4. Ro
Chapter 4
Ro
I couldn’t look away from the woman beside me.
Her pale skin glowed, such a contrast to the inky blackness of her hair and dress. Her skirt whispered as we crested the steps and walked into the shadowed mezzanine. I saw lots of low tables and chairs grouped around.
She paused by the railing, looking down at the ball below. Her face was in profile, the top half covered by that intriguing silver mask. My heart beat so damn hard. I’d seen plenty of beautiful women, and had many of them in my bed. I wasn’t sure what it was about this one. I wanted to reach out and trace the delicate arch of her cheekbones.
I shook my head. Clearly I’d been working too hard. Something this woman understood. She definitely worked for a living and was no pampered socialite. She’d caught my eye moving through the crowd, a little removed and untouched by everything. Then I’d seen her rush in to deal with the drunken guest without hesitation.
She turned her head and smiled. She looked pleased about something.
“What?” I asked.
“The masquerade is perfect.”
I cocked my head. There was definite pride in her voice. “Did you organize it?”
“Just a little bit of it. These kind of things are always a team effort. It’s raised so much money for a worthy charity.”
I hoped my large donation had helped with that. She wasn’t a resort staff member. They were all wearing masks with the resort logo on them. Maybe she worked for the charity? Or a florist, or another supplier?
“Come with me.” She tugged on my hand and led me along the mezzanine.
The colorful stones of a pretty bracelet on her wrist glittered in the light, catching my eye.
She stopped at the end of the room. “Look at the view from here.”
We leaned against the railing. Here, we had a perfect view of the elegant chandeliers, the arches of flowers and fairy lights, and the dancing crowd below. The lights were dim, and the entire space felt a little magical. Tessa Ashford had outdone herself.
But right now, I only wanted to think about the woman beside me. I pulled her closer, leading her into our own private dance, moving slowly from side to side. “Damn, you feel good.”
She made a sound and pressed into my body.
“I think you’re bewitching me,” I murmured. “Are you really a fairy queen?”
She laughed. I liked it. I could tell she did it often and meant it. When was the last time I’d really laughed out loud?
“I’m just a woman.”
“A beautiful one.” A hand cupped her cheek.
She looked up, her red lips parted.
How could I feel like I’d done this before? That I’d cupped her cheek a hundred times already? That she fit here against me perfectly?
I lowered my head. “I’m going to kiss you now, fairy queen.”
One of her hands gripped my waist, and her other one reached up and circled my wrist. “Do it.”
My mouth touched hers.
Her lips were soft and full. I teased mine along hers.
She made a hungry sound and went up on her toes. Her mouth opened and I took advantage. Deepening the kiss, I pulled in the taste of her. Dark temptation. I crushed her to me and she twined her arms around my neck.
Fuck . Violent need exploded inside me. I was a man who prided myself on control: in the boardroom, in the bedroom. I wasn’t ruled by my needs. I was nothing like the man who’d fathered me.
But right here, right now, there was only this woman. Nothing else existed.
She bit my bottom lip, her breathing fast.
More .
The word roared through my head. I spun her away from the railing and deeper into the shadows. The force of my kiss pushed her neck back, and I let my mouth travel over her jaw, down her neck. I scraped my teeth over her skin. She gasped, writhing against me.
My hands clenched on her. There was too much fucking dress.
I pinned her against the wall. Her cheeks were flushed, stark against her white skin and her lips were parted. Even though her face was covered by that mask, I saw the need in her eyes.
“I…don’t do this sort of thing,” she whispered.
“I don’t, either.” I let my hand skim up her arm. Her skin was satin-smooth. “Do you want me to stop?” It might kill me, but I’d do it.
She licked her lips. “Don’t stop.”
I gripped the straps of her dress and pushed them off her slim shoulders and bared two perfect breasts.
She gasped. I cupped them, watching her nipples harden. I ran my thumbs over them. They weren’t too big, or too small. They filled my palms perfectly.
“Oh, God,” she breathed.
“Not God, just me.” I bent and sucked one nipple into my mouth.
Her hands buried in my hair and tugged. My cock was so hard it hurt. I lapped at the small nub of her nipple, kneading her flesh, then moved to the other breast. I loved the sounds she was making.
I needed more.
I dropped to my knees.
“What are you doing?” Her voice was breathy.
I looked up at her. “Whatever I want. Which, right now, is fucking you with my tongue.”
Her chest hitched, which made her breasts jiggle.
Fuck . “Yes?”
“Yes.”
I pushed the tulle skirt aside and found the slit in the dress underneath it. I slid my hands up her bare thighs and found her underwear. Just a gossamer piece of black lace. I hooked my thumbs in the sides and skimmed them down her legs. I stuffed them in my pocket.
Shoving more of the damn dress out of my way, I bared her. I wished there was more light so I could see. I stroked between her pale thighs.
She moaned. As I caressed her, I found her wet and slippery. Then I cupped one thigh and wrapped it around my head. I leaned forward and licked.
She let out a low cry, but the music from below drowned it. With long slow strokes of my tongue, I lapped at her. Her honeyed sweetness filled my senses. With a groan, I devoured her.
“Oh God.” She tugged on my hair. “That’s…so good. Don’t stop.”
I closed my lips around her swollen clit and sucked. My cock was throbbing and wanted in there, desperately. With another suck, she splintered apart. Her leg squeezed on my head and her body shook.
She muffled her cries with her hand as her release shuddered through her.
I waited a minute, pressed a kiss to her inner thigh, then rose. Her cheeks were flushed and she looked sexy and wild.
We stared at each other.
Then she stepped closer and pressed her hand over the swollen cock tenting my suit pants.
I let out a pained groan. Her hand molded me, squeezed. Then she kissed me. I knew she’d taste herself on my lips.
Groaning, I thrust my tongue into her mouth. The kiss turning scorching. I shoved my hips forward and she squeezed my cock again. It throbbed painfully.
“Now,” she murmured, “you take me.” She stroked me again. “You slide this inside me.”
Fuck . She was going to let me have her. I wanted to drag her to my room and tear all her clothes off, but I didn’t want to break the spell or spoil the moment.
Plus, I couldn’t wait that long.
Mine . The word echoed in my head. I wanted her to know it, I wanted everyone to fucking know it.
I didn’t know her name, but she was mine.
I reached out and pulled the straps of her dress up, tucking her breasts back into the bodice. I spun her, and pressed her hands to the railing. She gasped, staring down at the ball below.
Moving behind her, I pushed that damn skirt up and out of my way. I fumbled with my zipper.
My cock sprang free, hard and hurting. I fished a condom out of my pocket and tore it open. It took me seconds to deal with it. Then I ran my hand over her buttocks. Her skin was smooth, and I squeezed. She pushed back into my palm.
A groan ripped out of me. Urgent need beat inside my head. Then I slid a hand into her hair, holding her in place. I nudged her feet wider.
“ Please ,” she murmured, her voice low and needy.
I slid two fingers inside her, plunging them deep. She rewarded me with a throaty moan. With my other hand, I circled my cock. Damn, I’d never been this hard before. I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to get my cock inside her.
Then, with a single thrust, I buried myself inside her.
She moaned. I pulled out and thrust back in. Any semblance of finesse or control was long gone. I fucked her, over and over. Her cries got louder, and we both knew there was a chance we’d be spotted. I slid a hand over her mouth, and she bit my fingers. I hoped she left a mark.
I leaned over her, and pressed my mouth to her neck. She tilted, giving me better access. I used my teeth as I filled her over and over with my cock. She shuddered.
On my next thrust, she shattered. She came, screaming into my palm.
It was the best thing I’d ever experienced.
I picked up speed, everything inside me tightening into a painful knot. I fucked her harder, deeper.
“God… Yes .” Her voice was husky. “ More .”
She was going to come again. I could feel it.
I spun her away from the railing. Now, I didn’t want anyone to see her. Only me.
I landed in one of the chairs and yanked her back onto my lap, my cock lodged deep inside her. Her back arched and she climaxed, which triggered my own.
With her pussy squeezing my cock I pounded inside her. I turned her head to the side and kissed her. I groaned as pleasure tore through my body.
Her moans turned to heavy breathing. We sat there, both panting.
I tugged her face against my neck and held her. She nuzzled against me, and I ran my hand up her thigh, gently caressing her, wanting the contact with her skin.
I frowned. I wasn’t normally a cuddler. But I didn’t let her go. Instead, I pressed kisses to the side of head, her cheek, her jaw. I reached for her hand, my fingers brushing over her bracelet, touching the pretty multi-colored stones.
Then I felt her stiffen. “ Oh, God .” A near-soundless whisper.
I frowned. “Fairy queen?”
“I don’t do this.” Her chest hitched. “I don’t throw caution to the wind, or take risks, or… I never do this.”
I caught her chin and made her look at me. Suddenly, I felt the urge to rip that damn mask away. “I don’t either. It’s okay.”
Her cheeks were impossibly pale.
“We didn’t do anything wrong. We’re both adults. What we did felt very right.”
Her gaze ran over my face. “I really don’t make a habit of having hot sex with handsome strangers in the middle of a ball.”
I smiled. “Hot sex?”
She whacked my shoulder. “You know it was.”
“You think I’m handsome?”
“I don’t think I need to stroke your ego any more than I already have.” She shifted and pushed off my lap.
As my cock slid free, we both moaned.
“Oh God,” she whispered again. She smoothed her skirts down, looking a little unsteady. “I…” She looked like she didn’t know what to say.
“Hey, it’s okay.”
She licked those pretty red lips. “It was amazing.”
I smiled. “I fucking agree.”
“I don’t do this.”
“You mentioned that. I?—”
Then she spun and ran.
Dammit . I shot to my feet, but my cock was out, and I still needed to deal with the condom. By the time I’d found a tissue and zipped up, my fairy queen was long gone. I strode down the stairs, scanning the room.
There was no sign of her.
Dammit to hell . A muscle in my jaw ticked. I hadn’t been done with her. Not by a long shot. My fairy queen had pulled a Cinderella and run from the ball without telling me her name.
My hand slipped into my pocket and clenched on the lace I’d stolen from her.
The only proof I had that she was real.