Chapter 2

TWO

M ari took a deep breath, summoning her courage. Emily was right. She'd spent too long playing it safe, hiding from life in the shadows of her past. It was time to step into the light, to take a chance on something new. She downed another shot.

With a determined nod, Mari rose from her seat and made her way to the bar, her heartbeat thundering in her ears. As she approached, the mysterious stranger turned, his gaze locking onto hers once more. Up close, he was even more striking, his chiseled features and intense eyes sending a shiver down her spine.

"Hi," she managed, her voice sounding breathy and foreign to her own ears. "I'm Mari."

He smiled, a slow, devastating curl of his lips that made her knees go weak. "Arden," he replied, his voice a low, seductive rumble. "Can I buy you a drink?"

Mari nodded, sliding onto the stool beside him. As Arden signaled the bartender, she couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation.

They fell into easy conversation, the initial awkwardness giving way to a natural, effortless rapport. Arden was charming and quick-witted, his stories and observations drawing genuine laughter from Mari. She found herself opening up to him, sharing pieces of herself she'd kept hidden for so long.

"So, what brings a gorgeous woman like you to a place like this?" Arden asked, a playful grin tugging at his lips.

Mari laughed, shaking her head at the cheesy pickup line. "Oh, you know, just looking for trouble," she quipped. "And maybe a handsome stranger to sweep me off my feet."

Arden clutched his heart in mock surprise. "Well, look no further. I happen to be an expert in both trouble and sweeping women off their feet."

"Is that so?" Mari challenged, arching a brow. "I might need some proof of these alleged skills."

"I thought you'd never ask," Arden winked, extending his hand with a flourish. "Care to dance?"

Mari hesitated for a moment, a flicker of uncertainty flashing through her mind. It had been so long since she'd let herself have fun, since she'd allowed herself to be carefree and spontaneous. But something about Arden's easy charm and infectious smile made her want to take a chance.

"Why not?" She grinned, placing her hand in his. "Let's see what you've got, Mr. Smooth."

Arden led her onto the crowded dance floor, spinning her into his arms with a suave, practiced motion. Mari laughed in delight, the sound bubbling up from deep within her chest. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so light, so unburdened by the weight of her past.

They moved together in perfect sync, their bodies intertwining seamlessly like two halves of a whole. Arden's hand rested on the small of her back, his touch sending shivers of pleasure racing down her spine. Mari lost herself in the music and the joy of being held by someone who made her feel so alive.

As the song ended, Arden dipped her low, his face mere inches from hers. "Not bad for a handsome stranger," he murmured, his breath ghosting over her lips.

Mari's heart raced, desire and anticipation thrumming through her veins. "Not bad at all," she whispered, her eyes locked on his. "But I think I might need a few more demonstrations, just to be sure."

Arden grinned, a wicked gleam in his eye. "I'm more than happy to oblige," he purred, pulling her close once more.

As they swayed to the next song, a giddy sense of excitement bubbled up within her. She was playing with fire; falling for a man she'd just met was reckless and impulsive. But for once in her life, she didn't care. She wanted to live in the moment and embrace the thrill of the unknown.

As the song ended, Arden pulled her close, his lips brushing against her ear. "Want to get out of here?" he murmured, his voice low and full of promise.

Mari's heart raced, desire and nervousness warring within her. She glanced back at the table, catching Emily's eye. Her friend grinned, giving her a not-so-subtle thumbs up and mouthing, "Go for it!"

Taking a deep breath, Mari turned back to Arden, a slow smile spreading across her face. "Let's go," she agreed, feeling a rush of exhilaration as he took her hand and led her out of the bar.

The cool night air was a welcome relief after the heat and noise of the Rusty Cauldron. They walked hand in hand through the quiet city streets, the silence between them comfortable and charged with anticipation.

They made their way to a very nice hotel and went up to the top floor. In Arden's room, Mari felt a flutter of nerves in her stomach. It had been so long since she'd been with anyone, let alone someone she'd just met. But Arden had captured her attention from the moment he walked into the bar.

She walked into the room and he locked the door behind her. Arden pulled her close, his hands settling on her waist as he gazed down at her with an intensity that stole her breath.

"Mari," he murmured, his voice rough with desire. "You smell so good," he rumbled, inhaling at her neck. "I want you."

Mari gulped. He cupped her face in his hands and lowered his head, meshing their lips together. All thoughts stopped the moment he touched her. He kissed with bold, sensual strokes of his tongue.

She curled her hands around his waist, sighing into the kiss. His hot muscles made her giddy with need. The kiss turned rougher, darker. He nipped at her mouth, working his way down to her throat.

Her need for him was like a drug. She'd never wanted a man like this –a primitive need that scared her.Her ex had never even given her orgasms. He was a selfish man, only thinking of himself. But now she had this chance to make a new memory on the night she finally broke free.

Arden's hands went around her waist and he picked her up and sat her on the counter behind her.

Goddess. She could barely think straight with him touching her like this, his hands roaming down her body, caressing her as if she were the most beautiful woman in the world.

She leaned into his kisses. Air pounded hard in her chest. She opened her heavy lids and watched his irises flare brightly with arousal.

"Your body has been calling me since the moment we locked eyes," he muttered, kissing his way along her collarbone. His hands worked to remove her dress. "I want you naked."

Mari had never been with anyone but her ex and he'd always told her how disappointed he was with her refusal to get plastic surgery. Her body was not what he wanted to look at. Seeing Arden's reaction to her nakedness reminded her why she was glad she'd stayed true to herself. His gaze roamed her body and the fire she saw in his eyes made her blood thicken "Arden?—"

"I want to feast on you," he inhaled. "I want to lick all of you all night. I want to watch you come."

The words coming out of his mouth were driving her crazy. "I want..."

"I know what you want," he rumbled. "You want and need my tongue. Licking you. Tasting you."

Yes, okay. She definitely wanted that. "I do."

He sucked on her nipple, licking circles around the sensitive nub. At the same time, his hands stroked down her body.

"That's it, beautiful," he murmured licking from one breast to the other. "Open your legs for me. Let me feel how much you want me." He slipped a hand into her wetness and groaned. "You're slick and hot."

She leaned back on her elbows, watching him suck his way down her body. Lust raged inside her to an explosive boil.

He placed butterfly kisses down her sex. "Gorgeous." She gasped, lying fully flat on the counter. He pressed her legs farther back until her knees pushed up at her sides. "That's it, beautiful. Let me see all of you." He glanced up and met her gaze. She struggled to keep her lungs functioning. The way he looked at her, as if he were ready to devour her, made her legs quake. "I'm going to taste every inch of you."

Yes. Please, do it. She opened her mouth but only a small moan left her lips. "I can't wait."

He leaned down, placing each of her thighs over his massive shoulders, and used his arms to hold her in place. "You don't have to wait any longer."

She bit her lip and watched his head dip between her legs. It had to be the sexiest thing she'd ever seen. He kissed the inside of her thigh, slowly crawling his lips closer to her center.

"From the moment I saw you, I wanted to slide my tongue over you," he murmured and did a slow lick from back to front. Arden licked circles around her clit. Each swipe of his tongue on her skin felt like an electric shock to her system.

Her stomach quivered. It was too soon. Too fast. He'd just thrust his tongue into her and growled. The vibration sent her muscles tensing. She was going to come.

Her skin felt hot, tight, ready to tear off her body. This reaction to sex was new. It was more than she'd ever gotten in her life.

He suckled his way up to her pleasure center and rubbed two fingers around her entrance. "You're ready, aren't you?"

Yes! She wiggled her hips, pushing down on his fingers, hoping he'd get the idea.

"You want me in you?"

" Yesss ."

"I like that. I like hearing you say you want me. Say it again."

She inhaled hard at the desperate urge to beg him. "I want you."

"Tell me again."

She growled.

He chuckled against her sex and then sucked her nub into his mouth, sliding his fingers into her and immediately thrusting in and out in quick drives. Her legs pressed hard against his neck. She hadn't expected the wave of sensations as he twirled his tongue in motorized rotation.

She screamed. The tension inside her unraveled so fast, it left her breathless. She gasped, sucking air in at the same time her body shook with the force of her orgasm.

"Come here."

She sat up and immediately went into his arms. They kissed hard, rough. This was how she wanted to start a fresh, new chapter of her life. She tasted herself on his lips. His tongue drove deep into her mouth and fueled a new wave of desire in her. He pulled her close, his erection pressing at her leg.

She raked her nails down his abs. Then she raised her hands and dug her nails into the back of his neck, pulling his head closer.

He tore away from the kiss and met her gaze. A small whimper escaped her when he licked his lips. His eyes were bright. She sensed the tension in him. He wanted her more than she could have ever hoped.

Arden turned her over, laying her upper body over the counter. "Open wide."

She spread her legs, pushing her back up, and glanced over her shoulder, meeting his hungry gaze. "Arden, please."

"Shh, beautiful." He took the mass of her hair in his grip and tugged to keep her gaze locked on his.

Then he was there, pressing into her entrance. She licked her lips, her gaze still stuck to his and she moaned as he stretched his way into her.

"That's it. You like that?"

Yes. A million times yes.

He thrust the rest of the way in a quick drive until he was deep in her.

She clawed at the granite, her sex quivering from his harsh thrust.

He pulled back, let go of her hair, and gripped her hips, hauling her back as he pushed forward in a quick drive. That set the pace. He pushed in and out at a punishing speed. She couldn't do more than try to cling to the trunk and catch her breath.

He braced his arms around her, caging her under him, his head right by her shoulder. "You're so hot," he groaned. "So perfect."

She wasn't sure how true that was, but she'd take it.

"I want you to come," he breathed by her ear, licking at her shoulder. "Do you want to come, Mari?"

"Is...is that a trick question?"

He grazed his teeth on the back of her shoulder. The small nibbles sent shudders down her spine. He licked circles around her shoulder, kissing his way up to her neck.

"I want more than one night."

She sucked in a breath and shook her head. "We don't always get what we want."

He drove deep again, slamming her hard and propelling back to do it again. "I want you."

"I want you too," she murmured. The tension in her core wound tight again.

He curled a hand around her waist, searching between her folds until he hit her throbbing little nerve bundle. "Come for me."

She took a breath and fell over the edge. The winding tension splintered inside her. A wave of pleasure rushed through her. At that same moment, he came. He pulsed inside her. They stayed that way for long moments, catching their breaths.

He helped her turn around to face him. "Let's try this on the bed."

She gulped. "Okay."

"But the shower's next."

Oh, boy. It was going to be a long night.