Page 42 of The Plus-One Deal

“I’d never.”

“I shouldn’t trust you.”

He paused, lips still pressed up behind my left ear. “Why shouldn’t you?”

“Because for twelve years, you convinced me you didn’t want this.”

“So did you.” He tromped down the last few stairs and set me on my feet. “Besides, who’s lying now? You knew what I wanted.” Conrad pushed me up against the cool wall. I hooked one leg around him and pulled his body to mine. I could feel his desire for me and it ignited my own.

“Let’s be honest,” he said, and trailed a finger up my thigh, under my skirt, along the seam of my panties. My skin felt hot where he’d touched and cold where he hadn’t. I wanted him everywhere. I wanted him naked. All I could think of was us skin to skin, his hands roaming over me, mapping my body. Nothing existed other than that, not New York, not tomorrow, not our jobs or our lives. Not Conrad’s plane waiting to pluck us out of our dream.

“Honesty’s good,” I said, and tugged his belt loose. He slid the straps of my dress down off my shoulders. The whole top slithered free and pooled at my waist, and Conrad leaned in totease through my bra. His hot breath came steamy through the thin lace, and his tongue circled my hardening nipple. He tugged with his teeth and I choked back a moan.

“They say it’s never as good.” He unhooked my bra. “Reality can’t compete with what lives in your head. But this is better. You’re better. You’re so, you’re so…” He drew a line with his fingertip between my freckles, a lightning-forked zigzag down to my navel. Then he followed it down with rough, heated kisses. He went to his knees and tugged my dress over my hips. My panties came with it and dropped to the floor. I took Conrad’s hair and twisted my fingers in. Guided him where I wanted him, between my legs.

The sound he made then was half-hum, half-moan. It vibrated through me, a deep bass tremor, and I almost came undone right there and then. A soft shriek escaped me, then a cracked plea for more. Conrad obliged, and pleasure coursed through me. I arched my back, begged, raked my nails through his hair. Ground down against him to get more of that feeling. I felt no self-consciousness, no hesitation. Conrad knew me better than anyone, and now he’d know all of me. Now he would learn my most intimate secrets, and I’d learn his. It felt inevitable, me and Conrad, here, now. Like we’d always been meant for this. Meant for each other.

I whisperedpleaseandfuck yes. Don’t stop. I bucked my hips. Conrad fluttered his tongue. My climax hit hard and knocked the breath from me, and my limbs turned to jelly. I sagged where I stood. Conrad caught me adroitly before I could fall, scooped me up close to him. Walked us through to the bed. He laid me down and I pulled down his pants. His cock sprang free, throbbing, and I shuddered with need.

“Come here,” I said, and I arched up to meet him. I’d never wanted anyone like I wanted him. His body was perfect, just how I’d imagined, not overly muscled but wiry and strong. I thumbed an appendix scar scrawled down his side. That made him twitch, and his cock swelled against me.

“Tell me you brought something.”

“You mean protection?” He didn’t quite blush, but he ducked his head. He reached into the nightstand and pulled out a condom, tore it open one-handed and rolled it on. With that, I couldn’t wait one second longer. I guided him into me and bit my lip hard. This was what I’d been aching for and I lost myself in it. I lost myself in Conrad and in sensation. I closed my eyes and let raw touch take over, his skin on mine, his stubble on my cheek. His hand gripping mine, fingers twining together. His other hand sliding up to cup my face. We kissed as he took me, long, slow, and sweet. Then lust took over and our kisses grew frantic. Our rhythm picked up, fast and hard. Hungry. When Conrad went tense, I squeezed his hand tight.

“Mine,” I gasped. “Mine.”

Conrad groaned deeply. He thrust in to the hilt and held there. Held me to him. I felt when his peak hit, and I followed him over, so intense I saw stars, then my vision went white. When my head cleared, he was cradling me, stroking my hair. I was kissing him lazily, warm, unhurried.

“Let’s take a shower,” he said. “I’ll wash your hair.”

I opened my eyes. “Really?”

“You never let anyone take care of you.”

“Neither do you.”

He helped me stand up and we got the shower running. It was a fancy one with massage and steam jets, but we just put the water on, refreshing and cool. We turned up our faces to catch the spray, clung onto each other to hold ourselves steady. I was still breathing hard, my body still tingling.

“Worth it?” I said.

“You have to ask?”

I didn’t at all, so I shook my head. Conrad took a palmful of my shampoo and worked it through my wet curls, starting from the ends. He went slow and easy, loosening tangles. I leaned back against him, enjoying his care. To my surprise, he didn’t stop with one round. He shampooed me twice, then he took the conditioner, rubbed it on both his hands and combed it through my hair. I almost felt like crying, but I blinked it away. Sighed with pleasure instead, and deep satisfaction.

“Tomorrow—” Conrad started, but I cut him off.

“Doesn’t exist,” I said. “At least not for now.” I turned to face him, leaned up for a kiss. “I’m not done with you yet. I’m not done with tonight.”

“Oh, no?” His cock twitched.

I ran my hand up his belly. “Not by a long shot.”

CHAPTER 17

CONRAD

I’d meant to talk to Claire over breakfast. Planned it all out lying awake by her side, listening to her breathing deepen to sleep. What we’d done, what we’d said, we couldn’t just leave it. Couldn’t pretend like it hadn’t meant something. But, as forwhatit meant, we had to be honest. We had to be realistic about what we could give. I couldn’t promise her anything like what Verity and Ken had. She knew that. I knew it. It was just… true.