Now or Never

calloused fingers brushing her bare arm. “Why don’t you stay around a while? Keep me company. This isn’t really my scene either.”
    Grayson studied him, looking for any bit of insincerity or humor, but he showed none. Why not? It was stay with Todd or go back to her mom’s empty house full of crazy cats.
    She sat back down.
    They spent the next three hours talking about hobbies—thankfully, no more golf—as well as her sudden move back from Arizona, though she kept all mention of Josh out of it. Todd seemed like a nice guy, and so far he hadn’t made her uncomfortable at all.
    As the band called out ‘last song’ and the bartender followed with ‘last call’, they shared a smile. By now, she’d had a total of five drinks and was buzzed, so her grin was wobbly.
    “Do you want to come and stay in my room? My hotel is right across the street. I promise I won’t try anything.” Todd paused. “You don’t seem like you should be alone in a taxi, and I’ve had too much to drink to drive you home.”
    Bolstered by the alcohol, Grayson ran her eyes over his body and wondered if he was good in bed. It sent a thrill through her, desire uncoiling in her abdomen.
    “Yeah. Taxi’s do kinda creep me out at night,” she agreed. “That would be great.”
    They walked into the cool midnight air and through the parking lot to a hotel across the street. She felt sort of exhilarated, high almost. He didn’t try anything on the walk. No touching at all, not even a move to hold her hand. Grayson couldn’t help but feel disappointed. She wondered if he really planned to be a perfect gentleman. If that was the case, she would have to make the first move. That would be another first she could check off her list if that ended up happening.
    Todd fumbled with the key card as he slipped it in the lock, and he let out a nervous laugh. Grayson thought it was cute. He was cute—even better looking in the light. She could have definitely picked much worse.
    “I can give you a T-shirt to sleep in if you want,” Todd said as they walked into the room. He actually went over to his suitcase to grab a shirt. Was this guy for real?
    Grayson figured if she was going to act like a different person and use an alter ego, she might as well go all out. While his back was turned, she yanked off her shirt and tossed it to the side, then shimmed off her jeans. She stood on the thin carpet in her underwear, shivering from the air conditioning.
    Todd turned around, a white T-shirt in his hand. His eyes widened, and the shirt fluttered to the carpet. The room fell into silence, nothing but the steady, unassuming whir of the air conditioner between them.
    Grayson steadied herself with a single deep breath. Reaching back, she unhooked her bra and let it fall.
    I kinda like my alter ego , Grayson couldn’t help but think to herself. She felt free, like a confident woman—it felt fucking fantastic.

CHAPTER 10

    Grayson waited for his reaction, barely breathing.
    For a moment, he seemed speechless. Then he moved his hands into a prayer position across his chest, looked at the ceiling, and whispered, “Thank you.”
    Immediately, Grayson laughed, her insecurity easing. Todd tore off his shirt, exposing washboard abs and a strong, shapely chest as he took a few steps forward, closing the distance.
    Very nice , Grayson thought. She slid her hands up his warm chest as his lips crashed down on hers.
    There was nothing sweet about the kiss. It was raw and carnal from the moment their lips met, and Grayson clung to Todd’s neck, desperate to feel the weight of his body on hers. She opened her mouth beneath his, feeling giddy with desire as his tongue slid against hers with a kind of sensuality Josh had never had.
    She felt reckless and so unlike herself. She fumbled at the buttons on Todd’s cargo pants, her fingers moving over him. He was already hard, which really turned her on.
    She gripped the sides of his pants and tugged, exposing every glorious inch hidden beneath. There was no backing out now. Grayson dropped onto her knees and took the full length of him in her mouth. His skin was velvety soft, the head of him salty as her tongue moved around his shaft.
    He moaned. “Oh my God.”
    Grayson worked his cock, listening to sounds of pleasure from Todd, and felt like a sex goddess. When she finally released him with an audible sucking sound, she stood up and their lips met again. He walked her back to the bed, taking her gently by the