Arianne
very cell in my body is on high alert. My skin is prickling with an allencompassing electric current.
Although my feet haven’t yet touched the ground from this enchanting evening, there’s a voice
yelling at me.
Mayday! Mayday! Pending invasion. Abort mission. I r epeat. Abort mission. Do you copy,
Buchanan? Extricate yourself from this perilous situation before it’s too late. Do not try to be a
superhero. You will get burned. You are no match for the irresistible scorching-hot
boss-slash-client. Save yourself, girl. Save yourself. The sophisticated security system I’ve spent
two years building to protect me from the enemy—aka, men—falters. All the circuits are
crosswired, which explains why I’m so helpless now. When I perfected the code, I didn’t take
Beckett Christensen into account.
An office romance can be disastrous. Been there. Done that. I shouldn’t be in this predicament
again. I promised myself I never would. But here’s the thing, it may be past midnight, but I’m still
wearing my glass slippers, and the ocean-blue eyes staring down at me are making me dizzy with
need.
I don’t lust over men. Until the incident in the elevator, I couldn’t spell the word.
I’m too levelheaded for that, but here I am. Lustful and desirous. I can laugh at Phoebe as much as I
want, but right now, my pussy is fluttering-palpitating-pulsating-quivering-throbbing so much, I’m
this close to coming.
The ride in Beckett’s pricey sports car to my sublet is excruciating. We don’t say much, but the
complicit side gazes we exchange speak volumes. Same goes for that sexy smile stretching his lips.
He cuts the engine of his sports car. “You haven’t changed your mind?” I can play it two ways
tonight. I can retreat to my usual MO and spend the night alone, or I can let one of LA’s most
notorious bachelor playboys have his wicked way with me.
I shake my head. “No. I still want this.” I want you. Fire lights his eyes. “I would’ve been
thoroughly disappointed if you didn’t.” “I’m sure my sublet isn’t what you’re used to—” “I’m not
coming up to your place for the décor. I’m coming up for you.” He taps the tip of my nose.
We ride the elevator from the guest parking lot up to my apartment in silence.
I’m so nervous, I wouldn’t know what to say, anyway. Not to mention, the wetness pooling
between my legs renders me speechless.
No man has ever had this kind of hold on me before. I lock the door and turn on a few lights.
Beckett grabs me and spins around, my back landing against the door. His hands come to rest on
either side of my head, making me his hostage. His willing hostage.
“I’m going to enjoy getting to know my new friend,” he says. The flames burning from his blue
eyes, his roughened breathing and the overwhelming nearness of his tall, hard body is too much to
handle. My back arches against the door, drawing his gaze down to my breasts and back up to my
eyes.
My chest heaves as I struggle to breathe. I can’t believe he’s looking at me this way. I swallow hard
as he edges closer, my throat dry.
“I don’t want this to come across the wrong way... but I need to know. Are you a virgin?”
“No, I’m not...” “I’m listening,” he says. “I’m flattered, Beckett, but I...” I hesitate again. “I’m
sure I don’t have the same level of experience as the women you’ve been with.”
“Experience means you know more tricks. It doesn’t make me want you more, and it does zilch in
terms of attraction. I don’t think I’m wrong in assuming our attraction for each other is pretty
explosive.”
I avert my gaze. Beckett places two fingers underneath my chin, forcing my attention back to him.
His eyes bore into mine, making me feel naked. “I expect an answer, Arianne.”
“You’re right.” He leans down, his mouth stopping a mere inch away from mine. “We’re on the
same page?”
“Definitely.” He brushes his lips along the underside of my jaw. The blistering contact on my skin
sends a thrill of shivers coursing through my body. My nipples harden, aching with need, begging
for his touch and his mouth.
Oh my God, I’m going to melt. “I like the sound of that,” he says. “Do you know what I’ve been
dying to do all night?” His gaze never leaves mine as he lowers his mouth, touching his lips to
mine. “I bet you taste real good.”
His stunning blue eyes are consuming me. If he doesn’t kiss me, I’m going to go insane. His mouth
comes crashing down on mine, hard, hungry and unwavering. A soft moan es capes my throat and
my lips part. He slips his tongue into my mouth, searching for mine. The dance that ensues is
mindblogging. My hands cup his face before they travel to the back of his head until my fingers tug
at his hair. He responds by threading his fingers through my hair and fucking up my messy updo.
“You should let it down more often,” he says, pulling away from me, his fingers still interlaced in
my strands. His lidded eyes are dangerous. “I can imagine what it would be like to fuck you from
behind while fisting your gorgeous, silky hair.” His words cause my clit to tingle, but when he tugs
on
one lock, pulling hard at the nape of my neck, I close my eyes and let out a low desperate moan.
Just when I think things can’t get any better, Beckett ratchets the passion factor by kissing the hell
out of me.
God, yes. I didn’t know it was possible to make love with your mouth because that’s exactly what
Beckett is doing. It’s been so long, I would’ve been happy with a peck. This all-encompassing,
combustive kiss is more than I could ever wish for.
I lose myself with no hope of ever finding my way back. And right now, I don’t want to. The kiss is
so potent, we both pause for a shuddering breath. We exchange a lop-sided grin before Beckett
assaults my lips again. He devours my mouth in a primitive display of possessiveness I’m
unaccustomed to. It makes me feel sexy as hell.
After what seems like a blissful eternity, I break free of his embrace, gasping at the sheer size of
him pressing against me. Desperate to get closer, I fling my evening bag across the room. It goes
crashing somewhere, but neither of us care. I pull up my skirt and lift a leg before circling his waist.
I let out a small yelp when he pushes against me with his hips, holding my ass in place with strong
hands.
Mother of God. I’ve never had sex standing up before. I’m not sure this qualifies as sex, but I’m
sure it qualifies as a holy-Jesus-yes-yes-yes. Beckett’s heavy breath warms my ear, punctuated by
each hard thrust that pins me to the shaking door. It’s like he’s fucking me with our clothes on.
I’m almost embarrassed by my naïveté and inexperience. Wow. I didn’t even know this was a thing.
When his mouth finds mine once more, I surprise us both when I bite his lower lip.
“You’re a wild one,” he says. “You make me do wild things.” “This is only the warm-up. You’ll be
a beast when I’m done with you.” I giggle. He doesn’t crack a smile. “I want your other leg around
my waist.” I frown, unable to comprehend how that’s going to work. “Do as you’re told.”
When I follow his command, Beckett uses the door as an anchor. He runs skilled hands down my
thighs and hooks his arms underneath my legs, pulling them apart until they reach my shoulders.
Holy shit, he’s strong. My skirt slides around my waist, giving him full access. I’m wide open for
him. I pant, my heart beating at an infernal rate. On a loud groan, Beckett resumes the kiss,
ravishing my mouth, sucking my tongue until I’m writhing against his insanely hard cock. He
presses hard against me in response, hitting me where I need it most. My fingers are no match for
the precise way he grinds against my clit.
God, I’m close. Then, everything stops.