Chapter 1
The bartender switches out my empty martini glass with a fresh one that I hadn't ordered and certainly don't need. When I look up at her questioningly she leans in, raises her eyebrows and tells me that the drink is complements of the gentlemen at the end of the bar.
I let out a long suffering sigh as I move the new glass to settle into the wet ring my empty one had left behind. I'm so not in the mood to deal with the advances of a perfect stranger who will probably use the same cheesy pickup lines that every other three piece suit had tried during happy hour. But I tilt my head towards him and I tip my glass up in a silent thank you toast before I take a sip from my fourth martini of the night. He takes my acknowledgement as permission to approach and he skirts along the empty bar, one hand skimming the surface the other wrapped around his on-the-rocks glass.
He pulls back the stool and sits next to me while I wait for the inevitable drabble of conversation that he probably feels he bought with the martini. But he doesn't say anything. He just finishes his drink, orders another one and we sit together in silence. I've never seen him before but I have to admit that he is handsome, with short dark hair and light brown eyes that look pained. Maybe that is what comforts me, knowing that I am not the only one the devil torments.
I watch his hands as he puts his glass down and notice there is not ring on his finger or a depression that would tell otherwise. Long slender fingers silently drum a basic beat on top of the bar and I find them mesmerizing. When I study his clean shaven face I realize that I must have had one too many martinis since I can't stop wondering if this nameless mans lips are as soft as they look. He turns towards me and stares into my eyes until something seems to spark and smolder.
He signals the bartender and I feel a flutter that I had thought died come to life in my stomach, I have a feeling that we are on the same wavelength about it too. Scratch that, I know we are. Excitement begins to bubble inside and the reckless side of me takes over promising me escape from the pain of losing my sister; at least for a little while.
He downs the last sip of what I presume to be whiskey and I fish the last olive out of my drink popping the vodka infused garnish into my mouth. He glances at me and smiles, pushing the empty glasses towards the bartender and placing a fifty on the bar. I swivel my stool around and place my hand into his waiting palm, thrilled by the zap of electricity that came from just one touch.
I tuck my clutch under my arm and hold his hand as he leads me to the elevator. He punches the button to the 12th floor and I watch the numbers blink, each new floor seems to increase the heat inside me until when we finally reach the twelfth I feel like I could spontaneously combust. The doors slide open and I follow him down the hallway. He stops in front of room 1245 with his keycard in his hand and leans against the door facing me with silent invitation. I step so close to him that our noses almost touch and I can feel the shaky quiver of his whiskey scented breath against my cheek. I can tell that he needs to get lost in this as much as I do but he is giving me one last chance to change my mind.
Little does he know that this is the impulsive shit that I thrive on and I slip the room card out of his hand into mine. I lean forward and nip his bottom lip with my mouth. I hear him groan as his hands slide up my back and fist into my hair. He gently tugs it back and captures my mouth in a toe curling kiss that almost tilts my world while I blindly jam the key into the lock behind him letting him plunder my mouth.
We tumble into the room as the kiss turns more desperate and I drop my handbag on the floor by the door. I tug at his tie as he works on the zipper of my dress, walking me backwards so that I am up against the closed door of his room. He drops to his knees, raining kisses up the inside of my thigh as he pushes my dress up to my waist.
My mind and body want to be alive and I won't deny the need to finally feel something, even if it is only for one night. I use him and gladly give myself over to the waves of pleasure he is stirring inside me.
I use his shoulders to keep my balance as his mouth does things that make my body hum and pulse. I begrudgingly push him away and walk towards the bed, pulling my dress over my head. I feel his gaze follow me and I smile assuming he appreciates the lingerie beneath. He mutters something and I hear the rustle of his clothes hitting the floor behind me.
His hands almost span my waist as he stands behind me and kisses the side of my neck. Shivers race down my arms as he pulls me against him so I can feel his arousal. One hand travels down my flat belly and slips beneath the lace of my panties, his fingers play and I gasp while he murmurs his approval in my ear.
I crawl onto the bed like a cat and beckon him to follow. He tugs my panties over my hips and tosses them to the floor with the rest of our clothes then stretches out along side me placing the empty condom wrapper next to the pillow.
His hands glide over my body and I tingle everywhere he touches, when I arch up to meet him he pulls me on top and I straddle his hips. He is in great shape, lean and sculpted with a well defined back that makes me want to rake my nails over his smooth skin.
We move together with the ease of people who have been lovers for years rather than hours. He teases and takes my body to a place it has never been and once all the pent up emotions I have been holding since Georgie died are spent; I collapse against him.
We lay there for awhile and it gives me the opportunity to take in my surroundings, it's not the first time I have been in a room at the Metro Court but last time I was dressed and I wasn't with a stranger. He pulls me against him, our bodies are still damp and he kisses my shoulder blade while I chew on my bottom lip trying to think of the best way to get out of here before the perfectness of this night is ruined and he starts asking questions that I don't want to answer.
I sit up and he silently watches me dress, and I have a feeling that he feels the same way I do.
I pull the zipper up on my dress and bunch my panties into my hand and return to the bed, I sit alongside him and press a soft lingering kiss to his lips.
"I don't want to complicate this." He starts but before he can finish I press my index finger to his lips to hush him.
"Then don't make it anything more than it is." I answer, stand up and back my way out of his room.
I lay back against the pillows, pull the sheet up to my waist and scrubbed my face with my hands; not believing what just happened. I didn't think I have ever hooked up with woman and not known her name. I grumble when the instant replay of tonight's event is interrupted by the annoying ring of my cell phone. I fumble to get it out of my discarded pant and was chagrinned to see Patrick's name pop up on caller id.
"Hey" I answer and flop back on the bed.
"Where have you been? I was trying to get a hold of you. Robin told me about you losing Mr. Nelson today. Are you alright?" Patrick asked.
"Yeah I'm ok." I lie.
"Well I just wanted to let you know that there is a change of plans for Thanksgiving. Robin decided to have it here and invited her Uncle and cousin over. So you are going to get to meet the rest of the family little brother."
"Oh yeah? Wonderful." I inwardly groan and closed the phone not too happy that to already being dragged around to my recently married brother family events when I have only been in town for a week.
