Page 45 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 2

His question caught her off guard. What was the worst thing that could happen? "I don't know. I guess they could throw rotten tomatoes at me and boo me off the podium."

Sean laughed at her. "Well, I've been managing this hotel for two years and we've never had any keynote speaker booed off the stage. If you'd like, I'll be sure to have the kitchen hide all of the tomatoes in the morning." His easy jesting helped to calm her.

"That won't be necessary."

"Good. So what's the best thing that can happen tomorrow?"

She'd been so focused on the bad things she feared that she hadn't even thought of this question before. He gave her time. "I don't know. I guess I'll present interesting and helpful information to my colleagues and they'll be able to use it as they treat their own patients."

"That's great, but I predict you're going to earn the respect of a lot of your peers. Now, are you going to go in there and hold your head up high?"

"I guess. I don't really have a choice."

"That didn't sound very convincing."

"It's not easy. There are some jerks out to discredit me."

"Don't let them make that your problem. The best way to combat that is to knock your presentation out of the park. Then they'll look like idiots to criticize you."

"I guess. You'd make a pretty good therapist, you know that?"

Sean grinned. "I doubt that. I've had an ulterior motive."

"And that was?"

"Well, I'm holding you in my arms and feeling up your ass, aren't I?"

A surge of emotions converged as the intimacy of their embrace reminded the occupants of the gondola hanging one-hundred and fifty feet above the ground of their first private moment together. Sean looked into her eyes and searched to ensure she was a willing partner in what was about to happen. Traci's heart raced as she self-consciously licked her lips, hoping their conversation was at an end. To his credit, he didn't ask before he closed the distance between them.

Sean's lips claimed hers with a tenderness that quickly escalated with an urgency that told her he was fighting to maintain control. When she parted her lips, Sean pressed his tongue forward, sweeping in to claim her in an open-mouth kiss full of a promise Traci wished could be true. Sean clutched her closer, pulling her to sit in his lap as she threw her arms around his neck. She slid her hands through his thick, dark hair and held him in a way to ensure he couldn't escape.

They made out like teenagers. Kissing... moaning... groping... Through her escalating sexual haze, Traci could feel the swell of Sean's cock under her ass, impossible to ignore. Did she dare hope he wanted to make love to her as badly as she wanted him at this moment? If they were at the hotel instead of on a carnival ride, she was positive she wouldn't want him to stop, one-night-stand or not.

The sound of an embarrassed young worker clearing his throat reminded them that they had returned to earth, literally. They pulled out of their kiss, but Sean was in no hurry to exit the ride. Instead, he reached up to brush her cheek tenderly, the sexiest smile on his face.

"I think we're going to have to take an intermission, Ms. Jackson."

Traci grinned back with relief. "That implies our date isn't over yet."

"I sure hope not. Let's go."

Traci avoided looking at the grinning teenager working the ride too closely. There was a long line of people waiting for their turn to ride and they had been giving everyone a nice little show, but Sean didn't seem bothered at all. In fact, once they exited the ride, he pulled her close as they walked towards the line of waiting taxis. Traci was relieved he wasn't going to have them walk back to the hotel.

The hotel was close so the ride was short. They pulled up in the carport before Traci had a chance to process the emotions raging through her brain. She liked Sean – a lot. Maybe too much. This had disaster written all over it. She was sure she didn't want a one-night stand, but wouldn't a three-night stand be even worse? Spending three days with this amazing man would only make getting on a plane to fly hundreds of miles away on Friday that much harder.

Sean seemed to read her thoughts. As soon as they exited the taxi, he pulled her aside, back into his arms and looked into her eyes.

"I've really enjoyed our time together tonight. I'm not ready for our date to end yet,

Traci."

"I don't want it to end either, but... well..."

"I get it. I understand. You live in Colorado. I live in Chicago. You have a big speech to prepare for. I have a fifteen-year-old daughter waiting up so she can grill me on how big of an ass I made out of myself tonight."

He really did understand. "I'm dreading my speech, but maybe I'm getting the better end of the stick tonight." Traci tried to keep the mood light in spite of her growing sadness. She knew that no matter how perfect Sean was on the surface, they wouldn't be able to take this any farther than a hot summer fling. Besides having a geography problem, Traci needed an HoH. The chances of Sean being interested in a domestic discipline relationship were slim.

Sean dragged her back to the present. "Let's go to the hotel bar. We can have a nightcap. I'm not ready to say goodnight yet." His offer was hanging in the air when the nearby doorman interrupted them.

---