The VIP Room(154)

"Why can't you fall madly in love with a girl who shops at H&M?"

He raises an eyebrow. H&M is not part of his vocabulary. A tiny smile creeps onto his lips. Very tiny, but still a smile.

He offers his hand to help me up. "You're tense."

"I've been your show pony for the last--it must have been three hours. Of course I'm tense."

"I can help you relax." His expression gets intense. His gaze flits to his watch.

"In what, twenty-eight minutes?" I take his hand.

He pulls me to my feet. His hands slide over my shoulders, all the way to my neck. "About that."

My body buzzes. I'm hot everywhere. Reasonably certain I'm going to implode in some kind of desire supernova. And Blake is standing there all aloof and commanding like nothing we're doing could possibly affect him.

I shift my body into his. "I could stand to relax."

He strokes my cheek. "Me too."





Chapter 4





Blake kneels down and runs his fingertips over my knees. His eyes find mine. He has that same intense look he did at his office.

My heartbeat picks up until it's pounding in my ears. The last time I was this aware of a heartbeat, I was in the hospital watching Lizzy's on a heart-rate monitor.

Blake strokes my cheek. I shake my head and return my gaze to his eyes. He's studying me again, staring at me like he can see through me. My face flushes. It's not every day I'm in my underwear in a dressing room with a near stranger, and certainly not with a near stranger as hot as Blake is.

"Is that what you want?" He asks. There's something charged about it, like he's demanding I answer honestly.

I nod. Yes. God yes, this is so much better than another parade of expensive outfits that don't suit me at all.

He takes my hands and pulls me to my feet. I reach for the top button of his shirt, but he moves my hands to my sides. His eyes find me. They're louder than any scream. Wait.

His gaze passes over my body, soaking in every exposed inch. "Take off your bra."

I unclasp it and slide it off my shoulders slowly. A low gasp escapes his lips. His pupils dilate. It's the strongest reaction I've seen from him, and it sends a shiver racing down my spine. I need to make him react. I need to make him want me as badly as I want him.

He slides his hands over my hips with a soft touch. Desire courses through me, a low hum I can feel everywhere. A tightness forms in my chest. Breathing, it's so hard like this, with him touching me.

He pulls me closer, pressing our bodies together. His fingertips drag over my sides. His palms flat against my back, he kisses me. It's soft and delicate. No signs of the coffee he was drinking all morning. He tastes good. Some touch of mint and Blake; that's the only way to describe it. The way he feels, the way he smells, the way he tastes.

Blake.

The word flutters in my stomach.

His tongue slides into my mouth, probing gently. Or maybe patient is the right world. He's hopelessly patient.

His hands slide back down my sides. His grip gets a little harder. Every place he touches lights up with need. His hands, his mouth, his body--it all feels so damn good.

I grab onto his shoulders, melting into him. The nerves fluttering around my stomach fade away. It doesn't matter that I've never done this before. I want to do it with him and now.

His hand finds the outside of my panties. Right bellow my belly button first. Then lower, lower, lower. He strokes me. The silky fabric presses against my clit with a dizzying mix of smoothness and friction.

Want pools inside me. This is too slow. Suddenly, I understand the concept of needing someone. I need Blake, and I need him now.

But he's so damn patient as he strokes me. I arch my body into his hand, trying desperately to meet his touch, to press him harder against me.

Pleasure fills my pelvis. There's no one spot. It's everywhere. I moan into his mouth, grab hard at his shaft. He moves with that same steady pace. Utterly in control.

I release the kiss and stare into his eyes. They're heavy with desire. So I am affecting him, too. He lets out a breathy groan and grabs my hips hard.

"Take those off." He tugs at my panties.

I nod and slide them to my knees. Then to my feet.

"You're nervous."

I shake my head.

"Don't lie." His fingertips skim my chin, tilting me so we're eye to eye.

I try to verbalize the thoughts swirling through my brain. Nerves, yes, but I want this. I want this so badly it hurts.

"Only a little," I say.

"Do you remember what I said last time?"

"You said a lot of things."

"Not true." He smiles. Just barely.

"A few things." I take a deep breath and study his expression in some hopes I'll figure him out. Nope. Not happening. "About the terms or about how if I want something, you'll give it to me? But last time, you sent me home before. I know I didn't ask, but you obviously knew."

"Kat."

I bring my gaze back to his. "Yeah?"

"What do you want?"

A shiver passes through me. "You. I want you. It's crazy. I don't know you at all, but you were right. This part feels like something real."

He places his palm on my lower back. "You're new to this, aren’t you?”