Page 29 of Dangerous Temptation

She bit her lip as she looked at her reflection. It was a G-string.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped out from hiding. Her hands instinctively came up to cover herself when Alex’s gaze sparked, dark and intense.

She took a timid step back when he rose from his chair.

That didn’t stop him coming straight at her. She jumped when his big hands settled on her waist. He turned her so she faced the mirror and stood behind her as they both evaluated her reflection.

It was the reflection of the two of them together, though, that captured her attention. When he caught her wrists and moved her hands away, she let him.

The picture they made was beyond steamy.

Purely sensual. Her femininity and vulnerability were on display as he towered over her, looking male and aggressive.

There was something about her near nakedness against his crisp business dress.

Something that made the sexuality classier, but at the same time naughtier. Forbidden, yet strict.

Her nipples stiffened, going from peeking to peaking under the snug grip of the stretchy lace.

Alex’s grip on her waist tightened, and he turned her.

She spread her hands over his chest and looked over her shoulder.

The view from behind was even more salacious.

Precious few strips of fabric covered her.

One rode along the top of her buttocks, while another travelled down between the plump globes.

The contrast between her long hair that hid so much of her back and the clothing that covered so little of her bottom was rather shocking.

She watched as his hands came up to cup her. Hide her. Claim her. The hold was bold and firm.

He dropped a soft kiss on the top of her head. ‘What else would you like to try on?’

She worried her bottom lip. ‘Suits?’

One of his eyebrows lifted.

‘I need something to wear at my defence.’

His face softened. ‘There’s my girl. Sexy and practical.’

His chest lifted and he stepped back. Hardness tented the front of his pants. ‘Thank you, Jorge. Would you send in Katrina?’

‘Of course.’ A sly but happy smile was on the designer’s face as he walked backwards to the door. ‘Let me know if there’s anything else you need.’

From there, everything turned into a blur of fantasy.

Styles changed. Colours burst. The materials felt good against her skin, and the cuts were exquisite.

Elena tried on suits, shoes, dresses and jackets.

The touch and feel alone told her that everything was top of the line, but the watchful eye of the designers made her feel like a princess.

The watchful eye of Alex made her feel like a princess about to be debauched. He’d stopped working on his computer long ago.

‘That one is a definite yes,’ he said, eyeing the little black dress she’d put on. Its hemline was high, but not too high, but its neckline was plunging by anyone’s standards.

Elena looked at herself critically in the mirror.

She seemed like a different woman. The casual, fresh-faced college student was gone, replaced by a sensual-looking seductress.

It wasn’t a look she was entirely comfortable with, but she liked it all the same.

The woman in the mirror showed confidence and poise.

Nobody would question her being on Alex Wolfe’s arm.

Or they wouldn’t if her last name wasn’t Bardot.

The designer came over and fluffed her hair, spreading it out in a curtain. ‘The trend these days is a curly bob, right above the shoulders. Add some highlights, and that would really make this dress pop.’

‘You’re not touching her hair.’

The growl came from across the room and was menacing enough that the woman stepped back. ‘Of course.’ Her chin dropped an inch in rebuke. ‘What would you like to try on next?’

Elena smoothed the soft material over her stomach. Alex’s power hung in the air. There was never a doubt as to who was leading this show and some might have taken offence, but she didn’t interpret his words as domineering. She felt protected. Turned on. ‘That’s enough,’ she said.

‘Are you sure?’ Alex asked from his chair.

‘I can’t lift my arms any more.’ She’d shimmied and zipped and tugged all she could.

He gave the designer a nod, and the woman scurried from the room.

Elena walked closer to the chair where he sat. ‘Thank you,’ she said softly. ‘That was like a dream.’

It really had been an idyllic afternoon, sexy and thrilling. She tilted her head back as he rose before her. He wasn’t shy about looking over the dress. He hadn’t been shy about looking at anything.

She tugged at the hemline, even though it wasn’t indecent. She sucked in air when his hands caught her waist. He turned her and walked her back the few feet to the wall. Pressing her up against it, he leaned down over her and nuzzled her neck.

‘You are so beautiful,’ he murmured.

Her eyelids fluttered. He’d learned right where she was most susceptible to his touch. Her hands came up to clutch at his waist. ‘I’ll just pick out a few things,’ she promised.

He pulled back a few inches to look at her.

She glanced over the stacks of clothes that had been piled on the ‘yes’ table. ‘Definitely a suit. A dress and maybe the pink lingerie.’

‘They’re all yours.’

‘No, that’s all right,’ she insisted. She didn’t want to be greedy. She knew he’d insist on paying, but it was so much. Too much.

‘Yes, it’s all right,’ he said firmly. ‘I didn’t just ask these people here so you could play pretend. I asked them here so I could splurge on you.’

She looked at him steadily, the back of her head resting against the wall. ‘You don’t have to, Alex.’

‘No, but I need to.’ His hold on her bit, and his eyes turned stormy.

He was opening up to her more and more, but it had been a while since she’d seen the deeper emotions that were on display now.

The anger and the determination. ‘I’ve spent the last two years fighting to keep what’s mine.

I made my money honestly with my own company.

If I want to spend it now, that’s my right.

I’ll spend it wherever and however I please.

Nobody is going to stop me, not even you. ’

‘OK.’ Her hand lighted on his chest. He was breathing too hard, and his heart was racing. ‘OK.’

His chest rose at her touch and his head dropped forward. ‘Right now, it pleases me to spend it on you.’

She petted him, bringing down the beast. ‘I didn’t mean to be rude. It’s just a bit much to take in.’

‘It pisses me off that you think that.’ He ground his teeth, but his touch softened as he caught a strand of her hair that dangled close to her waist. ‘You should have had pretty things all along. You shouldn’t have had to do without.’

He was talking about her dad, and Elena frowned.

They’d been partners. They’d taken from people without regret.

Did it matter more to him now that he knew her?

That he saw the actual difference money made in people’s lives?

Had he never witnessed the dividing line between the haves and the have-nots?

Maybe not. Yet he was truly bothered by the situation, and that confused her. She’d assumed that only an unfeeling bigot could do the things he did, but he was neither.

How had he gotten caught up in such a mess?

‘I had all the important things. My mom, my friends, love.’

A muscle in his jaw worked. ‘Let me do this for you.’

There was no defensive barrier in his gaze. No truths or feelings he was hiding.

‘OK,’ Elena agreed, wanting to make him happy. ‘Thank you.’

He sighed and leaned his weight into her, trapping her against the wall. His hands stroked up the sides of her legs, edging the cocktail dress higher. ‘Good, because the fun part about buying you new clothes is taking them off you again.’