Stay Beautiful Read online

  Violet studied him, noting the shadows that passed across his face. He’d loved that woman.

  “So, what happened after that?”

  He was quiet for a moment. When he spoke, his voice was thick with repressed emotion. “She regretted it instantly. It was a big, dramatic breakdown that ended with her crying and begging me not to tell her husband because she loved him and wanted to make it work after all. I left and never saw her again.”

  “Wow.” It was hard to look at the pain he tried to hide. Violet felt like an ass for leading the conversation down that path. Still, she found it endearing that Jonah had laid his heart on the line for one night with a woman he loved. She couldn’t help but see him a little differently now. “I’m sorry to have brought that up. I didn’t mean to send you down memory lane.”

  “It’s no big deal.” The smile that snapped into place was forced. Jonah leaned in close to kiss her, lingering to bury his face in her hair. “I’m focused on the here and now. And let me tell you, it’s looking good.”

  It felt fantastic to be there with him. Closing her eyes, Violet concentrated on the heat of his skin and the way he felt next to her. She could get used to this.

  Her eyes popped open at that thought. Was she insane? That would never happen. They didn’t even live in the same country. For the first time all night, she was seeing that as a bad thing.

  “I can’t believe I’m going to say this.” She paused, her inner voice telling her to shut up. “But I almost wish we could see each other again. You know, after all this storm nonsense is over. Is that wrong? It is, isn’t it?”

  Jonah gazed into her eyes, searching for something. Did he find it?

  “I wish this night would never end. Nobody has made me feel the way you do, Violet. It started with just the sex, which was amazing by the way. But getting to know you has been special. You’ve got me thinking about things, the things that really matter. Like the art I’ve neglected and the loves I’ve lost. I can’t tell you the last time I took the time to ponder anything that wasn’t work related.”

  His admittance made Violet beam. It warmed her insides to hear him say that. It was reassuring to know she hadn’t imagined their connection. Jonah felt it too.

  “Do you think we should stay in touch? Or would that ruin it?” The last thing she wanted to do was spoil the memories they’d created thus far. “I don’t want to do anything to destroy the way this feels.”

  “Let’s just play it by ear. We’ll make that decision when the time comes. For now, I just want to enjoy you.” Jonah’s mouth was hot against her neck. The rough touch of his teeth on her sensitive flesh made her shudder. He pulled back suddenly, leaving her breathless. “My turn. Never have I ever joined the mile-high club. Though I’d sure as hell like to.”

  “I’m not a member of that club either.” Violet winked at him from beneath a curtain of dark hair. “I imagine the moment I started getting it on in that tiny-ass bathroom, something terrible would happen with the plane and I’d spill out with my pants around my ankles for everyone to see.”

  “Pants around your ankles, huh?” Jonah seemed to ponder this. “So in your ideal mile-high scenario, you’re taking it from behind.”

  She lay back against the pillows piled before the head board and smiled. “Yeah, I guess so. Okay, let me think. Never have I ever made a sex tape.”

  There was a long moment of silence. Jonah gave a dramatic sigh and grabbed a bottle of rum. “This is getting embarrassing. You’re going to think I’m a total man whore.” He took his shot and smirked. “Let me tell you, I learned my lesson on that one. You think it’s the women that are afraid of those suckers being put on the internet? Not always. My ex-girlfriend held our tape as blackmail material for a year.”

  “Are you serious?” Violet was shocked. She covered her mouth with a hand to stifle laughter. “That’s not cool. I shouldn’t laugh. What did you do?”

  Jonah looked a little smug when he said, “I broke into her house and stole it. I’m not sure if she was smart enough to make copies. I moved from Chicago to New York shortly after that.”

  “That’s pretty ballsy. I guess you do what you gotta do.”

  “I’m going to be drunk off my ass while you sit there sober and mocking me.” Jonah tossed a little plastic whiskey bottle at her. “You’ve got a streak of bad girl. I know you do. Let’s see. I think I know one you may have over me.”

  “All right then.” Violet gestured for him to continue. There’s no way he would pick out her juicy secrets. “Let’s hear it.”

  Jonah seemed sure of himself, as if he suddenly had her all figured out. “Never have I ever had a threesome. Bet you didn’t see that coming. It’s true though.”

  Violet didn’t think her cheeks could possibly burn any hotter. She was going to have nothing left to hide by the time this experience came to an end. She expected to be more embarrassed than she was. Strangely, she didn’t feel judged by Jonah like she would with some people.

  “I’ve done it once.” The shot of whiskey burned as it slid down her throat to warm her. A pleasant tingle through her limbs quickly followed. “It’s actually pretty hazy in my memory. It happened after a rock concert. My friend and I went with a group of our friends. She left with one guy and I ended up staying behind with the other two. It wasn’t as good as one might think.”

  “Well that sucks. Two men and they couldn’t keep you happy?” With a shake of his head Jonah reached for her. He started at her feet, taking one in his hands and stroking his fingers along the ticklish sole. “They’re unworthy.”

  A soft gasp escaped Violet as Jonah bent to place small kisses along her ankle. He was gentle and tender. She melted beneath his touch. There was a sensual quality to his caress that she felt in a place that wasn’t physical. Violet watched his hands glide over her skin, up over her knee to her thigh. His soft kisses followed and she giggled when he found a spot behind her knee that made her jump.

  A swell of emotion burst up from deep down in her core, flooding her with a storm of sudden and unwelcome feelings. She looked at Jonah and felt things she shouldn’t feel.

  “Never have I ever had a one-night stand,” she blurted. “I mean, not like this. I know I said before that I don’t usually do this. Usually pretty much translates into never. A hook-up with a stranger that I never saw again… This is my first.”

  Jonah looked up, confusion etched on his handsome face. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  “Drink your shot. I know this isn’t your first one-night stand.” Violet forced her face to move, her lips curving into a smile. “I’m fine. Sorry. Just got lost in thought for a second there.”

  Jonah did the shot and then with a great sweeping gesture, shoved all the liquor bottles onto the floor. “No, this isn’t my first. I’ve definitely sought nothing more than a warm body beneath me, a face I’ll forget and a name I didn’t even ask for. But this isn’t the same. I don’t think it ever was.”

  Violet stared at him, speechless. He began his ascent up her body. The return of his lips to her bare leg caused her pulse to race faster. She watched him press affectionate kisses to the top of her knee and heat rushed to her groin. She’d gotten herself into this, thinking it would be a great way to pass the night and fulfill her hunger for adventure. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. She wasn’t supposed to like him this much.

  “I feel like I’ve known you longer than a night. It’s crazy and a little confusing.” She squirmed when he reached to untie her robe. Anticipation began to build fast.

  Jonah paused just long enough to slip out of his own robe. His bare chest and well-muscled back drew Violet’s gaze. She drank in the sight of him, following every inch with her eyes. He was magnificent. She couldn’t wait to have him again.

  “No need to be confused, lover. Tonight you are mine. Nothing else matters right now.”

  Jonah slipped his hands beneath her to grip her hips. He lowered his face to her navel and gave a
long, slow lick down her abdomen to the neatly trimmed triangle of hair between her legs.

  “I love the way you smell,” he murmured. “The way you feel.” Closing his eyes, Jonah rubbed his face along her belly.

  She slid her fingers into his hair. It was thick and soft, shining in the dim firelight. Violet let her gaze travel around the room. From the silly fireplace to the mini-fridge and the final few hours of night beyond the window, it was all so false. If only she could make it last just a little longer. She feared waking up at home in her own bed next week, struggling to keep the memory of this night fresh in her mind always. Eventually it would fade.

  Violet concentrated hard on the details. The exact shade of Jonah’s hair was a rich brown with highlights of gold, caught only when the light hit it just right. The dark undertones gave it the illusion of being darker than it was. Color like that would never be found in a salon.

  His body was warm, almost hot against her. Her own body temperature climbed steadily as he ran his hands up her sides to her breasts. There was a flutter in her stomach. Firm but gentle, Jonah outlined her nipple with a finger. Every stroke of his skin on hers was a sensation Violet tried to memorize. Whatever that hint of cologne was mixed with Jonah’s natural scent, she knew she would never be able to smell it on another man as long as she lived. Her future held that moment of sudden surprise when she would one day pass a stranger and have his scent send her spiraling back in time, to this moment.

  Both hands covered her breasts. Violet stared down the length of her body, loving the way Jonah looked sprawled atop her. He lay between her legs, savoring her. The tip of his tongue dipped into her bellybutton and she twitched uncontrollably. His fingers found her nipples, rubbing them until they stood begging for more attention. A content sigh slipped from her in response.

  Jonah moved farther up her body so he could suck a taut bud into his mouth. She moaned softly and arched her back. She couldn’t possibly touch enough of him. Her hands glided over his smooth skin, from his shoulders to his delicious chest and back. Violet loved the way he fit between her legs. His thick erection pressed against her thigh. She was eager for it.

  Taking his time, Jonah languorously loved her nipples. From one to the other, he feasted on her breasts. She encouraged him with breathy moans. One hand disappeared between her legs as Jonah reached down between them. Wet and ready, she welcomed his fingers when they slipped inside her. There was a little burst of pleasure when he stroked as deep as he was able.

  He kissed her. A delicate touch of his lips to hers. There was no rush. Jonah took his time devouring her mouth. He smelled like alcohol but she didn’t mind. It was another scent to file away for future reference, when she needed a warm memory to cling to in the cold, lonely night.

  He explored her mouth thoroughly as if he too wanted to remember each detail. Violet held him close, unable to keep her hands still. She wanted to feel all of him. Jonah sucked at her bottom lip. He continued to pleasure her with his fingers, sliding them out of her slippery sheath to flick lightly over her throbbing clit.

  “Has anyone ever told you that your touch is like magic?” Her whisper was low and throaty. “I think it just might be addictive.”

  “Oh yeah?” He shot her a flirty grin before nipping at her neck. “Think it’s possible to overdose?”

  “I guess there’s only one way to find out.”

  His small bites became aggressive. The sexual rush coursing through Violet grew like a violent storm. The need for release was becoming increasingly powerful. Every time his fingers glided over her aching nub she writhed beneath him. The promise of climax was there, so close but so far. The way he manipulated her body was unlike most of her past lovers. Jonah had a way of reading her response to him that set him apart from the rest. He genuinely cared about her pleasure, putting it above his own.

  Violet’s heart raced as the sensations of approaching orgasm grew. That crucial peak was right there, ready to crash over her like an ocean wave. She wasn’t ready. Not yet. Her sudden cry echoed around them. Jonah groaned as her inner channel convulsed and the muscles spasmed around his fingers. The euphoria that accompanied a mind-numbing orgasm engulfed her and she fell happily into its depths.

  Her chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath. If she’d been forced to decide which orgasm of the evening had been the best, it would have been impossible to do so. Whether it was the alcohol, the overwhelming sensations or a combination of both she didn’t know or care. All Violet knew was that she was soaring on a high that no known narcotic could ever produce. It was dizzying and exhilarating. She never wanted to come down.

  She didn’t realize she’d closed her eyes until she opened them to find Jonah staring at her with a lazy smile. It was a tad embarrassing to know he’d been watching her face during climax. Once a man sees the orgasm face, that one moment of total abandon and loss of control, he’d pretty much seen into the soul of his lover.

  “Hey, handsome.” Breathless and ridiculously smitten, Violet let herself fall into his enchanting eyes. “See something you like?”

  “Oh yeah. Watching you… You’re filled with such passion. I can’t help but want to be part of that.”

  “You are part of that.” She pulled him close for a kiss that left her quaking.

  Jonah didn’t need any further encouragement. Much like last time, he produced a condom as if it had been orchestrated to appear at just the right moment. Violet hid a smile and bit her bottom lip. She was eager to feel him moving inside her. Jonah held her gaze as he pressed against her warm entrance. It drew her like a moth to a flame and she fell headlong into him.

  He stared down at her, watching her face as he entered her. It was excruciatingly satisfying as he inched his way in, dragging out that first intense thrust. That long, slow deliberate stroke swept Violet up to a place of utter contentment. She clasped her legs around his waist, holding him deep within her.

  They moved together, their rhythm slow but steady. Several shallow, teasing strokes had her moaning for more. He was precise with his movements, timing sudden deep thrusts to take her by surprise and force the cries from her. Violet lost all sense of time. She ran her hands over his back, down to his tight rear end. Feeling him move atop her, the perspiration breaking out on his skin, Violet was captivated by every part of him.

  Physical pleasure danced with the spiritual and emotional sides of her. It was a heady mix that reached to encompass all of her being. She was torn between sudden urges to laugh or to cry. It was as confusing as it was tranquil. Though she was completely at peace in Jonah’s arms, she sought to make sense of the strange array of sensations. As his thrusts grew harder and faster, it became increasingly difficult to tell where she ended and he began.

  “Okay, baby. Your turn on top. I want to watch you.” Jonah carefully rolled them so she was on top, looking down into his beautiful face. His expression was eager and expectant.

  Violet sat up straight to give him a nice view of her breasts bouncing in time with their lovemaking. She raised herself up until the tip of his cock was just barely inside her, then plunged down upon him. The sound of sheer pleasure that she elicited from Jonah was music to her ears.

  Impaling herself upon him, Violet felt empowered. She loved being in control of the pace and depth. It allowed her to guide them along, hitting exactly the right ups and downs. She took advantage of the opportunity to tease Jonah by withdrawing his stiff manhood from her body until he was crazy with need. When she took him back inside her with a swift and sudden motion, he groaned and shook a finger at her.

  “Sorry, lover. I can’t help but tease a little.” She chuckled softly and leaned down to kiss him.

  He held her head tightly while he kissed her with primal aggression. He bit at her lip and sucked at her tongue. Jonah grasped her hips with both hands and pulled her down while he thrust up. It was unexpected and rough but it was absolutely mind-shattering. Violet cried out as he continued to pump into her with a speed that sto
le her control.

  Their groins were lined up perfectly so that each thrust stimulated her swollen nub, pushing her toward the brink of orgasm. The sound of their bodies colliding in a passionate storm was loud in Violet’s ears. She tried to brace herself against Jonah but they were slippery with sweat. She collapsed on his chest, breathing hard, his name a broken cry on her lips.

  So close. She was so close. Climax exploded over Violet with an impact that left her ears ringing. Despite the fact Jonah was buried as deep as physically possible inside her, it wasn’t enough. She needed to feel more of him. She was hungry. A carnal lust that could only be appeased by him. As he satisfied her, that lust grew so that she would never be truly sated again.

  The climactic spasms seemed to last forever. Jonah’s hands were everywhere, as if he needed to touch every part of her at once. With his fingers in her hair and his lips against her ear, Jonah continued to fill her again and again until at last he erupted into orgasmic bliss.

  For a long time the only sound in the room was that of their labored breathing. Each breath took energy Violet felt she no longer possessed. As she slipped into the trance-like afterglow, she felt lightheaded and flighty.

  After several minutes passed, she slipped off Jonah to lie at his side. With her head on his chest, she listened to the rapid beat of his heart. She was exhausted but she was happy.

  “I don’t know what it is about you, Violet, but you bring out something inside me I didn’t know I had.” Jonah stroked her hair gently. She could hear the smile in his voice. “You make me feel a little like an animal.”

  It took strength she didn’t have to force the words out. “You are an animal. I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck. In a good way, of course.”

  “Oh, of course. Is there any other kind of being hit by a truck?”

  A glance out the window revealed that the night was fading away. Though still dark, the sky was several shades lighter, indicating the approach of sunrise.

  “Wow. We were up all night.” Violet couldn’t help but yawn. As the excitement ebbed away, fatigue set in. “I should shower but I don’t think I have the energy.”