Me: Maybe I’d see something you didn’t. You know, two sets of eyes and all that.
Lina: Hmmm.
Me: Okay, you got me. I just want to see you.
Lina: How fast can you get here?
Me: I’m in the hotel lobby. A minute, maybe?
Lina: ???
Me: I’ll explain upstairs if you still want me to join you.
Lina: Sure, come on up. Room 408.
Me: On my way.
The elevator isn’t as fast as I thought it would be, so I take two minutes to get there. I knock on the door and smooth the sides of my hair as I wait for her to answer.
Lina opens the door and steps to the side to let me in. “This is high-level stuff we’re doing here. Where’s your security detail?”
“They’re downstairs. Told them to make sure no one makes it upstairs.” I enter the room and briefly scan my surroundings before my gaze settles on Lina. She’s wearing a yellow dress with tiny blue flowers on the skirt. It’s cinched at the waist and showcases her curvy figure. Her hair’s down today, the front twisted and held back with two yellow hair clips. I suddenly have a craving for banana cream pie. “Hi there.”
“Hi there, yourself,” she says, her eyes twinkling. “How’d you find me?”
I put up my hands. “Now, don’t count this against her, but Jaslene slipped and told me you were here.” I furrow my brows. “She seemed to think we’d be doing the tour together.”
Lina turns toward the windows. “I wasn’t trying to box you out, if that’s what you’re implying.”
“I’m not implying anything. Was just wondering. Anyway, I’d understand if you didn’t feel comfortable being alone with me in a hotel room. We both know you lack self-control where I’m concerned.”
She faces me and waggles her eyebrows. “You say that as a joke, but it’s totally true.”
“And that’s a problem?”
She wrinkles her nose and puts her hand out in a so-so motion. “Sort of, but I’m starting to get used to it.”
That’s quite an admission, but I know better than to make a big deal of it. I sweep my arm through the air. “So, did you come up with any brilliant ideas about how to use the room?”
Lina presses two fingers to her parted lips as she studies me, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Absolutely.”
My mouth goes slack and my heart bangs around like shutters in a storm. Still, I’m going to be the voice of reason because we’re in what could one day be her place of business. “I like where your head is at, but I should point out the obvious.”
She stalks closer. “Which is?”
I put up a hand. “You never know who might be around, or even whether Rebecca will take a trip up here, in which case”—I bare my teeth—“awkward.”
Dean thinks I have no control. I wish he could see me now. He’d be so proud.
She freezes in place, tilts her head, and purses her lips in thought. “But a kiss couldn’t hurt, right?”
Lina gives the best kisses, so there’s no way I’m saying no to her suggestion. I narrow the distance between us and draw her body flush against mine. She immediately throws her arms over my shoulders and threads her fingers through the hair at the nape of my neck, standing on her toes and angling her head in one fluid sequence. It’s a succession of movements that seems instinctual, as though kissing me is part of her muscle memory.
This kiss is lazy and tender, so my eyes pop open when her hands trail down my back and land on my ass. I groan into her mouth and grind into her, unable to resist the possibility of creating enough friction to get her aroused with our clothes on.
Someone knocks on the door and we freeze.
“Shit,” she whispers.
“Fuck,” I whisper back.
“Lina, it’s Rebecca. Just thought I’d stop by to say hi.”
Lina looks up at me, her lips curled in mock disgust. “You summoned her.”
I grit my teeth. “We don’t have time for pointing fingers.”
She shrugs. “Just play it off. We’re in here working.”
I look down at my crotch, which is sporting an erection of sizable proportions. “That doesn’t suggest we were working. And I don’t even have a jacket to cover it.”
“Get in the shower,” she says. “She’ll never guess you’re here.”
So this is where my life is headed. I’m hiding in showers now.
She widens her eyes and shoos me away. “Go.”
I tiptoe to the bathroom while she strides to the door. As silently as I can, I peel back the curtain and climb inside the tub.
“Hey, there,” Lina says to Rebecca. “I’m almost done here.”
“Didn’t mean to disturb your work, but Bill in reception told me you were visiting, so I decided to swing by.”
“Oh, that’s nice.”
“So what do you think of the room?” Rebecca asks.
“It’s spacious. Huge. Massive. Impressive.”
If I didn’t know any better, I’d think she was talking about my hard-on.
“You think so?” Rebecca asks. “I didn’t realize it was larger than average.”
“Oh yes. Yes, it is. And I should know. I’ve seen quite a few in my day, but this one definitely stands up. Out. Stands out.”
Yep. She’s talking about my dick. Bravo, Lina. Bravo.
“It’s functional yet attractive. And it’s sure to bring pleasure to whomever has the good fortune of using it. The best part, though, is that it’s equipped for significant expansion if you use your imagination.”
That it is, Ms. Santos.
“Well, I’m intrigued,” Rebecca says. “Can’t wait to see your presentation.”
“I’m excited, too.”
The room door opens.
“You coming?” Rebecca asks.
I squeeze my eyes shut.
“Unfortunately, not yet,” Lina says. “But soon.”
“Okay, then. Good to see you again.”
“Yes, great to see you, too.”
After the door shuts, I count to fifteen, then jump out of the tub and leave the bathroom.
Lina’s standing by the window wearing a wicked grin. “You’re such a bad influence on me.”
I pull her to my chest. Within seconds, her gaze grows heavy with anticipation.
“There will be consequences for your shameless behavior, though,” I say.
She gives me a flirty smile. “Oh yeah? When will you apply them?”
I step back and tweak her on the nose. “‘Unfortunately, not yet. But soon.’”
Lina drops her hands to her sides and stamps her foot. “When is soon?”
“When will I get to see your place?” I ask.
“Are you fishing for an invitation?”
Damn right I am. It’d be much easier to fantasize about Lina if I can picture her in her own bed. Or walking around in her underwear and a sheer tank top that hugs her breasts—
“Max,” she says sharply.
“What was the question?”
She blows out her cheeks. “I asked if you were fishing for an invitation to my place.”
Pretending I have a fishing rod in my hands, I throw out the line and reel her in. “Yes, I’m absolutely fishing for an invitation.”