Box of 1Night Stands: 21 Sizzling Nights Read online

  The scent of cinnamon and vanilla wafted between them. Leah’s mouth watered, even after the delicious meal they’d shared. “What is it?”

  “Proof my sister loves me.” He dipped a spoon in and lifted it toward her. “Natilla Cubana.” The lovely Latin words rolled over his tongue. “Cuban custard, my mother’s recipe. Try it.”

  But, he held the spoon too far away. Leah glanced up at him, waiting for him to reach in and let her have a taste, but he didn’t move. She licked her lips and he caught the movement before his dark eyes rose slowly to meet hers. He stretched forward and she met him halfway, her lips closing over the metal, their gazes never separating. Sexual tension flared between them, hot and fast and she barely tasted the sweet dessert. When she started to sit back down, he shook his head.

  “Come here, Leah.”

  The heat in his voice immobilized her, causing her to forget about food and small talk, and focus solely on him. The sudden shift from light dinner conversation to spontaneous desire both confused and thrilled her. He set the spoon down and stood, holding out his hand to her. When she took it, he pulled her up and kissed her, his lips soft but determined.

  When he ended the kiss, she sighed. “I guess dinner is over.”

  “Very over,” he muttered against her mouth, his tongue seeking entry. The invasion ramped up her heart rate until he had to feel the pounding against his chest. His hands gripped her bottom through her dress and pulled gently until she stood on her tiptoes and his very insistent erection pressed squarely against her mound. She shuddered and pushed into him, seeking more.

  His fingers wandered to the back of her dress and he ran them up her spine. Pulling back, he frowned. “Where the hell is the zipper on this thing?”

  She laughed at his frustration. “There isn’t one.”

  Ignoring her amusement, he walked her backward until she bumped into the bed. Lifting her up, he laid her back and braced his hands on either side of her head and leaned in for a quick kiss before standing upright. Running his palms up the sides of her thighs and under the dress, he lifted the hem, his lips skimming along the path of the fabric. Cool air followed behind the hot trail of his hands, and goose bumps rose on her skin. In the next breath, he’d exposed her panties. Bending down, he kissed the sensitive skin above the elastic. Heat flooded her core at the simple but erotic gesture and she sighed.

  She’d missed the caresses, the seduction of a man, more than she’d realized. Having Jackson touch her awakened the sexuality she’d thought died with Mark. But her body remembered how long she’d gone without intimacy—sex—she didn’t want to waste any more time.

  Jackson’s hands crept up the inside of her dress and eased it over her head to toss it aside. Then he stared down at her, his expression dark and serious. “Tell me this is what you want.” When she nodded but didn’t reply, he said, “I need to hear you say it, Leah. Tell me you want this.”

  “I want this.” She tugged at his dress shirt until she’d freed it from his pants. “I want you to do this.”

  That seemed to be all he needed to hear. With a groan, he began to undress, yanking the tie over his head before fumbling with the little buttons at his cuffs and shirt front. She leaned back on her elbows, watching him struggle, knowing he wanted her as much as she needed him. Her panties were soaked with her desire and anticipation. When her gaze traveled down to linger on the tent in his trousers, his hands jerked and a button popped.

  “Let me.” She pushed his hands away, her small fingers working the rest of the buttons through the holes then peeked up at him through her hair and smiled.

  In a rush, he shrugged out of the shirt, gripped her hands and laid her back on the bed again, settling over her. His weight another reminder of how much she’d missed sex and the feel of a man pressing her into the mattress. He nuzzled her neck with his lips, and lifted their joined hands over her head. Hard and huge, his erection rubbed against the thin barrier of his pants and her underwear and she spread her legs and arched again. Her obvious neediness should have embarrassed her but she didn’t stop.

  “Wrap your legs around me.” He punctuated the demand with a searing kiss and ground his cock against her. The beginning of release pooled in her core and she dragged her mouth from his with a moan.

  He lifted his head and looked down at her. Her breath hitched at the desire and lust etched on his face. He shifted his hips again and her eyes drifted closed. She bit her lip. So close. One more motion of his cock and she’d come.

  When he didn’t move, she opened her eyes. In a ragged voice, he said, “Condom?”

  “Top drawer.”

  He rolled off the bed, ditched his pants in record time and yanked the nightstand drawer open. Pulling the Lucky Stiff box out, he read it and frowned but made no comment. A moment later, he gathered her in his arms and gave her a soft kiss. “Last chance to reconsider.”

  While she appreciated his consideration, she’d paid for the one-night stand. Backing out this late in their date wasn’t an option, especially when her only desire was having him fill her and drive her over the edge.

  Instead of answering, she guided his hand to the top of her panties. “Can you help me with these?”

  Without a word, he inched them down and over her feet then unhooked her bra. Her heart thundered and her nipples hardened in response. Straddling her, he pulled the bra free and lowered his head, capturing a nipple between his lips. His warm tongue caressed it, rolling it gently, shooting sparks of desire straight to her clitoris. She strained upward for more and he chuckled, giving her other breast equal attention. Clutching his biceps, she moaned. “Please, Jackson.”

  His hot mouth inched its way up her chest and nibbled her neck, making her writhe beneath him in anticipation. He shifted to settle between her legs, his cock touching her intimately and she opened for him, so ready for his invasion.

  Inch by agonizing inch, he penetrated her, retreating and pushing, until he filled her. He stopped. “Okay?”

  She couldn’t speak and nodded instead. Having him inside, feeling his weight above her, nearly overwhelmed her. She’d forgotten how wondrous lovemaking could be, how lovely the joining. Without a doubt, arranging this evening had been the right thing to do. Leaving Mark behind didn’t mean forgetting him. But time and new experiences helped to ease the loss.

  And Jackson Castillo definitely knew how to ease a loss.

  He moved then, his strokes slow and easy. He was a big man, in every way, and she appreciated his gentleness, but she wanted more. His foreplay alone had nearly driven her over the edge and she craved the completion his touch promised.

  She wrapped her legs around his waist, his weight pushing his cock deeper. His satisfied grunt of pleasure matched hers and he responded by rotating his hips, rubbing her clit. He braced himself on one arm and slipped the other hand under her back to lift her, bending his head to bring his lips to her breast. Sucking the taut nipple, he never stopped moving slow and sure between her legs.

  The combined pleasure of his mouth and cock scored a direct hit, much quicker than she’d expected and she flew over the edge, the orgasm gripping her, raging through her, tearing the breath from her lungs. He never stopped stroking her over and over and she peaked again, the pleasure more intense, even more exhilarating.

  Coherent thought returned slowly.

  Well, that never happened before.

  She couldn’t wait to do it again.

  Chapter Four

  Forget stamina and performance and all the things a man took pride in. Leah coming beneath him was Jackson’s undoing. Having her legs wrapped around his ass while he drove into her, hearing her cries, feeling her tighten with pleasure around his cock—she’d pulled the trigger and he blew.

  It wasn’t until after she’d rocked his world and he free-fell right along with her that he remembered his promise to Evangeline—the one about not sleeping with Leah. And called himself a selfish bastard, but as soon as he’d had an appropriate period of rec
overy time, he intended to break that promise all over again.

  He propped up on his elbows, and found her looking up at him with the same dazed expression he knew had to be on his face. He fought the urge to grin. Tried to think of something romantic or sexy or witty to say but nothing came to mind.

  She reached up and cupped his face with her hands. “That was great. Can I take you home with me?” Then she laughed.

  He laughed with her. Damn, that was great. She was great. He felt like a damned rock star. Giving her a quick kiss, he rolled away and made a quick trip to the bathroom.

  She’d gotten under the covers and he slid between the sheets, turning on his side to face her. As though they’d been lovers for years instead of minutes, she relaxed next to him. He put his arm around her, and she fit like a glove…a warm, feminine, sexy-as-hell glove.

  He wasn’t a huge fan of pillow talk, but when she didn’t speak, he did. “You never told me what you do for a living.”

  She shifted under his arm and yawned. “I’m a flight attendant for Vista Airlines.”

  He knew the CEO of Vista, Bobby Murphy, from the Las Vegas business community, since its headquarters was at McCarran International. “I know your boss.”

  She rubbed her hand in a lazy pattern on his chest. “Everyone knows Bobby.” Another yawn and a muttered apology. “I have to be at the airport by five. I’m scheduled for the six AM flight to Newark.”

  “I’ll drive you.” Ah, hell. Where had that offer come from? He didn’t drive anyone anywhere, that’s what the chauffeurs and limousines downstairs were for. “Just let me know when you want to leave.”

  ***

  A warm, wet tongue slid up the side of his cock and down the other, while a soft hand kneaded his balls. He arched his hips, hoping she’d take him into her mouth, and she did, working her tongue around the slit, scraping gently with her teeth. He groaned and forced himself deeper into her hot mouth, his hands knotting in her hair, holding tight. Wrapping her lips around the head, she worked erotic magic, teasing the glans with her tongue and stroking the base of his shaft. The inevitable tightening of his sac began and he groaned with the pending pleasure.

  Jerking awake, he glanced around, disoriented and out of breath. Thin light from the Strip below filtered through the crack in the hotel drapes, just enough for him to realize exactly where he was—flat on his back, getting blown by an angel with an unbelievable mouth and even better skills—and seconds away from a mind-blowing orgasm.

  Jesus, this is no dream.

  His hands rested on her head, the blonde hair tickling his stomach and obscuring Leah’s face until she sat back and tilted her head toward him. When she smiled, his heart lodged in his throat and he didn’t dare consider what that meant. Instead, he grasped her wrists and pulled her up until she sprawled on top of him.

  She pouted. “I wasn’t done.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “You have no idea how close you were to being done.” She wiggled against his straining cock, and he gripped her ass to hold her still. The last thing he wanted was a mess without the benefits. “Not kidding here, babe.”

  Sitting upright, she stretched across the bed and pulled a condom off the nightstand. She held it out of reach when he tried to take it. Scooting down, she sat on his thighs and sheathed him, her delicate fingers easing the latex down the shaft. Then she crawled her way back up his body, kissing his stomach, then his chest, her sex slippery with her need as it slid along his length. Muttering an oath, he gripped her hips and plunged, filling her. Her hiss of pleasure matched his own.

  Chapter Five

  She arched her back and rode him. Hard. Bruising fingers dug into her skin as he moved with her, a bit of pain to add to the pleasure, something she never thought she’d enjoy. She fell forward and their mouths fused, tongues mating in unison with their bodies.

  He tore his lips from hers and moaned. “Come with me.”

  The command, gritty and sexy as hell, pushed her over the top. With a shout, he surged a final time and her own climax slammed through her, shutting everything out, consuming her. She melted over him, laid her cheek against his chest, felt the pounding of his heart, listened to his ragged breathing…glad he was no less affected by their lovemaking.

  He ran an absent hand on her back. “Doing okay?”

  She nodded. And squeezed her eyes shut against inexplicable and unwanted tears.

  ***

  She woke before dawn, registering the fact a large, naked man spooned her, his hand grazing her breast. Wanting nothing more than to lie there, and knowing it would be both satisfying and dangerous for her heart, she eased away and slipped over the edge of the bed.

  Sheets rustled and she glanced up from picking her dress off the floor. His eyes, dark and watchful, tracked her movements as she gathered up her bra and panties and searched for her shoes under the bed. Standing upright, she looked over when he lifted a hand.

  “Come here, Leah.”

  The last time he’d demanded that, they’d…what? Had sex…made love…fucked? Not that the correct term truly mattered. The night was over, morning had come and she’d gotten what she’d paid for. A one-night stand.

  “I have to get ready for work.” Turning away before she changed her mind and joined him in the warm bed, she entered the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

  ***

  Jackson listened to the patter of water as Leah showered, heard the shampoo bottle snap open and shut. Pictured her long hair flowing down her back as the water ran over her tanned skin. Wondered if her dainty hands cupped her breasts and she turned her face up toward the spray, her expression the same as the one she’d worn when she came....

  “Shit.” Rock hard, he had to force his legs to stay still and not swing over the side of the bed, march his horny self right into that bathroom and join her in the shower. After a few deep breaths, he got up and snagged his pants off the floor. Yanking them up over his hips, he forced the raging erection into submission and zipped the pants shut. He’d just hung up the phone with room service when the bathroom door opened. Steamy air and the scent of hotel soap and shampoo followed Leah out. She smiled as she towel-dried her hair.

  “It’s all yours.” She unfastened the towel she’d wrapped herself in and he stifled a groan. Pink nipples puckered in protest in the air-conditioned room, but were quickly hidden again by the lacy bra she put on.

  Before he made a complete gawking fool of himself, he said, “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so ordered both coffee and tea sent up.”

  She nodded her thanks and continued to dress. Not knowing what else to say to break the uncomfortable silence, he gave her a quick kiss and headed for the shower.

  He wasn’t surprised to find the bedroom empty when he came out. He stared at the door for several moments before crossing the room and digging through the inside pocket of his suit jacket for his cell. Stabbing a familiar number, he waited until a sleepy voice answered and wasted no time issuing the order.

  “It’s me. Get Bobby Murphy on the phone. Tell him I need a reservation.”

  ***

  “The high roller in three B wants more champagne.”

  Leah made a face. “Seriously? It’s five-thirty in the morning.”

  “Sweetie, the night is still young for this guy.” The other flight attendant pulled a bottle of bubbly out of the cooler and poured a flute. He glanced over at her and raised an eyebrow. “You know you can tell me to MMOB, but you look like a woman who was up all night getting screwed silly. And details would be nice, if you care to share.”

  Glad her back was to him so he couldn’t see the blush creeping up her neck and face, she nevertheless couldn’t keep the tremor out of her voice. “Nice, Eddie. Say it a little louder so the entire cabin hears you.”

  The little man peered around her shoulder, and gasped. “Oh, my gawd! I’m right!”

  Punching the start button on a coffee pot, she cringed. “Don’t you have something to do?” Besides reminding me of a
n amazing man and the best sex of my life that was over almost before it got started?

  Eddie snickered and left with the champagne, humming annoyingly. The coffee pot popped and stopped its perky gurgling. Turning it on and off didn’t fix the issue and she frowned. Hearing Eddie return, she said, “The coffeemaker is broken again.” When he didn’t reply, she glanced over her shoulder and froze.

  “Hello, Leah.” Jackson stood in the galley entrance, carrying a boarding pass and a major attitude.

  She turned away, every muscle group turning to jelly. With shaky fingers, she made busy work, clueless to anything but the unexpected presence of the very big, very angry man behind her.

  She jerked when a warm breath feathered her ear. “Didn’t your mother teach you it’s rude to leave without saying goodbye?”

  Her eyes closed. His body pressed against hers in the tiny space, his hands resting on the counter in front of her, anchoring her in place. His scent, already familiar, filled her head. Exhausted from the stressful anticipation of the one-night stand and then the erotic fulfillment of the night itself, she couldn’t stop the tears. But she’d be damned if she let him see them. “Go away, Jackson.”

  He gripped her waist and spun her to face him. The fire died in his eyes, replaced by concern. She bent her head, not wanting him to know how undone seeing him again made her. He tipped her chin up to meet his eyes. “Why did you leave that way?”

  She swallowed around the lump in her throat. “At some point, we had to go our separate ways.”

  He shook his head. “So you just left.”

  Too tired to be anything other than honest, she said, “I never should have done it. Sleeping with you didn’t do what I’d hoped it would.”

  He was quiet for a moment. Finally, he lifted a hand and touched her cheek. “What did it do, Leah?”

  Damn it, the tears fell then, and he saw every one of them. “It made me feel alive again. And it frightens me.”