Saved By Their One-Night Baby

So he took her hands in his and started to walk backwards across the floor. ‘Walk with me. I’ve got you. Right now. Just don’t look down. You can do this.’

She took his lead and put one foot in front of the other gingerly, as if she really was walking on a thin rope. ‘I’m scared.’

‘You can do this.’ His grip tightened and she squeezed back.

‘I can do this.’ She laughed, looking about as far from scared as anyone could be. She pretended to look down and to wobble. ‘Uh-uh.’

He pulled her to him, anchoring her against his chest, nuzzling into those luscious curls. Her delicious scent stoked the unfurling need in his gut. He wanted to kiss her. To strip away those layers and find the real Claire underneath this act.

For a few seconds they stayed crushed together, holding on as if neither wanted to let go. Then she ran her hands over his shoulders and down his back and fitted herself into his arms. She leaned her head against his chest and then swayed slowly.

‘You want to share the tune?’ He laughed into hair that smelt of lemons. ‘Because I can’t hear a thing.’

‘Something slow.’ For a few moments she swayed and smiled, her head tilted against his jaw as her hands stroked across his back and over his arms. Then she pulled away slightly and looked up at him, hands locked on his biceps. As she gazed up her eyes misted with need. The atmosphere in the lift crackled and pulsed. She put her cool palm to his cheek, then ran soft feathery fingertips across his lips. His gut contracted with need.

‘Dance with a stranger; I can tick that off now. Tell me, Ethan, are you married? In a relationship?’ she whispered, even though there was no one else to hear her. ‘Are you the kind of guy who would cheat?’

‘No, no, and definitely, no.’

‘Good.’ Closing her eyes, she pressed his lips against her fingertips, the pressure on his mouth tantalising, excruciatingly sexy. He could feel her breath coming fast and soft. The scent of hibiscus filled the air. ‘Then, yes, yes, and definitely, yes.’

Torn by his warring conscience and the sharp tang of desire, he groaned and fisted his hand in her hair.

So close. So close.

Swallowing hard, he tugged her hand from his mouth. Geez. Any guy would think he was an idiot for stopping kissing a beautiful woman who wanted him. ‘Claire, what are you doing?’

Her eyes flickered open and she smiled. ‘I’m kissing you. I’m taking a risk and I like the way it makes me feel. I like you. You want to take a risk too?’

Hell, yes. He didn’t need to ask her to clarify, the intent was there in the way she pressed against him and in the thick need in her voice. Words seemed to have got lost between his brain and his mouth, but he dredged them up, because he had to make sure she understood. ‘You need to know that tomorrow I’m gone. I’m not... reliable.’ He broke things apart rather than built them up. But he wasn’t a saint either. ‘I’m not going to make a million promises and break them. I can’t promise you anything at all.’

‘Good. I don’t want promises.’ If she’d been paying attention, Claire would have noticed the way admiration had tucked itself into a corner of her heart. He wasn’t going to break her because she wasn’t going to let him or give him the chance to. He wasn’t going to break her, but he was going to kiss her. And hopefully more if she could convince him. Because from what she knew of him already, he was a good honest man, unused to being seduced in a lift.

As if she did this kind of thing every day! The cognac had taken the edge off her nerves and she could barely believe the words coming out of her mouth. But if she was going to be the person she wanted to be—which was independent, self-actualising and free—then she had to start making changes. This was as good a first step as any.

Besides, the guy clearly hated confined spaces, so she was just doing her civic duty by distracting him, right?

She looked up into beautiful eyes that were denim blue and hazy with lust. Lit by the white light of his phone, he looked like something she’d dreamed up—tall and toned, gorgeous strawberry-blond unruly hair and two days’ growth on his jaw that she wanted to scrape her skin against.

He wasn’t cocky or arrogant, but the very act of pushing her unwanted admirer away and then walking away himself—no come-on, no smart moves—had made her heart trip and her imagination run riot. Who was he? Why had they held hands not once, twice, but three times? Why had his first touch made heat pool low in her gut? How could a man make her feel so sexy when she barely knew him?

‘You can be my first adventure. I don’t want to know anything more than your name: Ethan, the racing driver.’ She took his phone and killed the torch app, throwing them into a sensual muted darkness.

‘Claire.’ He powered her back against the wall. He may have been chivalrous, but he definitely knew what he wanted. ‘You want to show me some of your acrobatic moves now?’

‘Kiss me first.’

Claire Durand! Asking so blatantly. Her friends would be proud. The first touch of his mouth was scorching. There was no hesitation, no gentle learning. He was exactly what she needed. This kiss was what she craved, the hot, sweet stroke of his tongue turning her limbs almost to liquid, the press of his hand on her face, then her throat, then her breast.

She ran her hands round his neck, breathing in the scent of fresh air and something exotic.

He slid his hand under her bra and stroked her nipple. ‘You like that?’

‘Yes.’ She was so turned on she could barely manage to speak. Any minute now the lift could start. Any minute now they’d have to stop. She didn’t want him to stop.

He breathed against her neck. ‘Any other items on your list?’

‘This.’ Running her hand over his jeans, she felt the outline of his erection. ‘Sex with a stranger. I didn’t write that, Marianne did.’

‘I like Marianne. She sounds like a good sort.’ He drew back, ran his hand up her thigh, making her laugh and squirm. His fingers played with the lace edging on her panties, making her writhe against him. ‘But I like you a whole lot more.’

‘I like you too.’ With a flick of her fingers she had his zip down and then she had his length in her hand. He was so hard. For her. To know she’d made him like that made her feel powerful, strong and almost unbearably turned on.

Kissing him hard, she barely noticed as he tugged her panties down. As she stroked his erection he groaned curse words at her throat, intensifying her need.

‘Do you have a condom, my knight?’

‘Here.’ Discarding his jeans, he reached into a pocket, unwrapped the condom and sheathed himself in a matter of seconds, though it felt long enough to drive her crazy with longing. Then he lifted her to sit on a rail she hadn’t even noticed was there, cupping her bottom with strong hands. ‘You sure about this?’

‘Yes, but space is limited.’ She felt his back ripple with what she imagined must be anticipation, but she wasn’t so sure. ‘Now’s the time for the show and tell acrobatics.’ She curled her leg round his waist and tugged him closer. His erection was tantalisingly close, nudging against her opening. ‘I want you to know I don’t usually do this.’

His forehead was against hers. ‘Neither do I. Never.’

‘It’s just... I want you. I don’t even understand why. I just do.’ She couldn’t explain it, didn’t want to understand why she’d been attracted to him the second she’d seen him. Lust at first sight. And more...there was a lot about him that intrigued her. She just knew she wanted him. Now. She took his hand and encouraged him to lift her other leg around his hips. ‘Please.’

He nudged into her, pausing briefly for her to open for him. His words were like a balm on her throat. ‘To freedom.’

‘Yes. More.’ Her mind misted with him. His smell, his touch. This stranger. This man. She wanted his hands and his kisses all over her skin. She wanted him deep inside her.

He palmed her breast, stoking hot need. ‘Excitement.’

‘Amen to that,’ she sighed. ‘More. More.’

He thrust again and again. ‘Adventure.’

‘God, yes.’ And, heck, what an adventure this was. She had never felt so alive, so carefree, so beautiful.

His rhythm kicked up and as he pushed inside her over and over he kissed her thoroughly until she was moaning for more, feeling him pulse higher and faster, then lose control, taking her with him.

* * *

A distant rumbling had her coming to her senses. Breathless and satiated, she lowered herself to the floor.

A bump and a shudder. She grasped his arm, her limbs limp. ‘What was that?’

What the hell had she just done?

He wrapped her close and held her steady, pressing soft kisses over her mouth, her nose, her throat. ‘Electricity.’

‘And then some.’ She breathed out, tried to slow her raging heartbeat.

A thump. Another bump. The whirr of electricity. A jolt and they were on the move again. He pressed his forehead against hers and laughed. ‘Did the earth move or was that just the lift starting up?’

‘Both?’ She laughed with him. The fun was in the risk, not just in the man. At least she hoped it was, because there was something about him that called to her. Something that connected with her on a deeper level than random elevator sex.

Floor Seven

Her heart thumped hard as she retrieved her panties and stuffed them in her bag. Ask him to stay the night.

But then she might want him to stay for longer. He’d said no promises.

He had skin that had been kissed long and thoroughly by sunshine. He smelt of exotic lands and he would return there, she knew. A man like him couldn’t be caged by a relationship. She’d lose him to the heat and the sun and the swirl of sand.

He quickly dressed as she straightened down her skirt, ran her hand over her hair...but he was there too, running a palm over her cheek, distracting her, mesmerising her. Caring for her. She ignored the clutch in her throat. ‘Perfect timing all round, I think.’

Floor Eight

Ask me to stay the night.

‘Perfect.’ He tilted her chin and slid his mouth over hers again. He tasted so sweet and hot, of brandy and kisses and a fantasy, and a small part of her wished...

No wishes. Freedom. Excitement. Adventure.

Floor Nine

The doors pinged open and she jumped away from Ethan. The hotel manager dragged the gate open then made a show of bowing and clasping his hands. ‘Je suis désolé. So sorry for the inconvenience. Electric. Thunder. Kaput.’

‘Merci beaucoup. Ce n’est rien.’ It’s nothing. She chanced a glance at Ethan, who was trying hard not to laugh. ‘No inconvenience at all.’

What had they just done?

How had they gone from a simple conversation to the most sensual sex in her life? It was as if there had been some sort of weird inexplicable force pushing them together. Or it might just have been the Aperol.

She sneaked a look at him and her heart slipped into tachycardia. He really was the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen, all mysterious and a little pent up. How interesting it would be if she could spend more time peeling those emotional layers away, but it had been fun to help him unwind; he certainly looked a lot more relaxed now. Smiling, she tried to get rid of the hotel manager as quickly as possible.

A million apologies and handshakes later she was alone once more with Ethan.

Floor Ten

Say something.

Floor Eleven

The gates rattled closed behind them and he slipped an arm around her shoulder. ‘You want a nightcap?’

Yes. And whatever that led to. Every part of her craved more of his touch and it would be so easy to take him up on his offer, but she couldn’t let herself do this. No more. It was over before it had begun. It had to be. She was starting a new life of independence and the last thing she needed or wanted was to fall for a man who could take that away from her and then leave her with nothing but a smashed heart. She’d been there before and there was no way she was going back.

Claire was going forward.

She took a deep breath and gave the only possible answer. ‘No, thank you. I’ve got a big day tomorrow.’

‘We could just sleep.’

‘Somehow I doubt that.’ Images of waking up to that mouth and that body had more heat swirling round her veins. She tugged out from under his arm but tiptoed back to kiss his cheek. ‘I want this to be my perfect memory. Just this. I don’t want morning breath or regret. I don’t want things to be awkward over breakfast or to sneak out in the early hours as if what we’d done was somehow shameful. I don’t want to ruin this with mundanities or disappointment.’

‘That would never happen. Not after one night. I don’t think you and disappointment could be in the same sentence, Claire.’

You don’t know my ex. ‘I’m not taking that chance. But thank you, that was amazing. I have a very nice memory to take away with me to sea.’ Her smile spread through her body. God, this take-charge thing was a really positive boost to her confidence. Tonight she was amazing Claire. Tomorrow she was going to try to emulate that in her new job, in her new life, where she knew there’d be no chance of losing her heart. ‘Goodnight, good knight.’

‘I never thought I’d enjoy being stuck in a lift but I certainly did.’ Ethan grinned, although the smile looked as if he wanted more too. More sex, more of her. More of her. She liked the way that made her feel, that there were men out there who wanted her. Sexy men. Strangers. Ethan... Who was he really? Who was the man who could melt her with one look? Her heart contracted and she wondered...another time, another life? No. Don’t spoil it with wishes. One last smile from his sexy mouth. ‘Goodnight, Claire. Have a good adventure.’

‘I intend to.’ I just did.

Mentally fist pumping, Claire smiled to herself as she slid her key card into the slot and crept into her dark hotel room.

Day one of her new life. Freedom, excitement. Adventure.

Mission accomplished.

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