End of the Innocence

Chapter 27

Sometimes you could see disaster coming, like an erratic wave that kept drawing, drawing, drawing attention to the beach until whoosh a swimmer becomes victim to its grasp.

Alexis was that wave, Brad was that swimmer, and I sat on the beach and watched the whole thing happen.

♦♦♦

I awoke to an empty room, the pillow top absent one impressively large body. Rolling over, I stretched, my arms reaching empty space instead of hard muscle. I frowned, propping up on one elbow and glanced at the clock. 11:13 a.m.

“Good morning, sleeping beauty.” Brad strode in the room, rolling up the sleeves on a button-down shirt, looking ridiculously hot with a five-o-clock shadow and dress pants.

“What’s all ... this?” I gestured sleepily, my hand waving about in an attempt to include his head-to-toe hotness.

“What?” He frowned at me.

“You know what. You. All sexual.”

“I was going to hit the tables before heading to Saffire.”

“In that?” I sat fully upright.

He tilted his head at me, leaning back against the dresser and crossing his arms. “Yes. What’s the problem?”

“You are, in a sense, breaking up with her. Looking hot isn’t going to help matters.”

“You’re being unreasonable. I didn’t pack a lot of things, Julia. We came for one night.”

I sputtered, moving off of the bed and walking over to him, my new vantage point making the effect only more potent. “Then buy something at the gift shop. A furry sweater, pleated jeans.”

“What are you worried about?”

Gee, that gorgeous blonde who’s fucked you countless times, the one who probably has an ‘I love Brad’ poster above her bed? Yeah, I have nothing to be worried about. “Nothing,” I mumbled, waving my arms and sighing dramatically. “Go on. I’ll be fine here.”

He bent, both hands gripping my waist and lifting me easily, my feet and arms flaying out as I struggled. Tossing me onto the bed he leaned over me, his face inches from mine. “Phillipe was going to set up some spa services. I assumed you’d want a massage.”

I rolled my eyes, turning my face to the side. “Among other things.”

“Want me to take care of you before I go downstairs?”

“No. I’ll have Phillipe get me a masseuse that can pull double duty.” I rolled over, burying my face in the pillow and trying to blot out the image of Brad’s deliciousness in front of a sultry Alexis.

There was a pause, and I felt his presence moving closer. Then his hand brushed my hair aside, and his mouth was in my ear. “Be careful what you wish for, sweetheart. You should know that would only excite me.”

I ignored him, ignoring the sweep of his fingertips along the nape of my neck. The trail of his finger down my back in one slow drag. I grinned against the sheet, desire curling in my belly as he dragged the sheet lower, exposing my back to the cool room. I felt his lips, soft broken up with the scruff of his stubble, on my back as he gave me a gentle kiss. Then he was gone, the suite door opening and closing with quiet finality.