Arms of Serenity (Rock Services) (7 page)

He moaned and said, “Come for me, I want to feel you come on my cock.”

He reached down between them and found her spot again.
Becca let her head drop back as he circled the bundle of nerves. Her body trembled, and she started to make her climb. She was almost there. Just a little more and she would be falling off the cliff into oblivion.

Wrapping his arm around her middle, he stopped her movements as he began to thrust up at her in a fevered pace.

“Now, come with me now.”
He ground her clit in a circular motion, then pinched her nerves causing her to scream as she exploded into a million pieces.

She heard him grunt and thrust into her one last time while she drifted, floating on a cloud. Through her haze, she could feel his body shudder beneath her.

She leaned into him resting on his chest as he put both his arms around her back and pulled her close.
He placed his chin on her head, and she could feel his labored breath playing against her hair. Becca closed her eyes and listened to his heart beating hard and fast. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt this relaxed and spent. It was almost euphoric, and she allowed herself to float along lost in the feeling.

Too soon, her breathing became normal
, and the haze slowly started to lift as she became aware of her surroundings. Her head rode the now steady rise and fall of his chest, and his heart had returned to a normal pace. She quietly listened to the rhythm of the strong beat.

She didn’t want to move
. Being against him with his arms wrapped around her felt too good. She hadn’t had a man hold her for this long since Mike.

The thought of him made her stiffen
, and she mentally shook off the last of her after-the-most-incredible-sex-she-ever-had haze.

It’s just sex. They can’t hurt you unless you let them hurt you.

One night was all she
was going to allow.

Becca leaned back and pushed on his chest to get up.
“I should be going.” She felt him slide out, and he gave a grunt.

He looked down at his watch and raised his head and said, “Happy New Year.
It’s after midnight.”

She stood up to fix her gown
. “Happy New Year”.

“Would you like to grab a cup of coffee?
Or something to eat? I don’t know about you, but I worked up an appetite.” He smiled and winked at her.

She needed to make a fast exit and leave.
She couldn’t trust being around him any longer. It was too much of a temptation to say yes. “No thanks. I need to get going. I’m leaving early tomorrow.”

She slipped into her shoes and searched for her panties.
Intentionally, Becca focused on the ground not allowing herself another glimpse of his body when he stood up to put his clothes back on. Where the hell was her underwear? He pulled them off and put them … where?

He took hold of her hands effectively stopping her from her search.
“Listen, I know we said no names and no numbers, but I would really like to at least introduce myself.”

“No, don’t.” She almost yelled when he reached up to take off his mask.
  It came out louder than she intended, but she had to stop him. In her mind, the mask was the last barrier, her last hope before she crossed into an area where she couldn’t allow herself to be. She looked up at his questioning eyes and saw confusion and a glimpse of ... disappointment? She had to go right
now
.

“Thank you for a wonderful evening and Happy New Year
, but I really need to go.” She turned on her heels saying “screw it” to her panties. She almost ran to the elevator and pushed the down button. Giving a sigh of relief when the doors opened immediately, she hurried in never turning around. As the doors shut, she closed her eyes trying to will away the memory of how he was just standing at the gazebo staring after her.

Chapter Five

Becca woke to a phone ringing.
She stretched and reached over to the nightstand, picking up the receiver to stop the obnoxious sound. She sleepily said “hello” and listened to the hotel’s prerecorded wake-up call message. Putting the receiver back down, she looked at the travel alarm she had brought with her.

“A lot of good you did.
Can I ever get up on time?”

She groaned and pushed the covers off.
She had an hour before she had to check-out. The plan was to get up and be on a bus back home before any of the guests from last night started moving and milling about. She was hoping to avoid Victoria and a certain blue-eyed man with the make-you-melt body.

Becca gave out a loud sigh.
She hadn’t been awake for more than a few minutes, and she was already thinking of him. Her plan didn’t work as she had thought last night either. She felt something while she was with him. It was a longing, or maybe a hope, for something she had long buried as an option for her life.

She closed her eyes and could still smell his cologne and feel his breath brushing her hair as they sat enjoying the afterglow.
His kisses had surged heat through her veins and sent tingles rushing from the tips of her fingers down to her toes. The warmth of his body and strength of his arms made her feel wanted and protected. Those feelings were dangerous and led down the path to hurt and destruction.

She knew her reaction to his offer of coffee last night bordered on rude and flighty.
She had run out of there like a scared rabbit.

So much for staying in control
, Becca!

She shook her head and groaned.
She needed to get up and get the hell out of the hotel, the city, and hurry back home where life was peaceful and routine. It was safe that way. It was what she needed and craved. The life she had built kept her balanced both physically and emotionally.

Her blue-eyed man was too much of a temptation.
She could easily see herself slipping and letting her guard down around him. In his arms, she felt an ache for more. She got up from the bed and started toward the bathroom. That man was dangerous to everything she had come to rely on and believe. He was dangerous to her serenity, and she needed to run back home, as fast as she could, to where her emotions were safe. 

Becca gathered up her things and placed them in her overnight bag.
She put on her jeans, sneakers, and hoodie and did one last look around to make sure she had everything she brought.

On the elevator, she pressed the button for the lobby and did a silent prayer that she made it out of the front door without seeing anyone.
The doors opened, and she took a hesitant look around. Relief washed over her as the lobby seemed to be empty. She might make it after all.

Becca hurried to the front desk and impatiently smiled at the
clerk.

“I’d like to check out please.”

“Certainly, I can help you with that.”

She handed him the room key
, and he started typing away on the computer. He looked back up at Becca.

“Just one moment, please.”
He picked up the phone, and she listened as he said, “Yes, this is the front desk. Your friend is here.”

Becca’s mouth dropped open. Was he talking about her?
She was the only one in the lobby. Did
he
request a phone call when she showed up at the front desk? How did he know who she was? And why the hell did her pulse just flutter at the thought of seeing him? She glared at the man as he put down the phone.

“Were you just calling someone about me?”

Before the man could answer, she heard Victoria yelling across the lobby. “Rebecca
, darling!”

Becca turned to see her coming out of the doors to the ballroom and then back to the man behind the desk.

He just shrugged
. “She requested to be notified. Sorry, but her husband’s family does own the hotel.”

They own the hotel?
Becca didn’t know that, and she gave a sigh. Becca couldn’t be mad at the man for following the “boss’s orders”, but this was so not what she wanted to deal with right now. She turned as Victoria reached her and leaned in for the air kisses.

“Rebecca
, you forgot your frame last night. The hotel staff found it and gave it to me when the party had ended. I couldn’t find you.”

Becca stammered, “Sorry, I
... I had a headache and went back to the room to lie down.”

“Well I hope you are feeling better
, and since I didn’t get a chance to introduce you last night, please join us in the ballroom.”

Becca shook her head.
“I really have to get going. Maybe some other time?” She added a silent
not
.

Victoria put her arm through Becca’s and started leading her to the ballroom.
“Don’t be silly. It will only take a few moments.”

Becca repositioned her overnight bag on her arm and kept quiet as Victoria pulled her along.
If she thought turning in the opposite direction would work without Victoria causing a scene, she would have broken out of her hold and made a run for it.

When they walked in, Becca noticed that the hotel staff must have been working for hours to clean and transform the room back to winter decorations and lights.
She had to give credit to the staff. It looked beautiful without being overly festive.

There were tables full of people
, and Becca hoped that the whole crowd wasn’t who Victoria wanted to introduce to her. She would be here all day. Her cheeks already hurt from the fake smiles she would need to freeze on to her face.

Victoria steered Becca through the tables and in the direction of a larger one at the far end of the room.
As she got closer, she recognized Brad sitting at the one end smiling at her. She thought he really did seem very nice with a genuine smile that went to his eyes. Looking much better in a grey suit than the white tuxedo from last night, he was handsome in a clean-cut kind of way. He looked the boy-next-door type and the total opposite from the rugged good looks of her stranger from the previous evening.

Becca sighed again.
She had made it ten minutes without thinking of him this time.

Victoria went around the table making introductions.
There were three models, a woman who owned salons in ten states along the East Coast, Brad’s parents, and an older man who apparently owned a vast amount of real estate within the city. Becca tried not to roll her eyes as she was directed around the table. Victoria hastily jumped over their names and focused on what they did or owned. In Victoria’s world, that’s who the real person was.

Becca tried to focus and nod politely.
The last introduction was of an older couple that was proclaimed to be “descended from royalty”. Becca had to suppress a giggle and an overwhelming urge to curtsy as the man puffed his chest out when Victoria made the declaration. She could picture him on his throne wrapped in robes, crown on his head, and scepter in hand. He looked ridiculous and pompous.

Becca nodded her head and smiled at the table.
“It’s very nice to meet everyone.”

“Oh good
. Here comes Nicholas. Rebecca, this is Bradley’s cousin. He owns Hollsten Holdings.” Victoria took her shoulders and turned Becca around landing her gaze on a chest.

No, No, No.
This can’t be happening. Please don’t be him. Please don’t be him.

Becca slowly tilted her head up and caught her breath as she met the same ocean blue eyes.
If it was possible, he was even more handsome without the mask, and her heart felt like it was going to beat right of her chest.

She watched as the fog lifted
, and recognition washed over his features. Becca silently begged him not to reveal their heated evening together.

Please don’t let him say anything.
She would be mortified.

He opened his mouth
, and Becca panicked and quickly spoke. “It’s nice to meet you, Nicholas. Please call me Becca.”

W
hy did she mention that? He didn’t need to know what name she preferred.

Nicholas chuckled and held out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you also,
Becca. Call me Nick.”

Did he have to enjoy watching her squirm?  Because by the look
on his face, he was thoroughly pleased with how uncomfortable she was. And more importantly, did he have to emphasize her name and make it sound like warm chocolate—comforting and sweet? Becca took a breath before shaking his hand. The instant they touched, electricity and heat sizzled through her, and she hastily pulled out of his grasp and turned back to the group.

“It was a pleasure, but I really must be going.”

Did her voice sound like she was stuttering
, or was that just her insides shaking? She wasn’t sure, and she didn’t want to stick around to find out.

She turned on her heels and started for the doors as Victoria yelled after her
.

“Rebecca, your frame.”

She wasn’t going back and kept walking pretending not to hear.

Becca
got as far as the curve outside before she heard Nick’s voice calling her name. She closed her eyes and groaned.

Almost made it.

Why was he following her? Couldn’t he just leave her alone? She held up her hand to signal a taxi and hoped ignoring him would work until one stopped.

Becca heard him say her name again
. Only this time he was too close to pretend that she didn’t hear him. She turned to find him holding the picture frame.

“You forgot this.”

He just wanted to give her the frame.
She sighed in relief and reached to take it from him.

“Thank you.”

He looked at her and put a smug smile on before saying, “You forgot these also.” He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a glimpse of white lace material.

Becca gasped when she realized it was her forgotten panties.
She got closer to put her hand out.

“Thank you for finding them.”

Nick pushed them back in his pocket. “How about that coffee?”

Becca took a step back and crossed her arms.
“Are you seriously holding my underwear hostage until I go out on a date with you? Doesn’t that border on blackmail?”

Nick laughed
. “Just using whatever means I have at my disposal to get you to say yes.”

Becca would laugh
, too, if she wasn’t so angry. He was being an arrogant pushy ass. She glared at him. From his polished shoes, tailored pants, and what looked like a cashmere sweater, he was head to toe everything that Becca wasn’t. Why was he doing this? Damn him for coming after her. Damn him for wanting more when he could go back into the ballroom and have anyone of those models sitting at the table.

“You’re not my type.”
She turned away from him and once again put her hand in the air.

She stood there not wanting to look back.
He hadn’t answered her, and Becca silently hoped that he had walked away. She was a mess. Her insides trembled at the conflicting emotions of anger and longing coursing through her. It would be so easy to give in and go with him.

Becca felt a hand brush against her neck and his voice against her ear.

“I’m going to have to argue that statement.
I seem to remember being exactly your type last night as you shook and screamed in pleasure when I was buried deep inside of you.” He kissed the spot behind her ear, and she gasped in response. Shivers cascaded through her, and she leaned back, melting into his body..

Becca cursed herself.

Dammit
, Becca get some control! He’s just a rich guy who thinks he can get anything he wants.

Becca pulled away and turned around to face him as a taxi finally came to her rescue.
Opening the door, she stood behind it to use as a barrier between them and took a breath to steady her trembling legs and gain some courage. “Nick, last night was great, and thank you for not saying anything back in there.” She nodded her head in the direction of the hotel and continued. “But I’m just not interested.” She got in the cab, closed the door, and stared ahead as she gave the driver her destination. As the taxi pulled away, she could see him in the rearview mirror. For the second time in less than twenty-four hours, she left him just standing and staring after her.

****

Nick stood on the sidewalk watching the cab disappear into the traffic. What the hell just happened? Most women wanted to spend time and get to know him. He wasn’t being conceited. It was simply a fact. Hell, the three ladies inside would have jumped at the chance and had bluntly told him that very thing the night before. He simply didn’t understand Becca. Nick ran his hand through his hair. Who was he kidding? She wasn’t the issue. It was his reaction to her that was the problem and had him more than a little confused..