Page 44 of Beautiful Chaos

On the drive home, she still hadn’t said much.

“I hope you enjoyed yourself tonight, Harper.” I glanced to see her staring at me.

“I did. So much. I probably shouldn’t have drunk though.” She giggled and leaned back in her seat. Her cheeks remained flushed that lovely shade of pink that beckoned me, enticing my aching need to embrace her naked body into mine.

“It’s not safe to get drunk in plublic…plublic…” she giggled again and swiped her hand through the air. “You know what I mean.” She finished letting out a full-on laugh.

I liked seeing her let loose and enjoying herself. I probably should have stopped her after three glasses, but I didn’t think it would affect her so much. Besides, she deserved to unwind. I won’t let anything happen to her, she’s safe with me.

“You are really hot. Did you know that?” She slurred her words as they rolled off of her tongue. So. Damn. Cute.

“Oh yeah? I appreciate that.” I said entertaining her.

“Yeah, yeah, but you already knew that. You are a smart man, you have mirrors too,” she slurred her words. “Plus, every girl seems to fall all over themselves when you are around,” she said with an eye roll, her head back against the seat. I didn’t stop her, I wanted to see where this conversation was going.

“But not me though, I’m too broken to care about things like that. I can’t let my guard down, not ever. I can’t go through that again,” she said exasperated. I frowned at her statement, knowing she was speaking the truth. I hated that she saw herself as broken; she’s not broken, she’s the strongest woman I’ve ever met.

She’s not broken.

I wanted to see if she would tell me what happened to her, but it felt wrong to push when she wasn’t in the right mental state to guard herself if she needed to emotionally. I wanted her to share that part of her life with me because she wanted to because she felt she trusted me. Not because she was drunk.

* * *

Walking into the elevator with Harper, I held her by the waist, keeping her from falling on her face.

She was vulnerable, unguarded, and abso-fucking-lutley gorgeous.

Her skin flushed, her dark curls fallen, framing her rosy cheeks. Her drunken eyes were glossy, making the emerald color more vibrant. I looked down and noticed her low-cut neckline had slipped out of place, exposing her breasts and slipping dangerously towards her perky nipples that were easily seen under the thin layer of silk covering her bare curves.

I couldn’t stop my eyes from wandering. I reached up and pulled the jacket covering her up.

The elevator doors slid open, and Harper turned and wrapped her hand around my tie looking up at me from under her lashes.

“Thank you for tonight, Mr. Whitlock,” she said seductively with a grin. I reached up and pushed the hair from her face, grazing my knuckles down her cheek. She closed her eyes and sucked her bottom lip between her teeth. My body immediately started to react.

Before I could respond, she grabbed my hand, walked through the foyer, and turned down the hall pulling me behind her. I thought she was leading me towards the room she had been using but she passed the door and continued towards my room. My palms started to sweat.

She stopped in front of the door and turned back to me, giving me the ‘fuck me eyes.’

She spun back around and placed her hand on the doorknob.

Time stopped, as I watched her walk towards the bed. She let go of my hand and turned slowly while biting her bottom lip. She looked into my eyes as if she could see straight into my soul, making me feel like I was completely at her mercy.

She reached up with her left hand and raised it to her right shoulder, bunching up the fabric to push it down, which would reveal her naked body to me.

Fuck me, if I didn’t want to see that goddess undressed and at my disposal…But not like this.

I stepped towards her quickly and grabbed the duvet from the bed behind her and covered her body with it, as her dress slipped down toward her feet.

She attempted to stop me from covering her as she pouted her lip and lowered her head.

“You don’t want me?”

Yes. Yes, I do more than anything. I want to rip that dress from your sexy body, bend you over my bed, and make love to you until your voice is hoarse from screaming my name.

I wrapped my arms around her cocooned form and leaned in, whispering:

“Baby, I need you more than you know. But I won’t take you in this state. I want you sober when I make love to you.”

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