Chapter 3

Three

Silas

T here was a roaring in my ears as I crossed the room. I had no idea what had gotten into me. I didn’t like the idea of another man dancing with Gia. Logically, I knew she wasn’t mine, but my body wasn’t listening.

I paused next to them, knowing better than to ask. “I’d like this dance.”

“She’s with me,” the other man protested.

I knew exactly how to exert my energy so he’d back off without even consciously thinking about it. I moved toward Gia, and the man naturally stepped back, dropping her hand.

“What if I don’t want to dance with you?” Gia gazed up at me with a slightly amused expression.

“You do.”

She tipped her head to the side, considering me. “How can you be so sure?”

“You weren’t dancing like this with him.” She’d immediately taken my hand and pressed her body against mine.

“I don’t know him.”

How could I explain that reason wasn’t coming into this conversation? I saw her, and my caveman brain took over. There was no place for logic when it came to Gia Giovanni.

She shook her head. “You’re impossible to figure out.”

“Is that necessary when we can just enjoy tonight instead?” I had visions of her on my bed, her legs spread wide, her pussy glistening. I couldn’t stop thinking about what I wanted to do to her.

Her cheeks turned pink. “Is that what you want?”

“I want you.”

Her brow furrowed. “What about—”

My jaw tightened. “Stop.”

“We’re ignoring all the possible consequences?”

“Nothing else matters.” Everything in my body was telling me that this was the right move. Even if it made no sense. Even if I betrayed my friends and her brothers. I wanted her, and I was going to have her.

“You’re very sure of yourself.”

I chuckled. “Like you’d be with a man who wasn’t confident.”

She gave me a look. “You’re bordering on cocky.”

I brushed a thumb over her cheek. “You like that too.”

Gia frowned as if I confused her. “I don’t think I do.”

I moved her in a circle, expertly avoiding the other couples, and then leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Oh you do. You loved it when my hands were on you. You especially enjoyed my tongue.”

The flush on her cheeks deepened. “You’re trouble.”

“And you love it.” She needed a man who challenged her both in the bedroom and out.

“Why now?” she finally asked after we’d danced without speaking for a few seconds.

“I promise, I haven’t thought of you naked—much.” That was a lie because I’d thought of her naked ever since her family invited me along on one of their vacations to Deep Creek, and Gia wore that red string bikini. I thought she’d done it on purpose to drive me crazy. She was young and seemingly innocent.

I’d wanted to pull the string on her top and suck on her tits. I’d wanted to spread her legs and fuck her. But she was my best friends’ little sister, and her family trusted me. So I’d pushed those desires down deep.

Maybe it had come out in the form of barbs and taunts, but I had to do something with all this pent-up desire. I needed to release it on the woman who tied me up in knots.

Gia shook her head. “I don’t believe you.”

“You have no idea what you do to me.” My voice was rough.

Her gaze met mine, and whatever she saw in my eyes must have told her I was telling the truth.

“One night. No strings. No one needs to know.”

Something flashed in her eyes. She wanted me too. “I don’t normally sleep with my competitor.”

“Is that what I am to you?” I was supposed to look out for her, like her brothers did. But I wasn’t ever in the position to do so. We’d kept our distance over the years. And in my case, it was necessary. As soon as we got close, I proved that I couldn’t control myself.

“I don’t do relationships. I don’t have the time or patience for them.”

I chuckled. “It’s a good thing I’m not looking for one.”

She gave me a slight nod of her head.

“You want to get out of here?” I asked, needing to make sure I read her signals correctly.

Gia shrugged. “I don’t need to say good-bye. Leo and Harper already left, and—”

I grabbed her hand and started walking. “You don’t know the bride or groom.”

Gia jogged in her heels to keep up. “My room or yours?”

“Mine.” I curled my fingers tighter around hers as I led the way through the dance floor and out of the tent.

Despite her bravado, I sensed that Gia didn’t pick up men. That meant she was selective with whom she slept with.

I should have been contemplating the repercussions, but instead, I was planning every way I could have her in the next few hours. I’d do everything I could to get her to stay the night. I knew she’d want to bolt as soon as it was over, but I didn’t want that. I wanted to see her come apart, and I wanted to be there to put her back together again.

She wasn’t a one-night stand or a conquest. She was everything I’d ever wanted. I didn’t have any plans beyond tonight. I refused to let myself think that way.

One night. No strings. That’s what I’d promised her, and that’s what I’d deliver. But I didn’t promise to leave her the same when I was done. I wanted to ruin her for all other men, and I would. She’d be begging for more in the morning. I was positive about that.

I didn’t stop until I stood in front of my penthouse on the top floor.

“Is this where you live?” Gia asked, taking in the large suite and the floor-to-ceiling windows that faced the bay.

“I own a house too.”

“Of course, you do,” she muttered as she moved around the room, seemingly drawn to the balcony. I opened the slider, and she stepped through. She stood at the railing, her hair blowing in the breeze.

I stepped behind her, sweeping her hair off her shoulders to place a kiss on her bare skin. “I could have you here. Bend you over and spread those gorgeous legs. No one would see us.”

Her breath hitched.

“You want that.” My body tensed, wanting more, but I waited.

She turned, looping her hands around my neck. “I want you.”

My hands gripped her hips. We hadn’t kissed in the closet, and I made up for lost time now. I explored her mouth, my tongue tangling with hers, as I pressed ever closer to her body.

She broke away. “I want to taste you.”

“I want to fuck you.” I expected her to flinch or step back, telling me I wasn’t what she wanted. But instead, her eyes flared with desire.

“You want that too. I can make you feel so good.”

“It doesn’t mean anything,” she said with a defiant tilt to her chin.

“Of course it will, sweetheart. I want to conquer this sweet body. This time, you’ll scream out my name.”

She swallowed as I tugged on the same ribbon I’d untied earlier.

“Tsk. Tsk. No panties. You’re a naughty girl.” Her panties were burning a hole in my pocket.

Her lips twitched. “It’s all your fault.”

“It’s your last chance to leave.” I’d been going slow ever since I let her into my place, but I wouldn’t be able to hold back. I’d been primed for her ever since I tasted her.

She arched her brow in challenge and then let her dress fall to the floor. She reached behind her and unhooked her bra, baring herself to me. She stood, confident, not worried about who might see her or that I was fully dressed.

“You’re beautiful.” All pretenses fell away. I didn’t need to throw barbs at her to keep her at bay. She was mine for the night, and I didn’t want to waste any time.

I touched her breasts, rolling her nipples and breathing in her soft gasps of pleasure. “So beautiful. So confident. So strong.”

She arched into my hands and spread her legs slightly.

I needed to drive her wild. I dipped my head, taking her nipple into my mouth. Her hands tangled in the hair at the nape of my neck, holding me to her.

I couldn’t believe she was here, naked on my balcony. It was like a dream come true, and I didn’t want it to end. I laved first one nipple, then the second. I reached between her legs, sliding my fingers between her folds. She was wet.

“You want my cock?” I asked her, lifting my head to see her reaction.

She nodded shakily, her body flush and her muscles tight.

“You need me to make you feel better?” I paused the motion of my fingers.

Gia tipped her hips forward, riding my fingers. “Silas, please.”

“I love the sound of my name on your lips.” Especially when it was needy and breathy, as if she couldn’t get enough. I kissed her, knowing I’d never get enough of her. One night wouldn’t satisfy me.

When she was on the edge, I turned her, helping her brace her hands on the railing. The lights on the balcony were off, and no one walked along the shoreline below. No one could see us. She was safe.

I quickly shucked my clothes and grabbed a condom from my wallet, wanting to feel her.

She looked over her shoulder at me. “Silas.”

“I’ll never get enough of you saying my name.” I smoothed the condom down my cock, lining up at her entrance. She was needy and wet, and I slid inside her, inch by glorious inch. The only thing that would have felt better was if there was nothing between us.

I gripped her hips hard enough to leave marks. I pulled out to the tip and slammed inside her, giving in to a rhythm that left us both panting for more.

She arched her back, looking gorgeous in the moonlight. I almost wished we’d chosen a different position so I could feast on her as she lay spread out on my bed. But we had time for more. This wasn’t it. It couldn’t be.

I reached around to cup her breast, tweaking her nipple, and then lower to circle her clit. She pushed back on my cock, making me lose my mind.

As soon as she spasmed around my cock, I went over, thrusting deep. I curled myself over her back before finally pulling out and disposing of the condom. I pulled her to me.

“Hot tub?” I finally asked her, nodding to the one in the corner.

“Yeah, that sounds good,” she said, her voice soft.

“You didn’t scream my name,” I reminded her.

She smirked. “The night is still young.”

“Is that a challenge?” I removed the cover, checked the temperature, and turned on the jets and lights.

“Is everything with you a competition?” she asked as I held my hand out to her to help her inside.

“With you.” I sat next to her, the warm water feeling good on my skin.

It felt like she was too far away, so I pulled her closer. I had a feeling Gia was used to pushing people away. Either men were naturally intimidated by her, and she was protecting herself, or she avoided intimacy.

Whatever the reason, I wouldn’t let her pull away from me. Not tonight.

“What are you doing?” she asked when I set her in my lap.

“Holding you.”

She looked at me with uncertainty before finally asking, “Why?”

“Because I want to.” That was a little surprising for me. I enjoyed sex, but I never cared about the aftermath. I didn’t need to cuddle with a woman or keep her close. But I wanted to with her.

She settled on my leg, in the circle of my arms. “You’re different than I expected.”

I loved the feel of her naked body. She was so free and confident. She didn’t have any insecurities. “How so?”

She laughed, but it sounded a little insecure. “I thought you’d kick me out afterward.”

“Why would you have sex with someone like that?” I asked, turning her so I could see her face.

“I prefer that, actually. I don’t do relationships, remember?”

“Just because you aren’t interested in a relationship doesn’t mean sex has to be cold and unfeeling.”

She didn’t have a response to that.

I suspected I’d thrown her off again. I loved doing that to her.

“Do you live here full time?” Gia finally asked, and I suspected this was her way to move on from a vulnerable topic, and I let it go for now.

“This is just easier when I’m working.”

“I can see that. No commute. Beautiful accommodations.”

“Who wouldn’t want to live in a five-star resort?” I murmured into her hair, breathing her in.

“I wouldn’t.” Her shoulders stiffened.

“You seem like a woman who enjoys luxury.” She wore designer purses and shoes. Her brothers teased her about it over the years, but she said they were her symbols of success.

“Mmm. I do.”

“But not a penthouse?” I turned her slightly so that she was facing me yet still able to enjoy the view of the water.

She pursed her lips. “I prefer a home. I don’t think I’d want to live in a hotel.”

“I feel as if I’m alone. The staff doesn’t intrude when I’m here.”

Gia’s gaze narrowed on me. “I would have expected that you’d have them wait on you hand and foot.”

“I like my privacy. Downstairs, they’re all Mr. Sharpe this and Mr. Sharpe that. Up here, I can just be myself.”

Gia nodded. “That makes sense.”

I traced a path on her arm, content to just be with her. To get to know her better. I knew what her brothers said about her, that she was driven and hardworking.

“Why don’t you work with your family?” I asked, genuinely curious.

Gia stiffened and tried to move away, but I held on tight. “I wanted to run my own business.”

“I can understand that. But your father—”

Gia huffed out a breath. “My father wants me to work for him. He doesn’t allow much room for innovation or other ideas. I want to be my own boss. I don’t want to answer to my father and three older brothers.”

I hadn’t thought of it that way. “My brothers and I all do something different.”

“You come from money. There’s freedom to that.”

“Don’t you? Your father’s business is successful.”

Gia snorted. “I worked for him. He paid us less than the other workers, and he said he could because we were family. But he doesn’t skimp on high-quality ingredients.”

“Your brothers never complained.”

“I suspect he paid them more. I think it had something to do with me being a female. He said I could make it up in tips.”

“Did you?”

“I wasn’t happy about working there, and it showed. I wanted to manage the place. I had so many ideas. I wanted to renovate and pay the employees more.”

“He wouldn’t listen to your ideas?” I knew what it was like to have ideas and need to act on them immediately.

“No. So I couldn’t stay there.”

“I get that.” And I respected her more for it.

“Now I make all the decisions. I hire my employees and pay them what they’re worth. Same with my independent contractors.”

I suspected I paid Harrison more than she did. But I’d done that on purpose to draw him away from Gia. I could afford it, but I suspected Gia paid her employees more at the expense of her own business and her salary.

“Are you drawing a salary?” I asked, concerned that she wasn’t taking care of herself.

She tensed. “I have to. You know that.”

“But are you taking advantage of it, or are you paying yourself less than your employees?”

“I have a home, and I buy nice things. I’m fine.”

“You have to take care of yourself.”

“I didn’t come here to talk about me.” She turned to straddle my lap, her pussy sliding over my already-hardening cock.

“You wanted to forget everything.”

She slid over my cock. “Uh-huh.”

“I can help.” I sucked on one nipple, wanting to slide inside her but knowing we needed a condom. She didn’t trust me like that. Not yet. And since this was one night, it wouldn’t be smart. She wasn’t looking for a relationship, and neither was I.

I wanted her to ride my cock.

“I need to grab a condom.”

She held tight to my shoulders. “I’m on birth control, and I’m clean.”

“Are you sure?” I knew she wasn’t reckless.

She nodded, and I said, “I’m clean too.”

This time, when she rubbed over my dick, the tip slid inside. Her head tipped back, and her mouth opened with a gasp.

“You feel so good. Like heaven.”

She sank down over my cock, inch by glorious inch, until I filled her.

I anchored her to me, helping her lift and lower herself over me. She rose up and down, her breasts bobbing in front of my face. I alternated between sucking on her nipples and kissing her.

She moaned, and I swallowed the sound, not wanting anyone to hear. The sounds of her pleasure were just for me.

When she went over, her head tipped back, her hair dipping into the water as she trembled and shook. I gripped her hips tighter, thrusting once, twice, and then I let go.

The thing that had lodged in my chest earlier dissipated. Gia standing naked in my hot tub and in my home seemed right. I didn’t want the night to be over.