I frowned. “No, I just know what kind of person I am. I wouldn’t risk disapproving behavior knowing I could easily be seen.”
“
Seen?”
he inquired. “Are you someone I should know?”
I laughed nervously. “No, not really. I rather enjoy just being Mac.” I was
not
going to tell him who I actually was. Hell no. There were plenty of elite celebs living in Manhattan—most of which the paparazzi just wanted to make a buck from. It didn’t always mean anything, but when you were expected to be perfect in every way, you were criticized and analyzed even more often.
A knock on the door interrupted us. He grabbed a shirt from the dresser and pulled it on as he walked out to answer it.
A nicely dressed waiter pushed two carts in filled with trays of food. He really had ordered everything on the menu.
I watched as he thanked and tipped the guy. He was generous, that much I could see. The waiter thanked him over and over before Alex finally escorted him out of the room.
He lifted the tops off; the scent of fresh fruit and maple syrup hit my nose and suddenly, my stomach began to growl,
loudly
.
“I guess your appetite has suddenly changed.”
“Yeah, I think my stomach finally realizes I am.” I smiled, appreciating how comfortable he was making me. I
should’ve
done the dress-and-bail, but I couldn’t, knowing what I had done. I needed answers, but part of me was starting to wonder if I was better off without them.
He served me a plate filled with scrambled eggs, toast and jelly, pancakes, and bacon. He piled butter, syrup, and fresh blueberries on the pancakes—just how I liked them.
“Most people I eat with would scowl at this amount of food,” I admitted, taking the plate from him.
“Most people are morons.” His head was down as he piled food on his plate, but I saw the corner of his lips curl up in a grin.
I chuckled. “That’s true,” I said matter-of-factly. “In fact, they’d never eat anything like this at all.” I learned at a very young age food was never a guarantee and never to be taken for granted.
He grabbed his overly full plate and sat back down next to me, smiling from ear to ear. “Well, then I guess this can be our little secret.”
I knew he was referring to much more than our little eating binge…
He flicked the TV on while we ate. I couldn’t help the moans escaping my throat, as I tasted food I hadn’t eaten in years.
“God, this is amazing,” I groaned, pushing another forkful into my mouth. “Feels like a sin, it’s so good.”
I caught myself, but it was too late. I hadn’t meant to say it aloud, but I knew he heard me when he nearly choked on the orange juice he was sucking down.
I playfully patted him on the back. “Are you going to make it?” I tried not to laugh—the mere mention of sinning had this guy almost choking to death.
“Um…yes. I think so. However, I’m pretty sure you’re trying to kill me.” His voice was smooth now, playful. The morning after a one-night stand should be awkward, nerve-wracking even, but he made me feel at ease by his laid back nature.
I finished my entire plate. My stomach full and satisfied, but my mind spun out of control.
Who was this guy? Why did my body react to him in a way it never had before?
I should’ve felt fear, nervous even, to be lying side by side in a bed with a man I couldn’t remember meeting, but I didn’t. It was as if my body remembered everything, and my mind just hadn’t caught up yet.
Chapter Two
“I’m going to take a quick shower,” he said stacking the empty plates of food back on the tray. My headache was clearing, but my mind was still racing. This guy was the complete package—laid back, genuine, and sexy as hell. “Feel free to join me…if you’re feeling dirty and want to wash all your sins away.” He turned and winked at me, making it almost impossible to turn him down.
Sweet Jesus.
My breathing picked up, my heart racing as I actually contemplated his offer. What the hell am I doing?
“You have no idea…” I groaned. “But I really need to get going.” I pushed myself off the bed, grabbing my dress in one hand and my purse in the other. Just then, I realized, there was no way I could leave the hotel in the daylight looking like this. “Actually, I have to call a friend first.” I shot him a sympathetic look. I hated how I couldn’t indulge in his
very
nice offer. My conscience was already eating at me with the layers of guilt.
“All right…” he said smoothly, lifting his shirt off his head. “I won’t take long. Unless, of course, you change your mind.”
I closed my eyes, hoping by not looking at him, my mind could clear up. “Sorry,” I said half-laughing. I was sure he could see the agony in my face.
I could feel him as he walked toward me, the movements of his body pulsing as the room vibrated underneath me. I opened my eyes as his hand came up to caress my cheek. He leaned forward and placed a sweet, gentle kiss on my cheek. “Wait for me. Don’t leave.”
I couldn’t say anything, my throat suddenly dry, and I was incapable of speaking. I nodded, holding my face in his hand. He stroked his thumb over my cheek as a silent thank you.
As soon as he walked away, I grabbed my phone and called Staci.
“Dude, where are you?” she asked right away.
I sighed. “The Standard.”
“Still?” she gasped.
I sighed, closing my eyes before speaking again. “Any chance you can come get me without asking a million questions?”
“Doubtful,” she said overly amused.
“Staci, please! I need a new outfit. A hat and some dark glasses.”
“All right. What room?”
“Um…” I looked around, noticing a key card envelope on the bedside table. “Suite 1225.”
“All right. I can be there in a half hour.”
“Thank you,” I breathed out in relief.
“Are you safe? You’re okay?” she asked genuinely.
“Yeah…I’m good. I just need to get out of here without being seen.”
We both said our goodbyes and hung up. I heard the shower running, curiosity piquing my interest.
Hell was hell, right? I was going there anyway.
I shrugged to myself and began to tiptoe to the bathroom. The door was cracked open, and I could see his reflection in the half-fogged mirror. His back was to me as the water cascaded down on him. He was brushing his hands through his hair as I moved my eyes down and noticed the scratches had turned bright red on his ass and up his back. Holy hell…those were fingernail scratches! I held my hands up to look at my nails and sure enough, they were sensitive to the touch. How the hell do you forget something like that?
A pang of bitterness rippled through me. I had a full night of sinful, hot, wild sex, and I didn’t even remember it! Granted, it was wrong.
So wrong.
But I couldn’t change the past. It had already happened.
I stepped back, forcing myself to go back to the room and wait for Staci. God, what would I tell her?
I SAT ON
the edge of the bed as a half-naked Alex came walking back into the room. A white towel hung loosely on his hips as he brushed a hand through his damp hair. I swallowed, slowly turning my eyes away from him. It felt wrong to stare.
“Are you blushing?” he taunted, standing right in front of me. My head moved on instinct as soon as I heard his voice, and my eyes were now level with his crotch. Oh, hell.
“I was trying to be respectful,” I said weakly. Even I could hear the insecurity in my voice.
“Sweetheart, there’s nothing disrespectful about a gorgeous woman checking me out.” His voice was laced with seduction and, for a moment, I contemplated ripping the damn towel off.
I looked up, eager to make eye contact with him so they wouldn’t wander anywhere else. “My friend is on her way. I’ll be leaving shortly.” My voice cracked, my body suddenly nervous around him.
He nodded, his smile turning into a disapproving frown. Since I was close to leaving for good, the comforting atmosphere that was lingering before was no longer there. Enter the awkward leaving your one-night stand after having zero memory of the night before. Fucking great.
I watched as he turned to grab some clothes out of the closet. My eyes turned to the desk in the corner, and I repeatedly blinked as a short flash from the night before resurfaced.
“How do you want it?” he asked quietly as he kissed his way along my jaw and down to my ear. “Tell me what you like.”
I could hear the growling in my ear; my body shivered anxiously as a flash suddenly entered my mind. We were on that desk. I was sitting on top of it with his hands all over me. My body began to heat as the emotions flooded my mind, remembering how it felt to have him touch me.
I swallowed as I watched him. He dropped his towel—right in front of me—as he threw the clothes on the edge of the bed. I should’ve diverted my eyes, but I couldn’t. They were frozen in place. I took in the back of him again, his bare ass marked with scratches that apparently, I had made. His back muscles were solid, chiseled marble as he moved effortlessly.
He pulled over a loose fitting pair of gray sweats. They were so simple—just sweats—but fuck me. They were the kind with white drawstrings that lay loosely on the V of his hips. He grabbed a t-shirt next and turned around to face me, a devilish smirk playing at his lips.
My eyes narrowed in on him. I was like a cat in heat, ready to pounce on him at any given moment. My hands dug into the comforter on the bed, keeping me from moving or doing anything reckless. The brief glimpse of last night had me panting at just the thought of his hands and mouth on me.
“We were on that desk,” I breathed out more of a statement than a question, but I just needed the confirmation. Was my memory playing with me?
He grinned as he walked toward me and said, “Sweetheart, we were everywhere. But yes…the desk is where it started.”
I nodded in understanding, not sure of what else to say. I didn’t want to hear a play by play. I wanted to remember it my damn self.
“You remember?” he asked hopeful, sitting in a chair across from me.
I shook my head. “Just a flash. A short glimpse of me sitting on top of it.”
“Well, I’d be happy to give you a reenactment. You know…to help jog your memory.” The corners of his lips curled up in a taunting smirk.
“Oh, I didn’t realize you were a freaking comedian.” He laughed and shook his head at me. A knock on the door saved me from any more embarrassment and awkward silences. “Oh, that’s probably my friend with my change of clothes.” I stood up eagerly.
“I’ll give you some privacy,” he said with a short nod. I thanked him as he walked out into another room of the suite. I walked to the door and finally exhaled a breath of relief.
“Oh, thank god!” I wrapped my arms around her.
“Are you all right?” she asked, pulling me back to inspect my appearance.
“Yes, I’m okay. He’s been really nice.”
“Who?” she asked as soon as I let her in.
“His name is Alex…” I narrowed my brows together. “Alex something…”
“What happened?” she asked again, following me into the bedroom.
I grabbed the bag from her with the things I asked her to bring me. “I don’t know. I was hoping you could tell me. I can’t remember anything. But since I woke up naked in a stranger’s bed, I have a freaking good idea.”
“Oh, shit,” she cursed under her breath. “We were all out drinking…”
“Yeah, I assumed that. I remember getting ready. I just don’t remember once the drinking started.”
“Well, we
were
drinking a lot, Mac. Shots and cocktails. And dancing.”
“Was I dancing with someone?” I asked, pulling his shirt over my head to change.
“Yeah, I think so. There was definitely a hottie sizing you up.”
“And you didn’t say anything to me? And just let me leave with him?” I hissed, although it really wasn’t her fault.
“We were all together, Mac, and then suddenly you were gone. You texted me and said you were heading out and to not worry about you.”
“I did?” I asked, trying to rack my brain as I changed into pants.
“Yeah, I figured you took a cab home.”
“Shit.”
“But you’re okay?” she asked sincerely.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just my damn memory isn’t giving me much. I’ve had a short flash, but it was like in slow motion. I don’t know, but it was weird. I could, like, feel what I was feeling at the time and now it’s just replaying over and over in my head, trying to probe anything new out of it.” I dug through the bag and grabbed the shades she brought me. There were also some flats, an oversized sweater, and a Fedora hat.
If I was going to be leaving a random guy’s hotel suite, I was going to do it with as much dignity as possible.
“All right. I think I’m ready.”
“Is he here?” she asked a bit too excitedly, looking around.
“Yeah, he was giving me some privacy though. It’s kind of awkward. He just came out here and dressed in front of me after his shower. Like, he was naked!” I whispered loudly.
“That’s so hot,” she mocked. I snarled at her and she laughed. “C’mon, let’s get you out of here before someone sees you.”
“Okay, I’m just going to…say bye, I guess? I don’t know,” I said, stumbling over my thoughts.
She laughed. “New to the one-night stand morning after, are you?” she teased. “Just make it quick.” I nodded in response, just wanting to get this over with.
She went into the hall as I searched the other room. I was surprised to find him behind a desk in reading glasses with his tablet in hand. He went from sexy-as-sin man candy to something else completely. He looked edible. He was fine as hell as he simply worked on something.
I inhaled deeply as I stepped in, smiling weakly as his head tilted up. Our eyes locked, and the energy between us was palpable and electric. I needed to get out of here as fast as possible or I’d end up making another wrong decision.
“I’m on my way out…” I began slowly, unsure of what else to say. “Thanks for breakfast.”
He laughed easily as he stood up. His easy-going nature was evident in his body language as he walked toward me. “You’re welcome, Mac. I don’t normally ravish women and then leave them to starve.” He stopped and stood right in front of me. Butterflies took over my stomach at the nearness of his body. I could feel my cheeks heating, or perhaps it was my entire body. My body’s response to him was uncanny. The tension was so thick, I was afraid to move.
I tried to stay focused on his chest, but as soon as he spoke again, they slowly moved up to meet his intense stare. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Mac.” He rubbed the pad of his thumb on the smoothness of my cheek. My body relaxed into his hand as his voice serenaded me. “Any chance we can meet up again?” I could see the hopefulness in his eyes. His pleading eyes were now warm, begging me to say what he wanted to hear. “No alcohol though. I’d like you to remember it next time.” He winked playfully.
But I couldn’t.
This could
never
happen again.
I swallowed, standing up straighter so his hand was no longer touching me. I needed to focus, and I couldn’t with his hand on me.
“I’m sorry, Alex,” was all I said, backing up toward the hall and shaking my head. I pursed my lips together and looked down at the ground as I walked out of his view.
I walked toward the door where Staci was anxiously waiting for me. She widened her eyes at me, silently asking me if I was ready. I nodded back in response, needing to get the hell out of there. Staci opened the door, walked out, and looked both ways to make sure no one else was around. “It’s clear.”
I gripped the door to exit just as I heard my name from behind me. “Mac…”
I instinctively whirled around to Alex making his way toward me. Before I could move, or even respond, he had both of his hands on my face pressing his lips to mine. My body gave in, syncing my lips with his, moving in rhythm as we let the kiss say what we were thinking.
I sunk into him, gripping his shirt in my fists, pushing him even closer to me. A moan escaped my lips as he slowed the pace, but he pressed lingering kisses on my mouth just before releasing completely. I swallowed, keeping my eyes sealed shut. I could feel him hot against my skin. We panted in sync as we caught our breath.
He removed his hands and backed up slightly. I opened my eyes and licked my lips, already missing the taste of him, which was a really, really bad thing to be missing.
He took my hand and pushed something into it, squeezing it once before letting go. He brushed a hand through his hair, keeping his eyes locked on mine as he walked backward and finally turned away, walking back to the room where I had found him.