Page 450 of Hell Hath No Fury
“I’m serious, Duke. If I agree to stay with you tonight, you need to know that I’m not agreeing to sleep with you. We’ll be staying in separate rooms and that’s non-negotiable.”
“Shall we shake on it?” I asked, wiping my hands clean with my bandana.
Pearl extended her hand and I pulled her in for a kiss. She dropped her soda, which shattered on the pavement before throwing her arms around me.
* * *
Pearl
“We’re plum sold out,” the front desk clerk said. “I got one room left with a double bed, but that’s it.”
“How is that possible?” I asked.
“Annual clown convention,” he answered dryly.
“We’ll take it,” Duke said, and handed the man a ten-dollar bill.
I shuddered. “I hate clowns.”
“Then you better stay in your room,” the clerk said, sliding Duke a key.
“Come on, baby,” Duke said, and led me to room nine.
“I can’t do this,” I whispered.
“Shit, you’re that freaked out by clowns?”
“Not that. I mean, yes, I’m terrified by clowns, but I mean, this. Sleeping in your room alone with you.”
He faced me, cupping my face. “No one knows who you are, Pearl. We’re gonna sleep, then head out early, okay? I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do.”
“That’s not entirely the problem,” I admitted as he pushed open the door and waited for me to precede him.
“Then whatis?”
I bit my lip and faced him. “I need you to promise me you won’t do anything,evenif I beg.”
“Jesus,” he hissed, closing and locking the door and then pulling me into his arms.
I gripped his leather vest and held on as he kissed me, his hands skimming the underside of my breasts and making me shiver. Unable to stop myself, I slid my hands under his shirt and flattened my palms against his back. I could feel his muscles ripple as he lifted me and settled me on the bed.
He pulled off his vest and shirt and I licked my lips at the sight of his muscular chest. He had a little bit of hair between his pecs, but otherwise, he was bare, and he was very tan.
Grinning, he leaned over me and kissed me again, his hand going to my breast and squeezing gently. I whimpered, slipping my hands into his hair.
“Duke,” I panted between kisses. “Please.”
He groaned, breaking our connection and stretching out on the bed, pulling me against him. “If you do that again, I can’t promise I’ll stop next time, so this is your one warning.”
“Okay,” I whispered, and snuggled close to him.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Duke
I pulled Pearl against me and her hand went to the tuft of hair on my otherwise bare chest.
“I thought you’d have more hair on your chest,” she said smiling up at me.
