Page 20 of Beautiful Cruelty

"No," I breathe. "It wasn't."

"What would make it enough?" His hand moves from my ass and up my leg, each touch making me shiver.

"I—" The words catch in my throat as his other hand cups my face. His thumb brushes across my bottom lip, and my heart skips.

"Yes?" His storm-gray eyes lock onto mine, filled with hunger and something darker that makes my pulse race faster.

"The real thing." I swallow hard, gathering my courage. "Your hands," I confess, pressing myself against him. "Your mouth."

His possessive grip tightens deliciously against me.

"Your co?—."

Before I can finish the word, he leans down and claims my mouth with his.

The kiss starts gentle, almost tentative, but quickly deepens into something hungry and demanding. His tongue sweeps inside, tasting of champagne and heat.

My fingers curl into his lapels as desire floods through me. Every brush of his tongue against mine sets my core ablaze with desire. His hand tightens on my back, crushing me against the hard planes of his chest until I can feel his heart thundering in time with mine.

I arch into him, wanting—no, needing—more. More of his touch, his taste, the way he makes me feel like I'm burning up from the inside out. The world spins away until there's nothing but the slide of his mouth on mine and the growing ache between my thighs.

A soft moan escapes my throat as his teeth graze my bottom lip. Heat pools low in my belly, and my hips rock instinctively against his thigh, seeking friction. I want his hands on my bare skin. I want him to strip away my uniform and touch me everywhere. I want him to take me right here and right now, and not stop until I shatter around his cock.

His tongue sweeps deeper, dominating the kiss until my knees go weak. One hand slides down to squeeze my ass while the other tangles in my hair, tilting my head back to give him better access. The dual sensations make me whimper into his mouth.

"Ms. McKinney!" Reality suddenly comes crashing back as I turn to find my boss Allison glaring at me, arms crossed and face contorted in anger.

"A word?"

Oh God.

I'm at work. In my uniform. Dancing with a guest.Kissinga guest.

Breakingeveryrule that I can possibly break.

My cheeks burn as I disentangle myself from Vadim, already missing the warmth of his lips and his touch. The cool spring air now feels positively freezing, and I force myself to stand straighter.

Allison's eyebrows arch higher with each passing second.

"Ms. McKinney is dancing with me." There's an edge to Vadim's voice, and his tone hardens just enough to sound almost threatening.

"And Ms. McKinney isworkingfor me." Allison's lips press into a thin line. "She needs to get back to doing what she's being paid to do. Not whatever this is!"

"I hired your company for this event."

"And we appreciate your business, Mr. Stravinsky. But you don't get to do whatever you like withmyemployees."

His jaw tightens. "Name your price."

"Excuse me?"

"For the company. Name it."

That doesn't deter Allison one bit as she glares at me. "The company isn't for sale."

"Everything has a price."

"Not. This."

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