Her Cocky Client (Insta-Love on the Run Book 5) Read online

  Nick’s got me pinned against the wall. I squirm with pained pleasure. The sensation is almost too much to handle as he slides into me all the way, then drives in more quickly. And again. He sinks into me. Every strike bumps me against the wall. My shoulder blades scrape the harsh surface and his nails prick my bare ass, but pleasure builds deep inside me.

  His mouth covers mine again, clashing our teeth together. I needed this so badly that all it takes to get me to the edge is Nick sliding a finger past my asshole as he fucks me hard. My pleasure erupts. My legs quake as the euphoric rush washes over me, stretching on as he continues to bury himself as far as my pulsing womb will allow. I begin to think this orgasm will stretch on forever, and Nick seems to want that too.

  He does what he came here for. Nail me. Make me come. And hopefully, blow his load before I ask him to leave. I press my teeth against his earlobe, just to help him along a bit.

  “I like the way you fuck me,” I moan, and he tenses against me, grunting and gasping for air as he erupts so deep inside of me.

  “Fuck,” he groans low, his breath scraping my neck.

  He slowly sets me back down on the floor. I’m pretty satisfied with myself. The edge is off, my leg muscles ache in a good way, and I even enjoy bending over to find my underwear and pants in the darkness. The only downside is that I keep wondering how much better he’d be if I gave him more time. Can the next orgasm he causes end up driving me out of my head? How good is he at muff diving? What will it feel like to ride him? What about if we try it on a bed next time?

  I remind myself that there’s no place for stupid questions like that. One time is one time. I’ve got a shower to take and a meeting to get to.

  I pull my clothes on and feel for the door, smoothing my shirt as I turn to look at him.

  “Nice meeting you, Nick.”

  “Same here,” Nick rumbles.

  New desire flows through me. If I didn’t have somewhere to be, I would probably let him throw me back on my bed and get the answer to a few questions right now. Opening the door, I let Nick slip out into the quiet hallway.

  “Maybe I’ll catch you after your meeting,” he offers.

  “At the bar?”

  I hear myself answer, and immediately want to kick myself for acknowledging that I want round two. There are no round two’s in one-time fucks. I’m breaking a rule that’s probably written on a bathroom wall somewhere. I came to Oak Resort with a very specific purpose, to lock down a deal. I can’t afford to get distracted. Also, as hot as Nick is, one random hookup is enough. Two would leave me wanting a third.

  Then again…

  “Room two-seventeen,” he tells me. “I should be there by seven.”

  Why not? It’s close to Christmas. My early dinner meeting will be over. The deal will be sealed. I’ll have a reason to celebrate.

  And then I’ll never have to see Nick again.

  Chapter 3

  Nick

  After a quick shower, there are still two hours left till my meeting. I put a fresh suit on and head back to the front of the resort, thinking I’ll kill some time by grabbing a bite to eat.

  Lily clouds my thinking. Specifically, her firm body, easygoing nature, and her tight cunt. Suddenly, I’m not so eager to get to Florida and into the bikinis of a stranger or two. Not every random woman is fun to be around. Some can be downright uptight, demanding, and clingy. The way Lily just let me fuck and run makes me want to hang on for a while.

  That time against the wall was just an appetizer.

  Now, I want the five-course meal.

  Already I’m formulating ideas for the evening ahead. I haven’t seen her naked. There’s a whole lot I want to see and do with that body. The image of her nipples sticking up from her round, full breasts as she lies back on my bed causes a groan to rumble up from deep in my chest. I push it down before it becomes audible.

  Soon.

  I’ll take care of this meeting, wrap up one hell of a deal, and will have the rest of the evening to play in Lily’s playground. For now, I focus.

  The resort’s dining room is just as dead as its bar, with only a few occupied tables. The hostess shows me to a little oval one by the back wall. I order a scotch and settle down into the cushioned chair. Reaching for the menu, I look up and freeze.

  Lily is here, speaking on her cell, seeming stressed as she leans forward in her seat halfway across the dining room. She’s wearing a different outfit, but I wonder if I can catch a whiff of her and find that my scent is still all over her. She hasn’t noticed me. Gerome Forer should be here soon, but I can’t resist pushing away from my table and heading over to her.

  “Everything all right?” I ask.

  Her lips purse in annoyance, but as she drops her phone and looks up, her expression relaxes. Our eyes lock. Her mouth falls slightly open. I’m pleased to see my presence makes her eyes light up.

  “I’m actually waiting for a potential client,” she smiles. She checks her phone. “But now he’s twenty minutes late and he hasn’t answered my calls.” Her face falls again, clearly mulling over her client meeting. I take the seat next to her without asking.

  “Something probably came up,” I tell her. “That’s why he hasn’t gotten in touch. This snowfall is getting pretty serious. Have you looked outside?”

  Both our heads turn to the swirling mass of white on the other side of the windows. The sun has only just set, but the storm makes it seem dark as midnight beyond the snow.

  Lily’s elbows come to rest on the table and her head drops forward. “I can’t believe this.”

  “Hey, let me buy you a drink.”

  “I don’t need a drink,” she mutters at the mistletoe centerpiece. “I need a contract.”

  “The client will reschedule.”

  She finally looks at me. “Or hire someone else.”

  I shrug. “Then fuck him.”

  She looks appalled.

  “Seriously,” I say. “If he’s so eager to sign without meeting you, he’s screwing himself. Fuck him.”

  Her eye twitches.

  My waitress finds me and sets my drink on Lily’s table.

  “A bottle of Merlot,” I tell the waitress. “Two glasses.”

  Lily slumps back in her chair when it’s just us again. “I wish I could say that. Fuck him, I mean. But it’s not so simple.”

  I scratch my jaw and think about what to say next. With all the profanity being uttered, the only thing I can think about is getting Lily back to my room so I can do just that to her. I’m almost too relaxed around her to say anything that doesn’t have to do with me being inside of her.

  “What’s so important about this meeting?” I ask.

  “I’ve never been invited to pitch for a deal this big. I’m the small fry startup, and for the first time, a major news media organization is open to working with us. That’s a huge deal in this brave new online world. But don’t let me bore you. I’m a software designer.”

  I blink and stare at her. “And that’s for which news media company again?”

  “Tapped.”

  It takes a moment for me to get my jaw moving. “Interesting,” I breathe out.

  Lily looks at me like I’m crazy. “What?”

  I clear my throat. “We’re here to meet the same guy. Gerome Forer, right?”

  Her eyes go wide. “What?”

  “So, that’s a yes.”

  “I don’t understand,” she mutters in confusion.

  “I do. Mr. Forer is a busy man. Meeting us both on the same day makes sense.” I look around the room. “I’d put money down that one or two of these restaurant patrons are also here for the same reason.”

  Lily’s lips part and she sputters. “B… but...”

  “Hey. It’s not a huge deal. At least we can fill our time…creatively.” I chuckle. “Here’s an idea. Room service. I’ll take the wine up to my room, or yours.”

  Her face darkens. “This isn’t fun and games for me. It is a big deal.”


  I cock my head. “It was a meeting. We’re early on in the process. You really thought Forer would show up and just hand you the gig?”

  “A girl can hope. Or maybe you just assumed he’d give your company the contract,” she snaps.

  I recoil back. The viciousness is a new side to her. Still, if she’s a startup, she just doesn’t have a clear idea about how long these business deals can take to finalize. I decide I won’t hold it against her.

  “Wait a second,” Lily says. “Are you… are you Nick Marshall?”

  I nod. “In the flesh.”

  All the color drains from her face. “That’s why you can laugh.”

  “All right, now you’re really not making sense.”

  “You’re one of the top dogs in this niche area. I’ve heard about you. Your firm is well-positioned. Losing another client is no big deal to you.”

  Her words are full of spite. They get under my skin and prick me like a thousand tiny knives.

  “Now hold on a second. Don’t just assume you know how important a deal is or isn’t to me.”

  She stands. “I need to get out of here.”

  “You’re not serious.”

  “I just had sex with my competition. I’m about as serious as I can be.”

  Lily grabs her purse and stalks off.

  Chapter 4

  Lily

  Way too much is going through my head. I can’t process it all right now. I need to get away from this lodge. Ideally, it would mean seeing Mr. Forer today. Heck, I’d take anyone from Tapped who would listen and have the decision-making authority to tell me yes.

  I also need to forget that I just fucked my competition up against a wall—and I liked it so much, I was about to go back for seconds.

  “Miss Henderson?”

  The restaurant hostess steps towards me, a slip of paper in her hand. “A call just came in for you.”

  I nearly rip the paper from her hand.

  Lily,

  I regret having to miss our meeting. As I’m sure you know by now, the roads are impassible due to the snowstorm. Feel free to contact my office after the holidays to reschedule. Happy Holidays,

  Gerome Forer

  I stare at the hostess. “The roads are that bad?”

  She wrinkles her nose and nods. “Unfortunately, yes.”

  “And taxi cabs aren’t available?”

  “I’m sorry, Miss Henderson. The front desk has been working hard to arrange taxis and shuttles for some of our other guests. Sadly, we have not been successful. The roads are closed in several places, so until the storm passes, I’m afraid that we’re all stuck here.”

  The note falls to my side. “Thanks,” I mutter.

  “Let me know if you need anything else.”

  Snowed in. I’m actually snowed in. I’ve lived on Staten Island my whole life and this has only happened maybe once or twice before. But now here I am, stuck in New Jersey, on the wrong side of the bridge, and the most important meeting of my career ends before it gets started.

  I need that Tapped deal. I need it bad. I’ve spent months creating this new digital platform. It’s perfect, exactly what Tapped needs.

  And if I don’t sell it to them…

  I can’t even think about that. After multiple loans and months of putting a job on hold so I can design and get my business off the ground, this deal is my last hope. If it falls through, I’ll have to move out of my apartment. I’ll be back living with my parents. I might even be back to working at the family deli. My NYU education will have amounted to nothing. I’ll be starting all over, desperately searching for clients and deals.

  I’ll be royally fucked.

  No.

  That’s not going to happen.

  Taking a deep breath, I look across the dining room. Nick is in the same spot, reading what must be another note from Mr. Forer. He doesn’t even flinch. Because this would probably be a fun pet project. His company is so successful, he’s got offices in Silicon Valley.

  He’s my competition, and he may be set for life, but I could use a dick between my legs. I head back to him and take the seat I left. He looks up without a trace of surprise.

  “Too bad about that meeting,” he says.

  “Yeah,” I answer.

  The waitress arrives with the wine. We’re quiet while she pours. After she leaves, Nick pushes my untouched glass towards me.

  “Go ahead,” he says. “Have a drink. You may as well help me finish it before we leave.”

  “We’re not leaving. We’re snowed in.”

  The wine glass stops halfway to his mouth. “You’re not serious.”

  “Ask the hotel reception. We’re stuck here.”

  “Fuck.” Nick sets his wine glass back down. He’s only disappointed for a split second because his lips turn up into a playful smile. “Cleared schedules and nowhere to go can be a good thing.”

  “Are you serious right now?” I say, but I don’t mean a word. After all, I was thinking the same thing, which is why I’m back at his table. But I like keeping a guy on his toes. He needs to work for it. I want to see if he’s any good at talking a woman down from a ledge.

  “Not at all. Who wouldn’t want to get your hot little hands all over me again?”

  “Uh, me,” I say, raising my hand for effect. “I don’t fraternize with the enemy.”

  His mouth draws into a tight line. “You’re not my enemy. We’re like David and Goliath. Do you know that story?”

  “Are you trying to say I’m too small to be in contention?”

  “No, I’m saying I’m Goliath, and you…you’re the annoying fly that buzzed around David’s face as he readied his slingshot.”

  My blood boils. “You think I can’t get this deal right out from under you?”

  “Well sure, you can be under me, but I’d still land the deal.”

  “You’re a piece of work!” I screech.

  “I am.”

  “You’re my competition. And you know what? I’m glad to learn what a massive prick you are…and I’m not talking what’s below the belt.”

  “Those are pretty strong words.”

  “Yeah, well...”

  He cuts me off. “Yeah well nothing. Us being competitors doesn’t give you an excuse to be so rude. All I was suggesting is that we just enjoy our time here. It sounds like we’re snowed in and not going anywhere.”

  “That’s easy for you to say. This contract is just another one to you, another notch on your belt.”

  I didn’t mean for my words to have a sexual connotation, but they did. I look away, cheeks burning hot.

  “You seem to have an anger management issue.”

  I glare at him. He hasn’t seen anything yet. But really, I’m not frustrated with him. He’s just the easy target. It’s this situation. I was counting on having a real shot with Tapped. The fact that Mr. Forer blew me off says a lot about how important I am to them. This afternoon has turned into a mess. The only right thing to do is get out of here, and even that can’t happen.

  I grab the wine glass and down half of it in one swallow.

  Nick reaches a hand across the table and cups my cheek. “You should know…I’m hard as fuck right now. I love a little rage in my women.”

  Anger fills my chest and makes my pulse pound at my temples. My fingers curl around the glass’ stem. It takes all my willpower to not fling the rest of the wine in his face. It’s not his comment that hits a button. It’s his casual attitude. It’s that relaxed look on his face. He’s one of them. Nick is in the boys’ club. Those cocky, smarmy dudes in button-ups and smart shoes that have probably never touched dirt. They made their first few millions before they could legally drink. Because it was handed to them in a trust fund. He’s used to getting what he wants when he wants it.

  It's a shame I spread my legs for Nick before noticing he’s a self-absorbed, entitled assclown. No wonder he thinks he can fuck me once and assume he owns me.

  “Fuck you, and your boner,” I say through grit
ted teeth.

  He smiles. “Relax. You’re losing your shit for no good reason. Did I drag you into your hotel room? Maybe I’m wrong, but you seemed to enjoy every second of what happened.”

  “Too bad you won’t get to enjoy another one.” I can’t look at him without my blood boiling. Reaching down to the floor beside me, I begin to pick up my purse. Nick is just fast enough to get to his feet before me.

  “If you say so.” He smirks as he heads out of the restaurant.

  My ears are hot and buzzing. This has turned into the pre-Christmas meeting from hell.

  There’s only one thing to do.

  I grab the wine bottle and fill my glass to the brim.

  Chapter 5

  Nick

  “You can’t be serious,” I tell the receptionist.

  Her sunny facade flickers. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry, but all flights out of JFK have been canceled.”

  I run my hands through my hair as I brainstorm some alternatives. “And there really isn’t a taxi or private limo service that will come out here?”

  “We’ve been trying all afternoon, Mr. Marshall. It’s not possible until the weather clears.”

  “Damn it.”

  The receptionist flinches. It’s clear to me that she’s been on the receiving end of a lot of pissed off hotel guests.

  “Thanks,” I mutter, turning away. No point in being a total dick.

  Standing beside the Christmas tree, I pull my phone out and open my Uber app. It’s no use. There are zero drivers in the area. It’s the same with Lyft. I’m stuck here.

  With no transportation and nothing to do until this weather system passes, I give myself a challenge that involves me, an apology, Lily’s bare ass underneath my fingers, and my tongue deep in her cunt. I can handle the caustic attitude and her resentment that she’s no competition for my firm.