The rest of the drive to wherever Eli was taking me, passed by like this, the two of us flirting outrageously and not touching upon the matter of what would happen once I left Frazier Falls.
When Eli parked the truck in front of an immaculate, beautiful, old-fashioned hotel, I smiled.
“This place looks lovely.”
“Wait until you see the inside … and the outside.”
“Okay, now I’m definitely intrigued.”
He pulled our bags from the second-row seat and led me to the entrance, holding the door open for me to walk through.
“Such a gentleman.”
“I have been aspiring to hear you say that since we met,” he joked.
When we reached the reception desk, a well-dressed woman smiled warmly at the two of us. She reached and shook Eli’s hand.
“You must be Mr. Cooper,” she said. “I’m Nina, the manager of the Ruxin Hotel and Spa.”
Eli frowned. “How did you know who I was?”
She smiled bashfully. “Normally, especially on Valentine’s Day, the hotel would be fully booked, but with the horrible weather, and the fact Valentine’s Day landed on a Wednesday this year, we’re fairly quiet. You were the last guest that needed to check in.”
“I suppose that works in our favor,” Eli responded.
I glanced at Nina. “Did you say hotel and spa?”
Nina nodded. “I’m assuming this is your first visit?”
Giddiness danced through me. “Yes.”
“They have Japanese-style outdoor baths,” Eli said as he looked at me. “The reason you needed a bathing suit. Better than me throwing you in the creek, right?”
“Oh, barely,” I teased, feeling my insides fire up with excitement at the idea of a heated bath and a spa. “Eli, you certainly know how to plan an excellent date.”
“Don’t get used to it,” he murmured as we were handed our room key. We made our way into the elevator and up to the third floor. The smell of lavender scented the air. “This was the one great idea I’m likely to ever have on the subject.”
It turned out Eli had booked the best room in the hotel. There was a large balcony which overlooked the beautifully landscaped grounds. Steam curled up through the air from the outdoor baths, smelling of eucalyptus and sandalwood. My muscles turned soft at the mere thought of soaking in them.
“If this is the only good date idea you ever have, then that’s okay,” I said, knowing this was likely the only date we would have. I fell onto the enormously large bed. It was beyond comfortable. Potentially the best bed I’d ever fallen onto.
Eli picked up two white, fluffy robes. “Feel like hitting the spa? Or are you hungry? I have the restaurant downstairs booked for dinner later, but we could always—”
“Definitely the spa first,” I cut in. “Lord knows I need it.”
I threw off my clothes and put on my bathing suit so quickly that Eli burst out laughing. “That’s the fastest I’ve ever seen you undress,” he chuckled. “Had I known taking you to a spa was all I needed to get you naked, I’d have suggested it the first time I saw you.”
“Such a comedian.”
Eli had booked the two of us for several treatments, including full-body massages and facials. We whiled away the afternoon being pampered and spoiled before relaxing in the steam rooms and going for a swim in the large outdoor pool. I kept eyeing the outdoor baths, but Eli shook his head.
“Leave that for after dinner.”
“But they’re calling me. Why can’t we use them now?” I rolled out my lip and gave him my best pout.
He shook his head in resignation. “I may have booked one of them for private use at nine, but you had to ruin the surprise with your impatience.”
I hugged him tightly, startling the other couple who was sitting in the sauna with us. “This is definitely the best date I’ve ever been on.” I lifted my lips to give him a quick kiss. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Thanks for being my date.”
I didn’t have to blush. The woman across from me did enough of it for both of us. Then she gave the man she was with a solid slug to the arm. “See that, Harold? That’s what love looks like.”
After hours spent in the spa, I was tempted to take a nap. I was relaxed, but I shook the sleepiness away in order to get ready for dinner. I slipped on a clingy, dark green dress that I knew Eli would love and looked in the mirror. Who was this woman who looked back at me? I was glowing with happiness, and I had that newfound love look in my eyes. I twisted my hair up, keeping a few errant strands down to frame my face and finished getting ready with red lipstick and dark mascara.
“Wow. Just … wow,” Eli exclaimed when he saw me. He wore the same clothes as before, but considering how good they looked on him, and the fact that they were already dressy, the two of us looked perfectly matched for dinner.
I sauntered over to him and planted a kiss on his lips. “Wait until you see what I’m wearing underneath,” I whispered.
“Are you going to wear it in the outdoor bath?”
“Hardly. But I’m sure we can fit in a quickie between dinner and soaking.”
“Oh, I like the sound of that.”
Dinner was wonderful. The restaurant was nearly empty, so the service was attentive and impeccable. We enjoyed a five-course tasting menu along with champagne while we listened to the sounds of the massive, crackling fire in the restaurant’s fireplace, and the gentle piano music floating through the air.
The entire time, Eli’s hand stroked the side of my leg beneath the table, wandering up dangerously high when he was sure no one was looking. He grazed his hand over mine whenever I moved, twisting our fingers together while staring at me with hooded eyes. His seductive looks were setting me ablaze.
By the time we stumbled back to our room, tipsy and full and aroused, it was all we could do to unlock the door before he removed my dress, revealing the black, lacy, barely-there lingerie I wore.
“What were you hoping for when you brought this with you to visit your sick mom in Frazier Falls?” he asked as he kissed my neck, his fingers skimming underneath the lace of my panties.
“Hey, a girl can never be too prepared, and clearly, I was right to bring it along.”
“Damn straight.”
The lingerie didn’t stay on for long. Eli seemed to ravish me as he took it off, making sure that no part of my body was left unexplored by his mouth and hands. By the time his lips finally found mine again, I was moaning in desperation.
“Eli, this was supposed to be a quickie.” My words escaped on a moan. “We’re going to miss the outdoor bath you booked.”
He flashed his pearly whites at me. “Trust me. I’m not going to last long with you like this. We’ll make the reservation. Let me have my fun.”
He stuck to his guns and continued to tease me, gently biting at my breasts as his hand moved between my legs. My breath caught, and my heart raced. Eli’s hair felt glorious between my fingers. I dropped my hands and clung to his back.
“For the love of God,” I whimpered. “Please hurry.”
He chuckled. “If that’s what you want, then …”
With a single firm thrust, Eli was inside me. He was true to his word. He didn’t last long, but for the time we were connected, he was desperate and passionate and wild.