Room 212 (6 page)

“No, I have no definite plans for anything except to move the hell out of Texas.”

“Why is that?”

“I have shit luck here.”

He was amused by my comment as our salads arrived. My stomach did a happy flip and I salivated immediately at the sight of my salad. I wasted no time grabbing the proper fork and diving in. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until I saw the food. This happened often and had a lot to do with my small figure. I loved food, but was way too busy to eat. I took a huge bite of bread to start and found that my mouth was full. By the time he had cued me to answer his next question of how long I had been bartending at the Lemon, I had a forkful of salad stuffed into my mouth as well. I chewed carefully and waited until I could clearly say the words before answering.

“A year and I love it. It’s a good job. The hours are great and it pays well. So what do you do?”

“I have three jobs and I’m in school to be an architect.”

I almost choked on my bread with his reply. Three jobs…What the hell?

“How in the hell do you manage that?”

“I want what I want and I work to get it.”

“Kudos on the work ethic, buddy, but when do you have time to sleep?”

“I sleep. I party. I work. If you really want to do something, you make time for it.”

“I don’t see how. You’ve been out the last three nights.” This was intriguing to me. I barely managed to get to my one job on time and not screw it up, and he was in school?

“I’m a firm believer that if you want something, you have to make it happen. The world owes you nothing, but you can take your piece of it. All you have to do is work hard and claim it.” He looked at me now with seriousness in his eyes. This wasn’t sexual tension, this was a life lesson this guy was giving me. Who the hell did this guy think he was?

“Well, thanks for the advice. I’ll remember that.”

“You should,” he said in a condescending tone. I felt the heat course through me. “I have carefully laid my plans out and so far, everything I’ve decided I wanted, I’ve gotten.”

“Well,” I snapped, “obviously I can’t keep up with the likes of you.” I closed my eyes and willed my checks to turn to their natural state. I had one hell of a temper and I was not about to lose it in this restaurant. He was openly challenging me on my lifestyle and I guess I wasn’t supposed to take too much offense since I had ridiculed his openly since he picked me up.

“And I am a firm believer that if you join the rat race, no matter how carefully you plan it out, you become a rat, and that money isn’t everything.”

“I’m sorry, Laura. I didn’t mean to imply I was better than you in any way.” He looked remorseful. I let him off the hook.

“Hey, you were just stating the obvious. Honestly, I truly am impressed that you manage to do all of this and have a life. I’ve been reluctantly thinking about later a lot lately. Maybe you will be a good influence on me.” I smiled at him, but didn’t look him in the eyes. He grabbed the fork out of my hand and set it in my salad bowl. He grabbed my hand and began strumming my palm with his fingertips. I brought my eyes to his and saw the ferocity of his gaze again and was no longer hungry. Two things I was sure of tonight. I wanted those perfect lips all over me and to drown in those eyes. And I would have my way with him, even if we didn’t have a damn thing in common.

Serious talk quickly gave way to a great change in subject: music. It was a pleasant surprise that our tastes were eerily similar, even though we had agreed to disagree on a few. He promised after a few minutes of hearing my favorite bands that I would love his friend Paul’s band. I loved music and assured him I was down to see anything live. This seemed to please him.

Our beautiful lobsters arrived and I was ravenous again. It took me no time at all to dive in. I had managed a huge portion on my fork, dripping with butter, and shoved it into my mouth in its entirety as the waiter approached. Butter was dripping from both side of my mouth as he asked if he could get us anything else.

Oh shit.

“Perhaps another lobster for the lady.” The server shared a smile with Seth and both turned their attention to me. I quickly shook my head no and wiped my mouth. Seth chuckled and downed his beer, ushering our waiter to get another.

When I had finally managed to get down the lobster, I could not hold back my distaste for the waiters comment.

“Asshole.”

“You do look hungry,” he said as he tilted his head to the side, as if to ask if I could really blame the guy. I just ignored his comment and finished my delicious lobster. Indulgence is right. Why the hell did I hate this again?

I felt his eyes on me as I devoured my crème brûlée. He watched me eat my dessert intently. Every time I looked up I saw the hunger in his eyes. I dismissed it with an off the wall comment, but was becoming more and more aware of my heavy breathing by the second. He took in a sharp breath when I licked the back of my spoon.

Seth. Likes. Me.

“Are you ready? Should we bring the rest of the bread?” He chuckled as I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Shut up, Seth.”

“Well at least I know you enjoyed your dinner.”

“The dinner maybe, the company might be another story.” I advanced on him and walked in front of him as we waited at the valet stand. He was having too much fun playing with me and insecure was not a good feeling. I felt him cup the back of my head and pull me to him. In confusion, I looked up to see his mouth coming down on mine. What the hell? Was he crazy? We were in front of the nice restaurant at the valet stand and he was sticking his…his… Oh yes, please…

When the first two seconds of shock wore off, I melted into his kiss. He was gentle with my busted lips and worked his way slowly into my mouth, tasting me. I had never in my life been kissed like that. I felt a wave of heat completely drain me and had to wrap my arms around his neck to steady myself. His tongue guided mine into the sweetest dance and I felt his arms reach around my waist as he swept me from my feet and thrust his tongue further into my mouth. I let a small moan escape me and felt the heat of his car exhaust brush past me as the valet pulled up. He didn’t release me right way. He set my feet back on the ground and made sure to dip his tongue into every inch of my mouth before slowly pulling away to meet my eyes. My eyes were moist and my throat went dry. I was so stunned I stumbled back slightly and he caught me and steadied me with his hands, pulling me to him. He gave me a soft peck and reached into his pocket, his eyes still burning into mine, and thanked the valet, handing him a tip. He grabbed my hand and kissed it and led me to the passenger seat. I caught the valet’s wink and deep smile as the door shut and he wished us a good night.

What the hell just happened to me? I was ready to jump out of my own skin. My panties were soaked. I could feel the moisture between my legs and it was overwhelming. I had to fan my face to keep it from going up into flames. He got into his side of the car and didn’t look at me again until we got to the parking lot of Trees, a local watering hole that featured local bands almost every night of the week. I was completely beside myself. I had never had an experience like that. When he stopped the car and turned off the headlights he turned to me. I couldn’t see his expression because I couldn’t face him. My face was plastered to the passenger side window. If I looked at him again, I would most definitely let the levy break and tear his clothes off. I wanted him so much—too much. Did he feel it too?

“Laura?”

“Let’s go. Let’s get a good table.” I felt the doors lock just as I started to pull the handle to quickly escape the car.

“Laura?”

“Seth,” I tried to imitate his tone and failed miserably. My voice was shaky and breathless. His fingers found their way to my leg and slid underneath the short hem of my dress. I whipped my head around to look at him.

“Now I have your attention.”

“Don’t, I am begging you don’t touch me.” He frowned at my request and started to talk.

“It’s not a bad thing, Seth, it’s a good thing.”

A confused expression crossed his face. I wanted him so badly. I wanted him to know it. I was scared of how I was feeling, but somehow managed to do the sexually bravest thing I have ever done. I kissed his lips gently and brought his fingertips beneath the hem of my dress, dragging them past my thigh, straight to my soaking wet panties. I heard him hiss through his teeth and his mouth came down hard on mine. He felt my dampness through the length of my panties and slipped his fingers inside.

“Seth.”

“Me too,” he whispered to my neck between his kiss and strokes. He grabbed my hand and led it down to the bulge beneath his shorts. I was on the verge of coming and I had never come before, but I knew I was close. I felt it building inside of me. I was clinging to him as he stroked me. In my few years of having sex, I had never had an orgasm with a man. Now I was about to have my first in a seedy parking lot of a bar? No, no, no… yes, yes, yes, yes.

As if he read my mind, he pulled back. “Not here, baby.”

The term of endearment hit me right in the chest, while the realization that I probably would have let him finish me off in the parking lot led me to look away from him.

“You are so right. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.”

“You were thinking what I was thinking,” he said softly, dragging his tongue across my bottom lip.

“I’m not, you know, a stranger to this and I—”

“Shut up, Laura and kiss me.” He grabbed a handful of hair and forced his mouth on me so my head tilted back into the seat. He thoroughly kissed me the way he had at Chantilly’s and I was ruined all over again. When he pulled back I could finally see in his eyes, he was feeling every single thing I was and it was really freaking both of us out.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

But neither of us moved. We sat in silence studying each other, taking all of the air out of the vehicle with each breath we took. There was so much intensity in his eyes and I was sure I was returning it with my own. He leaned in for another kiss and my mouth instantly readied itself in response. I have no idea how long we sat in his car kissing. Once we were finally able to tear our mouths apart and exit the car, I noticed the parking lot had become fully occupied. Had the passersby seen us? Had they witnessed what had just happened? I thought sex with Chris was great and that thought had been blown to hell and back by a lengthy kiss from Seth. What the hell had I been missing?

Seth guided me through the parked cars carefully without saying a word. I could only pray he was as overwhelmed as I was. He seemed pretty into me, but was he feeling what I was?

The band was already into its first set by the time we were able to grab a beer. We ended up completely missing any available tables and had to stand next to the stage, dodging the enthusiasts and trying to keep from spilling our beers. I leaned back into Seth who was behind me, one hand on my hip, the other holding his beer.

When one of the clumsier drunks stumbled back a little too far into me and had me spilling my beer all over my dress and sandals, Seth viscously bit out, “Watch where the fuck you’re going, man,” and released my hip to shove him forward and away from me. The guy turned around ready to pounce, but quickly backed down when he saw the menace in Seth’s eyes. I was instantly turned on and faced him. Leaning my body into his, I brought my lips to his neck, tasting him and curling my fingers into his shirt. His smell was a delicious mix of soap, sweat and beer.

“Laura, if you don’t stop, I’m going to drag you into the bathroom and screw you senseless.” He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me to him. I felt him so incredibly hard on my stomach and immediately felt the twitch in my panties.

My fingers froze in place and I looked at him with wide eyed wonder.

Now let me be clear, I have had more lovers than I should have had at age twenty-one. All of them got me hot and bothered, but not one of them had ever made me feel this way. Not. One.

I had no response for him. I was not shy or timid in or out of bed, but Seth had a way of making me feel that way. I instantly released him and took a long drink of my beer. I wanted to numb myself to him and I downed the rest of it to make sure I was successful.

“Which one is Paul?”

“The drummer,” he replied, sliding his long fingers up and down my back.

I finally brought my attention away from Seth long enough to start to appreciate the music. Their sound was a mild mix of Jane’s Addiction and Smashing Pumpkins, two of my current favorite bands. I watched Paul beat on the drums effortlessly. His shirt was off, showing a perfectly etched chest and the entire wall of tattoos that covered him. He had dark black hair and what looked like matching black eyes. If the man behind me wasn’t taking every bit of sexual attention I had, the drummer sure as hell would have.

Noticing my fascination, I felt Seth tense behind me. “Watch out, Laura, he’s a ladies man.”

“Oh, who?”

“Your face gives everything away. Just quit while you’re ahead.”

“Oh yeah? Well, baby, what is my face telling you now?” I gave him the best ‘do me’ stare I had.