Yvonne’s POV

The gala was everything my mom had described and more–a hidden world of luxury, and desire. The dark lighted, dreamy atmosphere pulsed with gentle music and whispered conversations. It radiated exclusivity, the kind of place only the elites gathered.

The moment we walked in, I felt dozens of eyes on me. Instead of shying away, I embraced it. Tonight, I wanted to be seen. I needed to feel alive.

Apparently we were late, we came in when the dancing was going on.

I got a cocktail from the tray of one of the servers at the gala,I downed a few shots of it. The cocktail burned a bit as it slid down my throat, giving me the confidence I desperately needed.

I glanced around, absorbing everything in the room. Men and women exchanged partners as they danced softly to the music.

Then I saw him for a brief moment.

As my gaze swept over the crowd, I wondered what–or who–could make me feel that way. Then I saw an outstanding man, he looked different from all, like a knight in shining glamor.

Upstairs, he leaned casually against the railing. He looked like he belonged to another world entirely. His dark curls framed a sharp, chiseled face, and his navy–blue suit fit him perfectly, like it had been tailored just for him. He didn’t move much, but his presence filled the room.

He was watching the crowd, but he wasn’t like the other men here. He wasn’t chasing anyone or trying to impress. He didn’t need to. The way he stood, the way he carried himself–it was like he owned the place. Like he could own me if he wanted to.

My pulse quickened as my eyes locked onto him. He looked older, but I didn’t care. He was incredibly handsome, radiating power and control in a way I couldn’t resist.

“That’s Alex,” my mom whispered in my ear, her voice barely distracting from the cool music. “Yes child, I know what's going on in your head. Come, I'll introduce the both of you..He’s completely off limits but not to you," she grinned.

Alex. The name alone sent a shiver down my spine. I remember seeing him somewhere but couldn't place where.

Before I could protest I was whisked by my mother. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. His dark gaze swept over the crowd like a predator searching for prey, and for a fleeting moment, it landed on me.

My breath caught.

He held my gaze longer than necessary, as though he was assessing me, deciding if I was worth his time. Then, just as quickly, he looked away, dismissing me like everyone else.

But that single glance lit a fire in me. I felt it in my chest, my stomach–everywhere.

I wanted him to look at me again, to really see me this time.

“Hi Alex, nice to meet you again, remember Yvonne, my daughter? You've met her once I presume,” before I knew it I was being introduced.

I saw him at my mom's company's 15th anniversary party last year!! The "Alex" my mum so badly wanted me to get with."

"Any ways I'll leave you two together to say hello, oh and you must be wondering about her baby? She's all yours for now, someone else is looking after her at home." I rolled my eyes at my mom

“Say hello? Really?” I was already embarrassed by her outright attempt to make me hook up with this guy. "She's all yours for now. " Who says that?

The deed's already been done so I just look up at this man 'Alex' and he's smiling at me probably aware of how mortified I am.

"Wanna know something?" He says, I nod my head telling him yes..

"Well, I have a mom like yours. It's okay to feel the way you do but you've got to stop turning red. "

Omg I just needed to be swallowed up by mother nature.

"I'm not red first off," I choose the defensive route trying to defend my last strand of dignity but off course he sees right through me.

His loud chuckle makes me know that. He pulls his arm in an arc asking for me to take it

"Let's have a dance, Yvonne, it'll ease your nerves."

"Sure , thank you."

So far he's a gentleman and I love that he is because I'm slightly interested in him. We get down to the dance floor and we move in sync. Somehow I spot my mum from the corner of her eye and I see her smile. She got what she wanted alright but this was just all it was "a dance, nothing more".

Pulling me back to the present Alex asks a question or tries to make conversation rather.

"So, I know this is probably not the time to ask but if I may, what of your husband? I thought he'd be around somewhere or something."

My face twitched with fury as I remembered all too well what I'd seen earlier.

"Well, we're getting a divorce," I say , surprising even myself. It was the first time I'd said that out loud instead of just thinking about it. I stare at Alex and his features are relaxed. I can't tell if he's happy about that or not.

"Oh, I'm sorry about that. I would ask the reason but I've already overstepped. I'm sorry about that though." I really didn't get anything he was saying I was lost in his eyes . Yeah, I know but even as cringy as that sounds I couldn't stop feeling the way I felt in this moment with him.

"Yvonne? Yvonne? You okay?" That snapped me back to reality.

"Of course I'm fine, sorry I spaced out." I laid out my pathetic excuse before him. But somehow I knew he felt whatever I felt right now.

His pulse was evidence, our eyes locked and we made a silent agreement to just dance. Dance and not talk , we would do the talking with our eyes.

But this beautiful moment was interrupted by my mom saying she had to snatch me for a moment. I was whisked once again only this time away from Alex.

"What is it this time mom?" I am impatient to get back with a stranger I just met in person. Technically not a stranger but a stranger to me nonetheless.

"Well, spill!" She looked like one of those teenage girls asking her friends for tea. I couldn't help but laugh loudly.

"What's funny Yvonne!"

"What's funny? Mom, you interrupted my peaceful moment just to ask me for tea like a thirteen year old. Tea? I would have given you after the gala tonight"

She rolled her eyes at me, obviously annoyed at my retort.

"Oh well, I just wanted to tell you that your baby is doing fine. I know you must have been a bit worried, I just wanted to let you know.

Have I mentioned how sweet my mom is? Yes she's sweet. "Thank you so much mom." I hug her, she's literally the only support system I have and can trust right now.

"Alright sweetie, get back down there I already know he's waiting for you," she says with a wink.

Jeez! This woman!!

I make my way down to where we were dancing and now, contrary to what we thought, he's not here. Apparently he wasn't interested in me, and with a feeling of disappointment I decided to turn back to get something to drink. And that's when I heard it

Him, his voice.

"Quitting on me already?"

I smile involuntarily, "well I thought you did bail out on me."

"Not now, not ever!" I laugh at his cocky response, he joins in the laugh too and I know it's too soon but I see myself dating him already.

Yvonne’s POV

We keep slow dancing and just say things in between, trying to get to know ourselves.

"So, what do you do Yvonne?" Hearing him pronounce my full name does wonders to my heart

"Oh well, right after college I started accounting at my mom's company and I've been doing that since."

"Oh, that's cool. She must pay so well then?" he asked.

"Well, she does try," I say grinning.

"What do you do?"

"Well I?-”

I cut him short just as he's about to answer.

"Let me guess, you own a company? Yes you do! You own Georgio!” It just clicked into place right now.

I go ahead to talk without letting him reply.

"I met you somewhere before, even though not in person as at the time."

"Yeah, I own that company."

"Well I know that now."

Sizing him twice he looked to be about ten years older than Christian. I couldn't help but think about the reason he didn't have a wife or some eye candy at least on his arms..

Remembering I was standing with him I brought him back into the conversation .

"Well, Alex, how old are you?"

"Old enough sweetheart."

"Oh no don't patronize me, you don't seem to have a wife how's that?"

"Why are you interested in that, sweet heart?" he teased, in a twisted way I was enjoying this..

" Because I want to know G-A-B-R-I-E-L, " I teased. I mean two could play this game..

He leaves my waist suddenly and heads toward a dimly lit hallway, one that I guessed led to the restrooms. My heart thudded as I realized what he was playing at.

Without overthinking, I followed him. I mean what was the worst that could happen?

The hallway was quiet, the music from the main room faint in the background.

Halfway down, he suddenly stopped and turned around. I froze as his intense gaze locked onto mine.

Before I could take another step, he moved swiftly, closing the distance between us and pinned me against the wall. His muscular body pressed hard against mine, his hands trapping my wrists above my head. My breathing quickened, trapped between him and the cold wall, his face just inches from mine.

His calm demeanor out the window, apparently he was determined to play this dangerous game so well. One I was accustomed to before getting married to that betraying bastard Christian.

A sly smirk spread across his face as his eyes travelled over me, slow and knowing. I felt exposed, but I didn’t care. His look sent a shiver through me, making my body tremble under his hold.

“What do you really want, Yvonne?" he asked, his voice calm, but there was a certain force in it.

“You ,” I replied, with boldness. Scratch that, my voice was a bit shaky. I did want him but I don't think I did on this manner, in this way, outside of an actual bedroom

“How old are you?” he asked next, his eyes still on mine.

"Old enough Alex."

He chuckled at my reply," I see, following in my footsteps now are we?"

"What can I say! I have the best teacher "

“And who's that?” His eyes narrowed slightly, waiting.

“You of course,” I answered without hesitation. Was he dumb? Is that why he wasn't married or taken at least? I chide myself as soon as the thought came in, I knew he wasn't dumb.

For a moment the air between us felt electric. Then he leaned closer, his face inched closer to mine, his breath warm and tantalizing. “You don’t know what you’re asking for,” he said, his tone low, a warning laced in every word.

“Maybe I do,” I countered, tilting my chin up. “I know what I see–a man who wants me just as much as I want him.”

His lips twitched into a brief smile.

“You’re bold, I’ll give you that. But I’m not exactly your type, am I? The kind of man you chase after. I’m too old and perhaps dangerous for you.

"Well , let me be the judge of that, will you?"

His eyes darkened as his grip tightened on my wrist. “I’m giving you a chance to walk away, or I won’t be able to stop myself.” His lips curved into a smile,

For a second doubt crossed my mind.

This man was right, I hardly knew him, yet here I was ready to offer myself to him. But the ache in my chest and the anger towards Christian in my veins refused to let me back down. Besides, I do like this man .

“I’m not leaving,” I said softly, despite the rush of emotions coursing through me.

His hands released my wrists, but instead of moving back, his fingers grazed along the neckline of my dress. The light touch sent a jolt of electricity through me, my skin burning where his fingertips lingered.

His calm and sweet demeanor back he said “We shouldn't do this here you know, ” he murmured, his lips brushing against the curve of my jaw. “You deserve more than this flimsy thing we're about to have .”

“I know, what do you think?" I asked.

My limbs felt numb under him, but my body was wide awake with a need no one had ever

Awakened, my body trembling under his touch. My eyes dropped to his lips, full and tempting. I watched, craving more, as his tongue slowly swept across his bottom lip. “How could I possibly want you to stop when my body is aching for your touch.” The words slipped before I could stop them.

For a second, I thought he suggested going to a hotel but then something in him snapped. His lips inched closer to mine, and his fingers lightly stroked my cleavage. The touch made my breasts push higher against my dress, my chest heaving as my heartbeat raced.

It was all getting too intense, and I was tempted to run and pretend this never happened. But the ache between my legs was too strong to ignore. I wasn’t about to let this moment slip away. “Kiss me,” I whispered, pressing my body closer to him in a slow, seductive tease. “Make me forget him.

His lips crashed into mine, kissing me hard and deep. There was no softness, only raw desire burning between us. His mouth explored mine, his teeth nibbling my lower lip before he sucked on it, demanding more from me with each stroke of his tongue.

"We can't do this here" I said finally coming back to my senses..

"Well I'll drive, let's get out of here"

"Okay," I didn't need any more persuasion. I went with him to this hotel not so far from the gala..

When we got there, there was no foreplay, just sex. Oh well, just a little foreplay, because we both silently agreed we had teased ourselves enough already.

Yvonne's POV

He peppered my body with kisses. The drag of his hands across my skin as he pulled me down on one of the chairs in the room, my legs nudged open, the burn of his skin as my bare knees bounced against the hard muscle of his thighs.

He shouldn’t be muscular. Shouldn’t have tan skin, cut arms, a defined chest. He should be pale. Scrawny. For someone who probably spent twelve hours a day under fluorescents, before computers. But I didn’t question how God blessed him. Didn’t question how or why, especially not in moments like this.

He pulled me farther, ‘til my back was flat against the seat of the chair, my butt hanging off of it, his hands soft, probing, lifting my legs to the sky and pulling the soft silk of my dress of my body, the scratchy tease of my thong’s lace coming along, moving up and then off my legs.

And then I was bare before him, his hands pushing up the cotton of my bralette over my breasts, his body stilling when I was fully exposed before him. “Perfect,” he breathed. Ran his hands lightly, from breast to thigh, back and forth, side to side, just the skin of fingertips across skin, just light enough to make me arch into his touch, begging for more with my eyes.

I waited. Breathed. Parted my legs before his eyes and lifted my knees, ‘til my feet rested on the edge of the chair and I was open before him, nothing he couldn’t see. His eyes dropped, focused on the place between my legs, a soft groaning coming from his mouth, his fingertips dragging lower and running softly over the lips of my sex.

“Perfect,” he repeated, his fingers brushing up and down over that spot, not pushing, not spreading, just a gentle caress that had me lifting my hips, his name whispering from my lips, wanting, needing more. Then he pushed a finger inside and everything changed. “God…” The curse, tumbling from his lips, as his mouth lowered to mine.

Stretching his body forward, the hard muscles of his chest pressed against mine as he kissed me. I wrapped my legs around him, pinned his hand inside me, the gentle movement of that finger causing my breath to catch, mouth to freeze on its own.

“Yes, Alex. Oh my God, yes.” “your body is so unreal,” he whispered, his mouth leaving mine, dropping to my neck, a hand pulling my legs apart as he moved down my body, his mouth soft on my skin, a delicious journey down as his finger continued its perfect tease inside my body.

It’s amazing what a finger can do. Such a small digit, but able to go exactly right there. My back came off the leather, my breath arrested as he touched some place that made my world go dark. “Don’t stop,” I whispered. “Oh my God, don’t stop.” I couldn’t keep my eyes open, but I wanted to. Wanted to see the look on his face, the dark intensity that stole over his face when he watched me.

Wanted to see the moment he pulled out his cock, wanted to see the firm head of it, his hand wrapped around the base, the stroke of his fingers as he yanked at it. This seemed to be his favorite moment as he watched me carefully— watching me come.

It made the skin on his cock stretch as he hardened to a level past belief. It caused his eyes to darken, his breath to hitch. The muscles in his chest tightened, his hands quickened, my name a quick moan on his lips. And I knew what was coming. What would happen as the shudders ceased, as I tumbled down the delicious hill that was my orgasm.

At that moment, the most perfect moment my body would ever know? That was when he would thrust. Remove his fingers and shove inside. Fill me to breaking before starting a rhythm that would trump whatever ecstasy I just experienced. And the knowing, the expectation… opening my eyes and seeing him prepare himself, his own excited anticipation at what was about to happen… The heavy lids and pants of his breath as his finger continued its lazy brush inside of me.

I bucked against his hand and came so hard I broke. Waves upon waves, the sounds from my mouth senseless, unmeaning. I arched against his hand, humped it like an animal in heat, my body exploding around his finger, the perfect flick of his fingers making my feet kick, the glimpse of his face, dark intensity, his cock, hard and ready, and I couldn’t stop it, it stretched, continued, beautiful insanity that turned my world into stars and my body into a constellation.

And then, before I fell from the sky, at the moment when my breath began to catch and my eyes flicked open, he shoved inside of me and I lost it again. Hard, fast. He fucked me as if he hated me, but the words spilling out were words of adoration for my body.

He bent over me, dug his hands into my hips and held me tightly in place. Pounded away, my name repeating on his tongue, the urgency in his movements carrying me higher, spurring my pleasure. This was for him, and that made it for me, knowing that the loss of his control was a gift, a rarity that I was one of the few to see.

I wrapped my legs, dug my heels into him, and raked my nails across his skin. When he came, it was Alex Owen intense, one hand tight to my neck, the other squeezing the meat of my ass, pulling me tighter, as if he would never get enough—be deep enough, be one enough—of me. He thrust fully in, moaned my name, and shuddered through the final fucks of his orgasm.

Then we collapsed into a deep sleep I never want to wake up from.

“Yvonne! Wake up!” my mom's voice cut through the dream I was having, along with the constant shaking of my shoulder. I groaned, burying my face deeper into the pillow, trying to hold onto the last bit of the dream that was quickly fading.

“Remember we set the divorce meeting for today, have you forgotten? You’re late for today's hearing, remember the family set today for the divorce hearing.”

“Come on,” her voice grew more urgent, and the words finally hit me. Today was the final day of concluding the divorce arrangements with Christian.

Everyone would be there, by everyone I mean our families both families would be present. I heard even Christian's family members whom no one knows. Our marriage and the end of it will drastically affect his company which they invest in, so they will surely be there to try to talk us out of it.

That was all I needed to jump out of bed. The sudden movement made my head spin, and a wave of dizziness and nausea hit me. “Oh no,” I muttered, pressing my hand to my pounding forehead. “What time is it?”

I quickly rushed out to relief my mum of my baby and get her and myself dressed

As I stood there, trying to shake off the grogginess, flashes of last night came back–hazy and disjointed, enough to make me cringe. “So, it wasn’t a dream,” I muttered, the images replaying in my mind.

The gala, the drinks, the dangerously attractive man, his intense eyes, his touch, the kiss. My heart raced as I remembered it all–a mix of regret and excitement. I had kissed a man I didn’t even know. And I had let him touch me, hell we had sex… What was I thinking?