I dont think the signals have changed over the years, Angie said. Why not go for it?
Kelly groaned. Because hes twenty-four, for starters. Isnt that reason enough?
No. Men at that age are in their sexual prime, theyre adventurous and uninhibited andenergetic. They say that older women should be with younger men because theyre a better match in bed, orgasmically that is.
Her answer did make sense and Kelly was forced to rethink her position. Maybe it was that simple. Maybe, when it came to sex, younger was better. God, hes so gorgeous, Kelly said. And hes not an actor, so I dont have to worry about him spending the entire evening talking about himself. Hes just a regular guy with a beautiful face and killer body and this bad-boy smile that just makes me want to tear off all my clothes and give him everything he wants.
Then why the indecision?
It would just be sex, Kelly said, wincing. Theres no future with him. I thought I gave that kind of thing up a long time ago. Im older and Im supposed to be wiser and less self-indulgent.
Youre older, but you also have the maturity to take pleasure where its offered, Angie said. She picked up her drink. Heres to new experiences. And new beginnings. Maybe youve found more than you expected here in Atlanta. She downed the rest of her drink then set the glass on the table. Its time for me to go home. Im a little drunk and Im horny and Im going to call my husband and force him to have phone sex with me.
You cant drive.
Ill take a cab and come back and get my car in the morning. The shop doesnt open until ten. If Im up early, maybe we can have breakfast. We can talk a little more about that job I have for you.
They walked out to the lobby together and Kelly gave Angie a hug. Its been so nice to see you again. And lets definitely have breakfast tomorrow. I dont want to leave without seeing you again.
Call me, Angie murmured. Or Ill call you. Better yet, Ill just stop by.
Kelly watched as she walked out of the lobby, giving her a little wave. The bellman motioned for a cab and a moment later, Angie slipped in to the backseat. Kelly smiled as she walked over to the elevators. It was only eight, but she felt as if shed been awake for days. She hadnt eaten, so shed order something light from room service then crawl into bed and sleep.
She closed her eyes as the elevator climbed to the twelfth floor. She could sleep or she could call Zach Haas and invite him over. No doubt thered be a message from him waiting on her voice mail. Kelly giggled softly. God, was she really considering making a booty call?
The elevator doors opened and she walked down the hall toward her room, weighing her options. Kelly noticed a man sitting on the floor near her room door, his attention focused on his cell phone. She hesitated for a moment, then recognized Zach. Oh, boy. Here we go, she murmured to herself.
With every step she took, she felt as if she were walking in to dangerous territory. The sexual attraction between them was undeniable and incredibly intense. And a man like Zach was probably used to acting on his urges and getting exactly what he wanted whenever he wanted it. Shed lived her life within the lines for so long. Was she really ready to step out and do something so bold and daring?
He stood up as she approached, tucking the phone in his jacket pocket as he leaned back against the wall. Kelly reached in to her purse and withdrew her key card. He watched her the whole time and she tried to keep her hands from trembling.
I was about to leave, he murmured.
She sent him a sideways glance, their gazes meeting for a long moment. Kelly felt a shiver run down her spine at the look in his eyesconfident, determined, a bit predatory. He had one thing on his mind and she knew what would happen if she let him into her room. Hed find a way to seduce her and she wouldnt be able to stop him. Im surprised you came, she said.
I was in the neighborhood.
How did you know my room number?
The production crew is in and out of this hotel all the time. Since we pay for the rooms, the front desk gives us the numbers.
Kelly slid the card into the lock and the door clicked. She pushed it open, then turned back to him. Can you just wait out here for a second?
Sure, he murmured.
She slipped inside the room and closed the door behind her, then hurried to the bathroom. The fluorescent light over the sink flickered on and Kelly stared at herself in the mirror. Running her fingers through her hair, she tried to calm herself. Nothing will happen if you dont want it to, she said to herself.
But the truth was, she did want something happen. She wanted to cast aside everything shed always known about sex and start again. Only this time, shed find the spontaneity in it, the all-consuming passion that had always been lacking in her relationships with men. She could be a different woman with this man, could test the boundaries of her need. It would be so simple, one night together with no strings and no expectationsand absolutely no inhibitions.
So what was holding her back? Fear, Kelly said. What if it was so wonderful that the memory stayed with her for the rest of her life? What if every man she met in the future were measured by one night spent with a twenty-four-year-old stranger?
Or what if she didnt measure up? What if he found her too repressed or too nervousor too old? Though she kept in good shape, her body wasnt perfect. He was probably used to a twenty-year-old butt and fake boobs and skin that was smooth and tanned and tight. Shed fought her battles with cellulite and shed lost.
Oh, God, Kelly said. She unbuttoned her blouse and looked down at her chest. Maybe she should have gotten the boob job when shed had the cash. She was so completely unprepared for this. She should be wearing black underwear, not this silly leopard print. And she should have fixed her hair and taken time with her makeup and put on a bit of perfume. Oh, and then there were condoms. She didnt have condoms!
A knock sounded on the door and Kelly quickly buttoned her blouse and hurried back into the room. She pulled the door open and peered out.
If youre going to be much longer, can you get me a beer from the minibar? Zach asked. And some peanuts if they have them.
Kelly opened the door. Sorry. I just needed a moment.
Zach strolled inside. Let me guess, you had to put on your nice underwear?
Very funny. I always wear nice underwear.
He walked over the minibar and pulled out a beer. Can I make you a drink?
No. Ive had enough to drink for one night. Her face felt flushed and she blamed it on the cosmopolitans she had shared with Angie, not on her nerves. Shed been with plenty of men. This was just one more. He had all the same equipment, all the same body parts. Shed studied the operators manual and knew what to do with him. So why was she so nervous?
It might help you relax, Zach said.
Do I seem tense? Im not. Not at all. Kelly grabbed her purse. If youll excuse me, I have to run down to the lobby. I need to buy some toothpaste before the gift shop closes. Ill be right back.
She hurried to the door and slipped out into the hallway. This was horrible. She was a wreck and he was probably regretting his decision to see her outside of the studio. If she intended to have one night of incredible sex, then she needed to pull herself together and at least appear as if she were interestedand capable. She rode the elevator back down to the lobby and headed toward the gift shop. Of course theyd have condoms. People had sex all the time in hotels.
She wandered through the small store, past the T-shirts and the coffee mugs, the magazine rack and the stuffed animals, to the corner that featured the toiletries. She found the condoms in boxes of three. They came in a variety of brandsand sizes. The last time shed shopped for condoms, there was only one size.
Kelly grabbed a box of regular and a box of XLs, then walked to the checkout stand. A young man stood behind the counter. He smiled at her as she set her purchases down. Then he rang them both up. Thats twenty-four ninety-three, he said.
What?
That will be twenty-four ninety-three, he repeated.
For six condoms? Good grief, when did sex get so expensive? The young man leaned forward. If you go on over to the CVS, theyre a much better buy. We kind of count on the fact that folks need em in a hurry and theyre willing to pay.
Kelly reached in to her purse and pulled out her wallet, but shed spent the last of her cash on drinks with Angie. Can you put these on my room bill? she asked.
Sure, what room?
Kelly opened her mouth to tell him, then realized that the show was paying for the room. They wouldnt be too thrilled to see condoms on the bill. Tell me something, she whispered. If I put these on my bill, will they be itemized?
The young man shook his head. No, he whispered back. It will just say gift shop. For all anyone knows, you bought twenty-four ninety-three worth of potato chips and candy bars.
Kelly tucked the condoms into her purse and signed the tab. Thanks. Youve been very helpful. She walked out of the store and back to the elevator.
Have fun! the clerk called, his voice echoing into the hallway.
Thats exactly what I intend to do, Kelly muttered.
ZACH GRABBED THE REMOTE from the bedside table and flipped on the TV, running through the channels until he found ESPN. He slid a pillow behind his back and kicked off his shoes, stretching out his legs in front of him. This was the strangest date hed ever had, if it could even be called a date.
After the kiss theyd shared that afternoon, Zach had looked forward to spending some time with her, knowing where that one kiss would inevitably lead. He couldnt recall ever being so focused on seducing a woman as he was on seducing Kelly Castelle. And hed thought she was equally interested in him.
But now he wasnt sure where he stood with her. Kelly seemed almost afraid to be in the same room with him. Was she having second thoughts? If so, what was the hang-up?
Maybe she was married. Maybe she did have a husband waiting for her back in L.A. And maybe she was contemplating cheating. Zach tipped his head back and ran his fingers through his hair. This was becoming a problem with himhe jumped in to sexual relationships with complicated women, seducing them before he even had a chance to examine the luggage they brought to bed with them.
He took a long sip of his beer, then dumped a handful of peanuts into his palm. Maybe it was the age thing, he mused. Women could be really strange about that. Hed always found older women attractive. They were smarter, more sure of themselves, much more fun in bed. And more exciting than the cookie-cutter girls in their early twenties that populated the clubs in Atlanta.
Zach glanced at the door. He climbed off the bed, beer in hand, and wandered into the bathroom. Kellys things were spread out over the marble vanity. He reached out and picked up a bottle of perfume and held it to his nose. The scent was familiar, causing a current of desire to race through him. He picked through her makeup, looking at lipsticks and eye shadows, then held up a pink razor and ran it over his cheek.
A pretty flowered bag sat next to the sink and he peered inside, only to see a tube of toothpaste and a small bottle of mouthwash.
He shook his head and walked back out into the bedroom. The toothpaste was obviously an excuse to get out of the room. A few moments later, he heard the key in the lock and hopped back onto the bed, stretching his feet out in front of him again. Kelly slipped back inside, her purse clutched in her hand.
She started toward the bed, then stopped. Im just going to go brush my teeth. Ill be right back.
He heard her talking to herself in the bathroom and Zach quietly crossed the room to listen at the door. But then the door flew open and he jumped back. Im sorry, he said. I couldnt hear you. Were you talking to me?
II was talking to myself. Kelly cleared her throat. She ran her fingers through her hair, then walked into the room and stood at the end of the bed. I think I will have that drink now.
He settled himself back on the bed as he watched her walk to the minibar, his gaze taking in her slender body. She was graceful as she moved, like a dancer, with delicate limbs and perfect posture. He imagined what it might be like to hold that body against his, to slowly remove each piece of her clothing until she was completely naked.
Kelly busied herself mixing a small bottle of vodka with a can of cranberry juice. Im sorry I wasnt here when you got here, she said. I didnt think youd come without calling.
I was just in the neighborhood.
She sent him a sideways glance, then took a long swallow of her drink. I went out with a friend. A girlfriend. She lives here in Atlanta. She sat down on the end of the bed, her back to him.
For a long time, neither one of them spoke. He took a sip of his beer. For Zach, seduction had always been a fairly straightforward process, but with Kelly he felt as if he had to tread a bit more carefully. She gave new meaning to the word skittish.
Did you bring your script? she asked.
No, Zach said. Perhaps she needed the pretense of rehearsal to make her more comfortable. We can use yours. He slid down to sit beside her and she immediately stood up.
Right. Really, we should be off script by this point.
Are you nervous? he asked, his gaze dropping to her fingers, which were tightly twisted together. You seem tense.
No, she murmured, then paused. Yes. A little bit.
Were not going to do anything here that you dont want to do, Zach said, leaning back to rest on his elbows.
Her gaze flitted over his body, stopping briefly at his crotch. What do you want to do? she asked, her green eyes wide.
He reached out and grabbed her hand, weaving his fingers through hers. I want to do it all.
She swallowed hard. Ive never done anything like this before, she said, her voice cracking slightly.
This was not going well at all, Zach mused. The attraction between them was electric, crackling between them, but Kelly was so cautious that stealing a kiss might be too much for her to handle. He decided to backtrack a bit. But you rehearse all the time.
Isis that what were doing? she asked.
What did you think wed be doing? Keeping her off balance was the best approach, he decided. When they finally gave in to their desire, he wanted her desperate and determined. He wanted the fiery, passionate woman hed seen through the camera lens, the woman hed been obsessing about the entire afternoon.
Im worried about the bedroom scene, Zach continued. I was hoping you could give me some tips. Were supposed to kiss and Im not sure how thats going to happen. Do we figure out ahead of time who goes which way? Or do we just let it happen, as if were doing it for real?