He wants me to get naked in a glass elevator? Someone will see. Even at this time of night, it's a risk.

His eyes are on fire. There's something about his expression that commands me. My body moves of its own accord. My hands go to my zipper.

I hesitate. Can I really do this?

"I'm not going to ask again."

He's staring back at me.

My nipples tighten, my body answering for me.

I have to do this. I have to give myself to him.

I pull the zipper as low as it will go.

Nick pushes the dress off my left shoulder. My breast spills out, on display to anyone in a passing elevator, anyone in the hallway next to the elevator bank.

My sex clenches.

He does the same with the right shoulder. There's nothing covering me above the waist.

I'm exposed.

To him.

To anyone who happens to see.

The thought sends a shiver down my spine. I go to push my dress to my feet but Nick stops me.

"You don't get a say in when you take off your dress." His eyes are on fire. "Not when we're doing this."

I nod.

He runs his fingertips over my collarbones. "Turn around."

He positions me so I'm facing the elevator doors.

We have another ten floors to go. Someone could see me. All of me.

His chest presses against my back. His crotch presses against my ass.

He's hard, but he's so patient about bringing his hands to my stomach and tracing the line of my zipper. His fingers find my nipple and tease mercilessly.

I stare out the glass doors. There isn't a single part of me that wants him to stop. How can I be willing to risk so much for a man? For my sexual release?

There's something about Nick. I want to submit to him. I want to be under his control.

His lips press against my neck. He kisses me as he toys with my nipples. My hips shift of their own accord. My body is desperate for him.

"Put your hands on the wall." He motions to the spot next to the elevator door.

We're almost there. Five floors. There's someone on this floor, at the end of the hallway.

They turn towards us, but there's no way to tell if they can see.

I bring my hands to the wall. They're so clammy that they slide right off the glass.

I wipe them on my dress and try again. Better.

My legs shake as Nick slips his hands under my dress, over my ass. His fingers skim the outside of my panties.

"You're dripping," he groans.

Again, I shift my hips, a desperate attempt to feel more of him.

He pulls his hand away. I sigh from the loss of touch.

"You do what I say, when I say it. Not before. Not after." He drags his fingertips up my thighs, stopping at the top of my stockings to play with the lace.

I fight my desire to press my body against his.

"What if I want you to stop? If something hurts or—"

"We use a code." His palm presses against the outside of my panties. "A traffic light. Red means stop. Yellow means slow down. Green means go."

He pushes my thong out of the way and slips a finger inside me.

I gasp, my hand struggling to keep its hold on the wall.

One floor to the penthouse.

Finally, the elevator stops at the top floor. The doors open but Nick doesn't move.

When his teeth sink into my shoulder, I lose interest in the elevator. In anything except his body against mine.

He slides another finger inside me. Deeper and deeper until it's so much it hurts.

I cry out.

"Yellow?" he asks.

"Yellow."

His touch softens. It's still intense but not painfully so.

I gasp as he pulls his hands away. He rolls my dress over my thighs then pulls my thong to my knees.

I'm completely exposed to him.

My cheeks flush.

He lets out a low groan of approval. "You're beautiful."

"Me or my cunt?"

"Both." He teases me with his fingertip. "I like your wit, but not when we're doing this. I don't want to feel any defenses. If you're nervous, tell me you're nervous."

"Okay." My stomach flip-flops. Somehow, that promise feels more exposing than having my ass in the air.

"Get smart about sex again and you go to bed wanting again. Understand?"

"Yes."

His teasing is merciless.

Pleasure spreads through my body. He's not touching me properly. I need him to touch me properly.

My hips shift an inch, pushing his finger inside me.

He pulls his hand back. "You like being exposed to me."

"Yes."

"You want to come on my hand?"

My sex clenches. God, yes. "Yes."

"Then stay still."

He teases me again, and again, and again. It takes every ounce of strength I have not to force him deeper.

I'm so wound up, so desperate to feel him properly.

I groan. "Nick. Please."

He scrapes his teeth against my shoulder. "Please what?"

"Fuck me."

"Soon." He slides a finger inside me.

I sigh with relief.

His movements are rough, aggressive. He scrapes his nails against my hips as he goes deeper and harder.

My eyelids press together. My breath goes erratic. Nick is so good at this. He's so precise. And the way he's groaning—

Pressure builds between my legs. I moan in ecstasy. Almost there.

It takes great concentration to stay still. I want so badly to rock my hips so he's deeper inside me.

I need more. I need it faster.

I need to come.

He brings his lips to my neck as he finger-fucks me. His kiss is as hard and aggressive as his hand.

I lean into his body, trying my best to melt. It's not the easiest position. My legs shake. My hands threaten to slip.

But I'm on the edge. I can't do anything that might make him stop.

His strokes push me closer. Almost. I squeeze the glass between my fingers.

There. My sex pulses as I come. Pleasure spreads out through my legs. It's too much to take. My arms fall to my sides. My knees buckle.

Nick catches me, scooping me into his arms. He carries me the way he did in San Francisco.

We move into the penthouse apartment. It's too dark to make out the details. I can only sense the massive size of the place. The living room must be a thousand square feet. There are windows everywhere. They look out on the Hudson River.

Nick lays me on a plush leather couch. He sits next to me, slides my legs into his lap, and gently removes my glasses.

Things get blurry, but he's close enough that I can make out his expression. He's still patient.

"Can I get you anything?" His fingertips trail over the inside of my knee.

"No thank you." My cheeks flush. It's alarming how calm he is.

"I picked up a bottle of rum and another of Diet Coke."

My stomach flutters. It's soda, not a love letter. I tell my muscles to relax, but the anticipation makes it impossible. "Okay."

He slides my legs off him as he rises to his feet. My dress is halfway off so I pull it over my head and leave it a heap on the floor.

It served its purpose.

Now, it's useless.

Nick returns with two drinks. He sets them on the coffee table and sits next to me.

I push myself up and turn my body towards his.

He's so close.

Desire spreads over his face as he looks me up and down. He reaches for me and runs his thumb over my lower lip.

My eyes flutter closed. I turn towards the windows, overwhelmed by the intimacy of his touch.

His thumb trails down my chin, his palm resting on my cheek.

He kisses me, sucking on my lower lip with that same precision.

I'm greedy about exploring his mouth. Whiskey and Nick. It's an intoxicating combination. More intimate than him finger-fucking me in an elevator. More intimate than anything I've ever felt.

I sigh into his mouth, melting against his body.

Our kiss breaks. He runs his hand through my hair, his eyes focused intently on me. I shift closer, trailing my hands up his thigh to feel his erection.

How can he be patient when he's this fucking hard?

He grabs my hand and brings it back to my side. "You don't touch me unless I give you permission."

"You don't like it?"

He answers by pinching my nipple. He does it again. Harder. Harder. Then hard enough I cry out.

His touch softens. He draws circles around me with his thumb. "It's flattering that you're eager, but it's not going to get you anywhere."

"Okay." I relax into his touch. My eyes flutter closed as he moves to my other nipple, teasing, then pinching.

Every motion of his hands sends a pang of desire to my core.

I lose track of my breath. My body is humming with pleasure. I'm so desperate it hurts. "Please."

"How is your back?"

"Doesn't hurt at all."

He stands, offering his hand. I follow him in a room adorned with string lights. They cast the room in a soft white glow, almost like candlelight.

He motions for me to sit on the purple sheets. They're nice, silk, soft and sleek like they're new.

"For me?" I ask.

He nods like it's normal to buy a girl sheets in her favorite color.

He shuts the door behind him and turns his attention to me. "Lie on your back and put your hands over your head. I'm going to bind your wrists."

A rush of anticipation passes though me. He's going to tie me up?

Nerves build in my stomach. I shift so I'm all the way on the bed, lie back, and pull my arms over my head.

Nick unknots his tie. He peels off his suit jacket and undoes the top two buttons of his shirt.

It takes everything I have not to pounce and press my hands against his skin.

He pulls something from under the bed. It's a restraint system with silver buckles and supple leather straps. It's anchored somewhere beneath the mattress. It will put me totally at his mercy.

Nick sits next to me. He looks down at me, watching my expression as he teases my nipples. Softly, then harder, then hard enough to make me whimper.

"Nick." I grab his thigh and sink my fingers into it. "Please. Please fuck me."

"Arms over your head."

I follow his command. He buckles the straps of the restraints so they're secure around my wrists.

I flex my forearms to test their strength. Tight enough I can't move but not enough to cut off my circulation. Not enough to make me feel trapped.

He pulls something else from the bed—a wedge-shaped pillow, also purple, about a foot high and two feet wide.

I look at him as if to ask for an explanation.

He responds by lifting my ass and sliding the pillow under it.

It's a sex pillow.

"Is that also for me?" I ask.

"Yes."

He undoes his buttons one at a time then slides his shirt off his shoulders.

Desire overwhelms me. It pushes away my nervous energy.

He stands to slide out of his slacks and boxers. It's almost like he's stripping for me.

I take in the contours of his body the best I can. Those broad shoulders, that strong chest, the narrow waist.

Nick's eyes connect with mine. He stares at me like he knows I'm gawking.

There's no shyness on his face. Only confidence.

He grabs a condom and kneels next to me.

His lips press against mine. There's less softness. His movements are hard. Needy.

I kiss back, exploring his mouth with my tongue.

Nick unwraps the condom and slides it over his cock.

His hands go to my knees and pry them apart. With my ass on the pillow and him kneeling, our bodies are perfectly aligned. He's inches away.

My sex clenches from anticipation.

He pulls out bodies together. His cock strains against my sex, teasing me.

I groan.

He does it again.

My body pulses with anticipation. So close to getting what it wants but not there yet.

Again. Again. Again.

"Nick. Please." I squeeze my knees against his hips.

He adjusts my legs so my feet touch the bed. He's holding me in the air, in bridge pose. The weight of my hips is in his hands.

"You want to come again?" He rakes his nails over my hips.

"Yes."

"Use me."

Use him? He must mean his cock. My sex clenches in anticipation. He's making me work for it. There's something thrilling about that.

I ease my weight into my legs, tilting my hips to test my range of motion. I shift my hips. Again, his cock strains against me. It's not enough.

I arch my hips again. He strains against me.

Almost.

I sigh as he slides inside me. God, that feels good. Like everything in the universe is where it's supposed to be.

He groans. His nails sink into my hips. But his grip doesn't falter. He's still holding me just enough that I can barely move.

It takes a few tries to test where to put my weight. Once I've got it, I shift my hips as much as I can. It pushes him deep inside me. I do it again. Again. Again.

Sensation overwhelms me. I have to close my eyes to contain it. I forget about any hint of shyness, forget that he's so composed, and I let out a loud moan.

I get louder the deeper and harder I push him. All the muscles in my lower body get tired. My legs are already spent, but I can't stop now.

I go harder. Harder. Until it's just right, then I shift again and again.

His eyes fill with pleasure. His shoulders shake. He's close, too. I want to feel him.

A few more thrusts, and I'm greedy. I'm so achy I can't stand it anymore. I need to come. Screw everything else.

I lose control of my breath, groaning with pleasure as I rock my hips against him.

God dammit, he feels good.

An orgasm rises up inside me. It's so much more intense than the last. Everything in me clenches tight. It releases in a wave of pleasure. So much it knocks me to my ass.

Nick shifts off me. He pushes the pillow aside, lowers me onto the bed, and presses my legs apart.

In one quick movement, he lays his body on mine and thrusts into me.

God yes.

He rocks into me. I open my eyes to watch the pleasure fill his expression. It's a good look on him. It's sexy as hell.

He moves faster. He kisses me, his tongue claiming my mouth, his nails claiming my shoulders. We're locked like that for minutes, his tongue in my mouth, his cock in my sex.

I can feel the orgasm rising up in him. He groans, his thighs shaking, his breaths rapid.

There. Even with the condom, I can feel his cock pulsing.

I shift my hips to hold him deeper.

His groans echo around the room like some kind of beautiful music.

When he's completely drained, Nick shifts off me. He takes care of the condom and gently undoes my restraints.

One at a time, he examines my wrists. His touch is careful. Affectionate.

He plants a kiss on my lips then steps back into his boxers. "Can you move?"

"Doubtful."

He lifts me into his arms and carries me to the couch. This doesn't feel very casual. It's overwhelmingly intimate.

I'm too spent for thoughts like that. I nestle into his body as he turns on the TV and picks out a movie.

It's The Terminator.

He's starting our AI marathon.

I rest my head on his chest. I try to keep my eyes open, but I'm out of energy.

I fall asleep in his arms.

* * *

He's not there when I wake.

The other side of the mattress is cold, like he's been gone for hours.

I get up, brush my teeth, find my glasses on the table in the living room. There's coffee brewing and there's a note on the counter.

Lizzy,

I'll be out all day. Stay as long as you like. I'll see you tomorrow morning.

- Nick

It's certainly to the point.

I raid the fridge for breakfast. Nothing but milk and condiments. He never eats here. Never entertains beyond a cocktail. It's such a beautiful apartment, and it's so empty.

It must be lonely.

I try to shake the image out of my brain while I get dressed and walk back to my apartment. But it's there during my yoga routine. It's there when I shower.

It's still there when Kat comes over to watch a movie. After a dinner of takeout Indian food—a mix of chicken vindaloo and vegetable curry—we settle on Ghost World. It's based on her favorite graphic novel.

She points out every visual detail, only stopping when she falls asleep.

There's a knock on the door. That must be Blake, coming to collect his fiancée. I make my way down the tiny hallway to let him in.

He's standing there with his hands in the pockets of his designer suit.

"How are you?" His voice is warm.

"Good. Tired. Long week." I motion to Kat, asleep on the bed. "Are you going to carry her out of here or would that attract too much attention?"

"I'll wake her." He presses the door shut. "After I speak with you."

"Planning something for Valentine's Day? You must know her tastes as well as I do by now."

"It's not about Kat."

I shift my weight, suddenly in need of an excuse to end this conversation. Kat worrying about me when she should be enjoying her first chance at taking care of herself is bad enough.

I won't be able to stand it if Blake is worrying about me too.

He looks at me, dead serious. "It's about Phoenix Marlowe."

"Oh." I clear my throat, attempting my best poker face.

"It's confidential."

Blake makes eye contact, a look that asks if I'm prepared to be trusted with confidential information.

I nod. "Go on."

"One of Odyssey's lawyers reached out to our acquisitions department with an offer to sell us the Haley Bot project."

My stomach clenches. That doesn't make any sense.

I take a deep breath. "Nick wouldn't sell Haley."

"Nick?"

Fuck me. My silence is an ineffective protest.

"I need you to know something, Lizzy."

"Yes?" I brace myself for a lecture.

"You're my family now. If Marlowe hurts you, I'll destroy him."

"He won't. I trust him."

"I've seen what happens to smart women who fuck their bosses. It ends fine for the bosses—"

"Even at Sterling Tech?"

"It's against policy, but it happens." Blake frowns. "He must be thirty."

"Twenty-seven. And you're five years older than Kat."

His eyes get intense and protective. "Does she know?"

"No, and I appreciate you keeping this between us. She's spent enough of her life taking care of me. Do you know anything else about this offer?"

"No. But I can find out anything you want about Nick."

"Like what?"

"A girlfriend."

"He doesn't have a girlfriend."

He frowns. "Do you have feelings for him?"

"It's just sex."

Blake raises an eyebrow like he's not sure if I can handle a strictly sexual relationship.

Is it all men that think they know better or only the rich ones?

Behind me, Kat stirs with a loud yawn. "What are you two whispering about?"

"Surprise for you. Don't eavesdrop." I lower my voice. "Thank you for the information, but I've got it under control."

All his attention shifts to Kat. He wraps his arms around her, pulling her into a long, deep hug. She sighs, her face lighting up as she smiles.

"I missed you," she whispers.

"I missed you too."

It's a personal moment, and I'm clearly intruding. There's nowhere to get out of the way, so I step into the bathroom with a loud "excuse me" then wash the hints of makeup off my face.

When I return to the main room, they're locked in that same hug.

Kat steps back. "I'm not convincing you to pick more of my movies."

"You can still have the next one." I hug her goodbye then turn my attention to Blake. "Let me handle that thing we discussed."

"If you can't—"

"I can." I walk them to the door. "There's only two months until your wedding. Worry about that."

Kat's eyes light up. She looks at Blake with a wealth of affection. The wall of stone is gone. His expression is caring, loving.

It's sickeningly sweet.

"Goodnight." I wave.

They nod goodnight and walk out the door hand in hand.

I plant in front of my computer and try to dig up more information about Nick's company.

There's nothing useful.

I'll have to ask him.