Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

Kim

My moment of internal bravery is quickly doused as Leo moves closer.

This is Charlotte's brother-in-law.

And I am no player.

Lots of men mistake me for one, it's pretty common. Between my flaming hair and something about the tilt of my green eyes, I think I give off a sex kitten kind of look but I'm not.

My mother kept me buttoned down pretty tight. Didn't want me to repeat her mistake of getting pregnant young and raising a baby alone.

While we didn't have any extra money, my mom had been a dancer too and she'd opened a small studio in town. She taught nearly every night, and I would be with her until I was old enough to stay home alone, but even then, I'd be at the studio most nights.

I loved that place. I even became a teacher there, helping some of the small girls to learn the basics. It was some of my favorite time in my whole life.

We were always moving from crappy rental to crappy rental, but that little studio had felt like home.

But those lessons she taught me about not letting men distract me, of chasing my dreams, not men, run deep. Something I try to remember as Leo leans next to me on the rail and everything about this man tells me he's way out of my league.

From his natural swagger, to his ridiculous good looks, to his money, I can't believe he'd even be interested in a single night with me. And I shouldn't want one with him.

The wedding only had about twenty guests. I'm guessing his options are just limited…

"So…" He quirks a brow. "How about it?"

My jaw drops at his open and direct invitation. Not many men can get away with that kind of ask, but somehow, he does.

I can't deny that part of me is still tempted. Attractive men proposition me often but not like Leo. There is something so supremely confident about him that makes him so appealing.

He's not faking, he just is an alpha, and that kind of energy is heady.

"Viewing the moon?" I ask, turning my back to him and looking out over the manicured lawn to the mountain beyond. From the top of the largest peak, the moon appears, a sliver that shoots rays of silver into the sky. I point my finger, "I think we can watch it from here."

He glances back over my shoulder and quirks a half grin, one side of his mouth tipping up in the sexiest way.

It's so hot, it makes my stomach flutter and an ache start between my legs. Turning my back to him to face the moon, I try to keep my breath calm.

"So we can." He says this quietly, not like he's disappointed but more like he appreciates the exchange. The challenge. Alpha. "Can I get you a drink?"

"No, thank you," I answer automatically, before I realize I'm being difficult. Looking back at him, I blush. "I have to get up at about three in the morning to make my flight to New York."

"New York?"

I nod. "I've got an audition for the New York City Ballet."

His eyes slide over me. "Dancer? I'm not surprised, you move like a dancer."

I nod again, as I hold up my empty glass. "I shouldn't have had this one, but I couldn't resist toasting to Mason and Charlotte."

He reaches for the glass, his fingers brushing mine as he takes the crystal out of my hand, setting the glass to the side. "There marriage will be a happy one, I'm sure of it."

"I hope so," I answer with a sigh. "Charlotte deserves a happy life."

"She does," Leo answers quietly in a way that has me wondering about their history. Between the tension with Mason and fact that Leo and Charlotte went out…but I was under the impression it wasn't serious.

"So, it's an early night for you with no drinks?" Leo asks, returning the conversation to me.

"That's right," I answer, reaching for the rail and gripping it tightly as I try to ignore the thrill of his interest. The New York City Ballet almost never invites dancers like me to audition, but one of my professors danced there and she recommended me.

It's an incredible honor, I try to focus on that, as I watch the moon slowly rise. But the truth is, if I don't get accepted, I have no idea what I'm going to do with my life. I need to keep focused tonight and do everything I can to make my audition a success.

His shoulder brushes mine. I hadn't even realized he was moving closer, but a shiver runs through me at the contact.

I look over at him, my eyes wide. I'm so out of my depth.

"And in terms of your audition tomorrow, do you think an orgasm would help or hurt your chances?"

My mouth goes completely dry. "Orgasm?"

He reaches out, his fingertips brushing down my spine as he leans close to my ear. "You might sleep better, be more relaxed."

"I…" I might. That's the truth. "Leo," I whisper his name. "That's a terrible idea." It's not.

"Why is that?"

"I don't know." I shake my head, trying to come up with rational arguments which completely fail me. "You're talking about a one-night thing?"

"Sure." His fingers stop at the small of my back and then his hand spreads out, his palm pressing to that spot just above my derriere. It's so intimate that I feel my breath hitch.

"I don't really do that kind of thing."

"Me either," he gives me a wicked grin. The kind that makes my cheeks heat.

"Liar."

He gives a soft laugh. "Truth? I'm turning over a new leaf." In his other hand is his own glass and he raises it giving a shake. "Water."

I reach out, this time, taking the glass from him. He lets me have it, our fingers brush again as a tingle spreads through my hand. I bring the glass to my lips, take a sip of ice-cold water. I'd hoped it would cool my heating skin, but even drinking from the same glass feels intimate as I hand the drink back to him.

"So, part of your new leaf is to offer to give a woman you just met an orgasm?"

He leans close again, and then his lips actually press to my skin. He grazes the sensitive spot at the corner of my jaw, just below my ear. I tremble with the little thrill of pleasure that courses down on me. "Yup. Definitely."

I lean back to meet his gaze. "You're serious?"

"I'm far more interested in watching you cum then I am in my own orgasm. For me, that's real progress."

I gasp, a flood of wetness soaking my thong. Never having achieved one that I hadn't given myself, it takes everything in me not to agree with his proposal. "We can't."

"Why not?"

"Because…" I lick my lips, but his gaze catches the movement of my tongue, his eyes fixing on the pink tip. I quickly draw it back in my mouth. "You're Charlotte's brother-in-law." I raise my hands in front of me like I'm creating some barrier. "What if we both get invited to Thanksgiving or something?"

"I don't really do holidays and chances are high I won't be at the next several." There is a change in his voice. Gone is the teasing confidence and in its place is something hard and unyielding.

"What?" I ask, confusion making me look back over my shoulder at him.

He shakes his head, his smile reappearing again. "I'll make you a deal. I won't be weird, if you won't."

That actually does sound reasonable or I may be trying to rationalize because I'd really like to know how it would feel to have a man like Leo touch me.

I draw in a steadying breath of air, my defenses are being stripped one by one in a way that's making me feel dizzy. "Listen," I whisper. "I don't really do this, you know? I've had like one boyfriend and?—"

"Did he make you feel good?"

I blink several rapid flutters of my eyelashes. How did he know that the sex had been terrible? Do I have a sexually repressed tattooed somewhere I'm unaware of? "He…I…I don't…"

"I'll make you a second deal." His hand moves to my far hip, grasping hold, he pulls me close to his body. I'm putty in his hands and I know I'm losing.

I can feel the hard press of his erection in my other hip, but it doesn't scare me. If anything, I'm getting hotter, wetter.

I bet he'd feel so good. And he knows I'm weakening as I mold to the hard edges of his body. "What deal?" I shouldn't have asked but I can't help myself. I squeeze my thighs together, trying to relieve the ache.

"I'm going to pull you into the shadows over there where no one can see us." He points to a dark secluded corner of the veranda. "Then I'm going to push your dress up to your waist."

My pulse is thrumming through my veins, blood rushing in my ears…

"I'll drop to my knees."

Dear lord above, that sounds amazing.

"And then I'm going to eat you out until you cum all over my tongue."

"I don't…" My voice cracks on the second word.

"Five minutes, princess. If you haven't screamed my name as you break apart in less than five minutes, I'll slink off to my room and we'll avoid all eye contact at Thanksgiving."

I'm staring at him, but no words are coming out of my mouth. Because, to be completely honest, screaming his name sounds absolutely amazing.

I try to remember all the reasons this is a bad idea but I'm struggling to come up with a single one. "I have to go to bed early."

He bends down, wrapping his arm under my backside and lifts me up in the air so that I'm pressed all down his front. My response is to wrap my arms about the powerful cords of his neck.

He looks up at me since my face is now above his. "Leo." His name rolls of my tongue, and he grins again.

"Next time, I'm gonna need you to say my name a lot louder." And then his other hand slides up my back, tangling in my hair and bringing my mouth to his.

It's not a warmup kiss. Not soft and sweet. A moment after our lips meet, he parts mine, his tongue pushing into my mouth and sliding across mine. It's everything he is, aggressive, confident, hot as hell. I moan, but he swallows down the sound as he keeps kissing me, his tongue, lips, and teeth, devouring me in a way that's got me gasping for air and drowning in lust.

He sets me down on my feet without breaking the kiss. I've never made out like this before. It's the stuff of dreams, and I swear, it might be possible to orgasm from his kiss alone.

I'm throbbing with need, my panties now completely soaked through. Can he smell how excited I am?

I'm guessing yes, because he backs me up against a wall, even as his hands gather the fabric of my skirt, pulling it up my legs until it's all pooled at my waist Just like he promised.

"Not a lot of time to mess around," he whispers against my lips before he pushes one spaghetti strap off my shoulder the fabric of the dress barely being held up by my nipple.

He doesn't waste any time running his hand up my side and cupping my breast. I'm built like a ballerina, which means I don't have the biggest chest. But they're high and tight.

He thumbs my nipple and then pushes the fabric down lower, exposing my already tight nipple to the cool night air.

"Fuck me, your tits are perfect," he says a moment before he drops his head to suck the puckered flesh into his mouth.

I cry out, loud and long, not able to hold the sound in, his mouth just feels too good.

In answer, he does the same to the other, a half sob falling from my lips. I had no idea sex could be like this. I can't think, can't breathe, and every nerve ending is waiting for is next touch. I want more.

Leo must understand what I'm thinking because he only laps at my breast for another few seconds before he drops, as promised, to his knees.

He looks up at me, a bit of moonlight catching his dark eyes and making them shine.

He looks stunningly gorgeous and completely devilish all at the same time. How can a man look that powerful down on his knees?

If this is hell…sign me up.