Last Virgin in Vegas Page 2

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “Of course.” Her reply was breathy, and it ratcheted up his desire a notch further.

  He lowered his mouth, devouring her softness. She tasted of popcorn and a sweet taste all her own. The combination was intoxicating. He delved his tongue deeper into her mouth while his fingers roamed intimately over her body, strumming her pussy, bringing her almost to peak again. She arched to meet his caress. She was gorgeous, her hair falling back in waves as her hips thrust toward him. He peeked at the auburn curls above where his fingers danced and knew he couldn’t take much more.

  “Gwen, I need you.”

  “I need you too.” She shifted and spread her legs to accommodate him, and he’d never seen anything so welcoming.

  He was settling into position when another voice called, a very female voice, loud and clear from the doorway, “Gwen? You okay?”

  Sydney! He ducked beneath the comforter.

  “Yeah, must’ve gotten a little excited with the man in my dream.” Gwen spoke in a halting voice.

  “Don’t you mean the man in your bed? I can see him under the covers.” Syd’s voice was almost near the bed.

  “Him, too.” Gwen ducked under the covers a little more, and in the scant light he could see her blushing from ear to ear.

  “Okay.” Sydney laughed. “I’m gonna hop in the shower. Be out in fifteen.”

  Lance heard the bathroom door close.

  “What the hell was that?” Gwen lifted the covers and glared at him.

  “I didn’t want her to see me.”

  “Why the hell not? I thought this didn’t concern her,” she alleged scornfully.

  “It doesn’t,” he answered reluctantly.

  “But you want to keep it from Sydney?”

  “I don’t want to hurt her.”

  *

  Gwen was silent, her jaw locked as she fought the emotions rising within her. She stood, grabbed her robe and wrapped it about her waist, then moved to the far end of the room; she needed distance and fast.

  “Say something.”

  “Get out,” she whispered heatedly, her heartbeat drumming in her ears. She couldn’t tell if it was in rage, disappointment or shame. “Get your pants on and get out.” She flung his slacks at him, emphasizing her point.

  “Gwen…” he pleaded with her.

  “Why are you here, Lance?” She fought to keep her voice level. How he could take that tone of voice when Syd was in the next room…

  “I came to…” He stuttered to a stop.

  “To what? See Sydney and have a little Gwen on the side, I’m sure.”

  ”No.” Lance’s head hung as he whispered the words.

  “Why did you cancel in the first place?” She continued to interrogate him as she backed him towards the door. She felt like an idiot. She’d let him maneuver past her defenses and now found herself sneaking him out. She glared at him.

  Lance’s guilty gaze engaged her while he shrugged into his shirt. “You! Okay? I canceled because of you.”

  “What?” Gwen’s voice was barely a whisper.

  “I love Sydney, but I can’t stay away from you. I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist this attraction I feel.” They both heard the shower stop.

  Gwen maneuvered him out the door and into the hallway, and threw his shoes at him. Her last image was of Lance standing dumbfounded in his boxers and half-buttoned shirt before she slammed the door shut.

  She stared at the closed door. How had she let things go so far? She could hear the faint sounds of Sydney finishing up in the bathroom.

  God, she didn’t want to betray her friend’s trust and she didn’t want to be Lance’s dirty little secret either. More than anything, she needed to talk with Syd and figure out what was going on in this love triangle.

  She picked up the bottle of champagne. Syd never could hold her liquor; it loosened her tongue. It might make her a total bitch, but Gwen needed to find out what Syd really felt for Lance. Especially since she was obviously incapable of fighting Lance’s appeal, no matter how guilty she felt afterward.

  Sydney came out of the bathroom, toweling her wet, golden locks. A twinkle of a knowing smile crossed her face as she walked to the nearest bed and sat down. “Sorry I interrupted your fun.”

  Gwen felt like a heel. “I’m sorry you had to witness it at all,” she apologized, considering herself fortunate that Syd didn’t know the true reason for her guilt.

  “Don’t be.” Her friend said. “There’s no reason why one of us shouldn’t enjoy this trip.”

  “I wasn’t expecting it to be that involved when you got back.”

  “Oh, really?” Sydney’s eyebrow lifted in curiosity.

  “Yes, really. Why does everyone think I plan these things?” Gwen strolled across the carpeted floor, keeping her unease in check.

  “Could it be because you are drop-dead gorgeous, and men just expect these things?”

  “Well, there’s one good thing.” Gwen held up the champagne bottle. “He left this.”

  “Excellent.” Sydney rubbed her palms together, mimicking an evil villain.

  They each took a paper cup from the kitchenette and poured their glasses to the brim.

  “Let’s sit outside on the balcony.” Gwen walked towards the French doors.

  “Even more excellent!” Sydney followed, holding up her cup.

  After a few moments looking at the pool below, Sydney spoke, “I needed this.” She raised her glass in mock toast.

  “Liquid courage?” Gwen asked

  “No, silly.” Sydney waved her hand in the air and slurred her speech. “Girl-time. Men just complicate things.”

  Gwen wasn’t sure what to say, so she blurted out what was on her mind. “Are we talking about Lance here?”

  “Sometimes.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning…I should simply enjoy the moment of being, instead of putting all my hope into a love escapade.”

  “I hope you didn’t have another Miami in mind?” Gwen spoke, wondering if she’d misinterpreted her friend’s intentions.

  “I didn’t plan anything, but if it had happened that would be okay too. I really just wanted to have some sex.”

  “Why, how long has it been?” Gwen admitted being curious.

  “Miami.”

  Gwen swallowed her drink to keep from choking, “Sydney, that was twelve months ago.”

  “I know.”

  Gwen was thoroughly dumfounded. A whole year without being intimate with the man you loved! Did Sydney love Lance? She had to know. “What do you love about him?”

  “Lance?”

  “Yes, Lance. Who else?” Gwen thought it odd Sydney didn’t immediately know who she was talking about.

  “I like how he encourages my dreams.”

  “I didn’t ask what you liked; I asked what you loved.”

  “Same thing.”

  “No, it’s not.” Gwen took her time before speaking. “He doesn’t love you.” She felt a bit guilty for saying so, but her need for the truth quelled her remorse.

  “You don’t know that, Gwen.” Sydney’s fingers clutched her cup.

  “He doesn’t. If he did, he would be here. He would find a way.” Another lie, but she needed to know Sydney’s mindset.

  “He was busy,” Syd replied without inflection

  “Syd, take a reality pill. When was the last time you saw him?”

  “Six months ago.”

  “Don’t you think if it was real, you two would make time for each other?” Gwen felt sure she was right about this. Nothing would keep her away from her true love for six months.

  “We do.” Syd stared at her feet as if they were suddenly more fascinating than the topic at hand.

  “No, you don’t. You both do what’s convenient.” Gwen knew this was true. Lance and Sydney never traveled to see one another on the holidays or any other occasion.

  “I don’t know why you’re so concerned.”

  “I’m concerned,” Gwen wasn’t sure how to proceed, she couldn’t reveal the truth, “because men fairly drool over you, and you’ve committed to merely settling.”

  “I’m not settling,” Sydney said defensively.

  “What are you doing then?”

  “I’m living my life! If I want advice on how to live it, I have a whole family to tell me. I don’t need you telling me, too.” Sydney stood and turned to walk away.

  “I didn’t mean to upset you.” Gwen stopped Sydney, embracing her so she couldn’t leave.

  “I’m not upset, just tired and frustrated.” Sydney wriggled out of the embrace to lay on her bed, clearly exhausted.

  Gwen never should have conducted this experiment. It opened wounds for her friend, whose family already disapproved of her relationship with Lance. Risking her friendship was not worth any man … even one as devastatingly handsome as Lance Lott.

  * * * *

  Lance drank the last of the brown liquor and stared into his empty glass. He’d thought to surprise Sydney, to make amends with her for canceling, but that plan was certainly in the toilet. One glimpse of Gwen and he forgot all about Sydney.

  He wasn’t supposed to want his girlfriend’s friend, but he did. It was bad enough that he found himself thinking about Gwen constantly, but then to come here and act on those fantasies… He clenched his jaw.

  He’d hungered for Gwen since their first time together. The incredible feel of her lips wrapped around his cock and her breasts against his thighs were burned into his memory.

  It had been over a year! Threesomes were supposed to be every man’s fantasy. No one ever talked about the sleepless nights filled with erotic dreams of the third girl.

  “Another one, sir?” the bartender asked.

  “No, thanks. I
have to catch a flight home.”

  Chapter Two

  Gwen dropped her bags. They hit the maple floor with a thud, echoing in the Minneapolis apartment. Her friends, Debbie Shelton and Chastity Thomas, rented this loft and let her crash here whenever she was in town. Her boot heels clicked on the floor as she crossed the studio.

  A friendly head popped out of a bedroom door. “How was it, chickie?” Chastity asked.

  “Exhausting. How about you?”

  “You mean the Board exams?” Chastity spoke as she crossed the room.

  “Yeah.” Gwen nodded and collapsed on the sofa

  “Okay, I think. We’ll see.” Chastity made her way to the kitchen and grabbed a diet pop from the fridge. “Want one?” She held up a can.

  “I’m good.”

  “You can stay in Debbie’s room tonight. She flew to Amsterdam this morning. By the way, you got a phone call from your agent.” Chastity popped the top on her can.

  “What did he say?” Gwen asked, unlacing her black-patent boots.

  “He’s got a job for you in Vegas.” Chastity sat on the arm of the sofa

  Gwen’s boot dropped to the floor. Her heart had a similar reaction. “Did you say Vegas?”

  “Yes. You know, I’ll be there next month for the rodeo finals. Maybe you’ll still be there?”

  “Maybe I will.” Gwen couldn’t hide a grin. Her friend loved cowboys as much as she loved medicine. The petite strawberry blonde had managed to combine both, volunteering as a medic for touring rodeos.

  “Let’s definitely hook up and paint the town.” Chastity’s brown eyes glowed with excitement.

  “Let me call my agent first.”

  “Okay.” Chastity reached behind her back, producing a cordless phone and giving it to Gwen.

  “You really want me to get this job, huh?” Her quick reflexes amused Gwen.

  “Is it that obvious?” Chastity tried to appear innocent.

  “Not at all,” Gwen laughed as she dialed

  Her agent, Mark Loewe, picked up on the fourth ring. “Gwen, you got my message.”

  “Yep.”

  “How soon can you be in Vegas?”

  “Four days.”

  “Great! I need you to work a party Friday night. I’ll call you tomorrow with the details.”

  “Okay.”

  “And Gwen?” Mark responded quickly before Gwen could answer, ”I’ll see if I can’t line up an audition or two for you too. Gotta run baby.” She heard the receiver click.

  Gwen stared at the phone after placing it in her lap.

  “Well?” Chastity asked expectantly.

  “I have a job on Friday.”

  “So, what’s wrong?”

  Gwen hesitated, “You know Mark. I’ve had more work than ever, but he’s…”

  “Got the personality of a frog on speed?”

  “No,” Gwen laughed. “He’s all business.”

  “Uh-huh, and…”

  “Lance lives in Vegas.”

  “The one that you…”

  “Yeah, with Sydney.”

  “So?” Chastity shrugged her shoulders and took another sip from her can.

  “So…” Gwen couldn’t lie. Chastity would see right through her. “He showed up in St. Louis.”

  “Did you?”

  “No, but it was close … very close.”

  “Does Sydney know?”

  “No. I tried to feel her out, but she seemed defensive.”

  “Maybe she knows.”

  “She doesn’t know. Sydney’s nothing if not direct,” Gwen assured her.

  “I don’t envy you,” Chastity said sympathetically. “Call her and tell her you’ll be in Vegas.”

  “I’m not sure about that.”

  “I am. If you think Lance is going to be a problem you need to come clean.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Just call her. The phone is right there.” Chastity pointed to Gwen’s hand.

  “Thanks.” Gwen tossed a throw pillow at her head.

  Chastity ducked and the pillow went sailing overhead. “I’m here to help.”

  Gwen hesitantly dialed Sydney’s number. With each ring, Gwen became more relieved. She wouldn’t have to talk to Sydney. She was about to hang up when the receiver picked up.

  “Hello?” Sydney answered, breathless.

  “Hey, Syd. How’s tricks?” Gwen knew she was stalling but wasn’t sure how to broach the subject.

  “Good. I was just on my way out.”

  “Hot date?” Gwen tried not to sound hopeful.

  “Actually, yes.”

  “What did you say?”

  “I have a date. I met this guy named Peter…”

  “Peter … so is this guy hot?”

  “Definitely. Mister Peter Kane helped me with a flat on the way to St. Louis.”

  A moment of clarity dawned on Gwen. It all seemed to make sense. Why Sydney was able to recover from Lance’s apparent desertion and why she seemed desperate for a booty call. Sydney had met another man that had gotten her all hot and bothered. If Gwen hadn’t been so preoccupied she would have laughed. “Speaking of men in your life, I’ve got an audition in Vegas this weekend. You want me to check in on your other man?”

  “He’s not my man”

  “Since when?” Her fantasies came to the forefront with Sydney’s confirmation of what Gwen had already guessed.

  “Gwen, you know we’ve always dated other people, and you were right. If it was serious, we would be exclusive. I think that part of my life is over. Hell, if you see him feel free to have at him. I seem to recall the two of you having a bit of chemistry. Good luck—I don’t think he’ll settle down.”

  “Is this Peter the settling-down-kind?”

  “Not for me; I’m just having a little fun. Hold on.”

  Gwen listened to the background noises while Chastity poked at her. “Shhhh, I’ll tell you in a minute,” she responded.

  “Gwen, I gotta go; my date is here,” Sydney spoke rapidly.

  “Okay, have fun.”

  “And?” Chastity asked the second the phone button was pushed off.

  “I got the green light. She’s seeing someone else.” Gwen still couldn’t believe it.

  “Who?”

  “Peter Kane, she said his name was.”

  “The stockbroker?”

  “I’m not sure. Who’s he?” Gwen asked.

  Chastity walked to the chestnut table topped by an ornate mirror and picked up a magazine. She tossed a copy of Midwest Money at Gwen. “Him.”

  The man on the cover was gorgeous. Blonde hair, gray eyes and a long, lean build, “Damn, Syd has good taste!”

  “If that’s who she’s dating, you are in the clear. He’s been nominated as Most Eligible Bachelor. Money! Power! Good looks! He’s got it all, baby.”

  “Syd doesn’t care about those things.”

  “That can only help. Says in the article he’s looking to settle down.”

  “You think?”

  “Let me see, with Syd the blonde bombshell in his bed? Oh yeah, you are so off the hook.” Chastity was confident.

  Chapter Three

  Las Vegas

  Three Days Later

  Lance stared across The Party Room at Chet Black, his nemesis for the past five years; the man had underbid him on every high-end design deal in Vegas. So of course he’d come to the grand opening of Chet’s new club tonight in hopes of stealing a client from him as well.

  “Mr. Lott?”

  Lance turned to face his secretary, Shirley. She looked very out of place with her mousy grayish brown hair back in a bun, spectacles and dowdy work suit. Shirley was a dedicated employee and always about business. “Yes?”

  “Over there,” she pointed across the room. “Mr. Buzz Caulfield is in the grey sport jacket and tall cowboy hat.”

  “Thanks Shirley,” Lance gave her a familiar hug around the shoulder. “You’re the greatest.”

  “You’re welcome, Mr. Lott. If it’s all right, I’m going to head home.”

  “Of course, I’ll see you in the morning.” Poor Shirley, he shouldn’t keep someone her age up past her bedtime.

  Lance made his way across the room to the stocky Texan. He mentally planned his pitch to the Texan, but just before he reached Caulfield, Chet managed to maneuver himself in front of him. Lance felt a tightening in his chest as he felt another opportunity slip away. He slowly shuffled to the balcony.