by Layla Wilde
Before she followed my instructions, she turned toward me and smiled shyly at me. My heart did a little flip-flop in my chest, and I could barely keep the growl of lust from rising to my lips.
Stephanie
The VIP lounge was almost as magnificent as Damian Masters. Surprised by my thoughts, I pressed my fingers to my forehead and closed my eyes for a few moments. Alone in the bathroom, I didn’t know whether to scream, cry, or laugh. Maybe I should do all three. My heart beat wildly, but I didn’t feel terrified. I was up in the VIP lounge with the sexiest man I had ever seen, and I wasn’t scared. Maybe it was the alcohol, but I definitely wasn’t going to complain.
“Just breathe. Just breathe, Stephanie.” I talked to myself as I stared into the mirror. My fingers were tight around the ledge of the counter. My mouth and throat felt dry and my palms were sweaty, but mentally, I felt okay. It was so strange to feel as though the world wasn’t going to rush up and swallow me whole.
After I swallowed hard, I nodded to myself and stared at my face in the mirror. Sweat glistened softly across my forehead, but I looked strong. I felt strong. Damn…those shots had really been a good idea!
I squared my shoulders and gave my reflection another nod before I left the bathroom. Walking in a straight line was a bit of a chore, especially with people moving in and out of my space, but I managed to make it to Damian’s table without any mishaps. When I caught his eye again, my cheeks heated to a brilliant shade of red. I tried to keep the tremble of nerves from overtaking my hands as I sat down in a chair next to him.
“You find the bathroom okay, baby?” His voice sounded like warm honey.
“Yes. Thank you.” Unable to meet his gaze, I lifted my shoulders in a small shrug and smiled.
He was still watching me with a hungry, dangerous look. I had no idea what it meant, but my insides fluttered pleasantly.
“I ordered some food while you were gone. I hope you like gourmet.”
“Gourmet? But isn’t that expensive?” Several people at the table laughed as though I’d told some kind of joke, and my face fell. I was completely out of my element, and people were laughing at me. My chest tightened, and I pressed my fingers lightly against my sternum.
“For you, sweetheart, it’s worth it.” Damian gave me a soft smile even though the hungry look was still in his eyes. When he reached out and touched my arm, goosebumps ran all the way from my shoulder to the tips of my fingers. I bit down on my bottom lip and made myself look into his eyes for the first time since that brief moment earlier.
The gaze was a deep, deliberate moment that made the breath hitch in my throat. He had the strangest eyes. They were a dark forest green without any brown or flecks of orange. I had seen green eyes before, but never ones that were such a solid, vibrant color. They made a stark contrast against the black of his hair, which seemed darker with the gel he’d used to slick it back from his face. The stubble along his jaw was the perfect length so as not to appear scruffy, and I wanted to reach out and touch it. What would it feel like? Would it be smooth like silk? Or would it be rough and harsh against the pads of my fingers?
“Thank you,” I finally managed to say, fighting to hold his gaze.
“Of course. These folks have no idea how to treat a lady.” There was something playful about his voice; he had probably known these people a long time.
“And you do?” I decided to challenge him despite my anxieties.
“Absolutely.” He reached out to glide his fingertips slowly back and forth across my forearm closest to him. They reached the back of my hand, playing briefly over my knuckles before pulling away.
Soft little tingles followed every move of his fingers as they traced my skin. I watched his hand, staring as though entranced, zoning out into a different world. When he stopped speaking and pulled his fingers away, I gazed into his eyes again. My smile, laced with shyness, returned. I felt anxious inside, but the excitement was building, dominating every other feeling. What shocked me the most was the fact that he’d only needed to say one word to convince me. I tried to think about what Darla would do in an effort to soothe my nerves.
“Hey, guys. The show’s starting.” I knew I sounded awkward, but the ploy worked. Everyone in my vicinity except for Damian looked toward the stage.
“Is everything okay?” The sexiest man on earth touched me again, and his fingers brushed across my shoulder and up along my neck.
“Everything is fine.” I shrugged and smiled at him before I lowered my gaze and held my breath for a few seconds. I decided to just come out with it. What the hell? “It’s just… I don’t normally do this. Usually, I’m at home reading books or watching my favorite series on the computer.” Blushing again, I reached up to brush some hair behind one of my ears. I realized as I was doing it there was no hair to be pushed because I had tied it back in a bun. As my hand dropped to the table, I chanced a look at him again. “I don’t usually get invited to VIP areas with strange men, either.”
The smile he gave me was absolutely breathtaking. “There’s a first time for everything, isn’t there? If it means anything, I don’t usually invite strange women up here… unless they’re absolutely gorgeous.”
My cheeks heated, and my gaze dropped to the table. I felt giddy inside and had to remind myself to breathe. When I looked up again, Damian was watching me. “I don’t really know what to say…”
He smiled at me, and the corners of his eyes crinkled. “You don’t have to say anything at all. Just enjoy.”
I bit my bottom lip and tried not to grin despite myself. Maybe Darla had been right: I had needed to get out. So far, this was turning out to be one of the best nights of my life.
Damian
This woman was different from any I had ever encountered before. She seemed shy and nervous, but something underneath drew me in. I had no idea what it was, but that mystery kept me from ditching her for another, more exciting prize.
The band started to play, but I didn’t really give a shit. I was here for the women and for the exposure. The money was pretty good, too. If I could get this beauty into my bed tonight, I could really say I’d accomplished something. My eyes shifted to watch the club owner and my bodyguards move to a different table. I was finally alone with the girl in the robin’s egg blue shirt. I brushed my fingertips gently across the back of one of her ears. It was the boldest move I had made with her thus far tonight, and I couldn’t help my grin when she didn’t pull away.
“Why did you say you were sorry? You didn’t do anything wrong, I promise. They’re just a bunch of immature assholes who never grew up after high school. They also might be jealous because I have your attention and they don’t.”
She looked away from me, her face so red I wasn’t sure there was a way to describe it. “I’m sorry, I’m really not good at this.”
I could tell she was flustered, but I kept that smile on my face. As if on cue, the drinks and snacks arrived at the table. She immediately reached for some of the nuts, and I could tell by the speed with which she ate them she was nervous. For a few seconds, I said nothing and let her eat. I pushed a plate of hot, breaded calamari toward her.
“Give this a try. It’s warm and succulent. A lot like you.” She giggled, and the corners of my eyes crinkled in response. She made me laugh. “Okay, maybe comparing you to calamari wasn’t the best move in the play book. What’s your name?”
She nibbled shyly on one of the calamari pieces and watched me. “Stephanie. Most of my friends call me Steph, though.”
“Stephanie. I like it. It’s a very classy name, and I read somewhere that it means ‘crown’ in Greek. So I guess that means you’re some kind of royalty, doesn’t it?” I reached out to her again, and I brushed my knuckles against her face. She glanced away from me, overwhelmed, and I debated on making another move.
“Thank you,” she whispered, still not looking at me. “You’re Damian, right?”
“I thought you said you didn’t know who I was?”
&nb
sp; “I don’t. My friend told me your name and what you do. She said you’re the heir to Future Tech and that your father is retiring next year. When he does, you’ll get everything. But that’s all she told me.”
I took advantage of the distraction and shifted closer to her. When our knees touched, I paused. “Your friend has it right. Pretty soon, it’ll be my company. The whole thing.” I leaned toward her and traced the pad of a finger along her neck. “What do you think of that?”
She started to breathe a little faster. Her lips were parted, and she was no longer interested in the food. She kept glancing at me without speaking. More than anything, she looked trapped. My hand drifted back up her neck and cupped gently around the back of her head. I pulled her a little closer before I leaned toward her. When my lips touched hers, I felt an all too familiar zing, like a little thrill. Before I could press closer, she pulled away and ducked her head. Now she almost looked afraid.
“Hey, easy.” I flashed her my best reassuring grin. “It’s just a kiss. That’s it. It didn’t hurt, did it?”
“No.” Stephanie smiled shyly at me.
I slid my thumb gently up and down across the shell of her ear, which seemed to encourage her to move closer again. My lips brushed across her lips again. My eyes shut as I let our mouths linger for several seconds before I splayed a hand along the graceful length of her neck. I felt her responding instead of pulling away, and a rumbling growl rose from my throat. She tasted like fruit, alcohol, and nuts, and I couldn’t get enough of it. My tongue tickled her lower lip, and when I felt her trying to withdraw, I kissed along her jaw and over to one of her ears.
“It’s okay… You’re okay.” I gave her that reassuring smile again and flashed her a small grin. “I’m not scaring you, am I?”
I could feel her warm breath against my face when she spoke. “No. It’s just…” She swallowed. “This is a little much. Too much, I think.”
Now was the moment I had been waiting for since I had first laid eyes on her. “I actually agree. Between the club and the band and all the people, it’s kind of a mad house.” I shrugged a little, hoping my strategy was going to work. “What do you think about getting out of here? It’s probably pretty quiet outside. There’s a nice little patio back there. We could sit down with our food and have drinks, just the two of us. No crowds or loud music. Just you and me.”
She looked hesitant, like she was stuck again. Lost. Finally, though, she bit her lower lip and nodded. When she did, her blonde hair lit up in the lights, and it glimmered like crystals in a forgotten cave.
“Yeah? Okay, then, come on.” I stood up and lifted the tray of food. “I’ve got this, how about you take the drinks?” I offered her a wink when she picked up some half empty bottles and headed down the stairs. I followed her. Most of the people were crushed close to the stage, screaming for the Black Marauders to give them some more. Always, they wanted more. It almost reminded me of my father.
As I pushed thoughts of my father down deep, I felt relief when I reached the back door of the club and opened it. The sounds of night life were a shock to my system, but the cool air was refreshing. I set the platter of food down on the nearest table and turned to Stephanie. As she stepped outside, a rush of heat made my pants feel uncomfortably tight. In this light, she looked even more beautiful.
“So…” I popped a grape into my mouth, watching her. “I have a question for you. Actually, I have several.”
She sat down slowly in one of the chairs and played absently with one of the bottles. “What do you want to know?”
“Do you wear your make-up like that all the time?”
Heat darkened her cheeks again. “What do you mean? Is there something wrong? Did I not do it right?”
“No.” I laughed. “Normally, women who come to these events wear a lot of make-up. They want to stand out. They want to be noticed. You, though… I haven’t figured you out yet.” I didn’t let her respond. “What do you think about coming home with me tonight? It’ll be even quieter than here. No one will bother us. My balcony has an amazing view of the city. You’ll love it.”
“I don’t know. Maybe?”
“Your friend knows who I am, and everyone will know where we’ve gone.” I grinned at her and wiggled my eyebrows. “Come on. Quiet vantage point. Beautiful view of the city. Way better food and drinks. And, best of all…” I pointed to myself, “good company. I promise I don’t bite too hard.”
She clenched the neck of the bottle in her hand, but as I spoke, she released it. There was a torn look on her face, like she had no idea what she wanted to do.
“Come on. It’ll be fun, and my car is out front. You don’t want to go home by yourself after an awesome night like this, do you? I mean, how often does this happen for you, Stephanie?” I narrowed my eyes a little, and my grin turned into a smile that I hoped was as charming as it was meant to be.
She sighed and ran her hands down her face. “Okay. Yes, I’ll come with you.” I heard her whisper, “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
“Yes, you can, and it will be amazing. Come on.” I took her hand to guide her out of her seat. After sending her into a little twirl—one that made her squeak adorably—I led her off the patio and toward my car. I felt a deep longing in my core, one that—just like every night—I intended on sating with lust.
Stephanie
I couldn’t believe this was happening. Was I actually doing this? Going to a strange man’s house in the night was nothing like me. In fact, I’d always thought people who did that were completely insane. Darla did it all the time, but she had lost her mind long ago.
Oh God, I’d left Darla at the club without telling her where I was going. She was going to kill me!
“Dang,” I whispered as I fumbled for my phone. I stood just inside Damian’s massive home but couldn’t appreciate any of it in my panic. As I dialed her number and waited, I finally looked around with wide eyes. This place was gigantic. It had high ceilings, white walls, unbelievable furniture, state-of-the-art technology, and everything else in between. I was positive there was nothing this place didn’t have. And to top it all off, there was a very charming, very sexy stranger to go with it.
The phone rang. And rang. And rang. And rang. My heart sank, and after a few more rings, Darla’s voicemail message began, one of those annoying automated ones. I groaned softly just before I heard the beep.
“Hey, Darla. It’s me. I’m so sorry I left without you. You aren’t going to believe this, but I’m with Damian Masters, that guy you told me about earlier.” My nerves were building again, and I had to brace myself against them. I hoped she wouldn’t be too furious with me. After a long silence, I managed to open my mouth to speak. Before I could, that automated voice returned: “You have reached the time limit. Please hang up.”
“Damn!” I hadn’t sworn this much in my entire life.
“Is something wrong?”
I gasped in surprise and turned around at the sound of Damian’s voice. “I… no. Everything’s fine. I was just trying to call my friend, but she’s not answering. I went to the club with her—it was her idea. I just feel like a horrible friend for ditching her.”
“Trust me.” He smiled a smile that made my knees feel weak. “Everyone at that club will know exactly where you went tonight.”
“How?”
He laughed. “Because no one could take their eyes off you in there. You’re beautiful.”
A heavy flush rose into my cheeks, and I looked away. Just breathe, I told myself. Just breathe. Breathing is good. He’s just a guy you went home with. No big deal. People do it all the time. Darla does it all the time. You’re okay. You’re—
“I love it when you blush like that.” He brushed his knuckles against my face, and the corners of his eyes crinkled when his smile broadened to reveal perfect white teeth. “How about you follow me up to the top floor so I can show you what the city looks like from up there? You’ll love it. Lights and silence and stars. Everything yo
u like, right?”
As he touched my cheek, little tingles followed in the wake of his fingers. I felt like dying, but in the best possible way. “Okay, the top floor sounds beautiful, but if Darla calls, I’ll have to answer it.”
“Of course, babe.” He reached out and took my hand. His palm felt smooth, warm, and full of strength.
Little butterflies fluttered in my stomach as I squeezed his hand and walked with him up three sets of stairs. When we reached the top floor, I couldn’t stop the gasp that came from my lips. The view from up here was absolutely gorgeous. One massive window stretched across the north wall, which offered a panorama of the city below.
“It’s…” I trailed off, unable to find the words.
“I know.” Damian squeezed one of my shoulders as he set a platter of food down on a table next to a brown leather couch. I hadn’t even heard him leave my side.
“What are you, some kind of ninja?” I giggled softly and sat down on the couch. Gingerly, I lifted a piece of cheese to nibble.
“Maybe.” He brought some wine, a pitcher of water, and glasses over as well before he sat down next to me. “While you were admiring the view, I took the time to bring us a proper meal. I always find club food to be mediocre. It’s the stuff you make yourself at home that really counts.”
“I guess.” Still nibbling on the cheese, I could feel the nerves in my belly becoming more than just butterflies. For the umpteenth time that night, I asked myself what the hell I was doing.
“I brought you some water just in case you were tired of feeling tipsy.” Damian poured me a glass of water and pushed it toward me. He poured himself half a glass of red wine. As he sipped it, he leaned back into the couch and draped an arm casually around my shoulders.
“Thank you.” Struggling against my anxiety—oh, my God, he has his arm around me—I popped the cheese into my mouth. When it was gone, I picked up the glass of water and drank the whole thing. I could feel my heart racing.