The moment they shut, Nate's hand cups my face. His lips find mine, urgent and demanding. My back hits the elevator wall. His body presses against mine. One hand slides into my hair while the other grips my hip, anchoring me to him.
I've never been kissed like this before—never with this raw intensity that makes my knees weak and my mind blank.
"God, Elena," he groans, breaking the kiss to trail his lips along my jaw, down my neck.
The elevator chimes. Fourteenth floor. We break apart, breathing hard.
We stumble out of the elevator, his hand on the small of my back. The hallway stretches before us, impossibly long. I need this man in my bed. The sooner the better.
Chapter 2
Elena
The room key card slips from my trembling fingers, falling to the carpeted hallway. I laugh nervously as I bend to retrieve it, feeling Nate's eyes on me. The third swipe finally works, the lock clicking open with a soft electronic beep.
"Do I make you nervous?" Nate whispers against my ear, his breath hot on my neck, sending shivers down my spine.
"Apparently." My voice comes out raspy.
We stumble through the doorway. The door barely closes behind us before his mouth finds mine again, hungrier than before. My purse drops to the floor with a thud. His hands slide beneath my blouse, warm against my skin. I gasp into his mouth as his fingers trace the outline of my bra.
"You are truly beautiful," he murmurs against my lips.
I haven't done this in... I can't even remember how long. And never like this—never with someone I just met. Never with this raw, immediate need pulsing through me.
His lips move to my neck, teeth grazing my skin. My fingers thread through his hair, pulling him closer. The wall is cool against my back as he presses against me, his body hard and insistent.
"I need..." I start, not even sure what I'm asking for.
"Tell me. I want to give you everything you need," he whispers against my throat.
My mind clouds with desire, but a small voice of reason manages to break through. "Just give me a minute?"
He pulls back immediately, his eyes searching mine. "Of course."
"I'll be right back," I say, slipping from between him and the wall, heading toward the bathroom. "Make yourself comfortable."
I close the bathroom door behind me, leaning against it. I’m on fire. In the mirror, my reflection stares back at me—flushed cheeks, swollen lips, wide eyes. I barely recognize myself.
"What are you doing, Elena?" I whisper to my reflection, turning on the faucet to mask my voice.
This is crazy. I don't do one-night stands. I don't invite strangers to my hotel room. I don't forget about important first days at work for playtime in the sheets with someone whose last name I don't even know.
I use the toilet quickly, then wash my hands, splashing cold water on my face. It doesn't help. The fire inside me refuses to be doused.
Tomorrow is my first day working with my father. Tomorrow I need to be professional, composed, and focused. Not this woman with wild eyes and an ache between her legs.
"This is insane," I murmur, dabbing my face dry with a towel.
I can still feel his lips on mine, the press of his body against me. And I want more.
Maybe that's exactly why I need this. One night of recklessness before stepping back into my father's world, where every move I make will be scrutinized, where I'll need to be perfect.
Tonight doesn't have to mean anything. It can just be what it is—two adults enjoying each other. No strings, no complications.
I run my fingers through my hair, reapplying a quick swipe of lip gloss. The woman in the mirror smiles at me, a co-conspirator in this delicious madness.
"Fuck it," I decide. "You're overthinking again."