Las Vegas Honeymoon (5 page)

“Not by Las Vegas standards.” Betty’s eyes darted from Mary’s shoulders, where she smoothed out a wrinkle, and down to her breasts. “Is the gentleman taking you to a formal party?”

“Yes.”

“Then this dress will fit right in.” Evidently satisfied, Betty stepped away, a pleased expression on her face. “With your body, you’ll be the desire of every man there and the envy of every woman. Let’s go out and show the gentleman how lucky he is.”

With a gentle but firm grasp of Mary’s elbow, Betty led her out of the dressing area.

Dan stood and stared as Mary walked toward him. His eyes shot flames of desire in her direction. “You’re gorgeous. We’ll take it.”

“No, please, I’d be too embarrassed.”

“You have nothing to be embarrassed about.”

Would he be angry if she stood her ground? “I can’t, Dan. You know what I mean.”

She looked at the few sample dresses displayed. “What about that red one?”

He turned to look where she pointed. “Try it on. I’ll bet you look great in it.” He hadn’t sounded upset in the least.

Back in the dressing room, Betty quickly divested her of the black dress and replaced it with the red. “This color looks wonderful on you,” she said. “I’ll be right back.”

Very different from the black number, the short-sleeved red dress fit her form perfectly. Its fit left no doubt she had a flat belly, and the bodice nudged her full breasts up for a sexy look. The long skirt fell in soft folds but accentuated her legs when she walked.

Betty returned with a red evening bag and heels. “The gentleman suggested the shoe size. Let’s see how much attention he pays your feet.” The shoes fit as perfectly as did the dress.

“My dear,” Betty said. “The black gown was stunning, but in this you look like a very beautiful lady.” She emphasized the word lady, and Mary knew then she’d found the look she wanted. Sexy, yes, for Dan. But an attractive
woman
—not a sex kitten—for everyone else.

Now, if only that was what Dan wanted, too.

“I’m sure it’s too expensive.” Mary had been playing a game, not paying attention to price tags, which she saw now, weren’t attached to the items. That was a very bad sign.

“It’s not your worry, dear. The gentleman said to give you whatever you liked. I know your size now, so I’ll select some appropriate lingerie.”

Did accepting something so personal send a message to Dan? Did she want to? In the end, it was Dan she’d daydreamed about outside the store, not Ralph. Last night she’d been ready to sleep with Dan, and had even been a little disappointed when he’d apologized this morning.

Don’t be stupid
, she chided herself. A twinge of unhappiness blossomed inside. Seeing Dan again had brought back memories of how she’d longed for him to notice her in school. When he’d taken her to the prom, she’d thought it the beginning of a relationship. Instead, he’d been friendly, but had gone back to dating prettier girls.

When she emerged, Dan stared for a few seconds. His gaze dropped to her feet and then came back to her face. “Wow!” His eyes widened and he shook his head. “You look fantastic.”

Mary breathed a sigh of relief. “I like it too. Do you think it will impress your friends? That’s why you’re taking me to the party, right?”

“Oh, yes, they’ll be impressed. But I’m not taking you for my friends. It’s so you won’t sit at the hotel thinking and worrying. And so I won’t be obligated to entertain all the single women who’ll be at tonight’s shindig. In that dress you’ll put every woman there to shame.”

A glance in the mirror showed her cheeks turning as crimson as the fabric. Betty slipped away, giving them privacy. “I’ll bet you say that to all the girls.”

He gave a lazy smile. “You can think that if you want, but I’m not the charmer you give me credit for.”

She cast him a doubtful look in the mirror. He came to stand behind her.

“Trust me,” Dan whispered in her ear. A tingle skittered down her back.

She wanted to trust him. Very much. But could she?

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 4

 

When Betty appeared from the dressing room, Dan approached her. “Would you deliver both dresses?” He handed her his credit card and a business card on which he wrote the
Marco
Towers
address on the back. “Also, I assume you will choose underclothes and accessories?”

Betty took the card and nodded. “Everything she needs will be delivered this afternoon.”

“That’s great.” Dan strolled into the main part of the store. Mary had been a man’s wet dream in that black dress. She had ripe, full tits, and the dress barely contained their smooth roundness. Her nipples had stood erect, showing their excitement through the fabric, even though Mary’s response had been lukewarm.

Watching her, Dan had come to a decision. She might be vulnerable right now, but forget being only friends. He swore to himself he wouldn’t hurt her, but he couldn’t ignore the strength of his emotion. He’d never dreamed about a specific woman before. Sure, he’d fantasized about sex with women he knew, but he’d never honest-to-God
dreamed
about them. This feeling was fast becoming more than the sum of its parts, more than sex, friendship or concern.

When she’d stepped through the curtain and the material in the skirt parted to show her long legs, his cock had grown rigid and his mouth watered. Above the bottom gemstone, a treasure greater than diamonds had announced its presence. Mary’s arousal had been subtle, but he’d scented it. The dress made her feel sexy, and her body couldn’t help but respond. A feeling of possessiveness overtook him. Mary was more than a friend who needed a strong shoulder, more than a quick few days of fun in a Las Vegas resort. She was special. And she was his. The thought sent shockwaves cascading through him.

He wanted to be the only man who noticed, the one fated to detect her light, woman’s perfume, to know how her nipples felt and tasted when they weren’t hiding below thin fabric, the way her eyes darkened to the color of a polished emerald before she came. Her body offered an assurance in that black dress, and he wanted to be the only person with whom the promise was kept. Somehow, he would persuade her into a replay of last night, and this time, he’d drive all thoughts of that cheating bastard of a fiancé from her mind.

He couldn’t wait for the evening to start. No matter what she wore, he’d be hard for her during the party, anticipating what he had planned for afterward. And, call him shallow, but a part of him also liked knowing other men would admire her and envy him. He wanted to see hot desire in their eyes and know he was the man taking her home. They would imagine he’d be stripping her down, and sinking into her tight, hot pussy. And that was exactly what he intended.

He returned to the counter where Betty carefully wrapped the red dress. “I’d like you to include the nightgown on the mannequin.” The pureness of the white and the delicacy of the embroidered rosebuds suited Mary’s sweetness.

Suddenly, his mind conjured very impure images of the gown and Mary wearing it. His cock grew harder yet. He pictured her braced on the railing of their balcony, the bright, neon lights of the Strip making the dead of night appear light as twilight. He stood behind, hands on her hips, dick sunk hilt-deep in her wet heat. He’d hear her whimpers and moans of desire over the noise of the traffic below. And when she peaked, her trembling would set him off. He’d reach up to cup one of her beautiful tits and then he’d come, and come, and…

“Sir?”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“I said not to worry. I’ll certainly take care of everything. Is there anything else? Perhaps a day dress for sightseeing?” Betty raised her brows. If she hungered for a sale, it didn’t show. She was a hell of a good salesperson.

“Why don’t you choose something? An outfit both of us will appreciate. Do you understand?”

Something flickered in her eyes. “I have something in mind.” She handed back his credit card and slid a sales slip across the counter, the total left blank. “If you’ll sign here? I’m sure you’ll find our quality and service to be the highest, but should there be a problem, please let me know.”

“Thank you. I’m sure we’ll be very happy with the purchases.”

With impeccable timing, Mary emerged from the dressing room. “Thank you very much for your help,” she said to Betty.

“My pleasure. I hope to see you again. You have a perfect body for our line of clothing.”

Mary blushed, one of the things Dan loved about her.

The word slammed to the front of his mind and he shook his head again. She was special, sure, but did he love her? He wanted her, he craved her, but love was a lifetime thing. Was he ready for that? He’d never thought so before.

An image flashed through his mind. Mary in the sexy black dress, him sporting the world’s biggest woody, and Elvis proclaiming them man and wife.

 

* * * *

 

After shopping, Mary returned to the
Marco
Towers
while Dan headed to the MGM. She poured a glass of wine and settled on the sofa with a book she’d purchased in the airport on the way to Las Vegas. Tears had kept her from seeing the words when she’d tried to read on the plane. Now thoughts of Dan did the same thing. After reading the same paragraph four times, she put the book aside and took her wine and thoughts out to the balcony.

Below, the sidewalks teemed with people and traffic jammed

Las Vegas Boulevard

. Mary looked at the scene but didn’t see it. Instead, she remembered Dan’s body as he stood beside the bed last night. Legs like tree trunks supported him. Taut ropes of muscle played across his shoulders. Curly hair covered his chest, then tapered to an arrow point across his flat stomach and to his groin where his erection, long and hard, said he wanted her. She’d been too far gone with need to care then whether he wanted
her
or any female body, but now she wanted to know. Today, when she walked out of the dressing room, she thought she’d seen something more than random desire, and a thrill had run through her.

In school, she hadn’t fit into Dan’s world. She’d been fat and geeky, and he’d been one of the most popular boys. Cheerleaders or flashy girls with D-cup breasts had been more his style. Still, he’d been nice to her. When he stopped to say hello in the hall, always with girls hanging on both arms, she hadn’t felt invisible.

Now she wasn’t fat. In fact, judging from her reflection dressed in those expensive gowns, she had a half-decent body. Maybe now she could discover if Dan had ever, in his wildest moment, cared for her the way she had for him.

Correction. The way she
did
care. The daydream outside the dress shop at The Venetian had initiated a wealth of emotion. She might have been ready to marry Ralph, but it was Dan who ignited a fire in her, who made her feel sexy and desired.

Maybe because she’d learned of Ralph’s lies, she now realized other things. Like his demand that she always comply with what he wanted to do, or what he thought, or wished. She’d fallen in line almost without thinking. Years of believing she would never be attractive enough to find love had left her without the confidence to stand up to him. Now she knew how wrong she’d been.

Ralph had exposed her to their friends and family as a fool. If he’d loved her, he would have cherished and protected her. For most of her life she’d thought herself unattractive and unworthy, but it was Ralph who wasn’t worthy, of her love or her loyalty.

On the other hand, Dan had backed away last night because he feared she was doing something she’d regret. He hadn’t wanted her hurt. Well, she wouldn’t let him back away again. Tonight if necessary, she’d follow him to his room. She’d strip down and straddle him, and make him take her, all night, just as he’d promised the night before. There’d be no regrets because being with Dan was what she wanted. Her childhood dreams had a chance of coming true if she took the steps needed. Tonight she’d start.

 

* * * *

 

“Hey, Buddy, how’s it going?” Pete Saunders held up his empty glass to the bartender and nodded that he wanted another.

“Fine,” Dan answered. He’d been here schmoozing with clients and corporate employees all afternoon. In years past he hadn’t minded this kind of thing, but today pictures of Mary in those two dresses kept interrupting his thoughts. He wanted nothing more than to be at the
Marco
Towers
, making sweet love to her. He hoped Mary would understand he wanted to be more to her than a shoulder to cry on after her wedding fiasco, that he wanted to be the man to make her forget all about What’s-His-Name.

Pete seemed not to notice his reticence. “Louise Parker is in the room next to mine,” he confided in a low voice, “and there was wall banging going on all night. I think I heard more than one man, too.”

“One thing about Louise,” Dan replied just as quietly, “she aims to please.”

“Brings back memories, doesn’t it?”

Dan snorted a laugh. “Yeah, it does.” A few years ago, he and Pete had shared a memorable night with Louise, making her the center of a sandwich. At some point during the night, the two men had switched places. Louise hadn’t seemed to care who had her front or back, she’d been insatiable either way. Strange that now Dan felt only mild curiosity about who Louise had been with, and not a desire to repeat his night in her bed. Pete could have all the crazy nights of wild sex, sharing multiple partners. Dan wanted only one woman right now, and she was back at the
Marco
Towers
.

“If you’re interested, I think I can get us dates for the thing tonight. Maybe share a few drinks in my room afterwards? The evening might turn out to be pretty interesting. The four of us could give Lou a run for her money, what do you say?”

“Thanks, but I already have a date.”

“Well, bring her along. The more the merrier, I always say, especially if it’s women. You always did have good taste.”