I ran my fingertip around the edge of my expensive wine glass at the hotel bar, enjoying the pure high-pitched hum the balloon made as it vibrated. It blended with the Miles Davis floating down from the overhead speakers. From my vantage point along the wall, the room was shadowy, with small pools of light from bright but focused bulbs recessed into the ceiling. Dark wood, plush carpeting, and granite were everywhere. Shadowy forms occupied club chairs and cushioned alcoves across the room. My wine looked black in the faint light.
I was a little self-conscious as I adjusted my sleeveless dress, pulling my silk wrap around my bare arms. I had been sitting alone for about twenty minutes. Just as I was reaching for my phone, a figure materialized from the darkness several feet away and prowled over to the barstool next to me. He slid soundlessly onto the smooth leather.
His presence was overpowering. His sheer physical size was intimidating, at well over six feet tall and broad, muscular shoulders. A tailored suit jacket stretched across his broad back, which tapered to a trim waist. His hands, now resting on the bar, were roughly the size of small hams.
Then...his face.
He stole my breath away as I watched the light fall into the sharp relief lines of his cheekbones and square jaw. It was impossible to see the color of his eyes; they looked dark and bottomless. White-blond hair curled around his ears and fell over his forehead. I wanted to reach out and touch it. When he smiled, his lush lips curving upward, my heart actually skipped a beat.
"Alone?" he asked in a rich baritone.
My throat clicked as I tried to answer. It had suddenly gone dry. Mute, I nodded.
"What a shame," he said smoothly. "Or, I should say, how fortunate for me."
My pulse pounded in my ears as he reached for my hand, still on the wine glass. It was dwarfed by his, which covered it completely. He leaned into me. His scent, leather and sandalwood, rose around us. His lips on my ear: "You're coming with me."
I gave him a smile of my own. "Am I? Where are we going?" It came out little more than a soft rasp.
"Does it matter?" Then the man actually winked at me, capturing my other hand and drawing me off the barstool.
All rational thought fled as I let him lead me away into the shadows. A short elevator ride away, we were in one of the suites above, luxe and lavishly appointed.
Wasting no time, he gently pulled me into him, his hand wrapping around the back of my neck, drawing me upward into a deep kiss. His mouth covered mine, his tongue sliding in as his other hand pressed flat along my back and ran downward. I let out a moan into his kiss as he cupped my ass, kneading gently.
Whispering in my ear again, he said, "I'm Jack, and I intend to have you."
"I'm Rachel." I could do little else but close my eyes, tip my head back, and murmur assent. My body had awakened, heat spreading through my core and winding its way downward.
"I should warn you, Rachel..." His voice flowed over me like melted chocolate. "With me, it starts slow but won't stay that way."
My body tingled, raising light goosebumps at his words. I could feel his smile against my throat as he wrapped both arms around me and began to explore my body.
He licked lightly down my neck over my shoulder, slipping the thin strap of my dress off, taking the bra with it, leaving my shoulder bare. Kissing lightly, he traced my collarbone with his finger. Splaying his hand open, he reached down and engulfed my right breast, covering it entirely. He palmed my nipple through my clothes, murmuring with approval as it instantly hardened at his touch.
His other hand went to my zipper, pulling slowly down. I could feel the cool air on my back as the dress came undone. Another swipe with his hand and the dress had fallen from my shoulders, catching briefly at my hips and then landing in a silken heap on the floor.
"Come here," he said, leading me to a nearby table with chairs. He seated himself and settled me onto his lap in one motion; I found myself straddling his muscular legs, wearing only my bra, panties, and heels. I could feel him growing hard beneath my thigh, his soft flannel dress pants tenting upward. It gave me a thrilling rush to know that I was affecting him.
My balconette bra had my breasts elevated, pushed upward on offer to him. Taking his time, he unfastened it, stripping it away. Bending downward, he took my nipple in his mouth and began sucking, swirling his tongue over the sensitive skin. I cried out, my hand going to the back of his head, feeling the mass of blond curls around my fingers. He was playing with my other nipple, pinching and rolling, flicking it rapidly as it puckered into a hard nub. Switching, he massaged the breast he had just sucked and licked.
