The sense of amusement filled the void between us.

  “As he lifted my legs, pressing them against the sheets, my mind was thrown into a world of fantasy. With every swipe of his tongue, my pussy muscles clenched, anticipation of the first thrust of his long, thick cock tingling every inch of skin.” There was no embarrassment on his part from reading the passage out loud. I was certain at least two other tables were listening intently. That made the moment sinful.

  The deep rumble of his voice as he read the short passage kept me in a blissful awe. But when he lifted his eyes to mine, it was as if he’d pierced my soul, trapping the filthy fantasies that had kept me awake at night. His breathing labored, he slowly returned the iPad in front of me.

  “An interesting read, but few men know how to please a woman, taking the time to learn every nuance, providing intense pleasure.” As he lifted his glass as if in appreciation of my choice in books, a sexy quirk lifted the edges of his full lips.

  Heat and a flash of embarrassment drifted across my jaw. My hand involuntarily fluttered to my mouth, and I resisted releasing the moan I felt caught in my throat. “You’re right, which is why women prefer books for their greatest pleasures.”

  “A terrible tragedy.”

  “Very much so.”

  The few seconds of awkward tension gave way to another wave of excitement, my mind whirring from far too many dirty thoughts. I’d been in control of everything in my life for a very long time, including caring for my mother at an early age. I’d purposely shut myself off from feeling any emotions around a man, believing it was for the best.

  But attraction was different, completely uncontrollable.

  Attraction had a mind of its own, finding a way of derailing your life when you least expected or wanted it. It was electric and breathless, intoxicating, and unstoppable.

  Blinking, I pulled myself from the haze with a not so gentle reminder that not only was he a stranger, I’d sworn off men.

  Then he had to throw out another temptation.

  “Now that we have the initial niceties out of the way, perhaps we could enjoy a meal together.” He didn’t pose a question, rather making a bold statement. My typical response would be to send him away after a single glass of wine but for so many reasons, he intrigued me. Maybe my best friend had been right in chastising me for not indulging in a kinky night of passion.

  The thought of having dinner with the gorgeous man pushed a level of desire into my pussy that I hadn’t felt in a very long time. I was on vacation after all. Why not enjoy a flirtatious dinner? “Perhaps. However, I usually prefer knowing the name of the person I’ve chosen to share a meal with.”

  He studied me as I’d done to him, raking his heated gaze from my long curls to my cheekbones, slowly shifting his eyes to the plunging bodice of the summer dress I’d selected for the evening. If he was curious if I’d feel self-conscious, he was wrong. I hadn’t achieved the goal of becoming vice president of one of the largest, most exclusive real estate development firms in the country by shying away from prying eyes or condescending men.

  “I’m curious. Do you enjoy the temptation of mystery?”

  I finally laughed, his attempt at flirting unusual. I eased my elbows on the table, accepting his challenge by leaning closer. With our lips so dangerously close, I couldn’t help but imagine what he’d taste like. “Let me guess. We don’t share names or personal information, which adds an air of simplicity as well as filthy mystery to our time spent together.”

  “You are a very astute woman.”

  “Some would call me a shark.”

  “And are you?”

  “Perhaps. I don’t take kindly to liars or thieves.”

  My comment surprised him. He lifted his eyebrows, a slow smile crossing his face. “An excellent sentiment.”

  “So, what do I call you?”

  “Why don’t you select a name? That will make the game that much more fun.” He was annoyingly sensual in everything he did, his heated gaze continuing to drive a wave of current into my system. I shouldn’t feel this attracted to him, but he oozed sexuality in every action.

  “I didn’t know we were playing a game.”

  “Every aspect of life is a game of chess, only one winner allowed.”

  “Ah,” I said as I purposely leaned back against my chair, rolling the tip of my finger around the rim of my wineglass. He wasn’t just insufferable and confident. He was determined to come out the winner in everything he did. I’d thoroughly enjoyed destroying men who’d attempted to use power over me. “Unfortunately, the name that comes to mind isn’t polite in mixed company.”

  “Oh, come now. At this moment in time, we’re the only two people in this room that matter.”

  At least his arrogance gave me a good laugh. “Asshole was the first name that came to mind.”

  “Hmmm… And I was thinking of calling you my omorfiá.”

  The inflection he used had changed, becoming bottomless in a sweet blanket of velvet. I was momentarily sucked into another thought of passion, almost blinded by his beauty. “What did you call me?”

  “My beauty.”

  “What language?”

  “Greek.”

  I didn’t belong to anyone. Both disdain and a rush of excitement exploded deep within, enflaming my core even more. Another moment of intense heat swept across my jaw, and I chewed on my cheek, refusing to allow him to see he’d slipped ever so slowly under my armor. “That’s very sweet.”

  “And very true. You are the most beautiful woman I’ve seen in a very long time, perhaps ever.” He was obviously comfortable in his skin, far too much so, confirming my thought that he was a man used to taking what he wanted.

  I glanced out the window, retreating from the banter. Words of rebuttal felt like sand in my mouth, scratching my throat as I attempted to swallow. I’d never been befuddled around any man, let alone one who appeared as a predator lurking around his prey.

  “That was unfair of me to make you uncomfortable. My name is Phoenix.”

  Offering his name so readily surprised me more than it should. I turned my head slowly and sensed truthfulness in his eyes. “Yes, you meant to make me very uncomfortable.”

  I was rewarded with another smile, but he had no plans of giving up without getting my name. “I’ve given you a truth. It’s only fair to do the same.”

  “Fair? Who said I played fair?”

  He took a deep breath, holding it in his lungs while I was captivated by his raw scent of power and testosterone, already lightheaded from the fragrance. “Playing by the rules is fair.”

  “Who said I played by anyone’s rules?”

  “Then there are consequences for bad behavior.”

  “Consequences. Is that how you acquire women, goading them into playing your games?”

  “Acquire is such a nasty word.”

  “But true. Yes?”

  When he laughed, the deep rumble of his voice sent another shockwave of longing into my pussy. My clit pulsed with an intense thrum, leaving my panties damp. Suddenly I felt weak, as if I couldn’t ignore the electricity soaring between us.

  His eyes remained piercing, the deep emerald color reminding me of a perfect uncut gem. “I am a man who has no qualms about taking what I desire.”

  The statement was factual, said without reservation. There was no reason I should be so aroused by the powerful words, but my nipples were swollen and aching, the scent of my desire easily floating across the table. The primal look in his eyes was a powerful draw, but not enough so to force me to acquiesce to his obvious attempt at seduction. But I was curious just how far he would go with his expertly crafted game. “You have me curious, Phoenix. What is it that you want? If you’re a gentleman, then you’ll tell me.”

  He was a man who liked to play in the darkness of sin and filth, someone who was so used to being in control that he had no understanding of how to handle a strong woman. But I sensed the predator in him wouldn’t handle a loss with grace.

  There was no hiding his carnal need or the lurid thoughts laying claim to the conversation. For all his sinful glory, the prowess he possessed, it was his aura of danger that excited me the most. The way he looked at me seared my skin, the thoughts racing through my mind dangerously close to letting go, allowing this mysterious stranger to ruin me.

  “I’m no gentleman, omorfiá. I am a brutal man. Some would call me a savage. However, I am truthful, often to a fault. Make no mistake, my beautiful creature. Before the end of the evening, I am going to fuck you.”

  CHAPTER 4

  Whitney

  The words lingered in the back of my mind as he pulled me from one train car to another. He’d acted like it was his God-given right, as if he already owned me.

  My heart raced the moment he stopped in front of a cabin door, wasting no time unlocking it. As soon as his shoulder hit the hard piece of steel, he issued a husky growl that sent a wave of shivers down my legs. Then without hesitation, he tossed me against the wall. I reached for his shirt, fighting to yank it from the tight confines of his trousers.

  Phoenix cupped my face, the force of his fingers threatening to bruise my skin. The desperate need we both felt was electric and alive, the man crushing his mouth over mine. I was taken aback by his roughness, but the woman inside wanted to experience everything he offered.

  No matter the consequences.

  As he swept his tongue inside, I was pulled into a dark abyss, allowing him to take control. I struggled to slide my hand between us, finally able to stroke the thick bulge between his legs. He was rock hard, throbbing against my palm. The kiss was unlike anything I’d ever experienced, just as powerful, filled with the kind of lust that could easily consume every cell in my body.

  Delirium tore through me, the warmth as unexpected as the man. There was no backing out, no way of stopping what could be considered madness. I’d never done anything this impulsive or irrational, but I couldn’t resist his animal magnetism. It became hard to think as he dominated my tongue, the taste of him rich with hints of his after-dinner scotch and the peppermint he’d consumed.

  I realized my small hand had difficulty wrapping around his huge girth and my mouth watered from the thought. He growled into the kiss, dragging first one arm then the other over my head. When he wrapped one massive hand around my wrists, I struggled in his hold once again. He was having none of it, slamming my hands against the wall. As he continued to drink from me, fighting to quench his thirst, I refused to stop wiggling.

  He finally pulled away seconds later, wrapping his hand around my throat. My pussy burned in anticipation of what he had planned. The pressure he used should terrify me. Instead, it enflamed the raging fire more than before. I took gasping breaths, darting my eyes back and forth across his. There was no doubt he would ravage me, owning every inch if only for a night.

  Swallowing, the hard knot in my throat added to the pulse and heat between my legs. He lowered his gaze, the shimmer in his eyes like a warm beacon in the night. He lowered his head, gliding the tip of his nose down my cheek, his heated breath tingling every inch of me. His lips trailed a line down my neck and he used his teeth to yank the edge of my dress to the side. He rolled his lips across my collarbone to my shoulder, his breathing as ragged as mine.

  The moment left me breathless, so much so a whimper pushed past my lips. This was the hottest thing I’d ever experienced, and I never wanted it to end.

  “Are you afraid of me?” he asked, as if my answer would change anything.

  “Should I be?”

  “Yes, without a doubt.”

  He pressed his body against mine and I felt all of him, the hard throb of his cock against my stomach matching the thrumming pulse in my throat. I was breathless, unable to move yet longing to touch every inch of him.

  For a few seconds, I felt as if I was teetering on the edge of danger, as if he’d consume all of me.

  I gasped for air and the second he backed away, in one swift motion removing then tossing his shirt, I was thrown into an incredible haze.

  My God, the man was built like a powerhouse, all carved muscle. He was covered in ink, various shades of black and red adorning his arms and chest. I was thrown by the beauty of his art, mesmerized by the selection. Each one alluded to danger, the very savagery he’d mentioned.

  He advanced once again, yanking my dress up and over my head. I planted my hands on his chest, shuddering from the feel of tremendous heat. Then he tossed me onto the small bed, yanking off my heels. Between the vibrations of the train and the crackling electricity, I was breathless, incapable of putting two coherent words together.

  I watched in fascination as he ripped the belt from his trousers, running the thick leather through his fingers. The moment he cracked the tip onto the floor, my legs trembled. I dragged my tongue across my lips, the anticipation intense. The way he stared at me was intensely unnerving and somewhere in the back of my mind I knew I should fear the man. Yet I also knew he wouldn’t hurt me, never harming something he considered his possession.

  The thought was both riveting and twisted but it was an aphrodisiac that threatened to consume what was left of my rationality. He wasn’t into romantic interludes or hiding behind the façade of foreplay. Our encounter would be rough and passionate. I slid my hand down the side of my neck as I moved onto my knees, basking in the definition of every toned muscle on his body.

  He removed the rest of his clothes, and I was close to being delirious from the sight of him. Standing at least six foot five, his broad chest quickly fell into a sharp, carved V leading to powerful thighs. He was a creation from the gods, perfect in every way. His cock was magnificent, long and thick, the tip purple from his shaft throbbing with need. I needed to wrap my mouth around it, sucking until I was rewarded with his sweet cream.

  When he advanced, I suddenly had to urge to tease him, jerking to the right, managing to leap off the bed.

  His growl was subtle yet prickled my skin. “You’re not going anywhere.” Why did the sound of his deep voice have such an effect on me? He easily tossed me onto the bed again, grabbing my ankle and yanking me to the edge. When he cupped my lace-covered mound, pushing me down onto my back, I sucked in my breath as stars floated in front of my eyes. His actions brutal, he rubbed his thick fingers up and down my pussy, the friction releasing a deep moan from my throat.

  I rose onto my elbows, watching as he pushed a single finger through the thin material, flicking the tip back and forth around my clit. I couldn’t stop quivering, my mind a foggy mess. This was sinful and filthy, something I might regret in the morning, but there was no turning back. His grin was dark, his eyes twinkling in the dim lighting and when he dropped to his knees, burying his face in my wetness, I threw my head back.

  “Oh…” The sound echoed, bouncing off the steel walls, the wave of vibrations from the train keeping me on edge. As we neared a city, the various lights streaming in through the windows captured my attention. A slight wash of embarrassment cascaded all the way down to my curled toes, the thought of anyone possibly seeing us shameful.

  And delicious.

  This was pure decadence.

  I gasped the moment he drove his tongue into my tight channel, but the sound quickly melted from the pressure he used. Every sound he made was animalistic, pushing me deeper into a moment of euphoria. When he sucked the lace into his mouth, I let out another strangled moan. No man had touched me this way, pushing me toward ecstasy so soon. He ripped a larger hole, the noise making me laugh nervously.

  A part of me wanted to fight him off, maintaining some level of decency, but within seconds I floated away. I squeezed my eyes shut as he sucked on my pussy lips, driving me to the point of madness. He was almost frantic in his actions, his needs becoming overwhelming. When he pulled back, I shuddered deep inside. With a snap of his wrist, he removed the unwanted thong, tossing it aside as the trash it had become.

  “A souvenir,” he muttered casually, as if the thought wasn’t crude. The visions of him sucking on the lace, jacking off with the material wrapped around his massive cock was enough to force my pussy to clamp and release several times.

  Then he lifted my legs, pressing them wide open, chuckling darkly as he blew across my slickened folds. Phoenix kept his palms pressed against my inner thighs, using his thumbs to open my swollen folds, exposing every inch of me. I’d never felt so vulnerable in my life, no longer capable of focusing on anything but the dirty moment.

  His eyes never left me as he began his feast, taking his time to lick up and down, exploring as if he had all the time in the world. The hot, wet strokes of his thumbs pushed me into a state of bliss, my mind foggy. He was masterful in pulling me to the very edge then yanking back. He wanted me to beg him for it, to plead to be able to come.

  I wasn’t the kind of girl who succumbed to anyone, but with every roll of his finger, every soft lick of his rough tongue, I lost control of the girl I’d always been. He was breaking down my walls, his savagery all I could think about. As the scent of our desire and his testosterone floated into my system, I lolled my head to the side. Catching my breath was impossible. Every nerve in my body was on fire, standing on end as he licked me in a brutal frenzy. The moment he thrust two fingers inside, pumping hard and fast, I let out another scream.

  “Yes. Yes… Oh, God, I need to come.”

  “Not yet. If you disobey me, you’ll be punished.”

  Punished. The single word should horrify me, but I was elated, a small part of me wanting nothing more than becoming a very bad girl.

  “Oh, please. Please…” Hearing the words would normally sicken me, but they felt right. I laughed, a single bead of perspiration trickling down my cheek, falling ever so slowly to the bed. The train hit a rough patch, the gyrations forcing his fingers and tongue in deeper. This was pure madness. I tensed, trying to hold back, the control he had over my body indescribable.

  Hie grip becomes tighter as he pushed me to my limits, every sound fueling the fire burning so brightly between us.