The VIP Room(158)

That's a long way down.

My knees wobble, but hands are on me instantly. Blake. He pulls me away from the edge, holding my body tightly against his.

"Careful." His voice is stern.

"Girl overboard. That would raise your insurance. And the whole death could be an accident or suicide or homicide thing." I take another look around the swanky pad. It would be absolutely perfect on an episode of Law and Order. The rich guy who always gets what he wants. The pretty young woman found dead in a cocktail dress and heels. A wisecrack about an unfortunate ending to a party. Hell, it writes itself.

His hands dig into my sides. "I'd hate to lose you."

"Cause I'm useful, right?"

His hands slide down my hips, all the way to the hem of my dress. "Because I'd hate to lose you." His fingers skim the outside of my thigh. "You can admit you're nervous."

"I'm just kidding."

He drags his fingers up my thigh, until they reach the outside of my panties. "You're scared."

My eyes close. The wind rushes around me, blowing my hair and dress all over the place. Scared. Never. Not if I keep the end goal of this in mind. A year as Blake's ruse then my little sister is set for life.

Then I'm set for life.

Not like I'd be scared of something as ridiculous as him breaking my heart.

Blake's lips hover over my neck. Warm breath sends a shiver through my skin. He tugs at the straps of my thong then lets go. It flicks back against my skin. A tiny hint of pain.

Tonight. It's tonight. He promised sex tonight. That heat passes through me again. We're close.

"I don't want to hurt you," he says.

My chest tightens. I do my best to steel myself. It's all a lie, except when we're alone together. In bed together, though I doubt Blake thinks of it in such cute terms. Not the kind of guy who makes love or has sex even. I'm sure, with Blake, it's f*cking. No feelings necessary.

"I'm not. I'm fine," I say.

He bites my neck. "Have you ever heard of a safe word?"

"Do we really need that?"

He brings his lips to my ear and exhales lightly. "You've never done this before."

What's his point?

He sucks on my earlobe. "I'm going to make you feel so much--pain and pleasure--that you're going to want to scream no, I can't take any more."

"I won't."

He bites my ear. It's soft at first. Want rushes to my sex. Suddenly, the balcony feels warm. Hot even. I'm desperate for him to rip off this dress.

He sinks his teeth harder. A bit of pain, but that feels amazing. Then harder. Harder. Until it hurts so much it doesn't feel good anymore.

"Ow." I step away. "Nice demonstration." I stop myself from rolling my eyes. But he's behind me. He can't see anyway.

I roll away.

"Don't do that." His voice is rough.

There's no way he saw me. "Do what?"

"I appreciate your sense of humor, but this is serious." He grabs my hips and holds me against him. "You need a word and it can't be no or stop or anything like that."

"I don't need anything."

"It's not negotiable."

Okay. Fine. I'll indulge his whims. It's not like I'm willing to leave without going to bed, making love, f*cking, whatever he wants to call it. "How the hell am I supposed to pick a safe word?"

"How about chess?"

"Because it's the only thing you do besides work?" I ask.

"Because it's easy to remember and hard to confuse." His fingertips graze my neck. "Do you have another word in mind?"

"No, I guess chess is fine."

"Good." He drags his hands over my back. His fingers close around my zipper and he pulls it down slowly.

Air hits my skin. I know it's cold, but the feeling doesn't stick. I'm still hot as all hell. The zipper reaches my ass. Blake traces the line it took with his fingertips. His fingers work their way up my back, stopping only when they meet the base of my neck. He drags the strap of my dress off my shoulder. The right. He unhooks my bra and does the same with it. My breast is exposed to the cold air and anyone with a view of a penthouse balcony.

Probably not an issue.

Blake sinks his teeth into my neck. Hard enough it hurts. But there's something wonderful about the hurt. Something satisfying. He slides his hand over my chest, cupping my breast and rubbing his thumb against my nipple.

I'm hot everywhere. I lick my lips without meaning to. Tilt my head so my neck is pressed against his mouth. He bites harder. Pain buzzes around my body. There's something so damn nice about it. I don't understand at all. How can something hurt and feel good at the same time?

Blake tugs the other side of my dress off my shoulders. Then the bra. It hits the floor in front of us. The dress spills all the way to my waist and catches on my hips.

Waist up, I'm naked. Naked and exposed on the balcony for anyone to see. That flutter wakes up inside me. There's something about being so exposed and vulnerable and utterly at his mercy.

I shake my head, willing it away. He was right. It's too much feeling all at once. But he was right about the other part. I don't want him to stop.

He shifts back and pulls my dress over my head. I lift my arms to help him. When I open my eyes, the dress is a heap on the floor.