50. Alice

ALICE

I pause when I step barefoot into the surprisingly modern bathroom.

Are these floors heated?

I wiggle my toes.

Good lord, the floors are heated.

Sighing, I pull open the glass door leading into the large walk-in shower and reach in to start the water.

I’ve heard people talk about how they feel kind of gross after flying, and now that I’ve finally done it, I get what they mean.

When I mentioned wanting to wash my face, Michael told me to just take a shower and put on my pajamas while he put away the food and made us a snack.

It’s hardly late enough to go to bed, but it’s not like we’re going anywhere, so why not start my slumber party with Michael now?

With my discarded dress on the floor and my pajamas on the counter, I test the warmth of the water, then step into the spray.

Standing under the lush stream, I close my eyes and take the moment to appreciate how much my life has changed in a matter of days.

This time last week, I was newly unemployed and moving out of my little apartment and into my cousins’ unfinished basement.

I was still content with my life. And at that point, the knowledge that I was going to be a contestant on Second Bite —that I’d meet Chef Mike Kesso in person—that bit of joy would have been enough to get me through another thirty years.

But then our eyes met. And his attention was electric. And the pull I felt for him went from fantasy to reality.

I take a small step back, tipping my head away so the stream can hit my breasts.

When Michael came to my hotel room and our lips met for the first time, I finally knew what lust was.

Finally understood.

My pulse starts to speed at the memory.

And then my memory takes me to last night, when Michael walked down those stairs into my makeshift bedroom… that lust turned into an inferno.

I set my palms on my sides, wondering if it’s wrong to touch myself thinking about Michael when he’s just down the hall.

My hands slide a bit higher.

I shouldn’t.

Before I can drop them, large hands clamp over mine.

“Do it, Sweetie.” Michael’s voice vibrates through my body and straight to the juncture between my legs. “Squeeze those big tits for me. Show me how you like it.”

His large naked body presses into my back, and I feel his hard cock hot and solid against the top of my ass.

Doing as he says, I slide my hands up until they’re cupping my breasts.

I’ve never showered with a man before. Never stood naked under this much light with a man before. But I won’t let self- consciousness ruin this for me. Not with the way his body is reacting to mine.

I squeeze my breasts together, pushing them up, causing the water to cascade down my cleavage.

Michael groans and stretches his fingers past mine to pluck at my nipples.

The sensation has me arching my back, pushing my ass against his dick.

“Michael,” I breathe.

He applies more pressure to my nipples. “You like that, Baby?”

I nod.

“How much do you like it?” Michael rolls my nipples between his fingers.

“So much,” I pant.

“Enough to get that sugar-sweet pussy wet for me?”

It’s my turn to groan, his dirty mouth doing just as much to me as his fingers.

He pinches my nipples harder. “Answer me, Alice.” He rocks his hips into me. “Or do I need to check for myself?”

“I… What?” The stimulation is too much, and I can’t focus on the questions he’s asking me.

Michael chuckles next to my ear. “My perfect little Christmas angel, so lit up she can’t even think straight.”

One of his hands drops away, and I lower one of mine to catch it.

I want more.

I need more.

But when I catch his wrist, it doesn’t stop him.

Michael flattens his hand on my belly but doesn’t pause as he slides it lower.

“So soft.” Past my belly button. “So beautiful.” Down the rounded part below. “So feminine.” Into the blonde curls, right above the place I want his touch most.

“Please.” I dig my fingers into his wrist, wanting to feel the muscles beneath his skin shift as he touches me.

“Please, what?”

His touch is nearly there.

“Please, I need you.”

Lips close around my earlobe at the same time his hand shifts and his fingers slip into me.