Free Starstruck by Paige Thomas Page B

on the radio. He eased his arm from beneath her while
bringing the pillow up to catch her so she wouldn’t wake. Pulling the blanket
to her chin, he slid out of bed and walked into the bathroom.
    When he returned, covered in a white fluffy bathrobe, he
made himself a coffee, and then placed a fresh log on the fire. With an iron
poker, he stoked the orange embers until the new log caught and burned on its
own. Satisfied, he settled into the armchair closest to the bed.
    He missed his guitar. He had a tune in his head and would’ve
been strumming it had he brought his six-string with him. He repeated the
melody in his mind several times, hoping it wouldn’t leave him before he
returned home tomorrow.
    Tomorrow…
    His mind raced over the events of the night and he found
himself resenting tomorrow. He’d have to say goodbye to Sam.
    Her face was even more exquisite as she slept.
    Do I have to say goodbye to her?
    He didn’t want to think at that moment. He finished his
coffee, turned off the stereo and then strolled over to the side of the bed.
Shrugging out of his robe, he slid underneath the blankets. As he moved closer
to Sam’s warm, naked body, she slipped her arm over his waist and pulled him
close. Her sweet scent filled his senses as he slowly drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Five
     
    Jesse’s eyelids fluttered open and he focused on the
sleeping beauty with her back to him. He lay in bed for a few minutes, staring
at the ceiling while he recalled every second of pleasure from the night
before. A smile rose to his lips as his fingers caressed the milky skin on her
back. She moaned softly, curving into his touch, but didn’t wake.
    How easy it would be to let his hand wander farther until
she stirred so he could make love to her all over again. This time he’d be able
to last a little longer, prolong the fulfillment and stretch the bliss. He
wanted to ruin her for any other man, make her yearn for no other cock but his.
But the noble thing to do was to let her sleep—she was exhausted.
    He carefully shifted out of bed and checked his watch. 6:25
a.m. After sorting through his clothes, he threw on a pair of sweats and a
clean t-shirt, grabbed his room key and cell before quietly leaving the room.
    As he waited for the elevator to arrive, he dialed the lobby
and asked the concierge to inquire about his flight and call him back. His phone
rang just as he entered the hotel’s gym on the second floor. “Yes?”
    “Mr. Maurello, it appears all flights are still grounded
this morning. I’ve asked the airline to keep me informed of any changes.”
    “Okay, thank you.”
    “No problem at all. Hopefully the next time we speak we’ll
have some good news for you.”
    Good news? You just gave me the best god-damn news I’ve
heard in…like, forever.
    After running himself ragged on the treadmill, he went back
to his room. Sam hadn’t moved a muscle so he took a brief shower to wash away
the sweat from his workout. By the time he emerged from the bathroom, dressed
in old jeans and a fresh shirt, it was almost 8:00 a.m. He shoved the key in
his back pocket and went to wait in the corridor.
    It wasn’t very long before the service elevator opened and a
short, thin man stepped out, pushing a food cart in front of him. Jesse held up
his hand, bidding the young man good morning, and then slipped a fifty pound
note into his palm. ”Thanks, man. I’ll take it from here.”
    Carefully dragging the food cart behind him, he opened the
door and rolled their breakfast to the center of the room. He climbed into bed
beside Sam and snuggled against her warm back, wrapping his arm around her
waist. She shifted slightly and rested her hand on top of his, entwining their
fingers together. He kissed her bare shoulder, gliding his lips to her neck.
She reached behind his head and threaded her fingertips through his hair.
    “Good morning, sweetness,” he said into her ear before
kissing it. “Did you sleep well?”
    “Mmm…” she