Pulse Read online

  "If I had gone to culinary school I'd be perfect for that," I groan. "No one wants to hire someone who doesn't have formal training." I recite the phrase I've heard countless times at dozens of restaurants since I'd arrived in the city. I was down to my last few saved dollars and if I didn't land something soon, I'd be up to my elbows in dishwater just as a way to get my foot in the door. Cooking was my passion and I wanted it to be my career.

  "I'll mention you to her this morning." Rebecca pulls a banana from a basket on the counter. "I can't wait for lunch."

  I smile at her enthusiasm. "I'll be there right at noon."

  "Hey, Jess." She tilts her head to the side and I know what that means. She's about to talk about sex. It's a telling gesture and one that she's always unconsciously done since we were in middle school together.

  "He fell asleep," I murmur.

  "What?" The shrill tone of the question forces me to take a step back.

  "I went to the washroom and he was out cold when I got back." I shake my head. "It was beyond humiliating."

  "So nothing happened?" She settles onto one of the wooden stools next to the counter.

  "Something happened." I might as well just get the conversation over with. "When we got to his room he helped me come."

  "So you had sex?"

  "I had sex with his finger." I shrug my shoulders and bite back a laugh. "It was great finger sex."

  She giggles causing her tall frame to shake. "At least you'll always have the memory of Mr. Fingers."

  I roll my eyes at the nickname. "His name is Nathan. Not that it matters. I blew my chance. Or rather, I didn't get a chance to blow him."

  "We'll just try again tonight." Her grin is genuine. "I was so jealous of how hot the guy was you left with that I didn't hang around long. Maybe tonight we'll both get lucky."

  "Not me." I shake my head. "I'm bowing out. The universe is telling me that I'm not a one night stand kind of girl."

  Her brows shoot up. "You're wrong. It's like swimming in the ocean, Jess. When you first jump in the water it's freezing and your body has to get used to it. Sleeping with men in Manhattan is like that. At first, you wonder how you'll ever warm up to the idea and then once you're in bed with a man who can make you come over and over again in one night, you'll never want to stop."

  "I was almost in bed with a man like that." I hold her gaze. "It was a disaster. He couldn't stay awake long enough to fuck me."

  "That's why we're getting back in the saddle tonight."

  "I'm going to keep my feet on the ground and my ass in my own bed. Thank you very much." I tip my head to her as she chuckles and turns to leave.

  Chapter 4

  "I gave my lunch away," Rebecca screams above the loud buzz of the music.

  I pull my eyes up over the edge of the glass that I have pursed to my lips. "I'll try not to take that personally."

  "To my boss, Cassandra." She shoots her eyes around the crowded club not once settling them on me. "She loved it. She wants to meet you."

  "You're kidding?" I was teetering on the verge of jumping up and down at the news but I wasn't sure the strapless black dress I was wearing would cooperate.

  "Tomorrow at eleven." She motions behind my head. "Bring something for her to eat and she'll hire you. The way to that woman's check book is definitely through her stomach."

  I turn around and I realize she's gesturing to two men staring directly at us. I give out a loud groan at the thought of diving back into the one nightstand pool after only wading in the shallow end last night.

  "I'll take the blonde and you can have the other one." She slinks past me and grabs hold of my hand before I have a chance to protest. I don't want the other one. I don't want the blonde either. I want my bed and my pillow and a good night's sleep. Being back at this club after my humiliating experience in a hotel room, just a few floors above us less than twenty-four hours ago, is not the optimal way I'd like to be spending my Tuesday night.

  "I'm Rebecca, this is Jess." She slurs both of our names before letting out an animated giggle. What the hell happened to her during the ten feet it took us to walk over here? Is she actually pretending to be drunk?

  "What's wrong with you?" I see no reason to not call her out on her obvious bullshit.

  "Jess, don't curse." She plants her index finger over my lips and throws me a wink.

  I shake my head in utter disbelief. I stare blankly at her while she launches into a convoluted story about how she works as a lingerie model. Who in their right mind would believe that? From the wide grin on the blonde's face, I'd guess she just baited him hook, line and sinker.

  "What do you do?"

  It takes an endless moment before I realize that the male voice asking the question is actually coming from the man standing next to me. I turn my head and I'm a little surprised by how attractive he really is. His brown eyes almost match the hue of his hair. He's young, perhaps even my age.

  "Hopefully by the end of the day tomorrow I'll be a personal chef."

  "Cool." He nods his head up and down as if he's searching for the next words that should be coming out of his mouth.

  "What about you?" I offer, all the while my eyes are glued to Rebecca. Judging by the way she's got her arms draped over the blonde guy's shoulders, I'd venture a guess that she won't be going home with me.

  "What about me?" He leans in closer and I pull back yet again.

  "What do you do for a living?" I enunciate every syllable. I don't want him to think that anything beyond a brief conversation is going to happen between the two of us tonight.

  He holds his hand up to his ear and gestures. The pounding of the music is making it harder and harder for me to think straight, let alone hear him.

  Despite the fact that I feel incredibly uncomfortable, I lean closer to repeat the question. The scent of him, a mix of cigarettes and cheap cologne assaults my senses right away. I need to get away from him, and from this place. Coming back here was a mistake and now that Rebecca has a bedfellow for the night, I can finally make a run for the door.

  His breath is thick and hot on my neck as he whispers in my ear that he works as a maintenance worker at a building in lower Manhattan.

  I smile and nod my head not caring an ounce about how he spends his days, or how he'll spend tonight. I look at my hands, studying the fine lines on my palms while he goes on and on about what his plans for next weekend are. There's finally a break in the muted tone of his voice. I look up and he's staring right behind me. His radar must be locked on another woman. Small miracles do happen. I move to take a step back and I'm instantly aware of a presence behind me.

  A large hand presses against my stomach as the feeling of a man's hard body pushes into my back. "Jessica." His voice has a frustrated note to it. "There you are."

  I turn slowly. I don't need to. I already know who it is just be the scent of his skin. It's him. He looks even more devastatingly handsome than he did last night.

  Chapter 5

  "Hey, sleepyhead."

  A slight frown pulls at the skin on his forehead. "Are you going to introduce me to your friend?"

  "No," I say impassively. I have no intention of talking to either of these men for longer than ten seconds, if at all possible. "He's not my friend."

  His intense blue eyes scan my face before jumping back to the man standing behind me. "I need a moment."

  "Dude, now?" I hear the pleading voice of the man I was just talking to. I'm feeling a rush of relief at the idea of being pulled from the clutches of the conversation I was having with him.

  "A minute, dude." Nathan stares at my face as he throws the words back at him.

  I smile at the sound of such a misplaced word on his lips. He's the definition of culture and refinement. The suit he's wearing tonight is grey pinstriped, the white shirt underneath open at the collar to reveal just a hint of that toned chest I got to see last night.

  I don't turn to look as he pulls me by my waist into the crowd. I scan the masses t
rying to find Rebecca but the effort is useless. I can barely walk through the throngs of people. There's no way I'd be able to pick her out in this place.

  I freeze once I realize he's pulling me towards the entrance of the hotel. "Wait."

  His eyes lower to mine. "It's quieter there."

  "No." I stand my ground on the edge of the dance floor. "I'm not going back up there with you."

  "Why?" He leans down, his breath forging a path on my bare shoulder. My nipples instantly harden at the sensation.

  "It wasn't meant to be." I try to add a lighthearted lilt to my tone but it comes across much more jubilant than I intend.

  "I didn't get a chance to finish what I started." He reaches to pull me closer and I take a step back. I can't want him again. Last night was so humiliating.

  "There are dozens of women here who would love to go upstairs with you." I turn and his hand stays steady at my waist. "Look at that one right there. She'd be all over you in a flash." I nod my head towards a striking brunette who has her eyes locked on Nathan. Who could blame her? He's the definition of beautiful.

  "I want to go upstairs with you." His hand is on my stomach again, pulling me into him. "I don't give up easily."

  I sigh at the sensation of his body against mine. I should just swallow my pride and go upstairs. I wanted him last night. Nothing has changed. As soon as I heard his voice tonight I was instantly aroused.

  "I'm going to have you." He pushes the hair from my shoulder as his lips trace a path across my skin. "Come upstairs with me. One night, Jessica."

  I turn, my hand snaking up his shirt before it settles on his chin. "One night."

  A smile pulls on the corner of his lips as he takes me by the hand. I follow him silently as we walk through the hotel lobby again. When the young woman calls a greeting to him, this time he doesn't react. His gaze is focused forward, his hand gently tugging on mine.

  The moment we step into the elevator, his lips are on my mouth. I melt into his embrace. He's so tall, so strong, and so incredibly masculine. I moan slightly as he traces a path along my lower lip with his tongue.

  I feel deprived when he pulls away from the kiss as the elevator stops on the eighteenth floor. He takes my hand in his again. There's silence as he dashes to the door of his suite, key card in hand.

  I take one last, full breath before he opens the door, pulling me inside.

  Chapter 6

  I don't have time to react before he pushes me against the door again. I whimper at the reminder of the night before. I want more. I need more than just his hands on me. I push him back and he growls.

  He spins me around until I'm leaning against the back of the couch. With one hand he pulls my dress down and my breasts pop free. I didn't wear a bra tonight. I didn't invest any time in what I wore or what I looked like. Getting a man into bed last night was my goal, tonight it was just to be Rebecca's wing woman.

  "Beautiful," he whispers as he dips his head to take one of my nipples into his mouth.

  I moan at the sensation. His tongue circles the swollen bud before he rakes his teeth lightly across it.

  I claw at his suit jacket, wanting to feel his skin on mine. He acquiesces. He effortlessly pushes it from his shoulders and it falls to the floor. Before I have a chance to start work on the buttons of his shirt, he's pulled my dress to the floor.

  He drops my breast from his grasp and stands upright. I stare at him. I see the desire I feel in his eyes. He's on fire. He scoops me up in his arms and walks quickly down the hallway to that expansive king size bed I only got to glimpse at from the doorway last night.

  "I can't wait to fuck you. Look at you." He moves quickly to rid himself of his shirt before he starts unbuckling his pants. I can't help but stare at his hands. I want to see him. I want to see how aroused he is by my body.

  He stops before he pulls the zipper of his pants down. I feel a deep, heavy sigh race through me. Please don't stop. Please.

  He crawls onto the bed beside me, his lips coursing hot over mine. I grab his head with my hands, guiding his kiss. I reach for his tongue with my own, playfully pulling it into my mouth. I want this. I want to grab everything I can from this.

  His lips leave mine and trace a scorching path down my chest. He briefly pulls my right nipple into his mouth, then the left. I moan at the feeling of his tongue on my flesh.

  "I have to make you come," he purrs.

  I brace myself as he pulls my panties off. "Please," I whimper. I need to come soon. Just thinking about him fucking me has almost pushed me to the edge.

  He pulls his tongue slowly and deliberately along my slick, smooth slit.

  I almost cry out from the pressure of his tongue when it touches my clit. "You're exquisite," he whispers into me before glides his tongue across my folds.

  "Like that," I cry out. This feels so good. I grab his head with both my hands and I'm rewarded with a loud moan.

  "Tell me," he says as he pulls his breath across me. "Tell me how."

  "My clit," I murmur. "Lick it."

  He flicks his tongue over it and I push my back from the mattress. I have to get closer to him. I have to come like this.

  "That's it, baby." His breath on my sensitive folds almost pushes me over the edge. "You're so sweet. So good."

  His words push me nearer the edge. "Lick it," I spur him on. "Make me come."

  He dives into me and licks me hard as my hips buck off the bed. I've never been eaten like this. I've never come from a man pleasing me this way.

  I press my head into the pillow as I fall into the pleasure. I let my body go. I can't control it. I almost scream as I feel the climax course through me. The orgasm is intense. I writhe beneath him, unable to control my own body.

  He rests his head on my thigh as I float back from the trance. I run my hand along his forehead, coaxing him to move. I want so much to feel him inside of me.

  "That was incredible," he whispers into my thigh as his lips graze my skin. "I could get addicted to that taste."

  I float on the words. I don't care who he said them to last week or who will be sprawled beneath him tomorrow. I want this. I need it. I have to hear him tell me he wants me.

  "Fuck me," I manage to say.

  He raises his head and a sly grin pulls at the corner of his mouth. "Say it again."

  "Fuck me." I almost close my eyes at the thought of him over me, his cock inside of my body, taking me back to the edge.

  He moves to his feet and deftly pushes his pants and boxer briefs to the floor. I stare at him. He's more impressive than I imagined. His body almost sculptured. The lines are all so defined, his muscles well-toned. His cock is hard, ready and eager. I pull my tongue across my lip. I want it. I want to feel it between my lips. I want to pull my tongue across its wide head. It's so thick, so large.

  He reaches to pull a condom from drawer of the table next to the bed. I watch in silence as he rolls it over his cock before he's beside me on the bed again.

  "I've thought about fucking you all day." He rests between my thighs, his cock in his hand. "When I woke up I could smell your scent on my hand. It was intoxicating. I wanted to find you. I had to find you. I needed to fuck you."

  My body aches at the words and the heated glare in his face. I want him too. I know it's one night but I want to know. I want to know what it's like to be taken by him, to have my pleasure be dictated by him.

  I push my legs wider apart as my hands fist in the bed linens. I ready my body for him. "Now," I whisper.

  He groans as he leans forward, rubbing his cock over my clit.

  I shudder at the contact. My hips lunging upward seeking him. "Please," I almost beg.

  He leans forward until he's towering over me. I feel the tip of him at my entrance. "Tell me to stop if it's too much."

  "No," I shake my head from side-to-side. "No."

  "Fuck," he moans loudly as he pushes into me.

  I gasp as he sinks himself into me completely. It's so much.

 
His hips grind into me and I'm breathless with every heavy thrust. I whimper at the sensations. It's all so good.

  I clench my body around his and I'm given a deep guttural moan in return. "Christ, Jessica."

  "Hard. Harder," I mutter through clenched teeth. I'm close to coming again already. Just feeling him inside of me is pushing me into a place I've never felt before.

  He starts fucking me. His strokes are long and hard. His lips find mine and he bites my bottom lip before pulling his tongue tenderly across it.

  I grab his ass, pushing him even harder, needing to consume him the same way he's consuming me.

  He pushes harder, deeper, faster. I cry out from the pleasure. I can't speak. It's all so much. This is what it's like to really be taken by a man.

  I feel a deep, guttural sound escape my lips as my body slides into the edge of an orgasm. He kisses me deeply and I breathe in his breath. I pull him into me in every way as I feel all the pleasure he's giving me take over my body. I come hard.

  He reaches to cup my ass in his hand as I feel my body relax again. He kisses my forehead. "I'm not done. I could fuck your sweet body for hours."

  He shifts back onto his heels and pulls my hips with him. He's still so hard, so rigid inside of me. I gasp as I realize that he's going to help me come again.

  Electricity courses through me when his thumb touches my clit. My hips involuntarily respond and it's all the invitation he needs. He pulls my body closer with one hand as he pounds himself harder into me.

  "Fuck, you're so tight," he growls. "Such a sweet little body."

  I can't control myself. The heat of his words and the feeling of him thrusting into me are causing another orgasm to race towards me.

  "I can't. This is so good," I gasp. "Fuck. Please."

  "Take it. It's yours." He pumps himself into me as he circles my clit lightly with his thumb.

  "I'm…" my voice trails as I'm hit head on with an intense orgasm. I can barely contain a scream.