Conference Cupid Read online

  Conference Cupid

  By Eden Elgabri

  Copyright 2010 Eden Elgabri

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of quotations embodied in articles or reviews.

  Cover Design by D. C. Charles

  This book is dedicated to Blanche.

  Thank you for introducing me to RIRW and making me believe in myself as a writer.

  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

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Devin Barnett pulled at his hair in frustration. They’d been descending upon his hotel for the past twenty-four hours. Extra pillows, extra towels—more, more, more, of everything. A hotel full of men could get a little rowdy, but one full of women bordered on the insane.

  He’d endured more than one predominantly female conference. Make-up, jewelry, even Tupperware. None of them compared to the onslaught of women entering the hotel in droves this fine April morning.

  Romance writers.

  They looked normal enough. But they couldn’t be. Devin helped set up the marquee and the promotional table and read the excerpts on some of the bookmarks. From what he read he expected the ladies to resemble wannabe hookers. I mean, really, what kind of women wrote those things?

  And their conversations? Hard to distinguish between who lived and breathed and who only existed on the page. The graphic sex far surpassed his frat buddies in their college bragging days.

  The main benefit, other than his hotel being full, was he’d see his cousin Peter, body builder and romance cover model. Ten years his junior, Peter, at twenty-five, took no interest in either the contracting business or the hotel business associated with the Barnett family.

  “Dev.”

  The one word echoed across the lobby and a gaggle of women turned to ogle his cousin. Peter strolled over to him, grinning. He nodded to his fans and shook Devin’s hand without taking his eyes away from the ladies.

  “Your groupies are already lining up.” Devin didn’t envy his cousin’s lifestyle. These women shared an intense gaze, one that said they’d enjoy tying Peter down and taking turns until the poor guy died from exhaustion.

  “What a life, huh?” Peter slapped Devin’s arm and nodded in the direction of another group of women who giggled and laughed while pointedly checking him out. Their leers went from one cousin to another.

  Devin’s eyes widened in horror. The creatures had added him to their feast. He pulled at his tie, instantly uncomfortable. “It’d scare the shit out of me.”

  “Are you kidding? I have women drooling over me, fighting to have their picture taken with me, and if I see anything I want...well, I never have to sleep alone at one of these affairs.”

  “You’re a dog. Know that? Don’t you think it’s about time to get a job that’s a little steadier?”

  “Oh, I can see my father got hold of you. Come on, you’re an old man before your time. Running this place must be boring. What’s the most excitement you get here?” As he said it a young woman dropped her purse and bent down to retrieve it. Her skirt hiked up so the bottom of her tattooed ass graced their eyes. “Um, let me take that back. You must get your share of interesting guests.”

  “Something to consider if you ever graduate from being eye candy.”

  “They’re looking at you too. There is a family resemblance. You could join us. How toned are you under that suit, old man?” Peter gave Devin a playful jab in the gut.

  “I work out in the hotel gym every day before it opens. One of the perks. Come on, let’s move into my office. These women look hungry.”

  “Not like you to be intimidated.” Peter followed Devin to an ante room behind the front desk, next to his office. “Can we wait here? I’m looking for the conference coordinator so I can get the schedule. I know we’re taking pictures with authors after dinner tonight and before the awards ceremony.”

  “I’ve got your room information set aside anyway.” About to turn, Devin stopped breathing. A slender blonde placed her envelope on the front desk. Desire hit the second he saw her.

  It couldn’t be. Could it?

  * * * *

  Keary’s hands shook as she placed them on the front desk. Why had she ever let her friends talk her into this? It would have been different if she’d been able to ride up with her friends or if she registered in time to share a room with one of them. But in spite of being a secret writer for years, Keary just recently joined a local writers group whose members talked her into this conference.

  “Keary,” her critique partner, Susan, crooned, stepping up beside her. “I’m in room three twelve. Soon as you’re settled stop up and see me. Actually after checking into your room, come down and register. You’ll want to look through the schedule and figure out which workshops to attend. You signed up for the bonus workshops like I suggested?”

  “I paid for every extra per your orders. Don’t worry; I’m going to get the full experience.”

  “Good. I’m glad. You’ll enjoy the meet and greet with the models later. They get everyone juiced up enough to start a new book. A couple of hours with one of them and you’ll go from straight romance to erotica.”

  “Hey, my manuscript is pretty spicy.”

  “That it is and I can’t figure out how considering you haven’t had sex in about forever. What are you doing, writing from memory?”

  Keary glanced around, glad the girl behind the desk remained occupied on the phone. “It hasn’t been that long.”

  “You haven’t dated at all since your divorce. And that was before we met.”

  “It’s been about a year, not a century.”

  “Honey, a year without sex is a long time. Especially for someone who writes about it for a living.”

  “I only write about it part time. I’m not as lucky as you. I still have a day job.”

  “Consider this time to play. There are male models here. And my friend told me there’s a dentist’s convention in the hotel down the street.” She laughed and placed a hand on Keary’s shoulder. “Some of the girls went there by mistake, but figured it out after they saw false teeth covering what should have been the goodie table. Practically peed their pants. Some of the single ladies might check out the bar there later since the place is swarming with men. You should join them. Do some research and make those love scenes shine.”

  “Susan, you’re really sick. Is your poor husband a research tool?”

  “Of course, why do you think he’s so happily married? We try out every love scene.”

  “TMI, Suz.” Keary shook her head to try to delete the last love scene she’d read of her critique partner’s. Somehow it didn’t play the same.

  The hotel staff member came up and took Keary’s information and her credit card while Susan continued to instigate and antagonize.

  Chapter Two

  Keary Galloway. Impossible.

  According to the eavesdropped conversation, she’d rid herself of the pompous and irritating Jacob Galloway. Devin had been introduced to her after she started dating the most boorish member of his fraternity. He’d never liked Galloway and had always dism
issed him as the worst example of nouveaux riche. Galloway’s acquisition of Keary made Devin like him even less. The green-eyed monster had never appeared before and Devin found he didn’t like his company. Of course, Devin had known Keary since their freshman year of high school, but he’d never appeared on the ex-cheerleader’s radar.

  She’d never recognize him. The years hadn’t changed her. Her blonde hair, although shortened to shoulder length, shone like bright rays of gold. Her eyes, the color of spring grass moistened with morning dew, made his heart quicken. Her slender body now boasted more curves, heavy breasts. His mouth watered at the thought of suckling them.

  Time had changed Devin significantly. From weed-thin to filled out and buff, everything about his appearance had altered. But standing there taking in the sight of her, he shrank in height, weight and ego as he recalled the exact emotions of his hormonal teen-aged years. As he remembered those tumultuous times his cock grew thick and hard.

  “I’m going to buy you some alone time with one of those models,” the brunette joked.

  “You’re not serious?” Keary called after her, her heels clicking at a faster pace as she tried to catch up with her friend.

  Devin looked at Peter who raised an eyebrow a fraction of an inch. “None of us are prostitutes that I know of, but we are guys, so anyone that’s unattached will oblige a lady in need.” He grinned at Devin. “Thinking about becoming one of us for this conference?” Peter elbowed him. “With the right clothes no one would know the difference.”

  Devin caught the eye of his employee and crooked his finger at her.

  The girl at the front desk walked into the alcove where her boss stood.

  “Small change of plans. Galloway. The room you just assigned to her change to the one I reserved for Peter here.”

  “Hey,” Peter protested.

  “She paid for all of the extras.” He turned to wink at Peter.

  “But she has her key card and she’s gone, Mr. Barnett.”

  Devin looked at his watch. The workshops started in an hour. “Wait an hour and a half and then have housekeeping knock on her door. If she’s there, inform her of her good luck. If not, pack up her things, send them to Peter’s suite and leave a note to contact the front desk.”

  The woman stood for a second, silent and motionless in confusion. “Um, sure thing, Mr. Barnett.”

  “What the hell was that all about? And I’d better still have a suite.”

  “You’ll be staying in my suite and hopefully, I’ll bunk with Keary.”

  “Pretty sure of yourself, huh?”

  “She believes her friend is giving her a man for research and she hasn’t fucked in a year. What do you think my odds are?”

  “Pretty damn good. But not dressed in a suit and tie looking like an undertaker. If you’re going to look like you’re paid for, show your body. Help me unpack and you can borrow something of mine. Remember how to seduce a woman, Dev?”

  “If I run into trouble I’ll give you a call.”

  “Have to admit, Dev, you’ve changed a bit. I can imagine me pulling this kind of stunt, but to be honest, I didn’t think you had cojones that big. Especially with some random woman.”

  “Who said anything about her being random?”

  Peter’s eyes widened. “You know her? Won’t she be acquainted with the fact you own this little slab of stone? Might be difficult to convince her that a hotel owner can be bought as, um... research.”

  Devin shook his head. “I remember her, but I don’t even resemble my high school self, and at the time she didn’t even seem to see me. She only met me once in college. She was so infatuated with the man she ended up marrying she didn’t see anyone else.”

  Peter crossed his arms over his chest and nodded sagely. “Ah, a little revenge of the nerds thing.”

  “I wasn’t a nerd and it’s not revenge. You heard her. It’s like Keary’s given up and doesn’t even realize how attractive she is.”

  “So you’re what, doing the girl a favor by slipping her the salami? Not getting anything out of this yourself?”

  “I didn’t say that. I’m getting the chance I wish I’d had a million years ago. And no parties in my suite. Remember, it’s my home. Guest bedroom is yours. Don’t destroy the place.”

  “Can we go up now so I can unpack? There are some ladies I want to get to know before my competition sniffs out all the best selections.”

  “Is that really how you see women?” Devin had never been so cavalier about women or about sex.

  “I wasn’t even thinking about that yet. Some of the ladies out there can actually request the model they want on the cover so it’s necessary to schmooze and charm early on in the night. I don’t mix business with pleasure so later on in the evening some unpublished lady will get her wet panties charmed off.”

  Would Devin be able to charm the pants off Keary? He’d fantasized about it for years: imagined the creamy skin, smooth and soft, his hands caressing her, his mouth nipping at her breasts, tongue licking her nipples, licking the slick wetness between her legs…

  He must be temporarily insane to honestly believe he could pull this off. He’d never done anything so unethical.

  Fuck.

  She needed to get laid. Devin needed to get in her. Screw ethical. Talk about the chance of a lifetime.

  Screw everything else. His cock strained at his confining pants and throbbed. The need to fuck her was overwhelming. There had to be some way to pull this off, sink his dick inside her and rid himself of the intense longing plaguing him since he first set eyes on Keary.

  Chapter Three

  The Emmys. The Oscars. Different award ceremonies for different celebrities. Romance writers boasted the Cupids. Each year the national conference amid all its glamour paid tribute to contest entries in all categories. Women glitzed up and sat around tables while being served by waiters in black tie. Marquees surrounded the stage with covers of contemporary, historical and other genres of romance.

  Famous authors read excerpts from the nominees while flanked by shirtless male romance models. Keary sat at a table with members of her state chapter owl-eyed. The women outnumbered the men significantly. But the men that graced the dining room, both waiters in black tie and half clad models, could quicken the pulse of women of all ages.

  “Now ladies,” the MC announced, “it’s time to look under your plate for the number card placed there. The person with the lowest number gets to take one of these fine young gentlemen home.”

  A roar erupted from the crowd and Keary clapped along with the rest of her table. She looked from one woman to the next.

  Did these women really...? Certainly not happily married Susan.

  She squirmed in her seat. What the hell would she do if the winning number landed in her hands? “They’re not serious—are they, Susan?” Keary didn’t want to look naive in front of the rest of the group.

  Susan burst out laughing and wiggled her eyebrows. “Of course it’s serious.” Keary pulled out her number and clasped it in her hand before looking at it.

  “Keary, what number do you have?” Susan asked loudly before anyone else could call out their number.

  “Five.” She looked around the table.

  “I doubt anyone has lower than that. I know I don’t,” Susan said placing the number in a small box and passing it around the table. Without saying any numbers everyone else just shook their heads and congratulated her.

  Her so-called friends at the table could barely contain their mirth. Oh, they’d so set her up.

  A beefy model wearing moccasins and nothing but a loin cloth stepped up to the table and asked for his victim. Everyone at the table pointed to Keary and clapped and yelled. He stepped closer, took her hand in his and kissed it. With one tug, he lifted her from the seat.

  “Follow me.”

  He pulled on her hand and reluctantly she followed. The table dissolved in laughter and the hair on the back of Keary’s neck prickled. Maybe she could just stand him nex
t to the bed while she tapped away at the keyboard? Sweat formed on her brow.

  On the other side of the door Keary entered Never Never Land and relaxed. The winners lined up with cover models and headed for a small platform where a photographer clicked pictures and handed the copies to the winners.

  That’s what it meant by ‘take them home with you.’ She glanced at the man next to her and thought of how her stomach had flipped in anticipation and need.

  Susan is so dead.

  Standing next to Mr. Beefy and Half-Naked affected her body in more ways than one. In addition to a faster heartbeat and pulse, Keary had also become mute. Her legs wobbled up the platform to have her picture taken for posterity and another model, also dressed in a loin cloth, joined them.

  She glanced from one face to the other and noticed they looked similar. Dark hair, almost black. High cheekbones, long lashes, eyes dark as their hair. Two warriors. Both models leaned against her and she could feel twin erections.

  Keary’s heart beat faster and her hands, which she’d been told to place around the waist of each man, began to sweat. The light flashed and she wondered if the fear had been captured on film.

  “Try it again. I shut my eyes,” said the man to her left, leaning in closer.

  How could she endure another second sandwiched between them? Certainly, they would begin to feel her pebbled nipples grazing their naked arms. Her composure was dissolving more by the minute. Liquid formed between her legs as silently, she thanked the inventor of panty liners.

  It had been so, so long. For a split-second Keary wanted more than just a picture. If only a model could be hers for the night. What she wouldn’t do with him? If the picture didn’t get taken soon, she’d have a stroke.

  The light flashed again and the man on the right backed away. The man on the left pulled on her hip possessively and smiled. Releasing her, he stepped back and helped her off the platform. The photographer’s assistant handed over the photo and she staggered back to the table, drunk from arousal. The table of her animated friends refocused their attention on Keary as she staggered to her seat.