Chapter Two
Hannah
I know you love to dance.
So he does remember me. I recognized Dean as soon as he came to my rescue, but I feared he had no recollection of our flight four years ago and didn’t want to risk embarrassing myself in front of him.
He looks way hotter… I thought he was attractive back then, but now he’s absolutely irresistible. He's grown buffer, his shoulders broader and his muscles more defined. He's wearing a tailored suit that clings perfectly to his frame, emphasizing every sculpted line of his body. Beneath the impeccably cut classic black suit is a crisp white shirt with the top few buttons undone just enough to reveal a glimpse of his strong, tanned neck. He’s also grown out his beard, a neatly trimmed expanse that adds an air of rugged sophistication to his chiseled jawline. There’s a hint of gray at his temples now, and that only adds to his allure.
His eyes, though... Those deep, piercing blue eyes are the same. And right now, they're boring into mine with a breathtaking intensity. It's like looking into a stormy sea, vast and tumultuous, but undeniably beautiful.
“You remember me?” I ask, blinking up at him in disbelief.
“Oh, Honey, of course I do,” he says, his eyes twinkling with amusement and something else… something soft yet thrilling. “What are the odds that we meet like this again?”
“I can't believe it,” I mutter, shaking my head at how surreal this moment is. I’ve thought about him often over the last four years, thinking of how his nudge of common sense changed my life. How I wished I could see him again and thank him. He was the first person I thought of when I joined a dance group at school. I owe him for all the happiness I’ve found in New York.
I knew that the chances were next to nothing but in a deep recess of my heart, I held hope that I'd meet him again one day, and if that day ever came to pass, I had a lot to say to him but now it's happening, and it feels like I have suddenly lost the ability to form rational thought… Or breathe. My chest feels like it's going to burst at any moment from how hard it's beating. I feel like I'm drowning in the endless depths of his eyes, unable– unwilling to look away.
He pulls me even closer to his chest, his lips tilting upward in a soft, almost teasing smile. “Dance with me, Honey.”
He starts to sway along to the music, and I have no choice but to wrap my arms around his neck and follow his lead.
The music envelops us, and soon, we're moving together as if we've been dancing for years. His hand rests firmly on the small of my back, guiding me effortlessly. Our bodies fit together like they’re made for each other, each movement sending electric jolts through me. The closeness is intoxicating, the warmth of his body pressing against mine, the feel of his muscles beneath his suit as my fingers trail over his broad shoulders.
I’ve never been this close to anyone before, and every touch, every brush of his hand, ignites a fire inside me. The sexual tension between us is palpable, a heavy, charged energy that neither of us can ignore. He grinds his hips against mine in time with the music, and I feel a surge of heat rush through me, my breath catching in my throat.
His hands slide down my back, fingers grazing the curve of my hips, pulling me even closer. I can feel his breath on my neck, hot and tantalizing, as he whispers, “You’re a beautiful dancer, Hannah.”
I shiver at the sound of my name on his lips, the intensity of his gaze sending a thrill through me. “Thank you,” I manage to whisper back, my voice trembling slightly.
“I'm curious,” he says in a light tone that contradicts the intensity in his deep blue eyes. “Did you keep dancing?”
“Yes, I joined a dance group at school,” I answer, lifting my gaze to meet his ocean eyes. “It’s helped so much; I can’t imagine my life without it.”
Dean’s expression softens, and his lips curl into a gentle smile. “I’m glad you found a way to keep dancing. It suits you.”
I feel a blush creeping up my cheeks, and I look away, feeling suddenly shy. "It's all thanks to you," I admit quietly. "You brought me back to my senses that day and made me realize that I had so many options to keep doing what I loved. So, thank you, Dean."
He tilts his head, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. “You don’t owe me any thanks, Honey. You found the strength within yourself. I just helped you see it.”
“I still want to thank you,” I insist, my voice trembling with emotion. “You don’t know how much it meant to me. I even won a few international dance awards. You have no idea how much that's helped build my confidence.”
Dean’s eyes light up with genuine pride, a small smile grazing his full sensuous lips. “I'm proud of you, Hannah.”
My heart skips a beat at the sound of my name on his lips. There's something about the way he says it, with a mix of tenderness and admiration, that makes me feel good about myself. His words wrapped around me like a warm embrace, filling the spaces within me that I hadn't even realized were empty.
“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice catching in my throat. “It means a lot to hear you say that.”
His hand finds its way to the small of my back, pulling me even closer against him. He tilts my chin up, our eyes locking, and for a moment, the world around us fades away. There’s only him, his touch, his eyes, the raw attraction that binds us. He lowers his head, his lips brushing against my ear. “I’ve thought about you every day since that flight. I never forgot you, Honey.”
His confession makes my heart pound even harder, and I lean into him, feeling the steady beat of his heart against my chest. “I never forgot you either,” I admit, my voice barely audible over the music.
He smiles, a slow seductive curve of his sexy lips, sending a ripple of anticipation through me. "Good. Because I don't intend to let you go this time."
I feel a blush creep up my cheeks, my body responding to the intensity of his gaze. My heart starts to race, my mind whirling with several conflicting emotions. His presence is overwhelming but in the best possible way. I don't want this moment to end, I don't want to lose the connection we've just found again.
Dean’s hand slides down my back, resting possessively on my hip. “Would you like to come up to my suite for a break?” he asks, his voice low and inviting.
His words send a shiver down my spine. I’ve never been one for casual encounters, never felt comfortable with the idea. But tonight, with Dean, it feels different. The way he looks at me, the way he holds me – it’s as if we’re the only two people in the world. And right now, I don’t want to stop feeling like this. I’m not ready to let go of him quite yet.
I take a deep breath, looking up into his eyes. “Yes,” I say softly, surprising myself with the certainty in my voice. “I’d like that.”
*****
My heart thuds violently as he leads me to the private elevator that goes to the casino’s top floors of exclusive suites. I realize I've never done something like this. I’m not one to be spontaneous and I usually shy away from intimacy. And yet, when Dean pulls me into his arms as we wait for the elevator, it feels natural. He feels natural.
The elevator doors slide open, and once we step inside, he pulls me into his arms and seals his mouth over mine. I close my eyes, melting into his embrace with a soft sigh of satisfaction.
Why does it feel so natural to be in his arms?
At first, my kiss is tentative, unsure. Then it grows hotter. His kiss is everything I've imagined and more. I've always dreamed about my first kiss, but this is beyond anything I could have fantasized about. I can taste the hint of whiskey on his lips, feel the heat of his body pressed against mine. I match his rhythm, my nervousness fading as desire takes over.
He smells like expensive cologne and sun and heat and liquor. His breath blends with mine so that I can't tell where his exhale ends and my inhale begins. Every sensation is packed with tingles and overwhelming sensations. My pulse is thrumming violently beneath my skin. I love it.
I had no idea that my soul could be set on fire like this with just a kiss.
Dean's hands move to cradle my face, his touch firm and reassuring. I slide my fingers into his hair, a soft moan escaping me as the kiss deepens. His tongue teases mine, sending sparks of electricity through my body. I've never felt this way before – so alive, so utterly consumed.
Our bodies press closer, the intensity of the kiss escalating. My hands slide down to his shoulders, feeling the taut muscles beneath his suit. He responds by pulling me even tighter against him, a low growl rumbling in his chest. The elevator feels like it’s spinning, the world outside forgotten.
The elevator dings, snapping us out of our heated embrace. Dean pulls back, his eyes dark with desire. He takes my hand, leading me down the hallway to his suite. My pulse races with anticipation, my breath coming in quick, shallow gasps.
Once inside, Dean shuts the door behind us, and the tension between us crackles like a live wire. He turns to me, his gaze smoldering. “Hannah,” he whispers, his voice thick with longing.
Before I can respond, he smashes his mouth against mine again. Hot. Wet. Insistent. He splays his fingers against the wall on either side of my head, the muscles of his shoulders trembling as though it required all his willpower to keep his hands on the walls and off my body. His mouth moves against mine, recklessly, desperately as he hungrily devours me, suckling my tongue and my lower lip, seizing my every breath and replacing it with his.
When he pulls back, I'm left gasping for air, my lips feeling swollen and bruised from the intensity of his kiss. My eyes flutter open to find Dean's burning into mine, his desire evident. Raw. His chest is heaving with a barely restrained passion.
“You drive me crazy, Honey,” he mutters, his gaze sliding down to my lips and back up to my eyes. “And the night has barely started.”
I look away from him, suddenly overwhelmed by everything he makes me feel… it's all so new to me yet so intensely familiar. My heart feels like it's going to burst at any moment, my skin tingling from where his hands have been. I've never felt such an exhilarating yet terrifying rush of emotions.
I look around the room, in a bid to distract myself but then I notice the stellar view out the floor-to-ceiling windows in the suite. My breath catches as I rush to the window and take in the breathtaking sight of the Las Vegas strip. It’s a kaleidoscope of colors and lights that seem to dance in the night air. I can see the Bellagio fountains shooting into the air, the drops of water glistening like diamonds as they fall. The replica Eiffel Tower stand tall, its iron latticework gleaming in the darkness. Everywhere I can see, neon signs flash showing all that this magical city has to offer.
It seems like the world is just outside his window, so close yet out of reach… like Dean, in a sense.
Dean comes up behind me, his chest brushing against my back in a way that makes me forget to breathe.
I look up at him, my eyes wide with wonder. “I’ve never seen anything like this before,” I say, my voice filled with awe. “It's beautiful.”
He’s staring at me, his expression mirroring my own amazement. “You're right. I guess I've taken this view for granted so much that I've forgotten how stunning it is,” he admits, his tone thoughtful. “Seeing it through your eyes… It's like I’m seeing it for the first time. It's one of the reasons I chose this location for The Lily.”
“You own this place?” I ask, my eyes growing wide with shock. Then I instantly feel stupid for asking; I mean, we're on the executive floor. No random person can access this place… I kind of guessed he's some kind of big shot but I never imagined he owns the place. It suddenly dawns on me how little I know next to nothing about him. Dean Sterling is practically a stager but why do I feel like I've known him all my life?
“Yes, I do,” he replies, never taking his eyes off me
“What else do I need to know about you, Mr. Sterling?” I ask, half joking.
Dean chuckles softly, the sound sending a pleasant shiver down my spine. “There’s plenty you’ll find out in time, Hannah. But for now, how about I show you something else?”
I nod, my curiosity piqued. He takes my hand, leading me across the suite to another set of windows, this one offering a different view of the city. The Vegas lights glitter below us like a sea of stars, and for a moment, I forget everything else.
“It’s breathtaking,” I whisper, my eyes taking in the expanse of the city. “I can see why you chose this place. I can't get enough of it.”
Dean stands behind me, places his hands on my shoulders, and gently turns me around to face him. His eyes search mine, and for a moment, we simply stand there, staring into each other's eyes.
He reaches out and brushes a strand of hair away from my face. "I can't get enough of you, Hannah." My heart skips a few vital beats at his words, my stomach tightening up in knots.
“Stay the night with me, Honey,” he murmurs, his voice a soft plea wrapped in velvet.