The Last Resort Motel: Room Thirteen Read online

  As Max releases me, I catch a whiff of kitchen magic. “Oh my God, Aurora, it smells crazy good in here! Is that what I think it is?”

  “I’ve been marinating steaks all day for you guys. They’re just about to go on the grill. You can have one as long as you brought the goods.”

  I turn to Gabe, and he picks the box we brought in with us up off the floor . “I think you’ll find the goods in perfect condition.”

  Aurora opens the box with bright eyes. “All of these are for me?”

  “They are, and quite a few of them are autographed.”

  “Shut up!”

  “Are there drugs in that box?” Agnes calls out.

  “Nah, just books,” Baxter answers.

  “All that fuss over books?”

  “They’re books for dirty birds like you,” Max adds.

  “Oh no, not me. I’ve got a limited number of breaths left in this body, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to waste them reading. Takes too long. If I want to rev my engine, the internet can get me there a whole lot faster than a bunch of words on the page.”

  I stifle my laughter as she and Baxter begin comparing favorite porn sites. It doesn’t surprise me in the least the two of them are fast friends. It’s a shame they all live so far away from us. When I turn my attention back to Aurora, she’s still sorting through the books with a permanent smile.

  When she has my favorite one in her hands, I tell her who wrote it. “That one is Holly’s book. Well, it has one of her stories in it. She’s working on more.”

  “She made it out to me!” Aurora exclaims, and Max leans over and kisses her. “Max, will you put these in the apartment? I don’t want anything to spill on them.”

  “Anything for you, as long as we practice your favorite scenes later.”

  Gabe shakes his head at his friend, and Max shrugs him off. “You’ve got to get creative when you live in the middle of nowhere. Besides, it’s a great way to spice up your sex life. You should try it.”

  “My sex life is spicy enough.” When he looks my way, my body fills with desire for him. Last night we played one of our favorite games—one where he’s the judge and I’m in contempt of his court. My panties dampen at the memory.

  I’m really looking forward to his restaurant opening early next year. Having him fuck me in his industrial kitchen is my top fantasy right now.

  Max leaves to put the books away, and Gabe wraps his arms around me from behind. “Thinking about the kitchen?”

  “Is it that obvious?”

  He nips my ear with the sharp edge of his teeth. “Only to me. I’ve become well acquainted with your fantasy expression. You’re not the only one who can’t wait. In the meantime, when we get home, I can fuck you in our kitchen. Discipline you when you cut the veggies wrong. Make you beg for mercy in all the best ways.”

  Sweet Jesus. He pushes closer to me, and his dick is rock-hard. It’s easy to forget we’re not alone when he sucks me into his fantasy.

  “Let’s go check out our room real fast.” The words have barely left his lips as I reach for the key on the counter and pull him behind me toward the door.

  “See, Agnes, what did I tell you? They’ve lived together for five months now and you’d think they just met last night with all that heat between them.”

  “That’s exactly how my husband and I were …” Agnes’s words trail off once the door closes behind us.

  “Someone is anxious,” Gabe teases.

  “Someone is horny,” I correct.

  He follows me up the stairs, taking the key from me when we reach the room. Once we’re inside, he backs me up against the closed door. “What are you going to do now that you’re back in the sixth circle of hell?”

  His lips hover above mine as his words take me back to the day he was brought back into my life. “Fuck you like the sinner I am.”

  “What if I like you better as a saint?”

  I throw my arms around his neck and kiss him with all the love inside of me.

  “Then I’ll remind you how much I love you before we sin.”

  “Do you?” he asks, resting his head against mine.

  “You know I do,” I answer, tracing his bottom lip with my fingers.

  “I love you too,” he replies before kissing me again, softer this time. “Did you know couples who sin together make the best spouses?”

  My heart races. I’m caught completely off guard here.

  “Uh, no … but I think that makes sense. Birds of a feather and all that.”

  Gabe pulls a box from his pocket and opens it before dropping to one knee. “Sin with me, Sage, for the rest of our lives. Fuck me like there’s no tomorrow in every possible way, in every possible place. But you’ve got to agree to love me too. Love me with reckless abandon and endless passion, and I promise to love you the same. Every sinner needs a saint. Be my saint, Sage, and I’ll give you a lifetime of reasons to sin.”

  “That has to be the sexiest proposal I’ve ever heard.”

  “It better be the only proposal you’ve ever had,” he growls.

  “Yeah, that too,” I whisper, still in shock.

  “Is that a yes?” He pulls the ring from the box and holds it up, dropping the box to the floor.

  “That’s a hell yes.”

  The End

  If you’d like to read more about Baxter and Sage, and their friends Holly and Declan, check out The Evolution of Us.

  Keep reading for excerpts from my other books.

  LAST RESORT MOTEL SERIES

  Look for a new story set at The Last Resort Motel from a different author every month.

  12 rooms. 12 authors. 12 unique stories.

  January - Gwyn McNamee - Room 1

  February - Crystal Perkins - Room 10

  March - S Van Horne - Room 519

  April – D. Kelly - Room 13

  May - B.T. Clearwater - Room 58

  June - M.C. Webb - Room 212

  July - Megan Matthews - Room 29

  August - Elizabeth Otto - Room 100

  September - Ann Mayburn - Room 419

  October - Geri Glenn - Room 666

  November - Winter Travers - Room 19

  December - Betty Shreffler - Room 15

  THE EVOLUTION OF US

  ONE

  HOLLY

  I WOKE UP WITH ONE thing—or rather, person—on my mind. Declan. Two years after our breakup, he’s the last person I should be thinking about. No one frustrates me more or gets under my skin as much as he does, but Declan threw down an invisible gauntlet last night and my mind hasn’t stopped spinning since.

  Deciding some exercise is exactly what I need, I throw on a cute pair of flip flops that match my sundress and take a final, approving glace in the mirror. With my sunglasses on and my purse in hand, I’ve decided to walk to the store. Hopefully, the walk will help clear my head and provide a much-needed clarity after my ex’s public declaration of love and devotion to me late last night.

  An hour later, I realize walking to the store was the first in a succession of three rapid-fire mistakes. Juggling three bags of groceries in front of my face while entering the elevator would be my second. Not lowering them to make sure the coast was clear before the elevator doors closed behind me was my third. An unfortunate trifecta, to say the least.

  “Hey, Holly.” The smoothness of his voice drizzles over my body like hot, melted butter.

  “Declan,” I reply coolly as the elevator ascends. I’d prefer to call him an asshole, but I do my best not to engage.

  Then, as if Satan himself is laughing at me for being stupid enough to get in an elevator with my ex, everything begins to shake, rattle, and sway.

  “Fuck!” I scream, scrambling to put my groceries down and take hold of the safety rail. The lights flicker on and off as the elevator comes to a sudden halt. Soon, we’re in total darkness as we continue to shake. Declan knows better than anyone how terrified I am of earthquakes and is by my side instantly. His hand covers mine, and for onc
e I don’t push him away. If I’m going to die, being touched by Declan James is not a bad way to go.

  The shaking only lasts about a minute, and the backup lights have already come on. I reach over to push the emergency button and rattle off our building information to the dispatcher. I’m not sitting in this elevator with him any longer than I have to, but I’m told it could be up to an hour-long wait.

  “Relax, Holls, it’s just another day in Cali.”

  I try not to look at him because those cerulean eyes and jet-black hair of his make me weak in the knees and wet in places Declan shouldn’t affect me anymore. “Look,” he says, weakening my resolve not to look at him, “they’re saying it’s only a 4.6. That’s nothing. We’ll be out of here in no time.”

  Taking the phone he’s holding out to me, I’m looking at the webpage he’s got up when it rings and a photo of a beautiful blonde pops up on his screen. No matter how long it’s been since we’ve been apart, seeing other women with him always stings.

  “Take your booty call hotline back,” I grumble as I shove his phone at him. With a casual shrug, he dismisses the call.

  “That was just work.”

  “You don’t owe me any explanations, Dec.”

  “What if I want to?”

  Gripping the rail of the elevator car, I take a deep breath. Losing my shit on him is not going to be productive. “You lost that right two years ago.”

  He loosens his tie, something he does when he’s stressed. It’s a sexy fucking move and always turns me on, and he knows it. “We both needed a break.”

  “Says the man who’s slept his way through half the state.”

  “That’s not true and it’s not fair.”

  “Sorry, maybe I should say half the co-eds in the state. Would that make it more accurate?” My anger is growing by the second. I hate how much I continue to let him get under my skin.

  “You’ve had your fair share of one-night stands, Holls.”

  “Says who?” I snap back.

  With wide eyes, he inches closer. “Says all those guys going into your apartment.”

  “For someone who knew me so well, you don’t seem to know me at all. I may invite someone in, but that doesn’t mean I spread my legs and offer them an all-night pussy buffet. I have standards, Dec. Maybe you should get some of your own.”

  He laughs and flashes me a brilliant smile. His dark-framed glasses give him this whole sexy geek vibe, making him even hotter. God, I hate him … almost as much as I used to love him. “You said pussy. You must be really pissed at me right now, you hate that word.” He continues laughing, and it annoys the hell out of me.

  If we’re going to be here a while, I might as well get comfortable. Kneeling down, I dig through my groceries and pull out two bottles of water. I’d rather keep them to myself and let him suffer, but I don’t want to give him a reason to talk to me more than necessary. Then I find the chocolate chip cookies and open them up. These he doesn’t get.

  “Water?” I ask as he sits down next to me.

  “Sure, thanks.”

  He waits for me to offer him a cookie and shakes his head when I don’t. “I’m good enough for water but not for cookies?”

  “You said it, not me.”

  “Come on, Holly, you know they’re my favorite.”

  “Are they? I thought blondes with big boobs were your favorite?”

  Bitter much? Yeah, I am. After we broke up, Declan seemed to develop a type—a very specific one: big-busted blondes with long legs and teeth too white to be natural. Considering I’ve got dark-auburn hair and green eyes, I’m not sure what he was even doing with me in the first place. I used to consider myself pretty until the one man I thought loved me more than anything started dating the complete opposite of me. I know I’m self-deprecating, and no man should tear down my self-confidence, but Dec isn’t just any man. Once upon a time, he was my world.

  He bumps my shoulder with his, and his eyes reflect a rare sincerity that catches my attention. “You’ve always been my favorite, Holly. Chocolate chip cookies are a close second, and shapely blondes, while nice, are nothing in comparison.”

  Groaning, I hand him the bag of cookies; he can have them all if it will shut him up. After he takes a bite, he moans appreciatively, reminding me of the sound he used to make when he was turned on. I wonder if he still sounds that way … Dammit! I hate him for making me think of those times while I’m stuck with him and have no escape.

  “Holly, for real … are you ever going to forgive me? I miss you.”

  As his words trail off, the regular lights kick back on and the sound of the elevator coming to life is music to my ears. The voices of the LAFD come through the intercom letting everyone know the building and elevators have been cleared. We both stand, and before I have a chance to grab my groceries, Declan scoops all three bags up and holds on to them.

  “Why do you always have to try to be such a gentleman? I already know your true colors, Dec, you don’t need to impress me.”

  The doors to the elevator slide open, and he follows me down the hall to my apartment. When I open the door, he takes the bags to the kitchen and hops up on my counter. He’s so annoying.

  “When are you going to stop acting like you don’t care about me anymore? I made a mistake, I fucked up and misread a situation, but I still think it was for the best. I’ve grown, Holly, and so have you. I’m not trying to impress you, I’m being the same Declan I’ve always been.”

  He jumps down and heads to the door. “I’m not giving up, Holls, and the sooner you realize that the better.”

  When he closes the door behind him, I release a frustrated scream. Declan James is going to be the death of me.

  “GO ACROSS THE HALL AND ask Declan for some batteries,” Sage, my best friend, says as she laughs hysterically.

  “Don’t be a bitch, Sage. I’m not in the mood. Besides, it’s his fault I’m horny in the first place.”

  “Come on, Holly, you know Declan would give you a mercy fuck if he knew your vibrator was out of juice.” She’s still laughing.

  “So now I need a mercy fuck?” I screech into the phone.

  “Stop it. You know I didn’t mean it like that. You and Declan may be over but your sexual chemistry is still hotter than ever. Both of you should stop being stubborn and at least agree to be friends with benefits.”

  The doorbell rings, and the thumping of packages hitting the ground echoes through the hall. My delivery guy sucks—he could at least wait for me to open the door. When I do, I glance quickly into the hall to be sure no one is around and bend down and pick up the boxes.

  “Damn, I miss that ass.”

  Declan. Who did I piss off to deserve the karmic retribution of seeing him twice in the same day?

  “See!” Sage screeches into my ears. “Now, tell him your vibrator is out of juice and you need a fix.”

  While Sage is screaming, Declan is trying to take my packages from me, his smirk more than proving he heard Sage through the Bluetooth in my ear.

  “I’m going to have to call you back,” I say, effectively hanging up on her.

  Declan is tugging on the boxes, so I let him carry them inside. The sooner he gets his way, the sooner he’ll go home to his revolving door of tramps.

  Declan James is my kryptonite. He’s the asshole who used to be my best friend until he broke my heart. He’s also relentless. After the lease was up on our old place, he tracked me to my new building and discovered the terms of my lease. Don’t ask me how; he probably fucked the leasing agent, too. The next thing I knew, he was my new across-the-hall neighbor. Asshole.

  “Where do you want them?” he asks, flashing me his dimpled smile.

  Bastard.

  “On the table would be great.”

  After he sets them down, he takes a seat and looks up at me with his sex gaze. It only fuels my already super-charged hormones. This is going to be a long freaking day.

  “You know, Holly, I’m much better equipped for you
r needs than a vibrator. Want me to help you out of your bind?”

  “Not even if you were the last man on earth and my vagina would atrophy without you.”

  His laugh makes me tingle all over. The laugh I fell in love with at fifteen, the one that used to make me smile. Until he broke up with me to be a manwhore. Now that laugh reminds me of all the reasons Declan James needs to stay out of my life.

  “I did it for us, Holly. I know you’ll never believe it, but I swear we needed time apart so we could be better together.”

  With a roll of my eyes, I pour myself a cup of tea. “Keep telling yourself that, Declan. In the meantime, get out of my apartment, okay?”

  He steps behind me and pins me between him and the counter. Dropping his mouth to my ear, his husky voice washes over me like a million rays of sunshine. “I still love you, and I always will.”

  My hands tremble against the counter, but I won’t let him suck me in. I’ve tried so hard to get over him. “You can love me from afar, Declan. Don’t let the door hit you on your way out.”

  He caresses my arm as he backs away slowly. I hear the door open, followed by his words, “I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth if that’s what it takes.”

  “Yeah, and what about all the other women? You’ve got a rotating succession of them at the snap of your fingers.”

  “You’re the one who owns my heart. All you have to do is tell me to stop, Holly, and I will.”

  I flip around to face him, nailing him with a steely gaze. “Are you saying you won’t have sex with anyone else if I tell you not to?”

  “If there’s a chance for us to be together again, I won’t.”

  “Prove it.” I’m pissed, finally letting my anger lead the discussion.

  “Sure. Define sex and name the terms,” he says, shrugging casually with his hands in his pockets.