chapter 2

Amari's POV

His voice is soft and inviting. I hesitate, unsure if I should say yes or no. The rational part of her brain is telling me to say no, but the part of me that is drawn to this man screams yes. I find myself saying, "Sure, I'd like that."

Antonio smiles and takes my hand, leading me out of the bar. We get into his Cadillac. Drive to Drake Hotel on the Magnificent Mile. Walk into the elevator and ride up to his floor.

My heart is pounding in my chest. What was she doing? Was this a good idea? I didn't even let Marco and Isabella know I was leaving. Fuck.

The elevator doors open and we step out into the hallway. It is long and narrow, with a red carpet on the floor. The walls are a warm beige color, and there are small lamps on the walls. The hallway is dimly lit, but some floor-to-ceiling windows let in natural light. Antonio leads me to his door and opens it with a swipe of his key card. I follow him inside and find myself in a well-appointed suite. It is decorated in a sophisticated style, with dark wood and leather furniture.

"Would you like something to drink?" Antonio asks, walking me to the bar.

I nod, and he pours me a glass of wine. I take a sip, and the dry, crisp taste of the wine helps to calm my nerves.

We both sit on the sofa, not quite sure what to say. The silence stretches out between us until I finally ask. "So, what exactly made you want to invite me up here?"

"I just wanted to spend some more time with you."

I feel a rush of heat through my body at his words. I have never experienced this kind of chemistry with anyone before. There is something about this man that draws me in and makes me feel things I have never felt before. I know I should leave, that coming here is a bad idea, but I find myself wanting to stay. Regardless, I won't be fingering his ear.

Antonio looks at me, and for a moment, simply gaze into each other's eyes. Then, slowly, he leans in and kisses me.

The kiss is soft at first, almost tentative. But as it deepens, it becomes more passionate, more intense. I experience myself being swept up in the moment, losing myself in the kiss. I have never felt so alive, so electrified. It's a new experience for me, and I am both frightened and exhilarated by it.

Finally, we break apart, both breathing heavily. I look into Antonio's eyes and glimpse something there that I haven't noticed before. It is a look of desire, of need, of yearning. Simply put, he wants to part my legs and screw pleasure into me.

"I guess the dance did it," Antonio says, and the desire in his eyes doesn't drop a notch.

"Yeah," I say, sotto voce.

The next thing I know, his hands are all over me. When he finally takes off his clothes, I confirm that his cologne is sandalwood.

We kiss until I start to get wet. And I know he is hard as well when he intensifies the kiss, rubbing himself against me like an eraser against a penciled diagram. A moan escapes my lips. The feeling of his member makes me realize what I have missed. He kneels on a pillow. His palms bring me closer and my legs wrap around his waist. I'm almost his height now.

We say nothing to each other.

Fuck, we both know what we want.

And we both know how to make it happen.

His roaming lips find my neck and glide down to my cleavage. Hands unhook my bra and his mouth takes my left nipple.

The moans start coming out without a cease now. The feeling is heavenly. I feel like crying out when he begins to rub my other nipple with his finger.

Sucking and rubbing.

I feel my climax coming. Raise my hips to control the sensation. He notices this stops, brings me down, and turns me around so that all I'm looking at is red sofa skin.

Antonio pulls up my skirt and my panties come down. I hear him fumbling with his.

"Brace yourself," is all he says.

Then he is inside me in one swift motion.

The fact that I am so wet makes his intrusion bring out the most unholy scream I have ever made during sex. He begins to move and I bow my head and cry in pleasure.

Antonio asks me if I love it, I and tell him that I do. After my first and second climax, I tell him that he is the best. I almost tell him that I love him, but I find the will to stop myself.

He comes right after I do.

Three orgasms.

First of its kind.

Antonio is splayed over me like a blanket, spent, and exhausted. I hear him switch breathing outlets, once his nose, then his mouth.

"You overworked yourself trying to make me have multiple orgasms," I tell him.

"You're welcome, Amari," he says, and carries me in his arms to the bed, like a baby.

Antonio's POV

I wake up and find that something strange has happened. I'm alone in my bed.

Amari's gone.

Fuck. How sly. So she doesn't want to see my face. Want it to seem like a one-night stand and just that.

Great.

I sigh and run to look at the digital clock on the nightstand. I curse and rush into the bathroom. Thirty minutes in this hotel room and I'm going to be late for a meeting because the distance will eat up some driving time. I don't bother calling room service. Just wash up, pick one of my suits, don it, and get the hell out of here.

At the parking lot, I noticed that my Cadillac had been cleaned already. I nod at the bubusboynd get in. I push a button under the glove compartment and retrieve a Colt Python. Check the magazine to see if it's full and wedging it behind the waistband of my trousers isn't a friendly visit. I'm certain a lot of enemies are going to be in attendance. One notable family in particular.

I gun the engine, put the car into drive, and tear through the streets of North Chicago.