“Lia, we’re officially in the same building – can’t this wait till I meet you up on the roof?” I pleaded, my phone pressed between my shoulder and my ear as I handed the bouncer my ID. Once I slipped past him, I found myself in the sleek and seductive lobby of the hotel’s quieter side entrance, waiting alone for perhaps the slowest elevator known to man.

“No, Sara, it cannot wait, because you strung me along all night with your cryptic-ass texts and now that I finally know what the heck is going on, I’m drunk and I’m excited and I’m ready to butter up some hotties for you so they’re nice and warm by the time you get up here!”

“Oh, that just sounds… so creepy, Lia.”

“Did it?” She made a sad little sound. “I guess so. Lukas is giving me the weirdest look right now. But whatever, it’s not your night, Lukas – I’m talking to Lukas right now – it’s Sara’s night. Right, Sara? I’m talking to you right now.”

I had to laugh at what an adorable shitshow my best friend turned into after just a few glasses of wine. “Sure, drunkie, it is.”

“Exactly. So listen. I was talking to this guy just now who is a solid nine – don’t look at me like that, Lukas – and he is a total sweetheart. Like, such a nice person.”

“Uh-huh.”

Lia’s voice faded out as I opted to check my reflection in the mirrored doors of the elevator.

All things considered, not bad.

Despite the fact that I’d been ugly crying in the women’s bathroom at work two hours ago, my mascara was still fairly intact, as was the light blush I’d applied early this morning. Tilting my face to the side, I admired the natural sheen on the cheekbones I’d inherited from my mother – sky-high and eager to reflect any shred of light in the room. Lia fondly called them dirty attention whores. My cheekbones and my “ass that won’t quit,” apparently, were the guiltiest parts of my body.

Oh, Lia. I had to interrupt her when she got to the part about this super nice guy’s three rescue cats.

“Lia – listen,” I started carefully. “I appreciate your tip, and I love you very much, but I don’t think a cat dad sweetheart is what I’m looking for tonight.”

“What? Why?”

“Is this a serious question?” I jabbed the elevator button again out of pure restlessness. “And do we really need to be having this conversation right now?”

“Yes, Sara, it’s a serious question, because I’m drunk, and when I’m drunk, I have comprehension issues, which makes every question a serious question,” Lia explained with frustration, simultaneously charming and annoying the shit out of me like only she could do. “Now explain to me why you don’t want the nice guy I picked for you when I already told him all about you, and please tell me why you keep trying to get off the phone with me all night!”

“Because,” I hissed. “For starters, I just spent the past however many years having a bunch of okay sex with a guy I was the bare minimum of attracted to, so tonight I specifically don’t want that kind of sex. I want good, sweaty… kind of mean sex with a man who’ll just pin me down and… fuck me so hard he breaks the headboard. And to answer your second question, I want to get off the phone because I don’t want to talk about the mind-blowing sex I’m going to have tonight, I just want to have it. Thinking about it is turning me on to the point of torture right now and being on the phone with you while I’m this insane level of horny actually feels kind of weird, so will you please just let me get in the elevator, Li?” I asked, exasperated as I dragged my feet inside. “Because it’s here, I’m in, and I – ”

Fuck.

My heart seized as I turned around to see the world’s most stunning fucking force of a man stride in behind me, wearing a ridiculously expensive-looking suit, an incredibly crisp white shirt, and just enough of a smirk on that perfect mouth to let me know that he’d heard.

Everything.

“Um.” I raked my awkward smile between my teeth as we made two seconds of eye contact so scorching hot I could have ripped my clothes off right then and there. Swiftly hanging up on Lia, I peered over at the stranger.

Good Lord.

He was a walking statue – tall, stoic, and carved from stone. His thick brown hair was slicked back just enough to give me an unspoiled view of sculpted cheekbones and a jaw so razor sharp I wanted to run my finger on its perfect edge. I cleared my throat.

“Hi.”

He glanced over, hitting me with the piercing blue of his eyes just as he leaned in to hit the button to his floor.

“Hi.”

That voice. I could taste it. It was low and sexy, smoky but smooth, and it matched perfectly with the rest of his unreal gorgeousness. One flick of my gaze over his body and I could already see that he was long and lean, several inches over six feet tall with a solid, muscled build. Even under that tailored jacket, I made out the strength of his broad shoulders, the tapered V of his chest. He was power and sex wrapped in an Italian suit, and it had me picturing him in some shiny Manhattan office, conducting business as usual while getting sucked off under his desk.

Okay, Sara.

“So...” I chewed my lip, my heart pounding when he lifted his gaze to meet mine in the doors. “Were you…” sent from Heaven? Just kidding. “Were you there for the entirety of that conversation? Downstairs?” I topped my question off with a nervous little laugh that went unreturned.

Damn it. The statue was already bored with me. He was utterly expressionless, without so much as a twitch of emotion on those exquisite features. But just as embarrassment started flooding my cheeks, I spotted a little glint in his eye.

“No.” He took his time to reply. “Just long enough to hear about how hard you want to get fucked tonight.”

Oh.

My God.

“Right,” I started slowly, biting down hard on my lip. “In my defense, I just had a bit of a catastrophic day, and tomorrow’s probably going to be worse. So I’m giving myself basically the next ten hours to do whatever I want.”

“Ten hours.” He eyed me curiously. “That’s not a lot of time.”

I was as flustered as it got so I attempted a casual shrug.

“That’s okay. I’m a simple girl.”

My pulse heightened as I watched the sharp lines of his features move, forming the sexiest little frown between his brow. Was it…? It was. It was teasing me.

“I’m not so sure that’s the word I’d use to describe you.”

My pulse picked up but I played it off. “No? Why is that?”

“Simple implies easily explained.”

“Which I’m not?”

He hesitated for half a second then gave a laugh. It was a low, velvet sound that had me instantly addicted.

“No. I already have… more than a few questions about you.”

God, why did it feel like he was talking dirty to me? He offered few words but every one made me absurdly hot. Even his pauses turned me on. I couldn’t help but prod him for more.

“What kind of questions?” I asked, trying to downplay my feverish curiosity. “You don’t have to be shy. Like I said, it’s a fuck-it kind of night for me.”

He smirked. “You sure about what you’re saying?”

No. But from this point forward, I’m going to act like I am.

“Yes.”

“Then I guess I’m just wondering how a girl who looks like you has trouble getting someone to pin her down,” he eyed me, “and fuck her as hard as she wants. Pretty sure any straight man would be happy to sacrifice a headboard or two for that.”

Oh Jesus.

It took everything in me to refrain from actually fanning myself. I had no idea how to respond to that. All I knew was that I had to get it together. I had only so much of an elevator ride left with this mystery man of few words, and I wasn’t going to leave it on him stunning me silent. It would be the greatest waste of serendipity known to man.

So tucking my hair behind my ear, I cleared my throat.

“What do… what do you mean someone who looks like me?” I finally asked.

“Don’t be coy. You know what I mean.”

I laughed. “I want to say I do, but I feel like I need to confirm, because this all feels very surreal right now.”

Crap. Was I supposed to admit this? Wasn’t I trying to play it cool? Whatever. Considering this guy’s level of hot, the fact that I was still breathing was nothing short of a miracle.

“Fine. I meant that you’re not just some average cute girl. You’re… ” He gave me that sexy laugh again as he watched the color rush to my cheeks. “Hot. Really fucking hot. The kind that makes men feel urgent.”

“Urgent how?”

He looked at me like I was being insolent. “Like they need to jerk or fuck the image of you out of their head. Does that paint a clear picture for you?”

I swallowed. “Fairly.”

“Any more questions?” he teased.

“Possibly,” I teased back.

“Like?”

I crossed my arms. “Would you consider yourself among those men?”

He didn’t hesitate.

“Considering I mentally fucked you in four different positions before you so much as laid eyes on me, I’d be inclined to say the answer is yes.”

Oh my God. I was quiet for a second.

“And which position did you like best?”

Double oh my God! Holy shit, Sara. Nice one.

“I liked the one where I had you bent over the sink so I could watch everything bounce in the mirror.” A leisurely smile curled his mouth. “But you straddling me to ride my cock was a very close second.”

And… no words.

Speechless was actually an understatement for what I was as I stood there, the elevator finally opening at the bar I was supposed to get out at. I almost burst into flames when two women walked in, saw us, and promptly walked back out with giggles to each other. They already knew what I had yet to fully process till the doors closed and the elevator continued up to the penthouse.

“I think you missed your floor,” he said. God, six words had never sounded so suggestive.

At least not until mine.

“I guess I’ll go to yours.”

* * *

A blur.

A hot, breathless blur – it was the only way I could describe the trip from the elevator to the door.

On no other night in the world would I be fine with my half-naked breasts being exposed in the middle of a hotel, but tonight, I was consumed – by the moment, the madness, by him. I didn’t even know his name, but I didn’t care. My pussy was throbbing without mercy for him, so at this particular moment, the only thing I cared about was getting this man naked and feeling his every hot, hard inch inside me.

“So sweet.”

His murmur in my mouth was a stark contrast to his touch as he shoved me against the door, pinning my arms to my sides. My body strained impatiently for him but he was taking his time with me, forcing my fingers to flex and curl as he licked a thick, wet line along the curve of my neck. He didn’t use the tip of his tongue – he used the flat of it, sending bolts of pleasure to every nerve ending in my body.

Holy shit. His mouth curved as it felt every tremble of my reaction. He knew he was torturing me, and it made him go even slower, swirling his tongue on my skin as he pushed his pulsing erection against my belly. It was at once hot as hell and completely fucking unbearable.

“Enough.”

I shoved him hard, my stomach twisting with fear and excitement as he stood before me, eyes blazing.

“Don’t tease me. I need you inside me already – please,” I panted, swallowing hard as his eyes fell to my heaving chest.

It made me suddenly aware again that I was standing in just my black lace bra and black jeans, in the open hall of one of the most expensive hotels in Manhattan. It made me feel as if the cups containing me were shrinking in size, squeezing my breasts uncomfortably tight with every short breath I took in.

“Take it off first.”

I exhaled. “What?”

“I want to watch you play with your tits. Then we’ll go in.”

I must have been crazy because I didn’t think twice about obliging. In fact, I didn’t even remember pushing the satin straps off my shoulders. I only came to as I arched my back off the door, reaching behind myself and undoing the clasp till my bra fell to the floor. I kicked it up at him. He caught it with his eyes still pinned to my breasts.

“Play with your nipples.”

I enjoyed the low groan that rumbled from his chest as I did – almost as much as I enjoyed the clear as day outline of his cock against his pants. He was a steel fucking rod, and every inch what I needed tonight.

“God, just take me inside already,” I begged.

This time he obliged.

Entwined inside the room, I moaned from the anticipation alone. It was my first time in a hotel penthouse, but I didn’t care. I took no notice of any décor or furniture till he bent me over the back of the couch that faced the mirror, giving me a view of him removing his tie and his jacket before peeling first my jeans down my legs, then my panties.

“Christ. It just gets better and better,” he murmured, that perfect frown pinching his brow as he tilted his head and ran his hand down the curve of my ass. He assessed it with a little jiggle. Then cupping the roundest part of its curve, he drew his palm back and spanked me so hard I hissed.

“Fuck.”

I gripped the couch, squeezing my eyes shut as he caressed my stinging skin. But once he’d fully rubbed the pain away, he spanked me again. I swallowed as my toes dug into the rug.

“More.”

“What was that?” His voice was hoarse.

“I want more.”

He didn’t wait. I gasped sharply as I got my wish, and my whimper grew to a moan as for the next few seconds, he administered blow after blow, spanking me so hard I could feel myself jiggle all over.

“Mmmm... God!” The ragged sound left my mouth in a crescendo, drawing a growl from his lips as he grabbed a handful of my hair.

“Christ, you’re getting me so fucking hard,” he snarled. “Look at how fucking sexy you are.”

I looked up in the mirror and let out a small breath.

Shit, Sara. I didn’t recognize this reflection. My hair was damp, my cheeks were flushed and there was satisfaction in my panting, open-mouthed smile. What have you done to me? I wanted to ask as I stared at him through the mirror, drinking him in. He was a mix of handsome and brutal as he tilted his head just so, sliding a long finger into my pussy.

Fuck, oh fuck, that feels good.

It felt even better as he leaned forward, deepening his push inside me as his free hand cupped my breast.

“Squeeze them hard,” I whispered.

“My pleasure.”

I had to be shameless. I had to ask for what I wanted, because come morning, this would be over. I’d never see this man again, and I couldn’t have a single regret. So I let it all out with him.

“More,” I breathed, moaning uncontrollably as he kneaded both my breasts with one hand, the other still playing with my pussy. He had two fingers pumping rapidly inside me now, and I couldn’t believe how wet I sounded. I couldn’t believe how incredibly good I felt.

With a throaty cry, I pitched forward. His strong arms caught me as I went limp, and there was a beat of silence before I heard his gravelly whisper.

“Did you just come all over my hand, beautiful?”

“Yes,” I replied, panting in shock as he rubbed my own juices all over my breast, his hand slick and slippery on my skin. Holy shit. I rolled my head back on his shoulder, closing my eyes as I felt him rub his erection against my ass. “I should be wet enough that you’ll fit easily now,” I murmured.

He paused.

“What did you say?” He laughed as I turned around to gaze into his intense stare. For a moment, he took me in, his eyes trailing from my wet breasts to my parted lips. “And here I thought I couldn’t get any harder,” he muttered, grabbing his heavy buckle and giving three swift jerks to undo his belt.

My pulse rose in anticipation.

It spiked the moment his cock sprang free, prompting my mouth to fall open. I knew he was grinning as he watched me stare. His hand cupped my waist as I slid my palm under his shaft, my toes curling as I tried to wrap my fingers around his thickness. It felt surprisingly silky on my skin. I loved the warmth, the heaviness, and I reveled in the sound of his groan as I started to stroke.

Just you wait, I bit my lip.

I’d never particularly cared for giving head, but I wanted his cock in my mouth. I wanted to taste him – to be the one in control for a moment before I let him fuck me as he pleased on whatever surface he chose.

“What are you doing?”

I enjoyed the unbridled surprise in his voice as I knelt before him. Gripping his thick root, I brushed my lips against the smooth head of his cock, drawing back just in time to see his glistening pre-cum beading. From under my lashes, I peered up to see him breathing hard and unblinking, practically drunk off his view.

God, yes.

He was strong, undoubtedly someone of power in this city, but I had him at my mercy and waiting desperately for just the tip of my tongue.

“Do it,” he rasped, his urgency palpable in his grip on my hair. “Suck on it. Fucking hell, please,” he hissed. “Let me feel your beautiful mouth on my cock.”

Satisfied, I drew my tongue over his pulsing tip, swirling it around and drawing out the sexiest groan from the pit of his throat.

I heard it just a second before the front door of the room exploded wide open.

“Oh my God!”

The shriek that pierced my ears came from my own mouth, and it was followed by his growl of, “Motherfucker!” at the door.

Omigod.

What the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck, I thought as I launched toward my clothes strewn over all parts of the floor.

Through the absolute chaos of shouting, I gathered that our intruder was a friend of his, but I still wasn’t sticking around. Half naked with my pussy drenched and my lips still tingling from the taste of cock, the last thing I wanted was an audience. I was hot and humiliated, and within seconds, I was out the fucking door.