Conference Cupid (6 page)

“I thought we’d do something a bit
different tonight.”

They’d been spending every spare second
together. “Devin, I really should have dinner with the members of my chapter
tonight. They’re going to wonder where I’ve been hiding.” She didn’t know why
she said it. She wanted to be with Devin. Their time together was dissipating
like morning fog.

“Have dinner with them tomorrow night. I
promise I won’t bother you until you head back to the room for the night, but
tonight I have something special planned.” He handed her the gifts. “We went
out for a nice dinner last night.”

Keary
held up
the t-shirt. “I’m gathering tonight is a little more casual.”

He nodded. “Did you bring jeans?”

“Of course, but I planned on driving home
in them.”

A shadow crossed his face. “Let’s not
think about that. Just change. Please?”

One look at his expression and she didn’t
have the heart to say no. “You’re not going to tell me where we’re going, are
you?”

“Not a chance. If you don’t like it, we
can come back to the hotel.”

She changed quickly. They’d been decked
out the other night and had spent plenty of time naked. Being dressed casually
gave the evening a normalcy they’d hadn’t had and needed.

* * * *

The lights from the Ferris wheel against
the blackened night created a romance all its own. “Now I get what the antacid
is for,”
Keary
said as she smothered her corn dog
with mustard.

“We’ve only just begun. There’s caramel
apples, cotton candy, ice cream…”

“I love caramel apples but let’s space out
the junk. I don’t want to get sick and not be able to go on the rides.”

Devin wiped mustard off her chin with his
finger and licked it. “What would you like to do first?”

She looked around and caught sight of one
of her favorites.
“Bumper cars.
Come on.”
Keary
grabbed Devin’s hand and pulled him in the direction
of the ride. The line moved quickly and they only had to wait through one turn.

Stranding him in a pink car,
Keary
ran for a blue one. She pushed her foot to the floor.
Her car jerked forward, moving straight toward Devin. They crashed repeatedly
and her stomach hurt from laughing.

Giddy with happiness,
Keary
dragged Devin off to the Ferris wheel. As they neared the top she reached out
with her hand. The stars were within her grasp.

* * * *

Keary
grabbed at
air, but Devin could see the stars she aimed for. He placed his arm around her
and pulled her close. She rested her head on his shoulder and giggled as the
car swung in the gentle breeze.

The sound of her laughter warmed his soul.
There’d never been a sound so delightful.

He pushed the thought of her leaving away.
He would find some way to continue the relationship. He had to.

As they passed a balloon and dart booth,
Devin stopped. He’d win her a stuffed animal to remember the evening. The wind
threw his darts off target. Three games later, he still had nothing to show for
his efforts.

“Can I try?”

Devin placed more money on the counter and
the attendant handed three darts to
Keary
. She
grinned at him and tossed the first dart. It sailed easily to the target. In
three attempts—nine shots—Devin had only hit two balloons. The pop shocked him.
“Great shot!”

She picked up the second dart and eyed her
target. Once again it hit its mark. Her eyes twinkled and Devin knew she was a
wringer. When the third balloon popped,
Keary
jumped
up and down as if she couldn’t believe her luck. The attendant frowned.

As her prize she chose a small
heart-shaped pillow.
Keary
handed it to him.
“For you.
For tonight.”

She ran ahead and Devin stood there
clutching what she’d given him—her heart.

* * * *

Susan brushed out her hair and reapplied
her lipstick. “Sorry, honey, but that’s what I heard.”

“You’re wrong
Suz
.
If Devin owned this hotel he wouldn’t be masquerading as a model and masseur.”

“Maybe he saw something he wanted and
thought it would be an easy way to get it. Maybe he does this with women all
the time.” She capped her lipstick and averted her eyes.

“No. It’s not true. It can’t be. I know
him. I feel things...”

“
Keary
, he’s the
first man you’ve been with since your divorce. Of course you’re going to feel
there’s something special there. It’s hard to admit there’s nothing more than
sex. You’re trying to find an excuse for sleeping with a man you hardly know,
but you don’t have to justify it. Now that the ice is broken, you can go back
home, start dating and meet the right guy.”

But Devin
was
the right guy.

More right than her husband had ever been.
Comfort existed between them; in bed and out of it. Her body hummed instantly
at the thought of his naked body. She couldn’t imagine not wanting to impale
her flesh on his thick cock. They’d shared too much.

He wouldn’t lie to her.
Suz
must have misunderstood.

“You’re wrong about this.”

“Maggie’s not fabricating. She introduced
me to the other model in the picture with you.
His cousin,
Peter, right?”

Keary
stiffened
in her seat. “His cousin’s name is Peter.”

“Well Peter told Maggie his superior digs
were the penthouse suite. And when she asked why and how he procured the
penthouse suite he said his cousin lives there because he owns the hotel.
Owns
it.
Not some guy that just works here.”

Keary
shook her
head, willing it to be untrue.

“Think about it. None of us have a suite
like yours.”

“But that’s because they made a mistake
and upgraded me to the kind of room I paid for. They were out of them so they
had to upgrade me more.”

“Are you hearing yourself? Those things
don’t happen. He stashed you someplace he’d be comfortable because he can.
Because he owns the damn place.
Here, use my cell and call
the hotel. Ask if a Mr. Barnett works here. See what happens.”

The phone weighed more than it usually
did, the buttons seemed hard to push. “Yes, could you tell me does a Mr.
Barnett have anything to do with this hotel?”

“Yes, ma’am, he’s the owner and general
manager. He’s not in his office now but would you like to leave a message?”

“No. Just wanted to make sure I had the
right hotel. Thanks.”
Keary
hung up the phone and
passed it back to
Suz
. Tears welled in her eyes.

“What are you going to do now?” Susan
asked as she placed her hand on
Keary’s
shoulder.

Keary
wiped her
eyes with the tissue Susan handed her from the small table in her room.

“Kill the son of a bitch.”

Chapter Nine

Pleasure and anxiety filled Devin’s heart
and head. He’d have to tell her the truth. If there was any way to keep the
relationship going, in spite of the distance, he’d have to tell her the truth.

But how?

What could he possibly tell her that
wouldn’t send her running in the opposite direction?

Worry about that later. Get her in your
arms now.

Devin knocked on the door to her suite and
grinned when she answered in the hotel robe. How he’d love to see her
permanently in his suite wearing that very robe.

Keary
turned and
walked away from him. “Come on in and get comfortable. I just need to finish
something before I lose the thought.” She hurried back to her laptop, sat down
and started typing without looking at him.

She glanced up and smiled. “I really need
to finish this scene. Why don’t you undress and lie on the bed to give me
incentive.”

Devin strolled over to her.

“Un-ah, no one views what I write until I
edit it. Strip. I need to see hot naked man.”

“Anything you desire.” Devin stood next to
the bed and disrobed, taking his time to attempt to arouse her. He wanted to
seduce her away from the computer and into his arms.

“Anything I desire, huh?”
Keary
stood and eyed his body in a way that gave him a
chill.
“Anything?”

“What did you have in mind?”

“Research.”
The
word sounded flat, clinical almost.
Keary
dropped the
robe from her shoulders as she stepped up to the bureau. She pulled out two
long silk scarves and sauntered, naked, over to the bed.

Devin’s confused penis once again rose to
a fully erect state. “What do I get to do with those?”

“You mean what am I going to do with
these? I’m going to tie your wrists to the bed posts and then I’m going to give
you the best sex of your life.”

His dick bobbed with joy. “And you’ll
write about it after?”

“Not the gory details, no. But I’ve never
done anything of this sort before and I need to write a bondage scene. I want
something to draw on.”

“Good thing for me you don’t write murder
mysteries.”

Keary
laughed
and tied a piece of silk around his wrist. He grabbed her hand and halted her.
“You first.
You should experience both sides. Once I’ve
fucked you good and hard you can have your turn.”

Keary’s
eyes
narrowed and for a moment it looked as if she wouldn’t agree. She shrugged and
traded places with Devin and held out her hands. “I’m not chicken.”

Devin tied one wrist and then the other
loosely so they remained secure but comfortable. If she needed to, she’d be
able to twist her wrists enough to maneuver out of them. He didn’t tell her
that but figured he wouldn’t have to.

Her body tensed the second he touched her.

Chicken my ass. She isn’t any more at
ease with this than I am.

But he knew how to loosen her up. Easing
her legs open, Devin viewed the pink dewy vaginal folds the way an art lover
would a masterpiece.

Devin licked around the outer folds,
taking his time and teasing. This pleasure would build slowly.
Keary
twisted and tried to push her clit against his
tongue. “Be patient.”

He gave her clit a quick lick and blew on
it. Sticking two fingers into her, Devin massaged her G spot while he licked
around her labia. As long as she remained at his mercy, Devin planned on
prolonging her pleasure until she could no longer stand it.

The sounds she made, tiny moans mingled
with quick pants, sounded more lyrical than a symphony. Her juices, sweet like
a Honey Bell orange, seeped into his mouth and dripped off his fingers. Devin’s
cock throbbed from wanting.

With her release not far, Devin pulled his
fingers out and proceeded to press feather light kisses along the edges of her
thighs.
Keary
whimpered, seeking a mouth or a finger
to finish her off.

Leaning above her, Devin placed the head
of his cock inside her heat and she bucked fiercely. “Wait. What about a
condom?”

“Box is empty.”

Keary
groaned
and whimpered.

Devin slid into her and remained still.

“What are you doing? Why would you risk
this? If I get pregnant I’ll sue for paternity.”

Devin grinned at her. “You’d have my
child?”

“My ex-husband shot blanks. I’m thirty
five years old. If I was lucky enough to get pregnant I’d keep the child even
if it was the spawn of Lucifer.”

“All I needed to know.” He moved with a
slow rhythm and kissed her. Her reluctance surprised him but it didn’t take
long for her surrender. To mate with her for life, that’s all he required.
So hot.
So slick.
The clenching of
her vaginal walls undid him and he followed her into ecstasy.

Easing off her to the side, Devin kept one
leg thrown over hers. He rested his head on top of her breast and marveled at
the drumming beat so in sync with his own.

Her body shook slightly. It wasn’t until
he lifted his head he saw tears streaming down her face. He’d taken things too
far. Of course she’d react this way to a man she’d known less than a week in a
far off town not using a condom.
For the second time.

“You said this morning it wouldn’t happen
at this part of your cycle anyway. I’m sorry your ex shot blanks, but I want
you to know if something happened with me you’d never have want for anything.
I’m...” He paused almost ready to say ‘I’m loaded.’ He stopped himself just in
time. “Please don’t cry.”

She turned her face away from him.

He took a deep breath. “I know you won’t
believe me, but I’m crazy in love with you.”

Keary’s
head
snapped back and her eyes locked on his, incredulity mixed with pain. She shut
her eyes and kissed his shoulder.
“My turn now.
Untie
me so I can turn the tables.”
Keary
rubbed her wrists
though the bonds that held her weren’t tight.

“Now lie back and let me have my way with
you.” Eyes lowered, her seductive smile seemed to hide a secret. In silence,
she reversed the process and bound him to the bed. She tied one piece of silk
around his wrist and the other end to the bedpost, but she pulled to make sure
he was secured tightly.

A sense of extreme vulnerability washed
over Devin. Excitement was diminished by the tiniest bit of doubt. His mind
focused on what she’d do next.

Keary
stepped
away from the bed and with a somber step paced around it eyeing him as if she
sought the solution to a puzzle. Turning, she ambled back to the bureau and
took out a knit hat. The kind one would wear out in the cold and snow. She
grinned at him and pulled the hat over his eyes so he could no longer see.