Luke signs for the bill and stands up. “Come, Jade,” he growls.

Hell, I almost do, just from the completely authoritative sound of his voice. We walk together out of the restaurant. There is not a word exchanged all the way to the auditorium. We step into the darkened auditorium, and I can feel Luke’s emotions pulsing off him in waves. I don’t dare look up at him because his face seems like a stone mask.

A man with steel rim glasses is on the stage discussing the developing Asian markets. Dr. Marty Rambul is a titan in our field, and I’ve really wanted to hear this particular lecture ever since Luke told me about the conference. At any other time, I would have found this topic, and the accompanying slideshow, absolutely fascinating, but right now, all I can think of is Luke telling me I need to be punished.

Just the thought of it has lit a raging fire inside me. Luke heads to some seats right at the back of the room. We sit next to each other and I can’t focus on anything else, but his hard body next to me. He appears to be entirely absorbed in what the speaker is saying, so I keep shooting glances at him. He is heart-stopping gorgeous in the dim light. Dark shadows accentuate his sharp cheekbones and his powerful jaw. I look at his ripe lips and remember how they felt on mine the night before. How I got lost inside him. The memory thrills me and makes me crave the real thing again. I wish he would kiss me.

He’s sitting so close to me. One shift of my body and we’ll be touching. I don’t dare act on that impulse. We’re in a room full of people. Even though we are sitting in the back row with no one directly around us, I’m not so brave that I can pounce on him in public. No matter how much I want to feel his lips on mine.

Luke looks at me, and my lips part. I desperately try to beam my urge into his brain. Wow, he must have read my thoughts in my eyes, or my body language, because he leans his face close to mine, and I move my face closer to receive the kiss.

Only he doesn’t kiss me. He buries his head in my hair and growls softly into my ear, “Take off your panties, Jade.”

His demand startles me. He can’t be serious. I stare at him, and his eyes glint with something, something dark. And a blazing hunger for me.

“I can’t do that,” I whisper fiercely.

He leans in again. His warm breath tickles my ear, sending warmth fluttering through me. “You can, and you will,” he says so firmly there is no room for argument. His tongue flicks out and licks my ear lobe.

I melt at the feeling.

It’s a crazy request, but there’s no harm in playing this game with him. It must turn him on to think I’m bare under my skirt. It’s not like anyone will notice that I’m not wearing underwear. I’ve never gone commando, but the idea exhilarates me. “Okay,” I say softly and I get up to go to the ladies’ room.

Luke grips my wrist and pulls me down into my seat. “No,” he commands. “Do it now. Right here.”

Fear spikes my chest. I look around the room, where a few hundred people are sitting. Nobody is sitting in the back row with us, but any of these people could turn around and see me at any time. Someone could get up and leave the room. The guy giving the presentation might be able to see me.

“What if someone sees me,” I hiss.

Luke grins wolfishly. “Then you better be careful.”

I glance around the room again, trying to gauge my chances of getting caught. No one would really notice me back here, but all it would take is for someone to stand up and walk back here. Then I’d be caught with my pants down, literally.

The very idea scares me a little, but I realize I’m also astonishingly turned on and excited by the thought. There’s something so incredibly naughty and erotic about exposing myself to him in public. Then again, maybe it’s Luke’s eyes roving over my body with a heated anticipation that’s egging me on. Or maybe it’s the stern expression on his face. There is no doubt in my mind that this is my punishment.

All I know is I’m going to do it.

I lift my skirt up to my thighs. Luke stares at my revealed flesh like he wants to devour it. The way he looks at me makes me feel sexy. It keeps me going. I look down and my skin seems almost to glow in the darkness. Too obvious. If anyone looks my way, they’re going to notice immediately, but I take a deep breath and go for it.

I hike my skirt up to reveal my lacy red panties. Luke stares at them, and it’s like a physical touch. He radiates excitement beside me, sending a thrill through me. I sit up subtly in the seat, lifting my ass. Hooking my fingers into my underwear, I slide them down.

Luke is breathing heavily now as he looks between my legs.

My heart hammers in my chest. I am exposed and vulnerable. My core clenches with arousal. This is so risky and insane, but damn it, if it isn’t getting me so hot, I can barely stand it.

I slip my panties the rest of the way off and tug my skirt down to hide my nakedness. Then I look at Luke almost proudly. I’d met his challenge.

His eyes dance with desire. He takes the panties from my hand and lifts them up to his face. He inhales the scent of me deeply.

It’s sexy as hell, but now anyone can turn around and see what he’s doing. I yank his hand down to his lap to hide my panties from view.

He smiles seductively at me and stuffs my underwear into his jacket pocket, like he’s claiming them as a prize.

I clench my thighs together to still the desperate ache there. Why the hell was this turning me on so much? If I don’t find a way to calm down, I’m going to soak right through my skirt.

Luke leans back in his chair and turns his attention back to the speaker.

Confusion fills me. Was that it? Are we done? I follow his lead and settle into my seat as well. That’s when I feel his hand on my thigh.

I keep my expression neutral, but inside, I’m in a frenzy of excitement. I should have known he wasn’t finished with me.

His hand inches under the hem of my skirt until it is completely hidden. He caresses the sensitive skin on my inner thigh.

I want to stop him. If this keeps going, I have no idea how someone won’t see us. But I’m too far gone. Desire takes ahold of me, and my sex burns with need. I let him keep going and just pray no one can see what’s happening.

“Open,” he whispers.

Dear God.

Luke’s finger dips between my silky folds. I grit my teeth to keep the moan from escaping my throat. It comes out in a trembling breath instead. I look at Luke, my eyes wide, but he’s looking straight ahead. Last night was hotter than anything that has ever happened to me, but this…this is a whole new level.

He continues to stroke me, and I grip the arms of my chair to steady myself. Each touch of his hand makes my hips want to squirm. I feel extra sensitive for some reason, maybe because of all the sex last night or because I know we shouldn’t be doing this. It’s dangerous and wrong, which strangely, just seems to heighten my senses.

Luke slicks his thumb in my juices and swirls it over my hard, throbbing clit.

It’s like an electric shock jolts through me. I close my eyes. As much as I don’t want to, I groan at the feeling. I try to cover the sound by turning it into a cough, but to me, it sounds utterly fake. No one turns around to look at me, though, which is good. I’m too wound up to feel relief.

The man talking on the podium in front of us practically vanishes from my consciousness as Luke lightly pinches my sensitive nub before his thumb plunges inside me. He forms a V with his fingers and slides it up either side, making me shift in my seat. How has no-one noticed us yet? I can only pray that we don’t get thrown out before I climax.

He’s moving with a steady, hypnotic rhythm. Every touch brings me closer and closer to the edge. I fight the feelings building inside me. I can’t let myself go. If I do, there’s no way I can keep quiet.

Pressure builds inside me like a volcano about to blow. Luke keeps caressing me, never letting up the delicious tempo. He’s dragging me kicking and screaming over the edge. I can’t stop him. I don’t even want to stop him anymore. It feels too good. I barely care that I’m about to embarrass myself in front of an auditorium full of people. Rational thought is gone. I know I won’t last anymore. I clench my teeth to keep from crying out.

“Look at me,” he murmurs, his voice low but undoubtedly delivering an order.

My eyes flip open, and I meet his gaze. And that is it. No holding back. Pleasure erupts inside me, and I moan louder than I’ve ever moaned before.

At that exact moment, the entire room bursts into applause.

Jesus, are they clapping for me?

Through the haze of pleasure, I see the speaker on stage taking a bow. He just finished his lecture. They’re clapping for him. No one heard the sound of my orgasm. Luke had timed my orgasm to finish with the speaker.

I curl up on my seat and let pleasure pulse through me. Luke’s thumb is still inside me but no one is paying attention to me except Luke. He’s the only one seeing me tremble uncontrollably. But he likes what he sees.

Finally, I slump back in my chair, satisfied and spent. Aftershocks of bliss pass through me, but the danger has passed. I’m free to savor the feelings rolling inside me. Luke catches the back of my head in one hand and lifts his other, the one that had, only a few moments ago, been in my pussy, to my lips. I open my mouth at once, and he slides his fingers past my lips. I massage them with my tongue, taking my time so I can taste myself on him, sucking lightly and watching as his brow furrow with arousal. That gives me an idea. It’s a risky idea, but two can play at this game. I release his fingers.

Luke looks down at me, a crooked smile on his face. “So, what did you think?”

I laugh and shake my head. “Best Asian Development seminar ever.”