Lifting up the loose skirt of her dress that was far too modest for a moment such as this, she hooked her thumbs into the elastic waistband of her nylons. Ignoring where they had clung too tight and left a red mark across the flesh of her hips, she slipped them down, the fabric releasing its tight hold as it bunched over her thighs, her knees, and eventually settled loosely at her ankles. Stepping out of them, she kicked her feet free of the material that still carried the warmth of her body.
Max’ eyes followed every movement she made, his liquid gaze tracing hot tracks along the length of her legs, silently watching as the stockings went from taut across her skin, to loose and folded at her ankles.
His expression was a blank mask, but the heat behind his stare was sweltering, the small breeze kicked up by the air conditioning system no match against the assault of his illicit inferno. Alice didn’t need to ask him what he was thinking, she knew, and she was feeling the same way.
Although his eyes were still the color of dangerous arctic ice, his stare was anything but cold.
When Alice hesitated, her shyness and modesty preventing her from unbuttoning the dress to pull it from her body, a questioning arch to Max’ dark brow broke through the impenetrable mask he’d worn, the corner of his lips curling up into a wicked grin.
Their eyes locked, the intensity of the give and take between them so lurid, that Alice felt tingles across her skin, goosebumps of fear erupting over the surface of her entire body.
With nimble fingers she unfastened the buttons down the back collar of her dress, the position pushing her chest out, her breasts tight across the cloth that was the only thing keeping her from his view. Once the buttons were unclasped, she dropped her arms to her sides, matching his stare.
He angled his head in that way that was all his own, his lips betraying his thoughts when they curled even more at the corners.
Daring to give him a smile, she said, “You’re not much of a talker, are you?” It was stupid to say, but she needed some relief from the suffocating silence, from the blanket of jittering nerves she felt wrapping her body.
He didn’t react but to smile brighter.
She smiled in return.
Another breath to steady herself, and she slipped the dress from her shoulders, allowing it to slide along her body until it puddled around her feet on the floor. She hadn’t worn a bra, and despite the lacy underwear that held tight around her hips, she felt completely exposed to his roaming eyes, to the blatant lust that radiated from him at the sight of her breasts now bared to him.
She wasn’t sure if it was her desire or the chill in the air that caused her nipples to form tight, painful peaks.
A shudder ran over Max’ body. Slight, but still noticeable, it was another outward sign beyond his heated gaze and mysterious smile that gave away anything of what he was feeling.
Forcing her arms to her sides, she felt butterflies in her stomach.
Her body turned to pluck the nightgown from the bed, and with her eyes averted, she felt the heat of his body wash against her back before a large hand fell on her shoulder. No sooner had she gripped her hand over the soft, white cloth than it was ripped from her grasp, tossed to the ground to lie in a puddle on the floor.
The butterflies in her stomach were fluttering so violently it felt like a tempest storm rolling inside her. She craned her neck to look up at him, her body flooded and hot with desire in response to the intensity of his stare.
A slight shake of his head was all he gave her before her body was shoved gently against the mattress, her weight sinking down heavily into the soft luxury of the blankets, while Max stood at the foot of the bed.
Unable to endure the tense silence, Alice laughed softly and teased, “What are you looking at?”
Three words spoken on a gritty, deep voice. “My future wife.”
Seconds ticked past, tension building between them until Alice wanted to beg, please, just take me. I’m yours.
But Max wouldn’t be hurried, wouldn’t be denied and wouldn’t be forced. He would take his time. Take his fill. Take whatever he deemed worth taking.
His eyes were locked to her body, his stare a palpable burn against her skin. Out of shyness and modesty, she pulled her arms around herself to hide her nudity, but a simple and subtle shake of Max’ head stopped her before she could cover herself completely.
She knew she would break beneath him, she’d gift him her soul as easily as her heart and body.
With slow, controlled movements, Max unbuttoned his shirt until it hung open to reveal the strong physique hinted to by the taut pull of the material across his shoulders and chest. Shadows highlighted every curve of his pecs and abs, the V that ran down from his waist to bury itself beneath the waistline of his pants. She was powerless to refuse the advances of a man as beautiful as Max Frost, and even now, with the desire so obvious within him, she was still helpless to resist his seductive charm.