Page 26 of King of Deception

While Jude didn’t know that he was partaking in a game of cat and mouse, all I wanted was to get out of there before he found me.

eight

Escapade

Abel

How did Jude know that Ella was here? Or was he really only invited this time? As her tension visibly spiked, I knew I had to do something. I couldn’t just let her hide in the bathroom for the rest of the evening. On the other hand, if I’d just let her leave… well, I simply wasn’t ready for that just yet.

Shuffling through the dancing bodies toward the bathroom door, we were getting closer and closer to safety. I had to act now, so I made it look like I just blurted it out, “Hey, how about we just get out of here?”

With her eyes shooting from left to right, she hissed, “What about your work?”

“They’ll cover for me.”

She tossed back her head, grunting, “Gah! Okay.” Then she looked at me with determined eyes. “Let’s lose him.”

“C’mon,” I offered her my hand, and she took it. Driven by a sudden rush of adrenaline, my legs sprinted through the masses, carrying me faster toward the exit.

The way she clasped my hand and followed me was exhilarating.

As soon as we got out, I glanced at the bouncer by the door, and he silently nodded in acknowledgment. I continued to run with her, taking a right into the entrance of the luxury hotel apartment building she didn’t know I owned. Stopping for a moment, I punched in the code, and the doors parted open.

She panted, “Wait, where are we going?”

Leading her into the foyer, I quickly glanced over my shoulder. “You’ll see.”

“Are you sure we’re supposed to be here?” I heard her question as we stopped at the elevator.

I punched in ‘ten’ and turned to her. “Don’t worry. I also work here.”

“As what?”

My eyes watched the glowing countdown; three… two… “Does it matter?” I gave her a thrilled look and hoped she would return it.

I didn’t know if it was anger at Jude, elation from our little escapade or the sheer effect of alcohol, but she did return it with a grin on top. “It doesn’t.”

Inside the elevator, I watched her chest rise and fall and her eyes spark with delight. When she inched closer, I held her by the arms, fixing her in place as I whispered, “How drunk are you?”

Without breaking our eye contact, she shook her head.

Was she motivated by spite toward her ex, or did she truly find me exciting? The question burned a hole in my brain as I grabbed her hand, marching down the corridor toward apartment one-hundred-and-one. I quickly punched in the code, and the door lock clicked, so I pushed it open, pulling her along with me.

And then she slammed the door shut, blocking it with her back as her hand grabbed the lapel of my suit, yanking me closer. With her eyes on my lips, she murmured, “I think six months are enough, don’t you?”

I don't think I really even heard the question she just asked–instead I crashed my lips onto hers, eager to taste what her mouth had to offer. Holding her by the waist, I slammed her against the door, breathing in her exquisite scent, a mixture between tangy raspberry and sweet vanilla. My tongue was battling hers for control, playing a game and testing how far hers was willing to fight. I liked feisty, independent, and spontaneous women and she was a mixture of all of those–a wild personality wrapped up in a tight, hot body. She put up a fight, but I conquered her mouth–drank from it, from her. But I wanted more.

I let go of her lips and kissed down her jaw and neck, sucking on the area just below her ears. I could feel her breath hitch and her mouth open. She seemed to exude sexuality; her subtle movements, her perfume, her smooth skin… all seemed so effortlessly to make me hard as fuck. She stirred an unexplainable need inside me as if my body had been craving hers forever.

I moved my hands to her ample breast, massaging them over the soft fabric of her dress. Like made for me, they fit perfectly under the palm of my hand–firm and soft.

"Oh, please. Is this everything you've got?" Ella let out breathlessly, challenging me on.

I stopped my assault on her breasts, looked deep into her gray eyes, and smirked. This woman seriously knew how to push my buttons.

"Does this dress mean a lot to you, Ella?" My words came out dark and ominous.

"No?" Her gray eyes had a questioning look to them, unsure of my next move.

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