“I bore you?”

“I’m just tired.”

“Five minutes ago, you were ready to make passionate love in my hotel room with my assistant. Now you want to go to sleep. I think I’m losing my touch.”

I shrugged my shoulders and looked away, not wanting him to see how every fiber of my being was hoping for him to touch me. I wanted to feel his warm, strong hands on my body, trailing a line of fire across my skin.

“I wasn’t about to make love to—”

“I know you want me, Lolita.” He cut me off as he sipped from his glass of whiskey and loosened his tie. “But I’m not a man that—”

“What’s your name?” I interrupted him.

“I’m Xavier.”

“Xavier?” I looked at him in surprise. It wasn’t a name I was familiar with.

“It means I last all night.” He paused, and my heart stopped beating as we stared at each other in silence.

“In what language?” I whispered, unable to stop myself from playing his game.

“In the language of love.” He moved towards me smoothly and before I knew it, his lips were crashing down on mine, softly and firmly. I melted against him, and my eyes widened as I felt his tongue doing things to mine that sent a sharp thrill down my body. His eyes twinkled as I gasped against him, and he pulled away from me and whispered in my ear.

“I told you my kiss alone could make you wet.”

I looked up at him with an incredulous expression, but he didn’t wait for me to respond. Instead, his lips came crashing down on mine again, and his hands found the crook of my back and pulled me in towards him hard. I reached my hands up and placed them around his neck, needing the support of his body to remain on my own two feet.

This time, his kiss wasn’t soft and sweet. It was hard and searching. His tongue explored my mouth while his teeth nibbled on my lip. But then he stopped, took my tongue in his mouth, and sucked, and it was all I could do to not cry out in surprise and pleasure. I had thought that he looked like a sex god, but this man—this Xavier—was sex himself.

“Shall we?” He took my hand and led me to the bedroom, pausing at the door with a question in his eyes.

I nodded mutely, not trusting myself to say anything as I stared at the handsome man in front of me. All reason had left my mind, and all I could think about was being taken by this man, roughly and gently, all night long.

It was at that moment that Anna finally emerged from the bathroom. “I’m feeling better now, Max.” She twirled into the room and I tried not to groan.

“Who are you?” Xavier looked at her in shock.

“I’m Anna. Where is Max?” She looked at me in confusion.

“He left.” I shrugged.

“Oh, no?” She made a face. “Was I in the bathroom too long?”

“What’s going on here?” Xavier pulled away from me and eyed us both. “Don’t tell me you’re a pair of working girls?”

“No, we’re in grad school,” Anna responded, not really understanding his comment.

“You’re a jackass. We are not prostitutes.”

“Prostitutes?” Anna’s eyes widened. “What?”

“So you weren’t about to have a threesome with Max?”

“Hell no,” Anna responded. “I didn’t even want Lola to come back with me, but she said she wouldn’t let me leave with him unless she came.”

“Oh, she’s your watcher?” He gave me an assessing look as he spoke to Anna.

“No, I’m her friend.” I glared at him. I didn’t care how good looking he was. I wasn’t going to put up with his rudeness. “We were at the museum earlier,” I stated, trying to see if he remembered me. I knew he had to remember me. I just wanted him to acknowledge it. I wanted him to say that he’d thought I was hot from the first moment he’d seen me in the museum.

“I see.” His eyes darkened and he walked to the side of the room. “I will get you girls a room. You’ll stay here tonight. You’re too drunk to go anywhere now.”

“We don’t—” I started as Anna nodded eagerly.

“Thanks.” She held her stomach. “I’m still feeling a bit sick.”

I gave her a look. “I told you not to drink so much.”

“Oh, not now, Lola.” She made a face. “Save the lecturing for tomorrow.”

“I need a suite,” Xavier spoke into the phone. “Is the junior penthouse available? Good. Send someone up with the keys.” He hung up and walked back over to us. “You’ll have your room soon.”

“Thanks.” I sighed and stared at his lips.

“Next time, you girls need to be more careful. You never know who you’re going to end up with.”

“I was only coming to make sure she was okay.” My eyes narrowed at him as he lectured us.

“But it seemed to me that you were mere minutes away from joining me in bed.”

“What?” Anna looked at me. “No way.”

“You know that’s not true.” I looked at Anna.

“Oh, Lola.” She giggled and then looked back at Xavier. “He is hot. Wait a second.” Her eyes widened and she looked at me. “Isn’t he the—”

“Anna.” I grabbed her arm and walked to the door. “Let’s get ready to leave.”

“I’m interested in hearing what your friend was about to say.” Xavier’s eyes lit up, and he took a step in front of me.

“She’s drunk. She needs to rest.” I looked into his eyes. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Oh?” He smiled down at me and whispered into my ear, “You’ve been playing games with me all night, Lola. First the museum and now here. Next time, you will not be able to just disappear.”

“Next time, you’ll remember to be a lot nicer or you’ll find my hand across your cheek.” I smiled at him innocently and opened the door. “Goodnight, Xavier.”

“Goodnight, sugarlips,” he spoke softly as we walked out. “Don’t get too wet thinking about me tonight.”

I gasped at his words and looked back at him. He had a smug look on his face as he closed the door, and all I could think about was what would have happened if Anna hadn’t come out of the room at that precise moment.

***

His View

I watched the cab pull away and I felt angry. I was angry at the two girls for just going with Max. Didn’t they value their safety? They had no idea who he was or where he was taking them. I strode back into the museum and made my apologies for leaving early. There was no way that I was going to give Max enough time to try and convince either of them to stay the night. My blood boiled over at the thought of him trying to be with her. If anyone was going to have her, it was going to be me.

***

It took longer than I had hoped to get to the hotel and my nerves were shot as I got to the room. I tried to use my key to get into the door, but I couldn’t get it open.

BANG BANG BANG. I knocked on the door hard.

“Who is it?” Max’s voice was surly and I knew in that moment that I was going to have to send him back to Romerius.

“Maximillian, open up the door. It is Xavier.” I spoke in my authoritative tone. I knew that would freak him out. He opened the door quickly and I could see from his face that he was worried about his job. Good! I looked around the room and I said a little prayer when I saw the girl standing there, fully clothed.

“Go to your room.” I commanded Max without looking at him. He was of no importance to me right now. I needed to speak to this girl. I needed to tell her off for being stupid. I needed to get her out of my system. I frowned to myself at my thoughts. I didn’t even know her. I didn’t know why I cared. I didn’t even know her name.

I walked over to her and looked her up and down. “Who are you?” My voice sounded hoarse as I tried not to pull her into my arms.

“I’m Lola.” Her voice was light. Too light for the situation. Didn’t she understand how serious a position she was in? And what sort of name was Lola? Lola wasn’t a name for a nice girl. Lola was the name of a nymph. Lola was the name of someone who wanted to make love all night with reckless abandon. She didn’t look like the sort of girl who would make love with reckless abandon. I continued talking to her, but all I could think about was her body. What would she look like with her clothes off? What would she do if I reached over and lifted her skirt up? Or if I reached over and grazed her breasts? How wide would her eyes open if I did that? Would she gasp? Would her mouth make a circular shape? Would she slap me? I smiled to myself. I’d quite like to feel her hands on me again.

“Bimbo,” I said feeling annoyed, my eyes narrowed as I felt my pants tightening and I knew that I shouldn’t be here. I was surprised by her reaction, though. I’d thought she was going to look upset and retreat, but her eyes flashed at me in anger and her shoulders rounded. I looked at her considering. This Lola wasn’t the girl I thought she was, after all. She tried to push past me and I grabbed her. I could feel her heart beating as her face flushed in anger. I could almost imagine how feisty she’d be in bed. My fingers trembled slightly. I couldn’t lie to myself any more. I wanted her and I wanted her badly.

We bantered back and forth, and I tried hard to keep my face straight as she grew more and more incensed. Finally, I had had enough. I needed to feel her lips upon mine. I needed to feel if they were as soft as they looked. I stepped towards her and grabbed her, whispering softly against her lips, knowing that I was affecting her. Her pupils dilated and I could see a tremor in her hands as she stared at me. I smiled to myself, knowing that she was feeling what I was feeling. The lust wasn’t hidden between us. She wanted me as badly as I wanted her. My lips pressed down on hers lightly. My brain screamed at me. One kiss was not going to be enough. I needed to touch and taste all of her.

I didn’t know her well, but what I knew, I liked. My brain was charmed by her and my body desired her. I pushed myself up against her so she could feel just how hard my c**k had grown for her. I knew women liked to know the power they had over men. She stepped back awkwardly and something in my stomach growled. She wasn’t used to having one-night stands. I retreated, not knowing if I wanted to go down this road. But then she looked back at me and I could see the fire in her eyes. She wanted me and she wasn’t hiding it from me.

I grabbed her hand and made my way to the bedroom. All I could think about was having her and being inside of her.

“I’m feeling better now, Max.” A high-pitched voice called out into the room and I looked at her in shock in anger. It was Lola’s friend. I had forgotten about her.

“Who are you?” I frowned, feeling extremely annoyed and irritated. She talked to me, but all I could think about Lola. My Lola. The Lola I had nearly had in my bed. Now she was hovering over her friend and looking at me like I was a creep. She already was regretting what had nearly happened. I nearly laughed at her expression. Most women would have been dying to be in my bed. This girl, she looked like she was quite happy that we’d been interrupted. I had to admit, I was irritated by how intrigued I was by this girl. Too intrigued.

“Don’t tell me you’re a pair of working girls.” I spoke lightly, wanting to see her expression. Wanting to affect her. I knew she wasn’t a prostitute, but I also knew that that would push her buttons. I wanted to push her buttons. She was affecting me in a way I didn’t like.

“You’re a jackass,” she snapped at me, fire in her eyes again, and I smiled inwardly. There was the passion I was going to enjoy once I had her in bed. I’d let her spend the night with her friend in another room. I didn’t want to frighten her off. Then I’d spend the day with her, get to know her better. Then tomorrow night, I’d go in for the kill again. Only tomorrow night, I’d seal the deal.

Chapter 3

“Are you mad at me?” Anna rolled over in bed and groaned. “My head is killing me.”

“Next time, don’t drink so much.”

“I was so drunk.” She closed her eyes. “It’s so bright in here.”

“It’s called sunlight, Anna,” I laughed and sat up, looking around the room. “I can’t believe he got us a suite.”

“Who, Max?” She looked around. “Is he here?”

“Anna, Max left.” I stared down at her. “Did you forget?”

“I can’t really remember what happened.” She groaned again, much more melodramatically this time. “Did I sleep with him?”

“No.” I shook my head. “You were in the bathroom puking and he tried to make a move on me.”

“What?” Her eyes flew open. “Bastard.”

“Yes, he was. His boss came into the room and kicked him out him and then got us a room.”

“His boss?” She frowned and then her eyes lit up. “Wait, it was that hot guy from the museum, wasn’t it?”

“What hot guy?” I feigned ignorance.

“Don’t try and lie to me, Lola Franklin.” She shook her head. “I saw the looks you gave him.”

“Whatever.”

“Did you hook up with him?”

“No.” My face turned red.

“Oh my God, you did, didn’t you?”

“No!” I exclaimed sharply and then grinned. “Though he did kiss me.”

“No way!” she screamed and then made a face and rubbed her forehead. “It’s too early for this excitement.”