One Night Forever (The Cinderella Chronicles) Read online

  He responded by thrusting hard. Once. Twice. Over and over. “Yes,” she whispered but she wasn’t sure the words actually made it from her mouth.

  He increased the rhythm, fast and furious, and she felt his need as if it were her own. Emotional unrest seemed to spread into their bodies. It was a battle of mind and body. Matt’s hand slid beneath her ass as he lifted her just enough to drive deeper. The minute he hit her core, Lauren felt the first ripple of orgasm. Like a sharp jolt of pleasure, it shocked her. She cried out his name, stiffening from the intensity of the spasms.

  Matt rode her to completion, sliding his thick length to all the right spots. And just as she eased down the waterfall into complete satisfaction, his gorgeous upper body arched, and he threw his head back, moaning with a thrust and release. The shudders of his orgasm, the power of his physique, the absolute male perfection of his body, took her by storm.

  Would she ever get enough of Matt Monroe?

  As if answering her question, he pulled her close, hugging her, and pressing his cheek to hers. The tenderness of the act stole her breath away. And Lauren knew in that moment, with all her heart and soul, she loved Matt. She’d hidden from it until now. Probably would again later. But right in that moment, she embraced what her heart said.

  And no, she would never get enough of Matt Monroe.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Lauren arrived to the party fashionably late, at fifteen minutes past the hour. Her dress was a bit wrinkled but considering all, she thought it looked pretty damn good. No one would guess she’d just had it hiked up to her waist while she had sex on her kitchen counter.

  She hardly believed it herself.

  All her anxiety about the party had been lifted. Working the room, making small talk, she hid a secret smile. One Matt had given her. Her one regret was that they had no time to talk. He’d changed clothes at her apartment and with no time to spare.

  Lauren accepted a glass of champagne from one of the waiters as she glanced up. Matt was standing several feet away, and their eyes locked. Dressed in a dark suit that fit him perfectly, he epitomized tall, dark, and handsome. But it was the look in his eyes, primal, hot, and possessive, that made it hard to breathe.

  He stood next to another man, maybe twenty-five at best, with brown hair and a GQ flair to his attire. If this was the BG contact, he was nothing as she expected. In her mind he was bald, fat, and about twenty years older. Matt said something to his companion and then waved her forward. Lauren hesitated. She had made love to Matt less than an hour before. Could she look at him and not have it show?

  She sighed in resignation. It wasn’t like she had an option. Lauren walked toward Matt, aware both men watched her approach. The GQ-looking man held out his hand. “Hi Lauren, I’m Bret Weaver from BG Clothing. I hear you’re the brains behind Carlson’s new campaign.”

  Lauren’s cheeks warmed with surprise. “Oh, well, I had an idea that the team has run with, yes.”

  “Don’t be so shy about it. Matt says it was all you.”

  Lauren eyed Matt. He winked at her. She quickly diverted her gaze. “It was all Lauren,” Matt said. “She has a great mind for advertising.”

  “Obviously.” Bret smiled. “I’m opening an office here in New York. I might have to try and steal you away from Matt. I need someone to coordinate our marketing efforts between both locations.”

  Lauren liked that idea. And she liked Bret. Working with him might solve some issues. “Make me an offer I can’t refuse.”

  Bret chuckled and elbowed Matt. “We’ll talk later.”

  Lauren didn’t look at Matt, but she could feel his eyes on her.

  Bret touched her arm. “Dance with me. It’s my birthday so I should get your first dance of the night.”

  Lauren smiled as she glanced at the already full dance floor. “Okay.” She let Bret lead her through the crowd, depositing her champagne on a nearby table. He held her in a gentlemanly fashion, his moves graceful and practiced. “Did you know Matt and I have known each other for quite a number of years?”

  “No,” Lauren said sincerely surprised. “I mean, well, I assumed you knew each other before now from things I’ve heard.”

  “Did you know we’re friends outside of work?” He let that linger in the air a few moments.

  Lauren had a bad feeling Bret knew things he shouldn’t. “No. I didn’t.”

  He tilted his head and gave her a curious look. “How long have you been seeing him?”

  Lauren stiffened. “What?”

  “Don’t worry. I won’t tell. And no, he didn’t tell me. In all the years I’ve known Matt, I have never seen him look at a woman like he looks at you.” He smiled down at her. “And you look at him the same way.”

  Lauren swallowed. “It’s that obvious?”

  He nodded. “That’s why I offered you that job, which I am serious about, by the way. If working together is a problem, which I get the feeling it is, then that solves that. Matt raves about you, and he’s not one to do so just because he likes how you look.” Lauren started to object to that comment but Bret held up a hand to stop her. “I love your work. It’s a perfect fix.”

  She could hardly believe her ears. Bret seemed to get how stunned she felt. He continued to talk, offering details about his New York plans, and giving her time to absorb and process. After a few more minutes, and a little probing on Bret’s part, Lauren found herself confiding in him. For some strange reason, he felt safe and familiar.

  “You’re so close to Matt. Working with you might be a problem. I don’t know if—” Her words were lost when a hand settled on her back. Matt’s. No doubt about it. The sizzle that ran across her skin said so.

  “May I cut in?”

  Lauren turned to look to him, silently asking him if he was crazy. What would the staff think? “I want to dance with you.” His voice was low but insistent.

  Bret released her, drawing her gaze. “Think about what I said,” he told her and then turned to walk away.

  Matt pulled her into his arms. Too close. “Bret’s a ladies’ man.”

  Lauren frowned. “He’s a nice guy, and you know it. You’re friends.”

  Matt laughed. “One that runs his mouth too much. If I left you with him much longer no telling what skeletons he’d expose.”

  “You have skeletons?” she asked, frowning.

  He grinned and nodded. “I have, admittedly, had some wild bachelor days.” Bending close to her ear, he whispered, “I’m much tamer now.”

  The warmth of his breath tickled her neck and formed goose bumps on her arms. She should push him away. They were way too close. Yet…she couldn’t. “I would hardly call you tame,” she found herself saying instead.

  Had they somehow gotten closer, because their thighs were rubbing, his muscles flexing deliciously against her own. “Matt—”

  “I can’t wait to see that red bra,” he said, giving her a daring look.

  What was he thinking? What if someone heard them? “Behave, damn it,” she said through clenched teeth.

  “I can’t,” he said spreading his fingers on her back. “You’re in my arms.”

  Why didn’t she just walk away? “Matt, please, stop.”

  “It’s crowded. No one can see or hear.” His hands moved up and down her sides. “I reserved our room.”

  She shut her eyes. “You did?”

  “Yes.” A pause. “Does that make you happy?”

  She nodded, but she stopped dancing and fixed him in a warning stare. “Behave until later.”

  He laughed. “Until later? Later I can misbehave?”

  She made a face. “Yes.” Then she flipped her hair over her shoulder and turned away, eager to get some distance from him. To her distaste she bumped smack into Greg. His hands closed down on her shoulders. “Come dance with me, Lauren.”

  “No, Greg.”

  “Why? You danced with Matt. Mighty friendly there, I might add. You were right, by the way. Someone could hear. I heard. I was danc
ing right by you. What room, Lauren?”

  Lauren’s stomach lurched as she took a step backwards and out of his reach. This couldn’t be happening. “Go away Greg.”

  “Your secret’s safe with me.” He moved closer again and he took her arm in his hand. “But why don’t we go check out that room together?”

  “You asshole,” she said jerking her arm free as discreetly as possible but he held on tight. Then Bret was there, his eyes locking with Greg’s. “Let her go.”

  Greg’s hand dropped away and Lauren couldn’t have been more thankful. Tears burned the back of her eyes, and she knew she had to get away from the crowd before she made a fool of herself. She sidestepped Greg and made her way past the others dancing. She managed to get to the hallway and half ran toward the lobby. She heard Matt’s voice behind her, calling her name, but she kept walking. Tears were coming and she needed to be alone.

  *

  Matt had seen Greg grab hold of Lauren, and known from the look on her face that she was upset. But before he could get to her, Bret had. From what Matt had seen, he owed his friend a thank you for his helping hand. He hadn’t taken the time to find out what had happened. Getting to Lauren had been the most important thing.

  He managed to catch up to her and reach for her arm just as she was about to exit through the hotel doors, not even bothering to get her coat. She whirled around to face him, tears in her eyes. “Stop, Matt. People will see. I told you that before. Lori saw us and gossiped. Greg heard us on the dance floor. I can’t take this anymore. Just stop!”

  Matt didn’t bother to tell her that raising her voice was only bringing more attention to them. He really didn’t care. He’d tipped the hotel staff well many times over in the past few weeks. No one was going to give them trouble.

  “Come upstairs and talk to me,” he said softly.

  She glared at him. “Oh great! Announce that to the world, why don’t you?” Then, her face crumpled and she burst into tears.

  He pulled her close and she didn’t resist. “Sweetheart, I’m so sorry. Please don’t cry.”

  She buried her face in his shoulder. “I…I can’t work for you anymore. I’m sure half the staff is watching us.”

  He ran his hand down the back of her hair. “Ask me if I care?”

  “I…” she sniffed, “care. I’ve ruined my future in advertising.”

  “No, you haven’t.”

  She pulled back to look at him, new agitation in her features. “I have to! You know as well as I do how word travels in this industry. I’m dead meat.”

  “Dead meat?” he asked trying not to laugh at her choice of words.

  She punched him in the shoulder and tried to get free. “You’re laughing at me. You have a job and a career. I don’t.”

  He held her tightly, careful not to hurt her. “Stop. Please.” She squirmed. Matt waved off a doorman who had started toward them.

  Then he dropped to one knee.

  She stared at him, suddenly very still. “What are you doing?”

  He held her hands in his. “This is not how I planned this, but Lauren, I love you. All the success in the world doesn’t mean anything without you. Will you marry me?” Matt kissed one of her knuckles and then the other.

  A flash of panic skirted across her face. Then, as usual, Lauren surprised him. She dropped down to her knees to face him, swiping at her damp cheek with one hand. “What?”

  He gave her a somber look. “You asked me what I talked about with your mother. I told her I was going to marry you. I love you, Lauren. Marry me.”

  Lauren’s hands were shaking as she clenched his shirt. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “How about yes?” he asked. Anxiety tightened his chest. The thought of her saying no knifed at his gut.

  “I love you, too,” she whispered.

  Okay that was a start. “You’re killing me here, woman. Will you marry me?”

  She laughed, her lashes still damp with tears. “Yes.”

  Relief washed over him, and he kissed her. Everyone in the lobby cheered. Matt and Lauren looked around them and then at each other, laughing. Offering her his hand, Matt helped Lauren to her feet.

  He leaned close to her ear. “There’s a very real ring in our room waiting for you. But if you want to throw in a fantasy item, like say a red bra, I can live with that.”

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five