Gabe slowly slides his hand down my back and wraps it around my waist, his gaze trapping mine.

My heart goes wild.

This is exactly what I’ve always dreamed of, ever since I was a little girl, and now it’s happening.

Well, not exactly, because this will just be a one-night stand… But at least Gabe sees me as a woman now.

I can’t ruin the illusion of me being some sultry seductress by telling him I was that little girl who used to cry all the time, needing him to rescue me. That would be the worst thing I can do right now.

He takes one step closer, and pulls me until my breasts are pressed up against his hard chest. My body’s response to his desire is intense and immediate. Wetness starts to pool in my panties.

I can’t tell him. Not now.

He looks down at me, his green eyes glinting with wickedness. He smirks.

Maybe not ever.

He leans in, enveloping me with the aroma of tobacco and musk. Then, he claims my mouth.

It’s not the gentle kiss of my fantasies. It’s forceful; almost violent.

For some reason I’ve always imagined Gabe to be a gentle lover because he has such a gentle soul, but this kiss… It kindles a flame inside me that grows hotter by the second.

My head feels light, but I don’t know if it’s the champagne or Gabe that’s intoxicating me.

“Let’s get out of here,” Gabe says, his voice hoarse with lust as he breaks the kiss and pulls away.

“Now?”

“Now.” Gabe grabs my wrist and places my hand between us, on the hot, hard bulge in his pants. “I’m not waiting.”

Oh, shit.

I’m so not prepared for this.

I mean, my body hasn’t gotten the memo that I’m actually not ready, so I’m completely soaked down there, but…

What do I do?

What if I make a fool of myself again, for the second time tonight?

“Well, angel?” Gabe asks impatiently. “Don’t tell me that was empty talk, just like with the smoking.”

How am I going to handle this? I need an actual adult to help me!

Wait.

Karen.

That’s right!

Karen!

She’s my safety net. If I’m stumped—and I obviously am—I can excuse myself and ask her stuff.

“Uh, I’m coming. I just need to pee first,” I say.

“Damn right you’re coming… in more ways than one.” Gabe drags his lips over my ear lobe and my neck as he speaks, sending delicious little tingles down my spine and straight to my core. He says, “My room is in this hotel. You can use my en-suite.”

I rack my brain for a way out so I can find Karen before leaving with Gabe. “I need to grab something at my table.”

“Don’t worry about it. I have the condoms,” he whispers.

“I—It’s not those. I’ll be back,” I stumble all over my words.

“We’ll go together to find your friend, and then we’ll leave together. I can’t take my hands off your hot little body.” As if to prove his own words, Gabe runs his hand all the way down my back and cups my ass, hard and possessive.

I open my mouth. “No, my friend… She…”

Oh, no, what do I say? What’s a good excuse?

“She’s, uh, she’s religious,” I hear myself say.

That’s a good one. That will do.

“Very religious. And judgmental. She won’t want to talk to me anymore if she sees me leaving the party with a guy.”

Gabe sighs in defeat.

“Okay.” He pulls out a card and presses it into my palm. Staring deep into my eyes, he orders, “But don’t come back here. Go to room 512. Understand?”

“Y—yes.” I drop my gaze as my core clenches.

I didn’t know this about myself, but apparently having a strong, powerful man tell me what to do turns me on. I’m completely drenched right now.

In a low, dangerous tone, he adds, “You have ten minutes. If you’re late, I’m going to punish you.”

My breath catches in my throat.

“I’m going to spank you once for every minute you’re late,” he whispers darkly.

Jesus, has Gabe been hacking into my e-reader to read my romance novels?

How does he know I secretly want a man to put me in my place and discipline me?

How does he know exactly what to do to make every cell in my body thrum with desire?

Gabe grabs the base of my skull and pulls me into another forceful kiss. I hold on to his strong arms, tracing the ripples of his muscles underneath the sleeves of his suit. I can’t believe I’m finally going to see Gabe naked.

When Gabe pulls away, I’m panting. His kiss has stolen my breath.

“I’m messing up your hair,” Gabe says when he lets go of me.

I reach my hand up to find that—yes, my updo has come undone in a few places. But I have more pressing matters to deal with. Like the hard package that’s literally pressing up against me.

“You’d better go before I mess up the rest of you,” he whispers. “I want to see you in my bed ten minutes from now, spread-eagled while I taste you and make you lose control of your own body. If you’re late, you’re going to get on your knees and suck my cock.”

Without even thinking, I rub my thighs together, trying to ease the pressure that has been building there.

“I have a feeling you might like that,” Gabe says with a smirk. “But giving someone something they like as punishment wouldn’t make sense, would it?”

I can only shake my head. My mind is too busy imagining all the things Gabe has just said to come up with a verbal answer.

“No, it wouldn’t make any sense at all,” Gabe says. “So while you’re pleasuring me, you also won’t be allowed to touch yourself. Understand, angel?”

I nod.

“You don’t want to be late, do you?”

I shake my head.

“Good. Good girls come on time and at my command.” Gabe softly smacks my ass. “Now go.”

I look up to meet his gaze. In his green eyes, I see power, confidence, lust, and pure, unadulterated, animal instincts. He wants to take me.

“Go before I fuck you right here, on this balcony,” Gabe says. “I’ll see you soon, Jacqueline.”

“Y—yes.”

I turn and walk away, acutely aware that Gabe is watching me—the curve of my ass, the sway of my hips, the zipper down the back of my dress that he’ll pull down ten minutes from now…

I slip into the banquet hall, glancing out into the darkness before I close the door. And just as I expect, Gabe is still watching me like a predator about to pounce.

I pull the door shut and start the long walk to my table.

Damn. I don’t remember my seat being this far from the doors.

What the… Is the carpet different? I feel like I’m sinking deeper with every step.

Oh, Karen! Glad I found her.

“Karen.” I put my hands on the back of her chair. “Glad I found you.”

“How did it go?” she asks.

I glance to the side and see my own chair. That’s right. I have a seat, too. I should take a seat.

“Hey, Jacqueline, are you okay?” Karen seems concerned, but it’s okay.

“I’m okay.”

“You don’t look oka—”

I don’t even get a chance to hear Karen’s whole sentence because suddenly, everything goes dark.