“What’s going on in that head of yours?” he asks.
I gnaw my lip, gathering the courage to be honest-minus the part where my body is screaming Take me now, you gorgeous man!
“I’m a bit on edge,” I blurt out, my throat dry.
His eyes lock on mine. “Why?”
“Really? You have to ask?” I laugh breathlessly, acutely aware of the slow circles his fingers are tracing on my skin. “You’re one of the most intense people I’ve ever met. And intense is an understatement.”
His lips curl wider as he leans in, close enough for me to nibble on if I so feel the urge. “Intensity is reserved for the things and people that matter…” His gaze flickers to my lips before returning to my eyes.
I bite back a shiver, keeping my facade calm. “Oh? And what qualifies as ‘mattering’ to a guy like you?”
His smile deepens as he guides me into a slow turn on the dance floor. “What matters most to me? My family, for one-my sister and nephews. The business I built from nothing. Loyal friends, though they’re hard to come by.” His hand trails a feather-light circle on my hip and I nearly miss his next words. “And beautiful women who can challenge me.”
I force out a light laugh to cover my fluttering nerves. “Well, you’re definitely surrounded by beautiful women tonight.”
In one smooth, motion he spins me out then pulls me back in, my chest pressed to his. I inhale sharply as his next words brush against my neck, and I feel them all the way down to my underwear. “There’s only one woman who has my undivided attention tonight. The one with the striking blue eyes who outshines everything else in the room. Trust me, no one else even comes close.”
Oh, hell. That’s dangerously sweet. I let out a strangled chuckle.
“You know, you’re not what I expected,” I say, breathless.
He raises a brow, a glint in his eye. “Oh? And what were you expecting?”
“Honestly, I pegged you for all business, Mr. Cold and Unfeeling. Sleeping and showering in your suits. Only caring about that bottom line.”
A low chuckle leaves him. “I assure you I do both of those things naked. But you’re not wrong-I always have the bottom line in mind.”
“But I suspect there’s more to you than a tough exterior and profit margins. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re a closet romantic.”
His mouth quirks. “I’m intense about everything I do, be it business or love. When I’m in love, I’m all in. I worship my woman. She becomes the center of my world, and I give her everything I’ve got, every single day.”
My heart’s tap dancing now. Like Riverdance on speed. “I think I might need some examples. Ideally a demo.”
He chuckles again. A deep sexy rumble that slides into my underwear.
“I’m afraid those would be inappropriate to share in present company. But if you’re asking for a private demonstration…”
He spins me again, this time pulling me flush against him.
I gasp at the feel of his hard body, the evidence of his arousal pressed into my belly.
“Keep pushing, and you just might get one. Because if you were mine, I’d make you come all night long until you begged me to stop. Then I’d carry you into the shower and wash every inch of your body, making sure to tease and caress each curve until you’re weak in my arms. I’d wash your hair before wrapping you in a T-shirt of mine, then hold you close until you drift asleep. Come morning, I’d still be holding you.”
Holy shit. My face is burning hot now, and my ovaries are screaming at me to hump him right here on the dance floor.
“How does that sound to you, Lucy?”
My breath catches. The sane part of my brain is screaming “Abort mission!” while the rest of me has already checked into a hotel room upstairs, peeled off my dress, and is lying seductively on the bed.
He gives a low chuckle as we sway together. “A bit too much honesty for you, huh? I’ll keep myself in check for now.” His voice drops even lower. “But damn you look sexy when you blush.”
His hands slide lower until they find the curve of my backside as he pulls me tight against his body. That hard bulge is impossible to ignore.
I stifle a gasp, heat pooling in my core.
Then, with a growl that’s pure animalistic lust, he breathes, “Don’t worry, I won’t bite too hard,” into my ear.
My breath catches as he does just that-pushes away my hair and starts planting kisses on my neck.
A million warning bells ring. I should stop him. This is dangerous. We’re in public. Everyone knows who JP is.
Instead, I arch into his touch, silently begging for more. I feel his stubble, his firm lips pressing against me, the tingles rushing through me like electricity.
My thighs clench together involuntarily as sensations run rampant throughout my body.
“Let’s take a breather,” he murmurs as he comes up again.
I nod, completely incapable of doing anything else but blindly following behind him as he leads me off the dancefloor, wondering if everyone can see his massive boner.
I follow him silently as we descend the winding staircase, my body thrumming in anticipation with every step.
What’s his plan here?
“Mind your step,” he warns gruffly, clasping my hand in his.
We reach the end of the staircase and he leads me down the corridor with the skill of someone who knows this place inside out, which shouldn’t surprise me, since he does own it.
Are we going to have sex?
My heart skitters in my chest when he suddenly wheels around and yanks me into a tiny cloakroom. With one powerful shove, he slams the door shut behind us, plunging us into semi-darkness.
Caught off guard is the understatement of the year. I gulp in air and stumble back until I’m pinned against the wall by his thighs. His strong arms cage me, hands bracing on either side of my head.
In the dimmer light of the cloakroom, his chiseled features take on a dangerous edge.
His muscled thighs spread around mine so that I’m deliciously trapped in the V of his legs. His hands grip my wrists, pinning them above my head, as he roughly takes possession of my mouth with his own.
It’s a hot, heated kiss filled with passion and possession and hunger, shattering me into a million pieces.
A feral rumble of approval rises from deep in his throat as it merges with mine-he’s not just kissing me, he’s claiming me. This man has complete control over me now, the power to do whatever he wants to me.
He breaks our kiss abruptly and I shiver under his intense gaze as he looks down at me, breathing heavily.
My body vibrates with excitement, my hands dying to break free to roam all over his body. I can barely contain my own arousal.
It’s startling and scary… and fucking wild.
“Lucy,” he growls, his jaw muscles tight enough to break. “I want to take it slow but I can’t wait any longer. I need you so fucking badly.”
God. His voice is pure sex.
His hard cock presses urgently against my core, begging for attention.
I struggle to break free of his grip as he holds my wrists above my head, looking down at me with an amused smirk. “What do you want?”