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I can’t help thinking that all in with this man for one night would be better than half-assed with Chad for more than a decade. In fact, it’s perfect. My life is busy and complicated, and I don’t have space in it for a relationship.
But I do have space for one awesome night.
I process his offer, trying to stay calm and think it through properly. No matter which way I look at it, though, I can’t find the downside. I’m a little drunk, but not so drunk that I don’t know my own mind, my own body. Both are floored by the incredibly sexy and charismatic guy right in front of me. I’mmost definitely Scarlet now, and I’m thrilled about it. I deserve to be a little bit naughty just once, don’t I? And it’s not like anyone will ever find out.
“I can do casual,” I whisper.
His Adam’s apple bobs, and he stares at me for a few seconds. The electricity crackling between us is palpable, like fireflies sparkling in the air around us. Surely he feels it too, this magic?
“I’m at the hotel next door,” he offers.
I take a deep breath and nod. “Okay.”
Holy shit. Am I really going to do this? He could be a serial killer for all I know. An incredibly hot serial killer, but his looks won’t matter so much when he’s burying me in a ditch. Emily wouldn’t invite a serial killer to her wedding, would she? God, my nerves are so shot that I’m babbling to myself. I’ve never done anything like this before, and I am completely outside my comfort zone.
He stands up and holds his hand out to me. To my surprise, I see my own reach out and take it. “Shall we, Scarlet?” He flashes me a wicked smile, and my insides melt like warm butter, washing away all doubt. If he is a serial killer, at least I’ll die happy.
We walk arm in arm, quickly covering the short distance to his hotel. The Grand Regent is by far the fanciest hotel I’ve ever set foot in, and he gets polite nods from the staff as he leads me through the expansive lobby. He keeps walking past several banks of elevators until he reaches the private elevator for the penthouse and scans his keycard. The penthouse! This guy isn’t only super hot, he’s super rich as well. I wonder what it’s like living in his universe. I’m overwhelmed enough only gate-crashing it for a few hours.
On the ride up, he stands silently beside me with his hand on my hip, dangerously close to my ass. My ass really doesn’t mind, and my legs are trembling with anticipation. I’m a littleworried they won’t know what to do when the doors open and I’m expected to somehow walk again.
As if sensing my unease, he slips his hand down to skim the curve of my backside and turns, giving me a slow, sexy smile that almost finishes me off. “You okay, Scarlet?”
I smile back, nodding with a shaky jerk of my head. Yeah. Scarlet’s just fine. Amelia, however, is absolutely terrified. Scarlet might be a woman of the world, but Amelia is a scared divorcée who has only ever slept with one man. I can’t tell him that, obviously. It’s outrageously unsexy, and I’m guessing he’s used to dating women with a lot more skill and experience than I possess. I can fake this ’til I make it, and maybe he won’t notice.
When the doors open, he gestures for me to go ahead, and I step out into a vast, exquisitely decorated living area. The man has a room that takes up the entire floor of the nicest hotel in the city, and that doesn’t do much to calm my nerves. I am so far outside my comfort zone that I can’t do anything but gape at the spectacular room. It’s bigger than my whole apartment, with floor-to-ceiling windows and the most incredible view of the city. The drapes are open, the bright lights of Manhattan spread out beneath and around us, the whole world lit up like a Christmas tree.
I wander over, mesmerized by the sight. I wonder if one of those twinkling lights is my mom’s place miles away. Mom would approve of me having a little fun, a little adventure. She always tells me I need to let loose.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that view. There’s nothing quite like the Manhattan skyline, is there?” he says, passing me a tumbler of Scotch. He’s taken off his tie, and the top few buttons of his crisp white shirt are open, revealing a golden patch of skin that I immediately want to kiss.
“I guess it’s a pretty awesome view,” I reply breathlessly, admiring the way the material of his shirt molds to his muscular physique. “But I prefer the one from here.”
He grins at me and slowly sips his drink, ice cubes clinking. The sight of his lips curving around the glass fascinates me, and now that we’re alone together, my body is even more aware of his raw sexual energy. He may have been a perfect gentleman until now, but there’s something dangerous and edgy beneath that suave exterior. Something reckless and wild and passionate, calling to me and making me melt inside. I have never had a one-night stand. I never plan to have a one-night stand again. This is something special, something outrageous—something that will make me smile when I’m a lonely old woman in my house full of cats.
As if trying to read my thoughts, he stares at me intently. Then he holds out his hand and beckons me closer. “Come here, Scarlet.”
I’m so lost in the dark promise in his eyes that it takes me a moment to respond to the name. I obviously hesitate too long, and he narrows his eyes at me.
“Now,” he commands in a low growl.
“Yes sir,” I reply, closing the distance between us. I’m frightened, in the most delectable way I could ever imagine. I don’t know what this man is going to do to me, but I know that I am going to enjoy it. Probably more than I’ve ever enjoyed anything in my whole damn life.
Chapter
Three
AMELIA
My heart hammers as I stand there before him, and I take a sip of the Scotch to cover my nerves. Damn, that burns. He silently takes the glass from my hands, and places it down with his before he looks me up and down. Every touch of his eyes burns even hotter than the alcohol.
Charlie runs his hand through my hair, stroking it back from my face before winding it around his fist. He uses it to tug my head back and slides his other hand across my hip and onto my ass. He looks down at me, licking his lips, and it makes me sigh out loud. The way he stares at me is so possessive, like I belong to him and he’s deciding exactly what to do with me. It’s so sexy I start to shake inside, wet heat throbbing between my legs. Even though I’m wearing heels, he looms over my five-foot-six frame, and I feel completely overwhelmed by him.
I gaze up into those incredible brown eyes, and my entire body trembles with anticipation. He must feel it because he gives me a smug smile.
“It sure as hell feels like you’re enjoying this, but are you sure? Are you sure you want this, Amelia?” he asks, his voice low and gruff with need.
“My name is Scarlet,” I remind him with a wicked smile. “And yes, I’m sure.”