Part 22 (1/2)

My heart gave up beating and switched to fluttering manically around my chest. I'd never been so thankful for the torturous sessions of Bikram yoga I'd been doing in preparation for my audition. I'd been living my character for months. I didn't really like the heat, let alone doing some stupid downward facing camel in a sweating room, but I did it to live someone else's life.

The character I was to play was a traveller who owned a yoga business, hopping from country to country, training rich debutantes and billionaires. Amongst some hot scenes with s.e.xy actors, I'd get to travel, be the lead in a romantic suspense, and get to work with the highly acclaimed director Felix Carlton.

But none of that mattered. Standing before a mountain of a man who made me wet with need and power, I didn't care about anything else.

”You're very bold,” I whispered.

He crossed his arms, smiling coyly. ”Not bold. Just honest. Will you be honest with me?”

Honesty. Truth. A painful path to a past I wanted nothing to do with.

Yes. No.

Balling my hands, I nodded.

His muscles went taut; his voice quivered in the air like a visible force. ”Are you turned on hearing me say things like that, or does it make you want to run?”

My chest rose as I tried to formulate my answer. He wanted honesty? What was the harm? There was no one else to hear me. We existed in the witching hour before dawn where whatever I admitted could stay in the dark and never encroach on my real life.

Straightening my spine, I said, ”Yes. I like it.”

”Are you wet thinking about me? Does it make you hot to know my c.o.c.k is rock hard and my fingers ache to touch you?” His gaze tightened. ”Be honest.”

I'd never admitted to such things. But this was unique. A once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. The moment the sun rose, it would be over, and the opportunity to step into the shoes of a woman I would never have the strength to play again would leave. ”Yes.”

”Yes, what?”

”Yes, I'm wet. And yes, my fingers ache like yours.”

He pushed off from the wall, sending my heart exploding with pinp.r.i.c.ks of fear and desire. ”Are you seeing anyone, married?”

I had so much to say-so much to hide. A single betraying word fell from my lips. ”No.”

”I hoped you'd say that.”

I blushed. ”And you?”

”And me what?”

I gritted my teeth. ”Stop playing with me. You know what I want to know.”

A flash of heat filled his face. ”No. I don't do relations.h.i.+ps. We each have traumas and ghosts, Lace. I just hide mine better than everyone else.”

Antic.i.p.ation and impatience clogged my throat. I'd never had such overwhelming curiosity about another person before. Never truly cared to know what they hid behind their smiles or anger-too wrapped up in my own secrets to enquire.

”Do you believe in fate?” he asked.

A chill froze the twisting heat inside. I knew the answer to that. No. Definitely, no. I refused to believe fate decided to burn my parents to death, or leave me alone on my sixteenth birthday. I couldn't stomach the thought of life being so cruel.

”No,” I growled.

We both flinched at the pa.s.sion behind my answer. I hadn't meant to show another one of my flaws so soon. It didn't stop the l.u.s.t blazing in his blue eyes, though-if anything, it amplified it. He watched me with a need so deep it was like a black hole, sucking me closer and closer to him, reaching for my light-determined to draw me into his corruption and devour me.

And I was powerless to stop it.

”Interesting answer,” he whispered. Closing the distance between us, he reached up slowly-his touch hitching a few times with uncertainty. I s.h.i.+vered as his fingertips brushed a lock of blonde hair behind my ear. Sensations bolted through me, heating up dark recesses of my soul I'd never had the courage to explore.

”What's your name?”

My cheeks pinked as my traitorous blood heated. My core twitched, confronted with how virile and strong he was. The look in his eyes was...predatory.

”What's yours?” I deflected.

His lips quirked. ”I have two. And I'll allow you to pick which one you'd like to scream out when I make you come.”

Did he truly just say that?

My mouth parted.

His finger swooped beneath my chin, pressing up and closing my lips. ”Two options, Lace. I'll let you choose.”

Oh, G.o.d. I didn't trust myself to make the sensible decision. He was potent-an ambrosiac invitation.

My voice wavered. ”What are my choices?”

He hemmed me against the wall, planting his hand by my head on the door. His body heat scalded. ”Choice number one: I'll ignore my f.u.c.king hard on and be the gentleman. I'll head to the lobby to retrieve a spare key for your room. I'll save you the journey of wandering around in your underwear and bid you a good night.” His eyes flashed. ”The minute you step inside your room, you'll never see me again. We'll both continue our lives as if we'd never met, and after I jerk off to the fantasy of you bent over the bed and screaming my name, I'll forget all about you. We'll remain perfect strangers.”

My stomach flip-flopped. All I could concentrate on was the image of him stroking himself while picturing me doing naughty things-things I truly wanted to do. What a delicious vicious circle to be trapped in.

Surrender melted my muscles, saying farewell to my good girl convictions. The sun wasn't far from claiming the night, I was on the cusp of my new life and ident.i.ty-what better way to celebrate than with him? This man, who made me tingle and throb just by looking at me?

Forcing myself to speak, I said, ”They won't release the key to you. The security here is over the top.” I knew, because I'd paid with my credit card with my real name: Saffron Duncan, but used my new movie role-Lucy Larson-as my nom de plume. Why? Who the h.e.l.l knew.

I didn't really care, until I had to explain to management why I wanted to check into a room under a name I had no identification for.

”Yes, that could be a problem.” His eyes crinkled as he smiled slightly. ”I could always offer you my robe, but then you'd see everything I want to show you behind closed doors.”

My cheeks pinked.

s.h.i.+t, why did his voice have such an effect on me?

”Either way, Lace, you aren't going to the lobby on your own.”

”Why?”

His eyes narrowed. ”Why? Because I'm completely against the thought of anyone else seeing you dressed like that. I'm jealous at the thought of others looking at you, and I don't even know your name.”

His voice dropped to a whisper, ”Another truth for you, Lace. I'm one second away from spinning you around and showing you just how f.u.c.king tempting you are.”