Chapter 5 Claim me

"Rhea." His voice was husky and deep, the hint of an accent i couldn't place in the understones. Dark eyes scanned my frame and the way they lingered made me swallow a shudder.

"Welcome," I lifted the cocktail trying to start a conversation. "Would you like something to drink....? I trained off again, hoping he would offer his name . They didn't always give one. That was fine. He didn't respond faster but he kept walking, stalking forwards like a predator. He was cornering me and I felt like a rabbit. The urge to flee raced up my spine but I couldn't do anything

"I would love a drink", He stopped in front of me and after a pause that felt too long, he finally reached out and circled his fingers over mine to accept the drink. His fingers were warm and he exhaled when his hand was over mine. The smile on my lips weakened, but thankfully remained in place.

He was so much taller than I was, towering over me so much that it left me in shadows as his frame blocked the low light overhead. The expensive suit he wore looked as though it barely contained his wide shoulders, the material straining over his muscles as he moved.

And his eyes were burning my skin as he blatantly stared at me. I froze in place and goosebumps spread over my skin.

He was excruciatingly slow to take the drink and remove his hand from mine.

"I'm Aleksander. It's a great pleasure to meet you, Rhea", His sultry Russian voice danced through my senses and at the end my face flushed. "I saw your show tonight. It was wonderful", My eyes widened at that.

"Oh, thank you." A soft laugh slipped through my lips before l could stop myself.

"Is something funny?", One of his dark brows lifted, and his face appeared so harsh. That instantly made me to freeze in my outfit.

"Sorry, I just didn't expect you to have seen the show", Forcing my body to move, I settled back onto the couch.

Without missing a second, Aleksander sat beside me. Despite the alcohol, I was suddenly sorely aware of my surroundings and the tension between us.

"I don't look like a man who goes to the ballet?", He questioned, and his accent got thicker. It gave me the impression he might have grown up in Russia.

"At first glance I would say no," I admitted with a light shrug.

"And you're the expert!!" He chuckled. The sound surprised me so much and I answered easily.

"Ballet is my life," I breathed, suddenly warm under his intense gaze. Now that we were closer, I could clearly see his dark eyes were a light shade of brown with green flecks swirling near the pupil.

"Well, you'd be right . Tonight, was my first time. With the way you perform it's a shame I missed the first half of the show", It was a simple statement, and yet the way he said it made me blush. His first time at a ballet and within hours of seeing me on stage , he paid for a night with me.

I angled my face and took a steadying breath but the glass clicking on the coffee table soon caught my attention. From the corner of my eye, I saw Aleksander setting the cocktail down and something like resolve fell over his features. "Thank you for coming to the show," I attempted to keep the conversation going. Although this was always the worst part. Trying to make small talk when we both know how the night was going to go.

"Thank you , Rhea , for agreeing to meet me tonight." His voice got impossibly deeper.

"Of course," I murmured. " had to", l added cutly with my eyes on my hands in my lap. The silence stretched for the next couple of minutes but I could feel him staring at me, making the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. It was too quiet around us.

"Can I kiss you?", God, his voice was so deep, so warm , like whiskey on the tip of my tongue. Hearing him ask made something flutter in my belly. This was my first time to meet a gentleman. "Yes," My voice came out as barely more than a whisper. A second later his fingers danced across my check , as light as air. I inhaled sharply at the warmth of his touch.

My body knew what to do in this situation. I began tilting my face to meet his but stilled when his lips met my cheek.

Aleksander's lips were soft, and I closed my eyes. This never happened before, but I was warming up to him . My heart skipped a beat when he moved to kiss the corner of my lips. That contact pulled me in despite my nerves. When his mouth slanted over mine, I fell into the kiss. It was slow at first but quickly turned demanding.

Before I knew what was happening, our mouths parted, and his tongue was against mine then I felt his hands on my thigh and his body moving in closer. He smelled like fancy cologne and hint of smoke. It was something I normally hated but I didn't mind right now. His kiss became rough , and I could only imagine him devouring me with the way his lips moved.

He was a skilled kisser, and I allowed myself the freedom to enjoy it.

"Can I touch you ?", He pulled away , chest moving rapidly as he drew in breath. I opened my eyes to meet his gaze, and the desire that met me made something curl low and hot in my stomach like a burning coil coming to life.

"You can do anything you want. You paid for me".

At my words, his powerful body immediately surged forward and my breath rushed out of me when my back hit the couch. Every inch of him was warm as it covered me, weighing me down and exploring me. His hands were powerful, and he roamed them over my sweater dress as he claimed my mouth.

"I had to have you," He whispered hotly against my neck and his tongue darted out to lick the sensitive skin there.

"The moment I saw you , I knew I was going to have you."