Page 35 of Beyond the Bright Lights

No answer. The silence and lack of response from Mylan pulls my sight away from my reflection.

He stands frozen, staring at me with his mouth parted and breathing shallow.

He’s devouring me with those wild blue eyes of his, leaving phantom burns on every inch of skin his gaze touches.

“Lana,” he says in a low and husky voice.

“Yes?” I respond in a whisper.

He walks toward the bedroom area where I’m standing in front of the mirror, his steps slow and calculated. The energy in the room shifts and becomes electrified.

“Lana,” he repeats, but this time, the way he says my name makes me whimper. It's full of want, full of demand, full of heat.

He heard the whimper.

He sees my puckered nipples through the thin fabric of the dress, as if rising in search of him.

He sees my fast breathing and heaving chest.

He’s in front of me, looking down because he’s so damn tall. “Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me wearing that dress?” He whispers. I stare up at him, fluttering my eyelashes.

I swallow hard and lick my lips, which makes him groan.

“Do you have any idea how hard it is to not touch you right now?”

He reaches up as if he’s about to cup my face, but he stops. He hovers his palms close enough that my skin tingles in response to his nearness. He moves his hands down, skimming my neck, my arms. Never touching.

“I said I’d stop flirting . . .”

His words trail off and the anticipation is killing me. I squeeze my thighs together, trying to contain the ache he’s causing.

“But?”

“But I don’t want to.”

My will officially shatters, falling to pieces on the floor. It only took four days.

“So, what are you going to do about it?” I prompt, which makes his pupils dilate, leaving a thin ring of dark blue edges.

“Will you let me flirt with you, Lana?”

I nod.

“Will you let me touch you?”

I let out a shaky breath. “Yes.”

“Yes, what?”

“Mylan,” I warn.

“Say it.”

A whine escapes my lips. “Please touch me.”

He responds with a hum that almost sounds like a purr. Still, he doesn’t make a move.

“Tell me how bad you want me to touch you, Lana.”

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