Prodigal Son(10)

“Luke,” Krystal started, as she looked at her glass of wine. “This has to be my last drink. I’d love to stay longer, but I have a long day tomorrow. I have an assignment due by ten o’clock, and then I have to work the lunch shift.”

“Well, it would be ungentlemanly of me to keep you out later than you want. I’m glad you agreed to have a drink with me, and I will call or text you tomorrow for sure.”

I wasn’t sure, but it looked like Krystal was almost disappointed that I wasn’t trying to get her to stay out later.

She finished off her wine and stood up. “Thanks for the drink, Luke. It was nice to meet you.”

Goddamn, was she sexy. I decided to make one last play. “Wanna come up and see my room? It’s the biggest suite here.” I could hear myself slurring my words a bit, and I hoped Krystal wouldn’t notice.

She stood there, studying me, and she looked like she was struggling to decide what to do.

“I promise to be a gentleman. I won’t attack you. The room is really gorgeous, though. Great view of the city and a bathtub big enough for four people.”

“Okay,” she said at last. “I’ll come up, but just for a minute. I don’t guess I’ll have another opportunity to see a suite at the Ritz.”

I slammed the rest of my scotch, waved over the bartender and signed the slip to charge the drinks to my room.

Krystal and I walked back into the lobby and I pointed the way to the elevators. All of a sudden, I felt nervous. I wondered what Krystal was expecting from me. I could tell that she was interested in me, but she seemed a little conflicted. I figured it had something to do with the guy whose call she was expecting. I resolved to be a gentleman, though, and I pressed the button for my floor.

I turned to face Krystal. I was all nervous, and she looked cool as a cucumber. I was about to try to make small talk when I heard her cell phone vibrate. She pulled it from her purse, pressed a button, and put it away.

“Not going to answer it?” I asked.

“Nope,” she replied. “I’ll deal with it later.”

The elevator chimed to announce our arrival at the floor, and I gestured for Krystal to precede me into the hall. She stood there, unsure which way to go, and I stared, unable to take my eyes off her absolutely perfect ass. She turned around and caught me staring.

“Enjoying the view?” she asked with a wicked, sultry smile.

“I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about,” I said as I put my hand on the small of her back, just over the tattoo that had teased me at the bar.

I directed her toward the room and concentrated hard so that I wouldn’t fumble with the key. I was trying to act much more sober than I felt. I slid the card key into the lock, and opened the door. Krystal stepped inside and I followed her, looking forward to hearing her reaction to the enormous, lavish suite.

She walked toward the huge windows, turning to take it all in. “Wow. Just wow. All of this space just for you?” she asked. “You could fit a circus in here.”

I laughed. “Maybe tomorrow. For tonight, it’s just me…and you, for now.”

She turned to look back at me, and I had no idea what she was thinking. She studied me for a while, and looked me up and down, as if she were evaluating something for sale. She turned back to the window without a word.

“Want a drink?” I said, walking over to the bar to get myself a ginger ale — without the scotch this time.

Krystal turned and watched me, silhouetted in front of the window, unconsciously showing off her delicious curves.

“I shouldn’t, but I’ll stay for one,” she said after she’d made up her mind.

“What’s your poison?” I asked, rattling off her options. “Red wine, white wine, vodka, scotch, beer?”

“I’ll have a glass of red,” she answered.

I opened the half bottle of Pinot Noir, grateful that it was a screw top and that I wouldn’t have to fumble with a corkscrew. I poured a generous glass, thinking that more wine meant more time that Krystal would be spending in my suite.

I walked over to join her at the window. “Here you are,” I said, holding the glass out.

She turned toward me, and her eyes landed on my mouth. She stared at me, and I couldn’t help but return the favor, studying her lips, trying to decide if I should kiss her or not. Her mouth was full and perfectly shaped, and I felt the beginning of an erection as I thought about what her lips would feel like on mine….and in other places.

Krystal waited, motionless, giving me no indication of what she wanted. I thought about setting down the drinks and pressing her against the glass and kissing her hard and deep, satisfying my desire to feel her body pressed against mine. I wanted her, but I wasn’t sure what I should do. I remembered my promise to be a gentleman, and I handed her the glass, breaking the sexual tension between us.