A few minutes later and a couple dozen stories higher, Talia followed Alek out of the elevator onto the top floor of the hotel. Thick carpet in intricate patterns drew long oblong shapes out before them, and wall sconces lit the way as they made their path toward the end of a long corridor.

“I believe this is our room,” Alek remarked, pulling a card from his pocket and inserting it into the electronic keyhole. It beeped, and he pushed the door open, beckoning her inside.

“Look at you. Electronic locks and renting a hotel room. You’re shaping up to be very modern after all,” Talia said, amazed at how different things were from a few days. Yet Alek was still just Alek.

And she liked that.

He seemed to flush for a moment. “I cannot say I didn’t have help. But yes, your world certainly has its… benefits.” Talia could feel his gaze on her face as he spoke, and she felt warmth in her neck and cheeks as she walked inside.

Despite the normal-size hallway, the room rose high above them, a vaulted ceiling with an uncountable number of lights casting the place in a warm yellow hue. Before her, a full kitchenette with modern appliances much nicer than her own greeted her and, to the left, another hallway that presumably led toward the bedroom.

“Shall we?” Alek’s hand reached for hers, and she grasped it, allowing him to pull her forward. Her heart pounded in her chest, excitement and wonder far outweighing any trepidation she might normally feel.

Glittering electric candlelight and Victorian-style wallpaper surrounded them as they entered the master suite. In the center room, a humongous four-post bed made even the sizable room feel small in comparison. Layers and layers of pillows and plush sheets in cream and burgundy made her wonder what living like an actual royal might feel like.

And to her right, a little cart with a bottle of champagne sitting on ice with two glasses sat coyly, awaiting their arrival.

“I…” Talia was utterly speechless. Of course, the recent memory of what he’d done to her in the lab last night and her body’s absolute need to do more of that certainly wasn’t helping.

“I wanted us to be able to have privacy together in a place that seemed a little more fitting,” Alek said coolly, walking over to the champagne and putting a towel over the top before popping the top off like a pro. “I learned how to do this on the TV.”

She laughed nervously, the wine and the delicious food and the dancing fresh in her mind. “Most people would settle for a Motel 8 or something.” Off to the side, she glanced a bathroom full of marble and equivalently oversized fixtures for the tub and shower. Maybe they’d have to check those out later.

He handed her a glass, and she took a swig, the bubbles tickling her throat and making everything feel a little lighter.

“I don’t know what that is, but if it isn’t the best, then it’s not for you.” His light-blue eyes were watching her every movement, long lashes flicking as he blinked at her.

“You do remember I’m just a scientist. Places like this aren’t for people like… me.”

“On the contrary. You’re amazing, Talia. Wonderful. Beautiful. So much more than just your work. Without you, I wouldn’t be here.”

“This is much more than a thank-you.”

His footsteps were silent as he moved toward her, almost floating with imperceptible movements until he was right in front of her, a tower of maleness she could barely comprehend even existed.

“I mean here, with you, Talia. Not just alive, but living. For the first time I’ve known, I want so much more than just the world. I want you.” Alek’s voice was calm, deep, a lake with no bottom. She wished she could record the movements of his full lips, the shape of his jaw each time he spoke.

Acting not on logic, but on pure instinct, she tugged the lapels of his jacket and pulled it over his wide shoulders. He didn’t move, just watched intently as she undid the long row of buttons of his dress shirt, revealing thick, iron-hard muscle encased in satin skin.

“I almost thought I’d been dreaming last night when I woke up in my bed this morning,” Talia said, more to herself than him. She could feel his smile on her, even as she was afraid to lift her gaze up to him for fear the fantasy might end with the sound of some invisible grandfather clock.

“This is no dream, Talia.” The ridge of Alek’s index finger was on her chin, tilting her up to look at him. His expression was more intense, dominant now. His bearing was regal, expectant, demanding her attention.

For several moments—it could have been seconds or minutes—she watched him, losing herself in his gaze. And when his lips crashed over hers, Talia felt a torrent of emotion and want pour through her like summer rain.

“Don’t stop,” Talia whispered against his lips.

In response, his tongue pressed against her mouth, and she let him in.

With slick, intent motions, he explored, swirling and pressing against her own tongue as they entwined in a heated dance. She could feel herself getting wet, could feel her legs buckling from arousal. And without even saying a word, she felt his hands at her hips, propping her up a moment more as he took his time.

Then, finally, he withdrew, looking down at her like she was everything he could possibly want in the world.

And somehow, against all reason, she knew she felt the same.

“Shall we go further?” he asked. “The bed seems ample.”

She laughed at that. But what came out was more of a breathless sound that was half chuckle, half excited sigh.

So she opted for a simple nod instead.

He led her to the bed, and she could make out the indent of every sculpted lateral muscle running up and down his back. Even beneath the silk of his black dress pants, she could see the movement of his masculine ass, and she wanted to study him even more closely than she’d been able to last night.

Alek brought her face to face with him at the foot of the towering structure that somehow resembled a bed. But before he did anything, she shoved him gently back onto the plush mattress, wanting to enjoy him a minute more before he most certainly did.

“I’m glad I have the same effect on you as you do me,” he said, grinning as he propped himself up on his elbows.

“And what would that be?” she responded, kicking off her boots and crawling up onto the bed on top of Alek.

His grin widened. “Desperate, unquenchable need.”

Her gaze roved down his body, past his chest and abs and to his hips. The bulge of his manhood was more than plainly obvious, and she undid his belt and pulled his slacks lower, past his thighs, leaving him in black boxer briefs.

Just the thought of him being inside her made her ache.

For several moments, she allowed herself to simply revel in the sheer shape of him, feeling over the ridge of his abdominals and pectorals. He didn’t flinch, didn’t rush, didn’t demand anything of her as she did. And with each touch, she felt closer to him, more connected than simply skin touching skin. Like she could touch his soul, could feel his heart, beating only for her somehow.

She leaned down to kiss him on his chest, his neck. Each second with him more arousing than the last. Then, finally, his lips. She traced a line across them, full and masculine. How could something so simple make her feel such fire within?

And when she lowered herself to kiss him, he rose to meet her halfway. But as his tongue slid inside again, there was no question who was in charge, who was calling the shots. Whatever she did, he allowed. Whatever he did, he knew she wanted.

As they kissed, her hands lowered down his body, wanting to feel his shaft. But just as she reached it, she felt his arm around her, and suddenly, the world turned around as she lay back on the bed.

She practically sank into the soft covers, surrounded in luxury and overwhelmed by Alek.

“All in good time. But me first,” he commanded.

Her eyebrow rose. “You first?” she remarked curiously.

Somehow Talia got the impression that he meant it differently than what that usually meant between lovers.

Alek slid down her, pulling her red dress up and devouring her with his eyes. Then he flicked a piercing blue glance at her that seemed to say everything without saying anything.

I want to see you come first.

A shiver of excitement coursed down her back like an electrical current just as his finger found her clit through the satin panties she’d worn. But the fabric was invisible compared to the feel of his deft digit pressing against her center like that.

She writhed, burying herself even deeper into the down blankets and pillows, unable to move, unable to think so long as he continued to do what he was doing. But he just smiled devilishly at her, leaning down to kiss along her collar even as his finger moved like a metronome of pleasure for her.

Wanting him to kiss lower, past her dress, Talia pulled one shoulder down, far enough to reveal the black bra she’d put on. Seemingly knowing his way around her, Alek moved the material away from her breast, licking over it and suckling deeply.

Shocks of sensation went through her body, colliding with the feel of his hand between her legs, leaving her unable to think. Alek took over, pulling the shoulder of her dress lower so he could reach her other breast, squeezing it first with his hand, then kissing it, too.

High above her, the ceiling seemed to twinkle with stars. Her vision blurred as she tried to hold on. But with one more press, Talia came, all senses drowning in a pool of her own desire. She grasped onto his legs, fingers digging in as he flicked once more with his finger, then went still, letting her ride out the rest of her orgasm.

But even as she regained consciousness, he repositioned his head between her thighs. Talia blushed, still not accustomed to men being so assertively focused on her pleasure as Alek was.

Then again, it was painfully clear that Alek was no ordinary man.

He slid off her panties and pulled her dress up farther so the thin material was barely covering anything now. She tried to sit up to get a better look at him, but all rational thought was lost as his tongue covered her clit with powerful wet heat.

She collapsed against the bed, hands grasping at soft blankets as wave after wave of fire consumed her skin at the feel of even the tiniest of flicks. And as he alternated the motions, using his tongue like some surgical instrument designed for her pleasure, she felt another release quickly building inside like a pressure valve about to break.

But Alek was relentless, stroking over and over until, in what could have been either a very short or very long time, Talia came again.

His hands held her thighs this time, her body rocking with incredible shocks in the best orgasm of her life. The bed yielded to and resisted her at the same time, trapping her in a prison of silky softness that forced her to feel nothing but pure pleasure.

Amazing.

“You’re incredible, Talia,” Alek remarked, watching her so intently he didn’t seem to blink. And for a moment, his irises seem to flicker pure white as if illuminated by noonday sun. But then it was gone again, leaving Talia to think it was probably just post-release afterglow. Or something.

“Given the results at hand, I’d say the compliment belongs to you, Alek. But thank you.” Her breaths were heavy, trying to make up for lost time. However, she was not yet finished.

She sat up, undoing the zipper of her dress. Alek helped her, pulling it free and tossing it aside. The slight lull in the moment made her brain buzz with anticipation as they bared themselves completely to each other, ready to take the next and final step.

Yet nothing felt awkward with Alek. Perhaps the fact that he was so completely comfortable with himself and so entirely attracted to her made her worry less about her shape. About being too short, too curvy, too “anything” that the world made a constant and aggressive point about making her feel awkward or self-conscious about.

And hopefully, with time, she’d be able to continue thinking the same about herself as he did of her.

Alek leaned over to his jacket and pulled something out. A row of six or seven condoms came out, and she wondered how he’d had those there the whole time.

“Intending to use all of those in one night, Lothario?” she joked at the train of foil packets.

“I wasn’t sure how many to bring. The instructions didn’t say,” Alek said matter of factly, looking at them for a moment and then pulling one free.

“The instructions?”

He pulled at the foil and took the condom out, positioning it for a moment before putting it on.

“I read the instructions on the box. Doesn’t everyone do that?” He winced a little as the last of it rolled over him.

Talia laughed, but she didn’t have the heart to tell him that no, nobody did that. She was just pleased that he’d been thoughtful enough to do that for her. Especially considering the incredibly tight fit the latex had over the diameter of his dick.

Talia lay against the bed, spreading her legs and beckoning for him to join her. Slowly, Alek propped himself up on his hands, his big palms sinking into the memory foam bed on either side of her, and brought his hips between hers.

Then, with one incredibly slow, incredibly delicious movement, he slid into her.

For a second, Talia could feel herself stretching to accommodate him, enveloping him entirely. It was almost too much to bear. But gradually, as her body relaxed, trepidation transformed into white-hot pleasure, the sensation almost so powerful she could come right now.

“God, yes, Alek.” Her entire body wanted to groan out in raw, unadulterated lust.

Alek, his thick blond hair cascading over his shoulder in waves and framing his face, just slid out, then thrust back in a tiny bit faster.

How they fit together, Talia had no clue. Perhaps they were made for each other, not just emotionally, but anatomically as well.

Either way, the feel of his cock pressing into her, filling her from the inside out, was far past anything logical and blending with the supernatural, the inexplicable.

“Faster,” she whispered, and Alek moved into a slick rhythm that brought their bodies together in ever-increasing succession. Each withdrawal made her hungrier for him, made her need him more badly than the last.

Alek’s body seemed to glow with the exertion. And Talia’s own body, still riding the high from her previous releases, could somehow sense that he too was coming precariously close to the edge with her. A growing sense of wonder and excitement built in her with each motion as her senses tingled and her muscles twitched.

Then, with one more final motion where hip met hip and body met body and soul met soul, the intense buildup of everything exploded outward. She felt heat and electricity blast through like a whirlwind, and as she did, Alek grunted and came as well. Rigid jerks of his member spurred her orgasm even stronger. And as badly as she wanted to watch him go, it was hard to see with so many things going on inside.

So instead, she felt his release ebbing and flowing as if on the same wavelength as her. Finally, they were both spent, nothing more to give, nothing more to have, at least for the moment.

Alek slid out slowly, and Talia could feel her entire body relax all at once, as if heaving a heavy sigh of pleasurable relief. He disappeared into the bathroom for a moment and came right back to bed with her,

He said nothing. Yet the way he’d treated her, loved her, he didn’t have to. At least not right now. And when he leaned over to kiss her, she kissed him back, her heart swelling beyond capacity with emotion that she couldn’t quite understand.

But she didn’t need a PhD to know she was developing feelings for him. Deep ones, if she were honest with herself.

But she had no idea how to talk to him about it. How to ask what was in his heart. How to tell him she’d fallen too far.

So she just relaxed into his kiss and let the moment take her away.