Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Maksim

As the night goes on, I find myself drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Her compassion is captivating, and her black dress hugs her curves, leaving little to the imagination. Her chocolate brown hair is pulled into a low, loose bun, with a few artful brown curls cascading down around her face to brush over her long neck, and I itch to run my fingers along the skin there. I watch as she moves gracefully through the room, talking to donors, and no matter where in the room I stand, her bright blue eyes shine through her silver mask like a beacon.

“Thank you all for your support tonight,” Abby announces as the fundraiser comes to a close. “Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by this terrible disease.”

I can’t tear my eyes away from her as the crowd disperses. She’s been the center of my attention all night. Now, as people begin to leave, I finally have a chance to talk to her again.

When she begins walking towards the exit with her sister, the two of them of similar height and build, with generous curves and long black dresses, I can’t help that my eyes are stuck on her instead of her fairer haired sibling.

I move to position myself where they’ll pass me on the way out, and when a pompous looking older couple stop her sister near me, I take my chance and lean towards Abby.

“Lovely closing speech,” I murmur into her ear from behind, and she startles before those bright blue eyes of hers turn towards me, and she smiles.

“Oh!” She spins away from the chatting trio, her attention entirely on me, and I can’t help the way my eyes trace along her slender neck and collarbone before drawing back up. “Alec, you gave me a fright. I hope you’ve had a good night?”

“Yes, I have,” I hate that I have to lie to her about who I am, but it’s for her safety as much as my own need to stay as anonymous as possible. “The only thing that would make it better would be you agreeing to a drink with me.”

Her cheeks flush with color. “You want to have a drink with me? Tonight?”

I’m not sure why she sounds so surprised.

Am I too bold? Too forward? Probably. Am I going to apologize for going after what I want? Not a chance.

“Absolutely,” I answer. “Unless you already have other plans?”

“No, no other plans.” She nibbles at her lip, a little quirk that makes her seem even sexier in my eyes. “You’re sure you want to, though? I mean, I’m honestly pretty boring.”

I laugh. “I doubt that very much. I’ll be straight with you, Abby. I want to get to know you better. As much as you’ll let me.” I tuck a finger under her chin so her gaze will come up to meet mine squarely. “Come back to my hotel. We can have some wine and talk—whatever you’re comfortable doing.”

I watch her carefully as she takes in my words. I’m being very forward, no doubt. I see no reason not to make my intentions and desires clear, no reason to try and lead her astray with false promises. But I watch her as she continues to nibble on her bottom lip and looks away once more, because I find myself wanting her to agree, with more need in me than I’m used to.

“Okay,” she answers with a small, blushing smile, and I feel my heartbeat quicken at her assent. “I’ll go with you.”

That’s all I need to hear. She says goodbye to her sister and we make our way toward the exit, and every step feels like an eternity. My heart races with anticipation, knowing what awaits us behind closed doors. As we walk, I reach out and gently take her hand, feeling the warmth radiating from her soft skin.

We stop before my sleek black Lamborghini, and when she hesitates to step in, I squeeze my fingers around hers and step before her.

“You can leave,” I tell her, although I really, really hope she doesn’t. “Now, or at any point.” Then I let a wry smile curl my lips, thinking about the ridiculous tantrums I’ve seen common men make when rejected. “I’ll give you my word that I won’t make a fuss if you change your mind.”

“No,” she says quickly, tucking a stray curl behind her ear with a shy smile. “I want to stay with you.”

Music to my ears.

I want her to feel safe with me even though she probably shouldn’t trust me. More than anything, though, I want to keep seeing that beautiful smile. I already know there isn’t much I wouldn’t do to keep her happy.

The city lights blur past us as we ride to the hotel, and my heart drums an impatient staccato rhythm against my chest. I’ve been watching her ever since we left the ballroom. She’s alert but doesn’t seem too anxious or nervous. I hope she feels the same kind of connection with me that I feel with her.

When we arrive at the hotel, I can’t seem to get the key card into the slot fast enough. As the door swings open, I usher Abby inside and give her a quick tour of the suite, ending in the sitting room. She’s standing in front of me, looking up with wide, expectant eyes.

Fuck, I want her so bad.

My eyes linger on her pouty lips, and all I can think about is leaning down and capturing them between my teeth.

I feel myself tilt towards her, and I lift a hand to brush a stray curl back from her silver eye mask. “Shall I pour you a drink?”

She leans her head to lean into my caress, and I almost throw being a gentleman out the window entirely. But then she smiles and says, “I’d like that,” and I know I can’t deny her anything.

I lead her to the couch by the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sparkling city below, and pour us both a glass of white wine before sitting beside her.

“You know,” she says as he takes her glass from my fingers, “I just now realized I’ve known you for all of three seconds, and now I’m alone in a room with you and nobody knows where I am.”

Well, if she’s suddenly worried about that, it just about tells me she doesn’t follow men home after a night of drinks very often. Somehow, this little tidbit of information makes me soften towards her even more.

“I told you already,” I murmur quietly, lifting a hand to the back of her head and toying with the tie to her mask. “I am no danger to you.”

She giggles, maybe a little nervously, and takes a sip. “Sounds like something a murderer would say.”

She doesn’t know how close to the mark she really is.

“Would that be a deal breaker?” I ask sardonically, and this gets me a laugh—a real one, throaty and warm, and she scoots around on the couch to face me more and takes another long sip.

“Depends on who you’re popping off,” she says with a mirth-filled grin. My fingers grip the ribbon lightly, and as she leans daringly towards me, the bow comes undone, and her silver mask slips free. “Only psychopaths and scoundrels, right?”

“Of course,” I respond playfully—and truthfully—as I stare at her face.

Beautiful. “Then maybe we can forgive it, this one time,” she says softly, and I can’t help but notice her eyes look even bluer now that they aren’t hidden from me.

Her own hand lifts to my mask, and for a moment I consider stopping her, keeping my mask on and keeping my face hidden. But the moment passes, and I do nothing as she hooks her fingers underneath and draws it off me. Somehow, I want her to see me. All of me.

“Oh,” she breathes, as her eyes dart all across my features. “You’re even more handsome than I thought.”

I let out a breath, somehow more affected by those simple words than all the more elaborate compliments I’ve heard in my lifetime, and my hand finds its way to the back of her head, gripping the hair at the base of her head before I even realize I’m doing it.

“I’m going to kiss you now,” I whisper.

“W-wait.” She pulls back suddenly, wide-eyed and flustered, and I purse my lips in disappointment but release my fingers from her hair. “The wine, I’m…I’m going to spill it, if…”

She looks away suddenly, blushing and searching for somewhere to put her glass, and now it’s my turn to laugh. I can’t help but think she must be the sweetest girl I’ve ever seen.

I smoothly take her glass from her fingers and stand, placing both our drinks on the small table on my side of the couch before extending my palm towards her with a smile. “Come.”

She blinks and puts her fingers in mine, and I draw her up, reveling in the way her breath catches.

“Now may I kiss you?” I ask, already closing the distance between us and resting my hands on her hips. “I’ve been dying to get this close to you all night.”

She nods and sucks in a sharp breath as I lean in closer. Her chest is rising and falling with quick, shallow breaths and I feel like I can almost hear her heart fluttering wildly when our lips finally meet.

There’s a moment of hesitation at first, then she melts against me. I wrap my arms around her and it feels so right, so perfect, as if our bodies were made to fit together.

I find the zipper of her dress, and a tiny moan escapes the back of her throat as I slowly ease it down. “Fuck,” I groan, my erection straining against her as more and more of her soft skin is revealed. “So damn sexy.”

“Please,” she breathes, stepping back just enough to let her little black dress fall to the floor and pool at her feet. “Please keep going.”

I chuckle as I lean my face into her neck, breathing in the scent of her hair, and begin to unpin the curls pulled into a loose bun. “Abby, please… Do you really think I would stop now?”

She shivers, and her fingers pull lightly at my shirt, untucking it before hesitantly pressing into the skin of my abdomen.

I press a light kiss against her neck, and then pull away as her dark hair cascades free over her back and shoulders.

She’s standing in front of me in nothing but her lacy bra and panties, and even though I will definitely keep going, I have to stop for a moment just so I can drink in the sight of her. “Don’t worry,” I say, my voice sounding lower and more gravelly than normal to my own ear. “We’re not going to stop until I make you come.”

Her lips part as she stares at me, blue eyes wide, and I feel my mouth pull into a predatory smile as I step back towards her.

“Preferably more than once.”

She leans her head to the side as I move in to kiss her neck again, whimpering quietly when I can’t help but nip and suck at her delicate, fluttering pulse point. She sighs, and I feel her body relax into mine. I want to worship every inch of her. I trail kisses down her collarbone, along the swell of her breasts. With each touch, she shivers beneath my mouth, each breath coming in ragged gasps.

“Tell me if I’m going too fast,” I whisper against her skin, but she only pulls me closer, her hands tangling in my hair.

“No,” she moans, “I need more.”

I scoop her into my arms and carry her into the bedroom, lowering her onto the firm mattress before dropping down to my knees in front of her. My eyes are locked onto hers, and I groan as she bites her lip in silent anticipation. Fuck, I love everything about this woman. I need to taste her right now like I need air in my lungs as I slowly, gently spread her legs wide.

“Is this what you want, beautiful?” I ask, my voice straining with lust.

“God, yes,” she gasps, hands clutching at the sheets.

I take my time, kissing and nipping along the tender flesh of her inner thighs until I reach her core. The scent of her desire is intoxicating, and I feel a primal hunger stir within me.

“Please, Alec. Don’t tease me,” she begs, making me want to tease her that much more.

But there will be time for more teasing later. Right now, we’re both feeling needy and impatient as I slip her panties off, before pressing my lips and tongue to her folds to savor her wetness. A loud, throaty moan escapes her lips as I flatten my tongue against her clit, slowly swirling it around before applying more pressure.

“Oh God, Alec. Alec!” she cries out, bucking her hips against my face. “Don’t stop. Need you. Need more.”

Her pleasure is my sole purpose in life right now. It’s all I can think about. All I care about. I alternate between flicking her clit with my tongue and gently sucking, determined to push her over the edge. My fingers slide into her slick heat, pumping in and out over and over again as her body grips me and tries to pull me in deeper.

“I’m so close,” she whimpers, legs trembling.

“Let go, baby. Just let go for me.” I finger her harder and faster, loving the way she’s coming undone right in front of me.

With a shuddering gasp, she climaxes, her body convulsing under the force of her release. I hold her steady, riding out the waves of pleasure with her, refusing to let her fall. When the tremors subside, I crawl back up her body, wrap her in my arms, and pull the sheets over us.

“Oh my goodness,” she murmurs, her voice drowsy with satisfaction. “That was incredible.”

“You’re incredible,” I answer with a smile, planting a kiss on her forehead. “We’ll stay just like this for as long as you want.” I kiss her again, then add, “Until you’re ready for more.”

Her breath hitches and she smiles up at me. “Oh, I definitely want more.”