4

Cara

He wasn't kidding about the suite.

It's at the top of the Drake. Two huge rooms, one sitting area and one sleeping area. Couches, tables, a full bar, all of it sleek, shining, and obscenely expensive.

He gives me a quick tour. "All yours for tonight," he says. "I'll pay through the morning. There's no rush to leave."

"I'll be gone early, don't worry."

He shrugs as if it doesn't matter to him. "I have an early meeting in the dining room tomorrow morning, but I don't plan on sleeping here tonight. If you need something, call down to the front desk and have them put it on my tab."

"Just tell them Eros Kahzan said it's okay?"

"That'll work."

"Why are you doing this?"

He hesitates near the door. "I already told you."

"If this is some spiritual atonement, I'm not really sure that's how it works."

He chuckles softly. "Maybe not. Goodnight, Cara. And good luck." He reaches for the doorknob and opens it.

Something bubbles up in my throat. Some desire, some need. "Wait. Hold on." He looks back at me, eyebrows raised. "One drink. If you're interested."

"But it won't be a date."

"No, it won't be a date," I confirm.

"Then I'll stay for a little while."

He steps back into the room, walks to the bar, and pours two glasses of champagne. We sit on the couch, thighs touching, and I shift myself so I'm facing him. Eros watches me curiously, sipping his drink.

"You said you have a meeting," I prompt, desperate to fill the sexually charged silence. This man is a beast, and we both know why he's still sitting here close to me.

The sick thing is I want it, but I'm afraid.

"An important meeting," he confirms. "Whenever possible, I like to scout out the location for something like this in advance. Get familiar with the surroundings so there are no surprises."

"Sounds like you're planning for a war."

He grunts, head tilting to the side. "Something like that, actually."

"What do you do for work?"

"I'm in consulting." His eyes sparkle with some joke I don't understand.

"That must be, uh, fun?"

"It has its moments. What about you? Did you have a job before—" He leaves that unfinished.

"No job," I say. "No degree, no prospects."

"Any plans beyond tonight?"

"None," I admit, feeling desperate and vulnerable in a way I hadn't until this moment. I'm tired and scared, but my heart's beating fast.

He puts a hand on my leg. "If I overplan and obsess over every detail, it seems as though you're the total opposite."

"What can I say? I'm very spontaneous."

"How spontaneous exactly are you, Cara?" He leans closer to me, eyebrows raised, and I hear the real question in his tone.

I finish my glass of champagne. "Honestly? Right now, all I want to do is forget."

"Is that why you asked me to stay?"

I pause for a long moment before slowly nodding, holding his gaze.

What the hell am I doing right now?

Am I really trying to seduce this guy?

I must've gone insane.

But Eros reaches out and strokes a thumb down my chin. I suck in a breath, moving closer to him, every pore and nerve tingling with excitement.

He leans forward, his lips finally brushing against mine, and I can't take it anymore.

I want this.

I want him to kiss me.

I have to feel him kiss me, right now, right this second, or I'm going to lose my mind.

I need to know—I need to find out.

I have to feel what it's like to kiss another man.

Because I'm terrified I'll never get another chance.

The pressure's too much—maybe it's my desperation, maybe my fear, maybe I just want to feel good for once in my pitiful life.

Maybe it's just this guy's stupid sexy forearms and his low, growling voice.

Whatever it is, I want him.

"Would you be upset if it was?" I whisper.

"Not even a little bit," he says.

And he kisses me like he's trying to save my life.

His taste assaults me. Grass and whiskey and champagne. His purr of pleasure as our tongues dance drives a spike of need deep into my core. His lips are both firm and soft, and there's nothing tentative about him, nothing probing or uncertain. He wants this kiss. He's taking this kiss. God, it feels so good, a shiver rolling down into my spine.

We hold that kiss for seconds, hours, a lifetime—

Until he pulls me into his lap, my legs spread and straddling him. I blink rapidly in surprise and can feel something thick and stiff between my legs and—holy shit, that's him.

His eyes burn into mine as he kisses me. I throw myself into the moment, pushing back all my worries and fears.

I've lived a life of suffering for a long time now, and this glimpse of pleasure is like an oasis. This is my one night to feel something better, and although I know it's a huge risk, I can't stop myself.

After a long, sensual kiss, he pulls back and lifts the bottle of champagne to his mouth. He takes a pull then tilts my chin back and pours some into my mouth. I swallow the bubbles and he kisses me again. I taste the tingling champagne on his tongue as I slowly grind my hips against him.

"That's good," he whispers and feeds me more. I feel tipsy and happy, and there's a perfect intense build between my legs. "Nice and slow."

"I fully expected to kick you out," I say and take the champagne from him, this time pouring some into his mouth. He swallows and leans back, hands behind his head as I grind harder and faster, panting softly, trying not to make whimpering moaning noises as pleasure blooms inside my skull.

All the voices telling me to stop, to get out, to run away, are silenced the second he reaches out and grips my ass. "Why did you let me stay then?"

"Oh, I don't know," I say and lean forward to hold onto the couch as his fingers dig into my ass. "You seem very polite. Like—ah, fuck—a perfect gentleman."

"What a shame. You were very wrong about me."

"A real fucking shame."

He chuckles and bites my lower lip. "I like it when you curse."

"Yeah? I've been told I have a potty mouth. It's not my best trait."

"No, Cara, you have a lovely mouth. You have lips I could taste for days on end."

I take the champagne bottle from him, feeling stupid and happy and foolish, and place the open end in my mouth like I'm sucking his cock. I hold it there for a moment, staring into his eyes, and I feel him pulsing between my legs as I tilt my head back and swallow a couple drops, leaving only a little bit left.