Page 28 of A Mutually Beneficial Proposal

Piper shushes her, but I’m already nodding. “I’m going to stay with Owen. If it’s too much, I’ll figure something else out tomorrow. Tonight, it’s time to say fuck all the things. The good, the bad, and the delicious.”

Kenzie throws a fist in the air and Piper claps excitedly.

“Go tell him and call us tomorrow,” Piper says and blows me a kiss.

I do the same back to both of them. “Thank you, ladies. Love you.”

“Ride or die. We got you, boo,” Kenzie adds, and I end the call.

When I turn around, Owen is waiting, but Rosa is nowhere to be seen. He takes a step toward me, but I’m ready to get off this rooftop. I shake my head at him and make my way back.

I keep my face neutral while I walk through the party. The closer I get, the deeper Owen’s frown becomes.

“Just hear me out, Ella. I have a suite. One with a separate bedroom and a pull-out couch. Unless you want to spend the next hour or more calling all the other hotels, which are probably also full because this is peak season for the island, then my room is the best option.” He pauses, then adds, “For many reasons. I’ll even be the one to sleep on the couch.”

I grab his suitcoat with both hands and pull him closer until my lips are only an inch from his. “Nobody is sleeping on the couch, Owen.”

“Fuck,” he hisses and stands a little taller. His eyes darken, and he licks his perfect lips while staring down at mine.

I close the remaining gap between us and slip my tongue into his mouth. If I don’t act now, I’ll lose the confidence I gained while talking to Kenzie and Piper.

Owen is backing us up with one hand gripping my waist, bunching the silk material between his fingers, while his other hand is hopefully searching for the elevator button.

When we stop, he pulls back just enough to speak. “Are you sure about this?”

“I’ve had a terrible week. I need whatever this is. Even if it’s just for tonight,” I answer honestly.

“I feel really bad for being thankful about your shitty week, but I can’t help it,” he murmurs against my mouth.

“Just make me forget everything else as soon as we’re back in your room and I won’t give a damn what you’re thankful for,” I reply and nip at his bottom lip.

He presses closer to me, and I can feel his dick against my stomach. “You’ll be lucky if we make it back to the room.”

“I’ll be lucky if we don’t,” I retort with a saucy grin.

The elevator opens, and we’re inside before I can take my next breath. Owen fishes the room card out of his pocket, and my fingers deftly work at the buttons of his dress shirt.

I get three buttons down before thinking a little more clearly. There could be cameras in this thing, given how fancy the hotel is. Only Owen hasn’t reached the same conclusion.

As soon as he selects the option for his floor, my back is pressed against the steel wall and his hands are moving tormentingly slow up my sides until they cup each of my breasts. His thumbs rub over my nipples, and mewling noises leave my mouth.

I arch closer to him, needing his touch and no longer caring who might see.

“I knew you were special the second I saw you,” he whispers against my neck before his tongue swirls over my sensitive skin.

Words want to leave my mouth, but all that comes out is a soft moan.

He pinches one of my nipples and lowers his head, but the doors open to his floor before things can escalate. I want to cry that we’re going to have to move from our position, but I know the momentary pause on whatever this is will be worth it once we’re alone in his suite.

Owen surprises me when he settles his arms behind my back and picks me up with ease. He carries me down the hallway while I nip at his neck.

“I don’t know who called you before, but I owe them flowers or something,” Owen says when he stops at what I assume to be his door.

“My best friends Kenzie and Piper, but do you really want to talk about them right now?” I ask.

He gets the door open. “Fuck no, I don’t.”

We step inside the room, and I don’t even get the chance to look around before my back is against the now-closed door. My legs wrap around Owen’s waist, and I lock my ankles behind him. His hands slide up my dress, and he grips my ass. One of his fingers moves down my backside, lifting my panties and making its way south.

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