Page 16 of Twenty Years Later

A loud burst of laughter from the front doors startled us apart.

"Should we get out of here?" he asked, his narrowed eyes surveying me.

"Definitely," I said, standing up and trying my best not to wobble in these heels.

Taking my hand, his strong grip steadied me. "Can I walk you upstairs?" he asked.

"Please."

As we wordlessly passed through the lobby, I felt like I was traveling through another world, a strange world where Alex Hernandez was escorting me to my room, but also a somewhat familiar world where I didn't want to let him go.

The noise as we waited by the elevators made it hard to talk. And besides, my thoughts consumed me as I remembered what Kaileen had said right before I'd walked out my door earlier.

Don't you dare pass up a chance to sleep with that man.

Tonight was my one and only chance to finally be with Alex. And there was no way I was going to let him walk away.

The elevator dinged, and hand in hand, we moved forward.

I just really hoped he didn't pull the "You've been drinking" or "You have an early morning" card and try to be all gentlemanly with me. But as the doors closed and we were finally all alone, I found out that Alex was no gentleman.

Chapter Six

Jayda

Right after I pressed the fourth floor button, he spun me around, pulling me to him. His lips came down on mine, truly kissing me this time, taking my breath away. I grasped onto him, afraid I might crumble from the intensity of his mouth taking, giving, teasing.

Those lips.

But we were interrupted too soon by the elevator door opening. As we broke apart and headed into the hall, I was so dazzled I couldn't remember my room number. But it came back to me while I dug around in my little purse for the key card. I fumbled with the lock as Alex put a firm hand on my back.

Once I opened the door, I whirled around to look at him, unsure what he would do. "Want to come in?" I asked, my heart in my throat.

His eyes burned into me. "More than anything."

As the door shut behind us and I said a silent thank you to Kaileen for getting us separate rooms, Alex turned me around to face him, the dim light from the lamp casting shadows on his gorgeous face.

"You're sure about this?" he asked.

I swallowed hard. "Absolutely."

The intensity in his eyes almost scared me. And for a second I had a doubt, a weird nagging feeling that I was cheating on my late husband, that I was doing something wrong.

But I didn't have time to think further about it as Alex pressed forward, leaning his body into mine. That scorching heat melted me and turned my brain to putty.

His mouth was on me, this time his tongue touching my lips, just barely teasing, barely tasting. As I met his tongue with mine, he groaned like he was in pain, and our kisses grew hotter, needier.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted this," he whispered against my mouth.

I wanted to say the same thing back, but the words wouldn't come out. I was so lost in a haze, so lost in the spell he had cast.

His rough hands roamed my body, down my neck to my hips, where he tugged at the material of my dress. "I want this off. I want to see you, touch you, taste you."

Those words made me tremble. No one had seen me without clothes for so long.

With nimble fingers, he worked the hidden zipper in the back, and he slowly helped me out of the dress, tossing it onto the nearby chair. I stood there in my black bra and panties, a wave of vulnerability washing over me.

Alex paused for a minute, his eyes taking in my body while I held my breath. Then he looked at my face again. "You're absolutely gorgeous."

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