Chapter Nine
After the awkwarddrink with Stan, which turned out to be slightly better than expected, Jason headed for his room. He threw his sport coat on the bed and grabbed the remote, still too keyed up to relax. Before he could scan the channel options, a knocked sounded at the door.
He opened the door to reveal Stacia still in her ice-blue suit, holding a six-pack in her hand. She offered it to him.
“I thought you might like to celebrate.”
He pulled her into the room then slammed her up against the door, fusing his lips to hers. Now this was what he called a celebration.
After a momentary surprise, Stacia kissed him back, her tongue tangling with his. She brought her hands up and banged his back with the six-pack, effectively deadening the mood, at least for now. His blood was hot and she was there.
He grabbed the six-pack and stalked into the room.
Stacia straightened her suit and followed him, perching delicately on the edge of the bed. “Well, this room looks a little different.”
“Every room is different and yet the same. I didn’t really expect to see you here.”
She looked a little uncomfortable and avoided his gaze, wringing her hands in her lap. “Well, here’s the thing. They’re out of rooms for the night.”
He leaned against the wall, still holding the beer, not trusting himself to get any closer to her. “You didn’t have the travel secretary make arrangements?”
“Travel secretary? No, I worked with Maggie to get a flight. I honestly didn’t expect the hotel to be booked. There’s some type of software convention and all rooms are taken.”
He nodded slowly, a bad feeling making its way up his spine. “So, where are you staying?”
She glanced at the king-sized bed, her thoughts screaming out at him as if she had vocalized them.
“Isn’t that how we got into trouble before? I thought you didn’t want to make that mistake again.”
“I suppose you could look at it that way. You said you wanted to keep me around. Now, I’m closer than ever. And I’m supposed to be your girlfriend. Didn’t you say I was better than kryptonite?”
His cock twitched at the idea of her being at his disposal. The possibilities were endless. His body was still humming from the game, the victory over the reporters, and the hot kiss. Having her on the other side of the bed was almost more than he could take. The perfect remedy for what ailed him. He hardened at the memory of their one night together, and the promise of what could be.
She caught his heated gaze and flushed. “What?”
Damn. She looked good enough to eat. In more ways than one. “There’s only one bed. And youaremy girlfriend.”
Her eyes dropped, and a small smile played about her lips. “What are you suggesting?”
“I’m thinking you have too many clothes on.”
She adjusted her jacket like a suit of armor, and sternly looked at him. “We need to talk about the other night.”
He ran his fingers through his hair and flopped on the bed next to her, inhaling her soft perfume, and resisting the urge to seduce her out of the discussion. “I already explained it to you. I thought that’s why you brought the beer? To make sure I was all tucked in, alone.”
“I told you that we needed to clean up your image. Attacking a reporter is not helpful.”
“He started it.” Even to his own ears, he sounded like a whiny child, a broken record.
“Irrelevant. You’re being judged in a whole new light now. You have to be the mature one, the adult, for once in your life.”
“Wasn’t that the point of your little show downstairs? So I don’t have to deal with that bullshit anymore?”
“No, of course not.” She blushed. “All I am asking is that you be more careful. Since we can’t control other people and you can’t be a hermit, we need to distract the media and everyone out there who wants to discredit you.”
He sipped his beer. “I’m listening.”
She let out a breath. “Excellent. I drew up a bunch of ideas, community groups you could get involved in to show you’re a nice guy.”