Marooned in Miami Page 3

  This was the point where she could turn back. Sure, she could ask him to leave now, but the floodgates of a long-stifled passion were just opened, and she needed more, so much more. She felt as if he had a spell on her.

  A piercing crack of thunder shook the windows and suddenly Stephanie’s senses came alive. At that moment everything was magnified; the sound of driving rain and the palms hitting the glass windowpane, the smell of flowers, candles and his sexy musk. She whispered, “I want this, Jason.” Taking his hand, Stephanie led him to the candlelit bedroom.

  They kissed softly as Stephanie slid her hands under his shirt and placed her hands on his washboard abs, inching up to his chest. His warmth gave her strength and courage. Every kiss and touch built up her confidence and brought her closer to the realization she was indeed beautiful and desirable.

  His body was warm and wonderful and she needed it against her skin. Traveling downward, her hand sought to find the source of the growing hardness that teased at her hips. Tentatively, she pressed her palm against the bulge in his pants. Both the heat coursing through her hand and the low groan escaping from his lips, as he hungrily searched out her tongue, surprised her. He grabbed her wrists and brought them to her sides.

  “Not so fast,” he whispered. His breath was warm and raspy.

  He turned her around so that she was facing a mirror opposite the bed. With her back against his chest, she watched their reflection as he skimmed his fingers over her bra and ran lightly up and down her taut belly. Her knees went weak when he slipped his fingers inside her panties.

  Stephanie admired the way her white lace panties and bra glowed against her skin. He was a hulking presence behind her narrow frame, and she sighed as his hand moved further between her legs. Jason bathed her with light kisses as his mouth moved up her neck to her ear.

  “You are amazing,” he whispered. “If you were mine, I would spend every night worshipping your body and every day making you the happiest woman on Earth.”

  Stephanie knew it was a line, but at that moment it was the sexiest thing he could ever say to her. Moaning softly, she turned her head to meet his lips. She reached her hand up and ran her fingers through his hair as she leaned back into his stiff erection. Stephanie’s heart pounded in her chest when Jason groaned and kissed her with a hunger she never experienced. She couldn’t wait to take him. She needed him inside her. Stephanie turned around, stripped off his shirt and pressed her body against his heated flesh. Her hands traced the muscles in his shoulders and traveled down the smooth planes of his back. Jason’s body shuddered from her touch. His breath hitched as he whispered her name in her ear. She burned with passion. Her body yearned for him to possess her.

  Unhooking her bra, his tongue caressed her neck and skimmed downward to encircle her breasts as he slipped off her panties. She pulled him down with her onto the bed and felt the crisp, cool sheets under her burning body. Hastily, she unbuttoned his pants as he removed a condom from his wallet. Taking his erection into her hands, the anticipation of knowing she would soon have him made her pussy wet with desire. He lifted her chin so that she was eye to eye with him. “Last chance. I won’t be able to stop -- not sure that I can even stop now.”

  She moved further up the bed and leaned back onto her elbows so that her dark hair fanned across her breasts, and raised her eyebrows. “Come and get me, Jay.”

  Stephanie watched through a veil of eyelashes as he rolled the condom on, his eyes never wavered from hers. She saw that look before, always between other couples. It was the look of unbridled lust. The look that told the other they would be ravished as soon as they were alone. Jason had that look and it pierced through her body. She sensed he could hold back no longer. Lowering himself over her, he plunged into her suddenly and deeply. Stephanie’s body accepted him willingly, and she fisted the sheets at her side as he thrust his thickness into her soft, heated core. Electricity flowed through her and their bodies connected as if they were one. He teased her by rocking slow. Stephanie lifted her hips as she hungered for more.

  “Wrap your legs around me,” he said. She did and in one fluid movement he flipped around so that she was on top straddling his body.

  She loved this position because she was able to see his strong arms and chest in action. Touching his hands that were wrapped around her waist, her fingertips traced the muscles up his arms to his solid shoulders. She held onto his shoulders and circled her hips so that she felt his cock in just the right spot inside her. He huskily growled her name and his eyes locked on hers.

  Jason’s hands went from her waist up the sides of her stomach to cup her breasts. She smiled with anticipation at the sensation of his fingertips moving slowly down her flat stomach. Stopping low on her belly, his thumb continued to trail down to find her most sweet spot. Jason teased her with gentle touches and finally circled her clit with his thumb, instantly, eliciting a soft moan.

  She reached her peak and bent her head down so she could taste him as she came. Shuddering as he sucked her tongue into his mouth, Stephanie’s pussy swelled with her release. Her climax pounded through her body as waves of hot liquid poured down his shaft. Jason held her tight, fisting her hair as she felt his climax pulsing into her channel.

  Afterward, they lay side by side trying to catch their breath, their bodies glistening with sweat.

  “Wow,” was all he could say.

  “Thank you,” she said softly.

  Jason laughed. “I should be the one thanking you.”

  “No, you were right. Earlier you said you could tell I hadn’t been satisfied in a long time. My husband works a lot and there was never, um, is never much time for me. That is completely evident when we’re in bed.” She turned to look at him. “What about you? Ever been married?”

  “No. My work has me traveling most of the time. It’s hard to maintain a long term relationship under those circumstances.”

  “So you must have a girl in every port, so to speak.”

  “Why do you assume I have all of these women at my disposal?”

  “Well, for one thing, this suite.” The bedroom was beautifully decorated with candles and flowers. Stephanie scanned the room. “You expect me to believe that this is the first time you’ve done this? The candles, flowers, wine -- you planned all of this within minutes.”

  “I’m a planner. It’s what I do for a living. My company designs and builds upscale residential communities. I’m involved with the design aspect and I develop floor plans based on the wants and needs of my clients. I read people and know what they want.”

  “This is what you think I want?”

  “This is what you deserve. As I said in the elevator, I don’t understand how your husband lets you out of his sight.”

  Stephanie looked away, remembering her lie.

  Jason cupped her cheek. “Hey, hey, look at me. Damn, I shouldn’t have said that. Forget I mentioned him. It’s just you and me, Stef, for the rest of the night.” He kissed the tip of her nose.

  “It was great, wasn’t it?” She asked.

  “Was? Oh, sweet Stephanie, we’re not done. We have the whole night ahead of us. I’m not going to let you go that fast.”

  Stephanie laughed. “I don’t think I can.”

  “Now, you and I both know that’s not true.”

  She nestled her back into his warm chest and loved the feeling of his arms around her waist. “Right again.”

  Jason’s body surrounded her and she felt him getting hard again. The tip of his cock sought her slick folds. Stephanie closed her eyes, exhausted, but a renewed sense of arousal stimulated her as he took possession over her body from behind.

  Jason gently guided Stephanie to her knees. He cupped her breasts in both hands and his warm, wet lips traveled up her neck to linger at her ear. “I want you from behind, Stef,” he whispered.

  Stefanie closed her eyes. She was surprised that she was not satiated after two mind blowing orgasms. In fact, they had the opposite effect because she was hungr
y for more.

  Jason nudged her further up the bed and placed her hands on the top of the headboard. His hand was on her ass, and she felt the tip of his cock penetrate her pussy once more. She moaned as Jason slowly ran his fingertips from her breast, down her belly to find her clit. She reached her hand around to his neck and pulled him close. “How do you know just what I want?” she whispered. Jason bucked and thrust deeper. Raw emotion poured from her mouth, as a result of the combination of his cock and fingers that even surprised her until she couldn’t hold on any longer. She yelled out his name as her release came hard and sudden. Jason’s climax followed immediately. They remained still for a moment and she heard nothing but the beating of her heart and the sound of their breathing.

  “Where have you been all my life, Stef,” he whispered breathlessly in her ear.

  Chapter 5

  Stephanie woke to a knock at the door. Her head was foggy and it took a few moments to orient to her surroundings. She swallowed hard when she remembered what occurred in the bed she shared with Jason. A smile formed on her lips when he rolled the room service cart into the bedroom, which was filled with delicious-smelling coffee and trays of fruit and pastries.

  “Good morning,” he said, smiling at her.

  He was already showered and dressed. He had on a pair of perfectly pressed khakis and a blue polo shirt that matched his eyes.

  “From the look of that gorgeous smile on your face, is it safe to assume that you don’t regret last night?”

  She glanced behind him and panicked at the sight of the blinking alarm clock. “Power's back on?”

  “Don’t worry. Cell service is not up yet. I checked the front desk for messages. Rick called. Your husband, I presume?” Stephanie hesitated, but nodded, yes. She wasn’t ready to let on about her marital status just now. It would just complicate matters when it was time to say goodbye.

  “They told him about the storm and said the guest room phones were not working yet. They promised him you would receive the message when you came down to the lobby. Coffee?” Jason lifted the silver coffee pot and poured her a cup.

  “Yes, milk and a touch of sugar and I would love a croissant too, I’m starving,” she said. “You’re up early and you shaved. I rather liked your scruffy look.”

  He handed her a plate with fruit and a croissant and placed the cup of coffee on the bedside table. Taking a seat on the bed, he lightly touched her leg. “I have to leave in a couple of hours. My flight home is at noon. What time is your first meeting today?”

  Looking at her with those hypnotic blue eyes, she couldn’t help but flash back to those same eyes she had stared wildly and intimately into the night before. His soft touch was enough to feel the desire grow between her legs once again. That was last night. This is good bye, she reminded herself. “I have a lunch meeting with a client at one this afternoon.”

  “There’s a robe hanging on the bathroom door for you, along with everything you may want for a shower. Since I’m checking out of the penthouse, Max Martin would like to offer it to you for the remainder of your stay. He also offered the use of the hotel’s limousine, all due to the trouble the power outage caused last night. He will have your things moved up to the penthouse this morning.”

  She smiled as he walked out of the bedroom and closed the door to give her some privacy.

  Stephanie took a couple of bites of the croissant and sipped her coffee before heading into the plush bathroom. She didn’t remember the large basket of soaps, hair products, and cosmetics on the marble countertop last night. How does he do it? She only spent a handful of hours with this man, but she would definitely miss him. Stephanie replayed the night in her mind as she showered. Yes, it was fun, and she felt strange that she didn’t regret her one night stand, but it was now time to get back to reality. She laughed at the fact that her reality was not staying in a swanky penthouse. But what the hell, she wasn’t about to turn it down.

  After her shower and sampling of all of the great products from the basket, she cinched the robe around her waist and walked out of the bathroom. Jason waited for her in the sitting room with a newspaper and his coffee. She couldn’t help but think what a perfectly normal scene it would appear to be from the outside. They went through the motions of everyday events just like a regular couple. She missed the companionship and decided to make this a turning point in her life. She promised herself she would begin dating again and would get her life back in order. She owed it to herself.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “Yes, um, but where are my clothes?” She looked around the bedroom.

  “I sent them to be cleaned. You’ll find them in your room when you get back later today.”

  Stephanie smiled. “Who are you?” she asked, not really expecting an answer.

  Jason told her to wait just inside the door while he went a few feet down the hall to the elevator and pressed the up button. He came back to get her and placed his hand lightly on the small of her back to guide her to the opened doors. No guests were in the hallway, and they made it into the elevator without being seen. When the doors opened, Stephanie blinked, adjusting her eyes to see a magnificent penthouse suite flooded in sunlight. She stepped into the entry that led to a living room decorated in creams and soft browns. The carpet was so plush, her feet sank into it as she walked across the room to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking South Beach. The understated colors of the room set off the magnificent blue sky and ocean. Stephanie proceeded out the glass doors to a private deck complete with cushioned lounge chairs and a hot tub. Standing at the railing, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath of sea air. She hardly noticed that Jason appeared next to her and placed his hand on top of hers.

  “This is beautiful,” she said to him as she stared out into the ocean.

  “Stef, I need to see you again. When’s the next time you travel for work?”

  Stephanie turned to him. “I know you are going through the motions here, and you don’t have to say it. I understand it was a one-night fling. I’m fine with it, really.”

  “It’s not a line. I would really like to see you again. I wish I could stay here a little longer, but I need to check the damage over at the Pearl Del Mar, and then I have a meeting in Seattle.”

  “That’s sweet, Jason. We had an incredible night together, one that I will never forget, but we’re strangers. I’m married. It just can’t happen again.” She wanted a clean break from Jason. No empty promises; she couldn’t bear to be stung by another man.

  Jason looked deep into her eyes. “I’m leaving you my contact information. You don’t have to decide right now. The ball is in your court. I won’t ask for your number. Stephanie, we both deserve happiness, and I think we proved last night that we make each other happy. Just say the word and I’ll meet you anywhere, anytime. And Stef, we’re definitely not strangers.” He flashed her a smile.

  Jason picked up her hand and turned it so that her palm faced up. Lightly, he kissed the soft, sensitive skin right below her thumb. His kiss sent a current through her body. God, he turned her on like no other man ever had. It was a gift, one that she could never have again.

  Stephanie rubbed her fingertips over the spot he kissed and followed him to the elevator. “Jason, I’m serious. We had one fantastic night, but that’s where it ends.”

  “You can look at it as an ending, or you can consider it a beginning. The choice is yours.” He leaned in and whispered in her ear as the elevator door opened, “I hope you decide it’s a beginning. You know, I haven’t tasted you yet.”

  She gave him a questioning look. It took a moment but when she understood the meaning of his last statement, her knees buckled.

  “I don’t just want to see you again, I need to see you again, Stef, and I think you feel the same way. Please think about it.”

  He walked into the elevator and winked at her as the doors closed.

  Chapter 6

  Stephanie spent another three glorious days in The Hotel Del Santos
penthouse suite. As promised, Max Martin left the hotel’s limousine at her disposal. It was her transportation to and from the hotel to the convention center in downtown Miami. The limo also came in handy when entertaining clients. One night she took a hospital administrator to dinner whose account she had been trying to nail for months. It made a great impression, and the evening ended with the commitment of a large order. Stephanie sensed a change within herself as well as a new found confidence. During a call to her office, Rick commented that there must be something in the Miami water because she was on fire. He was pleased with the new business she brought in during her time there.

  Until her divorce, Stephanie was always a confident person. She chalked it up to the years of playing competitive tennis in high school and college. Tennis was as much a psychological game as a physical one. Her night with Jason not only brought back her confidence, it also awakened something that lay dormant in her for many years. She never realized that she missed the feeling of being sought after, of being wanted. That one night renewed the promise that she would find love again.