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Authors: Cheris Hodges

BOOK: Betting On Love
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“What do you want to do about it?” A hint of a smile spread across his full lips.
So many thoughts ran through her mind. She'd come to Las Vegas to do something she wouldn't normally do, to do something that would take her mind off Stephen and his antics. Boldly, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed James wantonly and brazenly, not caring who saw her.
He stepped back, savoring the taste of her kiss and smiling, as if he'd won a million dollars on a slot machine. “That was a helluva good-bye.”
“I'd rather say good-bye after breakfast,” she said. “Come upstairs with me.”
“Are you sure?”
“What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. I want to make something happen.” She winked at him and headed through the door.
James wanted to rip Jade's dress off the moment they stepped on the elevator, wrap her long legs around his waist, and bury himself inside her. He wanted to suckle her breasts until her nipples were swollen and full, but he showed restraint. It wasn't as if he was the type of man to have a string of one-night stands, but from the moment he saw her, sex was all that he'd thought about. Stepping closer to her, he stroked her cheek, then pulled her against his body. A soft moan escaped her throat as she felt his arousal.
He stroked her bare arms and sought out her lips again. “Where's your room?” he asked.
“Fifteenth floor.”
Slipping his hand underneath her dress, he said, “Do you think we're going to make it?”
“Not if you kiss me again. This is wild,” she moaned as his lips grazed her neck and he slid his finger inside the crotch of her silk thong. “As cliché as it sounds, I've never done anything like this before.”
James lifted her leg and wrapped it around his waist as the elevator ascended to the tenth floor. “Neither have I,” he said. He brought his lips down on top of hers, assaulting her mouth with a hot and demanding kiss. James felt her melt against him and nearly lose her balance. He backed her against the mirrored wall, casting a sidelong glance at their reflection. “You're beautiful, sexy, and you're making me so hot right now,” he breathed against her ear.
The elevator's ding alerted the couple that they had reached their destination. Unfurling themselves from one another, they sprinted from the elevator, dashing down the hall to Jade's room. She fished her room key card out of the bottom of her purse while James stood behind her, stroking her back.
The moment they walked into the room, their clothes came off: she clawed at James's shirt as he unzipped her dress. Neither of them thought about anything but getting the other's clothes off. Her dress fluttered to the floor, his shirt was tossed across the room, and they stumbled backward onto the queen-size bed. They broke their kiss for a moment, as if they needed to take deep breaths.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked.
“Yes,” she breathed.
James continued his sensual assault of her body, taking her supple breasts into his mouth one at a time. She pulled at his hips, pressing him against the pulsating heat of her feminine core. Pulling back from her, he grinned. “Where's your purse?”
“Huh?”
“I need a condom.”
Catching on to his joke, she laughed and reached down to retrieve her purse. Jade passed the condom to James and watched as he slid it over his thick erection.
What am I doing? I don't even know this man, but damn he's sexy as hell and I want this. There's no way I'm turning back now... .
He drew her into his arms. “This is crazy, isn't it?”
Jade couldn't think of anything to say. Part of her wanted to tell him that she didn't do things like this, despite what she had in her purse. But the wanton sex goddess inside her said that the time for talk was over. She needed a release, and that was just what James was going to be tonight. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him against her silently, telling him that she wanted him.
At her urging, James parted her thighs and found his way to her heat. It felt so good being inside her, feeling how hot and wet she was. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been with a woman who actually made him feel something other than obligation. Thrusting into her, he reveled in her body, the swell of her breasts against his chest, the curve of her bottom against his hands. What he didn't expect was for Jade to take control of his body the way she did, pressing him back against the bed and straddling his frame. She took the entire length of him inside her, moaning as she arched her back. James grabbed her breasts, teasing her hard nipples with his thumbs as they ground so hard that the bed rocked. He released a guttural groan as she clenched her body around him, seemingly milking his sexual energy. He didn't want to climax, not now, because he wanted to please her as she'd pleased him, but he couldn't help himself.
“Jade, Jade, Jade,” he muttered, lifting her off him and laying her on her back. Using his tongue, he traversed her body as if she were the New World. When he reached the tops of her creamy thighs, he slipped his hand between them, using his finger to tease her throbbing bud.
It was her turn to call out his name as his lips and tongue replaced his finger. Jade's legs began to quake as she was about to come to her own climax. The pleasure that she was feeling was like nothing she'd ever experienced before. No man had ever taken the time to give her body the treatment it deserved, putting her pleasure above his own. She clutched his shoulders as his tongue danced in her G-spot until she couldn't take any more.
“Oh, James!” she exclaimed as she felt release.
Rolling over on his side, he pushed her hair back from her forehead. “You all right?” he asked.
“Um,” she moaned.
“So what happens now?”
Jade shrugged. “I told you I've never done this before.”
“Let's discuss it over breakfast, then,” he suggested, with a smile. “Maybe I can have you for a midnight snack.”
Jade threw her leg over his waist. “I think I like the sound of that.”
CHAPTER 5
Waking up in James's arms didn't feel like the end of a one-night stand. Jade watched him as he slept, and smiled. Never had she been so satisfied and loved so expertly. Maybe it was Vegas, maybe it was the fact that she'd never see him again, that allowed her to be wild and wanton, but what was his excuse? He seemed to get more pleasure out of pleasing than anything else. She didn't know how to deal with the morning after, though, because she'd never had a one-night stand before. If this were a movie, she thought, she would have some jazzy line to say and would be able to go on with her Vegas vacation without a second thought about James Goings. But she knew that wasn't going to happen. This man was burned on her brain, etched in her soul, and flowing through her blood.
This is just lust, pure and simple,
she thought, fighting the urge to stroke the side of his smooth face. Men like James weren't single, and she was sure that the only reason he'd slept with her was that he was as caught up in the “what happens in Vegas” adage as she was.
Just as she was about to drift off to sleep, there was a loud knock at the door, followed by, “Jade, open up!” The voice belonged to Serena. “Are you in there with that dude?”
Jade jumped out of bed, dashed to the bathroom, and grabbed a robe from the back of the door. She opened the door to the room a sliver and peered at her friend. “What do you want?”
“Why aren't you opening the door?”
“Because I don't want to.”
“Ooh, you did it with that man. All right, score one for Jade.”
“Can you go away?” Jade whispered, looking back to see if James had awakened.
“We have plans this morning, remember? Those investors that I told you about are waiting downstairs, at the breakfast buffet.”
Jade slapped her hand against her forehead. “I totally forgot about that.”
“I know where your mind was. But you need to get dressed and to get down there in five minutes,” Serena said. “If you're going to stick it to Stephen Carter, you're going to need money. I didn't wine and dine these fools to let you blow it because you found a, um—how shall I say?—release.”
“I'll be ready,” Jade said. “But you have to go.”
“Tell James hello.” Serena sauntered away. Closing the door, Jade turned around to see James rising from the bed.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Morning. I hate to rush you out of here, but I have a meeting in about three minutes.”
“Wow. So that's how these things turn out?” he asked as he rubbed his eyes.
Shaking her head, Jade forced herself to smile. “What did you think was going to happen?”
“Possibly a replay from last night, but I get it,” he said, keeping his tone light as he slipped on his pants. “Maybe I'll see you around.”
“I hope so,” she said, then dashed into the bathroom to shower.
 
 
As James walked out of Jade's room, he wondered how some people could do this type of thing on a regular basis. Honestly, he felt a little cheap. She had unceremoniously tossed him out of her room without much of a good-bye. He'd always figured that was the man's job. Needless to say, Jade had piqued his interest, but the feeling wasn't mutual. James knew when to walk away. As he headed back to his hotel, he replayed their night together in his mind. It was the best sex he'd ever had, and she was the most passionate woman he'd ever been with. Her taste was still on his lips. Once he got up to his suite, Maurice was there, waiting for him.
“You came to Vegas and lost your mind, huh?” Maurice said. “Who was the woman that you spent the night with?”
“Who said I spent the night with a woman?” James said as he plopped on the bed.
“I would hope that you didn't stay out all night with some man. Was it that chick you brought up there to the game room? Homer is still hot about losing all that money.” Maurice laughed and reached for his cell phone. “What time is it back East?”
“Can you stop calling your wife for two seconds? Why didn't you just bring her with you?” James closed his eyes, and visions of Jade danced in his mind. Opening his eyes and sitting up, he found his brother staring down at him. “What?” he said.
“I'm trying to figure out why you have that goofy smile on your face,” Maurice said.
“What are you talking about?” James touched his cheek, and he was smiling.
“All right, keep it to yourself, but if the sex was that good, then you might want to get her number so you two can hook up again.”
“That's not going to happen. But why are you in my room?”
Maurice cocked his head to the side. “Because we were supposed to have breakfast with those brothers from the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.”
“Oh, yeah,” James said, sitting up and swinging his legs over the side of the bed. “What time is the meeting?”
“Ten minutes ago,” Maurice said. “I'm always late, but you're supposed to be the responsible one.”
Rising to his feet, James smirked at his brother. “So, go make the meeting and apologize for my tardiness. God knows I've done it for you more times than I can count. I'll be down in fifteen minutes.”
Maurice laughed as he headed toward the door. Then he turned around and looked at his brother. “You know you're never going to live this down.”
James nodded, noting the special glee Mo was taking in this temporary role reversal. “Whatever.”
True to his word, James was dressed in a casual suit and sitting at the table with Maurice, Richard Harris, and Raymond Harris fifteen minutes later. Just as he was about to be briefed on what was going on, Jade walked by. She looked great naked, but in her heather and gray bandeau dress, which clung to her curves like a second skin, she looked more alluring. The chatter at the table stopped, and all eyes followed Jade as she and her friend walked by. Rising to his feet, James called out to her. When she whirled around and smiled at him, his heart tightened in his chest and he had to think to breathe.
“James, I didn't expect to see you here this morning,” she said as she marched over to him and hugged him tightly.
“Stalker,” Serena whispered loudly.
“Good morning to you, too,” James replied as he and Jade separated.
Serena smiled smarmily and glanced at the other men sitting at the table. “Are we interrupting business?” she asked.
Richard stood and extended his hand to her. “Not at all. Would you ladies like to join us for coffee?”
Serena shook his hand weakly. “Actually, I've had my fill of coffee this morning. We're just leaving a meeting ourselves.”
Jade smiled and turned to her friend. “I think I can stomach another cup of coffee.”
“Have at it. I'm going to the business center to send a few e-mails,” Serena said, then turned toward the exit.
James pulled an extra chair to the table and held it for Jade to sit down. “So,” she said, “what big business deal did I walk in on?”
“Just a couple of guys bouncing ideas off each other,” James said, unable to stop smiling.
Maybe I am wrong about her never wanting to see me again.
“Well, if you have half the success that Serena and I did, then we're going to need to order champagne,” Jade said, beaming.
“For your restaurant venture?” James asked.
Maurice cleared his throat. “I didn't realize that you were this rude, J.”
“Sorry,” James said, tearing his eyes away from Jade. “Maurice, this is Jade Christian. Jade, this is my brother, Maurice. The wonder twins over here are Richard Harris and Raymond Harris, a couple of Vegas's movers and shakers.”
After everyone had exchanged hellos and handshakes, Jade and James returned to their conversation. “You're going to get back at Mr. Arrogance, after all, huh?” he asked.
“If that's how you see it. I think of it as getting my money back, and I deserve it,” she told him.
“Still sounds like revenge to me,” James declared.
Raymond and Richard finished their coffee and said good-bye to Maurice, James, and Jade. James hoped that his brother would leave the table as well, but Mo had other plans as he ordered another pot of coffee and a crumb cake.
“So, Ms. Christian,” Maurice said as he waited for the server to return with his order, “are you the young lady who my friends say robbed them blind?”
Jade smiled as she poured the last bit of coffee from the carafe on the table. “Yes, and they deserved it because they underestimated me, and that's something that men ought to stop doing.”
“Ouch,” Maurice said. “Feisty. You remind me of my wife.”
“Don't you need to call her?” James suggested.
Maurice nodded and winked at his brother. “Don't eat all the cake, and don't tell my trainer that I've gone off my diet.”
Once Maurice had left the table, Jade smiled at James. “You're not slick. Why didn't you just tell your brother to beat it, kick rocks, or get lost?”
“That would've been rude.” He smiled and fought the urge to kiss her as he'd done the night before. “Besides, I wanted to talk to you about last night and this morning.”
“So did I. I know that things seemed crazy this morning, but I wasn't trying to ditch you, and if I had my way, we'd still be in bed right now,” she said seductively.
“What happens next?” James asked.
“I don't know. I'm going to be working on this business deal and... .”
“And you live in Atlanta and my life is in Charlotte.”
“Long-distance affairs never work.”
James held back a sigh and said, “Then I guess we'll always have Las Vegas.”
“I wish we could've met under different circumstances, maybe when you were still in Atlanta and before I knew that jerk,” she said as she reached across the table and took his hand in hers. “When are you leaving?”
“In a few days.”
“Then that gives us a couple days to spend together and make more memories.” She smiled brightly.
James returned her smile and winked at her. “Let me take you to the Top of the World tonight.”
“What is that?”
“A restaurant that's eight hundred feet away from business, nosy brothers, and girlfriends.”
“And afterward?”
Licking his lips, he smiled. “Then we can do whatever you want to do, clothing optional.”
A wicked grin spread across her face. “Mr. Goings, are you propositioning me?”
“If you have to ask, then I must not be doing something right.”
Jade rose from her chair. “Then I say we have a date. Where would you like to meet?”
“In the lobby of the hotel, and if you have a dress similar to what you wore last night, please put it on.”
“I will,” she said, then walked away. James couldn't tear his eyes away from her tantalizing backside, which swayed like a palm in the breeze. He hadn't even noticed Maurice's return to the table.
“That must have been some great sex, because your nose is wide open,” Maurice said when he sat down.
“Whatever.”
“Could it be that my bitter brother has given up this notion that all women are the spawn of the devil?”
James shot his brother a cautioning look. “Listen, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. She lives in Atlanta and has some serious baggage. You'll never believe who she was dating back in Georgia.”
“Who? Michael Vick?”
“No, and even worse. Stephen Carter.”
“That asshole. The last time Kenya and I went to Atlanta, we almost went to his restaurant. But when I found out he was the owner of the place, I told her I'd rather eat out of a Dumpster than drop a dime in the fool's place,” Maurice spat. “I'll never forget what he did to Ma.”

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