2

Carmen

I fled the house in a blur of motion, rage burning so hot in my chest it scorched away all rational thought. My father’s voice boomed behind me, each word a command that made less and less sense as the blood rushed in my ears.

The tears came unbidden, stinging my eyes, threatening to spill over – but I wouldn’t let them fall. Not yet. Not here. I wouldn’t give him that victory. My father had taught me that tears were weakness, and today – of all days – I wouldn’t be weak. Not when he was wrong. Not when everything he’d said felt like betrayal.

The key fob shook in my hand as I pressed the ignition button from a distance. The engine roared to life, offering me a way out.

I quickly jumped into the driver’s seat, glancing at the security guards in my rearview mirror as they rushed out of their posts in concern. I hit the gas, leaving them behind as I sped down the driveway.

I arrived at the club and parked at the entrance. Maybe what I needed was one wild night—a night away from my family and all my responsibilities. A time to be impulsive.

That was how I walked up to the mysterious-looking man hiding in the shadows. From where I stood, I could see he was a good-looking man. He was around 6’1".

The leather jacket he had on made the muscles in his arms bulge. With each step I took, he came closer into view. I could see his hair was longer and jet black, perfectly slicked back. He had a sharp jawline and full lips.

I found myself staring at his lips for longer than was okay. He was a handsome man, and before I could stop myself, I was already sneaking up to him.

A few conversations later, me batting my eyelids at him, we were already interlocking fingers and walking out of the crowded bar. Of course, I didn’t have to do much.

The stranger was a little stubborn, but he couldn’t deny he wanted me. I was captivated by the intense stare of the man standing beside me. Inside, my heart was racing, and I was screaming at myself to retreat - this was a bad idea!

But the thrill of the unexpected and the strong need to be defiant overwhelmed me. I led this complete stranger into a nearby hotel—expensive, discreet, the kind of place that didn’t ask questions.

The elevator ride was quiet, yet the energy was charged. He leaned against the wall with both hands in his pockets as we rode up. We locked eyes. He had a hint of a smirk on his lips as he watched me.

“So, isn’t this the point where you change your mind? You’re in an elevator going to a hotel room with a man whose name you don’t know.” His voice was a deep baritone, soothing. “You can leave now, Carmen.”

The way he called my name made me think he didn’t believe it was my name. I smiled at him—a wide smile. That should have been my cue to leave. Instead, I stared him down. “You want to chicken out?” I asked. “I mean, if you want to, you can,” I answered with a nonchalant shrug.

He chuckled, a low sound that reverberated in his chest. I couldn’t help but admire him in that moment. He was a good-looking man. Somehow, the way he looked at me made me feel giddy inside.

His eyes held promises—promises of what would happen behind closed doors. My heart was beating loudly in my chest as soon as the elevator drew to a halt.

He turned to me, then closed the distance between us. As soon as he drew close, he wrapped his arms around me, pulled me in, and captured my lips in a passionate kiss.

I was too stunned to react immediately. Before I had time to catch my breath and understand what was happening, he lifted me off my feet so I was straddling him. Powerful arms gripped my thighs and held me in place.

My dress was bunched up, revealing my inner thigh. I let out a suppressed moan of pleasure, unable to withstand the intense sensation as the crotch of my soaked panties rubbed against his hard erection.

I wrapped my hands around his neck, deepening the kiss, opening myself to him. His tongue probed the entrance of my mouth. He suckled on my lips and bit down on them.

His hands gripped my ass cheeks as we stumbled into the room. As soon as we did, he let me down, kicked off his shoes, and began to take off his jacket.

He looked straight at me, and there was no denying the hunger and lust that burned in those black depths. His eyes hungrily scanned my whole body. I felt shivers travel down my spine.

He tossed the jacket to the side; he was wearing only a tank top underneath. His body was just as I imagined—ripped, hard muscles in all the right places.

As he closed the distance between us, the room suddenly felt smaller. I was out of breath as I stared at that massive hunk of a man walking up to me, those mesmerizing eyes gawking at me like he wanted to eat me up.

“Take off your clothes...”

I felt an instant pool of wetness settle between my legs as he said those words in that deep voice that reverberated in his chest. My eyes flew open in surprise.

“What?”

He looked up at me. “Unless you want to chicken out,” he threw my words back at me with a hint of a smirk on his lips.

I stuck my nose in the air and pursed my lips. Even though my heart was hammering in my chest and I wanted to back out, I stood my ground. As soon as I reached behind to unzip my dress, he broke into a full smile.

He was enjoying this, I could tell. He was playing a game. He wanted to see how far I would go, how desperately I wanted this. He had no idea that I was too far gone to think sensibly.

Right now, it was more than the rage I felt inside; all the anger I had left the house with had disappeared. Now it was all about the hot man gawking at me like I was dessert.

I wanted to feel those strong arms roam my body. I wanted to writhe underneath him. I wanted nothing more than to be at the mercy of this man.

And so I didn’t just stop at my dress. I held his gaze as I reached behind me and undid my bra. My full breasts sprang free from their restraints. I stared in delight as I saw his gaze darken while staring at my breasts.

My rosy pink nipples hardened as if giving him a show. The look on his face made me feel sexy. I felt like a desirable woman. I could be more than the object my father and all the other men simply saw me as.

I licked my lips. I was aroused, and when I stared at him, I could see the bulge in his pants. He swallowed as he watched me. I thought to take my time with it, tease him a little.

So I tugged at the waistband of my panties, pushing it down but not completely. I bit my lip, swaying my hips to the side.

The muscles in his jaw ticked like he was trying to hold back. Before I knew it, he had crossed the distance between us. He yanked the flimsy lacy underwear from me, his fingers brushing against my slick folds.

I gasped in shock; it was sudden and unexpected. He held up the crumpled piece of panties, brought it to his nose, and sniffed it.

He let out a pleased groan. “What do you want, Carmen?” he asked.

I stared into those dark eyes of the stranger and told him, “I want you to fuck me.”