"Silver sheen..." He glanced around, while I wished for x-ray vision to see through his mask. "I wonder if that's a mirror."
"A mirror. Of course." Were we actually doing this? Partnering up without really discussing it? Just like that?
"Let's go before someone else beats us to it."
Holy shit, we were! Unless I was in the middle of a hallucination, we were actually partnering up!
He extended his arm, elbow bent, like he wanted me to hold onto him, a gesture that was both gentlemanly and kind of intimate. I hesitated a beat, stunned at how fast this was progressing. But I quickly reminded myself that tonight I intended on doing a whole lot more than elbow holding, and I needed to keep pushing myself forward in order to get there.
And this man right here, he was my prime prospect. My one and only prospect at this point, but there was no way I could do better. Absolutely no way. Not even if the biggest movie star in the world walked in.
So I placed my hand on his arm, the warmth and feel of him sending a shiver down my spine. If just touching him through material had this effect on me, I couldn't imagine what having sex would do to me. My God, you'd probably have to peel me from the ceiling afterwards. Or... he could be like all the lame guys before him.
No. I knew already this man would be different. He positively oozed sex. Wait. Ooze and sex should never be used together in the same sentence.
"Shall we?" He tightened his elbow, not waiting for my response, leading me toward one side of the ballroom. "Do you see any mirrors?"
Right. Mirrors. It was impossible to concentrate when my hand was caught between his strong arm and god-like body. The back of my hand was touching his side. His side! And what a side it was!
I could feel the edges of his hard abs, just imagining the strength hidden beneath such fine fabric. The wool—Super 150s, maybe even 180s—was impossibly smooth and soft, but also substantial, the kind of material used in the most exquisite bespoke suits that of course this man would wear.
Not able to shut off my work brain, fingering just a bit of the fabric, I blurted without thinking, "This craftsmanship is impeccable. Who's the genius behind this masterpiece?"
That stopped him in his tracks, and he glanced down at me, a smile playing about his sexy lips. "I suppose that would be my tailor. But I'm hoping you're more interested in the man who's wearing it."
I stared at him, stunned once more by his very straightforward words. Who on earth was this man? I'd give anything to know his name.
He leaned in, so close that his proximity made my heart flutter. "Don't look, but there's a mirror behind you."
Oh. "Okay," I breathed. "So what... what's the plan?"
Releasing my hand from his elbow, he slowly turned to face me, overwhelming me with his presence. Placing his hands on my arms, he backed me up, while I stared up at him, my jaw gaping open until I remembered to close it.
The entire time, his eyes never wavered from mine, his stare piercing and beyond intense. This man didn't do anything halfway. I swallowed hard at the thought, again, of what he'd be like in bed. Something told me he'd never finish first, never let me go without an orgasm or two or maybe three.
My face flushed beneath my mask, my body suddenly overheating.
He still guided me, moving me until my back was against the wall, the force of his strength fully against me, every part of me melting into him. My breasts were crushed into his hard chest, and I had to wonder if he could feel that as much as I could.
"This is the plan, beautiful," he said softly.
Was I about to climax right here and now? I'd never in my life been so turned on.
I wanted to rub my body up against him like a cat in heat, and it took everything in me to hold still. With every ounce of willpower I had, I made myself freeze, barely daring to breathe as he somehow moved even closer, his head angling down so near, I could feel the warmth of his breath on my cheek.
"Don't move," he said.
Two
Astrid
His warm palms traveled up my bare arms, sending goosebumps skittering across my skin. My breathing synced up with his slow, deep breaths, our chests rising and falling in harmony.
One of his hands reached behind me, adjusting whatever was against the wall—a mirror, I presumed. While he was distracted, I took a moment to note everything about him, because God only knew if I'd ever be this close to such a stunning man again.
First of all, he smelled divine, the scent bypassing all rational thought and going straight to the most primitive part of my brain. But that wasn't all. Lordie, that wasn't all.
Every part of him was rock hard. Not only his chest, but his arms that felt like steel, and thick,thickthighs that pressed up against me. I was positively drowning in him—in his presence, his scent, his warmth—and it was by far the biggest thrill of my life.
