Page 49 of Tour Wars
But going up to her room meant breaking the rules. If anyone caught them, they could lose their jobs as tour guides.
Screw it.He craved her so much it was like a physical ache.One night couldn’t hurt, could it? Besides, who was going to squeal on them? By now, all the guests had gone up to bed.
“Well?” Emilia asked. “Don’t leave me hanging.”
While her tone carried a teasing lilt, the hitch in her breath revealed her insecurity. She’d put herself out there, hoping he’d reciprocate. No way was he turning her down.
He squeezed her hand. “Yes. I’d love to. I was just trying to figure out our game plan. Should we go up separately? Maybe ten minutes apart? Before I stop by your room, I can check the hallway to make sure no one’s around. I could even bring the binder to make my visit look legit.”
She laughed. “The binder’s in my room, remember? I think we’ll be fine, but I’ll go on ahead.” She eased off the piano bench and headed toward the elevator.
He wanted to rush after her but forced himself to wait. Ten minutes. Maybe twelve. He scrolled through his phone and checked his emails. Afterfifteenminutes, he took the elevator up to his room on the seventh floor. He let himself in and changed into a t-shirt and sweats, but as he went into the bathroom to brush his teeth, he was beset by a fresh wave of anxiety.
What about condoms? Though he hadn’t been with anyone for over a year, he always carried some with him. Would bringing them make him look too presumptuous? Emilia hadn’t said they’d be having sex. All she’d done was invite him to her room.
Just bring them, damn it.
Once he was ready, he grabbed his key card and headed into the hallway. Heart pounding, he cast his gaze down the empty corridor. Not a soul in sight. He crept to Emilia’s room but hesitated before knocking on her door.
It was one thing to go from being rivals to friends. But if they crossed the line and went from friends to lovers, they’d be taking a bigger step. A step that might notmeananything to Emilia except an impulsive quickie. It might be like that night in Philly when all she’d wanted was a physical connection.
But…she wasn’t drunk this time, and they weren’t enemies. For as much as they teased each other, they’d actually become friends.
Was it too much to hope that she’d be up for more than just a one-night stand?
Stop overthinking it, you idiot.
At this point, he was going to take whatever she offered.
When he knocked on her door, she opened it immediately, like she’d been standing on the other side, waiting for him to show up. Other than the faint glow of the lamp on her nightstand, the room was dark. He came in and closed the door behind him.
For a minute, he could only stare, too overwhelmed to take another step. She’d freed her hair from its confining braid, and it fell past her shoulders in loose waves. Though she wasn’t naked, her boy shorts and skimpy pink tank top left little to the imagination. Under the thin fabric, her nipples were clearly visible.
She inched closer. “TJ? Everything okay?”
“Just to be clear—you’re not pranking me, are you?”
“Nope.” She grinned. “This is real.”
“What about the rules?” He was fully prepared to pretend they didn’t exist, but only if she was on board.
She sashayed over to the binder, which lay on the floor beside the nightstand, and kicked it underneath the bed. “Out of sight, out of mind. Right? But we have to be discreet. No boasting about your amazing night toanyone.”
“That’s…ah…one area where I’m not boastful.” Not because he lacked experience but out of respect for his partners.
“Good.” Her mouth curved up in a sly smile. She crooked her finger, gesturing for him to join her beside the bed.
He thought he’d start slowly. A few gentle kisses to warm her up. But she tugged on his shirt, pulled him toward her, and kissed him hard. Not a shy, tentative peck, but a demanding kiss that left him breathless. When she tangled her tongue against his, he went from zero to sixty, the desire shooting straight to his groin. He cupped her ass, bringing her flush against him until there wasn’t an inch of space between them. She placed her arms around his neck and ground into him, kissing him all the while. He stumbled backward and gripped the bedpost to stop from falling over.
She pulled away, breathing heavily, her eyes dilated with hunger. “Last night in the pool, I wanted you so badly.”
“I’ve been dreaming about you nonstop. I couldn’t even focus on today’s cheese tasting.”
She bit her lip in a gesture that was both sexyandadorable. “Are you implying I’m more enticing than cheese? You know I’m from Wisconsin. That’s a huge compliment.”
“That wasn’t what I was thinking of tasting this afternoon.”
Her eyes lit up. “You’re going to have to make good on that, Dr. Mayer.”
