be extraordinarily pleasant.”
My brows furrowed. “Why do you have to be so damned cryptic?”
He chuckled. “Makes life less dull, wouldn’t you say?”
Accepting he wasn’t about to tell me willingly, I sank against the soft leather seat and reached across the centre console, stroking the inside of his thigh over his tan chino shorts. “Not even a little hint?”
“No, I told you, it’s a secret. Just sit back and enjoy the ride,” Ari simpered as my fingertips tantalisingly grazed over the swell bulging at his crotch.
Made cranky by his impervious attitude, I snatched my hand away and began trolling through the music selection on the dash. “Well, Mr Jaeger, you keep your secret, but as punishment, it means you have to put up with my singing for however long we’re on the road,” I singsonged.
Ari groaned humorously as Tim McGraw’s I like it; I love it began blaring through the car’s speakers. “It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.” He chuckled loudly before finally giving in and joining in with me.
After what seemed like hours, we eventually stopped.
“We’re here,” Ari announced, forcing me to drag my head out of the dreary gossip magazine I’d bought along the way.
“Thank fuck for that,” I uttered tossing it aside, making him laugh.
“I honestly don’t know why you bother with that trash; good for firelighters, and that’s about it in my book.”
“It’s amusing, that’s why.” Both of us releasing our seatbelts, we climbed from the car. But the second I stepped out and realised where we were, my doldrum mood disappeared. I squealed excitedly. “Oh my god, Ari, The Sorrento Hotel?” I ran and jumped into his arms, wrapping my arms and legs around him as I peppered his face with chaste kisses, making him chuckle. “This place is gorgeous! Thank you!”
“I was desperate for some alone time with my girl. No distractions, no family, and most importantly, no work,” he murmured, skating his lips along my throat. “Now let’s simmer down and hurry inside before we give anyone else more than they bargained for.”
“Good idea.”
He grinned before slanting his lips over mine in an enticing kiss as he slowly guided me along the length of his well-defined body until the soul of my strappy wedges touched the bitumen. My gaze glued to his beautifully shaped backside, I followed him as he strolled to the boot at the rear of the car. Popping it, he bent to grab my small suitcase first only to elicit a groan as he lifted it. Whoops, my bad.
“What in the devil did you pack in this thing?” he complained, dropping it beside him with a thud. “I said two nights, not a bloody week.”
I struggled to subdue a smile. “Oh…I may have bought a few extras for you know…a little fun.”
Darkening eyes perceptively glinted as the air around us suddenly shifted. “Oh, did you just?” The huskiness of his voice alone did enough to send that all-knowing flutter directly to my groin.
My throat bobbed in anticipation. “I figured it would have been remiss of me to forget.”
“That it would.” Ari’s searing stare rested solely on me as he ventured past, a chuckle eliciting as he caught sight of my broadening grin. “I’ll deal with your glee shortly, but first we have to check-in.”
Inwardly patting myself on the back for my foresight, I trailed behind Ari up the inclined walkway. And once inside the cavernous foyer, he veered off towards reception, and I took off to admire the limestone walls on which the original hotel was initially built back in eighteen seventy-two. But regardless of an exploration that usually brought me great joy, my thoughts quickly detracted from the nuances in the stone winding beneath my fingertips. With an unmistakable air of desire burning around us, it wasn’t surprising.
I pivoted on the heels of my wedges and met the darkened eyes watching me from across the other side of the foyer. Hmm, Ari appeared to be just as distracted as me.
With one ankle crossed over the other and one elbow propped on the marble countertop with his chin resting in his palm, he had tilted his head marginally, paying more attention to me than the receptionist. Even passing her his credit card, he barely glanced her way. Not that she seemed to notice either, or if she had, she never showed it. Her professionalism continued as she handed the card back, along with the key to our room.
“Thank you, Mr Jaeger,” she exclaimed, smiling brightly. “I hope you and your wife enjoy your time here at The Sorrento Hotel, and please don’t hesitate to let us know if there’s anything else you need during your stay.”
Again he briefly looked her way, if only to politely thank her. Sliding his card back into its slot in his wallet, he shoved it into his back pocket, all the while approaching me in smooth, leisurely steps. “I’ll be the gentleman my parents raised me to be and devotedly carry our bags…” Then encircling my waist just as effortlessly, Ari tugged me towards him. Our bodies gently colliding as I closed my eyes and leaned into his broad shoulder, inhaling his divine scent. His lips grazed my cheek as he potently whispered, “…While you run along and find our room.”
The moment my lids flew open and our heated gazes met, I knew I was in for quite the stimulating afternoon—more reason to push the boundaries with him. Just thinking about the possibilities was enough to set the heat aflame between my thighs. Ari typically read my mind and caught my chin between the soft pads of his fingers.
“Wait for me – and don’t undress,” he huskily instructed, staring so salaciously my knees turned to jelly. “I want the pleasure of divesting you of your clothes bit by bit for myself.” His kiss as he pushed his lips against mine was firm and ardent. “Now walk ahead of me, I won’t be far behind. I promise.”
Swiftly shoving my wicked thoughts aside, I scurried towards the bank of lifts and stabbed the button inset in the wall. I fidgeted on the spot, just wishing the damned elevator would just arrive already.
Ari rapidly caught up and stood behind me, brazenly pushing the entire length of his body flush with mine. “Antsy, are we?”
I sagged against his torso, rolling the back of my head along his broad shoulder. “For you, always.”
Determined to keep me on edge, he whispered decadently in my ear, articulating every word, “Feel my cock, Teddy, feel how hard it is for you.” My quickened breath altered to a soft pant as he relinquished his grip on the suitcase handle and grasped my hips, yanking me closer. I quietly moaned and gyrated against him, not caring for the other guests making their way towards us. As timing would have it, the doors on the lift soundlessly slid open, and again he sternly ordered me to go ahead.
Miserably, I obliged and marched inside the car, my frustration only increasing as I spun and saw the smug expression written all over Ari’s face. I made my dissatisfaction known by grunting at him as I stabbed at the button for the second floor, leaving him chuckling at my expense. I loved him dearly, but dammit, he could be such an arse at the most inconvenient times. By the time I’d reached the second floor, the ache between my thighs had amplified. So, when Ari said he wouldn’t be far behind, I sincerely hoped he wasn’t lying. It was torturous enough waiting for him as it was.
Strolling out into an airy hallway, I discovered I only had to walk a few steps before
