Gage eyeballed his reflection in the mirror one final time before grabbing his camera bag off the bed, exiting the suite Drew Sapphire’s assistant had reserved for him. He hated wearing a suit, but pair it with a tie, and the dislike factor ratcheted up another twenty degrees.

Swanky affairs were not up his alley. But it was Ben’s brother, and he’d always help a brother in need. Marine motto and all that bullshit definitely had its benefits, but he wasn’t putting this one at the top of his list. He didn’t care how nice the comped suite was or how unbelievably tasty the steak was that he’d had for dinner.

The elevator swished open and he stepped in, nodding at other well-dressed people already in the car. After two more stops, the doors finally opened on the ballroom level, and all but one person stepped out onto the royal blue carpeting leading to the grand ballroom.

The one saving grace was his camera. He could hide behind his lens and stay in the shadows as he captured the shots requested. He figured he would need to stay an hour tops before going back to the room and emptying the mini-fridge of all alcoholic beverages while enjoying some free porn. Anything to try to keep his mind on something besides Hope.

He took his camera out and started walking the perimeter of the room, capturing people in various candid shots on the dance floor, at the bar, in animated conversations, or just mingling. He tried to capture the beauty of the atmosphere made more elegant by the floral arrangements, sculptures, and lighting within the room. As he was taking some photographs of a stunning waterfall built into one of the walls, he felt a clap on his back.

“Hey, man. How’s it going?” Gage swung around to find Ben holding two beers, one extended to him. He took it gratefully and took a long swig.

“Thanks.” He grinned appreciatively. “It’s good. Easy shooting. Think I’m just about done. Just waiting to capture your brother’s welcome speech and I’m gonna wrap up.”

“Yeah, I think he’s going on in just a few.” Ben took a drag from his beer. “Thanks again for doing this. I know Drew really appreciates it.”

“It’s not a problem. It’s good easy work.” He pulled at his tie and grimaced. “Just wish I didn’t have to wear this damn thing. Hate shit on my neck.”

Ben chuckled and shook his head. “Toughen up and quit your bitching.”

“Shut the fuck up with the bitching talk. Where the hell’s your tie?”

“I’m not working for my brother, so I’ll wear whatever the hell I want.” Ben chuckled again and took another swig from his beer. “Looks like Drew is heading up to do his speech now.” He pointed his bottle toward the podium on the stage. “I’ll let you get back to it. Look me up after if you want to have a drink.”

“Will do.” Gage drained his beer and set the bottle on a nearby table. “Thanks for the beer.”

He walked over to get into a better position for the speech and froze as his eyes fell on the last person he thought he would see tonight. She was speaking to another woman, also blonde, also beautiful, but only a shadow in the light that shined as Hope. She hadn’t seen him, so he stepped into the shadows and raked his eyes over her beauty.

Hope was wearing a black cocktail dress, but it was anything but simple. The top was made of lace that hugged her torso and plunged into a deep V in the front and back, flowing into a chiffon skirt that fell right at the knee. The shoes were what made his knees weak, though. Black four-inch heels with satin ribbons that tied around her ankles—sexy and sweet all tied up in one pretty bow. Her hair was loose and curly, swept down and behind her shoulders, falling down her back. Diamonds graced her neck and fell from her ears. Rich red lipstick lined her mouth in sharp contrast to the light blue of her eyes.

He didn’t want to take his eyes off her, but Drew had begun speaking and he needed to get some shots. He moved slowly out of the cover of darkness, closer to the stage, and began taking shots. After capturing several, he swung the camera toward Hope and started clicking continuously. He wanted to capture every look that crossed her face. He zoomed in to capture her eyes and sucked in a breath as he realized she was staring straight at him.

He lowered the camera in slow motion, his eyes locking with her shocked ones, his feet seemingly glued to the floor. Time seemed to stand still around him as every sound in the room was muffled out by the roaring of his hammering pulse. He finally broke out of his shocked trance as the champagne glass she was holding slid from her fingers and crashed to the floor, sending shards of crystal scattering in every direction.

Everything in the next moment seemed to happen at once. Drew finished speaking abruptly and left the stage to join the woman who was standing beside Hope. Ben appeared out of nowhere and was suddenly standing next to Drew, both of them directing the ladies to stand still and avoid the broken glass. Drew’s assistant, Felicia, arrived with two waiters armed with a broom, dust pan, and a mop, and they began cleaning up the mess instantly.

Gage’s feet finally lodged free of the cement they seemed to be encased in, and he moved to join the crowd gathered around Hope, gently grasping onto her elbow as he reached her. “Are you okay?”

Her eyes turned and burned into his, anger seething from them as she hissed under her breath, wrenching her arm out of his hold. “Oh, now you’re concerned about how I am?”

Before he could reply, Ben interjected. “Wait, Gage, you know Hope?”

He nodded and raised his own question in return. “How do you know her?”

“Excuse me!” Hope spat out. “I’m right here. Does anyone want to ask me anything?”

Ben raised both hands apologetically. “Sorry, let me start over.” He looked down at her with a sarcastic smile before turning back to Gage. “Hope, how do you know my friend Gage here?”

She glared at him before sliding her fury over to Gage. “None of your business.” Then she turned her back to both men and addressed Drew and his wife instead. “Drew, Hannah, please accept my apologies, but I think I’m going to call it an early night.”

Gage listened as she exchanged pleasantries with the couple and then followed her when she walked away. He threw his camera bag over his shoulder and quickened his gait to catch up and walk beside her. Her head turned, her brows raised in shock, when she realized he was following her. Instead of stopping, she looked forward, increasing the speed of her stride, and headed out of the ballroom in the direction of the elevators.

“Hope, will you stop, please?” Gage reached for her arm and grasped onto it lightly, trying to pull her to a halt. She jerked it out of his hold and continued to the elevator, smashing her finger on the down button when she finally stopped.

He stepped in front of the elevator into her line of vision and was about to speak again when he noticed she was blinking rapidly, trying to stop the tears that were about to fall from her eyes. His heart seized at the thought of causing her more pain, and without thought, he moved to pull her into his arms instead. At first, she fought against his embrace, but after thirty seconds of him not releasing her, he felt her body relax into him and soft sobs vibrate against his chest.

He pulled her against him tighter and ran a hand down her long tresses, trying to calm her. “I’m so sorry, Hope. So sorry. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt you.”

The elevator door slid open, and he moved slowly backward into the elevator, not releasing her from his grasp, and hit the button for the twenty-sixth floor. As the elevator started to climb, Hope pulled her face from his chest and looked up at him. “Where are we going?”

“My room.”

“Your room? You’re staying here?” She tried to pull away from him, but he held her caged in his arms. “I just want to go down and call my car, please.”

“No.”

“No?” She struggled a little harder this time to get out of his arms, but she was no match for his strength. “You’re not going to let me go?”

“No.”

“No?” Her voice raised in pitch and concern.

“No.” He looked down at her face then, mascara smudged from her wet tears, her lipstick smeared slightly from rubbing against his suit, and he still thought she was the most beautiful thing he ever saw. “Not yet.”

A long sigh left her lips as they fell at the corners. “Please, don’t do this to me, Gage.”

Before he could reply, the elevator stopped, and the doors swished open to his floor. He turned her so she was huddled into his side and held her as he exited and led them to his room. He pulled his room key from his pocket and swiped it over the sensor, the green light illuminating, indicating the door was unlocked. He turned the handle and then pushed the door open wide and guided her through.

As the door shut behind them, he turned, raised her arms above her head, and pushed her back against the wall. His fingers circled around her wrists, his arms bent at the elbows pressed next to hers, his face hovering inches above hers.

Her chest was heaving as quick breaths fell from her parted lips, her eyes wide as she returned his gaze. “Gage, what are you doing?”

He leaned forward then and ran his nose along the base of her neck, grazing over the diamonds that decorated it as he moved toward her ear, inhaling her scent as he went. Growling softly, he nipped her lobe and whispered, “There are so many things we should probably talk about, but right now, all I want is to taste you.”

A low moan escaped from her mouth as he grazed slow kisses across her cheek before landing on her lips, ending any possibility of further discussion. His grip tightened around her delicate wrists as he pushed himself closer to her body, one of her legs sliding between his, the other falling open. His tongue plundered hers, ravishing her mouth, small whimpers escaping each time he pushed his arousal against her core.

He tore his lips from her mouth and peppered tiny kisses over her chin, down her neck, to her clavicle, and further down until he reached the bottom of the V of her dress. As he moved lower, he released the grip he had on her wrists and let his fingers brush languorously down her arms and over her chest until they found her breasts. His tongue darted out and traced the lace trim up the inside of the plunging neckline until he reached the swell of her breast. Using his teeth, he peeled the fabric back, exposing her nipple. He placed his mouth over the raised peak and swirled his tongue around the tip, leaving it damp. Leaning back, he blew softly, causing the nub to grow tauter. Her hands clenched onto his biceps, and a groan rolled from her lips each time he swept his tongue over the tip again.

“Gage, please.” Her hands moved to grasp onto his hair, and she jerked his head up to hers, meeting his lips with her own, thrusting her tongue deep into his mouth in desperation. He reached down and grabbed her thighs, hoisting her up against his waist, and turned to walk through the sitting area into the separate bedroom. Her arms snaked around his neck, holding tight, her lips never leaving his.

When he reached the bed, he leaned her back and extracted himself from her grasp. He stared down at her as he tore his jacket off and stretched the tie up and over his neck. Not even bothering to unbutton his shirt, he just gripped the bottom and jerked it over his head in one fluid motion.

She sat up and began to work the buckle on his belt, her eyes fixed on the bulge straining the material under his slacks. His hands stroked her hair back at the same time she yanked his pants down over his waist, his cock springing free. He clenched her hair and wound it around his fist as he felt the heat of her mouth slide down over his length. A guttural moan rose up from his chest, and his head rolled back on his shoulders, his grip tightening on her hair as she glided her tongue up and down his hard shaft. When he felt her lave her tongue flat against the top of his crown, he thought he might come right then.

“Fucking hell. That feels amazing.”

“Hmmmmm.” She hummed in response as she sucked him back into her mouth and wrapped her tiny hand around his base, gripping it firmly as she continued working her way up and down his length.

He was so close to coming, but when he did, he wanted to be buried deep inside her, so he pulled on her hair, dragging her mouth off his cock. She looked up at him with dark, lust-filled eyes, questioning, a frown forming on her parted lips.

“I want to be inside you.” He wrenched her head back further and captured her mouth with his, worshipping the very lips that just surrounded his cock. He nipped at the swollen bottom lip she loved to chew and released her hair to cradle her face as he ended the kiss more softly.

“Stand up.” He took her hand and helped her to rise up off the bed.

She moved to drag her hands down his chiseled abdomen, but he stepped back and shook his head no as her mouth dropped open in surprise.

“Take your dress off.”

Her eyes darted up to meet his burning ones and, without question, moved her hand to the side of her dress and brought the zipper down. Next, she pulled her arms out of the lacy sleeves, causing the dress to fall down and pool at her feet. She stood before him in only a pair of black silk panties, her diamonds, and those sexy fucking shoes.

His own pants had fallen to his ankles, so he stepped the rest of the way out and moved to stand in front of her. As he came closer, her neck craned back to keep her eyes locked on his. Her teeth had captured her lip and were keeping it prisoner again. He lifted his hand and, using his thumb, pulled her lip free. He shook his head and grinned wickedly.

“I don’t need anything else distracting me right now, especially that mouth.”

“Sorry.” It came out as a breathy whisper.

“No apologies, not yet.” He reached forward and pushed her hard enough for her to fall back onto the bed, a yelp coming from her as she landed.

“Stay.” He crawled over her, causing her to fall back on her elbows and then her back as he loomed over her. “Relax.”

He lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss to her lips before moving to kiss her nose, her chin, and then the small crevice at the base of her neck. He kissed a trail down her torso, stopping to pay extra attention to each breast, her fingers threading through his hair as he moved lower. His tongue circled the small diamond that sat in her navel and then traced to the seam of her panties before his fingers gripped the edges and slid them down and over her shoes. His kisses began again on the inside of one thigh, pushing her legs open wide as he climbed higher and higher. When he reached the juncture where they met, he kissed her there, both of them moaning in unison.

“I’ve missed you so much.” He planted one final kiss to her thigh before sweeping his tongue inside her folds, feasting there until her entire body was quivering in ecstasy.

“Oh my God! Gage, please, it feels so good. Don’t stop.” Murmured cries came from her lips as he ravished her. When he felt her about to detonate, he pulled his mouth away and moved up her body, slamming his wet mouth over hers, and with one move, thrust his cock into her pulsing core.

Her mouth formed an O as her body rocked against his, her eyes watching his every movement, her nails scoring the skin on his back as she gripped onto him. His cock swelled larger as he felt her pussy tighten around him and grip it like a vise. He rose and pushed her knees up until he could wrap his hands around her silk-tied ankles and drove into her even harder. Sweat ran down his forehead and dripped down his chest as he felt his body tighten.

“Yes, yes, yes!!” Hope was yelling and her head rolling back and forth on the bed. “Like that. Harder, Gage! Fuck me harder!”

He tightened his grip on her ankles, and with one more brutal push, he pounded into her, his release roaring from him and into her as they both let out shuddering yells of pleasure.