the bed was empty.I could still smell the lingering scent of his cologne in the rumpled sheets, though.Just beyond the bed, I saw a fancy digital clock on the nightstand.10:14 AM.Wow, it’s late…While I lay there, I took stock of my current condition.My head was pounding.My lady parts were… ah, tender, shall we say.My mouth felt like the Sahara.And I had to pee
I got out of the shower feeling – and looking – halfway human.After I toweled off with the world’s plushest towels, I wrapped up in a robe that was even thicker and softer. I wiped away the condensation and checked myself carefully in the mirror and cringed a little. I was scrubbed pink and clean, and no longer looked like a stoned raven had constructed a bird-townhouse in my hair, but…I think I look okay without makeup, and I definitely try to keep it light. I mean, that’s the point of makeup, so that they don’t immediately know you’re wearing makeup, right? Or at least so they don’t think, “Oh yeah… hooker.”But I would have killed to look as good as I could right now.I thought about getting my purse – – and went into full-on, nuclear alert, Defcon Five freak-out mode.Actually, I think Defcon One is the worst (nerd, nerd, nerd) – but Defcon Five sounds worse.And whatever sounds the worst, that’s what I was experiencing.Times ten.I’d left my purse back at work.With my wallet
I gave in out of shock – thrilled to feel his lips on mine again, the scratch of his stubble on my chin –And then I remembered how he’d just treated me the last three minutes.I pushed away from him.“Hey, hey, HEY, come on,” he said in a low voice, holding tight onto my arms. “I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry.”I stopped fighting and looked up at him.He broke out into a grin. “Good morning.”I sniffled a little and wiped one eye. “Good morning,” I mumbled.He kissed me again softly, and this time I let him.My heart fluttered, and I felt other parts flutter, too.But he broke it off quickly.“Look, something’s fallen apart, and I have to handle it,” he said. “Just go down to the pool for awhile, and I’ll be down to get you soon, okay?”I wiped my other eye, hesitated, and nodded as I sniffled. “Okay… but I don’t have anything to wear.”Connor frowned. “I got them to send up a whole rack of clothes for you! You don’t like anything?”Johnny’s voice floated up from the background. “She says
I rifled through about six different bathing suits and settled on a dark red Gucci bikini. Not that I had much of a choice – there were no one-pieces, which is what I vastly would have preferred.Johnny saw my unhappy expression. “What, you don’t like them?” he whispered, since Connor had gone back to shouting at his cell phone.“There’s only bikinis.”Johnny smirked. “That was Connor’s explicit instructions – bikinis only.”I looked around and glared at Connor.He looked at me like What now?!I held up the red bikini.Immediately he broke into a grin, gave me a thumbs-up, then turned around and started yelling again.I went back into the bedroom and changed.It fit well enough, but God I felt exposed. I kept tugging the top into place, worried that I might accidentally pull a Janet Jackson and have a wardrobe malfunction.Then I bundled back up in the robe and walked out to the rack and picked up a small pair of fancy leather flip-flops – by far the plainest, cheapest pair on the rac
I looked over in shock, halfway wondering, Who’s this gonna be, the general manager?But it wasn’t a hotel employee, unless the hotel allowed guys to walk around out of uniform.He was completely bald, but in a Jason Statham or Bruce Willis badass way, not a ‘needs Rogaine’ kind of way. He was slightly dark with olive skin. He was wearing a black short-sleeve shirt and black dress slacks, and his arms and chest were powerfully muscled underneath. His nose had been broken once and never healed straight. His jaw looked like it was made out of granite, and he was wearing black sunglasses that completely hid his eyes.He was kind of scary-looking, though his voice was pleasant enough.And he was standing just at the edge of the cabana.“Uh… yes. Yes, it is,” I agreed warily.“I have to tell you, I’ve been to hotels all over the world,” the man said, “and this ranks with the best of them. Best in Los Angeles, by far.”He had the lightest hint of an accent, but I couldn’t place it. It wasn’
Connor opened the door, his face a question mark. “What’s going on?”Johnny hustled me into the room. “There was an incident.”Connor smirked at me. “Lily, did you slap somebody?”“I wish I had,” I answered honestly.He frowned, and Johnny made me recount exactly what had happened.Connor listened the whole time with his arms crossed, his chin on one thumb, and his index finger crossing his lips. He stared deep into my eyes as I talked.I don’t think he’d looked at me that intently the entire… um… 16 hours I’d known him.…if you don’t count the last time we had sex.After I was finished, he walked over to me, put his arms around me, and pulled me in tight.“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.“Yes,” I said, and leaned my head against his chest. I could hear his heartbeat – a deep, powerful pulse that made me feel comforted and safe, and at the same time made my own heart speed up.I would have given anything just to stay there for hours, nestled protected in his arms.“I’m sorry you had
While we were waiting for the breakfast to arrive – the ordering of which I left entirely in Connor’s hands – I dialed Anh’s cell from the phone in the penthouse bedroom.She answered on the second ring, hesitancy in her voice. “…hello?”“Hey, it’s me.”“Are you okay?!”“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.”“Good, because AAAAHHH!” she screamed, “I am going to KILL you!”“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry – ”“I thought you were DEAD, or in the HOSPITAL or something! I called you four times and texted you, too – GOD, Lily!”Anh is usually the most mild-mannered girl in the world. She must have really been worried to react this way. I immediately felt sick with guilt.“I know, I know, I’m sorry – ”“Why didn’t you answer your phone?!”“I left it at work.”“Why’d you leave it at work?!”“Um… it’s complicated…”“This had better be good.”I thought about saying, Well, is sleeping with a billionaire good enough? but I thought that sounded golddigging and skanky… so I toned it down a bit.“Well… I met this guy…”T
He kissed my neck and stroked my hair, let his hands glide softly down my back, sending more shivers along my spine.When I was fully recovered, I leaned back and rearranged my top so everything was covered. Then I looked him in the face and smiled shyly.“See?” he grinned. “I told you I like doing nice things for you.”“That was… very nice.” I bit my lip, trying my best to be seductive. “Now I want to do something nice for you.”His gaze flitted back and forth from my eyes to my lips. “Um… okay…”I let my own fingers drift down to his jeans, and I began to trace my fingernails lightly along the giant bulge there. I could hear the soft scratching sound of my nails on denim, and imagined that there would be just the slightest pressure along his member.I guess I was right, because he groaned.I winced apologetically. “The only thing is… I’m still a little sore from last night…”He nodded, though I could tell his mind was elsewhere as I ran my fingers along the bulge in his jeans. “…tha