CHAPTER 4: STEAMY ENCOUNTER

Mirabelle

"How much have you had to drink, baby girl?"

"Not nearly enough." I giggled. Everything swayed a little, but I could still think straight. "I only feel a bit tipsy. But I'm still in my right mind if that's what you're asking."

"I'd never take advantage of a woman who's intoxicated." His thumb traced my jawline. "You sure about that?"

"Yes, I'm very sure." I looked up at him through my lashes. "So what are you waiting for to ruin this bad girl?"

"Be careful what you wish for, Belle." His breath warmed my ear as his hand slid slowly from my neck down to my chest. His fingers traced lower, over my belly, to the edge of my dress, then under my thigh.

I gasped and stared at him.

"At your word, I'll stop baby girl." His gaze drilled into mine.

"If you think I'm going to say no to this, then prepare to wait forever."

A dark smile crossed his face as his hand left my thigh. Before I could blink, his lips claimed mine like he owned them. He kissed me reckless, hungry, desperate. His tongue sunk deeper into my mouth, stealing the breath from my lungs. I felt wanted for the first time all night, like he couldn’t get enough of me.

He drew back and watched me struggle to catch my breath.

"Come with me." He took my hand and led me down a hallway, away from the crowd and the music.

I didn’t know where we were going, but I didn’t want to go back either. I dreaded thinking about Sam or the image of Tania on top of him. Yet this man, who had awakened an unexplainable desire in me, made me forget all of it.

He stopped at a door and pulled a key card from his pocket. The lock opened.

He captured my lips again as he pulled me into the room and kicked the door shut behind us.

I clung to his neck tighter as he lifted me with one hand and carried me to the bed. He laid me down gently, like I was a precious treasure he couldn’t afford to hurt.

His lips trailed down my throat, across my collarbone, planting kisses everywhere they touched. Each one sent shivers through me. Then his mouth came back to mine and claimed me again. A fire burned low in my belly. My legs parted on their own, like he controlled my body.

He noticed and tore his lips away.

"Baby girl, by the end of the night, you'll crave no one else but me,” he growled, his knees moving between my legs.

If only he knew there was no one else I wanted but him.

"Is this the part where you make love to me?"

"I don't make love, baby girl." His hands gripped my thighs and pushed them wider apart. "I fuck."

He pushed my dress up around my waist. His fingers hooked into my underwear and dragged it down slowly, like he wanted to see me squirm. Then his mouth moved lower and I forgot how to breathe. His tongue pressed against me and my whole body jerked. I'd never felt anything like this. Never imagined it could feel like this.

"Oh god," I whispered, trembling.

He didn't stop. His tongue moved in circles, slow at first, then faster. His hands held my thighs open when they tried to close. I grabbed the sheets beneath me and twisted them in my fists.

Heat spread through my body. My toes curled. I couldn't think about Sam anymore. Couldn't think about Tania. There was only this. Only him and what he was doing to me.

His tongue teased me, and I cried out. My back arched off the bed.

"That's it, baby girl." He vibrated against me. "Let me hear you."

He sucked and my vision blurred. I'd never made sounds like this before. Didn't know I could. But I couldn't stop them. His fingers joined his mouth and slid inside me. One. Then two. Stretching me. Filling me. Moving in and out while his tongue kept working.

The pressure built inside me, higher and higher. I felt like I was climbing a mountain I couldn't name, one I'd never reached before.

"I can't." My voice broke. "It's too much."

"You can." He curled his fingers inside me and found a spot that made stars burst behind my eyes. "Give it to me, Belle."

His mouth moved faster. His fingers pumped harder. The pressure kept building until I thought I'd break apart completely.

Then it happened. My body exploded. Wave after wave of pleasure crashed through me. I screamed. I couldn't hold it in anymore.

He didn't stop. He worked me through it until I was shaking. Until tears leaked from the corners of my eyes. Until I had to push his head away because I couldn't take anymore.

When I could finally breathe again he moved back up and looked down at me. His lips glistened. His eyes were fierce with hunger.

I felt beautiful under his gaze. Desired. Everything Sam never made me feel.

"You haven’t done this before, have you?"

"No," I admitted. Was I too naive that he could tell without me saying a word?

"Are you sure you’re ready for me?"

I nodded. “I don’t want to wake up a virgin.

He leaned down and his lips brushed mine.

I shivered.

I could taste myself on him.

His phone rang.

He ignored it and kissed me deeper. His tongue swept into my mouth. The phone kept ringing, loud and insistent.

He cursed under his breath and grabbed it from his pocket. His jaw clenched as he looked at the screen.

"Just one moment." He kissed me again and stepped away to answer it.

I sat up on the bed. My legs felt weak, but I stood anyway. I needed him. I wanted to feel him against me and forget everything that had happened earlier tonight.

I walked toward him and wrapped my arms around his waist from behind, my cheek pressing against his back.

“I’m busy. We’ll finish this at the office tomorrow.” He ended the call abruptly and turned.

He saw me, and his eyes intensified. He held me close and kissed me.

Suddenly, my head spun. "I don't feel good."

His arms tightened around me. "Belle?"

My vision blurred.

"Belle, look at me."

I tried, but I couldn’t focus on him. I could barely keep my eyes open.

My knees gave out. I felt myself falling, and his arms caught me.

Then everything went black.