StripperwithSpice, page 5
“Maybe I haven’t made myself clear,” he says. “I want you too.”
When I study his face, I don’t see charm and seduction. I see honesty and my own desire looking back at me.
“But you’re so much younger.”
He shrugs as if thirteen years is nothing. “I’ve wanted you since I met you. During the photo shoot, I didn’t have to pick you up. I chose to.”
“You did?”
The confusion in my mind morphs into something sweeter. Something enticing. It’s as if today is the first day of spring after a long, hard winter. Surely I’m dreaming this.
“I couldn’t even look at you after the shoot. And when you put your mouth on my neck in there just now, I almost lost control and kissed the hell out of you onstage.”
Giddy laughs spill out of me until I cover my mouth. I’m determined to make a fool out of myself, aren’t I?
He looks around as if it finally dawned on him someone could be watching us the whole time. “This is a good job I count on every year. I don’t want to blow it by breaking the rules.”
I find a more comfortable position against the door. “What are the rules, exactly?”
“We have to be careful not to do anything to offend the women. Teasing is what it’s all about. Kissing and making passes are off-limits.”
I take in this new information and process it. “When I first got here, I was afraid it would be one big orgy.”
He shakes his head. “If it was, decent, upstanding women like you wouldn’t come. A lot of these women are married with kids. This weekend gives them a chance to cut loose a little without going too far.”
“That makes sense.” But where does that leave us?
While I frown, deep in thought, he takes my hand, patiently stroking his thumb along my palm. That simple movement shuts off my thought processes, so I pull my hand away.
“Okay, Carlos, you just said you want me. I’m very flattered, but there are a lot of attractive single women here. Besides, you probably have a girlfriend.”
Or even a wife? Please tell me I didn’t just rub myself all over a married man.
He shakes his head. “No. I only want you and I don’t have a girlfriend right now.”
“So what is it about me?” I ask. “We don’t exactly have a lot in common.”
He puts his arm around me and smiles. “You like to analyze everything, don’t you?”
“It’s my job,” I reply with a grin.
“Really? What do you do?”
“I’m a financial analyst at a company called Trendler Trust.”
“Sounds impressive,” he replies. “Do you like it?”
My mouth opens and closes again. Why is this such a difficult question for me?
“It pays the bills.”
Softer than butterfly feet, the fingers of his other hand trace my cheek. “I’m not sure what draws me to you, Janice, but it’s strong. You’ve been through something recently.”
A wall slams down with a bang inside my head. “How did you know?”
He shrugs, drawing me closer to the side of his warm, strong body. The feeling I had during the photo shoot drifts over me again.
“I felt so safe when you lifted me in your arms during the shoot,” I blurt out.
“You are safe. Whatever you went through, it’s all right now.”
Boy, do I feel ridiculous. A much younger guy is making me feel dependent on him. Granted, he probably makes as much or more money right now than I do. For a moment, I let myself close my eyes and revel in the feel of this mysterious—and now caring—man next to me. I like it. What I like even more is how he communicates understanding without words and doesn’t ask me a bunch of nosy questions.
He finally drops his arm. “I’d better get back to work before they fire me. I’ll see you around?”
“Sure.”
See you around. What does that mean? Is he blowing me off? We seem to share something pretty genuine. Okay, so maybe I am his favorite woman this weekend, but tomorrow is Sunday. Come Monday, I’m sure he’ll forget I ever existed.
But I’ll never forget him. He gave me a gift I didn’t expect when I signed up for this event. It’ll have to be enough.
Chapter Four
After returning to my room, I stand in front of the mirror and stare at myself.
He sees something in me.
I do look different. My lips are a little swollen from his kiss and my eyes are luminous with passion. The kiss… It replays in my mind a hundred times.
Did our little hallway tryst really happen? Catching the scent of mesquite, I know it has. Grabbing a hank of my shoulder-length hair, I pull it toward my nose and inhale his essence. It goes straight to the primitive part of my brain, awakening desires so powerful they rush through my blood with violent force.
I want more, damn it! One kiss from a hot man is more frustrating than eating one potato chip. I can’t stop now. It’s unfair of him to expect me to.
Without taking my eyes off the mirror, I strip off my clothes and drop them on the floor. The old Janice would never do such a thing. She’d hang them carefully on the closet hangers instead. The old Janice isn’t here anymore, but who am I?
Watching myself in the sexy bra and panties, I imagine Carlos running his strong, tan hands over them and removing them. I fumble in the nearby gift bag for the magic egg. My fingers brush across the circular ridge of a condom packet until I find what I’m looking for. The box holding the egg opens in my insistent grip.
At last, I have it. The old Janice would wash and disinfect this thing before letting it touch her body. There’s no time. Desire has constricted the entire lower half of me into a vise that must be released.
I take the egg to the luxurious bed and lie down. It’s as if he’s here with me. Otherwise I wouldn’t do this and the big bed would feel as empty as it did the day before. Sweeping a hand into each plunging cup of my bra, I check the hardness of my nipples. They’re already as swollen as they can possibly be, so I don’t waste any more time with them. Instead I imagine Carlos taking one into his mouth and laving it slowly with his tongue. The thought of it arches my back almost to the breaking point.
Half sitting against the bank of pillows at the headboard so I can watch my unrecognizably swollen cunt, I pull aside my drenched thong with one finger. This part of my body is also way past the need for preliminaries. As soon as the egg touches my clit, stimulating me to the bone, I lose control of my entire body, whimpering his name a little too loud.
With my eyes closed, I imagine the pulsing point is his finger, tongue and cock all at the same time. In minutes, powerful waves slam into me. I’m exploding so hard I drop the egg and collapse against the pillows.
I fall from the dizzying heights of nirvana so fast my sighs of pleasure turn to tears. Squeezing the nearest pillow hard enough to knock the stuffing out, I curse him.
“Damn you, Carlos. Why did you have to pay attention to me when we both know I’ll never have you? Why? You should have left me alone.”
* * * * *
The next afternoon, everyone sits inside the familiar ballroom eating a farewell lunch of pizza with assorted toppings. With all the lights on, the room looks much different than it did last night. Did I really give a clumsy lap dance on that stage last night? That I could almost believe. Being tracked down and kissed by Carlos? Not possible.
I’m all too aware of my swollen, tender pussy as I cross my legs. It’s been this way the entire weekend. I awoke this morning from a steamy dream that left my nightgown clinging to my body. Need I mention who starred in it?
Carlos had me up to the wall again, but this time he didn’t stop at pressing himself against me. He tugged off my pants, lifted me, pulled my thighs around his waist and speared me with his hardness. At the moment between waking and sleeping, my womb clamped my entire body in a powerful orgasm.
I hope this restless longing subsides when I return to my normal life. My mind is a box of jigsaw pieces. I’ll never be able to do my job in this frame of mind.
“Earth calling Janice.” I finally notice Zena is waving a slice of pizza in front of my face. “What happened last night? You ran offstage and disappeared.”
“We worried.” Hurt and reproach fills Dorothy’s voice as if she’s speaking to a runaway child.
I can’t tell them. They’ll ask a million questions. A blush I hope they don’t notice steals across my face.
Zena points at me and chortles. “You got lucky last night.”
“Carlos came after me because I was upset. He just kissed me, and I don’t mean on the cheek,” I state.
“Oh, how romantic!” Dorothy exclaims.
“Was he hard?” Zena asks.
I slam down my glass of tea. “Yes, he was hard, damn it. Harder than a steel beam. Are you happy now?”
Zena shrinks in her chair. “Okay. Okay. Excuse me for living.”
“Sorry,” I mutter.
“So are you two going to hook up?”
Hook up? What does that mean? Screw? Date? Have a relationship? None of those choices is too likely.
I cross my arms. “I don’t think so. I’m just flattered he paid special attention to me. That’s all there is to it.”
Dorothy cuts her pizza slice with a fork. “I wish Rolf would try to kiss me. It would have to be on my cheek, of course, because I’m married, but it would be fun.”
The men file in and mingle with the women. Today they wear jeans with skimpy tiger-striped vests that show plenty of muscular flesh. Each also wears a leather necklace that reminds me of an animal collar. I can’t help noting the outfits harmonize with the gold blouse I wore again.
Zena bounces in her seat. “I can’t wait until the raffle. Dorothy, do you realize one of us could get to spend two hours with Rolf?”
The older woman smiles. “I’m sure you’d be a much better date for him than I would.”
“What if one of us wins Carlos or Janice wins Rolf?” Zena’s wild hand movement almost upsets her glass of tea. She’s obviously had more than enough caffeine today. “We have to promise each other to swap if necessary.”
Dorothy scratches her chin. “Do you think that’s allowed?”
“Sure. We’ve also got to meet for a drink this afternoon, especially if one of you wins a man,” Zena goes on. “I want all the gory details of what you do on your date.”
“Demanding little thing, isn’t she?” Dorothy asks me.
We do a group handshake. When I look up, I see Carlos for the first time since last night. From across the room, he flashes me a brief smile but doesn’t approach our table. Instead he talks to a couple of other women.
I can’t drag my gaze away as I watch him talk, smile and laugh. Cactus needles of irritation prickle under my shirt collar when he bends down to hug a woman a little too long as she sits in her chair.
Is he just being friendly or is she his new flavor of the day? Why didn’t I drive home last night while I was ahead? Now that I’ve been his center of attention, I don’t want to give it up. To distract myself, I try to think about the autographed novels, signed by my favorite authors, I bought at this morning’s book signing.
When we’re finished with our pizza, he finally walks to our table with Rolf. I shake my head as Zena and Dorothy grab one arm each and literally pet him as if he’s a dog. Please tell me I never looked that pathetic with Carlos.
“How’s it going, Janice?” he asks me.
Do you really want to know? Let’s see, I used a sex toy on myself last night because you made me so hot and I burst into tears because I want you so much. Then I had a hot dream about you that’ll never come true.
Why give him the satisfaction?
Instead I shrug and peer at my watch. “I’m ready to go home. I have a ton of work to catch up on.”
He stands several feet away and even has his hands in his pockets as if I have the plague. He sure got sick of me fast enough.
“Don’t leave until after the raffle, okay?”
I look down at the orange raffle ticket beside my plate. One of the organizers gave them out to each of us as we entered the ballroom today. Why not torture myself more by seeing some other woman win two hours of time with him?
Maybe it’ll help me forget him.
I cross my arms and the men head to the stage. In minutes, the lights dim and the raffle begins. The announcer plays it up as the grand finale event. Now I really wish I had earplugs so I don’t have to listen. The men do a little dance onstage. As usual, I can’t look at anyone but Carlos. Every swivel of his body reminds me of how perfect it felt against mine in the hall.
After the dance, the other two men stand in a row in the background while Rolf and Carlos go to the front of the stage. They stand with their legs spread and their hands on their hips.
“These two men have generously agreed to give two-hour fantasy dates to two lucky women,” the announcer says. “Ladies, what’s your favorite number?”
“Two!” the crowd yells back.
“They’ll be as chivalrous and charming as a romance hero,” the woman continues in her smooth voice. “But they must be back here in two hours for our staff meeting or they’ll turn into pumpkins. Are you ladies ready to get started?”
The room fills with the most deafening shouting yet.
Come on. Let’s get this over with so I can go home. I’ll have to give Zena a raincheck on her drink. I won’t be able to stand the sight of this building after some other woman wins two hours with my man.
“First up is Rolf.” The announcer leaves her podium to stand next to him as if she’s a game show host again. “Doesn’t he remind you of a virile Viking warrior?”
The audience hoots as if goosed.
“I bet he has a nice big one,” Zena whispers as she clutches Dorothy’s arm.
With a hip-swiveling stride, Cochise brings the announcer a large glass bowl of orange tickets. My stomach lurches when I realize my ticket is in there somewhere. To add to the anticipation, Rolf bows and blows a kiss toward the audience as a drum beats offstage.
The announcer holds the bowl to Rolf. “Will you do the honors? Pick your lucky date.”
Closing his eyes, the big man reaches into the bowl, fingering what appears to be every single ticket in there.
“Ooh, look at how he uses his fingers,” Zena says.
Dorothy jerks in her seat. “I got a chill. I think he just touched my ticket.”
A band of tension wraps around my forehead. Enough with the theatrics already. When will this stupid event be over so I can go home?
At last, Rolf pulls out a ticket and opens his eyes. The organizer grabs it and reads off the number.
“Crap!” Zena exclaims. “It’s one digit off. Wait a minute. That means one of you might have it.”
I look at my ticket, relieved the number doesn’t match.
Dorothy squints at her ticket. “Drat. It’s so dark in here I can’t see it. I think I need new glasses.”
Zena grabs it and jumps out of her chair. “We won! We won! I mean, she won.”
The room erupts with applause. Dorothy pales in the dim light as if she’s in shock.
“Don’t be shy,” the announcer says. “Will the lucky winner please come forward?”
“I’ll take him if she doesn’t,” someone yells from the side of the room.
“You won.” Zena shakes Dorothy’s arm. “Get up there. Ask him if he’ll do a one-hour date with each of us.”
“O-okay…”
Dorothy staggers out of her chair as if she’s a hundred years old and hasn’t walked for the past ten. Zena pushes her in the middle of the back to propel her toward the stage. When Dorothy finally arrives, the organizer verifies her ticket number. Rolf gestures her to come onstage by repeatedly crooking his finger. When she finally does, he pulls her into a hug.
“Congratulations, sweetheart,” he says in his booming voice. “The afternoon is all ours.”
The organizer points to her watch. “The clock is ticking. Now scoot and enjoy every minute.”
My heart pulses in slow, heavy waves when Rolf and Dorothy exit the stage, leaving Carlos front and center.
“And now we have Carlos, our second sexy man. Who wants to date him?”
“Me!” a hundred voices shout at once. Mine is not among them, but the word screams inside my mind.
“Only one of you can date him.” The organizer holds the fishbowl toward him. “Now who’s it going to be?”
With a serious face, he looks out at the audience. Even though he’s far away, his dark gaze hits me with the force of an arrow between the eyes. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he’s looking at me and only me.
As Rolf did, he closes his eyes and digs through the tickets. I should close my eyes too. When I see the woman who wins, I’ll picture them together and it will consume me with jealousy.
When the announcer reads the number he selects, I barely hear it because so much blood roars through my ears. My hand shakes as I hold up the ticket and my brain repeats each number.
Zena looks at me. “Well?”
I stand, almost knocking down my chair. “I won.”
The announcer holds a hand to her ear. “Speak up, honey. Claim your man.”
Oh my freaking God! I won! I won a one-on-one date with Carlos! For two hours! I must look even more shocked than Dorothy had.
“We should’ve sat at that table,” someone yells.
Zena pushes me toward the stage too. “Remember the details. I want to hear all about it afterward.”
Luckily I had the sense to wear flats today. My body trembles so hard I can hardly walk. As I approach the stage, Carlos’ smile is brighter than the sun with a few solar flares thrown in. Like Rolf, he’s a good showman when he decides to be. I’m almost convinced he really wanted me to win.
As soon as I get onstage, he gives me a crushing hug and grips my hand so hard it hurts. Down, boy. This must be part of the fantasy act.
“You look pleased, Carlos,” the announcer comments.
“I am,” he replies. “Can we go now?”
She checks her watch. “Go!”
My mouth is completely dry and I swear my heart is sitting on my tongue as Carlos whisks me offstage. Without a word, he stops at the elevator and pushes the Up button. Where is he taking me? His room?
When I study his face, I don’t see charm and seduction. I see honesty and my own desire looking back at me.
“But you’re so much younger.”
He shrugs as if thirteen years is nothing. “I’ve wanted you since I met you. During the photo shoot, I didn’t have to pick you up. I chose to.”
“You did?”
The confusion in my mind morphs into something sweeter. Something enticing. It’s as if today is the first day of spring after a long, hard winter. Surely I’m dreaming this.
“I couldn’t even look at you after the shoot. And when you put your mouth on my neck in there just now, I almost lost control and kissed the hell out of you onstage.”
Giddy laughs spill out of me until I cover my mouth. I’m determined to make a fool out of myself, aren’t I?
He looks around as if it finally dawned on him someone could be watching us the whole time. “This is a good job I count on every year. I don’t want to blow it by breaking the rules.”
I find a more comfortable position against the door. “What are the rules, exactly?”
“We have to be careful not to do anything to offend the women. Teasing is what it’s all about. Kissing and making passes are off-limits.”
I take in this new information and process it. “When I first got here, I was afraid it would be one big orgy.”
He shakes his head. “If it was, decent, upstanding women like you wouldn’t come. A lot of these women are married with kids. This weekend gives them a chance to cut loose a little without going too far.”
“That makes sense.” But where does that leave us?
While I frown, deep in thought, he takes my hand, patiently stroking his thumb along my palm. That simple movement shuts off my thought processes, so I pull my hand away.
“Okay, Carlos, you just said you want me. I’m very flattered, but there are a lot of attractive single women here. Besides, you probably have a girlfriend.”
Or even a wife? Please tell me I didn’t just rub myself all over a married man.
He shakes his head. “No. I only want you and I don’t have a girlfriend right now.”
“So what is it about me?” I ask. “We don’t exactly have a lot in common.”
He puts his arm around me and smiles. “You like to analyze everything, don’t you?”
“It’s my job,” I reply with a grin.
“Really? What do you do?”
“I’m a financial analyst at a company called Trendler Trust.”
“Sounds impressive,” he replies. “Do you like it?”
My mouth opens and closes again. Why is this such a difficult question for me?
“It pays the bills.”
Softer than butterfly feet, the fingers of his other hand trace my cheek. “I’m not sure what draws me to you, Janice, but it’s strong. You’ve been through something recently.”
A wall slams down with a bang inside my head. “How did you know?”
He shrugs, drawing me closer to the side of his warm, strong body. The feeling I had during the photo shoot drifts over me again.
“I felt so safe when you lifted me in your arms during the shoot,” I blurt out.
“You are safe. Whatever you went through, it’s all right now.”
Boy, do I feel ridiculous. A much younger guy is making me feel dependent on him. Granted, he probably makes as much or more money right now than I do. For a moment, I let myself close my eyes and revel in the feel of this mysterious—and now caring—man next to me. I like it. What I like even more is how he communicates understanding without words and doesn’t ask me a bunch of nosy questions.
He finally drops his arm. “I’d better get back to work before they fire me. I’ll see you around?”
“Sure.”
See you around. What does that mean? Is he blowing me off? We seem to share something pretty genuine. Okay, so maybe I am his favorite woman this weekend, but tomorrow is Sunday. Come Monday, I’m sure he’ll forget I ever existed.
But I’ll never forget him. He gave me a gift I didn’t expect when I signed up for this event. It’ll have to be enough.
Chapter Four
After returning to my room, I stand in front of the mirror and stare at myself.
He sees something in me.
I do look different. My lips are a little swollen from his kiss and my eyes are luminous with passion. The kiss… It replays in my mind a hundred times.
Did our little hallway tryst really happen? Catching the scent of mesquite, I know it has. Grabbing a hank of my shoulder-length hair, I pull it toward my nose and inhale his essence. It goes straight to the primitive part of my brain, awakening desires so powerful they rush through my blood with violent force.
I want more, damn it! One kiss from a hot man is more frustrating than eating one potato chip. I can’t stop now. It’s unfair of him to expect me to.
Without taking my eyes off the mirror, I strip off my clothes and drop them on the floor. The old Janice would never do such a thing. She’d hang them carefully on the closet hangers instead. The old Janice isn’t here anymore, but who am I?
Watching myself in the sexy bra and panties, I imagine Carlos running his strong, tan hands over them and removing them. I fumble in the nearby gift bag for the magic egg. My fingers brush across the circular ridge of a condom packet until I find what I’m looking for. The box holding the egg opens in my insistent grip.
At last, I have it. The old Janice would wash and disinfect this thing before letting it touch her body. There’s no time. Desire has constricted the entire lower half of me into a vise that must be released.
I take the egg to the luxurious bed and lie down. It’s as if he’s here with me. Otherwise I wouldn’t do this and the big bed would feel as empty as it did the day before. Sweeping a hand into each plunging cup of my bra, I check the hardness of my nipples. They’re already as swollen as they can possibly be, so I don’t waste any more time with them. Instead I imagine Carlos taking one into his mouth and laving it slowly with his tongue. The thought of it arches my back almost to the breaking point.
Half sitting against the bank of pillows at the headboard so I can watch my unrecognizably swollen cunt, I pull aside my drenched thong with one finger. This part of my body is also way past the need for preliminaries. As soon as the egg touches my clit, stimulating me to the bone, I lose control of my entire body, whimpering his name a little too loud.
With my eyes closed, I imagine the pulsing point is his finger, tongue and cock all at the same time. In minutes, powerful waves slam into me. I’m exploding so hard I drop the egg and collapse against the pillows.
I fall from the dizzying heights of nirvana so fast my sighs of pleasure turn to tears. Squeezing the nearest pillow hard enough to knock the stuffing out, I curse him.
“Damn you, Carlos. Why did you have to pay attention to me when we both know I’ll never have you? Why? You should have left me alone.”
* * * * *
The next afternoon, everyone sits inside the familiar ballroom eating a farewell lunch of pizza with assorted toppings. With all the lights on, the room looks much different than it did last night. Did I really give a clumsy lap dance on that stage last night? That I could almost believe. Being tracked down and kissed by Carlos? Not possible.
I’m all too aware of my swollen, tender pussy as I cross my legs. It’s been this way the entire weekend. I awoke this morning from a steamy dream that left my nightgown clinging to my body. Need I mention who starred in it?
Carlos had me up to the wall again, but this time he didn’t stop at pressing himself against me. He tugged off my pants, lifted me, pulled my thighs around his waist and speared me with his hardness. At the moment between waking and sleeping, my womb clamped my entire body in a powerful orgasm.
I hope this restless longing subsides when I return to my normal life. My mind is a box of jigsaw pieces. I’ll never be able to do my job in this frame of mind.
“Earth calling Janice.” I finally notice Zena is waving a slice of pizza in front of my face. “What happened last night? You ran offstage and disappeared.”
“We worried.” Hurt and reproach fills Dorothy’s voice as if she’s speaking to a runaway child.
I can’t tell them. They’ll ask a million questions. A blush I hope they don’t notice steals across my face.
Zena points at me and chortles. “You got lucky last night.”
“Carlos came after me because I was upset. He just kissed me, and I don’t mean on the cheek,” I state.
“Oh, how romantic!” Dorothy exclaims.
“Was he hard?” Zena asks.
I slam down my glass of tea. “Yes, he was hard, damn it. Harder than a steel beam. Are you happy now?”
Zena shrinks in her chair. “Okay. Okay. Excuse me for living.”
“Sorry,” I mutter.
“So are you two going to hook up?”
Hook up? What does that mean? Screw? Date? Have a relationship? None of those choices is too likely.
I cross my arms. “I don’t think so. I’m just flattered he paid special attention to me. That’s all there is to it.”
Dorothy cuts her pizza slice with a fork. “I wish Rolf would try to kiss me. It would have to be on my cheek, of course, because I’m married, but it would be fun.”
The men file in and mingle with the women. Today they wear jeans with skimpy tiger-striped vests that show plenty of muscular flesh. Each also wears a leather necklace that reminds me of an animal collar. I can’t help noting the outfits harmonize with the gold blouse I wore again.
Zena bounces in her seat. “I can’t wait until the raffle. Dorothy, do you realize one of us could get to spend two hours with Rolf?”
The older woman smiles. “I’m sure you’d be a much better date for him than I would.”
“What if one of us wins Carlos or Janice wins Rolf?” Zena’s wild hand movement almost upsets her glass of tea. She’s obviously had more than enough caffeine today. “We have to promise each other to swap if necessary.”
Dorothy scratches her chin. “Do you think that’s allowed?”
“Sure. We’ve also got to meet for a drink this afternoon, especially if one of you wins a man,” Zena goes on. “I want all the gory details of what you do on your date.”
“Demanding little thing, isn’t she?” Dorothy asks me.
We do a group handshake. When I look up, I see Carlos for the first time since last night. From across the room, he flashes me a brief smile but doesn’t approach our table. Instead he talks to a couple of other women.
I can’t drag my gaze away as I watch him talk, smile and laugh. Cactus needles of irritation prickle under my shirt collar when he bends down to hug a woman a little too long as she sits in her chair.
Is he just being friendly or is she his new flavor of the day? Why didn’t I drive home last night while I was ahead? Now that I’ve been his center of attention, I don’t want to give it up. To distract myself, I try to think about the autographed novels, signed by my favorite authors, I bought at this morning’s book signing.
When we’re finished with our pizza, he finally walks to our table with Rolf. I shake my head as Zena and Dorothy grab one arm each and literally pet him as if he’s a dog. Please tell me I never looked that pathetic with Carlos.
“How’s it going, Janice?” he asks me.
Do you really want to know? Let’s see, I used a sex toy on myself last night because you made me so hot and I burst into tears because I want you so much. Then I had a hot dream about you that’ll never come true.
Why give him the satisfaction?
Instead I shrug and peer at my watch. “I’m ready to go home. I have a ton of work to catch up on.”
He stands several feet away and even has his hands in his pockets as if I have the plague. He sure got sick of me fast enough.
“Don’t leave until after the raffle, okay?”
I look down at the orange raffle ticket beside my plate. One of the organizers gave them out to each of us as we entered the ballroom today. Why not torture myself more by seeing some other woman win two hours of time with him?
Maybe it’ll help me forget him.
I cross my arms and the men head to the stage. In minutes, the lights dim and the raffle begins. The announcer plays it up as the grand finale event. Now I really wish I had earplugs so I don’t have to listen. The men do a little dance onstage. As usual, I can’t look at anyone but Carlos. Every swivel of his body reminds me of how perfect it felt against mine in the hall.
After the dance, the other two men stand in a row in the background while Rolf and Carlos go to the front of the stage. They stand with their legs spread and their hands on their hips.
“These two men have generously agreed to give two-hour fantasy dates to two lucky women,” the announcer says. “Ladies, what’s your favorite number?”
“Two!” the crowd yells back.
“They’ll be as chivalrous and charming as a romance hero,” the woman continues in her smooth voice. “But they must be back here in two hours for our staff meeting or they’ll turn into pumpkins. Are you ladies ready to get started?”
The room fills with the most deafening shouting yet.
Come on. Let’s get this over with so I can go home. I’ll have to give Zena a raincheck on her drink. I won’t be able to stand the sight of this building after some other woman wins two hours with my man.
“First up is Rolf.” The announcer leaves her podium to stand next to him as if she’s a game show host again. “Doesn’t he remind you of a virile Viking warrior?”
The audience hoots as if goosed.
“I bet he has a nice big one,” Zena whispers as she clutches Dorothy’s arm.
With a hip-swiveling stride, Cochise brings the announcer a large glass bowl of orange tickets. My stomach lurches when I realize my ticket is in there somewhere. To add to the anticipation, Rolf bows and blows a kiss toward the audience as a drum beats offstage.
The announcer holds the bowl to Rolf. “Will you do the honors? Pick your lucky date.”
Closing his eyes, the big man reaches into the bowl, fingering what appears to be every single ticket in there.
“Ooh, look at how he uses his fingers,” Zena says.
Dorothy jerks in her seat. “I got a chill. I think he just touched my ticket.”
A band of tension wraps around my forehead. Enough with the theatrics already. When will this stupid event be over so I can go home?
At last, Rolf pulls out a ticket and opens his eyes. The organizer grabs it and reads off the number.
“Crap!” Zena exclaims. “It’s one digit off. Wait a minute. That means one of you might have it.”
I look at my ticket, relieved the number doesn’t match.
Dorothy squints at her ticket. “Drat. It’s so dark in here I can’t see it. I think I need new glasses.”
Zena grabs it and jumps out of her chair. “We won! We won! I mean, she won.”
The room erupts with applause. Dorothy pales in the dim light as if she’s in shock.
“Don’t be shy,” the announcer says. “Will the lucky winner please come forward?”
“I’ll take him if she doesn’t,” someone yells from the side of the room.
“You won.” Zena shakes Dorothy’s arm. “Get up there. Ask him if he’ll do a one-hour date with each of us.”
“O-okay…”
Dorothy staggers out of her chair as if she’s a hundred years old and hasn’t walked for the past ten. Zena pushes her in the middle of the back to propel her toward the stage. When Dorothy finally arrives, the organizer verifies her ticket number. Rolf gestures her to come onstage by repeatedly crooking his finger. When she finally does, he pulls her into a hug.
“Congratulations, sweetheart,” he says in his booming voice. “The afternoon is all ours.”
The organizer points to her watch. “The clock is ticking. Now scoot and enjoy every minute.”
My heart pulses in slow, heavy waves when Rolf and Dorothy exit the stage, leaving Carlos front and center.
“And now we have Carlos, our second sexy man. Who wants to date him?”
“Me!” a hundred voices shout at once. Mine is not among them, but the word screams inside my mind.
“Only one of you can date him.” The organizer holds the fishbowl toward him. “Now who’s it going to be?”
With a serious face, he looks out at the audience. Even though he’s far away, his dark gaze hits me with the force of an arrow between the eyes. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he’s looking at me and only me.
As Rolf did, he closes his eyes and digs through the tickets. I should close my eyes too. When I see the woman who wins, I’ll picture them together and it will consume me with jealousy.
When the announcer reads the number he selects, I barely hear it because so much blood roars through my ears. My hand shakes as I hold up the ticket and my brain repeats each number.
Zena looks at me. “Well?”
I stand, almost knocking down my chair. “I won.”
The announcer holds a hand to her ear. “Speak up, honey. Claim your man.”
Oh my freaking God! I won! I won a one-on-one date with Carlos! For two hours! I must look even more shocked than Dorothy had.
“We should’ve sat at that table,” someone yells.
Zena pushes me toward the stage too. “Remember the details. I want to hear all about it afterward.”
Luckily I had the sense to wear flats today. My body trembles so hard I can hardly walk. As I approach the stage, Carlos’ smile is brighter than the sun with a few solar flares thrown in. Like Rolf, he’s a good showman when he decides to be. I’m almost convinced he really wanted me to win.
As soon as I get onstage, he gives me a crushing hug and grips my hand so hard it hurts. Down, boy. This must be part of the fantasy act.
“You look pleased, Carlos,” the announcer comments.
“I am,” he replies. “Can we go now?”
She checks her watch. “Go!”
My mouth is completely dry and I swear my heart is sitting on my tongue as Carlos whisks me offstage. Without a word, he stops at the elevator and pushes the Up button. Where is he taking me? His room?
