He stood and hit the elevator button again. For those last few moments in the lift, he gathered her into his arms and held her close. Warm and protected, Dana’s heart beat somewhere under his. His pulse was just as erratic, just as amazed.
For the first time in a while, she wondered if there was a chance she might actually be able to claw herself out of the mire.
He doesn’t know the truth. You have to tell him.
No. This was just sex.
And yet Alex had made it clear he wanted a relationship with her.
The elevator door opened. He held out his hand. “Ready?”
She nodded and took his hand. She followed him through his office area and into a spacious back hallway. He opened the door at the end and turned on the light.
A masculine sanctuary awaited her. Spare, like his office space, Alex’s bedroom radiated calm. The floor was covered in soft grey carpeting and three of the walls were painted in the same soothing color. The wall behind his headboard was the showpiece. It was made of wood and painted a dark blue-grey. The bed was decorated in the same tones. With a metal frame and headboard and clean, white sheets, it invited her to sink into the mattress. There wasn’t much in the way of artwork, but a couple of heavy sconces provided light. Off to the right side of the room, the doors to a large walk-in closet hung open. His suits and shirts were displayed in neat rows. At the bottom of the closet, his dress shoes, all polished to a shine, were lined up. A row of pristine designer sneakers sat directly above the dress shoes. The spaces between them were all so precise, Dana could imagine a butler measuring them.
She covered her mouth to stifle a smile.
“Excuse me, miss. Are you laughing at my closet?”
“It’s so tidy. I just want to run over there and mess it up a bit. Maybe toss one of your shirts onto the floor.”
Alex feigned shock. “You wouldn’t dare.”
She sashayed toward the closet, dragging her finger along his bedspread. “A little anal about organization, are we?”
He grinned. “You really shouldn’t have said the word ‘anal.’”
“And why not?”
“Because it’s giving me dirty thoughts.” He reached her in a couple of long strides and wrapped her in an embrace. Palming her ass, squeezing each cheek, he took her mouth. After a kiss that left them both winded, he steeled himself and removed his hands from her body. “You have no idea how hard it is to stop kissing you.”
“I think I have some idea.” Dana rubbed her swollen lips. “Why did you stop?”
“Don’t get me wrong. I’m dying to take control of this situation but I made a promise. I’m your humble servant, remember?”
“Right. Be careful. The power might go to my head.”
“Tell me what you want,” said Alex, his voice coarse, “and I’ll do it.”
“Anything?”
“Anything.”
“Hmm, interesting.” She sat on his bed. “Take off your clothes. I want to see you.”
He began to attack his shirt buttons.
“No, Alex. Slowly. I want to enjoy this.”
His lips compressed. “What about you? That dress needs to go.”
“If you put on a good enough show, I might consider it.”
Alex’s nostrils flared but he laughed. She had a feeling once she relinquished control, not only would he seize it, he would take it and teach her a lesson.
His gaze never straying from her face, he popped his shirt buttons through the holes at a torturous pace. Little by little, sections of his torso became visible. She’d always suspected he had rock hard abs under there, and when he finally removed his shirt, the proof made her giddy. She couldn’t wait to run her fingers over the ripples of his abdomen. Golden hairs dotted his chest, just enough that she’d be able to inflict some punishment and tug them. He had a faded farmer’s tan and for some reason, it struck her as amusing.
“Why are you smiling?”
