THE BILLIONAIRE’S DANCE(Billionaire Bachelors Book_Two)

Chapter one

“Alex, good to see you,” Joseph said. He wrapped his arm around his son’s shoulders while leading him into the den.

“Hi Dad, sorry I haven’t made it home in a while. That contract in Spain took a lot longer than I thought. Of course, I’m not complaining because those beaches are hot and the women are even hotter,” he said with a laugh.

“Now son, there’s more to life than going out all the time and picking up pretty ladies who don’t have a lick of brains or an ounce of heart,” Joseph admonished.

Alex gave a hearty laugh. He knew his father wanted him and his brothers all married. He was more than a little suspicious Joseph had something to do with Lucas’s recent marriage. Lucas wasn’t complaining though. His wife, Amy was a true gem and their precious daughter was about the cutest thing there ever was.

“Dad, you know I’m far too young to tie the knot. I don’t need some woman in my life telling me what to do. I like having a lot of ladies to wine and dine. You don’t want to break the hearts of all the single ladies in Seattle, now do you,” Alex asked with far too much confidence, in his father’s opinion?

Joseph knew it would take a very strong woman to bring his middle child to his knees. Luckily, he figured, the right woman wasn’t far away.

“Okay, I get it, you like the single life but you should know you’re breaking your mother’s heart. She wants many grandkids running through these cold hallways but children never think of their poor parents. After all, parents only sacrifice everything to raise their kids and bandage their wounds and love them unconditionally. There wouldn’t be any reason to want to give back to them, I guess,” Joseph said with a dramatic sigh.

Alex smiled at his father’s antics. He and his brothers were used to the whole guilt trip charade since Joseph had perfected it. “You know I appreciate everything you and mom do for me. That doesn’t mean I’m going to let you guilt me into getting married. I’m smarter than Lucas,” he said with a wink.

Joseph chuckled to himself. The harder they fought, the more satisfying it was when they fell, he figured.

“All right then, enough of this marriage talk,” Joseph conceded. “We have that fundraiser banquet this weekend and I need you to attend. Both of your brothers can’t because of previous engagements and it would look really bad for the company if at least one of my sons didn’t show up to our own fundraiser,” Joseph said, while acting like a martyr.

Alex hated going to those things. The people were boring with a capital B and it was all about being seen. He wished they could just give the money away without having to go through all the motions of a fundraiser. But he also knew millions of dollars could be raised in one night because the rich liked to be seen giving their money away. It made them feel self-important, he supposed.

“Just let me know when and where. You know I’ll go.” He sounded more like he was headed to the guillotine, instead of an evening with great food and dancing. On a positive note, he would most likely take a lady home for a steamy night of lovemaking. That was something to look forward too.

“It’s being held at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel on Friday night, starting at nine,” Joseph told him.

“Well, at least if I have to go out and act like I actually care about the newest and greatest fashions, I’ll be in a great place,” Alex said.

The Fairmont was spectacular inside and out. It was listed on the National Register of Historical Places and they’d done a fantastic job of bringing in the new designs without taking away from the old history. Alex enjoyed doing business there and he knew the food was going to be top quality. His mouth started watering a bit at the thought of having some Cedar Plank Smoked Salmon, one of their specialties.

“Oh, and keep an eye out for Jessica Sanders. She’s the daughter of my dear business associate John Sanders and she’s going to be there alone, as her father’s out of town.”

“Dad, what have I told you about matchmaking? I can choose my own dates,” Alex said, losing some of his patience. He didn’t want to be set up. Marriage was simply not in the cards for him and in no way did he want kids. He idolized his gorgeous niece but the family thing was for Lucas, not him. He was still young at thirty-two years old and he wasn’t ready to trade in the Lamborghini for a mini-van.

He shuddered at the thought.

“I’m not trying to be a matchmaker. I didn’t ask you to take her to the fundraiser. I simply asked you to keep an eye on her and say hello; maybe ask her for a dance. She’s not from around here and her father said she isn’t used to huge events. She normally avoids them at all costs but this fundraiser is something very important to her. She’s always wanted to spend an evening at the Fairmont. Here’s a couple of pictures so you can recognize her,” Joseph said while holding them out.

Alex reached for the photos, just for the sake of curiosity. He looked down and was surprised at how attractive she was. She wasn’t the typical socialite he was used to. Her features seemed softer, more inviting. One of the pictures was her and her father. She had her head thrown back in laughter, while her eyes were rounded, causing a sparkle to shine through the still shot.

Alex may have to change his mind and at least meet the woman but he was sure she’d turn out to be just as fake as the rest of them. A picture may be able to capture an unguarded moment but from his experience, all women had an agenda. He didn’t see how she could be any different from the rest.

Jessica walked down the wide staircase, admiring the beautiful golden railing with its intricate design.

She had a mixture of feelings running through her. She hated parties that masqueraded themselves as fundraisers. They were only an excuse for the rich to rub elbows and talk about who had the most money. On the other hand, she’d always wanted to come to the Fairmont.

It was steeped in history and there were so many areas to explore. The room she’d rented had a spectacular view of the gardens. It was decorated to look more like a guest room in a distinguished home.

She’d walked into the suite to the smell of fresh cut flowers and the sight of a bowl overflowing with fruit. Alongside that had been a bottle of champagne chilling in a bucket of ice. The bed was beautifully made with a note from the staff, welcoming her and offering any assistance.

Jessica was used to the red carpet treatment, which wasn’t always as great as people seemed to believe it was. When your father was a millionaire, you never knew who liked you for you or who liked you for what they could get out of your father. Every place she went people would do all they could to accommodate her but it was usually a double edged sword.

After her last tragic break-up she’d decided to forgo relationships altogether. She was tired of her heart being broken. Her last boyfriend had seemed like the perfect man. Thinking about him was a painful experience but she couldn’t seem to stop herself.

He’d ridden into her life like a knight in shining armor and she’d fallen for him hard and fast. When he spoke, he said all the right things. He also romanced her unlike any other man she’d known. She’d been relieved he was wealthy because she didn’t think he was gaining anything by being with her. To her, the love seemed genuine. She couldn’t have been more wrong.

He courted her because his company was going under from the millions he’d gambled and lost. He figured if he snatched her up, he could go into business with her father and save himself. His plan would’ve worked too, as she was blinded by his games. She would’ve remained blind if she hadn’t gotten home early from a trip to find him in bed with the maid.

When she walked into her bedroom and saw the two of them wrapped in each other’s arms, on her bed, she quickly shut the door and walked out of the house. She thought he respected and loved her enough to wait to have sex until their wedding day. He never desired her in the first place and the waiting had turned out to be a blessing in disguise for him, as the ‘maid’ he’d hired was really his long-time girlfriend.

Jessica snapped back to the present and walked into the ballroom. She wasn’t easily impressed but tonight was an exception. Every detail of the room was exquisite. There were several chandeliers hanging at least three feet down and almost equally as wide. The crystals dripping from them were shooting off prisms of light in every direction.

The linen covered tables held only the finest dinnerware and the candles were creating a soft glow from the centerpieces. The room had the added appeal of strategically placed tall shrubs, offering privacy if a couple chose to sneak behind one.

Jessica was feeling more positive about the evening ahead. It was a beautiful night and the organization she often donated to, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), was going to receive a substantial amount of money. She’d already decided to enjoy herself. Later she could return to her boring life.

She sat down at one of the tables and before she knew it, her dinner was finished and she found she was having a delightful time speaking with a few of the other guests. When an older gentleman asked her to dance she gladly accepted. They weren’t on the dance floor for long when they were interrupted.

“May I cut in?”

Even though the words came out a question, Jessica had no doubt they were a command. The gentleman she was dancing with heard it as well and stepped aside without a word. Jessica didn’t like men who were so overconfident that they felt they deserved anything they wanted. She wouldn’t cause a scene though. Besides, the man was intriguing, so she allowed him to take her into his arms.

As she placed one of her hands in his and the other on his shoulder, she could feel the raw power of his hold. He had the most piercing beautiful blue eyes she’d ever seen. They were the kind of eyes that could penetrate straight into your soul. She would have to be on her guard with him.

Suddenly it clicked who the man was; Alex Anderson. Their fathers did a lot of business together. This man with the entrancing eyes, kissable mouth and sexy body, was a playboy unlike any other.

He was known to be ‘uncatchable’, as the single ladies put it. He dated many women but made it clear he wouldn’t settle down. His grin had graced hundreds of magazine covers, making women both young and old, lose a bit of sleep at night over erotic thoughts of him.

Her heart was racing as they played a game of cat and mouse. He kept attempting to pull her body intimately into his, while she was concentrating on keeping the proper amount of distance between them. If she wasn’t on a self-imposed leave of men she could easily consider a night of flirting with him. She shook her head to clear it and decided to just get through the dance so she could move on as quickly as possible.

His smoldering blue eyes flashed into hers, as his perfectly sculpted lips turned up into a sexy as sin smile. He knew he was hard to resist and he seemed to be treating her to his full arsenal of charms.

He slowly brought her fingers to his mouth and ran his lips across her knuckles. She felt a shudder ripple through her body. He then flicked his tongue across the same spot and desire pooled deep inside of her. “I’m Alex Anderson, and you’re intriguing,” he finally whispered to her.

“Jessica Sanders but I’m assuming you already know that,” she replied.

The hotel was everything she could’ve ever imagined but it dimmed in comparison to the man holding her. While she was in his arms, the rest of the people and even the room itself seemed to disappear.

She knew he was dangerous and she was playing a game with him she couldn’t possibly win but for some reason she wasn’t able to pull away.

The man was intoxicating. As he spun her around the barely lit dance floor, she was sinking further into his spell. She could feel the solid muscles beneath her fingertips and his scent was spell-binding.

It was a combination of his masculinity, enhanced by expensive cologne.

“I haven’t had someone cut in on a dance since I was in high school. Don’t you see that as a little overzealous?” she asked, raising her brow. “Perhaps I didn’t wish to dance with you but didn’t want to cause a scene,” she added sweetly.

“Not at all,” he answered.

Jessica raised her eyebrows at him questioningly and waited.

“I don’t think it was at all presumptuous to cut in on the dance. You were barely keeping your eyes open; the boredom of your partner was so overwhelming. So you see, I should be thanked for saving you from the tediousness of a boring partner,” Alex said with a grin, which left her speechless.

He spun her around the dance floor, undressing her with his eyes. She was shouting to herself to end the dance but she couldn’t seem to pull away from him. He was too compelling. Besides, she thought to herself, they were in a room full of people. What could possibly happen? She decided to enjoy the flirtation.

“You’re so unbelievably stunning. We can leave this dance now and head up to my suite,” he offered with the confidence of a man used to being told yes.

She laughed nervously before replying, “I don’t think so.” He rubbed his hand from the center of her back, dangerously low, then back up again, causing a rush of heat to flash through the center of her body. He was challenging her to take a chance, from the brush of his hands, to the look in his eyes. She was surprised by how badly she wanted to take him up on the offer. If nothing else, she was enjoying the sexual play.

“I think we should end this dance now,” she stated a bit breathlessly. She didn’t know how much more she could take before caving in to him.

“But our song hasn’t ended yet,” he said as he pushed the small of her back, bringing her hips into contact with his obvious arousal. He then brought his head down to the exposed skin of her neck, running kisses, along with some gentle nips, across her pounding pulse.

If he hadn’t been holding her so closely, her knees would’ve buckled, melting her into a pool at his feet. He moved his mouth over her ear and whispered, “When you’re lying beneath me, I’ll have you trembling as my hands and mouth turn your body into liquid fire. You’ll be calling out my name, begging me to finish this.”

Jessica gasped, as his words made her tremble uncontrollably. She’d never been seduced like this before, let alone in a crowded room. If they’d been alone, she would’ve let him take her right then and there, giving up on her vow of waiting until marriage. She tried to gather her wits about her.

“Have you been told before how arrogant you are?” she tried to make her voice stern but was bellied by the fact that it was choked with arousal.

“No, just how good I am,” Alex answered, with that same arrogance.

The comment was able to bring her a little closer to reality. “You need to stop this. People are beginning to stare at us,” she whispered self-consciously.

“Let them stare. They’re only wishing they could trade places with me,” he said, while running his lips back up her neck and across her cheek, to the corner of her mouth, where he flicked his tongue out along her bottom lip.

She allowed herself to run her fingers through his hair, neck and finally shoulder, before she took a step back. “Thank you for the dance Mr. Anderson,” she said politely, as if they hadn’t almost been making love on the dance floor in front of a crowd.

“The pleasure was all mine Jessica and after what we just shared don’t you think it’s a little formal to be calling me by my last name,” he said with mockery.

“Mr. Anderson,” she emphasized, “there are plenty of women here who would be more than willing to play a game or two with you tonight. I’m not one of them.” She turned and walked away, though it took all of her will-power not to glance back around to drink him in one last time.

Alex stood there, enjoying the sway of her hips as she walked away. Damn she was hot and he wouldn’t mind a night with her. Her body had responded eagerly to his touches and he knew she was just as bothered as him. He wasn’t done with Jessica Sanders; she just didn’t realize yet when he decided he wanted something, he always got it. Her denial was like a red flag to a bull. By the end of the evening she would be in his bed. He needed a drink right then though, or the entire room would know how badly he wanted her.

Jessica ordered a martini and guzzled it down, trying desperately to calm her nerves. The man should have a danger sign attached to him. Her legs were still weak with arousal and her breathing still hadn’t normalized. She was getting out of there as soon as it was politely acceptable.

She stepped out from the patio doors and was almost lifted up by the strong wind. It was blowing so hard it actually took her breath away. She stood there for a few minutes and watched as lightening slashed across the sky.

She loved adverse weather. Her family thought she was crazy because as everyone else was running for cover, she would grab a chair to watch the show. She delighted in the smells, sights, sounds and excitement of a great storm.

After a few minutes, the wind got even stronger and she decided she’d better head in before she looked like she’d taken a ride in a tornado. She stepped back through the doors, unaware Alex had watched both her exit and return.

If she hadn’t come in when she did, he would’ve gone out after her. When she walked through the doors, he had eyes for her alone. She looked more gorgeous than ever before. Some of her hair had escaped the tight confines of her bun and her cheeks were flushed red. She looked as if she’d just crawled out of his bed after a night of lovemaking.

He tried not to think about her or look for her but his gaze kept seeking her out. He rejected several women, who made it more than clear they’d be willing to warm his bed that night. He only wanted one woman to do that and the rest of the women in the room paled in comparison to her.

Jessica made small talk with several people, only half listening, for the next couple of hours. Her head was starting to get fuzzy from the number of drinks she was consuming. She normally only had one or two at most. She didn’t like to alter her reality but tonight was different and she needed some liquid courage to make it through the evening.

Alex seemed to find her no matter where she was and their eyes connected throughout the evening.

She noticed many women trying to gain his attention but he brushed them off, one after the other.

Finally with about a half hour to go, he took a woman out on the dance floor and then stayed with her.

Jessica was surprised by the slight jealousy she felt as the other woman tossed her head back in laughter.

Jessica tried to tell herself it was a good thing. She wasn’t into one night stands and Alex wasn’t the type to enter into a long term commitment. She wasn’t looking for that anyway. Someday she would settle down but it would be a battle to find someone who wanted her and not what her father could give him.

She finally had enough and decided to head for her room. She headed towards the elevators. It was time to sleep the night off and then get out of the hotel and as far from Alex Anderson as she possibly could.

The doors on the elevator were just about to shut. She picked up her pace and called, “please hold the doors.” She was relieved to see a hand stop them from shutting.

“Thank you,” she said a bit breathlessly.

She slipped inside, looking towards the ground so she wouldn’t trip on her long dress. When the doors closed, she finally looked up, noticing who the other occupant was.

She moved away from him quickly, into the furthest corner of the elevator. The ride would only last a moment and then she’d be blessedly alone in her room. He kept his eyes on her, making her start to feel uncomfortably aware they were alone in a very small space.

She stared anywhere she could but at him, knowing that his eyes were still focused on her. She figured she must be a mess; she’d consumed way too much alcohol and the wind had blown her hair loose with several strands refusing to cooperate, repeatedly falling across her face.

Just when she didn’t think the silence could become any more awkward, there was a flickering of the lights, followed by darkness. There was nothing. No music coming through the speakers, no light whatsoever, not even from the buttons.

Jessica could feel her heart pounding so hard she was sure the noise of it hitting her ribs could be heard by Alex.

“Jessica, are you alright?” he asked her. “You aren’t claustrophobic, are you?” She took a couple of deep breaths before she said, “I’m not afraid of small places but I’m not a huge fan of the dark.” She was trying to stay brave but the seconds were ticking by and the pure blackness felt like it was closing in on her.

She wouldn’t panic. The lights would flash back on at any moment and the elevator would continue going up, getting her out of the blackout. She started counting in her head. She reached twenty when she felt Alex’s hand on her arm.

She jumped at his touch. She was trying so hard not to be frightened but the darkness was all consuming.

“Everything will be okay. This will all be over in a moment. Buildings have contingency plans for when this kind of thing happens,” he tried to reassure her.

“I don’t understand why there isn’t any noise at all,” she said as her voice shook.

“We’re most likely around the fourth floor so there wouldn’t be any noise from the lobby,” he reasoned. “I wonder what happened.”

“I went out earlier in the evening and there was a pretty spectacular storm outside. A power line most likely got knocked over,” she said. Talking to him was making a little of her fear subside and his touch on her arm let her know she wasn’t alone.

“I’m going to feel around for the phone and see if I can get someone on the line. They need to know we’re in here and I can find out what’s happening,” he explained before releasing her arm. She had to fight herself so she wouldn’t reach out and grab him.

She sunk to the floor and hugged her knees to her chest. She was grateful now she’d had a few extra drinks because it was the only thing calming her nerves.

“The phone isn’t picking up.” Alex’s voice startled her. “We’re going to have to wait this out but don’t worry, elevators are extremely secure and it won’t take them long to get us out.” His voice drew closer and then his foot kicked her in the ribs. She let out a whoosh of breath. “I’m sorry, are you okay?” he dropped to his knees and began running his hands from her legs up to her side. Her lungs exploded in a gasp, as heat pooled in her core.

“I’m fine, really, you barely touched me at all,” she said huskily. He seemed to realize what he was doing because his hands stilled suddenly and then they were gone. She breathed another sigh, not sure if it was relief or disappointment.

Alex could hear the huskiness in her voice and it sent a kick right to his gut. He wanted her badly and now they were alone…in the dark…for who knew how long. If he didn’t keep his distance he wouldn’t be responsible for what happened next.

“How long do you think it’ll take for them to get us out?” she asked, trying to fill the silence.

“It won’t take long. Did you enjoy yourself this evening? I think half a million was raised by the time I left,” he said, seeming to know she needed the comfort of words to fill the void.

She didn’t speak for several moments and he started to wonder if she was having a panic attack. He really hoped not. He didn’t know how to deal with hysterical women.

“You know, we really are safe Jessica. These things don’t just plunge through the shaft and explode on the bottom, like in the movies. That’s just Hollywood’s way of making things exciting,” he said in an attempt to comfort her.

When she still didn’t speak, he moved next to her again and let his leg rest against hers. Her body seemed to relax and he heard her breath escape in a sigh.

“Sorry. I just really don’t like the dark,” she finally said to him. “What do you do in your free time?” she asked, needing to hear the sound of his voice.

“I like to travel. I handle most of our international business, because my older brother has so much work to do here and Mark would choose to never fly if he could get away with it. I, on the other hand, am happy to be in a different country each month. My father usually has to drag me home,” he said with a chuckle.

He was noticing lately though he was staying home more often. He’d started to really miss his family.

He was even finding himself enjoying the time spent on his brother’s ranch, herding cattle.

Many things that had once excited him were starting to lose their appeal. He figured he was just getting older. Of course he was only thirty-two and shouldn’t be thinking of himself as aging. “What about you? What makes Jessica happy?”

“I used to travel a lot with my father but I grew bored of it. I’m really more of a homebody now. I do a lot of volunteer work which keeps me plenty busy. I’ve been taking some courses at the college, nothing major, just some fun art, cooking and photography classes. I have a Masters degree in Business because my father wanted me to go into the family corporation but I can’t stand sitting behind a desk all day,” she trailed off.

Alex was surprised she’d gone so far in school. Most of the ladies he knew, with her amount of money at their disposal, didn’t feel a need to go to school. They just lived on their parents’ money and name until they snagged themselves a rich husband.

Jessica sat there, extremely aware of Alex’s leg pressed up against hers. She was incredibly attracted to him but it didn’t matter because men like him didn’t give her the time of day except for a quick trip to bed. He was far too sexy and masculine for her. They always went after the ditzy blondes with huge breasts and no brains. The kind of woman like the bleach-blonde she’d seen him dancing with earlier that evening. The kind of woman who they considered a trophy for their arms.

She wouldn’t reveal to him how her heart ached to be loved for herself and not her money. She wanted to be desired and to be the only thing on a man’s mind. More silence engulfed them, making her hyper aware of his scent. It would be so easy to lean into him and find some comfort.

The elevator made a groaning sound and jerked slightly. Jessica let out a gasp and then she locked her arms around Alex, shaking in fear. She was going to die in the dark, tiny box.

“It’s okay Jessica, the elevator’s just settling a bit. I promise you it won’t fall. There are several back-up safety features for all emergencies. Even if it did fall, which I guarantee you it won’t, we’d get a little bruised up in the worst case scenario. You have nothing to worry about.” He pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her trembling body.

He kept speaking in a soothing whisper and stroked her from the small of her spine, up to her neck and back down again. She didn’t know if it was his words or the touch of his hands but soon she wasn’t so afraid.

“I really am sorry Alex. I’ve just always had a fear of the dark. Believe it or not, I still have a small light on at my place. I know logically that nothing is going to come and get me from the dark but I think I watched far too many Stephen King movies as a child and they stuck with me,” she said with a little self depreciating laugh.

They began talking about different topics, just passing the time. He didn’t push her aside and she didn’t offer to move from his lap. She knew she probably should but she felt so much comfort sitting there she couldn’t will herself to move.

After more time passed the rubbing stopped comforting her and started making heat pool inside her stomach. His hands were traveling lower with each pass and more wide spread. She could feel him touching the sides of her breasts, stomach and hips. She started breathing heavier and could feel her body becoming more aroused.

She felt his hand run up her neck and grip the back of her head. He turned her and then his lips were finally pressed against hers. She would’ve thought the heat from their lips colliding would’ve been enough to sear the walls.

His tongue slipped inside her mouth and her body exploded with pleasure. She’d never been kissed so hungrily. The passion in his kiss left no doubts he would be a fantastic lover. She knew she needed to stop them from continuing. She was trying to gain the will-power to pull away when his hand slid up under her skirt and skimmed her bare hip. The only thing between his hands and her heated core was a wisp of fabric, which she was surprised hadn’t melted away from the burning of her body.

Without breaking the kiss he shifted her body so she was straddling his lap, allowing his hands more access to explore her. His hands roamed all over, making her arch into him. She could feel his desire pressing against her aching heat and she damned the clothes keeping them apart.

She gave into her own internal battle and let herself feel everything he was doing to her. He ran his tongue from her mouth to her neck, gently biting at her pounding pulse point. She wiggled against him while he slowly slid the thin strap of her dress down her shoulder, with his lips following its process.

She felt the cool air touch her aching nipples only seconds before his mouth was lavishing the hardened peaks. She threw her head back and groaned as rolling waves of sensation washed through her. He thoroughly loved her tender breasts before his mouth licked and kissed its way back up her neck and then fastened onto her lips once more.

While he continued kissing her she felt him shifting their clothing around. Finally, there was nothing between them and he was enclosed within her in one swift thrust. She gasped out loud at the unbelievable pleasure of their joined bodies. He gripped her hips, leading her up and down on his large erection. She quickly took over and started moving, encouraged by his quickly accelerated breathing.

He held her head with one hand, pulling her closer, sealing their mouths, mimicking the movements of their bodies with his tongue. He brought his other hand to her swollen womanhood and flicked it, sending her over the edge in an explosion of pleasure.

She began shaking around him, gripping him even tighter into her pulsating body. He grabbed her lower back and thrust up into her one final time, letting out a groan of pleasure as he spilled his seed deep inside of her.

Jessica collapsed against him as they both tried to regain their breath. They were still connected together. She was so satisfied she wanted nothing more than to lay her head against his chest and fall asleep in his arms.

There was another jerk of the elevator and then the lights flickered. She jumped off him in a panic, quickly straightening out her clothing. Luckily, he’d only taken the time to move her clothes instead of removing them. She backed away until she felt the wall behind her. She prayed he was putting his clothes back into place too.

Suddenly the lights turned back on and stayed on. Jessica was happy to see him standing there, fully clothed. He had a look of guilt and regret on his face. The elevator started to move downward. It must be standard procedure to return to the lobby after a power failure.

“Look, Jessica…” he began when the door whisked open. She didn’t want to hear him make excuses about how sorry he was and how he wouldn’t be calling her. She couldn’t take that kind of rejection.

What had been amazing and wonderful for her had most likely been a disappointment for him. She couldn’t listen to him try and downplay what had happened.

Jessica jumped out of the elevator into the crowd milling around the lobby and quickly was lost from Alex’s sight. He thought about chasing her down but decided to let her go. He’d never felt more excitement in the arms of a woman. It had been passionate and thrilling and he wanted to do it all over again.

It was obvious she already regretted what had taken place so it was better to try and forget all about the incident and move on. He quickly cut through the crowd and headed up to his room where he fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning Alex grabbed his things and checked out, thinking his time in the elevator with Jessica wouldn’t be something he’d forget about anytime soon. He knew that she’d been scared and if he tried to chase her she’d run away even faster.