Chapter Seven

Now

I have no doubt who the man is who steps into the elevator with me. I remember him. It had only been one time, but it was a moment I’ve never been able to forget no matter how much I want to.

Even if I’d never seen him before, I’d know exactly who he is. It’s the raw power radiating off from him. It’s the way the air seems to be sucked straight out of the elevator the second he steps inside and the two metal doors close.

This is the boss. This is Mr. Alexander.

The very air heats as the elevator begins making its descent to the lobby. I feel as if I can’t breathe. I will swear under oath that steam rises from my damp clothes. I fidget as I withdraw into the back corner of the elevator. He’s facing forward, but then he turns.

I don’t want to look at him, but I find I don’t have a choice. Though no words are spoken, it’s almost as if a command has been issued. He’s silently telling me to look at him. My chin slowly rises as my eyes walk their way up his masculine body.

Never in my life have I reacted like this to another man. I’m married! Of course I’ve noticed good-looking men before. I’m human. To say a married person doesn’t notice the beauty in other people the second they say I do, is ridiculous. But this is so much more than that.

This is unexplainable.

My eyes meet his. I can’t tell what he’s thinking as he boldly gazes at me — just as he’d done once before. His eyes meet mine, wanting me to know he sees me. Then they slowly travel down my body. It’s as if his hands are touching me instead of his eyes. He pointedly takes a moment to glance at my bare ring finger. I haven’t worn my wedding band in years. I don’t like jewelry. Still, I rub my thumb over the underside of my finger as if searching for it, as if needing that protection.

I know this man is powerful, know I shouldn’t be alone with him. It’s as if time has stopped. Why is this ride taking so long? I want to run more than I did when I stepped into that luxurious lobby. Looking at this man is a dangerous path I have no right walking.

His eyes travel up my body and I shiver. My stomach quivers, my core heats. My breasts are suddenly tight and my nipples feel as if they’re on fire. Why can’t I feel that when Mason looks at me? Maybe because he doesn’t look at me anymore. Not the way this man is.

I try to form words, try to break this awful tension, try to do anything other than tremble as he mentally undresses me. My breathing deepens, more air is sucked out of the small space that seems to be shrinking by the second.

The lights flicker and the music stops. Then the elevator halts. A red light goes on, making the area even more intimate. I suck in a breath that doesn’t come back out. Mr. Alexander doesn’t so much as twitch at our predicament.

Nothing is said for several agonizing moments. Then he finally moves. Part of me is almost disappointed when he turns away and goes to a panel, opening it. He picks up a phone.

He speaks a few soft words. The command in his voice is so damn delicious. Another shudder wracks my body. I visibly shake as I hold tightly to the bars on the wall of the elevator. I pray the car will start moving again. I can barely stand being in this place with him without him being mine. I hate that thought as soon as I have it.

“The power went out,” Mr. Alexander says. I want to tell him that’s more than obvious but I don’t think he’ll appreciate my nervous sarcasm. Besides, I’m not sure I can even find my voice. I murmur something that isn’t intelligible. I feel like such a fool. I clear my throat.

“Do they have any idea how long?” I finally ask. My voice is shaky, but at least the words come out. I don’t feel quite so foolish.

He smiles. He puts the phone back, and his attention is once again focused solely on me. He takes a step in my direction and then another. I need to stop this. I need to tell him I’m married; we aren’t going to have some lucid tryst in an elevator.

Isn’t that the fantasy of many women? Isn’t it a dream we’ve all had? Some sexy stranger gets stranded in an elevator with you and rips off your clothes, unable to stop himself from ravishing your body. It sounds like pure heaven.

He stops, our bodies only inches apart. I can’t look him in the eyes any longer. My chin goes down. I breathe so heavy it’s the only sound in the small space. I need to get out of there, and fast, before I do something foolish like launch myself into his strong arms.

His fingers are suddenly on my chin, and he’s raising it, forcing me to look at him. This is wrong, so very wrong. And yet I do nothing to stop it.

“I was wondering . . .” he whispers and my entire body shakes. I can’t say a word for several long heartbeats.

“Wondering?” I finally ask. I didn’t try to add more words. It wouldn’t have done me any good. My throat feels as if it has been stuffed with cotton balls.

“If our first meeting was a fluke,” he tells me. “Or if I’d imagined it.”

I gulp. I don’t know how to respond to him so I say nothing. I’d wondered the same thing, wondered why I’ve reacted to him the way I have.

“It’s good to see you again, Miranda,” he says, the words purring out, causing my legs to clench together. He knows my name, remembers me as I remember him. I’m shocked by this; I don’t know what to say or how to respond. “I’m Kaden,” he finishes.

I want to tell him it’s nice to see him again, or give some flippant hello and laugh at our situation. There’s nothing inside of me that wants to laugh though. I’m burning up. I’m in a state of shock. I’m in a situation I’ve never imagined myself in.

“Nothing to say?” he asks. His fingers still hold my chin, but he reaches one sexy finger up to my cheek and caresses it. Moisture beads on my forehead. I thought I had overheated in the gym. That’s nothing compared to what I feel in this moment.

My clothes are too tight. I want to rip them away. That’s an odd thought. But I can’t breathe. He takes all the oxygen in the room. He moves a tiny bit closer, his body brushing against mine. My heart thunders.

“I noticed you in the gym,” he tells me. He looks down my body though there isn’t much space between us. He can practically see through my clothes, can envision every inch of me. It’s an oddly appealing thought. “You chose an interesting outfit to work out in.”

“I . . . uh . . . I thought I was alone,” I say. I don’t know what else to say. I shake my head, which is hard to do with his fingers still holding my chin. But it helps to clear the fog. “I didn’t realize there was a gym until I got to work today, and I wanted to get some cardio,” I finally finish.

He doesn’t tell me where he was when he saw me, and I don’t press him to say more. I have a feeling a person doesn’t press this man. I know nothing about him, but one word comes to mind as our bodies are practically entwined . . . power. This man has it in spades. This man can have whatever he wants.

“There are many ways to get cardio,” he says with a small smirk that makes him that much more intriguing. “And with a lot more appropriate clothing.”

I’m not sure what that means. I have a good idea, but I fight this attraction between us. I need to tell him to back up, to let go of me. But his finger again traces my cheek and another shudder passes through me; I can’t form words.

He’s leaning forward. He’s going to kiss me. I know I should stop him. He doesn’t know me, doesn’t know I can’t kiss him, can’t do anything with him. I need to tell him I’m not available. But I can’t stop him.

As the heat of his breath sears my slightly parted lips, the elevator jerks, the lights flash on, and then we are moving.

His eyes narrow the tiniest bit as if he doesn’t appreciate the interruption. A slow shiver travels up my spine. I wouldn’t want to be a person who disappoints this man. That wouldn’t be a good idea on the best of days.

“Have a drink with me,” he says. It isn’t a question. It’s a demand.

He steps away from me as we reach the bottom floor. The doors open. Several people are in the lobby, looking worried as one of the security guards holds the doors so they won’t shut again.

“We’re very sorry, Mr. Alexander. It took a moment for the generator to kick on and get the elevator moving.”

Mr. Alexander turns to the man and the spell between us is broken. Now is the time to run. I don’t hesitate as I slip behind him, sneaking into the night before he knows I’m gone.

If I see him again, I’ll calmly explain I won’t be getting drinks with him. I’ll also make sure I don’t get stuck in elevators with him. That means no more after-hour workouts. If I want to get one in, I’ll have to do it on my lunch break or before my shift begins. I won’t put myself that close to temptation again.

This is the first time I’ve been tempted to cheat, to fall into the arms of another man. He’s dangerous. I have no doubt about it. If my marriage was stronger I still would’ve felt some attraction to this man. But I’d have put him in his place, told him he was acting inappropriately. The thing is, though, my marriage is far from secure. I should quit my job right this minute.

But I don’t. This may be my biggest mistake yet.