Ivory Tower (9 page)

“All right, boss. Whatever you want. But, if you ask me,
you’re missing the opportunity you’ve been waiting a long, long, time for. I
think you’re crazy not to see it through.”

When Jenna hung up the phone, her friend’s words bounced
around her head like a
ping-pong
ball, giving her a mountain-size
headache. She needed aspirin and some sleep.

She unzipped her foreign suitcase and stood staring at it
in shock. It was empty. Well, just about empty. She pulled out a nightgown, a
toothbrush and toothpaste, and a small box that she almost missed, tucked into
the built-in shoe bag.

It was a vibrator. A frigging vibrator. Jenna shook her
head as she turned the box over and looked at it. She’d researched one for a
story, but never actually tried it, in part because she’d been too embarrassed
to order the damn thing. Hell, she hadn’t tried any of the devices or equipment
she wrote about, instead relying on reviews and her own imagination to describe
the effects.

Who would send her to Vegas with only a nightgown,
toothbrush, and vibrator? Whoever masterminded this quest had a sick sense of
humor. Jenna tossed the box next to her cell phone. No way she was in the mood
to experiment tonight. She needed sleep, then a flight home.

Chapter Nine

An hour later, sleep continued to elude Jenna. She couldn’t
stop thinking about tomorrow. Technically, it was today. . Every time she
closed her eyes, she envisioned herself blushing a fiery shade of red, unable
to think much less talk, her brain completely blank, in front of a roomful of
women.

About sex.

She missed Josh. He could talk her down off this ledge. And
if he couldn’t, he’d make sure she forgot all about speaking, at least for a
while.

Crap.
She needed some sleep. Maybe room service would have
aspirin. She reached for her phone in the dark and her hand closed around the
box instead.

Tapping the light switch over her head, she turned the box
over and over. Maybe the release would do her some good. Make her able to
sleep. With fingers that shook, Jenna pulled out the vibrator. It was tiny and
fit on her forefinger. Probably didn’t have any batteries. She flipped the
switch and it came to life, startling her.

She watched it vibrate for a few seconds, then touched it
to her neck and giggled. It tickled. She brought it down lower, along her
clavicle. The sensation wasn’t unpleasant. Not at all. No longer a tickle, it
was more of a pulse. A thrumming, one that echoed through her body, making it
throb.

Sliding the thin strap of her nightgown off her shoulder,
she pulled the lace fabric down until it crested her breast, leaving her nipple
bare. Using the vibrator, she worked her hand around her breast, testing the
feel. When she touched her nipple, it felt like a small electric shock running
through her and she yanked her hand away. When the shock settled with wet need
between her legs, she realized everything she’d read about vibrators was true.
They really could play substitute. Sort of.

Her cell phone jingled and Jenna yelped, her cheeks
instantly flaming with heat. She frantically searched for the vibrator’s off-switch
while grabbing her phone. “Hello?”

“Jenna?”

“Josh?”

“Who else do you think it would be at three in the morning?”

“My mother.”

“If it were, you wouldn’t have answered.”

Truth be told, Jenna hadn’t even looked.

“I’m glad you did answer, though. I wasn’t sure you would.
Are you...are you all right?”

No.
I’m lying in a
strange hotel room in a strange city and ...
She glanced at the vibrator
still on her finger. “I’m okay,” she answered.

“Good. I wanted to make sure.”

“I’m thinking of coming home tomorrow,” Jenna said.

“So you’re done with whatever soul-searching you wanted to
do? That was quick.” Jenna heard the sense of relief he couldn’t quite
disguise.

“Not exactly. I’m finding it’s...not what I expected.” She
tried not to let her voice shake, but it seemed to have a mind of its own.

“Jenna...”

She swore she could hear him raking his hands through his
hair and it made her smile. She loved to do that to him. They would watch
television with his head in her lap and she would stroke his hair over and over
again.

“I wish I were there to run my hands through your hair,”
she said.

“I wish you were, too.”

“If I were, I’d run my hands through a lot more than just
your hair.” Jenna turned the vibrator back on, wondering if he could hear it
through the phone.

He chuckled. “You would, huh?”

Jenna swallowed her lack of guts and lowered her voice. “Oh,
yes. I’d be all over that fine body of yours.”

His quick intake of air sent a thrill through her,
tightening her nipples. They were on the edge of something they’d never done
before. She touched the vibrator to her already aching tip, imagining it was Josh’s
lips on her, sucking her in, pebbling her to the point of exquisite pain.

“Where?”

“Hmmm?”

“Where would you touch me?”

She smiled. “Well, I’d start by kissing those talented lips
of yours, tasting the coffee on your breath.

“Beer.”

“Excuse me?”

“Beer on my breath. Not coffee. Not tonight.”

“Then I’d make you go brush your teeth.”

Josh chuckled.

“Now don’t interrupt. I’d trail my lips along your neck,
while my finger circled those sensitive nipples of yours.”

The vibrator moved to her other breast as Jenna heard what
she swore was a zipper on the other end of the line.

“And then?”

“My lips would make sweet love to your chest.”

“Where would your hands be?”

“Wandering some of their favorite territory.” The vibrator
trailed along Jenna’s stomach, sending thrill-shocks through her body. She
could feel the dampness growing between her legs. And she swore she could smell
Josh’s attraction through the phone. She loved the smell of him, the Chanel
cologne he wore that mixed with his clean scent.

“I’d work my way lower,” she said. “Follow that trail of
hair down.”

Josh grunted.

Jenna grinned and let the vibrator toy with the edge of her
pubic hair. “I wouldn’t touch you there. Not yet. I’d make you want me like
never before, wander all over and around, down your legs, letting my lips
follow along.”

The vibrator hummed against her thigh.

“Then, before you had time to realize what I was doing, I’d
swallow you to the base of that impressive cock of yours.”

A crashing noise stopped her. “What was that?”

“Just a lamp. No worries. You were saying?”

Laughing, Jenna touched her pussy with the vibrator and
gasped.

“What are you doing,” Josh asked, his voice husky.

“Playing with a vibrator.”

Josh was quiet so long Jenna thought she’d lost the moment with
her honesty.

“And where are you touching yourself?”

When he spoke, relief flooded her. “Where I want you to
touch me. I’m pressing in and out and imagining I’m touching you at the same
time, my mouth going up and down on your hard, silky cock. I’m sucking hard,
pushing hard.”

“Vibrating hard,” he said.

“And thinking of you,” they said in unison.

“Oh, God,” Jenna said. “It feels so good.”

“I’m licking you,” he said in a rush. “Wherever you touch,
it’s my lips, my tongue—”

“Driving me insane. Oh, Josh!” Jenna’s orgasm crashed into
her, sending her over the top as the vibrator held on her clit and drove her
into an intense climax. The groans on the other end of the phone told her Josh
was right there with her.

Several long, panting moments passed before either of them
spoke.

“That was...wow,” Josh whispered.

“It was more than wow. It was amazing.”

“Oh, yeah.”

“I’ve never done that before.”

“It’s a first for me, too,” he said. “Hang on a minute.
Need to clean up.”

Jenna turned the vibrator off and set it on the nightstand
with a grin, then snuggled deeper into the bed.

“I’m back,” Josh said after only a couple minutes.

“And I’m satisfied and sleepy.”

“Good. Get some sleep, my love.”

“I think I can now.”

“Good. And Jenna?”

“Hmmm?” Her eyes were closed and his voice lulled her
deeper into sleep.

“Stay and finish whatever it is you went there to do. I
think you should do that. For yourself.”

“Um hmmm.” Jenna ended the call and rolled over, ready,
finally, to sleep. Until Josh’s words sunk in.
Stay?
He’d suggested she finish what she started. But that mean...speaking
in front of an audience. Hell, Jenna would rather take her mother on than do
this workshop.

Could she do it? Stay and give the workshop? Talk to a
bunch of women about sex and relationships?

Jenna had less idea now what she would do tomorrow than
she’d had before Josh’s phone call.

Chapter Ten

The woman in the mirror looked different. Strange, yet
familiar. Gone were the jeans and slacks, replaced by a simple summer dress
that fell to her ankles. It seemed like a crazy choice for a professional
conference, but as soon as she tried it on, the dress felt right. Jenna ran a
hand over the soft material. She loved the subdued dark red and brown paisley
print and it was perfect for any weather. A matching dark red Pashmina shawl complimented
the look and would offer her something to clutch when her nerves got the best
of her.

Jenna tipped her head to one side, trying to see herself
from a new angle. She’d spent the last four hours with Sharon shopping for new
clothes, new makeup, even a new style to her hair. She fingered the layered
tresses that softened her face and illuminated her eyes. Overall, the look
wasn’t so much professional as it was soft and romantic. More importantly, she
felt great. A glance at the hotel room’s digital clock reminded Jenna that Sharon
would be here in a few minutes and she would soon be speaking to a roomful of
women.

This morning, she woke feeling very satisfied and knowing
that she needed to stick this thing out, whatever it was. She would regret not
staying. This was her chance to see what Jenna Wilton was made of.

A brief three-page outline on erotic emotion she’d missed
last night sat on the desk. A quick read impressed her. The ideas matched her
writing style and the material was easy enough. She could do this. Besides,
there would probably only be five women in attendance anyhow.

Too short a time later, Jenna realized how wrong she’d
been. On the way down the elevator, Sharon explained the workshop had become so
popular, they’d moved it to a larger conference area.

Oh, shit.

As they drew close, Jenna could hear an excited buzz coming
from inside. A loud buzz. Lots of voices.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“Wait here,” Sharon said. “Let me get everyone settled,
then I’ll invite you in. That way, you won’t be mobbed.”

While Sharon spoke to the attendees, Jenna peeked around
the door, astounded to find every chair filled. There wasn’t even any standing
room. Every aisle or bit of floor was spoken for by the overflow of women who
apparently wanted to hear what Jenna had to say.

Panic hit Jenna like an ice-cold snowball smack in the
face. She gripped the wall. So many people. Her breathing labored and chills made
her shiver almost uncontrollably. She couldn’t do this. The elevators were
behind her and down the hallway. That’s the direction Jenna took a step in.
Then stood immobile as Sharon’s clear words filtered through the red haze of
panic in her brain.

“—introduce to you, author Jenna Wilton!”

Crap.
She clutched the door, trying to decide. Run. Stay. Run.
Stay. Like picking the petals off a daisy, she repeated the words, finally
landing on stay. Okay. So be it.
You can
do this, Jenna Wilton. Just breathe.
In and out. It took a few deep
breaths, but her heart squeezed back into her chest. The time had come to stop
thinking and just do. Jenna straightened her back and walked in through the
door.

The applause shocked her and she froze in place for another
moment, then Sharon waved her up to the table, which sat on a small raised
stage.

“You can do this,” Sharon whispered.

Jenna was really starting to like this girl. She took a
seat and Sharon handed her the microphone. Thank God she wouldn’t be standing,
because her legs felt like Jell-O. “Um, wow, thank you for this amazing
reception.” She placed a hand over her heart, trying to keep it from leaping
free of her chest again. “I’m completely overwhelmed.”