Modern Girl's Guide to One-Night Stands (4 page)

She laughed nervously and nodded. “Sure. Another drink will be great. Bushmills. On the rocks.”

“I’m Simon, by the way,” he said, and held out his hand for her.

Unlike the guy earlier, Julia wasn’t put off by this man. He was charming and casual, and somehow found his way under her defenses. She took his hand, and smiled. “Juliette.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Juliette. That’s a pretty name.”

“I hate it. My mom was a literature professor. I guess it could have been worse. I could have ended up with a name like Ophelia or Hester.”

“I like it,” he said, and smiled.

And oh, that smile.
With that messy mop of curly blond hair and that close beard, Simon looked like sex on a stick when he smiled. He wasn’t being lascivious or vulgar, but there was something in his look that made Julia’s insides go melty.

“Just call me Julia. That’s what my friends usually call me,” she blurted.
Smooth.
He said he liked her name, so the first thing she did was tell him to call her something else.

“Julia,” he repeated.

The word slipped out of his lips like a caress, and for the first time in her life Julia felt like doing something reckless.

Four months.
It had been four months since she’d last been with a man. With Luke. And even then it was utilitarian. She wanted to erase the memory of Luke from her body, and Simon might just be the man to do it.

When the drink came, he picked up his glass and tipped it in her direction. “Usually the only people I meet in this bar are convention-goers. It’s nice to meet a real person for a change.”

Instead of bringing her glass up to meet his, she threw back the contents in one gulp. If she was going to do this, she would have to do it now before her nerve was gone. She took a deep breath and faced him. “I’ve never been into the bar scene. Even when I was in college," she started, and Simon looked like he was preparing for her to blow him off. He probably wasn’t expecting what came out of her mouth next. “This getting-to-know-you chitchat has been lovely, but why don't we go back to my room?”

He just stared at her. Not exactly the reaction she was hoping for. Maybe she’d been too forward? The guy earlier seemed to think her refusal meant she wanted more. Maybe that’s what he was expecting. She despised games. If that's what dating was like now, Julia was doomed.

“I’m not sure I understand. You mean…like join you for a drink back in your room?” he asked.

“We can have a drink, too. The bar in the room is fully stocked.” She looked down at her hands and back up again, her confidence fading. This wasn’t going how she'd pictured it in her head. And as usually happened when she got nervous, words came tumbling out of her mouth. “I have this big room all to myself and I find you extremely attractive. When I saw your friend go off with that waitress, I thought you might be interested. I’m sorry if I read the situation wrong. Just forget I said anything.”

Julia picked up her coat and walked as fast as she could toward the entrance. What had she been thinking? She’d never been so embarrassed in her life. Thankfully she hadn’t checked out. She was going to go back to the room and hide until the entire lobby was empty, Simon included. That way she could sneak out.

She was almost to the elevator when Simon caught up with her. Now she was even more confused. Was he taking her up on her offer or just going back to his room? His expression was blank, and she couldn’t read him. Was he playing games with her? She walked into the open elevator and pushed the button for her floor. He didn’t follow her in. He looked as though he wanted to say something.

“Well?” she asked.

Just as the doors started to close, Simon pushed into the elevator and stood beside her. Neither of them spoke as the car began to rise. She watched his reflection in the mirrored doors. The way he was
staring at
her, as if he wanted to push her against the wall of the elevator. She glanced down at his lips, wondering what they tasted like. She could just imagine those full lips pressed against her skin, licking and sucking at her flesh.

“Just to be clear, we are talking sex, right?” he asked point blank, startling her out of the lovely daydream. He was unashamed as his eyes traced down her body.

Her skin ached under his attention, desperate for contact. Her cheeks burned, but she nodded. “Yes.” The word came out more breathy than she’d intended.

He just nodded. Did that mean he wanted to, or was he just confirming that she’d thrown herself at him? She should just tell him she’d changed her mind.

When the doors opened, Julia stepped into the hallway without looking back, and Simon followed silently. She reached her room and unlocked the door. The digital light flashed from red to green, but instead of opening the door, she turned around and looked up at him.

This was the point of no return. There was a voice in the back of her head telling her to stop, but it was drowned out by the deafening beat of her racing heart. People did this all the time. She just need to be safe. She should text Megan with his name. She could set up a safety call. They’d use protection.

Protection. Shit.
That was a problem. She really hadn’t planned on this happening.

“Please say you have a condom,” she blurted out before she’d realized what she was saying.

It wasn’t the smoothest way to introduce the topic, but she wasn’t about to invite him into her room without knowing. Simon just laughed. Julia didn’t see the humor in her question. She’d dodged a bullet with Luke. There was no way she’d gamble with her health again.

“I’m not kidding. If you don’t, that’s a deal-breaker."

“I do. I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t prepared,” he said, the humor still in his voice. “I didn’t mean to laugh. It’s just I find your forwardness refreshing.”

He took a step closer and Julia pressed against the door. They needed to get inside, because if he touched her, she was almost positive she’d jump him in the hallway.

“Julia, are you sure about this?” Simon asked. “If you’re having second thoughts, I’m happy to just have that drink and talk. Just let me know.”

She was as nervous as a rabbit, twitchy and hesitant, ever since they’d boarded the elevator. The confidence she’d had in the bar seemed to have completely vanished. He was trying to prepare for her rejection, and he’d go without argument, but not without her number. It had been a really long time since he’d enjoyed just talking to a woman.

She turned around and pressed her forehead into the door, and Simon couldn’t help but feel disappointed. He waited for her to say something. To ask him to leave. To tell him it had been a terrible mistake. But she didn’t say a word. With a long exhale, she stepped back and opened the door.

“You’re a really nice guy, Simon. I’m glad I met you tonight.” She stepped into the room and turned around, meeting his gaze. That determined look was back, but there was also something else. There was a rosy hue to her cheeks and her breath was shallow and fast. It was the look of desire, and on her, that look shot right to his dick.

“I haven’t changed my mind,” she whispered. “Come inside."

Julia turned and left him standing in the hall. That was all the invitation he needed. Simon caught the door before it closed and followed her in.

She’d left the lights off and he watched her walk through the room to the bar. She set down her purse and key before turning back, her body silhouetted against the lights of the city from the open window. He took a few hesitant steps in her direction, but she was the one who crossed the room to meet him. She grabbed his shirt, pulling him in for a kiss.

It was better than he imagined. Her lips were warm and inviting and tasted sweet, with just a hint of whiskey. He pulled her body flush to his, eliciting a gasp from her. He took advantage of her surprise to deepen the kiss, and she immediately responded in kind. She slid her hands to the front of his shirt, trying to undo the buttons with a new sense of urgency. After fumbling with the buttons for a few seconds, she broke the kiss and took a step back, breathing heavy.

“Take it off,” she said.

Gone was any trace of the shy girl he met in the bar. She was replaced with a sexual goddess, demanding and wanton. And if the look in her eyes was any indication, she wanted this as much as he did. As he pulled his shirt off, she made short work of her own sweater. The bulky garment hit the floor and Simon’s fingers faltered when he caught sight of her bare flesh.

With her short stature and small hands, he had expected a thin, delicate woman, not the lean, muscular body that stood before him. Her creamy complexion took on an ethereal glow in the low light and he wanted to worship her body with his mouth. But when she turned and walked through the room, he knew exactly where he wanted to start. Running from her left shoulder down the entire length of her back was a stunning black tree dotted with blood red flowers. He usually didn't like tattoos on women, but this complimented her curves. It was true art on the canvas of her body. And it was the sexiest thing he’d ever laid eyes on.

Suddenly realizing he was standing in the entry, drooling over her instead of moving, Simon followed her to the bedroom, now desperate to touch her. He came up behind her and cupped a breast, running a finger across the nipple. She pressed into his hand. Simon navigated them back to the bed while trailing kisses and bites along her neck and shoulders. Vanilla filled his nose and that delicate scent made him want to lick and taste every inch of her.

When they reached the bed, she turned to face him. Simon took a moment to appreciate the hot blush that bloomed atop her breasts as he watched them rise and fall in time with her ragged breathing. He moved in to taste them, but she stepped aside and stripped off her pants and underwear. When she reached for the bra, Simon stopped her.

“Don’t,” he said and teased the nipple through the lace.

No, he wanted to be the one to take off the bra. But for now he wanted it to stay. He loved the way the red lace framed her breasts as if they were being presented to him on a tray, begging to be nipped and sucked. He leaned down and kissed the soft swells, giving each one his full attention. Then he reached around and released the hook, taking a now-free nipple into his mouth.

Words like “harder” and “don’t stop" drifted down to him on breathy gasps as he sucked and teased. Her nails raked across his shoulders, telling him exactly how much she was enjoying it. Simon knew he’d be wearing evidence of this tryst for days to come, and he loved the thought.

He pushed her down to the bed and took a step back, intending to rid himself of his pants, but when he saw her there, flush with arousal, spread out on the bed still panting, he stopped again to admire her. The little freckles peppered her skin. Her auburn hair fell loose around her face. She had this mix of innocent and vixen that didn’t come across as fake or coy. He wondered exactly who she was, because Julia wasn’t like the women he was used to.

“Where did you come from?” he said under his breath.

She looked away, shying under his attention. “Too much talking. I want you, Simon.”

“Oh, yeah? What is it you want? Tell me and I’ll give it to you.”

“I want you to touch me,” she said softly, looking back up at him under thick lashes. In the dim light, he could see the need in her expression, and he was happy to oblige.

“Where do you want me to touch?” Forgetting his pants, Simon got down on his knees and smoothed his hand up her thigh. When he reached the top, his hand slid between her legs, barely brushing her soft curls. “Here?”