Sydney POV

Even though I was a bit tired and I knew He should head to bed, I went out on the balcony anyhow, because when was I going to ever do this again? 

I didn’t have the opportunity to always be in places like this.

The balcony had marble tile, and elegantly maintained potted plants dotted along the railing, interspersed with heavy wooden furniture. The city looked vast from here, and she stared at the view in awe. “This is beautiful .”

“Isn’t it?” He smiled out at the buildings, his brown hair ruffling in the night breeze. He moved to stand beside me, his presence warm. “I have to admit I asked for this room simply because of the balcony.”

“I don’t blame you. This place looks big enough for a party.”

“Kind of sad that it’s just me in the room .” His tone was melancholy, and her heart twinged again.

I lifted the tiny bottle of Patron back to my lips and drained the entire thing in one fell swoop, my head began to buzz.

He gazed out at the night sky for a moment before turning back to look at me.

“None of this was your fault.”

I was the one that made him drink so much because of the dare, now he couldn’t say anything without her feeling bad that she made him this way.

I knew he was being modest, but I still told him, and crossed my arms under my breasts, tucking them close to stay warm. My thin shirt wasn’t exactly made for evenings outside. 

I had to change because I couldn’t be outside in my stripper cloth, it was part of my life that was shaded from the outside world and I was going to keep it that way.

My hair was blowing into my face, and I impatiently pushed it aside, thinking. What could I possibly say to him that wouldn’t sound stupid? Did I notice you all night? Yes but he didn't need to know that.

“It’s funny,” He said, stepping closer to me. His hair blew in the breeze and for a moment, he looked like a fallen angel in the shadows. “Tonight, when I saw you dancing, I almost called my assistant to tell him how happy I was that he got me the ticket to be there,” He said

He was still looking at me like he wanted to say more than this, I was intrigued to know what was going on in his mind but I didn’t want to rush him.

My brows drew together. Huh? “I think you’re very drunk” He didn’t want to say anything but I knew he had many things to say.

Maybe this was going to encourage him.

“I’m drunk,” he agreed. “Because I’d never say this otherwise. But you’re utterly, insanely sexy and I’ve been completely attracted to you since the moment I saw you, even when I know I shouldn’t be. And here I am, up on the balcony in the middle of the night after what has been a miserable experience, because you kept on asking me questions that I wasn't going to answer and I kept drinking, all I can think is that I’m not all that miserable, because I like watching you.”His fingers reached out and brushed a lock of hair off her forehead, tucked it gently behind her ear.

 “And it makes me wish I was one of those guys that didn’t give a shit about anyone but themselves, because I’d ask you to stay the night with me.”

I didn’t know how to answer this but he looked really sincere as he was saying all of this to her one thing I had gotten to understand was that words spoken when drunk was all a lie.

My eyes widened. 

His fingers traced the curve of my ear, sending shivers down my spine. He wasn’t moving away. His speech wasn’t slurred. He . . . couldn’t be that drunk, could he? To be propositioning? “W-what do you mean, stay the night with you?”

“It’s late and you’re gorgeous,” he said bluntly, cupping her cheek in his hand. “And I’m wondering if we should both live a little. Have an incredibly intense one-night stand and not think about it in the morning. What do you say?”

I didn’t know if this was the drink talking or him, he looked like he had a lot of one night stands but for me this was surprisingly new.

I stared up at his handsome face as I contemplated his words. His fingers were warm on my skin, his touch making my every nerve ending sit up and pay attention.

 I wanted to say yes. It had been years since I had dated anyone. 

The last man I had cared for wasn’t worth it, to the point that I hadn’t wanted to date again after him. 

But tonight . . . wouldn’t it be nice to have a torrid fling with a man who wanted me for me, Scratch the itch for sex that desperately needed scratching?

Especially with this handsome browned haired man, who seemed to embody everything I liked in a man?

And maybe in a different world I would have allowed him to bend me over his piano and have his way with me. But unfortunately I wasn’t that kind of girl.

Sydney POV

I shook my head and patted the front of his Jacket. “Hey,” she said softly. “You’re drunk, That’s why you’re propositioning me—”

I didn’t know what else to tell him, that was the only thing I could say to him, he had to be very drunk to be attracted to me sexually.

“It’s true,” He said. His arm—strong and firm—went to my waist and he pulled me against him, close enough that my breasts pushed up against his chest.

“I wanted you and I told you from the beginning but you didn’t want me, I had to ease into it”

I gasped, surprised at the feel of his mouth against mine, I . . hadn’t expected that. And yet, I was filled with the desire for more. The kiss had been way too brief.

His thumb grazed my lower lip, his gaze on my face. “I want you so much I can hardly stand it. It’s not just because you happen to be here and I’m horny. It’s because it’s you here, you are the one pressed up against my chest, and you make my dick hard every time you smile, Will you stay the night with me?”

I gazed up at him, considering. From the way he watched my mouth as l licked my lips, to the way he pulled my body against his, it truly did seem as if He was attracted to me

And really . . . what would it hurt to stay the night with Him? He made it clear that this would be a fling. A one-time thing. 

A gorgeous guy wanted me for just one night of hot sex? No strings attached, no worries, no relationships, no nothing?

How was there possibly a downside to this?

Because I wanted this man, and he wanted me.

What could go wrong with that?

So I bit my lip, leaned forward, and pressed my mouth to his in a silent answer to his question.

kissing him was better than ice cream. Sweet, creamy chocolate ice cream with hot fudge dripping down the sides? Tasty, but not nearly as appealing to my senses as the warm breath of this man kissing me, his tongue slicking against my own in response to my kiss, his mouth opening wider to accept my tongue.

The groan he made when our mouths locked, and the way his hand stole down to my ass and clenched me against him as if she were beautiful and sexy and he wanted me like he wanted no other woman.

And when my mouth parted from his, a small, dreamy sigh escaped me.

I wasn’t sexual but he made me feel that way like he wanted my body and he couldn’t get enough of kissing me.

He made me feel like kissing me was better than breathing.

“Want to go inside?” He murmured and cupped my face with his long fingers.

I almost forgot that we were outside and I shouldn’t be doing this with him, I barely knew this man.

“I shouldn’t,” I answered immediately

“The question wasn’t whether or not you should, but if you wanted to,” he said, and one of his fingers traced my full lips again.

I took that fingertip between my teeth and licked the tip. “More than anything.”

“Then let’s not overthink it. Let’s just feel for a night.”

That sounded kind of wonderful. I nodded and he gave me another quick kiss, then took me by the hand and led me back into the hotel room. He flicked off lights as he went, leading me through the maze of rooms.

And then we were in the opulent bedroom. The walls were a soft warm wood, the drapes a pale cream color. The bed was a sumptuous king with a quilted white headboard and dozens of pillows tossed onto it. It looked like something out of a dream. “This is like no hotel room I’ve ever stayed in before.”

I had to say that, this was far better than any hotel I had ever been in, I hadn’t been in a lot of them.

“It’s nice, isn’t it? You should see the bathroom.” He said still holding me

“Can I?”I asked

He gestured at a door off of the bedroom. “Be my guest.”

I wandered in and gasped at the sight. It was beyond luxury—a rain shower; a sunken, Matted tub; thick, plush carpets—it had everything. I peeked at a door off to one side and laughed to see exercise equipment. “My goodness. This place is bigger than my apartment.”

“Mmm. Then I’m glad you’re here to enjoy it.”

He pulled me against him, pressing my back against his front. 

His arms went around my waist and he nuzzled at my neck, brushing my hair aside and kissing my nape.

I shivered.

So I turned around, wrapped my arms around his neck, and pulled him in for a long, scorching kiss. My tongue played against his, then flicked against his lips. “I’ve seen enough in here. I think we should go back to the bedroom.”I was in control of what was happening, I had to be so I wouldn’t feel bad about what I was doing.

He groaned and gripped my ass in his hands. “I couldn’t agree more.” But he didn’t stop kissing me, Instead, he walked backward in small, slow steps, heading back toward the bedroom. And I giggled against his mouth, still kissing him in return.

Mouths locked the entire time, we staggered back to the bedroom. I accidentally stepped on his foot and he winced. “Sorry,” I breathed.

And that was all it took to ruin the mood.

Jaxton POV

I wasn't one to believe in fairytales or happily ever after. I never considered lobe to fit into my equation. The only way to happiness really was through money. And yet the moment I set my eyes on that vixen as she waltzed across the stage I found myself throwing all caution to the wind and wanting to go down on one knee.

Immediately I sat down comfortably in the club that my assistant made sure he got tickets for me to be at, I saw her peeping through what I consider a dressing room.

It was Friday and I was tired of Paxton thinking because he was older that he could get hold out of my life.

I didn’t want to be the boring twins, he was already doing that comfortably, I didn’t want to be in his shoes, I was in the company but I didn’t want to be outside if it didn’t involve women and fun things.

My assistant knew me and when he suggested that this was going to be the best place to drown my troubles, I decided to adhere to him.

But the moment I laid eyes on Sydney it was as though the rest of the world melted away. I could drown in her brown eyes, I could reach out and touch her dark hair, I wanted to lose my hands in it.

“I can carry you the rest of the way,” I told her between kisses. 

I was brought back to the fact that she was here with me, she was all mine for this night.

I would be able to touch her and feel her sexy body.

My green eyes were heavily lidded with passion and she couldn’t stop staring at my sultry gaze. 

I couldn’t keep my eye on her throughout her performance.

I had to get drunk to get her back to my home.

I had to play her games to get her to talk to me in the first place.

She was okay with having one nightstand with me, I was going to make sure she wasn’t going to forget about me in a long time.

All right, this one-night stand was going to be more fun than I thought. my hands went to the buttons of my shirt, undoing them. “I want to see your body.”

“Only if I get to see yours,” she told me, a mischievous smile covering her mouth. “One piece of clothing for one piece of clothing,” I told her

“That seems fair,” she teased. 

A game took the tension out of undressing in front of a stranger. “But I get to pick your item of clothing.”

This all started with a game, maybe if they played a game now, it will eased the tension.

“As long as I get to pick yours,” I told her

She didn’t play fair in the club, I wasn’t going to let this be like that.

“All right. Can I go first?” she asked

“Always.” my eyes gleamed. “Ladies first.”

She tapped her lip, pretending to consider things. “Well, let’s start with the basics before we get to the good stuff. Off with your Jacket.”

I made a big show of removing my Jacket, humming a bawdy song under my breath, and pretending to strip it off for an imaginary crowd. I swung it over my head and then tossed it to the ground, while she laughed and clapped her hands.

She was making me happy, I could see it on her face that the tension she had when we just entered the suit was fading away gradually.

This was freaking adorable.

“Your turn,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows at me.

I tapped my mouth with one long finger, pretending to consider her clothing, and I knew what I wanted her to take off “How about . . . your bra?”

It was a question because I didn’t know how she was going to feel about taking her bra immediately.

“You can’t ask for my bra yet,” she told him. “It’s under my other clothes.”

“I don’t remember us establishing rules, Pretty one.” I pretended to twirl a mustache like an evil villain, and she couldn’t help but laugh again. “Now. Bra.”I wanted her to feel comfortable but I was dying to see her breasts.

With a faked sigh, she pulled her arms through her sleeves and began to wriggle around inside the cocoon her shirt made, unhooking the six industrial-strength clasps at the back of her bra.

I couldn’t keep my eyes off her, she didn’t look like she needed any help, and she looked so relaxed, this was what I wanted and I was getting it.

She needed to hurry up, I was already getting hard and I wanted to show her how to be loved.

“My turn, is it?”She brought me back to reality.

Her shirt was still on but I could see her hardened nipples and all I wanted to do was rip her shirt out of her body and lose myself in her.

“Might I suggest a lovely sock? I have two of them.” My voice was teasing, but she noticed my gaze was glued to her loose breasts in her shirt, and it made her nipples harden with excitement to see my need so blatantly.

She considered my clothing, instead. I wore my button-up shirt, the collar open and loose, and a pair of slacks, socks, and shoes. 

Even now, I knew she could see the bulge in the front of my trousers increasing and she licked her lips with anticipation.

And to my surprise, I groaned, my gaze hazy with lust again. “Can I just say I love that mouth of yours?”

She licked her lips again, teasing him, and then gestured at his shirt. “Off with that. I want to see your chest.”

And although rationality called out to me not to let my guard down around a stranger. As I watched her eyes twinkle I knew right then and there that this was going to be  much more than one night.

A game of thorns and roses perhaps. Bittersweet as we pray that the love will be worth the hurt