“Monica?” Allyson gasped. “What’re you doing here?”

“You’d know I was coming if you ever answered my calls,” Monica replied. She waltzed in, the picture of stylish refinement. Allyson and Monica looked very much alike, from the dark hair to the green eyes. However, her older sister was taller, more slender. Monica’s long raven hair cascaded down her shoulders. She was always in excellent shape, spending hours at the gym to keep that lawyer husband of hers satisfied. Not that it mattered. Monica’s husband was barely around, but the family didn’t comment on it because she’d married well and that was all that mattered.

“I’ve been meaning to get back to you,” Allyson said weakly. “It’s just that I’ve been busy.”

Monica scoffed and then glanced at Nicky. “You must be the other Handel. Your sister has told me about you.”

“Katherine has never mentioned you,” Nicky said, sounding puzzled. “But you look so much like Allyson that you must be a relative.”

“I’m Monica, the much better-looking sister.” Monica smiled mischievously.

“You’re both equally lovely,” Nicky said. “Are you here to see my sister or your sister?”

Monica laughed. “Everything’s so tangled up. If Allyson had taken some of my calls she’d know I’m here to see Katherine. It’s very urgent.”

“Tell you what,” Nicky started, “why don’t you two catch up while I go find Katherine?”

“Fine with me,” Monica chirped as Nicky headed out of the office.

Allyson crossed her arms and regarded her sister warily. “What’re you doing here?”

“I told you. I’m here to see Katherine,” Monica replied. “From the look on your face I assume she told you I’m the one who set her straight about your so-called wedding with Dane.”

“She did,” Allyson said tightly. “Why are you even here? To cause more drama?”

“Drama?” Monica’s green eyes flashed in anger. “I’m not the one who brought a fake boyfriend to my brother’s wedding. I’m not the one who pretended to be married to my boss just for publicity. I didn’t tell Katherine Handel the truth to hurt you, Allyson. I did it to protect you. From yourself.”

“I don’t need you,” Allyson snapped. She had avoided confronting her sister for this very reason. Getting into a fight with her wasn’t going to solve anything. It would just make her frustrated and angry. Worse, Monica would probably drag their family into this mess and force them to choose sides. No doubt they’d choose Monica’s side like they always did. Monica was beautiful, worked at an illustrious PR firm, and was married to a hot shot lawyer. Of course, they would side with her.

“Clearly,” Monica said bitterly. “I got that message loud and clear since you’ve ignored every one of my calls and texts.”

“I’ve been busy,” Allyson said through gritted teeth. “Dane’s father had a heart attack.”

“So? Why would some executive’s health problems be an assistant’s problem?” Monica demanded. “Unless...that executive means more to you because of your relationship with Dane.”

Allyson hesitated. This was a trap. She could feel it. “Dane and I don’t have a relationship,” she lied.

“We caught you two in bed together after the wedding,” Monica pointed out. “It’s kind of a hysterical irony. First you lied about dating Dane, and then you slept with him. And nobody knows. I wonder why—”

“Because it’s nobody’s business,” Allyson interrupted desperately. “It happened once. A... A mistake.”

“For him or you?” Monica laughed cruelly. “I suspect the reason you two went along with that wedding charade was to hide what was really going on. You were screwing your boss. I heard your renewed contract improved a lot and I bet you sleeping with him helped. People will accept a marriage, but sex is much more scandalous than a wedding.”

“Please leave.” Dread made Allyson’s heart race. Monica wasn’t exactly right about the reason for their lie, but she was close enough to the truth that the semantics didn’t matter.

“Not before I talk to Katherine Handel.” Monica smiled, her entire face lighting up with glee. “I bet she’d love to hear about you screwing Dane Prescott. Or was it the other way around? Who screwed whom?”

“Wait—”

Suddenly, the office door opened again and Katherine Handel stepped inside.

***

Allyson fled Nicky’s office, on the verge of tears. She stumbled down the hall until she made it to the elevator. There was nobody inside but she still fought back tears as the elevator climbed up to the fiftieth floor. As she stepped out, she practically crashed into Dane.

“What’s wrong?” His eyes narrowed. “Did Nicky say something?”

Her vision blurred. “No, it’s nothing like that.”

After Katherine had appeared she and Monica left for Katherine’s office, leaving Allyson behind. Somehow, she managed to have a quick meeting with Nicholas; as soon as the meeting ended she had raced out to find Dane. It was stupid of her to go running to her boyfriend at the first sign of trouble, but Monica always had a way of making her feel inferior. Not to mention her blabbing the truth to that horrible Katherine Handel meant she and Dane would be exposed.

The expression on his face softened. “Tell me what happened.”

She glanced around. Some of the staff members were looking curiously in their direction. Right now, she felt like she was in a fish bowl. Being watched and studied by outsiders who couldn’t possibly understand. “Not here.”

He nodded, and after a few moments of waiting guided her back into the elevator. She followed him down through Prescott Global’s lobby and into his luxury car.

“Where are we headed?” she asked, sliding into the passenger seat.

He got behind the wheel and started maneuvering the car away from Prescott headquarters. “The hotel. We’re starting our dinner early.”

“I might get in trouble for skipping work,” she pointed out.

“You might. But I’ll say it was all my fault. I’m territorial like that. Can’t let anything go.”

She smiled in spite of herself.

When they arrived at the Prescott Hotel, Dane escorted her to the Presidential Suite. The luxurious room was ultramodern, decorated in leather sofas, glass tables, and chrome accents.

After setting her purse down on a sofa, she looked around the expansive living room in amazement. “It’s even bigger than the room we had at the Lodge.”

He smiled. “Usually this room is occupied by some VIP guest, but I pulled some strings just for you.”

“You’re spoiling me again.” She tried to sound serious, but she was already smiling.

“As you should be,” he said. “Care for a tour?”

Her eyes widened. Nobody had ever given her a tour of a hotel room. Mostly because she’d never been in rooms that were big enough for tours. “Yes. Thank you.”

He showed her around the two living rooms, the two master bedrooms, the enormous bathroom, and the private terrace that came complete with a hot tub.

When they headed back into the living room, he took her hand and stared deep into her eyes. “What’s troubling you?”

“Not now,” she replied. Dane was dealing with stress she couldn’t even imagine. Her problems with her sister were nothing compared to what he was going through. Besides, just being alone with him made her feel lighter somehow. Like her troubles couldn’t possibly get to her.

“We don’t have to talk,” he said in a low voice that awakened a primal urgency in her. An inferno raged in his blue eyes.

Suddenly her entire body was flushed with heat. The place between her thighs ached with desire. She craved him with an intensity she didn’t know was possible. “No, we don’t. But you can help me out of my dress if you want.”

***

He wanted her so much he could barely stand it. The moment she whispered those words he turned her around to pull down the zipper of her dress.

His heart slammed in his chest, the anticipation of having her after weeks almost driving him into a frenzy. But he took his time, unzipping her like he was unwrapping a gift. Revealing that tantalizing glimpse of creamy skin, the clasp of her bra, the curve of her back as it sloped down to her ass.

Allyson let out a breathy sigh as the tight dress slipped down her body. After she stepped out of the black fabric, she kicked the dress aside and leaned into him.

Dane groaned, her body pressing up against his making him rock-hard. Her back was still facing him so he planted a kiss on her smooth neck, kissing a trail down to her shoulder. He felt her shiver under his touch, and he loved how eagerly she reacted to him.

“Do you want me on the couch, the floor, or the bed?” she breathed.

“Everywhere,” he said in her ear.

She laughed, the husky sound turning him on. Allyson pulled out of his reach to turn and face him. His eyes wandered down her gorgeous body. He didn’t know where to settle on, each part of her distracting him. From her lush red lips to her full breasts secured behind that pink bra. From her lacy panties down to the red stilettos she had on. Looking at her was sweet torture. If he didn’t touch her again soon he knew he would explode.

“How about the floor first?” Her voice was an inviting purr.

She got down on the plush carpet and smiled seductively. He felt the blood rushing through his veins. Desire consumed him. Somehow, he got out of his clothes until he was down to his boxer briefs. He grabbed a cushion from the sofa and placed it behind her head as he joined her on the floor.

As he lay down beside her he watched Allyson reach back to unclasp her bra, revealing her breasts. Her breasts were exquisite. He cupped one in his hand, his thumb brushing across her nipple. A soft moan escaped her throat at the contact.

Leaning forward he took her nipple in his mouth, eliciting another moan from her. He sucked her nipple, swirling his tongue around until he had her panting. Then he turned his attention to her other nipple, taking the pink bud into his mouth, sucking hard.

“Please, Dane,” she begged. “I want you.”

He pulled back and raised an eyebrow. “Want me to what?”

She laughed and ran her hand through his hair. “You know what I want. Don’t make me say it.”

“No,” he said gruffly. “I want to hear you say it. Tell me what you want.”

Allyson closed her eyes, her cheeks turning pink. “I want you to make me come.”

He flashed her a lopsided grin. “How many times?”

“Arrogant man!” But she started laughing again and reached down to pull off her pink panties.

He helped her slide them off, the sight of her exposed sex almost making his brain shut down. As she reached down to take off her high heels he gently took her hand, trying to stop her. “Keep them on.”

Her ruby-red lips curved into a saucy smile. “Okay. Now hurry.”

She spread her legs for him, the explicit sight of her bare flesh turning him on so much he couldn’t breathe. Allyson’s nude body was so beautiful, so inviting. They hadn’t been together in more than two weeks but it might as well have been an eternity. Quickly, he got out of his boxer briefs and positioned himself between her legs.

“Are you ready for me?”

“Yes,” she said breathlessly.

His lips met hers, and as he teased her mouth open with his tongue he guided his aching erection into her tight, wet heat. The combination of their mouths and bodies joined together was so erotic he thought he might climax. But he wanted to share this pleasure with Allyson, so instead he focused on how good he wanted to make her feel.

As she returned his kiss, her tongue dancing with his, he started to thrust into her. He kept the pace slow, leisurely wanting to make the pleasure last for as long as possible.

Allyson ended the kiss to wrap her legs around his waist. The fact that she still had her sexy heels on excited him. She cried out and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He gripped one of her thighs as he pumped into her. Pleasure overtook his body, and he groaned.

They had been apart for so long that, each time he plunged into her, he felt like he was losing himself inside her. Becoming part of her.

She begged him not to stop. Her nails dug into his back, the sweet pain spurring him on. She clenched around him; the pleasure shot through every part of his body. Dane rocked into her faster until he lost control. He came hard and fast. From her ecstatic cries, he knew she climaxed right after him.

They held on to each other, until the waves of pleasure subsided and his heart rate started to slow down. Reluctantly, he pulled out of her. Then, he gathered her into his arms and carried her into one of the bedrooms to set her down on the king-sized bed.

He got in bed beside her and gazed at her. Committed her beautiful face to memory. He had never made love to a woman before. Not really. Not like this. Dane knew he had always cared about her, but something had just happened that he couldn’t explain. Maybe he’d wrap his mind around it soon. As he took her hand in his all he knew was that, no matter what happened, from this moment on, he couldn’t live without her.