Chapter 13 #2
Sadly, the soft ping of the elevator prevented the kiss from continuing. So did the slight gasp from someone eager to claim the spot. When he pulled away, his grin was more boyish than I would have expected, his eyes becoming hooded while taking my hand into his.
If he acknowledged the four people waiting patiently, I wouldn’t know, skirting around them with purpose in mind. Even with my long legs, it was almost impossible to keep up with is long strides.
There was a sense of urgency within him, a momentary surprise that left me incapable of processing what was happening.
We were both adults.
We could make up our minds on what we wanted.
And since he’d been the object of several wicked fantasies, I had no intention of pulling back the reins. He’d more than proven himself.
As he pulled out his keycard, I reminded myself this was just one night. After this, my life would return to exactly what it was.
Work and loneliness.
Just before he slipped the card into the lock, he slowly turned his head. What a gentleman, although the dark and unforgiving look in his eyes was entirely predatory.
I nodded once, the electric hum creating butterflies in my stomach.
As soon as the door was opened and he ushered me inside, I was reminded that he lived in a different world than mine. One full of opulence.
The heavy click of the electronic lock felt like a point of no return.
My heart hammered against my ribs, loud enough that I feared he might hear it in the sudden silence of the room.
The transition from the public elevator to this dim, private space made my skin prickle with anticipation.
When his hands found my waist, the last of my hesitation dissolved into the shadows.
Every nervous thought evaporated, replaced by the heat of his breath against my neck.
I didn’t turn around and he didn’t force me to, at least not at first, instead lowering his head so his hot breath tickled the side of my face.
After moving my hair to the side, he pressed his lips against the nape of my neck, and an explosion of prickles descended all the way down the backs of my legs.
His touch was as powerful as I knew the man to be, yet fully in control.
I wasn’t expecting him to walk around me, removing his jacket as he did.
The light toss of the material across the back of one of several chairs drew my attention.
He remained silent while yanking off his tie, carefully placing it over his jacket.
I was more nervous than before, uncertain what he wanted from me. The thought was unnerving yet exciting and I remained where I was.
The view was incredible, including being able to see the Ferris wheel in its entirety. When I laughed, he followed my gaze.
“You like fairs?” he asked, his tone completely sultry, leaving me tingling all over.
“Yes. Rides. Bad for you food. Huge stuffed animals. I especially adore Ferris wheels.” Why I’d admitted something almost childish to a man of such power was beyond me. Yet I didn’t feel the gaze of harsh criticism, only the curiosity of a man unused to casual conversation.
“You’re not afraid of heights.”
“Not in the least. When I was a little girl, my parents didn’t have much money, but when the fair came to town, they always took me.
I’d beg to ride the Ferris wheel over and over again.
Finally, my mom had to tell me I could only ride it three times.
But those three times were the best. Just the best.” My memories were bittersweet, but I was thankful for them.
I realized he was studying me intently, perhaps even more so than before.
“I know. Not very interesting.”
He cocked his head. “I think extremely interesting.”
Everything about him was powerful yet so intense, including the way he carried himself. I was drawn to him in ways I didn’t fully understand, but I’d never wanted to be with someone as much as I did with him.
Without looking at me, he headed to a bar, the crystal decanters shimmering under the warm LED lighting from above. Before he touched a bottle, he unfastened his sleeves, rolling them up past his elbows with exquisite precision.
With anyone else, a silence like this would feel awkward, a gap that needed filling.
With him, it was a blanket. I let my shoulders drop, a tension leaving my body that I hadn’t even realized I was carrying.
Being alone with him didn’t feel like isolation; it felt like coming home after a very long trip.
When he was finished with his task, he tilted his head before touching a bottle. “Undress for me, Penelope. I need to see every luscious inch of you.”
His request hung in the air, shifting the temperature in the room. Although I sensed he wasn’t the type of man who would take no for an answer.
For a second, my pulse fluttered with a sudden rush of vulnerability.
But as I looked at him, the warmth and absolute adoration in his eyes, the nervous flutter melted into a quiet, electric confidence.
Stripping away my clothes felt less like exposure and more like shedding a barrier between us.
Something I’d never done with anyone. Why him?
A slow smile tugged at the corners of my lips. Taking a step forward, the shift in the atmosphere was palpable. He wasn’t paying any attention while gathering two glasses and selecting a bottle, but as with everything else, he didn’t need to.
He simply commanded the room as if it were someone in his employ.
I moved forward and further into the suite. Just before he poured the glasses full, he nodded toward the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, which provided an incredible view of both the city and the riverfront.
“Do so in front of the glass. But first…” He lifted something from the far end of the bar and it took me a few seconds to realize what he was holding.
A mask.
“We finish what we started the other night.” The deep allure of his voice was even more intoxicating, leaving me tingling all over.
I moved closer, although I had to admit I enjoyed the way his jaw was clenched from anticipation. As if I held all the power. Perhaps in a way I did, considering he’d chosen to allow me choices. Not something I’d ever imagined a powerful man allowing to occur.
As soon as I accepted the offering, he reached for another. He’d planned the meeting. There was no way for him to deny it. Did the knowledge make the evening and the possibilities that much more delicious? Without a doubt.
I ran my fingers over the intricate feathers. It was a blank slate, a beautiful promise. As I lifted it to my eyes, a rush of intoxicating power washed over me. The power to watch him searching for the woman beneath a delicate covering that shadowed what was underneath.
I sensed his heated gaze remained, his eyes following me as I headed toward the windows and under a warm glow of light. When I turned, I was rewarded with seeing the shimmering penetration of his gaze.
With being on the top floor, and no buildings across the street, there was little chance someone else would notice my eventual state of disrobe. That didn’t mean the thought didn’t boost the excitement.
I did as he asked without question and without hesitation, moving to a perfect place to give myself space.
He lowered onto one of the chairs positioned only a few feet away, yet far enough he couldn’t simply reach out and touch me.
The realization of having someone’s undivided, captivated attention was an immediate high and for a few seconds, I had the same issue of wanting nothing more than to spend time watching him.