Tales of Darkness & Sin - Pepper Winters Page 0,198
from claiming the night, I was on the cusp of my new life and identity—what better way to celebrate than with him? This man, who made me tingle and throb just by looking at me?
Forcing myself to speak, I said, “They won’t release the key to you. The security here is over the top.” I knew, because I’d paid with my credit card with my real name: Saffron Duncan, but used my new movie role—Lucy Larson—as my nom de plume. Why? Who the hell knew.
I didn't really care, until I had to explain to management why I wanted to check into a room under a name I had no identification for.
“Yes, that could be a problem.” His eyes crinkled as he smiled slightly. “I could always offer you my robe, but then you’d see everything I want to show you behind closed doors.”
My cheeks pinked.
Shit, why did his voice have such an effect on me?
“Either way, Lace, you aren’t going to the lobby on your own.”
“Why?”
His eyes narrowed. “Why? Because I’m completely against the thought of anyone else seeing you dressed like that. I’m jealous at the thought of others looking at you, and I don’t even know your name.”
His voice dropped to a whisper, “Another truth for you, Lace. I’m one second away from spinning you around and showing you just how fucking tempting you are.”
My skin broke out in goosebumps. “You’re making me uncomfortable,” I whispered.
He sucked in a breath, visibly clawing back some of the tension echoing in his muscles. “I’m making you uncomfortable? What about me? Fuck, woman, you have no idea how hard it is to just stand here with you looking like that.”
Ignoring that and clambering for safer subjects, I murmured, “What’s my second option?”
He bent his head, his lips stopping a whisper breadth from mine. “You allow me to help, while at the same time helping me with a little problem.” His eyes hooded, once again taking liberties of my scantily clad body. “Come with me—to my room. You can call reception for a key. You’ll be safe from prying eyes…apart from mine. And you’ll be able to return to your belongs with no other problems.”
Disappointment sat heavily. I tried to hide it but my voice rippled with unspent need. “That’s it? A phone call and safe haven while I wait for a replacement?”
The air thickened between us as his face darkened. I felt as if plummeted head first down a black chasm, falling and falling with no end or conclusion, destined never to find the bottom or truth.
He shook his head, blond tangles kissing his forehead. “No. If you take that option, a key will be delivered, but I personally guarantee you won’t want to leave. You’ll allow me to undress you, lick you, touch you, fuck you. You’ll permit a perfect stranger to use you. I’ll never forget about you. You’ll never forget about me. We’ll take everything from each other.”
His hand moved, fisting my hair with slow winding fingers. “You chose option two, and you’ll live the rest of your life comparing lovers to me. We’ll both walk away with pieces of our souls missing, but fuck, it will be worth it.”
Holding me immobile, his body pressed against mine. His knee wedged between my legs as his hand tilted my neck back, arching my spine. I trembled in his hold—completely in his control.
“Say yes,” he whispered.
Words stuck to my speechless lips like silent begs.
“Say yes to the best fucking release of your life.”
I sucked in shallow breaths. “A rather cocky thing to say to a woman you’ve only just met.”
His white teeth flashed as he smiled slyly. “It’s not cocky if it’s the truth. And I can be honest with you.”
“Why?”
“Because there’s nothing to hide. No future to tarnish or past to twist. Just the present. Just now.”
I moaned as his lips suddenly crashed against mine. The shock of his hot mouth claiming mine rendered me mute and frozen. Then life swamped me with its passionate lava cascade.
I forced myself harder against him, jerking my hair in his hold. He trapped me against the wall, smothering me with huge robe-covered muscles. His tongue licked the seam of my lips, demanding entry.
I surrendered.
He groaned as I opened my mouth, welcoming his violent intrusion, tasting this stranger for the first time. I didn’t know his name, but I did know he tasted of suffering and sex, wrapped up in the sweetness of watermelon bubble-gum.