Page 107 of The Blackmail of Denise Randall

“Did you have fun?”

“Yes! How could I not? This was the perfect day. The absolute most perfect day.”

He gives a one shoulder shrug. “Then this was a perfect day for me too. I spent it all day with you. Knowing I helped put that genuine smile on your face made it all worth it.”

I bite my lip and look up at him. I try to convey my emotions through my eyes as his pierce into mine. I struggle to swallow a lump that’s formed in my throat. The limo pulls up. I look over and then back up at him, whispering, “Let’s go back to the room.”

Keaton and I climb back into the limo. As soon as the driver pulls away from the curb, I place my hand on his knee. His whole body stiffens. Slowly, I rub his knee and then casually try to make my way up his thigh. He watches me from the corner of his eye, waiting to see how far I’ll take this. I’m not quite as confident as I’m trying to pretend to be. Luckily, it’s a short drive, so I’m saved from humiliating myself with not knowing what to do with my hand after I make it all the way up.

The door opens, and Keaton practically hauls me out of the limo and through the hotel lobby. People are waiting by the elevator when he rushes us to the door. The door opens, and we all shuffle in. As the elevator begins its slow ride, Keaton and I steal glances at each other. The elevator stops on our floor, and he practically pushes me forward through the people, then out to our floor. I giggle a “sorry” to the couple that I almost run over.

We rush down the hall, stealing little kisses and laughing. We stop in front of our door, and Keaton swipes the key card immediately. All laughter immediately stops when we enter the room. We simply stare at each other as the room becomes heated. He doesn’t blink as his eyes never break contact with mine. Unable to handle the weight of his intensity and unsure what to do, I avert my eyes to anywhere but him. Cautiously, he takes a single step toward me. Then his chest rises and falls, taking two deep breaths before he takes another step.

“Look at me.” His voice doesn’t even sound like him. It holds more authority than I’m typically used to from him. “Eyes on me, Denise.”

My eyes snap to his. He raises his chin and takes another step toward me. My breathing picks up. I want him, but I’m so nervous. Keaton Sloan is experienced, his large frame and muscular body twice my size. Everything about him is intimidating. He’s gorgeous. I’ve only been with one other man. He was also experienced and intimidating, but I wasn’t sober. I’m completely aware and in this moment—and that scares me.

I need to be confident in myself to not let doubt ruin this night. He could easily walk out of this room, back down to the lobby and snap his finger and have any woman he wants. But he wants me. It’s me he’s here with now and it’s me he’s been pursuing.

Slowly, he removes his jacket as he takes another step toward me. I take a step back and a slow smile spreads across his clean-shaven face. Ever so slowly, he shakes his head. “Don’t back away. Unless you want me to chase you. Which I will.”

I force myself not to let my nerves show and take another step back. I stand firm and in a smile that I hope is coming off flirty, I say, “Do tell…what would you do once you caught me?”

He gently lays his jacket on a chair. Not taking his eyes off me, he undoes the buttons on each cuff, and then he begins to undo the top button of his crisp, white shirt..

“To tell you the truth, I’d probably be in shock for a bit at the fact that I caught you.” He finally stands toe-to-toe with me. He brings his hand up and trails a finger around the curve of my cheek. “I think you know I’m talking about something more than sex.” He takes my wrists and holds them above my head. “Capturing your body is easy.” He releases my wrist and trails his large hands down the length of my arms down to my waist. “I want more than your body, Denise.” He leans his forehead against mine and cups my cheek. “I want to capture your heart.”

“But you have,” I confess.

“Then why do I feel like I’m still chasing you?”

“I’m running scared. I’m not as experienced in relationships as you.”

He chuckles and shakes his head. “I’m not experienced in relationships. Sex is not a relationship. In this area, you’re the more experienced one.”

“I’d hardly call any of my previous dating disasters relationships.”

“That shouldn’t make me happy, but it does. I love that nobody has captured the heart of Denise Randall…yet.”

“Think you’ll be the one to lock it away?”

“There’ll be no escaping.” He secures his lips on mine. I pull him closer toward me.

Our kiss turns passionate as we pour all our emotions into each other. I want to stop and take a break, to think this through, while at the same time, I want to lose myself and throw caution to the wind. I want to shut my mind off and only be with him. It’s Keaton who pulls away first.

“Listen to me.” There’s that voice of authority again. “We don’t have to do anything. Today was amazing. I don’t want you to do anything you might remotely have second thoughts about. We go only as far as you’re comfortable with going.”

I search his eyes to find only complete honesty and understanding. “Then don’t stop again until I tell you.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

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