Devil's Ride (2 page)

              “Night.” Alessandra hugged Sammi before they walked down to opposite ends of the same hallway to go to their rooms.

              Alessandra fumbled with her key card. It fell onto the floor a couple of times. She wasn't sure if it was the last Mai Tai or pure exhaustion that had her brain and her body in a fog.

              “Do you need help?” A low voice from behind her startled her. She screamed as she turned to face him.

              “Oh, you're the red bag man?” She slurred her words.

              “And, you're drunk. Let me get the door for you before some knucklehead tries to take advantage of you.” He reached around her to unlock the door.

She held her breath.

              He held it open for her as she stepped in. “I'm just going to put the key on the dresser. Okay?” He held his hands up in the air, making a show of not touching her or anything in the room.

              “Thank you.” Alessandra stood in the doorway until he stepped outside. She couldn't help but notice how muscular his body was in the knit top he wore. His slightly tattered jeans did nothing to hide his perky ass.

              “Now, make sure that you lock this door behind me. Do yourself a favor and don't go traipsing around outside or in the hallway tonight. Stay in here. I didn't come to Miami to babysit some co-ed.” He walked away from the door and went into the room across the hall from her.

              Alessandra whispered, “I'm not a co-ed and I'm not drunk.”

                                                                                    *

              Coffee cup in hand, Alessandra tried to relax and watch a movie, but her mind kept wandering to what the hot stranger across the hall was doing. Every few minutes, she would look out the keyhole to try to get a glimpse of him, but had no luck. There was no noise coming from his room. She didn't know why, but that gave her a sense of relief.

              Finally, her eyelids grew heavier and she was ready to fall asleep. As she drifted off to sleep, images of the man with the hazel eyes and the drop-dead-gorgeous body played through her mind. She imagined what it would be like to slide her fingers down his body. Visions of his lips on hers soon took over her mind and her body and, even in a slumber, she could feel her body temperature rise.

              Her dream was so real. Every touch, she imagined made her body tingle. Soon, she felt the moisture between her legs and felt him touching her and kissing her. She moaned with pleasure, her hands sliding down over her full breasts, feeling her erect nipples. She kneaded them in her hands, gently tugging them with her small fingers, as her hips lifted off the bed, willing the handsome stranger to take her. As she called out with pleasure, she was jarred awake and found herself with her hands in her panties.

              Startled, she shot straight up. “What is wrong with me? I'm dreaming about a man I don't even know.” Embarrassed, she tried to run to the shower, but her knees gave way and she collapsed to the floor, letting out a scream as her arm hit the nightstand.

              Soon there was a loud knocking on the door and the same low voice called in, “Are you okay?”

              Alessandra's head fell to her chest.
He heard me!

              “I'm okay,” she answered, covering herself with the sheet, even though he couldn't see her.

              “Are you sure? I heard you scream,” he answered.

             
Please, just go away. Please, go away.

              “You don't sound okay. Can you open the door, so I can see that you're okay or I can go get security,” he said, before Alessandra heard Sammi's voice call out from down the hall.

              “What's going on?” She heard Sammi ask.

              Alessandra knew it would only be seconds before Sammi was banging on the door too, so she got up, grabbed a couple of towels from the bathroom and wrapped one around her body, the other around her head, and opened the door.

              “Sorry. I just slipped in the shower,” She lied.

              He looked her over, stopping to rest his eyes on her honey-colored thighs. “You're not wet.”

             
Oh, you have no idea
, she thought.

              Sammi pushed the door open, exposing the undressed bed and her eyes lit up.

Alessandra put her head down again. She knew what she was thinking.

              “Are you with someone?” Sammi looked in the bathroom.

              Alessandra answered through clenched teeth. “No, now go away.”

              The man walked in and looked around. His eyebrows quirked up. “Looks like you're alone. Wild party by yourself?”

              “Excuse me, but I'm standing here practically nude and you want to chit-chat? You can at least tell me your name.” She glared at him.

              He put his hands up, defensively. “Hey, I was only trying to help. You're fine, so I'll leave.” As he stepped out, he turned back saying, “Devil. They call me Devil.”

              Sammi muttered, “Sexy as hell Devil.”

Alessandra glared at her.

              *

                            “I should be done around three or four today.” Sammi primped her newly bleached hair. “You can meet me at the convention center, if you'd like.”

              Alessandra shook her head. She was looking forward to a day of reading on the beach. She had her whole day mapped out, beginning with breakfast at a cafe that was just around the corner from the hotel.

              “Are you sure?” Sammi asked.

              “Go ahead. I'll be fine. Just call me when you are done and we can meet for dinner.” Alessandra hugged Sammi goodbye before retreating back to her hotel room to get ready for the day.

              With her beach bag packed, she set off for the cafe. Anxious to enjoy people watching and a leisurely walk through the local Arts & Entertainment section of the newspaper. As she stepped out of the elevator, she nearly ran into the man she couldn't stop thinking about.

              “Oh, hey, how are you doing?” He asked her.

              “Good, but what's your real name? I can't call you 'Devil'. It doesn't feel right.” She smiled.

              “Are you afraid of the Devil?” He teased. “My name is Devon. Devon Matthews. They don't call me that because I'm evil. I'm a nice guy most of the time. I own a bike shop called Devil on Wheels. That's why they call me that.”

              “Bikes. Really? Are you into mountain biking?” She looked at him, curiously. Nothing about him, from his tattoos, to his muscular arms and broad shoulders, told her that he was into biking.

              “No, motorcycles. I ride motorcycles. I have since I was a kid. My dad rode,” he explained.

              Embarrassed, Alessandra answered, “Sorry. I thought you meant...”

              He laughed. “So, what's your name? What do you do?”

              “I'm Alessandra Di Novo. I'm an Interior Designer and Design Consultant.” The way he looked at her made her nervous. She had to look away.

              “Di Novo? Really? Where are you headed?” He nodded to her bag.

              “Breakfast and the beach. And, there are Black people in Italy, too, you know.” She didn't know why, but she felt compelled to invite him along. “Have you eaten yet? You're welcome to join me.”

              Alessandra's throat went dry as she watched him lick his lips – the same lips, she'd imagined licking her body. She studied every muscle of his body, committing it to memory. From his sandy brown hair to the way his hazel eyes reflected in the light of day, she couldn't get enough of him.

              “Did you hear me?” His question brought her back to the here and now. He smiled, knowing full-well that she was ogling him. “Like what you see?”

              Embarrassed, she looked away, clearing her throat before she answered. “Um, I was just trying to figure out where we should go eat.”

              “No, you weren't, but I'd be happy to join you. I have some time before my meeting.”

              She was smiling on the outside, but jumping up and down on the inside. Alessandra hoped that her bold move didn't seem too forward and wouldn't give him the wrong idea.

              He took her hand as if they'd known each other forever.

She hesitated, pulling back slightly.

              “You okay?” He asked.

              She looked down at their clasped hands.

His eyes followed her gaze. “Sorry.” He let go of her hand and took her bags from her. “I'll carry this.”

              Alessandra wanted to kick herself. She didn't mean for him to let go. She was just surprised by his bold move. As soon as they went out the door, she instantly regretted making him let go of her hand. The streets were crowded and it was hard to stay together. He did his best to stay with her, but it became impossible. Finally, after several people squeezed their way between them, Devon grabbed her and pulled her to him. She flew directly into his arms and couldn't bring herself to move. She was intoxicated by his scent and relished in his embrace.

              “Sorry. I didn't want to lose you,” he whispered into her ear.

              She couldn't speak. The words were there, but the instant sensations that his touch gave her, wouldn't allow the words to come out of her mouth. She curled into his arms further, resting her head on his chest as more people whisked past them to get to wherever it is they were headed.

              After a moment, he said, “If we keep this up, I might not let you go.”

              Alessandra moaned low in her throat, hoping he meant what he said.

              “Are you ready?” he asked, talking into her hair.

              “Yes,” she answered, forcing herself to pull away from him. This time, she took his hand and led him around the corner to the cafe. “Is this okay?”

              His eyes didn't move from her curves. “Looks delicious.”

              They spent the next hour and a half talking and flirting back and forth. With him, Alessandra felt like someone else. She'd all but forgotten about wanting nothing to do with men. Devon was easy to talk to and he seemed to really listen to her, asking the appropriate questions and eager to hear more about her life.

              “I haven't asked you.” Alessandra sat back in her seat. “Do you live in Chicago, too?”

              “No,” he answered. Her heart sank. “I live twenty minutes outside of the city in Indiana.” She nearly jumped up and hugged him. She was so relieved. Twenty minutes was nothing at all to her. It took that long to cross the street sometimes, so driving twenty minutes outside of the city wouldn't be a problem for her.