A Game of Temptation

LAURA

No, no, no.

Please no.

I jumped back to avoid the bouquet falling in my direction, but it still ended up right at my feet. My heart slammed against my ribcage as I stared at the bouquet lying by my feet like it was a ticking time bomb, ready to go off any second.

This could not be happening to me right now.

Why couldn't it have landed next to one of the other bridesmaids who looked more than happy to catch it? Why did it have to land on me out of all of them?

Maybe because my best friend, the bride of the day, had thrown it right at me and even though I'd stepped out of the way, it still somehow managed to hit its target.

Shit.

My eyes darted around and I took in the number of eyes on me, watching me strangely, probably wondering what the hell was wrong with me. Well, they could judge me if they wanted. They weren't the ones that had gotten their fates sealed by a fucking bouquet of all things.

Grudgingly, just to get their eyes off me, I bent and picked it up, holding it stiffly and far away from my body like it could bite, and walked away without a particular destination in mind.

I ended up stopping at a table of pastries, the flower still clasped in a death-grip in my fist. With my free hand, I snagged a drink off the tray of a passing waiter and downed the whole thing in one go, slamming the empty glass on the table I was leaning on.

"This is a sign, Laura. You're next."

The words were whispered into my ear.

I turned and glared at my best friend, Balery, aka the bride of the day.

"Fuck you." I whispered harshly. "You did that on purpose."

"I did no such thing," She argued, a playful grin on her lips that contradicted her words. "You caught it because you were destined to."

"What? You're a soothsayer now on top of everything else?"

She laughed, happy and melodious, and I couldn't even stay mad at her anymore. I wasn't really mad at her to begin with. It was just the situation I was angry at, and that was the crazy part.

Catching the flower didn't necessarily mean that I was up next on the marriage list, but that was what a lot of people believed and a tiny part of me might have believed it too, at least before today.

And that was what terrified me.

Balery's eyes landed on a spot over my shoulder, but I didn't turn to see what she was looking at. I still didn't turn even when she walked away, telling me that she'd be back shortly.

Today had turned out to be a really great day-asides from the whole bouquet thing. Her husband, Jack Summerland, CEO of Summerland and Co Enterprises, a multi-million dollar company, had been unable to keep his eyes off her all through the ceremony-and every other day, to be honest. He was completely smitten with her, and I couldn't be happier that my best friend had found a man who worshipped the ground she walked on.

She'd worked for him as his assistant for two years, and interest had sparked between them over time. Since his company didn't have a no-fraternisation policy, there had been no reason for them to not hit things off. It turned out to get pretty serious, they dated for a year before they got engaged and now, they were married.

Speak of the devil. I caught her a few feet away, talking to a man. I could only see his body in profile, so I couldn't tell what he looked like, but he was tall and dark-haired, that much I could tell.

As if she'd somehow known that I was looking at her, her eyes snapped to mine and I saw a small smile touch her lips. Her eyes stayed on mine even as she said something to the man and it didn't take a genius to put two and two together.

She was about to play match-maker.

"Excuse me," I mumbled to no one in particular as I hurried through the crowd, abandoning the flowers on the table. Deliberately.

I hated commitment more than I hated waxing.

A body blocked my path, stopping my progress, and I attempted to side-step, but they only followed, standing in front of me. Annoyed, I looked up and saw that the obstruction was a fairly good-looking man with a head full of curly brown hair and bright blue eyes.

I took a subtle step back. "You're standing in my way."

"I know," He said simply, "You look like you need saving, and I think I can help."

When you come to think of it, I really did need saving, didn't I?

Sighing, I said, "Yeah, I do actually." I found myself admitting. "My best friend's about to play match-maker and I hate when she does that. What do you have in mind? We pretend we're locked in serious conversation? Marriage plans?" I joked.

"How about you give me your number instead?"

I laughed, thinking that he was joking too. When I realised that I was the only one laughing, I stopped. "You're... serious?"

"Giving me your number is a good start, isn't it?"

Wow. Guys were such assholes.

And here I'd thought he'd simply decided to help he out of the goodness of his heart. I should have known better.

"Your idea of helping me is to ask for my number?"

"Well," He grinned, sleazy and so fucking disgusting, I took another step back. "Yes. You're a pretty thing. You loo-"

"Get out of my way."

When he didn't budge, I thought; You know what? Screw this.

I walked around him and stormed through the crowd, intent on getting the hell out of here. I just needed to go up to my room, change out of my gown and have a long sleep.

I fished out my phone from my purse and shot Balery a text, letting her know that I was leaving early. She wouldn't see it right now because she was busy, but she would see it later. I just didn't want her to worry.

I was keeping my phone back in my purse when I slammed into a rock hard body and suddenly, felt cold liquid running down the front of my dress.

"What the hell is your problem?" I snapped, totally fed up and too pissed to look at the person, so instead, I stared at the mess they'd made of my dress.

The wet spot wasn't that visible, but I felt it anyway.

I didn't wait for an apology-not that it looked like I was getting one-before I hurried over to the elevator. The moment I got in, I pushed the button for my floor and leaned back on the wall, exhausted.

My eyes flicked to the elevator panel, to the numbers increasing as it went up. It felt like the ride was going on forever and the fact that I had claustrophobia wasn't helping at all.

Think of something else, Laura.

But what?

My eyes landed on the numbers again.

25.

Just as I was about to give a sigh of relief that I was finally nearing my floor-I was on floor 15-the elevator stopped moving and the doors slid open, revealing the most beautiful man I had ever seen in all my life.

LAURA

Well, one thing was for sure; My night just got better.

He glanced at me, took one step into the elevator, then did a double take almost as if he couldn't help himself. After a second, he seemed to realise that he was staring and that he was holding back the elevators, stopping it from moving.

Giving his head a sharp shake, he stepped in and the doors finally slid shut. Not only was I glad that I wasn't alone in here anymore, but I was also glad that the person who joined me, had to be the most gorgeous man I had ever met in my life. And here, I thought Balery's husband was the most handsome man in existence. This man gave him a run for his looks-and money, judging by the expensive as hell tux he wore and the Rolex watch on his hand.

As the doors slid shut, his presence filled the room, making it seem smaller in size, but somehow not cranking my claustrophobia, and his scent filled my nostrils. He smelled of pure male and something expensive. His cologne.

I allowed myself to check him out since he was obviously doing the same to me. He was tall, a whole foot taller than me, with a big frame. He was big without being bulky, just as I liked them, and the tux he wore moulded to his body, promising deliciousness under the pieces of clothing he wore. He had jet black hair, cut close to his head on both sides and longer on the top. It flopped to one side of his head messily, as if he had been running his hands through it all day.

I fisted my hand, fighting the urge to run my hands through them as well.

He had light green eyes, a straight nose, full pouty lips that begged to be kissed, and a square jaw. Right now, that jaw was clenched, looking as though it could crunch granite.

I met his eyes and was staggered by the desire that blazed in those mesmerising green depths. I wasn't surprised, but I was flattered, because unlike the other guys that had tried to get my number back at the party, I was actually attracted to this one. How could I not be? He was drop dead gorgeous.

"What floor are you going to?" He asked me. Was it pathetic to say that I almost came just from the sound of his voice?

It was deep and low and it boomed across the small place, making all my lady bits stand at attention. How could only his voice do that to me? I had never been so attracted to a person in all my life.

"Fifteen." My voice came out all breathy and horny. There was no hiding the fact that I was horny and from the way his eyes flared, he picked up on that.

He took one step towards me, gave a pause, then took another, and another. He was crossing the small space towards me. Slowly, but surely. In some part of my mind-the part that was still functioning-I realised that he was only coming towards me in such a slow pace so as to give me the chance to tell him to back off. So why wasn't I asking him to stay away?

Simple; Because I wanted him.

When he finally crossed the small space to me, he didn't stop a few feet away from me, no, he walked right into my personal space, staring at me all the while he closed the distance between us, those green eyes of his burning in their intensity. I felt like they could see into my soul. Like they could see the lust I was trying to hide. Like they could see everything that I wanted to do to him. Everything that I wanted him to do to me.

The force of the lust in his eyes was too much, and it had me taking an involuntary step back until my back was flat against the wall of the elevator. His eyes sparked, and he took that last step, following me, caging me in by bracing his right hand on the wall beside my head.

Like this, with him standing so close to me, I had to tilt my head up to look at him, while he looked down at me. I felt incredibly small and fragile and the image of him looking so big and powerful, had my arousal surging. My breaths came in small pants, my heart, slamming against my ribcage. What was happening to me? Was I about to have a heart attack?

His extended hand made his tux pull tighter, clinging to the muscles in his body. I was eye-level with his chest and right now, I wished his tux was gone. I wished everything he was wearing, was gone so that I could devour him with my eyes.

I looked up at him again, and almost wished that I hadn't.

"Whats your name, beautiful?"

My heart skipped.

"Laura." The word came out on a whisper.

His eyes glinted and he lifted his free hand, bringing it to touch my face. I jolted when his fingers made contact with my skin and I was too horny to feel embarrassed about my reaction to him merely touching me. Seriously, what was up with me? Why was I reacting this was towards a guy?

Usually, I had the upper hand with guys, not the other way round. So, I was ashamed to say that this man had me fumbling all over the place. My panties were a mess, my heart was racing itself into a heart attack. I had found it hard to remember my own name, for fucks sake.

I needed to get my control back. This wasn't me.

Yet then he said, "Do you want to get fucked, Laura?"

And the remainder of my dignity, shame, and self control melted. First of all, the way my name rolled out of his lips was nothing short of erotic, and then him asking me if I wanted to get fucked?

Hell, I was a sucker for confident men. Throw dirty talkers into the mix? I was a goner This man was both.

I wasn't even ashamed when I moaned the word, "Yes."

His teeth flashed white on a grin-that almost had me coming-and his head fell forward. Before I knew it, he had sealed his lips over mine in a kiss.

A kiss that topped all other kisses.

His mouth moved against mine, his hand sliding down from my face to grip my waist, his fingers, digging into my flesh. He slanted his mouth over mine and his other hand left the wall to angle my head exactly how he wanted it. Just the way he needed it.

I moaned into his mouth and met the ferociousness of his kiss, a kiss filled with hunger, passion and unequaled lust. I dragged my tongue along the roof of his mouth-it drove guys crazy whenever I did that-and he groaned long and low, the sound echoing through my body and then settling on my core. It clenched painfully, hungrily and I shamelessly grounded my hip onto him, trying to alleviate that emptiness.

Since he was far taller than me, I ended up humping his leg and he groaned again, his hands sliding from my waist to my hips to grip me, forcing me to stop moving.

I almost protested out loud. In fact, I was pretty sure I made a sound, except that it was drowned out by the kiss. What was wrong with him? Why was he stopping me?

And why hell was I so out of control?

He ate at my mouth for a few more minutes, not even giving me the chance to come up for air then he broke the kiss, moving to nibble on the side of my mouth, playing with my bottom lip, then the upper one.

The elevator dinged, causing us to pull back. Reluctantly, of course.

His hand was still on my hip, and although he wasn't digging his fingers into me anymore, he had span them out to reach my ass. From the look in his eyes, he was not ready to remove them anytime soon.

A pin had fallen out of my hair, so stray hair now settled in front of my face. He lifted his hand and pushed them softly behind my ears.

I swallowed. How could one man be so ferocious one moment and then gentle the next?

"Will you come with me to my room?" He asked, still playing with the lock of hair.

Did I want to go with him to his room? Hell yes.

Should I?

I didn't know him. Didn't know where he had come from. He had only stepped into the elevator with me and I felt an attraction to him that I had never before felt in my entire life.

But didn't I prefer sex with strangers? The lesser they knew about me, and I, them, the better it was for me. Why not just embrace tonight with this sexy stranger and then forget all about him tomorrow?

I didn't even live in this part of the city, had only come here because it was the location of the wedding. So if he lived here, the chances of us seeing each other again was slim as hell.

"Laura?" He asked again, dragging my eyes to his molten green ones. The heat in his eyes was so palpable, it had me shivering. And when he saw it, his eyes darkened anew.

I had never wanted a man as much as I wanted him. Was I seriously thinking about it? Who knew when I would be able to dig a man as much as I did him?

So with a nod, I said, "Yes."

LAURA

He led the way out of the elevator with his hand on my waist. His room was on the same floor as mine. Looking at the outcome of things now, I shouldn't have booked the hotel room. But it was not like I had any way of knowing that I was going to meet the hottest man in existence and that he was going to ask me to spend the night with him.

Plus, if I hadn't come to the hotel in the first place, then I wouldn't have seen him. So, no regrets were allowed. Just that the room wouldn't be occupied.

We walked down the corridor, then he stopped when we reached a room, number 56, on the left side of the hallway. Mine was number 60, which meant that it was still down the hallway, not that far from his. What would have been the odds of us seeing each other?

If I had actually slept in my room, then I wouldn't have come out until tomorrow when I wanted to leave. I usually ordered food and everything I needed up to my room, unless it was a necessity that I had to go down. I didn't have one for the night, which meant that there was no chance that I would have run into him.

Oddly, I was glad that I had used the elevator at the time that I did.

He swiped his keycard and the door opened. He gestured for me to go in before he did. When I stepped in, the first thing I noticed was that it wasn't a room-it was a suite. And right now, we were in the living area.

Everything about the suite screamed luxury and it called to the girl inside me that loved luxurious things. The rich draperies, the chandelier, the beautiful kitchen area, and the virtual fire place. Everything was lovely.

The more I took everything in, the more the reality of what I was about to do solidified in my mind. I was about to have sex on my best friends wedding night, at a hotel I was only supposed to be innocently spending the night at. Definitely not hooking up with a stranger.

"Having second thoughts?" The aforementioned stranger called from behind me, in his sexy as sin voice.

In the elevator, I had given him power. I didn't usually react like that to a man. Granted, this one was extremely hot and pushed my buttons in a way no man ever had, but it didn't mean that I was going to let myself be someone else with him.

I was going to get my control back. I was going to push some of his buttons too.

Cocking a brow at him, I shoved the thin hands of my dress off my shoulders and the garment gave way, pooling at my feet. I stepped out of them.

His reaction was almost comical. He abruptly held on to the stool beside him, gripping it with so much force that his knuckles turned white. "Fuck."

My spine tingled, feminine power filling me.

Since the gown was an off shoulder, I had decided not to wear a bra at all. My breasts stood out high and free, and as for underwear, I wore garters that ended on my mid-thigh, just where the slit of the dress had started. All in all, I actually knew how I looked. I had full breasts, even though they weren't that big, and my waist cinched in and flared out into my hips dramatically.

The whole assemble of my garters, without a bra, was designed to do damage. Just like how it was doing damage on this man right now.

I was still in my heels as I walked slowly over to him. He still had not been able to take his eyes off my body. Hie eyes tracked my movement, rising to his full height. He ran his hand over his mouth, his eyes eating me whole. There was no other way to describe the way he was looking at me.

Standing in front of him with only a hairsbreadth between us, I unbuttoned his tux. He watched me, unable to do anything but stare at my body. He didn't even seem to know what I was doing.

Yes, this was what I wanted. This was what I had been aiming for. The power. I now had it back.

I pushed the tux off his shoulders, went to quick work on unbuttoning the white long sleeved shirt he wore inside, then also pushed it off him. When his body became bared before me, I felt my control slipping away.

If I had thought he was hot before, now that I was presented with this muscle packed body, I thought that he was impossible. How could a guy look like this?

Slabs upon slabs of muscle was what his body was made of. He had a six pack and the indentations were so well defined, something that I knew had only been achieved due to intense hard work. So, not only was he rich as hell, he also worked out.

And whaddya know?

He had tattoos. One ran down the length of his right arm, stopping just where the sleeve of his shirt would stop, which was why I had not seen them initially.

I couldn't make out what they were, but from the flames fanning out, I thought that maybe it could be a dragon. There was another tattoo on his chest that spanned the entire width, but his torso was clean, and I liked that.

Unable to stop myself, I leaned forward and dragged my tongue across the tattoo. His body shuddered and I placed my hand on him, smoothening my palm along every inch of rich golden skin that I could touch.

His hands landed on my waist, and with one on both sides, they covered my waist completely, the tips of his fingers touching. I found that hot as hell.

"You're fucking killing me, Laura." He groaned. His hands found their way to my breasts, giving them a squeeze before circling the distended peaks.

He pinched them, then gave them a tug and it was like he had tugged straight at my clit because that was where I felt it. My eyes rolled back in my head and I had to grip onto his shoulders to keep my balance. Else, my knees would have given out and I would have collapsed to the ground.

He lifted me and I quickly wrapped my legs around him, holding onto his shoulders as he carried me into what I assumed was the room. His mouth didn't leave my body all though the journey. He kept dipping his head to drag his mouth across my shoulder, leave kisses on my neck, and even bite marks on top of my breasts.

He was like a beast, unable to control himself.

And what was I doing?

I gave myself over completely to him.

Dimly, some part of my brain registered that I was supposed to be in control. That he was the one supposed to be losing his mind and not me, yet, when he treated my body in this way, how was I supposed to fight the control he had over me?

In fact, I wasn't sure that I wanted my control back right now.

He dropped me a few feet away from bed, and although my knees were weak as jelly, I fought to stand upright. He took some steps backwards, so that he could look his fill of me, I assumed.

The low lighting in the room cast a glow on him, making him seem formidable, like a god. His chest and abdomen rippled with the force of his breathing, his eyes leaving a trail of fire in their wake as they trailed down my body, from the crown of my head to the toe of my feet. His eyes lingered on my breasts and then when they reached my garters, they seemed to shut down completely.

"Fuck." He breathed again, sounding like he was in awe. "You're so fucking beautiful." He closed the distance between us hurriedly, like he couldn't bear to be away from me anymore. "And this bloody thing,"-he fingered the garters-"You don't know what it does to me."

I made a mental note to place an advert for this particular set of garters I was wearing. It was new. I had only had them designed and made a week ago and I hadn't planned on wearing them today. It was a last minute thing that I decided, 'Hell, it's my best friends birthday. I should wear this.' And I did.

When the design came to me, I had to draw it out immediately and asked that it be made. I knew that it was bomb and sexy as hell. I just didn't know that it was potent enough to bring a man to his knees. Especially one like him.

He pulled on one of the straps holding the garter up, and it snapped against my skin. A cross between a hiss and a moan came out of my mouth, and then he, in time, groaned and wrapped his hand around my waist, pulling me in for a kiss.

This kiss was different, not like the one in the elevator that had been rough, filled with urgency and hunger. This was was slow and so fucking sensual that goosebumps broke out along my skin. He pulled my hips into his, grounding on me ever so slowly and I melted when I felt the long imprint of his erection digging into my stomach. Even through his pants, it felt so hot.

He dragged his lips to my neck, leaving a trail of wet kisses down my body as he kept sliding down, and down, and down, until he squatted and had my leg in his grip.

"Can I take your shoes off?" He asked me. From this position, with him looking up at me like that with green eyes full of desire, I was pretty convinced that I would do anything he asked.

"Yes." I nodded, then decided that I was tired of referring to him by his pronouns in my head.

"Whats your name?"

"Alex." He was completely focused on getting those shoes off of me.

Alex. A hot name for an equally hot man. When I squinted, I saw that he had another tattoo on his back. There was no chance of me telling what it was tonight, so I left it.

Tonight? Did I have plans of seeing him again?

Swiftly, he took my heels off and I was officially standing before him in nothing but sexy as sin garters.