Reckless Nights (Vegas Nights #1) (8 page)

Chapter Nine

Her apartment was small but cute. Decorated sparsely, but still with Reagan’s personality shining through, what with the framed photos on her bookshelf and the bursts of bright colors in the pillows that were scattered across her pale gray couch.

“Nice place,” he said as she shut the door behind him. The entire drive to her apartment building they’d made small talk, never saying anything important, which had driven him nuts.

All he wanted to do was confess his undying devotion to her, but they were still making stupid idle conversation.

“Thank you. It’s nothing outrageous, but it’s mine.” She walked ahead of him into the small kitchen, calling over her shoulder, “Want something to drink?”

“No.”

She turned on her heel and studied him, her eyes wide, her expression unsure. “What do you want, then?”

Did she really have to ask? Guess she did. Tired of messing around, he went for it.

“You,” he said softly. “That’s all I want Reagan, is you. I know I’m probably moving too fast and possibly freaking you out, but I can’t help it. Since we left Vegas I’ve thought of nothing else but returning to you. I worked on the movie, tried to lose myself in the character, but you haunted my thoughts, my dreams.”

The look on her face was nothing short of horrified. “Don’t tell me I…hurt you somehow with this role.”

“No, no, no. The great thing is, my character needed something to want. Something that was frustrating him because it was always out of his grasp.” Declan smiled. “That was you. You became the one thing I couldn’t have but I so desperately wanted. I channeled all of my energy into wanting you into the role and it…it fucking worked.” Beautifully, he might add, but he didn’t want to brag. More than anything, he didn’t want to jinx it.

But he was proud of the work he’d just completed. The movie was going to do well. He could feel it in his bones.

“Wow. So I guess I was sort of your…muse?” Her brow wrinkled.

“Definitely my muse.” He approached her carefully, not wanting to startle her. He had her in his arms only a few minutes ago when they were still at the ER. Now he wanted her back. “You’re my everything, Reagan. You might not believe me, but it’s the truth. That weekend was like…”

“The best weekend you’ve ever had?” she finished for him with a little smile.

“Yeah.” He grabbed hold of her waist and hauled her into him, her arms going around him in return. “I didn’t know I could fall for a woman so quickly, but I did.”

“I fell for you too,” she admitted, keeping her head bent as she ran her hands along his chest, heat sparking wherever she touched him.

“Are you still falling for me?” He lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Because I’m still falling for you, Reagan. I want to get to know you better. I want to spend time with you and see where this takes us. Do you want the same?”

She pressed her lips together until she couldn’t contain it anymore and her face broke out in a huge smile. “Yes. Yes, I definitely want the same.”

He kissed her as his answer, his tongue delving, his hands roaming. She felt so good, all of those abundant curves nestled close to him. She wiggled against him, making his cock hard as steel, and he groaned, clamping his arms around her waist hard to keep her still.

“You’re driving me crazy,” he whispered when he finally broke the kiss.

“I’m only trying to get away from you because I wanted to tell you I need to change.” He let his arms drop and she stepped back. “Look at me. I’m still in my scrubs. I’m all sweaty and dirty after my shift.”

“Maybe you should take a shower,” he suggested.

“Maybe I should,” she agreed nonchalantly as she started to turn away.

He snagged her hand before she left him. “Maybe I should join you.”

She burst out laughing. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Long after the shower—where Declan proceeded to take her in that sexy, impossibly wonderful way he had, reminding her just how much she missed him, how easily she responded to him. Her back pressed against the cold tile walls, her legs wrapped tight around his hips as he drove himself inside of her again and again. Afterward he dried her off and carried her to bed…where they experienced round two.

And then round three.

Yes, long, long after the shower, Reagan lay sprawled across her bed on her back, exhausted but satisfied. So incredibly satisfied not only because of the orgasms she’d just had, but also thanks to the man lying next to her on his side, his fingers tickling along the length of her arm. That happy smile on his face was contagious. She could feel the exact same smile stretching across her lips.

“Feeling good?” he drawled, sounding cocky as hell.

She loved it. Oh God, she just knew eventually she could really love him. “Yes. Feeling beyond good. And you?”

“Never better.” His fingers drifted across her stomach, caressing her there and making her shiver. “I truly am sorry for never contacting you. I feel like a shit.”

“You sort of are a shit.” But she could forgive him.

He chuckled. “Can I admit something to you?”

She rolled over on her side as well so she could face him. “Of course.”

The chuckle died on his lips, and he pulled his hand away from her. “It scared me, what I felt for you. I wasn’t sure what the hell we were doing and it confused me. It was reckless, you know? And I’ve always been reckless. That’s what always got me into trouble. But this…what we shared, it didn’t feel like trouble. Being with you felt…right.”

“I get it,” she started to say, but he cut her off with a firm shake of his head.

“My world is crazy. The paparazzi has simmered down since they think I’m a has-been, so they don’t follow me much anymore. But that might all change when the new movie comes out. I don’t know. It’s a risk we’ll have to take.” He peered at her, his gaze imploring. He looked downright worried. “Are you prepared for that? It’s not going to be easy. Being with me…it might prove difficult.”

Fear clutched at her, strong and unrelenting. Her heart stalled in her chest as she haltingly asked him, “Why do you want to be with me?”

His face cleared and he reached out, cupping her cheek, tracing his thumb across her lower lip. “You make me feel good. Normal. Like you don’t care if I’m a star. All the other women I’ve met…they wanted me because of who I was. They hoped I could somehow gain them something, if they were seen with me. They were all searching for their own bit of fame and wanted a piece of mine too.”

“I knew who you were,” she admitted, closing her eyes when he proceeded to caress her face with his magical fingers. Would she ever grow weary of his touch?

Probably not.

“I know.”

“I had a crush on you for years.”

He pressed his thumb against the center of her lower lip, making her open her eyes. “But did you want to get with me to further your career?”

She snorted, then immediately regretted it. Not a very sexy noise. “No. How would you help my career?”

“Exactly.” The glow in his eyes was irresistible. “And you didn’t want to talk about me being famous or any of that other crap. You acted like you just wanted to be with me.”

“I did. I do,” she added, smiling when he leaned in and kissed her, his lips soft and sweet. “I like you, Declan.”

“I like you too, Reagan. That’s why I want to be with you.” He pulled away, his heated gaze still locked on her lips. “Nothing else tempts me when I’m with you. I just want to be with you.”

“Do—things still tempt you?” He was a recovering addict. They’d hardly touched on that, but how could they? They’d only spent a weekend together. Could he handle staying clean? Would his behavior become a problem later on?

She had no idea. But she was willing to give him a chance.

“No. You’re the only thing I want.” He kissed her deeply, his tongue tangling with hers for a brief, too hot minute before he broke the kiss. “I want you in my life, Reagan. I know you’re busy with your career and I’m busy too, but if we can fit some time in together where we can find it, I think we can make this work.”

Reagan threw herself at him so he lay sprawled on his back, his arms automatically going around her to hold her close. She straddled him, her legs wrapped around his hips, her naked body molded to his. His skin was warm and firm and he felt so good she rubbed against him like she was a cat.

“I want to make this work,” she said, tipping her head down so their lips could meet.

He tangled his hands in her hair and held her to him, the heat between their bodies igniting all over again, firing them both. His cock hardened against her belly and she felt the answering call deep inside her body. She wanted him. She always did.

“Good. Because I want to make this work too,” he said, when they finally came up for air. He pressed his mouth to her neck, kissing a path along her skin and making her shiver.

“So, that’s it?” she asked breathlessly. “We’re a couple?”

“If you’ll have me.” He pulled away from her neck to smile up at her. “Will you have me?”

“Always,” she said, just before she kissed him.

About the Author

USA TODAY
bestselling author Karen Erickson writes what she loves to read—sexy contemporary romance. Digitally published since 2006, she’s a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband and three children.

Karen is also known as
New York Times
and
USA TODAY
bestselling author Monica Murphy.

To learn more about Karen, visit her online:

www.karenerickson.com

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/monicamurphyauthor

Twitter:
www.twitter.com/msmonicamurphy

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Scandalous

Notorious

Fated

Under My Umbrella

Baby, Don’t Lose My Number

Simple Twist of Fate

Tahoe Nights

My Favorite Mistake

End of Days

Neon Chaos

Worth It

Worth the Scandal

Worth the Risk

Worth the Challenge

Worth Everything

The Renaldis

Temporary Arrangement

Tempted by Her Boss

Kidnapping His Bride

Falling for Her Husband

Vegas Nights

Wicked Weekend

Print Anthologies

Midsummer Night’s Steam: Hot Summer Nights

Luck of the Draw

Playing with Fire

Tahoe Nights

Playing With Fire 2

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Coming Soon:

Vegas Nights

Wild Nights

Endless Nights

What happens in Vegas…could be a fantasy come true.

Wicked Wee
kend

© 2014 Karen Erickson

Vegas Nights, Book 0.5

Between nursing school and starting their careers, Reagan, Andrea, and Natalie have had no time for dating. After saving up for a special vacation, they’re on their way to Vegas for a long-awaited weekend of fun, sun, gambling and partying.

When their luggage goes missing, an impromptu shopping trip leads them to James, who makes them an unusual offer—to be part of the female scenery at his boss’s upcoming party. Not just any scenery, but women who are pretty in a real way, not the nipped, tucked and dyed Hollywood version.

Accept a “private party” invitation from a complete stranger? These ladies weren’t born yesterday. Yet before “no thanks” crosses their lips, Reagan discovers who James’s boss really is: Declan Carter, an actor she’s crushed on for, well, forever. Now she’s determined to be the eye candy who catches Declan’s eye. No matter what it takes…

Warning: Epic shopping trip results in meeting hot men. It is recommended that all credit cards be placed out of reach before reading.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Wicked Weekend:

“What do you guys think?” Reagan asked as she stepped out of her dressing room. She did a little twirl, the deep red skirt of the dress she wore flaring out and almost showing them all her goods.

“Gorgeous,” James said, clapping his hands. “You girls are going to knock them all on their asses when they see you.”

“Who?” Andrea asked, turning toward him. He’d been saying a lot of stuff about mysterious men who were going to “see” them since they started shopping with him, but he was always evasive, never revealing any names or recognizable details.

He could drop all sorts of celebrity names and she’d probably not recognize them, but still. She had a feeling he might be a liar. Or, at the very least, he was a bit of an exaggerator. But he was so much fun to hang out with, she could allow a few overblown stories here and there.

“You are all talk and no action,” Natalie accused James, resting her hands on her hips as she stared up at him. Calling him out when no one else would—that was Natalie. It was rather amusing, watching her face off with a man a solid foot taller than she was. She was probably going to get a crick in her neck if she kept staring up at him like that.

“What do you mean by that?” James asked innocently.

“You say you’re the assistant to some famous actor, but you won’t say who. You keep alluding to certain people, but you never give us any firm details,” Natalie said. “I want some concrete information, James. Tell us who you work for.”

A mysterious smile curled his lips, and he slowly shook his head. “I don’t kiss and tell.”

“Are you saying you’ve kissed your employer, the famous actor?” Reagan asked, sounding shocked.

“No, no, no.” He waved his hand, dismissing Reagan’s question. “You girls are so literal. Please. Like he’d kiss
me.
He is so unerringly straight, which is a shame, but I deal with it since he pays me so well.”

Andrea crossed her arms in front of her chest, sending the giant price tag attached to the dress toward her line of vision. She dropped one arm and grabbed the price tag, gasping when she saw the amount. “This dress is over four hundred dollars!” Holy crap. She was in a
screw it
mood, but not that much.

“And worth every penny,” James said smugly. “I mean, look at you. You’re freaking gorgeous.”

Natalie and Reagan both gasped about the cost of their dresses too, since they were close to the five-hundred-dollar range as well. James shushed them all, giving them a stern look before he started talking.

“Listen, girls, don’t argue with me. Buy those dresses,” he said firmly. “Buy them and then I’ll get you into the most exclusive, premier party you’ve ever been to in your
life.
”

“Uh…” Andrea started, but James sent her a firm look, silencing her. It sounded like fun, but she had a feeling he was talking out of his ass, as much as she hated to think it.

“Seriously. I don’t want to hear any protests. I don’t want to hear the whining over how expensive the dresses are, how you don’t have the money. All three of you are stunning. The people at this party asked me to find some beautiful ladies to bring tonight and to make sure they’re dressed appropriately. This party could change your
lives
. So don’t protest over a few hundred dollars. It’s ridiculous.” James snapped his fingers. “So get those credit cards and get ready to purchase, girls.”

“Wait a minute, you want us to go to a party
tonight?
But it’s already so late…” Reagan’s voice trailed off when she saw the way James looked at her.

“This city doesn’t sleep, baby. The party has hardly begun. It’s still early, but it’ll be happening for hours.
Hours.
Now go.” He clapped his hands and then waved them all back toward their dressing rooms. “Get changed and get to buying. I’ll give you all the details as soon as I see receipts.”