Chapter 2

I blinked hard, trying to clear the haze from my eyes. I whispered Jackson’s name one more time, but got no answer. The guy standing in front of me looked taller than I remembered, and he was breathing hard, almost panting. His face stayed hidden in the shadows the hallway light was just as dim as the one inside the room.

While I was still trying to figure out if this was really him, he stepped forward and pushed his way into the room. I reached out quickly to steady him in case he lost his balance. “Jackson, you okay?” I asked softly. I was pretty drunk myself, so the question probably applied to me too.

He let out a low groan, and the sound didn’t feel familiar at all. Before I could think straight, he grabbed my wrist, spun me around, and pressed me against the wall. My bare back hit the cold surface, and I shivered.

I still couldn’t see his face clearly, but I could feel his eyes locked on me. Another shiver ran down my spine. “Help… help me,” he whispered, leaning in so close that his breath brushed my cheek. Was I drunker than I thought, or had I really never noticed how deep and sexy Jackson’s voice could sound?

“I… need your help,” he said again, his words rough with something I couldn’t quite name. He pinned my hands to the wall on either side of me and dragged his lips across my cheek. I breathed him in rich, spicy, pure male and every thought in my head just melted away.

I opened my mouth to tell him something felt off, that this didn’t feel like Jackson, but the second my lips parted, he kissed me hard. Heat and electricity shot through my entire body. If he hadn’t been holding me up, I would’ve melted straight to the floor. My brain turned to mush, but somewhere in the back of my mind, I still knew this wasn’t him.

I moaned against his mouth and tried to push him away, but the alcohol had made me weak and he was too strong. The more I resisted, the deeper and hungrier his kiss became. His tongue slid in and tangled with mine. Warmth pooled low in my belly, thick and urgent.

He made a rough sound in his throat and slid his hands down my back. All the worry and frustration I’d been carrying just dissolved as we kissed.

My skin felt like it was on fire. Every place he touched turned the heat up even higher. I could feel myself throbbing as he pressed his body against mine. God, I had never been this turned on before. Never wanted anyone this badly. I told myself it was just the champagne talking.

He lifted me like I weighed nothing and carried me over to the bed. He dropped me onto the mattress a little roughly, and in seconds my clothes were gone ripped away. My chest rose and fell fast while I yanked his shirt and pants off him. He groaned. I whimpered.

A sliver of light from the hallway cut across the room for a second, and I caught the sharp, intense look in his eyes. My stomach flipped hard, and the ache between my legs grew almost painful.

“Fuck,” he growled as he came down on top of me. He was completely naked now, his cock right there, teasing my wet entrance. My mind was nothing but a hazy, horny mess, and the only thing I wanted in the world was to feel him inside me.

There was no slow teasing, no soft words. He thrust in hard and I cried out. “Christ,” he hissed through clenched teeth as he started moving. My nipples were so tight they felt like they could cut glass, and every time they brushed his chest I couldn’t stop the moans from spilling out.

After that, everything started to blur. Our sounds filled the room, and the only clear thing left was the soft glow from the corner lamp.

**NEXT MORNING**

What the hell is this? Something soft but solid… it actually feels kind of nice. My eyes snapped open when I felt a heavy arm draped across my stomach. The first thing I saw was a head of thick black hair. A man’s head. Wait what?

Why was there a guy in my bed? I winced and sat up fast, looking around in total confusion. This wasn’t my room. Where was I

Anniversary. Jackson. Drunk. Kissing.

Pieces of last night came rushing back in jagged flashes, and my head started to pound. I groaned and pressed my fingers to my temple. Then I heard a deep, sleepy sound beside me. I’d almost forgotten about him. I turned my head and there he was, sleeping peacefully on his side, back turned to me. His bare body looked amazing in the morning light, and for a second I actually wanted to reach out and touch him.

Then reality crashed in. Jackson didn’t have black hair. He had sandy blond hair. Every drop of color drained from my face. The man lying next to me wasn’t Jackson. Shit.

Holy crap. Had I really slept with a stranger? No. No way. How could I have done that? I hissed under my breath and spotted the empty champagne bottle lying on the carpet. I never should’ve drunk that much I knew my tolerance was terrible.

The memory of him kissing me so suddenly, so hungrily, flashed through my mind and my cheeks burned. I’d known he wasn’t Jackson even in the moment, but I’d been so turned on I didn’t care.

Nothing changed the fact that I had cheated on Jackson. I CHEATED ON HIM. God, what was I supposed to do now? He would never forgive me.

While I was spiraling, my phone started ringing on the couch. My heart jumped into my throat. I scrambled out of bed and grabbed it. The guy was still dead asleep, breathing slow and steady.

Clara’s name flashed on the screen. I answered, trying to keep the panic out of my voice. “Hey.”

It was only seven in the morning. I couldn’t figure out why she’d be calling this early. “Elara! Please tell me Jackson is with you right now?” She sounded rushed and worried. Did she somehow know?

I swallowed hard. “No… he never showed up last night. Why? What’s wrong?”

“Damn it! You’re not going to believe this, but you need to hear it. Elara, Jackson is here at this hotel. With another woman!”

For a second my brain just went blank. Had I heard her right?

“Jackson’s here?” I asked, still not sure I believed it. Clara confirmed he was. A cold wave of hurt washed over me and my whole body started to go numb.

“You have to come see it for yourself! Room 207 hurry!”

The line went dead. Jackson was here, but with someone else. I wouldn’t have taken Clara’s word on something this big if it came from anyone else, but she wouldn’t joke about it first thing in the morning. Was he really cheating on me?

The guilt I’d felt a few minutes ago suddenly turned ice-cold. I took a couple of deep breaths and tried to steady myself. There was no proof yet. I needed to see it with my own eyes.

I was completely naked, so I had to get dressed fast. I hunted for the gold satin dress I’d worn last night. It was ripped to pieces and totally unwearable. Damn him. That dress had cost me over seven hundred dollars.

I didn’t have time to wake the guy up and yell. I pulled on the spare jeans and t-shirt I’d packed yesterday. Five minutes later I was out the door, phone and purse in hand.

The elevator ride felt endless. My heart hammered louder the closer I got. I found room 207 and spotted Clara waiting in the hall. She saw me and waved me over quickly.

I was still praying this was all some kind of mistake as I hurried toward her.

“He’s in there with another woman,” Clara said, her face twisted in disgust. My palms were slick with sweat. I swallowed the thick lump in my throat, stomach knotting tighter.

I knocked on the door. The few seconds I waited felt like forever. Then the door swung open and a woman with gorgeous ginger hair stood there. A flicker of relief hit me when I saw her. “Can I help you?” she asked, frowning slightly.

“I…” I started, but then a familiar voice drifted out from inside the room and my knees almost gave out.

“Hunnie, who is it?”