Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

She pushed hard against his chest, just enough so that she could find the leverage to force herself free from his grip. Ducking under his arm, she took a few paces away from him.

This wasn’t happening. Sure, it kind of was, but no… It couldn’t happen.

There was silence, too much of it. It made things more awkward, but the quiet was what she needed. It allowed her time to think.

Too bad Rory, never one to stay still too long, rotated sharply to face her. His tongue dragged across his lower lip. He began a slow, deliberate pace across the room to meet her. She herself was frozen like a statue—The Titanic watching as the iceberg closed in on her.

Just move. Fucking move, she thought to herself.

Those feet of hers though?

They outright betrayed her.

She sank deeper into herself as he approached and reached out to her. He gripped her roughly around the wrist, forcing her to snap her attention toward him. Their eyes met like trains on the same track, careening toward each other with no hope of stopping in time to avoid a full-on collision. Neither could look away as he closed in, pressing her back against the long, hotel dresser.

One hand dropped to her hip, held her firmly in place. Another hand swept gently across her face and pushed her dark curls out of her eyes. Her heart raced, beating wildly against her chest.

She swallowed hard before finally gritting out, “Rory, what are you doing?”

A cocky grin hitched across his lips, framing his mouth in a way that was a touch more than bitable and absolutely kissable. She found herself wanting to give in, all the while knowing she couldn’t.

If only for just one kiss.

He dropped his head low, low enough for her to reach him with her lips but she froze again. She was basically stuck, like she was standing in quicksand. A part of her didn’t seem to mind but the other half? It screamed that it was way past time she high-tailed it out of there.

“I’m going to kiss you.” Rory watched her carefully.

She opened her mouth, but no answer came. She couldn’t bring herself to deny him, no matter how wrong this was.

His lips brushed hers, soft and rough all at once. And then his tongue was slipping past her lips and she forced her eyes closed.

A hand pressed against her cheek as he held her firmly in place. Her heart raced faster and faster and she found herself falling in line under his touch, meeting him stroke for stroke with every move of his tongue.

He pulled back slightly, just enough to allow her to open her eyes and get one good look at the hunger and darkness in his gaze. And then she felt his hard cock against her thigh, straining against his zipper.

He leaned up and brushed her cheek with the back of his hand.

"You want me? You gotta tell me, Gina. I'm not an insecure guy, but you're dragging me around like a kid's toy lately and I'm not big on games. If we do this, I want to be sure this is what you want."

"Look, Rory," she said, swallowing hard and trying not to melt into a puddle at his feet. "You're nobody's toy. I'm not meaning to play games but...you scare me. This scares me. We already know that we can't be together and every time we do…this…get close enough to make it oh so tempting—it makes that realization all the more bitter."

She lifted a trembling hand to his chest and forced herself to meet his gaze, despite the fact that doing so made it impossible to hide. Impossible to lie to him or herself anymore.

"Make no mistake. I want you. I've always wanted you." She punctuated her words by rolling onto her toes and pressing a kiss to each corner of his mouth. "But I won't make promises I can't keep, and I trust you to do the same. It would just be this once. It’s up to you to decide if that's enough."

She waited, breath suspended, for his reply.

"I want to say no, but I can't," he admitted, his voice a low growl. "I guess if this is all I get, I'd better make the most of it."

He slanted his mouth over hers, his warm lips firm even as his tongue flicked out to brush over her lower lip. A shudder of relief mixed with anticipation sizzled through her and she looped her arms around his neck, crushing closer to him. This was stupid. Probably one of the dumbest things she'd ever done in her life, but she didn't care anymore. Maybe tomorrow, she'd find herself alone in her bed with nothing but an ache between her thighs and in her heart. For now, though, he was hers.

Rory Galveston was hers and she was going to own every inch of him.

His strong hands slid down from her waist to her hips, closing over her there with a squeeze as he dragged her even closer, until she could feel the thick length of his cock pressed against her. She moaned and arched into him, grinding her pussy against him, adding to that tight, needy pressure that had gathered between her thighs. His low groan of response followed by the plunge of his tongue into the depths of her mouth let her know that he liked the contact too.

She gripped his shoulders tighter as she rode his erection, sending little shivers of pleasure rocketing through her. God, she would take him right now if she could. Yank those pants down just enough to get to that massive, hard cock and climb on board.

“Just this once.”

“Just this once,” he echoed back at her as he kicked off his shoes and then dropped his fingers to unbutton his dark black slacks. He pushed his pants down his long, toned legs and threw them to the side. “Nobody can know.”

“Nobody will know.” Gina gulped as her eyes dropped to his crotch, his long and thick need poking against the thin fabric of black boxer briefs. “Ever.”

“That’s the plan.” He unbuttoned his white shirt and dropped it to the floor. His eyes met hers as he reached for the bottom hem of his undershirt and ripped it over his head.

His muscular chest—and godlike abs—heaved and glistened under a thin layer of sweat as he now stood in nothing more than his underwear. She couldn’t stop staring, couldn’t look elsewhere.

She needed to touch him and be touched, so she rushed back toward him. He intercepted her and spun her on her foot, lifted her up into his muscular arms and carried her backward until her ass was parked against the lip of the dresser, her robe and nightgown bunching around her waist.

She was taken aback at the newfound urgency as he dropped to his knees and hooked one leg over his shoulder. Her fingers tangled in his dark hair as he crept forward, his breath hot against her most vulnerable spot. She moaned and he hadn’t even touched her yet, not really. Just the thought alone of his mouth against her drove her crazy.

And then it actually happened.

He pushed her underwear to the side and his tongue lapped against her pussy and it took everything in her to not scream. She threw her head back, landing it with a thud against the wall. A stifled moan slipped out as he twisted his tongue against her, butting against her sensitive clit in the most sublime of caresses. She breathed his name like a sigh and slipped her fingers into his hair again. He groaned his encouragement and tightened his grip on her thighs as his tongue worked her harder, sucking and pulling until she was arching against his face, and whimpering.

“Please, Rory, yes!”

He slid one hand around her stomach and down, to join his mouth. She waited, muscles quivering, until he thrust two digits deep, plunging into her clutching warmth even as he drew in hard pulls on her clit.

“Oh my God. I’m going to come!” she gasped. Knowing she was going down fast and knowing there was no stopping it.

He seemed on board as he quickened his pace, sucking and fucking her with his fingers until she let out a low-pitched scream.

“Rory!”

He held her fast as she broke apart in his arms, twitching and jerking as her pussy clenched over his fingers, that hot mouth sending her off the edge of one cliff and fumbling toward another.

She needed him inside her, pronto.

With her heel parked against his back, she slid her foot down to push the fabric of his boxers down his taut ass. She needed to make a point even if she couldn’t bring herself to say the words and her simple maneuver apparently did the trick.

He pulled back, took another step backward so she could witness the show as he pushed his underwear down his legs, his erection springing free.

She gulped. It was bigger than she had anticipated. Thicker, longer, and raging hard. It seemed to have a heartbeat all of its own. Slowly, he pulled a condom from his discarded jeans, tore open the packet, and rolled it over his throbbing length.

This was the point of no return.

She tore her negligee over her head, ripping it at the seams as she forced it from her body and then yanked down her panties.

She was bare now before him, and though she had thought about him before, she’d never imagined it would get to this point. Rory had his pick of anyone he wanted and even if it was for one night only, he had still chosen her. And yet, she wasn’t nervous at all. Maybe she didn’t have time to be. Or maybe it was because he made her feel like the sexiest woman in the world. Even now, she wanted to press him back against the mattress and ride him with total abandon.

But Rory had other ideas. He whipped her around to face the wall. She gasped in surprise, aching for that sweet contact again, but she didn't have to wait long. A second later, he was behind her, his warm breath caressing her bare shoulder.

“You’re beautiful. So damned beautiful.” His fingers trailed lightly up the backs of her thighs, and then higher, just teasing the very bottoms of her ass cheeks. She let her head fall back and closed her eyes as he peppered the side of her neck with nibble kisses. "Ever since that first night we kissed, this is all I think about. Touching your skin, hearing your moans, feeling that tight, wet pussy. Are you ready for me now, Gina?"

Her throat was too dry to answer so she just nodded as his hand moved higher to palm her ass.

"I love these curves. Enough to make a man weep." With every word, with every hot breath skating over her skin, her nipples tightened and her stomach clenched with need. If he didn't touch her somewhere essential soon, she was going to scream. As if he'd read her mind, he squeezed her ass one more time and then snaked his arms around her ribcage, gently resting his hands right below her breasts. The move had pressed his muscular torso against her back and had seated his firm shaft right in the crevice of her ass. She let out a squeak.

Her channel clenched as she imagined bending forward and him pressing that thick head against her slick slit and then driving in deep enough to make her scream.

"Please, Rory. Fucking touch me."

His low laugh was anything but funny. He sounded pained as his fingers traced the underside of her breasts as he rocked against her ass with the hot length of his cock. "I'm touching you, Gina. I haven't stopped touching you, but if tonight is the only promise I'm going to get, I'm not going to be rushed."

She bit her lip to hold back a plea...a desperate offer of something more just to get some relief from the clawing need driving her. Instead, she pressed back against him, grinding her ass against his cock harder.

He let out a low hiss and she hummed in satisfaction. If she was going to suffer, so would he. The thought had barely passed her mind when he slid his hands higher to cup both full breasts. Her sensitive nipples grew even harder and she groaned as he tweaked one between his thumb and forefinger.

"God, yeah." She wasn't sure if she said it out loud or in her head, but then it didn't matter anymore. He was strumming her nipples with his calloused fingertips and grinding against her ass and she was lost to the world. The only thing that mattered was his touch, his scent, and the sound of their harsh breathing.

He pinched her nipple one last time and then released her, freeing up one of his hands to explore lower. She held her breath as he trailed his fingers down her gently curved stomach and covered her pubic bone with his big hand, working the heel of his palm against her clit in the most delicious of touches.

"Keep doing that and I'm going to come again," she warned breathlessly. He didn't stop. Instead, he ground harder as he worked one nipple and fucked the seam of her ass. His cock felt so hot, so thick, it took every ounce of self-discipline not to wheel around and beg for it. The sensations were all too much and the tension rose to a fever pitch.

"Jesus, Rory, please." Her voice was a whimper and he moved faster, clever hands working her, sending hot pulses of desire to her core.

"I want to feel you come on my cock, baby girl," he muttered through gritted teeth. "I want to feel that tight little cunt grip me until I explode inside of you."

She wanted that too and was about to break her cardinal rule and beg but he was already in motion, pressing her forward with a hand between her shoulder blades.

"Bend for me, Gina. That's right."

She gripped at the dresser, on trembling legs as she felt his hand between them now, gripping his cock and lining it up with her wet heat. She let her eyes drift closed, nearly delirious with need...waiting...wanting. And then he was there, pushing inside her, stretching her with his thick, swollen head.

She gasped his name and pushed her hips back against him, needing more.

"Shh, it's okay. I'm going to give it all to you, but you're so small. We gotta take it slow."

She was done with slow. She was so consumed with her own need, she could barely hear his words over the sound of the blood pounding in her ears.

She pressed her hands flat to the wall and used them for leverage, driving herself backward, impaling herself on that massive cock. Her vision flickered as he filled her, cock so deep, it felt like it might come out the other side. But under the discomfort and almost unbearable tightness was a silky, sultry pleasure that spread tingles from her thighs and outward.

"Jesus, Gina, you're fucking killing me here," he grunted, his whole body stiff as he struggled to stay still.

She inched forward, expelling some of his cock before pressing back again, driving him deep.

"I don't want to hurt you, Gina."

"But it hurts so fucking good, Rory. Please. Fuck me."

He let out a snarl and clasped her hips tight enough to bruise her, but she didn't care. All she cared about in that instant was getting more of him. Deeper, harder, faster. Until she screamed.

Her words had unleashed something in him as he drove all the way into her in one, long stroke. She’d barely caught her breath when he began fucking her in earnest, steady, driving thrusts that stole her thoughts and send her nerve-endings ablaze.

“Oh god,” she groaned and bounced back against him, reveling in the sound her her ass colliding with his hips.

“Fuck, Gina,” he grunted, and then flexed hard, holding imself there as he released in quick, greedy pulses, groaning her name as he came.

And that’s when she broke again. Her pussy tightening around his pulsing dick as she whimpered and shook. So good…so damned good. Rory seemed to agree as he collapsed onto her back, his slick head rested over her shoulder.

It took a few minutes to return to earth, but when she did, it was with a crash.

A loud TV thumped through the adjacent wall of another room, gunfire and screams seemed to be fitting background noise as Gina cursed herself in her own head.

She had really done it this time, and though she wanted to blame Rory for what had just happened, she knew that wouldn’t quite be fair. She had wanted him more than anything she’d ever wanted in her life.

She caught him glancing at her sideways out of the corner of her eye and swallowed nervously, not sure of what to do or say.

He pulled away even as she straightened, her legs still shaking.

“Gina…” he started, but she cut in.

“Don’t,” she murmured, running a trembling hand over her forehead as she turned to face him. “I just…” She swallowed hard and realized that she was on the verge of tears.

Not cool.

How could she have gone from feeling so good—the best she’d ever remembered feeling—to feeling so terrible and emotional? Like she’d witnessed heaven and now had to go back to earth.

“Do you want me to go?” he asked gently.

“Yeah.” She couldn’t agree fast enough, but she tried to maintain her composure all the same.

“So, I’ll…” he began, but stopped himself until she glanced over at him. “I’m going to go, then.”

He dressed in record time, leaving his shoes behind as he padded to the door. “For the record, though?” he murmured, his low voice sending a shudder through her even now. “I’m not sorry.”

The opening and closing of the door reverberated through her, along with his words.

He might not be sorry, but damn it, she was. Partially, at least. Sleeping with her client and friend? It was everything she’d promised herself she wouldn’t do and would only cause problems in the end.

But the sex?

Somehow, that sex had made all the self-loathing in the world pale in comparison. It had been beyond mind-blowing—not that normal, first time awkward mangling of bodies. They’d been in sync—like he knew what she wanted before she knew it herself.

And the memory of him behind her, taking her with all his considerable strength?

It forced her toward the wet bar again and to pour a double shot of tequila into a rum glass.

She swished the drink in her hand, knowing what had just happened couldn’t happen again. It needed to stay a one-night stand.

She shot the drink in one go, almost gagging once the liquor hit the back of her throat, and felt a queasiness in her stomach almost immediately.

So long as she didn’t let herself fall for him—like hell that’d happen anyway—she knew she’d be okay. She was a strong, independent, grown woman and she could handle anything.

Even Rory.

Right?

Plus, she still had a job to do. And that job meant securing Rory’s date for the launch party celebrating the release of Big Lights debut record—a hot new band at the record label. Star Jackson, who was making her way up the Billboard charts, was set to be his date the following night. And while she was a pop-rock princess—with a name fit for a star—Gina was absolutely positive Rory was going to hate her.

But oddly? That knowledge made a little bubble of joy float up in her heart.