The Write Stuff (Write Stuff 1)

"I knew it. I've created a monster." He pretended to frown, but the effect was ruined when he slid his leg along mine under the table. "You're just using me for my body," he added.

"Well, that's a given. Have you seen your abs?"

He clutched his heart as the waiter came out with our salads. "I'm wounded. I'm nothing but your sex toy."

I blushed as the waiter grinned broadly.

"I got you something," he said once the waiter left.

My eyes widened. "You did?" I was used to receiving little gifts from Mom growing up. She was one of those people who would spot special little things wherever she happened to be that she knew a particular person would love.

This was my first gift from a guy I wasn't related to.

"Close your eyes," he directed.

I eyed him skeptically for a moment. If Zach, Tony and Riley had taught me anything, it was that you never closed your eyes when they wanted to give you something. That's how I ended up with a handful of worms one time and a small snake in my lap another time. Dad had threatened to ground them for life after the second prank since he wasn't overly fond of snakes.

"Close them," he repeated.

"Fine, but you better not be handing me some yucky bug or anything."

He chuckled but waited for me to close my eyes.

Reluctantly, I let my eyelids slide closed. He took my hand in his and I instinctively snatched it back. "Sorry, habit," I said.

He took my hand again and caressed my palm with his finger before I felt the touch of cool metal slide over my fingers and onto my wrist. "You can open them now."

Opening my eyes, I saw a silver bangle on my wrist with a metal ornament pressed on the center. It only took me a moment to realize the ornament was an etching of a peacock feather. Overwhelmed, I ran a finger over it, trying to hold back tears.

"To new beginnings," Alec said, reaching for my hand.

I opened my mouth to thank him, but the dinging of my phone interrupted me. I looked at my phone that I had deliberately placed face down on the table. I knew the text was from Olivia. As soon as I flipped it over, I would know if all our hard work had paid off. Her text would confirm whether the story, the gorgeous cover, endless teasers and help from my blogger and author friends had been enough.

"Do you want me to look?" Alec asked.

I shook my head. "No, I got it." I dragged my lip between my teeth, gnawing slightly like I had been doing all my life when I was nervous. Reaching for my phone, I closed my eyes, holding it face down in my palm as I chanted in my head. Please be good news. Please be good news. I flipped the phone and opened my eyes, spotting the one-word text I had been stressing over. My head lowered and I slumped backward into my seat. >Alec continued to hold the elevator while we took several more pictures and I signed their tote bags. Acting like I'd made their entire day, the two women thanked Alec profusely, calling him a "nice young man" for taking our pictures. They waved while they blew kisses of thanks at me as the elevator doors closed.

A giddy feeling of warmth filled my heart as we continued the ascension to our floor. Moments ago, I wouldn't have thought anything could distract Alec and me from our back-and-forth game of foreplay, but those two women had gotten to me. The way they showered me with praise and admiration had nearly brought me to happy tears. They not only understood my stories, but had invested themselves in the characters as well. Submersion into a story was an incredible experience for someone who truly loved reading. It's that point when you can actually see the landscape, taste the food, or sympathize with a character's pain. The result of which is book-topia. For those two ladies, I had written a novel that had helped them reach that magical place. I had never felt more like a writer than I had then.

I was floating in the clouds when the elevator doors opened on our floor. My mind continued to process the significance of the moment when my feet were suddenly lifted off the ground and I was being twirled around. "That was awesome! You were a total rock star to those two women," Alec said, beaming at me.

I returned his smile, completely taken in that he seemed as excited as I was. He was almost too perfect. How could one guy be freaking drop-dead handsome, easy to talk to and a damn magician in bed? And he liked to read. It was like he was created from my own perfect male bucket list. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop that would expose some dark skeleton, but I already knew his secret. Was it possible this relationship was getting the green light from all sides?

"Well, rock star is a bit much," I corrected modestly.

He lowered me to the ground, but kept his arms locked around me. "Rock star," he repeated, looking me dead in the eyes before capturing my lips with his. All else was forgotten as we moved against each other. The moment in the elevator had only paused the hunger we shared. Alec backed us toward our room right off the elevator.

Somehow he was able to retrieve the key card from his pocket and open the door to the room without our lips ever leaving one another, displaying yet another talent.

Chapter Seventeen

The next morning I woke before Alec. I kept still, watching him as he lay on his side facing me. Even while he slept he was sexy as hell with his rumpled hair and five o'clock shadow. The scruff on his face gave him an edgy look that would have intimidated me if I didn't already know the sweetness that lay beneath the light covering of hair. I wanted to reach out and caress his face, but I forced myself to climb from bed.

I tiptoed to the bathroom, taking care not to make any noise. Waking up next to a man was still very new to me, and I felt I needed to freshen up before he woke up. For the last three mornings, I had forced myself to get up first, so I could brush my teeth and fix my hair so I resembled something other than a scarecrow. I may have even added a little makeup too. Once I was presentable again, I'd climb back in bed all Catfish-like. I felt a bit like a fraud, but that didn't stop me from doing it.

I was gently lowering myself back into bed when Alec's arms shot out like a snake and yanked me toward him. "You know, you're giving me a complex. Waking up to a beauty with minty fresh breath—while I look and probably smell like something a dog wouldn't chew on—is a hard act to follow." He pulled me in close so my back was nestled against his chest. "See what you're missing when you rush out of bed?"

"You have a point," I yawned. I snuggled closer, enjoying the way it felt to be spooned by him.