It’s midnight when I hear a knock at my door. My whole body tenses in anticipation as I glance down at my Rolex to check the time. It’s way too late for one of the hotel staff to be cleaning or offering room service.

It has to be her.

I’m still in my suit, although I’ve taken off my jacket and undone the top three buttons of my shirt. I’ve been sitting on my huge emperor-sized bed watching TV. I switch it off at the sound of the knock.

I get up and go to the door, straightening up to look my best for Laura. As the hours ticked past, I’d thought she wasn’t coming. Now that I imagine her on the other side, I don’t feel prepared. I take a moment to brush off my clothes, run my hands through my hair and take a deep breath.

I open the door.

Laura looks practically innocent on the other side in a white robe. She might be coming over to ask me for a cup of sugar. Only the stilettos on her feet suggest a different story.

I try to look seductive. “I didn’t think you were going to come.”

“Neither did I, until a minute ago.”

“What made you change your mind?”

“Vegas does funny things to a girl.”

“I'll make sure to thank Mr. Vegas.” I step back and welcome her in. “Can I get you a drink?”

“Sure.”

I pick up the phone and dial room service. “I’d like to order a bottle of your finest champagne and some strawberries. Regular or chocolate-dipped?” I flick my eyes across to Laura. “Definitely chocolate. Thank you.”

Laura takes a further step into my room, looking around curiously. “Strawberries and champagne? The penthouse suite?” She raises an eyebrow. “You sure know how to impress a woman.”

“You showed up at my door on the stroke of midnight wearing nothing but a robe and stilettos. You know how to impress a man.”

She smiles teasingly. “Who says I’m naked under here?”

I laugh. “Maybe you’re not. But I can dream, can’t I?” I look her over again. The way she holds herself and the way she moves are inexplicably erotic. I bet she’s fighting men off constantly. Her auburn hair is like fire. And her eyes are like smoke.

“Care to sit down?”

I gesture over to the full gray, suede three-piece sitting area behind us. The bedroom is visible through a large, open doorway. Beyond that is a private en suite complete with shower and jacuzzi.

“Thanks.”

Laura takes a seat in the armchair by the window and crosses one leg over the other. The motion makes her robe fall open. I catch a glimpse of the long length of her leg, running my eyes up to her hip and noticing the edge of black lace lingerie.

She looks out at the panoramic view of Las Vegas. “I thought our view was pretty good, but this is incredible. You must make a lot of money to afford a room like this.”

“I do all right.”

“And you’re modest, too? That’s not a bad trait for a man to have.”

I laugh. “I’m not sure many people would describe me that way. I try not to be too flashy, that’s all.”

Laura leans forward. “What are you, some kind of celebrity?”

“Yes,” I say, in a deadpan voice. I pick up a blank sheet of paper from my briefcase at the side of the sofa. “I’m going to need you to sign this non-disclosure agreement before we go any further.”

Laura’s mouth parts in surprise, and she gasps slightly. “Wait a second—”

I throw back my head and laugh. “I’m joking. I’m not a celebrity. I’m a salesman with the gift of gab. I sell equipment to hospitals for a medical engineering firm. I’ve been working there for six years, and I’m good at what I do.”

Laura looks relieved, and she laughs. “You had me going for a second there.”

“Tell me the truth. Would you have signed it?”

“And throw off my plan to sell the story of our torrid one-night affair to the press? No way. I have to make money too.”

I appreciate her sense of humor. I like a woman who can hold her own. The sexual chemistry between us was instantaneous on the casino floor, but there’s something else happening here too; a back-and-forth that makes it feel natural to have this complete stranger sitting in my room in her robe.

Another knock at the door. I smile. “Your champagne has arrived.”

I open the door to the young porter and tip him well for the iced bottle of champagne and large platter of chocolate covered strawberries. I bring them into the room and lay them down on the glass-and-chrome coffee table between us.

“That looks good,” Laura says.

I pick out a fresh, ripe strawberry, and cross the room to sit on the edge of her armchair. I lift the fruit toward Laura. She opens her mouth and closes her lips around the berry, slowly closing her eyes.

“Mmm.”

The way she sighs with pleasure gets me hard immediately. She opens her eyes and looks up at me from under her eyelashes as she licks the last of the juices from her lips.

“Delicious.”

I pour champagne into two crystal flutes, passing one over to her.

“Try this.”

Laura takes a sip and smiles blissfully. “It’s like being in heaven.”

Taking her hands, I pull her up and over to the sofa, making her sit beside me. “Where are your friends tonight?”

“They’re sleeping off a few too many drinks.”

“You didn’t feel like letting your hair down?”

She grins wickedly. “What do you think I’m doing now?”

“You and me both. You know, they say you should never mix business with pleasure. I didn’t expect to meet anyone in Vegas, let alone find myself with a beautiful woman back in my room. I’m feeling like a lucky guy right about now even if I am breaking a few of my rules.”

“Rules are made to be broken.”

Laura knows exactly how to get me going. Everything she says is laced with a thinly veiled invitation. She speaks slowly, softly and seductively. Her words drip like honey from her full lips.

I pick up a strawberry and pop it into my mouth. The tartness of the berry is quickly followed by the sweetness of the chocolate. I chase it down with champagne, then thread my arm around Laura’s waist and pull her onto my lap.

She giggles and wraps her arms around my neck to hold herself in position. It feels like things are moving fast, but we both know why she’s here.

I wrap the cord of her robe slowly around my hand and pull. The cord falls loose. I pull apart each side of the cotton to reveal her body dressed in nothing but a lacy black lingerie set.

Her figure is petite and slight. Her breasts are small, pert, and perfectly rounded. I can see the slight dip of her cleavage between the cups of her bra. The view makes me grow harder.

Laura’s navel is flat and perfectly toned. Her legs are just as perfect. I can’t wait to have them wrapped around me. I run my gaze up her shapely calves and toned thighs. She looks like a bombshell in those heels.

“As soon as I saw you from across the casino, I was blown away,” I tell her. “You’re an incredibly sexy woman, Laura. I can’t wait to fuck you.”

She takes a sharp intake of breath like she’s shocked at how forward I’m being, but I don’t play games. Laura came here for a reason, and I don’t want to disappoint her.

She quickly gathers her senses and bows her head, a mischievous smile growing across her face.

“I like the sound of that.”

That’s all the confirmation I need. I thread my fingers through the hair at the back of her head and pull her head forward so I can press my lips down over hers. I separate her lips with mine and push my tongue firmly into her mouth, running mine over hers. Her mouth is warm and tastes like strawberries and champagne.

She clasps her hands tighter around my neck to lean into my kiss. Her body relaxes against me. I pull the robe away from her body and throw it to the ground. She swings her leg over my lap and straddles me. I place my hands on either side of her toned navel, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my fingertips.

I can’t wait to get her into the bedroom.