Ethan already seemed to have the key to a … our … the room. We made our way up in the elevator without speaking. Without touching. I was more nervous than I wanted to be. I could do sex with no strings attached. What was the big deal?

When we reached the door, it swung open to reveal a huge living room overlooking Central Park. It was the most romantic thing I’d ever seen. The ceiling was decorated in what looked like gold leaf. The floors were dark and gleamed against the lights of the city. It looked like a place where a Roman god would live.

“Fuck,” I said, failing to keep what was in my head in my head.

“It’s a great view, isn’t it?”

I nodded and walked toward the window, placing my hands on the glass as I stared out. I wanted to know who this guy was. He certainly wasn’t in construction. Maybe he was a gangster. I reminded myself that it didn’t matter. I wasn’t here for romance or to get to know him. I was here for fun. Distraction without complications.

“Can I get you a drink to go with that view?”

“Whiskey, please,” I replied without turning around. I heard him clink about behind me as I tried to make out various landmarks. “I think I can see the Dakota Building,” I said, as if I were sightseeing, forgetting I was talking to a stranger I was about to have sex with.

“It’s unusual for women to drink whiskey,” Ethan said.

“I guess you’d know.” Again, I didn’t mean for the comment to slip out of my head. Or maybe I did. Maybe I wanted to see what response it would solicit. But there was no response.

“Show me what you’re looking at,” he said, standing behind me, close. I could feel his body heat rolling off him. He handed me my whiskey and dropped his arm around my waist to pull me against him. I stiffened slightly and then relaxed. This was nice. The drink, the view, the Roman god. He smelled of something. Something intoxicating. I couldn’t think what it was. Money. Sex. Power.

My finger stabbed the glass. “There. Is that the Dakota Building?” I pointed at the green-roofed building on the west of the park.

“I don’t think so. I think the Dakota is on the East side.”

“Oh.” I tipped my head back slightly and it fell on his chest. He was tall. Very tall.

He pushed his cheek against mine and lowered his mouth to my neck, his breath tickling my skin. I wanted him. I really wanted him.

“I have more rules.”

He kissed my neck. “Tell me.”

“You have to wear a condom.”

“Right this moment?” he teased.

“No, later when … if.”

“What else?” He kissed my neck again.

“We’re not exchanging numbers or email or saying we’re going to see each other again.”

He moved to the other side of my neck and kissed me again. I could feel myself soften slightly with each touch of his lips.

“Ok,” he replied. “Is that it?”

“For now,” I said. My brain was fuzzy and I couldn’t think of anything else.

“Good.” He pulled away from me and I turned to see him sit down on the sofa opposite the window. “Undress for me.”

I paused, just for a second or two, but there was no saying no to him—and I didn’t want to say no. I fumbled with the top button of my shirt and then steadied my hand and undid the rest of the buttons. I peeled off the tight-fitting blue silk shirt and let it fall to the ground. I looked at him and he was looking me directly in the eyes as he took a sip of his drink. I felt my underwear dampen.

He was just gorgeous, the kind of man you’d find on a billboard in Times Square, but not on a sofa opposite me, waiting for me to get naked. I found the zipper of my skirt and I turned around so my back was facing him as I pulled it down. Bending at my waist, pushing my butt toward him, I stepped out of it. I gave him a quick look over my shoulder. His eyes had darkened and he licked his lips. He actually licked his lips, like he was getting ready to devour me. I turned to face him in my underwear and heels.

“I’ll take care of the rest. Come here,” he growled. I felt heat rush to my sex. I walked across to him and stood between his knees. “Where do I start with you? You’re so beautiful. Like a perfectly wrapped present that gets more exciting as the layers come off.”

I had to stop myself from enjoying his words. I wasn’t here to be romanced. I was here to have fun.

He sat forward suddenly and delved into my underwear, his thumb finding my nub instantly. “You’re already wet for me,” he said as his fingers slid along my folds, coating his fingers with me as his thumb circled my clitoris. My legs softened and my hands fell on his shoulders to steady myself.

He looked up at me. “You like that?”

I gasped and nodded, unable to speak.

“I knew you would. I knew when I saw you across the bar, rolling your eyes at me. I knew this is what you wanted, what you needed.” His fingers quickened and I twisted my hips in some kind of futile resistance. “Stay still while I make you come.”

I tipped my head back as his fingers and thumb continued their work. My whole body felt hot, on fire. The heat was emanating from between my legs and spreading throughout my body. I could feel my nipples straining at the lace of my bra, begging for attention. My shoulders rounded forward.

“Take it off,” he said. “Your bra. Now. Take it off.”

I felt myself shudder at his words. Unsteady and half-crazed, I unsnapped the clasp of my bra and stripped it off.

“Oh, yes. You are perfect. Perfect tits. Perfect pussy.”

“Oh god,” I said. “Oh god. Oh god.” I was gasping for breath.

He reached behind me and pushed me harder on to his hand and he plunged his fingers into me. “I’m your god tonight, beautiful. Now come for me.”

And I couldn’t help myself: My eyes closed and a blinding white light filled my head as my climax crashed over me.

I felt myself weaken, and then Ethan’s arms around me. Had I fallen? I felt softness all around me. Ethan was leaning over me—we were in bed.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hey,” I said, barely conscious. What the hell just happened? I’d always associated good sex with intimacy and maybe love, but this man did mind-blowing things to my body and I’d just met him.

“You look spectacular when you come.” He bent his head and took a nipple between his teeth. I was writhing off the mattress as he alternated grazing and sucking one breast and then the other. My hands pushed into his hair and he pulled me up so I was facing him. For a second he looked at me before inching forward and taking my bottom lip between his teeth. I wanted him again, desperately. I wanted to see him above me, pushing into me, filling me. I grabbed at his back and pulled his shirt from his trousers and scratched down his back. He groaned and plunged his tongue into my mouth, urgent, hungry. I reached down for his fly, impatient for more of him. He kneeled up, bringing my mouth with him as his stripped his shirt off. I pushed him away and turned over and onto all fours.

“Hurry. I want you inside me,” I said.

“Fuck, beautiful.”

I heard him rustling behind me, first with his clothes and then a condom wrapper. I turned and looked over my shoulder and he was staring at my ass.

He kneeled behind me and I felt his hands on my hips. My skin fizzed at his touch and I pushed back, wanting to feel more him.

“Back into position,” he growled. “I’m going to fuck you so hard you’re not going to remember your own name.” And he pushed into me so forcefully that my elbows gave way and I had to steady myself. I was full of him—so full it bordered on uncomfortable. I wasn’t sure if it was because he was big or was because he was deep. Really deep. He withdrew slowly—I was aware of every part of him. His hand found my shoulder, giving me support and him resistance, and he plunged in again, hard and deep.

“Jesus,” I cried out as I felt him at the end of me.

“Yes, baby. That’s it. We’re going to be doing this all night.”

He found his rhythm and I could do nothing but comply. Right then, I would do whatever the hell he asked me to do. And he was the sort of man who would ask for everything.

“All night. We’re going to fuck until you’re sore and still begging me for more. Do you hear me?”

“More. Harder,” I choked.

He grunted and increased his rhythm, pushing farther and farther into me. The rumbling of my orgasm started somewhere far off.

“I can feel you. You feel so good. And you’re close. Aren’t you?” he asked.

“Yes, so close.”

And then he pulled out and I felt his fingers fall from my body. Panicked, I looked over my shoulder.

“I have to see your face. On your back.”

I scrambled to my back, desperate to feel him again, and he pulled me down the bed closer to him and pushed into me again. Oh yes, that was it … right there.

He didn’t take his eyes off of me as my orgasm built again. He put one of my legs over his shoulder and the change in position sent me hurtling toward that light again. I arched off the bed as my orgasm gripped me. Ethan’s rhythm didn’t alter, not for a second, and each stroke pulled out another level of pleasure until I was sure that I would pass out. When it finally subsided enough for me to open my eyes, he was above me still, pushing into me, looking at me.

A second after our eyes met, I felt him tense and watched his eyes cloud as his climax washed over him.

He rolled off me, disposed of his condom, and his hands felt for my body and pulled at me, bringing me closer to him. I got up and went to the bathroom. I was here to have fun, not to cuddle.

I sat on the edge of the bath, still weak from my orgasm, still not quite understanding how sex could be that amazing with a man I just met. I groaned and pushed my hands through my hair. I had to get out of there, before things got awkward. I grabbed a robe from the back of the bathroom door and drew it around me.

As I peeked out the door, Ethan lay sprawled on the bed looking at the ceiling, as if defeated. I smiled and headed to the living room.

“Anna?” I heard him call from the bedroom. I ignored him as I picked up my clothes from the various points around the room at which they were discarded.

“What are you doing?” he asked, his voice closer now. I looked up and found him looking at me from the doorway.

“Umm. I’m finding my clothes. I need to get going—”

Ethan strode across the room, grabbed me by the bottom, lifted me over his shoulder, marched back to the bedroom, and threw me on the bed.

“You’re not going anywhere. I told you we’re going to fuck all night, and I’m not nearly halfway finished.”