PROLOGUE

Ashley stumbled from her car as she struggled to come out of it in a hurry. she heard a cringe sound and when she looked down the heel of her shoe was broken. she cursed, this was her favorite and most expensive pair. But she didn't care, she hurried into the ballroom.

Sweat rolled down her cheek, her makeup was ruined, her heel broken, some layers of her dress torn, she quickly used her hand to rip off the remaining layer turning it into a mini ball gown.

Today was her billionaire boyfriend father's retirement party, and he had invited her to introduce her to his family after six years of dating. Finally, she was meeting Thomas family for the first time. it had to be perfect.

Ashley retouched her makeup before stepping in. she saw the man of the night, her boyfriend standing tall and handsome as always. He stood beside his father who sat on his retirement throne and greeted guests. Ashley wore a big smile, this was the perfect time for Thomas to introduce her to his father, so she walked over with all the ounce of confidence she could summon.

She spread her arms for a hug but instead Thomas went for a handshake. Ashley's eyes widened in shock, but Thomas barely looked at her.

"Who is she?" Ashley heard Thomas father ask, a smiley tone in his voice.

Ashley turned her full attention to him. "I'm his..."

Thomas interrupted her. "She's a guest."

A guest? Thomas turned this back on her and continued greeting other guests. Ashley just stood in the middle of the ballroom feeling out of place. But, she was grateful nobody paid her any attention, they were all too focused on the retiree to notice how pathetic she looked.

She leaped to a corner, and sat on a stool. Why had Thomas treated her in such a formal manner? Did she do something wrong? Maybe it wasn't the perfect time or place, maybe Thomas could invite her for an after-party where proper introductions would be made. Or so she taught.

Aiden, Thomas nemesis sat in a large couch surrounded by a flock of girls, all black haired and slim. Aiden disliked Thomas, but he respected his old man, that was the only reason Aiden accepted the invitation.

Aiden eyes scanned the room desperately looking for a source of entertainment when his gaze landed on a lady who appeared lost on a stool. She wasn't the kind of lady he would steal a glance at her, she was brown, voluptuous and red haired. He liked his women slim, and black haired. But, Aiden kept staring at her, the way her breasts stood high beneath the corset she wore, he could already imagine the fullness of it against his hands...he hated voluptuous ladies.

He stared at her exposed legs which appeared smooth, and flawless. She was obviously a lady that took great care of her skin. He couldn't take his eyes off her, the way her red haired made her standout.

As if sensing his stare, she turned and their eyes locked. But she was too far, and the hall set up with dark lightening, he couldn't see her face clearly from the distance. But her beauty was still obvious enough. Beauty? she was voluptuous and red haired!

She stared coldly at him, warning him to look away with her eyes. But he didn't, if anything his gaze seemed to grow hotter like he was stripping her naked in the middle of an elite ball. Wetness grew between her thighs, heat on her exposed body parts. She had never felt anything like this before.

He was huge, his arms were strong and muscle flexed underneath his shirt. She had a strong night vision that enabled her to see his beauty in the dark. He was MAN in all aspects, his chin was covered with beards. He was surrounded by a flock of girls, Why was he eyefucking her?

Ashley was supposed to feel uncomfortable from the intense gaze of a total stranger, and the primal response it elicited from her, but she liked it.

His gaze consumed her in arousing passion, and beneath his erotic stare, she saw danger, the kind of danger she shouldn't be playing with, so she picked her purse and rised to leave, she wasn't looking at him but she felt a movement across the room where he sat. She hoped he wasn't coming after her, but she also hoped he was.

Ashley saw Thomas walking down the dark hallway. She followed him, moving deeper into the dark holding unto nothing but his familiar perfume. The scent slowly faded, replaced by something much stronger, masculine and impossibly hotter. She followed it, adjusting her eyes to the dark. She saw his shadowy figure and quickly threw her hands around his neck, hugging him.

The perfume was long gone, the air now filled with something sexual. His hands held her hips, gently pulling her to him, as his mouth claimed hers. He fucked her mouth with his like a dying man, who needed her kiss to survive. Ashley moaned in response, her body coming to life.

She leaned against the wall, holding unto his shirt for balance, the rough fabric scratch her skin. He pressed his hot body against her, blocking everything else from her view and mind as this ravishing, hot strange kissed her. His tongue thrust deep into her throat. She gasped for air, but didn't break the kiss.

The darkness seemed to build their passion, each touch, each caress was hot and erotic. His hands were everywhere, exploring her curves as if he was memorizing every secret spot, like he knew he would never see her again.

His hands moved too fast, feeling her full curves and lower to her waist, he teased the hem of her now mini ball gown waiting for her to pull away but when she didn't, he slipped his hands under her dress and inserted his fingers between her bare thighs. She arched towards him full of need. 

His fingers found the outline of her breast, his thumb smoothing her exposed clevage as he suckled her bottom lip into his mouth.

Ashley placed her hands on his chin, and she rubbed his beard. Beards? Thomas was clean-shaven. Slowly, realization dawned on her. Ashley redrew from the kiss, and tried pulling away, but his grip was firm on her waist. "Tom?" She whispered

"Who's Tom?" That voice. It was so deep, it weakened her knee, but thanks to the strong hands around her waist it held her in place.

Fear gripped her as she answered. "My boyfriend."

"I'm not Tom, but I could be your boyfriend." She couldn't see his face in the darkness but she sensed he was smiling.

Ashley tried pulling away. "I already have a boyfriend."

He made a low throaty chuckle that defiled her insides. "With a single snap of my finger, I can get rid of him."

"Stop flirting with me."

He laughed. "Flirting? You're the one who couldn't take your eyes off me in the ballroom. Then, you followed he, pushed me against a wall, force yourself on me, molested and...I was just being a gentleman by responding."

Ashley struggled against him. "Let me go!"

There were many things Aiden was, but a man who forced himself on women wasn't one of it. He released his grip on her waist. "Can I get a name?"

"I'm taken."

A smile curved Aiden's lips as he watched her shadowy figure disappear out of the hallway and into the parking lot.