Page 3 of Strange Seduction (Strange #2)

“Nothing is going on with me and Marcus,” she said bluntly. “He’s married. He’s a million years old. He has a family.”

“You make it sound like his marriage and family are the only things stopping it from being more,” I said, my tone sharp enough to draw blood.

She stared at me, clearly blindsided. “That’s not what I’m saying at all. I’m just pointing out that he wouldn’t look at me that way.”

“Oh, because men never cheat on their wives?” I snapped before I could stop myself.

Her mouth dropped open in disbelief, but she snapped it shut just as fast. “And you think that’s the type of person I am? Willing to sneak around with my married boss and cheat on you after everything?”

That shut me up.

“Answer me,” she demanded, anger flashing across her face.

I looked out the window to escape the heat. “No, I don’t.”

“Then why are you being like this?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well. What do you want me to say to take that stupid ass thought out of your head?”

I didn’t hesitate.

“That you’re mine,” I said, unflinching as I turned to look into her eyes. “And that you’ll never look at another man the way you look at me.”

Her chest rose and fell, and her hands fisted in her lap. She met my gaze without flinching, her voice steady when she spoke.

“I’m yours, Theodore. I will never look at anyone else the way I look at you.”

Relief hit me so hard I almost hated it.

“Good.”

The rest of the ride stretched on in thick, uncomfortable silence. I stared out the window, jaw tight, furious with myself for picking a fight so damn early into her visit.

Two weeks.

We had two weeks together, and I was already screwing it up.

I was already making it more complicated than it needed to be.

But I couldn’t help myself. I knew what I had, and what I had was a woman who could pull any man she wanted.

A woman whose wits matched her already impossible beauty.

A woman who had spent months apart from me, and in that time, it allowed seeds of doubt to be sown.

I knew Carmen.

She wasn’t a cheater, and her eyes wouldn’t wander.

But I didn’t know Marcus. And whatever his intentions were with my future wife, they had better be pure.

When we finally pulled up to the hotel, Carmen shifted in her seat, her expression softening.

The valet opened the door, and I slid out first, offering my hand to help her out.

She took it without hesitation, her fingers squeezing mine just a little tighter than necessary.

She’d let me guard her up the steps and into the hotel as the bellmen unloaded her bags and gifted flowers.

High ceilings framed by golden accents stretched above us, while the floor beneath gleamed with polished marble in intricate patterns. The massive chandelier my company installed hung in the center, scattering soft light across the space.

Plush velvet seating adorned the room, each piece arranged around low tables that held delicate arrangements of peonies.

Carmen loves peonies.

Carmen’s eyes widened, her head tipping back to take it all in. She loved it. I picked this hotel because I knew she’d love it.

“This is beautiful,” she said, awe coloring her voice.

I grinned with pride and squeezed her hand, leading her toward the front desk.

“Yeah,” I said casually. “I was their building contractor for renovations, so I get perks when I stay here.”

Her eyes twinkled at the sound of that.

“Good day, Mr. Clayton,” the woman behind the front desk greeted us warmly. “Is this Mrs. Clayton?”

Carmen let out a low laugh. “Haha, actually I’m—”

“Yes,” I cut in smoothly, pulling her close and resting my arm around her waist. “This is Mrs. Clayton. She’ll need full access to everything here. And a key to our room.”

Carmen looked up at me, her smile curling slowly. She didn’t correct me though, and for that, I pressed a kiss into her temple.

The front desk agent nodded crisply. “Of course, sir.”

Once we were checked in and heading toward the elevators, Carmen bumped her shoulder into mine playfully.

“So… perks, huh?” she asked.

“Yep,” I said, hitting the elevator button. “Like free upgrades. Private concierge service. Better views…”

She leaned in closer, a wicked sparkle lighting up her eyes.

“And what else?”

I slid my hand down her back, low enough to make her breath hitch.

“Soundproof rooms,” I murmured against her ear. “One of the many perks of being me.”

The elevator dinged open.

Carmen’s cheeks flushed a soft red, but she stepped inside without hesitation, yanking me after her by the front of my shirt.

I followed, smiling—until I felt my phone buzz in my pocket.

Pulling it out just enough to glance at the screen, I grimaced.

Mom.

With a groan, I let it ring out.

Carmen raised an eyebrow, but didn’t ask when the ringing stopped. She just stepped in closer, grabbing the collar of my shirt and pulling me down into a kiss that started out slow, sweet, then deepened with a hunger that pressed her body into mine.

Her fingers curled against my chest as a groan escaped my lips. I braced one hand against the wall behind her, the other sliding into her hair, anchoring us there.

She kissed me like she was just teasing me when she landed, and it was foreplay, but this was the real thing. I responded in kind, tilting my head, deepening the kiss until there was no space between us. I could feel her heartbeat thumping fast through her chest, mirroring mine.

Her lips parted with a soft gasp as my hand found the curve of her hip, then slid around to the small of her back.

She moaned into my mouth, and I swallowed the sound, kissed her harder, deeper.

Her hands moved up my chest, around my neck, fingertips grazing my jaw as if she couldn’t decide where to touch me first.

I pulled back just enough to look at her.

Lips swollen.

Eyes dark.

Pure sin.

The elevator chimed softly as it reached the top floor, and we stepped apart reluctantly.

“Should I add this to the perks?” I teased.

“Yes,” she purred. “I was starting to think you underestimated just how lucky you are.”

Fuck.

“I know I’m blessed, my love. Trust me.”

She tiptoed up to me and placed a small kiss next to my lips. “That makes two of us.”

Maybe we weren’t completely screwed after all.

We stepped into the penthouse, and Carmen immediately froze, her mouth falling open.

“ Wow, ” she breathed, spinning in a slow circle as she took everything in. The full-sized windows she loved wrapped around the space, giving a panoramic view of the glittering skyline, their edges framed by sheer curtains swaying gently in the air-conditioned breeze.

The open floor plan sprawled into a sleek living room, a kitchen that looked like it belonged in a magazine, and a massive balcony with a private pool.

Everything gleamed with modern, understated luxury.

“You live here?” she asked, wide-eyed.

I laughed, holding the door open for the bellman who brought up her bags and flowers.

“Nah. We’re just staying here while I do renovations.”

She turned back to me, still looking a little starstruck.

“I hope I see your real place before I go.”

Our place.

“You will,” I promised.

I leaned back against the wall, just watching her.

The way she moved, the way she touched things like she was half-afraid they might disappear if she blinked—

God, my chest got heavy just looking at her.

“Sweetness…” I said, my voice rougher than I intended.

She glanced over, her smile soft.

“About in the car—” I started.

She waved it off with a little shake of her head, her curls bouncing.

“Don’t sweat it. I think we both just missed each other. I get it.”

I stepped closer, needing to bridge the few feet between us. “I’m sorry.”

Her eyes found mine, steady and warm. “And I forgive you.”

I didn’t deserve her.

But I was selfish enough to keep her anyway.

“I love you so much. You know that, right?”

She replied by sliding her hand down and cupping me through my slacks.

“I know Teddy. I love you, too,” she murmured, and my body responded instantly.

Of course it did.

But my stomach tightened with something else.

Guilt. Because she didn’t know.

I hadn’t told her about what I’d done, and it chewed at me in this moment, though I fought to keep it down. I kept telling myself I was waiting for the right moment, that we weren’t ready for that kind of conversation, not as soon as she landed.

But the truth? I was scared.

“Carmen, baby. Not right now.”

“Yes. Yes, right now,” she moaned, tipping on her toes to kiss my neck and immediately working on my belt.

Reluctantly, I pulled away. “Stop.”

My voice came out rougher than I meant, causing her to look up at me, her hand pausing. No hurt in her eyes, just… curiosity.

I kissed her gently to ease her mind.

“I have to get back to work.”

Disappointment made her face fall, and I felt horrible.

“Teddy…” She dragged. “You said when we got home.”

“I know, I know,” I ran a hand over my jaw in reverence. “But I could only get a few hours free to pick you up, Amore mio . We’re very busy.”

She studied my face, trying to see if I was being honest.

I wasn’t. Not completely.

I mean, we were busy. But I wasn’t needed at work. I did, however, mean to get out of this room before I did something I’d regret.

She sighed and took a seat on the couch. “Well, I guess you’ll make it up to me later.”

I smirked, already planning it.

“You need anything before I go?”

“Nah,” she said, waving me off, already toeing off her sneakers. “I’m gonna take a shower and crash for a bit. I’m dead.”

I smiled, stepping in front of her and brushing my knuckles lightly down her cheek.

“Well, don’t get too comfortable.”

She arched a brow at me.

“I’m taking you out to dinner tonight. So wear something pretty.”

She scoffed, “I always wear something pretty.”

Smart-ass.

I shook my head playfully and kissed the corner of her mouth. “I’ll pick you up at seven, okay?”

She grinned, leaning into me and looking up into my eyes.

“Okay.”

I bent down and kissed her properly, until I could taste the soft little sound she made in the back of her throat that drove me crazy.

“Check the room,” I murmured when I pulled away. “I left a few gifts in there.”

“What kind of gifts?”

I smirked. “Hmm. I guess you’ll just have to go see.”

She pouted. “Stay with me, Teddy.”

Fuck.

The guilt chewed at me again.

Because if I stayed, we’d sleep together, and if we slept together, I’d have to explain why I pulled out. And I never pulled out.

“I can’t, baby.”

Then, with extreme difficulty, I forced myself to step back.

“I love you, Carmen.”

Her pout deepened, but she replied anyway, “I love you, too.”

I grabbed my keys off the counter, tossing her one last look over my shoulder as I headed for the elevator.

The last thing I saw before it shut behind me was her smiling, waving at me from the couch as she lowered her zipper.

And fuck did that make leaving the hardest thing in the world to do.