What the hell am I doing? I think to myself as we race down the hallways of the hotel, giggling like silly teenagers on the run from our parents.

This is Knox Steele... your friend.

Only tonight he doesn’t feel that way at all, and that makes me feel like someone else too. It’s like living in a raunchy fantasy for just a moment. Stepping into someone else’s shoes can be so exciting. Especially for someone like me who never does anything wrong. I’m the good girl who doesn’t get the boys. Well tonight, for one night, that’ll change. And hell, the idea of a naughty escape from reality has my pulse racing so fast I fear I might pass out.

It will only be one night. I hold no illusions about that truth. Knox Steele isn’t the type of guy any girl can or should settle down with. He lives for moments, not a lifetime. He spends more time running away than standing still. He lives for the escape, for the thrill of knowing this second will be different from the next. That’s all anyone will get from him. He was that way back when we were in school, and by the looks of tonight, he hasn’t changed in that department. It’s a side of him that used to put me off. Personally, I wouldn’t dare entertain the idea of being with anyone like that, but right now, there’s a desire deep within me that refuses to care.

Tonight, I want the fantasy.

He’s no longer my friend anyway. We’ll probably never be close again. So fuck it. For tonight, he can be a very memorable one-night stand.

“Here, this room looks unoccupied,” Knox whispers to me. “Care to join me?”

“This isn’t a room, it’s a closet,” I point out. “There isn’t any furniture to…to sit on.”

His eyes turn playful in response to my shy, timid comment, and his hand slides around my waist, pulling me into his chest. “Oh, we don’t need furniture, doll. Besides, you can sit on top of me.”

Oh God, that cocky smile, the dimples that pop out… When he looks at me with that expression, with that face and those eyes, it’s too all-consuming to say no. I can’t resist such temptation, even if it is totally nuts. But since I’m about to do something completely out of character for one night, I may as well go all out crazy. With Knox, and this energy surging between us, it’s bound to be out of this world.

He studies my face and probably realizes that my opinion has changed without my having to express it. That knowing smirk rises up on his face, and he grabs my hand and pulls me along to join him inside the tiny shoebox of a room. There’s so little space that my body presses right up against his as the door swings shut once more, shrouding us in darkness. I can feel Knox’s sexy, muscular, grown-up body, and I know for sure he has to be able to feel my hammering heart. It makes my desperate desire for him obvious, which should be something I feel embarrassed about, but weirdly I don’t.

I want Knox, much more than I’ve ever wanted another man before. It’s without a doubt the first time I’ve ever felt such a strong tug of attraction to anyone. The idea that it might be the alcohol doesn’t discourage me. All I want is to have his hands, his lips, his body on me, to know what my former best friend feels like up close, to finally get my chance to be his girl of the hour, his one-time fling. I can’t wait to see what will happen next. The thought that Knox is far more experienced in playing the field than I am, well it’s a bonus for me, maybe not so much for him, considering my very limited experience in the lovemaking department. Sure, I’m no virgin, but I can count the number of partners I’ve slept with on one hand—on two fingers, if I’m being honest.

“I’m a little surprised we’re here,” Knox whispers lustfully as he traces a finger lightly down my cheek. “I didn’t think you’d want me this way.”

I don’t answer that, mainly because I’m honestly not sure how to. We don’t need a tiny closet to talk about what went wrong with our friendship. I won’t fool myself with delusions of an impending heart to heart that ends in going back to what we were for each other ten years ago. That ship has sailed and we both know it.

Instead of addressing his comment, I shut down any of my remaining hopes by grabbing onto Knox’s shirt collar. I drag his lips back to mine, close my eyes, and step into the moment. Doubts and questions can’t get in the way while our bodies are in such intimate contact. He says my name against my lips and I lose myself completely when his hands find the zipper at the back of my dress. I slide hot, trembling palms up along the front of his shirt, appreciating the feel of what are some wonderful abs, vaguely wondering what his skin might taste like.

Too bad there’s not enough space in here for me to maneuver myself around. Or down. For now, all I can do is touch with my fingertips. Knox pulls from our kiss, wraps his hands around my waist and lifts me off the floor, and with no thought whatsoever, my legs wrap around his hips, causing my dress to ride up my thighs. He presses my back up against the door behind me. Our bodies are wedged together and I feel every inch of his thick erection, hard as steel against my lower belly, and my arousal ramps up another level. I’m drenched between my legs just knowing he’s hard as a rock for me. My body wants to know what he’ll feel like inside of me.

It’s clear to me that he’ll be different from my last two times. My only two times from years ago. For one, it’s Knox. He’s the man of my fantasies. He’s the man I’ve loved as a friend, and for a while, I hated him too. On top of that, he’s big. Huge. Well-endowed with the skill to use it and the expertise to break my will and have me begging for more. At least, that’s what the girls in high school use to say.

“You’re so fucking wet, gorgeous,” he moans at my ear. “Soaking wet… just for me, pretty girl.”

His words make me feel sexier and dirtier than I thought possible, and I freaking love it. I could never convince myself that I was pretty. To have this devastatingly handsome man tell me things he used to say repeatedly back when we were friends, and in this new, hot and sensual context, it’s addicting. In that moment, I know one time won’t be nearly enough. But I won’t set myself up for future pain. More than once is not in the cards for us.

My dress hitches up higher and Knox’s mouth moves away from my ear in one fluid movement. As his kisses work down my neck and over my collarbone, I let my head fall back against the hard, cold surface of the door and wrap myself up in his touch. I don’t know how he does it, but Knox lifts my dress up my body, over my head and drops it to the ground with no effort at all. Before I can fully react to the cool air hitting my skin, his fingers deftly find and remove my bra.

Need and want expand through my body as his head lowers past my collarbone to the flesh of one breast. My back arches, encouraging him to move lower. He’s taunting me, taking his sweet time to tease everywhere but the nipple, inching toward it yet never reaching, and damn, do I need him to get there. I place my hands on his shoulders, letting out a sinful moan that sounds nothing like me as I try to coax him downward, but with my tiny frame compared to his big, broad muscular body, it’s no use. Still, every touch is pure pleasure.

The loud clicking sound of high heels on the marble floor comes from the hallway and I freeze, covering my mouth with one hand as I imagine they must’ve heard my moan.

“What’s wrong?” Knox asks absently but keeps going.

“Shhhh.”

I give it some thought as I wait for the footsteps to subside. This spot wouldn’t be the worst place in the world to be caught, but it’d be a first for me. Somehow, I don’t mind or care too deeply about possible consequences. To the contrary, the fact that anyone at all can walk in on us intensifies the deliciousness of what we’re up to. Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m glad to have Knox bring out this wilder, more adventurous side of me just once. In one New York minute, he’s unleashed my sexual goddess and made me willing to do fun and nasty things in public.

I don’t doubt he has some long-held power over me.

Knox’s lips finally make it to where I’ve been longing to feel him and I gasp. He licks and sucks and flicks, sending me to a whole other world of pleasure.

“Oh God…Knox.” I call his name and he groans against my sensitive flesh, driving my need through the roof to the point where I can’t take it anymore, I need him now. Stretching out my legs, I reach them down as far as they’ll go, hoping my heels will hit the floor. They don’t, not on their own, but Knox soon responds to my moving around and lets me down, our bodies still in close contact as I’m lowered. I hastily tug at the zipper on his slacks, needing him to be free. I don’t want anything to stop this train now that it’s fully on the tracks. I’m having far too much of a good time being the bad girl for once in my life. I can see myself being this way more often. With Knox. The only problem with that vision is it’s not anywhere near reality. This is a one-time thing.

I fumble with his zipper for a second too long, and soon, Knox covers my hand with his, pressing my palm onto his substantial bulge. I’m so wet between my legs already, but touching him there, feeling all that thick, corded muscle, so hard and so ready for me, it causes my clit to tingle and my core to throb. A second later he undoes the zipper himself, dragging my panties down my legs, leaving us both exposed.

As he stands, I’m well aware that there’s nothing in our way anymore, and it feels incredible. My skin is burning up, I’m boiling over with lust, and a wave of heat is radiating from Knox’s body.

“You’re fucking gorgeous, beautiful girl,” Knox says at my ear as he picks me up again and presses his body against mine once more. “This is crazy…what we’re doing. Belle, you have no idea how much I fucking want you.”

I melt in his arms and then he kisses me hard, as if I’m his oxygen tank and he needs me to survive. As he does, he presses his hips onto mine, grinding his hot, bare erection along my folds, driving his tongue into my mouth at the same pace, and I can hardly breathe. He hasn’t entered me yet but I’m already at the brink of insanity.

His hand moves down my arms to my hips, his fingers brushing against my inner thighs. I’m so hypersensitive in that area of my body now, and I know it’s because of him. I shudder without any ability to stop myself, responsive to his every light touch and I don’t feel an ounce of self-consciousness about it. Because it’s him. His hands, his mouth, his body, they all belong on me. His hand travels higher, and higher... His teasing is beyond provocation, the tension’s damn near killing me. I need him inside of me so badly I could scream.

I whimper into his mouth when he gently flicks my clit. A few strums of his fingertips along the spot and without warning, he sends me to a shuddering, powerful climax I didn’t know I had in me.

“Oh God…” I cry out, not caring anymore about who can hear me on the other side of this door. I’m someone else for a little while longer, thank goodness my shy side hasn’t cramped my style this one time.

I’m out of my mind, blissful and incapable of rational thought while pleasure bursts through me, expanding to every part of my body. I’m only partially aware of the sound of crinkling, then the rip of what must be a condom wrapper. His tongue finds mine, greedily exploring, and before I know it, he tightens his grip on my thighs. He thrusts his hips forward, and pushes past my folds, burying into me in one firm, rough movement that cause my eyes to snap shut and my body to go wild. I feel animalistic, crazy, like I’m about to lose myself completely.

Because it’s him. It’s Knox. My Knox. My friend has claimed me, he has taken complete and total control of my body, and I’m more than willing to give myself over to this new person inside me if he’ll continue to make me feel this good.

My nails dig hard into Knox’s shoulders as he pulls back and slams into me. Each time is harder and faster than the time before. The pressure deep in my womb grows and intensifies with each thrust. Every possible right spot is being hit, and my body has no choice but to brace for the tsunami wave that’s about to crash down on me.

“Belle.” Knox’s deep, sexy voice invades my ears, pierces my psyche and has its way with every cell in my body, all the way to my core. “You’re mine, Belle. I should’ve made you mine.”

It could’ve always been like this.

A part of me wants to turn that idea over in my mind, to overanalyze his insane statement, but it’s lost in the heated bliss that spreads through me. An orgasm crashes over me in an overpowering wave, stripping me of everything but pleasure. I whimper, melt into nothingness, while my overheated body clings desperately to Knox. We’re covered in sweat as my pleasure consumes me, and again, Knox presses his lips to mine. He swallows up my sounds as he continues to claim me with every jerk of his hips and with each and every inch he buries deep inside me. Soon, his body tenses, and each movement becomes rougher, shaper, deeper until he utters my name on his lips as he comes deep within me.

We remain in that spot, catching our breaths, silent in our bliss for some time. Thoughts begin to return, as does sanity and logic. I’m sure that we were both right. We shouldn’t have taken things this far, but it’s too late. We’ve created a type of bond that shouldn’t exist between us. The urge is strong to cling onto our connection. I want to turn it into something more than a fling. But I know full well that any second now, Knox will pull out of me, throw his clothes on, and walk away, ending absolutely everything.

Disappointment and regret crush me before he can even let me go, but I don’t let it show. I walked into this with my eyes open. It’s a fling, a one-time deal, so this emotional crap is ridiculous.

Knox Steele will never be mine.

He helps me to my feet, and once we’re dressed and looking more or less respectable again, he kisses my forehead.

“Ready to go?” Knox whispers.

I don’t make any attempt to meet his gaze. I don’t want to see the look of finality in those eyes. “Sure. I need to call a cab.”

“That’s not necessary. My driver will get you home.”

“Are you sure?” I ask and he nods. “Okay. Thanks. Let me just freshen up a bit first. I’ll meet you near the front entrance in a few minutes.” I hate lying, but I don’t want to endure a car ride.

“Sounds good, gorgeous. See you there.”

A clean getaway is the only way.