Hooked!: A Contemporary, Multicultural Romance Read online

  He had to be in the bathroom. She got up, found her discarded robe and sat on the edge of the bed. She had to pee, but didn’t want to disturb his time in the bathroom. After waiting 15 or 20 seconds more, she realized she didn’t hear any movements coming from the closed door.

  “Landon?” she called, knocking quietly on the bathroom door. “Are you in there?”

  After knocking again and not receiving an answer, Kammille knew he wasn’t in there, but she checked anyway, confirming her suspicions. She went to the large living area of her suite. Then she looked towards the door. That’s when she knew he was gone. The deadbolt wasn’t clicked. It could only be done so from inside and she knew she’d locked it last night after letting him in.

  Kammille went back to the bedroom to look for a note or something. She called the front desk to check to see if there were any messages waiting for her. Nothing. Why would he just leave like that, she thought. They had plans to spend the day together.

  Relax, she told herself. He probably just went back to his suite to shower and change. Even though she thought it was kind of ill-mannered to just leave with no explanation, she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

  Should she go over to his suite? She immediately dismissed the idea. There was no way she was going man hunting, especially one she’d just given herself to like a wanton junkie last night. He had ‘put it on her’ as they said these days. A girl could get used to some good loving like that she smiled, in spite of herself.

  It would be too easy to become addicted to a man like Landon Shaw.

  Chapter 6

  Landon looked down at the sleeping woman next to him. Waves of pure lust surged through him as he took in her exposed breast, the smoothness of her skin and her mother-lode of heavenly hair spread out on the pillow under her head.

  She breathed evenly in her sleep, her bow-shaped lips curved into a satisfied smile. He wanted to wake her, to feel her sleek thighs wrapped around him again, to feel her tightness close around him as he pierced her again, to hear her beg him take her harder.

  He had to get out of here, he thought. It had all started out so innocently; he’d known from the moment he saw her and that he was going to have her. But he wasn’t prepared for this. She’d made him lose control – something he’d learned never to do.

  Landon eased from the bed, careful not to wake her. In the streaming light of day, there were fewer places to hide emotions you thought you’d buried forever.

  Chapter 7

  Kammille looked at the clock on her nightstand: 6:37 a.m. They had breakfast plans at 8:00, so she decided to get in a quick workout. She quickly dressed and went for a hard run on the beach.

  This is what she missed about not living in a beach community. A Florida native and prolific runner, she loved running in the sand. There was nothing like the challenge of running in the thickness of it under a beaming hot sun to take all of your troubles away.

  She had put her bathing suit on under her running garb and left her room key at the front desk. That way, she could just strip down and get in the water without having to worry about any valuables lying about on the beach while she indulged in a swim in the ocean after her run. Not that she was worried about that anyway. The staff at this 5-star hotel kept a careful watch on all guests and their valuables, whether they were poolside or on the beach.

  While swimming, Kammille wondered if she should reserve two cabanas for the day. It’s how she’d planned to spend her first full day here; she wondered what Landon’s plans were. She decided it wasn’t necessary after talking to the staff member in charge of the beach equipment. The young man assured her that, as penthouse residents, there would be two available for her and her friend when they were ready. The perks of success, she thought. Having excess amounts of money was still kind of new to her. So these were some of the perks, she said to herself.

  After completing her run and quick swim, Kammille returned to the hotel, fully expecting to have a message from Landon. But nothing. She checked her watch. She had exactly 21 minutes to shower and dress, which was more than enough time.

  One thing she loved about tropical climates is that they didn’t require much in the way of clothing, hair and makeup. Her hair was naturally curly, so she let it do its own thing when in the heat. It was pointless to try and do anything else. A good shampoo and a light touch of mousse to reduce frizz and define her curls was all that was required. Makeup consisted of a tinted lip gloss, a hint of mascara and blush. Her outfit was a simple, cotton sundress. She specifically chose styles that didn’t require a bra. She hated wearing bras in hot weather – and unlike a lot of small-breasted girls, Kammille appreciated being a member of the itty bitty titty committee.

  For all of the advantages of a bountiful supply of breasts, thanks to girlfriends, she’d been schooled on the problems that came with having them: the sweating and rashes that could appear underneath; the shoulder pain; the having to wear a bra; finding clothing that fit. No thank you! She devilishly shook her little mounds in the mirror as she emerged from the shower and laughed. Just enough to satisfy; at least, she’d never had any complaints.

  As she emerged from the bedroom of her suite, Kammille tried not to constantly notice the time, but she couldn’t help it. She was ready with three minutes to spare. Landon should be knocking on her door any minute.

  8:07.

  8:15.

  8:32.

  As the minutes passed, Kammille felt tears sting her eyes – and she hated herself for the betraying emotion. How could she allow one night with a stranger to have such an effect on her, when she knew all along what men like him were all about?

  The tears were more frustration at her own expectations than anger directed towards him, although there was plenty of that.

  “You knew better!” she said to herself. You even told him what he was all about, and you fell into the trap anyway. “What type,” he’d asked, “did she think he was?”

  “The stereotypical jock. You know, you run a few flattering lines on your target. She swoons. You get what you want. You leave, never to be heard from again. Her heart is broken. She’s left wondering what she did wrong. End of story.”

  Your words, she reminded herself. Those were your words and barely 12 hours later, what you said has come true.

  Kammille packed her beach bag, her sunglasses the last item she reached for. She would not let this put a damper on her much-deserved getaway. She would not!

  She slid the sunglasses on as her hand reached for the door. If she did run into Landon, she didn’t want him to have access to her emotions. The black depths of her doe-shaped eyes weren’t very good at hiding her emotions. And right now, her feelings were definitely hurt. That much she could admit.

  She hadn’t come to Miami looking to meet anyone – and she certainly hadn’t planned to land in the cyclone of passion she’d experienced last night. But it had happened, and heaven help her, it had been exactly what she needed. She’d forgotten how good it felt to make love – to revel in physical pleasure. She’d also forgotten how nice it was to enjoy the simple pleasure of having a conversation over good food and drink. Landon had hit all of her ‘need’ buttons last night; needs she’d suppressing the last year or so. She despised him for that. The least he could have done was do what he said he was gonna do. Show up if you say you’re gonna show up! Or if not, call and say you’re not. That’s all she asked. Was that so hard for men these days? At this rate, she’d be single forever.

  Her cell phone rang. She dug into her bag to answer the ringing device.

  “Kammille, oh Kammille, first off, I hope you’re having a fabulous time. You know I’d never interrupt your little vacay unless it was muy importante. And it is. Oh my goodness it is. I still can’t believe it happened. I just can’t believe it,” her business partner, Liza, said breathlessly. She was talking a mile a minute, and interspersing it with Spanish. It was hard to get the unflappable Liza ruffled, so this had to be big. She just hoped it wa
s good news; she was in no mood to deal with bad news right now.

  “Slow down Liza and tell me what’s going on.”

  “Well, remember the account we’ve been trying to land the last few months? Well, there are three of them, but the main one?”

  ”

  “The X Spot; that new boutique hotel chain, The X Spot,” Kammille immediately said.

  “Yes, yes. That one,” Liza confirmed.

  Kammille had been trying to network her way into a meeting with the executive who handled all of their catering throughout the southeast for months.

  “Well they called,” Liza announced. “Apparently Mr. Lennox is going to be in town on a layover this evening; only three hours. He wanted to know if you could meet him in the VIP lounge at the airport around 6. And get this, they’re not just looking for a one-time gig Kammille. They’re looking for one main catering firm to handle all of their events. I hope you won’t be mad, but I told them of course you could.

  Liza held her breath.

  Kammille’s mind was racing with possibilities. This could open their firm up to the celebrity market. The X Spot was the hotel du jour for celebrities, especially the young -- read, ‘eager to spend insane amounts of money.’ They hosted movie premier parties, record launch parties, sports signing parties – the works. Although K&L Catering was doing just fine with the business community in Atlanta, if they were able to add this feather to their cap, it could literally triple the size of their business overnight. And even though it was daunting, she knew they were ready for it.

  When she didn’t say anything, Liza continued, “I could take the meeting if you can’t get back, but you know our numbers so much better and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We need to put our best foot forward.”

  Kammille snapped out of her reverie of celebrity-filled parties and premieres and what it would mean for K&L. “Well of course I’m not mad. Are you kidding me?”

  “Oh goody,” Liza said, exhaling. “Then I made the right move.”

  “You’re booked on an 11:47 am flight back to Atlanta. It’ll be rushed, but you’ll be able to get back, come to the office and get whatever paperwork you need, and scoot back to the airport. I have a driver on standby from the time you land until the time your meeting is over.”

  This is why they made such great business partners, Kammille thought. She was the marketing brain … and Liza was the ‘everything else’ master. “Then I’d better pack and get to the airport,” Kammille said. “That’s less than three hours away.”

  “By 9:38 a.m., Kammille was in a cab on her way to the airport. Theoretically you could get to the airport in about 20 minutes from the hotels on Ocean Drive, which is where she was staying. But it usually took about 30 to 35 minutes. Definitely pushing it, but as she was flying first-class, check-in would be a breeze. The only thing that could make her miss her flight was a traffic accident. She crossed her fingers like a ten-year-old and sent up a silent prayer. Please God, let me get there in time.

  ###

  Landon couldn’t believe what he’d just seen. That couldn’t have been Kammille getting into a cab with her bag. He knew that piece of luggage all too well – and the contours of her body. But he still refused to believe that it was true. His eyes had to be deceiving him.

  Had she just left Miami?

  He didn’t even have her phone number.

  Chapter 8

  Kammille relaxed in the comfort of the leather of the large, first-class seat. She wanted to have a cocktail, but didn’t because of her upcoming meeting. Even though it was hours away and one drink wouldn’t affect her, she wanted all of her faculties to be crystal clear for this meeting. As Liza had pointed out, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and she wanted to put her best foot forward.

  Strangely enough, Kammille wasn’t worried. Even though the waters of entrepreneurship were rocky at times, she’d surprised herself by realizing that she was a natural at it. She thrived on the everyday challenges and loved having the ability to make rational, sound decisions. She knew that if she could just get in front of the elusive Mr. Lennox, she’d be able to get the hotel chain’s business. Her gut told her that.

  She wished she had that kind of confidence and decision-making skills in her personal life. Kammille still couldn’t believe Landon had played her like that. She felt like a fool.

  At least she never had to see him again. Even though -- thanks to the days of Google and the internet -- she knew she could easily locate him, she wouldn’t dare look for him. She had no desire and she should have just stuck with her initial gut feeling she continued to chide herself. Men like him were nothing but trouble. But what was done was done. And there was no sense in wallowing in woulda, could, shoulda’s.

  One day, her prince would come along. In the meantime, she would hold on to how nice it had been to give herself like to someone like that. Landon had sparked something different in her. She had all the same parts, but he’d pushed a different button that had elicited a response so much more profound. She’d never made love to Omar like she did with Landon. And now she knew she could never settle for anything less. Her heart, her mind, her body would always remember … and compare. No -- anything less would ever suffice. She wanted that kind of connection again. She wanted that feeling for all time. And maybe that was the lesson after all.

  Kammille decided to try and get some shut-eye. She was emotionally, as well as physically, drained from the night before. A power nap was just what she needed.

  ###

  "Take me again, Landon," Kammille pleaded.

  Landon took advantage of the eager spreading of her thighs, pushing two fingers gently inside, twisting them slightly as he slid into the moist cove of her body. He quickly found that one single spot -- the elusive spot that no other man had ever found -- that made her hips jerk upward in spasmic pleasure.

  "Oh God. That's so good," she purred. "Don't stop. Oh please don't stop," Kammille pleaded, her head thrashing from side to side. She sucked her bottom lip -- hard -- to keep from screaming out.

  Landon teased the top part of the slit at the top of her thighs with his warm, pleasure-giving tongue, idly stroking the throbbing bud there before suctioning his lips around it, rolling it back and forth. The hard suction along with the soft rolling motion sent Kammille's hips into a wide rollercoaster of up and down jerking motions. She grabbed the back of his head and rammed it into her as he continued his delicious pillaging of her.

  "Fuck me, Landon. Fuck me now," she commanded, practically dragging him from between her legs to mount her.

  He needed no further instructions, entering her with a sated groan, pushing deep and hard into the warm casing of her.

  Kammille's perfect little orbs jiggled every time he pounded into her, reveling in the largeness of him and how snugly he fit within her.

  He pulled out of her. Her eyes snapped open. "No, please don’t stop."

  "Oh baby, I'm not. We're far from done. He grabbed her by the arms. "Turn around," he said, as she stood on the side of the bed.

  Kammille smiled and dutifully obeyed. He bent over her, sliding one finger inside her wetness, kissing her back as he eased his steel-hard shaft back into her. He whispered in her hear. "Take it baby. Take all of me."

  "Yes. Oh yes," Kammille agreed as he slowly glided in and out of her. The pad of his thumb ran cross one nipple as he continued his oh-so-slow entrance in and out of her. The growing intensity drove her crazy. Kammille slammed back against him, urging him to go faster.

  Landon chuckled. "You want more, do you?"

  "Yes," Kammille said, not sure if he was asking a rhetorical question or not.

  "Please Landon. Please."

  She ground back into him, reaching back to spread her walls a little more for him.

  "If you keep doing that," he said as she twisted her wetness back towards him to receive his him again and again, "I'm not going to be responsible for my actions Kammille." It was so hard for him to control himself
with her.

  She kept doing it, reveling in the power she knew she had over him.

  His hands grabbed her on each side of her hips, slamming her into the relentless pressure of his swollen rod. Kammille bucked away from him; his strokes went so deep.

  "Oh no you don't. Don't run from me now sweetheart," he said, holding her tightly as he ground into her. His strokes became frantic and primitive. Kammille dug her nails into the down coverlet of the bed, giving herself over to the madness of the pleasure/pain as he drove into her time and again.

  She looked between her legs, and shattered in orgasm as she saw his huge member penetrate her one last time.

  Kammille heard his groans as his manhood pulsed inside her. He bent over, planting a garden of kisses on her back and breathed into her ear, "I'm sorry if I hurt you."