Follow My Lead (Stepping Up 2)

“Lovers!” someone shouted.

“Oh, yeah,” someone else said. “The look on Blake’s face in that picture says it all.”

Darla’s blush had turned to beet-red, and Blake decided he’d take matters into his own hands. “You know how you can find out the truth?” he called out to the room. “Tune in at eight central standard time on Wednesday nights. That’s the idea, folks. Job security and ratings. Let’s shoot for number one in our time slot!” The room filled with roars of excitement.

“Shuttle leaves in twenty minutes for the airport, folks!” The room started to clear and Meagan rushed toward Blake and Darla. “Even our cast is dying to know what’s between you two. I have a good feeling about this.” She glanced between them. “They all have confidentiality agreements but that doesn’t mean they won’t blab. Stay mysterious.” She grinned and leaned in, lowering her voice. “You’re the only two on your floor in Washington. You can thank me later.” She turned and hurried away.

Blake looked at Darla. “I’m never going to stay away from you tonight now, you do know that, right?”

She blinked up at him. “Promise?”

He glanced at the mock billboard, feeling his blood run wicked-hot, and then glanced back at her. “That would be a solid yes on that promise.”

* * *

DARLA AND BLAKE BURST INTO HER Washington hotel room in a clatter of luggage, bags and laptops being thrown aside. Locked in an embrace, they were against the wall, then the other wall. Then tearing off each other’s clothes. Her shirt, her bra—his mouth on her breasts. She shoved at his shirt. “Take it off. Take it off. Take it all off.”

“You, too,” he said, nipping her lip.

She backed into the room without really seeing it. A bed. That was all she cared about. She unzipped her jeans and tossed a boot aside. Then tried to tug the next one free, only to somehow tumble to the floor, laughing. A shirtless, shoeless Blake came down on top of her, his long, hard body framing hers. “I feel like I’ve waited a lifetime for this,” he murmured, his lips near hers. His breath was a warm, seductive promise of the hot, perfect kisses she’d been dreaming of for weeks now.

“I do, too,” she whispered breathlessly.

His mouth captured hers, devouring her with long strokes of his tongue that had her meeting each one with equal hunger. Her hips arched into him. Even through his jeans, he was hard and thick. She craved the feeling of him inside her. Finally, inside her again.

He must have felt the same way, because his hand went to her hips, he started to shove her jeans down without success. He cursed softly out of frustration, which made her smile at his impatience. She knew what he felt. She felt it, too.

He lifted to his knees and half growled, “Raise up, baby.” His voice and the endearment were a sexy combination that had Darla smiling. His gaze went to hers.

“Go faster,” she said, letting him slip off her pants and her tiny G-string. “My boot is still on.” He tossed it and her clothes aside then he stood up, immediately discarding his own pants and underwear. He had a hungry edge to him that she liked more than just a little.

Darla rose up on her elbows, intending to push to her feet, too, but she didn’t make it. He was already sliding a condom over his thick erection, his firm body so damn stunning that she couldn’t move.

Her throat went dry and she licked her lips. Blake whispered her name and started moving toward her. He bent and swept her up in his arms.

The bed was like lying on a cloud, she thought, as he smiled at her warmly, spreading her legs and settling his thick erection between them. She moaned at the feel of him there, at how much she wanted him inside her. He inhaled and stared down at her. His gaze raked over her breasts.

Darla forgot to breathe for a moment at what she felt with that connection and what she saw in his face—the desire and tenderness she’d never thought could exist in one look. She loved him. She loved this man. “Yes. I like this.”

“Good,” he said, touching her gently before sliding inside her. She sucked in a breath at the feel of him stretching her, taking him deeper until they were one. His hand went to her cheek, bringing her face to his. “Because I’m glad we’re here, too. And I like you in my life, Darla.”

A tremor of panic overcame her and she slid her hands to his face. “I like me in your life, too. I like you in mine. So please, don’t be the wrong guy.”

“I’m not the wrong guy,” he promised, and then sealed it with a kiss.