“Julian! Wait!” another female voice hollered as he passed the roulette table.
Suddenly, they were running, a screaming horde of fans behind them.
Kristin stumbled along in her high-heeled shoes, her head spinning as they sprinted for the elevator. The excitement in the air was electric when it began to feel like every gambler in the casino had realized that Julian Sinclair was in the building.
Darting into an available elevator with an open door, he wrapped a strong arm around her waist and literally lifted her into the small space with him, before shoving his key card into the slot that allowed him to get up to the penthouse suite. He pushed the button over and over, the crowd moving as they pursued him.
Kristin was caught up in the chase, but she didn’t like the feeling of being followed by a probably drunk, possibly rowdy group of people. Even if they didn’t mean them any harm, there were so many of them that she was afraid he’d end up trampled by the masses.
Finally, the door whooshed closed just seconds before anybody reached them.
She swallowed hard and turned to look at Julian as she felt the elevator start to climb. “That was . . . close.” She leaned back against the wall and started to laugh, the effects of the alcohol making the whole situation seem unreal. “But the fox got away from the hounds to live another day.”
Julian’s body visibly relaxed as he swung her into his arms. “Smartass,” he accused. “Somebody can get hurt when that happens.” His admonishment sounded serious, but his expression was amused as he watched her continue to chortle.
“It’s awful. I understand why you think so,” she answered, still trying to stop herself from laughing. Honestly, it was highly unpleasant to run away from a crowd. “I just think it’s amusing that I had to run with you. They weren’t after me.”
“I wasn’t going to throw you under the bus, Scarlet. The questioning might get brutal. People can get crazy, and we know damn well most of those people are under the influence.”
Both of them still had a drink in their hand. Kristin’s had sloshed as she’d moved awkwardly with him, but her glass was still half-full. “To the escape,” she proclaimed, holding her glass up high.
Julian barked out a low laugh as he clinked his glass with hers. “Sweetheart, I think you’re totally trashed.”
“I’m not trashed. I’m just feeling . . . really good. I’ve never been drunk before.”
“Trashed,” Julian repeated, a smile still on his face. “Another first?”
She frowned at him. “I thought you wanted me to cut loose.” Hadn’t he told her to get wild? Well, she was feeling pretty untamable right now.
As they reached the top floor, the door opened and he took her hand. “I did. I do. I just don’t want you to feel like shit when you wake up.”
“I’m not tired,” she argued, swilling the rest of her drink as Julian guided her down the hall to their suite.
“I don’t know if we can go back out,” he said regretfully.
“I think I’m okay with that. This has been a super fantastic night,” she answered enthusiastically as he pushed her gently into the suite. “It was magical. My Cinderella night.”
“So what happens now?” Julian questioned. “Do I turn into a pumpkin?”
“No,” she said sadly. “It just ends. The dress comes off, I put on a nightgown, and when I wake up I’ll put on my old clothes again.”
It was the last thing she wanted. Being with Julian had been exhilarating, intoxicating. She didn’t want to see it end.
What she really craved was to strip off his clothes and make him give her satisfaction. He’d been teasing her all night with his too-handsome looks in a tux, his scent, his irresistible sense of humor, and his careful planning to make sure she got an experience she’d never forget.
“I need an orgasm,” she told him boldly. “Not some little, teensy-weensy thing I get with my vibrator. I need a real live man.” The more she thought about it, the more she needed Julian right now. He was real, and he was the only man she’d wanted in a very long time.
Julian slugged down the last of his drink and took her empty glass from her hand. “Not this way, Kristin. Not when neither of us completely have our brains intact.”
She watched him as he set the tumblers on the table, his expression grave. Not liking his unhappy expression, she stepped up and put her arms around his neck. “Please. Just this once. Give me something to really remember.”
“I’m not just some guy and a one-night stand,” he said in a graveled voice, grabbing her ass and pulling her flush against him.