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  I had been in this kind of situation before, and I knew exactly how to handle it. Gently, purposefully, I moved my hand around the small of her back, where I lightly slid my fingers back and forth, feeling her tremble beneath my touch.

  Her dress was thin, and I could feel the heat of her skin just beneath my fingers. I desperately wanted to push her against the wall and tear her free of her clothes, but I held back.

  Emily moved slightly beneath my touch, and I could sense a burning desire coming forth. A sly grin slowly spread across my face, and I knew I had her.

  I leaned forward and put my hands on her shoulders, then slowly began kissing her neck. I felt her writhe in front of me, and I knew she was intensely aroused.

  I teased her for a few more seconds, then I leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “Do you want to go see one of the private rooms? I know where the empty ones are.”

  Emily turned and looked at me, and as soon as our eyes met, I gave her my most charming smile.

  With a slight, nervous smile on her face, she gave a slow, shallow nod.

  “I’d…I’d love to,” she murmured, holding tightly onto her clutch.

  I took a step back and gestured toward the door.

  “Then, after you,” I said suavely.

  Emily said nothing as she stood for a moment, as though there was a conflict in her mind she needed to erase. Then, with a sudden surge of confidence, she squared her shoulders and walked out of the room with all the power of a movie star. I felt my pants grow tighter, and I had to suppress a groan.

  I couldn’t wait to have her.

  Chapter Seven

  Emily

  I walked quickly and silently next to Kyle as we made our way through the hall. I wasn’t sure how he knew the rooms in the house, but I trusted he knew what he was doing, and he wasn’t going to take me anywhere I wouldn’t feel safe. The rooms were all dark, with some dim lights lining the hallway.

  It was clear that, though there were many people in the room behind us, it wasn’t entirely encouraged for people to be in these back rooms. I didn’t even know for sure who owned the house, nor what their connection was to my sister. For a moment, I hoped I wasn’t doing anything that was going to get her in trouble. The feeling was a brief one, however, as Kyle kept his hand on my back, guiding me past room after room.

  The sounds that came from inside several dark corners revealed that we weren’t the only two people to have this idea, but it was clear that Kyle didn’t have any intention of exploring my body in the shadows of a doorway like some high-schooler. He wanted to take me somewhere secret—where we could enjoy each other without fear of someone seeing us at any moment.

  Or so I thought.

  Seemingly choosing it at random, Kyle stopped at a door and pressed his ear against it. I couldn’t help but glance around, feeling as though I were about to do something wrong. I once again felt like I had when I had hung out with Maddy in high school—she had so often gotten herself into situations that I’d ended up getting her out of, and there had been many times when those situations began with how Kyle and I were behaving right now.

  Evidently satisfied with what he did or didn’t hear, Kyle threw open the door and grabbed my hand, pulling me inside after him. He closed the door, but there was no lock and nothing in the room to prop against it—the space was quite sparse, save for a bed and a small dresser against the wall.

  “What would people like these have a room like this for? I thought everything they did was full of wealth and opulence,” I remarked.

  Kyle mumbled a reply, though it was clear that the time for small talk had passed. He turned back to me with a smile, then once again took my hand, more gently this time, and led me over to the bed.

  My heart was pounding wildly in my chest; I had never slept with a man so soon after meeting him.

  I didn’t have to pretend to be aroused by Kyle—every move he made caused my spine to tingle with excitement. I briefly wondered if such attraction was normal considering the situation I was in—this man had purchased my time, after all—but there was another side of me that really didn’t care. I wanted him, and I wanted him now. That was all that really mattered.

  In spite of the yearning I felt in my body, I also felt reserved. Before Kyle, I’d always refused to sleep with a man on the first date, telling myself that if he truly was interested, he would be more than happy to take me on a few dates first.

  My quiet hesitancies seemed to go unnoticed by Kyle, however, as he turned and placed one of his hands around the back of my neck and the other hand around the lower part of my back. He pulled me close to him, pressing his lips against mine with a feverish passion that sent shockwaves throughout my entire body.

  I had always been a girl to take things slow; I was used to sitting on the side of a bed, taking all the time in the world to make out and explore each other’s bodies.

  But now, with Kyle, I didn’t want to wait.

  He was every bit as confident and assertive in the bedroom as he had been throughout the rest of the evening, and though I felt safe and secure with him, I also felt a little intimidated. I wanted to see what he was going to do to me, but I was also feeling tense with the anticipation.

  I kissed him back, though I could feel my lips tremble as they moved over his. Though I liked to think of myself as experienced in bed, I had to admit, being with him was a bit daunting, and I wasn’t sure where to put my own hands. I wanted to explore his body with them, to get to know each and every one of his toned muscles, but my palms felt sweaty, and I was so sure I was going to make a fool of myself.

  I didn’t have long to fret, however, as his hands had moved from holding me in place and were now at the back of my dress, pulling at the zipper. I felt the release as the tight fabric was removed from my sides, and I worried that I would be a disappointment to him when I was fully exposed.

  I wore no bra, and as soon as the dress fell away, I felt vulnerable, knowing that all of me was exposed to this strong, powerful man. With little time to think, I had my hands at the collar of his shirt, and I was doing my best to unbutton it, silently cursing my shaking hands all the while.

  Kyle didn’t appear to notice my nerves as he turned his attention to my breasts. I rolled his shirt off his shoulders and closed my eyes, allowing myself to be completely caught up in the moment. The more intimate our connection became, the more I allowed lust to take control of my body, the bolder I became. My hands flew to his belt buckle and I hurriedly undid both his belt and his pants.

  He pushed me back onto the bed, sliding off his pants and pulling off my panties as he climbed on top of me. I was still wearing my boots, but that was all I had on, and I was amazed at the confidence that now rushed through my veins. Kyle did, indeed, have a large tattoo running from his wrist nearly to the top of his shoulder, swirling about in a design that only made him appear all the more intriguing.

  His body was truly a sight to behold; his arms were even more muscular than I had thought they were going to be, having been hidden under the sleeves of his suit; his abs were lean and defined, and his chest was firm and strongly built. The sight of him was so impressive it almost made me insecure about my own body.

  Though I was lean like my sister and able to pass for her as a model, I didn’t have the same definition throughout my body that he did. I felt that there was so much I could do to improve, while he was a perfect specimen settling down on top of me. I silently prayed that he still found me attractive.

  “What’s wrong?”

  The question cut through the air, and I paused. Kyle was looking down at me, searching my face with a concerned look in his eyes, though his own face didn’t reveal that he was feeling at all uneasy.

  “What?” I asked, confused.

  “You seem like something is the matter; what is it?” he asked, sitting back on the bed and looking me over.

  I felt so vulnerable and exposed in front of him, but there was something thrilling about the way he look
ed at me, as well. I wanted to gush to him all my insecurities—to tell him that I didn’t think I could possibly compare to a body like his—but suddenly, something else came over me. I was supposed to be Maddy—to act like Maddy would act—and she certainly wouldn’t have any hesitations over her body.

  “Nothing, nothing at all,” I said, and I meant it. This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and I wasn’t going to be the meek, good girl that I always had been in the past. I was going to be daring, and I was going to get what I wanted out of this experience.

  Heeding a sudden impulse, I put my hands around the back of Kyle’s neck and pulled him back down on top of me, meeting his lips with mine. I let go of all my insecure feelings, and began kissing him with all the passion I had running through my body.

  Immediately, Kyle was kissing me back, and I could feel the eager anticipation swell within him as well as myself. His hands were all over me, and for the first time, I was allowing my hands to explore his body freely—lightly and lingering in some ways, firm and fast in others. I wasn’t going to let anything keep me from doing this.

  With a sudden thrust, Kyle was inside me. I cried out a little, more from the surprise than any pain, and he looked down at me.

  “Are you okay?” he murmured, and I smiled.

  “I’m more than okay,” I breathed.

  He looked into my eyes for a moment, then wrapped his arms around me and began thrusting. I felt a warm sensation bloom deep within me with every thrust, and I wanted to scream out with pleasure. But I couldn’t forget where I was, or what I was doing there, or that there might be someone coming through that door at any moment.

  The thrill of potentially being caught only served to excite me even more as I began moving to Kyle’s rhythm. I had never felt such intense pleasure with anyone in my life.

  Of course, with the risk that someone could find us at any moment, we didn’t have the luxury of being able to take our time. Focusing on the pleasure that grew with every thrust, it wasn’t long before I tumbled over the edge, into ecstasy, with Kyle reaching his own orgasm only moments later.

  We stayed there like that, Kyle holding me in his arms, his breathing slowing as he looked up at the ceiling. It was a moment I had only read about, but now, I finally got to live. Yet, there was a question eating at the back of my mind: if this was the reason he had bid for me, what was next?

  As if he could read my thoughts, Kyle leaned forward and looked into my eyes.

  “Do you want to go back to my place? This was fun, but I don’t feel that I have been able to appreciate your body for as long as I’d like to. It’s entirely up to you, of course, but I would really like you to say yes.”

  He smiled down at me, and I felt my heart flutter. Perhaps this might have started off as some kind of transaction, but now, he wanted to take me home.

  Eager to have him to myself, in an instant, I agreed.

  We dressed in silence, and Kyle helped me zip my dress back into place. I followed him back into the hall and down the stairs once more, holding my head high with a new sense of pride. I imagined the other guests looking at me as I walked down the stairs—surmising what I must have been doing up there, and being jealous that I was able to do it with a man such as this.

  A smug smile flashed briefly across my face, but I didn’t stop. I felt on top of the world.

  Chapter Eight

  Kyle

  I had to admit, I wasn’t entirely sure what had come over me. I’d had many one-night stands in my life. In fact, it was my preferred way of doing things— get the girl in bed, have fun, then get away from her as fast as possible.

  Miss Shadows, on the other hand, had piqued my interest.

  I hadn’t had any real expectations when I’d taken her up to the party upstairs, but seeing her reaction first to those who were enjoying each other, then seeing her in bed with me, sparked an interest in me that I had never experienced before. I had no intention of committing to her or making any kind of promises that I would ever see her again, but I did wish to get to know her body a little better—and that wouldn’t be possible if we stayed at the Gathering.

  There was a little voice inside my head that warned me to be careful taking any woman home, especially one like Emily. Not only did I feel a connection to her, but I could sense that she was feeling a connection to me.

  It had become easy for me to juggle relationships—if I really wanted to call them that. A night with this girl, a night with that girl, no more than two nights with anyone. I never appeared in public with the same girl twice, and should a girl be able to get my contact information—in spite of me doing my best to keep it under wraps—I would be swift to tell her exactly how I felt.

  However, there was a part of me that told me not to simply tell this young woman that I wished her well, and leave her at the party. No doubt she would end up getting taken home by one of the other men, but that wasn’t the point. I wasn’t worried about her being alone; I was worried about her being anyone else’s but mine.

  I held the door open for her, then held my arm out to her as we walked down the pavement toward the car. I’d texted my driver to get the engine running and wait for us out front, and once again, I insisted on personally holding the door open for Emily. She gave me a flattered smile as I closed the door behind her, and within minutes, we were off.

  My place was located on Mulholland Drive—not too far from the party, but far enough that we were going to have a few minutes to talk. I put on soft music for background noise, then turned my attention back to Emily, who was looking rather nervous, staring out the window.

  “I’m glad you decided to come with me. I get a little tired of those parties after a while,” I said, trying to soothe her nerves.

  Emily turned to me and smiled.

  “I have to say, I don’t have many evenings like that, and I’m glad for the chance to step back and relax, too,” she replied.

  She still fidgeted with the clutch in her hands, but she appeared to be happier. I nodded, trying to think of something to say to her. I knew she was a model, but I wasn’t sure how to talk to her about anything significant. If I were to say too much, she may well feel that I was taking more of an interest in her than I intended to, and I would have a hard time getting rid of her in the morning.

  On the other hand, I did feel interested in hearing more about her life. She was so beautiful, and remarkably successful for her age. At 26, with an international modeling career, she appeared to be doing very well for herself indeed.

  When we got back to my place, I was quick to get out of the car and open the door for Emily once more, still playing the part of the perfect gentleman. I had taken enough girls home to know how to treat them well, and though I was already confident I would have Emily in my bed shortly, I knew it couldn’t hurt to make these little efforts.

  Once we were inside the house, I offered Emily a glass of champagne.

  “Thanks, maybe just the one. I don’t want to overdo it after the party,” she said with a shy smile as she sat down.

  I brought two flutes and poured the champagne, which we both sipped quickly. Scarcely had we finished with our glasses when I couldn’t take it anymore, and I rose from my seat.

  I took the flutes back to the kitchen, but instead of returning to my seat in the living room, I stopped behind Emily’s chair. I leaned down and gently began kissing her neck. Instantly she responded, leaning her head to one side and wrapping her arms around my neck. I continued to caress her with my mouth, feeling the goosebumps on her skin rise against my lips.

  It wasn’t long before I stopped and walked around the chair, picking her up when I got there. She threw her arms around my neck, jumping up and wrapping her legs around me as I feverishly kissed her.

  Emily dropped her clutch on the floor in the process, but neither one of us cared. I didn’t stop kissing her as I walked up the hall, kicked open the door to my bedroom, and dropped her on my bed.

  Though we once again were pulling t
he clothing off each other, this time, I took my time. She was beautiful, and I wanted to see every inch of her—to caress her breasts, to run my finger down her stomach, to feel how tight her body was against mine. I had taken many women in the heat of the moment, but this was something that I wanted to enjoy for as long as possible.

  Emily seemed to want to make it last, too. She was also doing her part in undressing me, but she wasn’t moving with the same fierceness that she had been, back at the party. Though it was clear she was yearning for me, and I for her, we both wanted to truly experience this moment—something that felt incredibly strange in my mind.

  Usually, I never wanted to do more than have a good time that ended happily for me; now, I wanted to make it more about her.

  When Emily was completely naked on my bed, I took a moment to simply gaze at her beauty. I could see her flush in front of me, and she shyly asked what I was looking at.

  “You, gorgeous,” I breathed as I stepped forward and onto the bed.

  To my surprise, she didn’t lie back as she had done before. She put both her hands on my shoulders and whipped me around, then hopped on top of me. I was taken aback at the boldness of her actions, and they only served to turn me on even more.

  I laid back on the bed, allowing her to guide me inside her. She placed her hands on my chest and began rocking, each movement causing a jolt to run through my body. I used my hands to explore her as she rode me—first running them across her flat stomach and down her thighs, then reaching up to her breasts and massaging them. I sat up as much as I could, and I used my hand to bring her face close to mine.

  We shared a deep kiss, exploring every part of each other’s mouths. I could tell with each movement she made that she was getting closer, and I gently put my hand around her back and flipped her onto the bed. She tried to get back on top of me, but I kept her gently pinned against the bed with a sly smile.