“Dustin…” I grumbled to him as I pulled myself out of the limo. I started to go around to the other side to meet him, but he caught me halfway. The entrance to the hotel was before us—just behind him. I could’ve gone past him. I shouldn’t have been with him in the first place.

Why did I think things would be better this time? Just me making another mistake… “Dustin, what the fuck was that?” I shouted at him, not caring if anyone else around heard me.

“What?” he asked, shrugging slightly. “You act like that was the first time you’d ever…”

“What the Hell is wrong with you, Dustin?” I pointed at his chest, and his plain expression stayed the same.

“Are you going to try to stand here and act like you didn’t like it at all?” he asked, crossing his arms and looking almost disappointed in me.

I gasped, shocked at his inquisition. “What?! How dare you even…?!”

He chuckled a little and cocked his head to the side. “Come now. You’re not even trying to deny it…”

The look in his eyes was primal—daring me to say something against him. “Dustin… That was… Disgusting…” I looked away from him, my arms stuck to my sides. “I thought we were going to have a fun time at the beach, but obviously not… I’m always getting into these situations with you. Is it really worth it?”

The question had been around in my mind for a while, but it’d finally came out. I expected him to look surprised, but he was still stuck on the same cool expression. Despite the anger welled up inside of me, I could tell that the heat from how I felt earlier was still with me. Every movement brought on that feeling of slickness between my legs I wished I could ignore.

It was an astute reminder of who I could be. What Dustin wanted me to be.

“I’ll leave that up to you to decide, Bianca.” Without realizing it, he’d gotten a little closer to me. “But I know that you liked it. The way you were watching them and squirming in your seat…” My eyes widened, my entire body visibly shaking.

Fuck. I couldn’t think of anything to say.

Dustin nodded knowingly and said, “Oh yes, Bianca. I know. I know that you couldn’t stop watching even if you wanted to.” He paused for a second to snicker. “Except you didn’t even try.” He walked around to the other side of the limo.

As he climbed in, I looked on in disbelief. A man like him seemed to know everything about me without so much as trying to. Did a man like him even have to try? I stood there for a few moments, watching the limo drive off.

People walked past me to get into the lobby. I contemplated taking a seat on the stairs but ultimately decided against it. Lost in my own thoughts, I held myself atop the stairs. The wetness was seeping into my panties, and I could feel the trace pulses ongoing in my sex. I couldn’t shake the feeling—I knew. I’d never had a man make me feel this way.

I’d never had a man make me feel this rush and had it last long after he was gone. This wasn’t a daydream I could snap myself out of. When it came to Dustin, I didn’t seem to have any answers. Just thinking about him made me feel uneasy, but it was an uneasiness that attracted me to him as well.

“I’m going to hate myself for this,” I muttered to myself as I turned and ran up the stairs, my panties rubbing against my womanhood. The feeling of need was suffocating me. I had to let it all out. I needed it.

As soon as I got in my hotel room, I slammed the door behind myself and turned the lights out. It was finally time to make myself relax.

And whether I liked it or not. Dustin was going to help.

* * *

“Huff… Hahh… F-fuck… Dustin… R-right there… Mmmnn… Yeah, just like that… Just like that…!” I pressed my head back against the pillow. Pleasure assaulted every part of my body. It hardly felt as though I was using my own fingers. My mind was too set on Dustin.

His face, his body, and his every movement were locked into my subconscious. I could easily imagine our encounter starting up just like that couple’s in the limo. Wild and nearly animalistic. Unrestrained by what people think is “normal” or right or wrong. The only thing that’d matter is the way he would make me feel.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew that I shouldn’t be thinking about him this way. He was my client in a case. Dustin could even be a criminal for all I knew, but that’s what made me like it. That’s what made me want him the way that I did. It was that thick aura of mystery. The heat and the cold mixing perfectly to make me want more than just a taste of him.

I wanted all of him.

“There… Ahhh… Oh, God, yes! I’m almost…!” I could feel myself getting closer to ecstasy. It was just a few more strokes away when my phone started vibrating against my ear. Initially, I ignored it, hoping the person would give up after the line failed to connect. However, when the person calling persisted, I was forced to take my hand away from myself, losing focus.

I groaned, knowing it’d take ages to get back to where I was before. “Hello?” I asked as I answered the call.

“Hey, Ace,” a deep voice on the other end replied.

My own voice was breathy and heavy as I asked, “Dustin?” Eyes widening and hands shaking. I could hardly believe it. It was like he knew.

“You’d be correct, dear attorney.”

I sat up, frustration strangling me. Any sensation of pleasure I’d felt just moments ago was swept away by Dustin’s presence. The conflicting feelings confused me more than anything. I was more comfortable with him in my thoughts than I was with him in person. Am I afraid of him? I wondered.

“What do you want, Baldwin?” I nearly hissed, not bothering to hide my distaste for him.

“Listen, I know things went a little sour last time we saw each other. I’d hate for things to be like that since we’re supposed to be working together on this case. I was thinking that we could catch some dinner tomorrow evening and talk about the case some more.”

Dinner? What are you trying to pull here? “We’ve already been unprofessional enough. I don’t think having another ‘dinner’ would be a very good idea knowing you. Things would just end up…”

“Bianca, come now. You can’t be telling me what I think you are. You’re turning down more information? I thought this case was important to you.”

“It’s…” I grunted in frustration. The words all got caught up in my mouth, and my tongue tied itself into a knot. He wants to play this game? Fine. I can play it too, Baldwin. “If I agree, then that means that this will be strictly about business. We’re going to talk about the case, and that’s it. You understand?”

“Of course. That sounds like a lovely evening, Ms. Reed. Do tell me though, how did your night end up going? You sound a little…sleepy. An evening jog, perhaps?”

“Not…exactly…” I blushed a little, his voice caressing my ears. “But I’m not as upset as I used to be, no.”

“Mmm… I apologize for the uneducated inquiry. It’s just that I know there’s a park nearby. I used to go there myself when I was younger…”

He’s trying to distract me again! “Weren’t we talking about dinner, Dustin?”

“Ah, right. I wanted to take you to a little place on the outskirts of town. The people there are a little more energetic than the people here, but they can be just as friendly. I don’t know if you’ve ever had a home cooked meal in Brazil, Bianca, but at this place, they’ll make you think you grew up here.”

“It’s not going to end in another one of your ‘parties,’ is it?” I couldn’t help the bitterness in my tone.

“If things go according to plan, I don’t see any parties in my future for a while. I’m all yours for the evening, and nothing is off the table. If you think it’ll help with the case, then I’m all too happy to tell you anything about me or my business.”

“You better be telling the truth, Dustin. I’ve wasted enough time with the parties and…”

“Yes, yes. I’m well aware that you think you’ve wasted your time. Heh. At least that’s what you keep telling me.”

“What do you mean by that?” I asked, annoyed.

He sighed into the phone. “Don’t worry about it. Enjoy your night, Bianca. I’ll see you tomorrow night with as many mental notes as I can.”

Click.

I tossed the phone to the side and drew in a deep breath. “Damn that guy…” I groaned, sprawling out on the bed. “He thinks he’s so smart…and charming…and…”

Just hearing myself talk about him was enough to get me flustered. I grasped my hair in bunches, trying to force myself to calm down and take some slow breaths. “He’s a client. That’s all he is. I need to focus on the case and get this over with…” I turned to the side with a huff, my body starting to slightly shiver.

“How did I get myself into this? All I wanted was to do well in the case of my life…and now… Now I’m here…” I closed my eyes slowly, feeling them growing heavier.

My lips pressed into the pillow, mumbling my final words. “All right, Mr. Baldwin. Tomorrow night I’m going to get what I need, and that’s it. No more chances.”

No more chances.