43. Chapter Forty-Three Promise and Desire
Chapter Forty-Three: Promise and Desire
Tess
We walked back to the parking lot, the cool night air draped over us like a blanket. As soon as we were shrouded in darkness, he wrapped his arms around me. The sensation of being teleported was a disorienting, exhilarating rush, leaving me tingling and bouncy with anticipation.
I opened my eyes in the center of a huge, tile-floored kitchen. The tiles were polished, gleaming gray marble, reflecting the ambient lights from the moon outside, the various appliances, and recessed lighting under the cupboards. Sleek stainless steel appliances lined the wall, each one spotless and modern, their surfaces gleaming like mirrors. The countertops were rich, dark granite, contrasting beautifully with the open space.
I surveyed the place in awe, my eyes unbelieving. “This is your kitchen?”
He nodded, moving to the refrigerator, which was inside an immaculately organized space filled with fresh produce, artisanal cheeses, and neatly labeled containers. “I live here part-time with Lux and Stone.”
Outside the window, though it was dark, I could still make out the well-tended grounds. The lawn stretched out like a green carpet, interspersed with neatly trimmed shrubbery and winding pathways leading to the forest beyond. Moonlight draped the area in ethereal silver, accentuating the precise attention lavished on the landscape’s maintenance. It was clear we were in some kind of secluded mansion.
“Wow. Where are we?” I asked, my voice filled with wonder.
Taking in the opulence and elegance of the kitchen, I caught the smell of fresh herbs and citrus lingering in the air, mingling with the faint aroma of something sweet. There were a few interesting paintings on the walls, and a large island dominated the center of the room, complete with high-backed stools that invited conversation and camaraderie.
“Feels like a whole different world,” I murmured, still trying to wrap my head around the sudden change in surroundings.
He chuckled softly. “It kind of is…”
“Where?”
He gave me a tight grin, setting an ornate dish on the counter between us. “I’m afraid that’s a tightly guarded secret.”
“Oh. Are we talking like upstate or Tibet? ”
He shook his head. “We’re not.” He gestured toward another room beyond the kitchen, illuminated by a soft glow. “Come on, let me show you around.”
As we moved through the kitchen, I couldn’t help but marvel at the luxury and comfort. The place exuded a warmth and elegance I’d never come close to in my life.
We crossed into a pleasant living room filled with leather and dark wooden furniture. Two men sat on opposite ends of two couches, facing a large-screen television. They turned to us, and Lux raised a hand in greeting. The other guy, who resembled a psychotic FBI agent, muted the volume, and they both stood up.
“Tess, this is Stone. You’ve met Lux. Stone, Tess.”
“Nice to meet you, Tess.” He was polite, but his jaw pulsed.
“Hey Tess, how are you?” asked Lux.
“I’m okay, thanks. You have a beautiful house here.”
“Thank you.”
“What’s going on, man?” asked Stone, looking at Maverick.
He shrugged. “Just came to get something I made earlier. We’re not staying.”
“Thank fuck, I’m planning on sleeping tonight.”
I gasped and threw my hand to my mouth, trying not to laugh in nervousness.
“Don’t think the distance will make any difference, dude.” Maverick snagged my hand and tugged me back to the kitchen.
I tried not to think too hard about the fact that not only did Maverick and I know that the plan was for a steamy night, but so did his best friends and roommates. “We’re not staying here?” I whispered.
He didn’t bother to keep his voice down. “Nah, I’ve got a place in the city that’s more private.” He handed me a spoon .
I raised my eyebrows. “Okay then.” I pointed at the dish. “What’s this?”
“Hope you like passionfruit.” He picked up the lid, revealing a perfect slice of cheesecake with passionfruit compote slathered over the top.
“Oh. My. Goddess. This is my favorite.”
He beamed at my declaration. “Good, dig in then.”
“How did you know?” I peered up at him, my brain sputtering, and he motioned again for me to try it. I dug in for a small spoonful first, and when it reached my tongue, I had to close my eyes, which were rolling into the back of my head because it was so delicious. “Where did you get this?”
He didn’t answer, and it wasn’t until I opened my eyes to see him and noticed his hooded eyes to understand why. There was no mistaking what he thought of my moaning around a spoonful of cheesecake. “What if I said I made it?”
Eyeing him suspiciously, I had another quick bite, popping the spoon out with a smacking sound. “Mmmmm. But did you?”
He laughed. “Yes.”
“Well, it’s delicious, but you made it sound sus, so I had to ask.”
His expression was a blend of menace and desire, eyes deep wells of lust, smile predatory and enticing. A quiet growl came from deep in his chest, almost a purr, and I held my breath. Swirls of anxiety played in my belly even as warmth pooled in my core. A sinful grin played on his lips, his eyes shimmering with hunger. “Tell me your darkest desire.”
Trying to shake free and stay settled and centered, I cleared my throat, crinkled my nose and scooped some more cheesecake. “Pass. Tell me where we are.”
He chuckled lightly, softening a little. “Point taken. ”
I scrunched my eyebrows at him. “No. No point. I wanna know.”
He smirked, his lips curling with a hint of amusement. “Maybe someday,” he teased. His voice carried a playful tone. “You done?”
Though I could have eaten the whole thing, I didn’t want to make myself sick before the night’s adventure. I knew the plan, and I was here for it despite my nerves. “I’ve had enough for now.”
He reached across the table, retrieving my spoon and the nearly empty container. With a practiced motion, he returned them to their designated places before extending his hand toward me.
“Come,” he invited, his touch gentle yet firm as his fingers wrapped around my arm.
Towering over me, he brushed a strand of hair from my face. As my head fell back to peer up at him, he ran his fingers through my hair, cradling the back of my head. I closed my eyes, ready for the kiss, as his other hand slipped up to the other side of my jaw. My lips parted, but he didn’t kiss me. Instead, the tingling sensation told me we’d portaled again.
I snapped my eyes open in the center of a spacious, modern bedroom, the city lights outside the window, the air tinged with the scent of fresh linen and subtle hints of that spicy cologne that had me hooked. He trailed his fingers down between my breasts and fisted my dress, tugging me closer, eliciting a gasp from my lungs.
That was when he kissed me.
I was caught off guard. The scratch of his stubble contrasted with his soft lips as he trailed open-mouthed kisses up my neck to my jaw. A moan escaped my throat as I turned to meet his lips and grasped his shirt.
He took a step, urging me back, and again and again, until I fell onto the cold, silky bedding. He smelled like spiced utopia, the most delicious, pussy-softening aroma imaginable. I leaned on my elbows to gaze up at him, and he used his knee to spread my legs, but he didn’t have to nudge hard. He barely touched me, and I opened wide, inviting him inside.
He stood in between my thighs with a molten smirk and unbuttoned his shirt, revealing an Adonis-level chiseled chest. I considered the possibility I was under a dreamscape spell. The man was some kind of god. He had to be. A finger curled under my chin and applied pressure until my head rose enough to meet his eye.
“Eyes on mine, gorgeous.”
As if I could focus.
I stared at him, blinking in a stupor. Shaking my head, I swept my gaze down his body. “No way. Back up a little, would you?”
He chuckled, raising an eyebrow in disbelief. “You want me to back up?”
Honestly, I was surprised with myself, too, since my instincts told me to get on my hands and knees and stick my ass up so he could mount me already.
Still, I had to see him better. Kicking my shoes off, I bit my lip, gave him a sultry expression and pulled my knees up, scooting back on the bed into a lotus-style position. “Just a step. Let me look at you.”
He smiled, his arms held out in a dramatic ringmaster-like presentation. The sleek, modern decor with chrome accents gleaming under soft lights, juxtaposed with black leather furnishings, but even being surrounded with such elegance, this man outshone everything.
His slight smirk, his delicious stubble, his molten eyes devouring me whole, the intoxicating spicy pheromone.
Those jeans were in the way, though.
They’d have to come off—pronto .
I sucked in some air, furrowing my brows. “Damn, look at you.” I got up on my knees and pointed at myself. “You really want to fuck me ?”
He let his arms down and frowned. “Ohhhhh…”
I tilted my head. “Oh?”
Twisting his lips to the side, his eyes shone playfully. “Is that what you think is going on here? You think I want to fuck you?”
I played along despite the double time my heart was doing with that little bit of doubt in the back of my mind. Please make this a game. “Awww shucks. Is it not? Was I being presumptuous again?”
He shrugged, and as he prowled forward, all the humor left his eyes. He might have been a voracious beast, the way they were devouring me already. “I can’t pull off this joke, Tess, because I am embarrassingly desperate to do very bad things to your body.”
“Thank fuck,” I managed to whisper before his mouth closed over mine.