Chapter 3 The Apartment on the 20th Floor

The pair walked through the dimly lit basement after the car was parked, heading toward the elevator that led to the apartment's main lobby.

​"Hey, Mister. Your place is nice," Elaina giggled as they crossed the expansive, marble-clad lobby.

​"It's just a loan," the man replied smoothly.

​"But I like it." Elaina spread her arms wide, swaying unsteadily in front of him. She didn't care where she was or where he was taking her. Her brain was a blur; she was struggling enough just to keep her feet moving in a straight line.

​The man smiled. "You like it?"

​Elaina nodded vigorously. "I love it!"

​A security guard greeted the man with a nod, stealing a quick, curious glance at Elaina before letting them through to the residents' elevator. Elaina managed to snatch the last can of beer, successfully cracking it open and draining the contents in one go.

​"Aah... so good."

​They were alone in the elevator. The man let out a soft, amused chuckle, watching her drunkenly hum a tune. When the doors opened on the 20th floor, he guided her out and toward unit 205. As the door swung open, Elaina let out a small shriek of delight.

​"Wow, what a gorgeous apartment!" She laughed, spinning around the living room. She stumbled back, accidentally bumping into him.

​"You're cool."

​"I'm cool?"

​"Very. Your house is cool."

​"A borrowed house," he reminded her.

​"Hehehe. What's your name?"

​"Alister."

​"What a cool name."

​Elaina began to mumble incoherent sentences, slipping out of Alister's hold. She started to sing with a voice that was-thankfully-not off-key. It was a heartbreak song. She screamed, she cried, and she cursed Fidell. She was the textbook definition of a woman with a shattered heart.

​Alister left her in the living room, heading to his bedroom to remove his glasses and change into something more comfortable. When he stepped back out, he was stunned. Elaina had stripped down, standing there in nothing but her lace bra and panties.

​"Am I not pretty enough?" Elaina moved toward him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her body against his.

​Alister took a deep, stabilizing breath. "You are very beautiful."

​"Am I not sexy enough?" she whimpered, her voice half-whining.

​"No, you're incredibly sexy."

​"Then... I'm not rich enough."

​Elaina pulled him down by his neck, her lips brushing against his as she stood on her tiptoes. "Mmm, your lips taste good." She pressed a soft, tentative kiss to his.

​She didn't know where this sudden surge of boldness came from-kissing a man she barely knew. All she wanted was to drown out the bitterness and the hollow ache inside her. She kept kissing him, urging Alister's lips to part until she could taste him fully.

​Alister slowly rested his hands on her waist, allowing her to explore his mouth. Though his desire was surging, he fought to restrain himself. The woman in his arms wasn't sober; he couldn't let himself lose control. But Elaina was becoming bolder by the second.

​"Kiss me," she whispered against his lips.

​"You want me to kiss you?" his voice was a low rasp.

​"Yes. Kiss me until I forget everything."

​Alister smirked. "Forgetting your problems with a kiss? Not a bad idea."

​Elaina didn't protest when Alister gripped her waist firmly. She stood on her toes, hungrily meeting his lips. She gasped when he suddenly swept her off her feet, carrying her to the sofa. The kiss deepened, turning intense as she lay draped over him. She didn't care where his hands wandered; in that moment, she was ready to give him everything.

​"You're so warm," Elaina whispered, her fingers tracing the contours of his chest. "Your chest is so firm, your shoulders so broad... I like it." Without hesitation, she nipped at his shoulder, making him gasp.

​"It would be better if we did this while you were conscious, Elaina," Alister managed to say.

​Elaina shook her head stubbornly. "I feel good right now. Come on, kiss me again."

​Alister cupped her chin and kissed her softly. When he heard her moan, he couldn't help but deepen the kiss, met by her desperate response. He let his tongue tangle with hers, savoring the taste of her. He winced slightly as she ground her hips against his, his own body reacting violently to her proximity. He cursed inwardly, praying he wouldn't lose his resolve. The sight of her was intoxicating.

​Wrapped in her white bra, her skin glistening with a fine sheen of sweat, Alister could see her body trembling with anticipation. He imagined what it would feel like to touch her fully. As if reading his mind, Elaina reached behind her back and unclipped her bra. In an instant, the fabric slid to the floor. She smiled, returning her lips to his.

​"Sir... touch me," she whispered, her voice husky.

​"Touch you where?" Alister asked.

​"Everywhere. Please."

​Alister tried to resist when she guided his hand to her breast. But the moment his fingers brushed against her silken skin and her hardened peak, his self-control vanished. He kneaded her softly, and Elaina bit her lip. He traced the tip with his thumb before leaning down. His tongue swept over her, and he heard her let out a long, broken moan.

​"Why do you want this?" he whispered hoarsely against her skin.

​Elaina shook her head. "I just do."

​There was no perfect reason. She just needed to prove that she was still desirable. Her self-worth had been trampled by Fidell. She felt unwanted, discarded. Being with this handsome stranger was her way of proving she was still a woman worth wanting.

​Alister lowered his head, doing exactly what had been on his mind since they arrived. Elaina's breathing grew ragged. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, burying his face against her. Groans, sighs, and the heavy sound of desire filled the room.

​Elaina felt like she was burning up, pressing herself against him. She closed her eyes, biting her lip as Alister brought her a pleasure she had never known. It was strange, but electric. She reached for his shirt, fumbling to pull it off. When the fabric was finally gone, she gasped.

​"Wow... so much hair," she sighed breathlessly.

​She brushed her fingers through the light trail of hair on his chest that led down toward his stomach. She loved the sensation against her fingertips. Finding his own peaks, she teased them, watching him grow more tense. Gathering her courage, she leaned down, mirroring the attention he had given her.

​"Elaina, what are you doing?" Alister asked, his voice strained.

​"The same thing you did," she murmured.

​She kissed and teased his skin before sat up to reclaim his lips.

​Alister cursed under his breath, unable to fight the fire in his veins any longer. He was only human, and a half-naked woman was devouring him. He lifted her off his lap, laying her back against the sofa, and quickly disposed of her remaining lace. Elaina didn't resist. She lay there, her eyes clouded with lust and haze. Reflexively, one hand moved to cover herself.

​"Sir... what are you doing?" she asked.

​Alister smiled darkly. "What do you want me to do, Elaina?"

​Elaina bit her lip and shook her head. "I... I don't know."

​Alister moved her hand away, his index finger slowly tracing her. "How about this? Do you like this?"

​Elaina's eyes widened, but she nodded. "Yes, Sir."

​"And this?" He leaned in closer, his touch becoming more deliberate. Again, she nodded.

​Alister suppressed a smile, his own breath coming in short bursts. He traced her gently, his movements rhythmic and teasing.

​"Open your legs for me," he commanded.

​She obeyed, spreading herself for him. When she realized what he was about to do, her eyes went wide.

​"Get ready. You can scream if you want to. You're free here, Elaina."

​At first, she didn't understand why she would need to scream. But when Alister positioned himself and leaned down to offer a different kind of pleasure, she stiffened. A soft kiss turned into a lingering caress, and then his tongue swept over her. Elaina gasped, her back arching. She had never felt anything like this-she never knew a touch could be so devastatingly powerful.

​"Aah!"

​Her voice was heavy. She tried to pull him closer, but his hands held her thighs firmly apart. A storm of emotions hit her-pure desire mixed with a desperate need to be seen. She didn't care about anything else anymore; she was ready to give Alister every part of her.

​She sighed and moaned, her body slick with sweat and the evidence of her own rising passion. When Alister finally lifted his head, she was breathless. Her vision was swimming, her body limp from the sheer intensity of the climax.

​"You're so warm," Alister whispered, wiping his lips with the back of his hand.

​Elaina smiled weakly, reaching up to stroke his face. "You're... you're very good at that. My heart won't stop racing."

​"Did you enjoy it?"

​"Very much. But now... I'm so sleepy."