He touched my lips. “Remember, tonight is about no questions, just trust.”

I nodded against his finger. He took my hand in his and began walking toward the end of the pier, while my shoes dangled from the long fingers of his other hand, the hand that I wanted somewhere else. After a few steps I understood what he’d done and why. It was the wooden slats of the pier. In the dark it would have been difficult, if not impossible, for me to walk without getting my high heels caught. I leaned closer to his arm as the strong wind blew inland, pushing the skirt of my dress against me. It wasn’t just my skirt. The cool air made the evidence of my arousal tingle, reminding me how close Nox had been, yet still so far.

As we walked, we talked casually about the ocean and our shared love of water. Our fingers intertwined as we discussed dinner. It was as if I wasn’t nude beneath my skirt and our lives wouldn’t diverge in only two more days. We laughed about the people around us and made up stories about their lives. Nox was certain that I wasn’t the only woman in my predicament, confident that each one who passed in a dress was enjoying the sea breeze as much as I. Though my vulnerability was potentially public, with him I felt safe and private.

By the time we made it back to the car, my tension had mellowed, but I was still ready to return to Del Mar. The man who’d placed my shoes back upon my feet was indeed my prince charming; however, my best friend was wrong: the clock would strike midnight.

Not wanting to think about the end to this fairytale, I concentrated on the here and now, on us, in a bubble, traveling back south on Highway 101. Only the headlights and the illumination of the dashboard dared to lessen the dark security that surrounded us.

“Charli?”

I turned my mindless gaze from the star-blanketed ocean toward Nox. “What? I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening.”

He reached for my thigh, skillfully moving the hem of my dress upward. “I asked if you enjoyed the restaurant.”

Enjoyed?

“Dinner was delicious.”

“The atmosphere?”

I bit my lip. “It was beautiful and so was the pier.”

“Then why do you seem…” He hesitated. “…unfulfilled?”

Because I’m freak’n aroused and you’ve done nothing but tease me.

“I’m not.”

A small gasp escaped my lips and my body twitched as Nox’s hand moved higher, nearing my core. “You’re not?” He quickly turned my direction and back to the road. By the glow of the dashboard and oncoming headlights I saw the accusing stare as his lids narrowed. “Do you know what happens when you break my rules?”

I’m not sure I could think about that. Would the answer push my limit?

My pulse quickened. “I’m not breaking your rules. I’ve done everything you said.”

“So you were just truthful? You’re not horny? You don’t want relief?”

My eyes widened. Shit! “I didn’t say that. I do.”

He flipped my skirt higher. “Then do it.”

I shifted in the seat, my untethered hair blowing around my face. “I-I don’t know what you mean.”

“You’ve never pleasured yourself?”

“I have. But…”

“But what?” he asked.

I sat straighter. “Isn’t that your job, to pleasure me?”

“It is. And I will. Like I said, I want to be sure you’re ready.”

“Shit, Nox,” I practically spit the words out before I gave them any thought. “I’m ready. I am.”

“Put those fancy shoes I carried up and down the pier on the dash.”

I contemplated his demand. On the dash? Does he mean while I’m still wearing them?

“Don’t make me keep repeating myself. I don’t like to repeat myself. Put your shoes on the dash and lay your seat back. Not all the way.”

Shit! He does mean while I’m still wearing them.

“Nox?”

“My night. Have I surpassed your limit?”

I didn’t answer, not verbally. My tummy fluttered as I found the button and reclined the seat.

“That’s enough. I want to be able to see everything, including your beautiful face.”

I released the button and one by one put my feet on the dashboard. The position gave me the sensation of a gynecological appointment. That was, until the velvet voice began.

While expertly steering us toward Del Mar, Nox’s commands choreographed my every move. Step by step, he verbally moved me, to his optimum viewing pleasure, and to the promise of my relief. By the time he was satisfied with my positioning, my dress was bunched around my waist, my knees were awkwardly spread to the side, and my fingers were working feverishly. It wasn’t like I’d never done this; however, I’d never done it with an audience.

“Don’t think about it.”

My fingers stilled.

“Charli, don’t stop and don’t think—feel and listen. Listen to me.”

I closed my eyes and concentrated on the rush of wind around the car, the rumbling timbre of Nox’s tone, and the tension building inside of me. “Listen to me.” His voice dominated my thoughts. “Don’t stop. Think about the sound of my voice and the touch of my hand. Imagine it’s me working that beautiful pussy. Pretend it’s me: my fingers, tongue, and cock.”

My fingers moved in circles, small and slow, sliding my essence across my core. Faster and faster they worked, concentrating on my sensitive nub. A moan echoed through the night as the passing cars and trucks disappeared and my back arched.

“That’s it. I’m going to be the one doing what you’re doing. But first, beautiful, you need some relief.”

I plunged in one finger, then two, as I shifted my weight to my shoulders and sucked my lip.

“Oh that’s it. You’re close, aren’t you?”

I am. I’m so freak’n close.

I tried to respond, but when my answer emerged more as sounds than words, I merely nodded.

“Stop.”

What the hell?

I heard his command, but my orgasm was too close. My fingers had a mind of their own.

“Stop.” He seized my hand and pulling it toward him, sucked the evidence of my pleasure from my fingers. “Put your seat up. We have a stop.”

Stop? I couldn’t comprehend.

“Put your feet down and adjust your skirt.”

The dark, isolated world inside the Boxster turned bright as the tires bounced, and Nox turned the car off the main highway. We were at a gas station. The car needed gas? You had to be kidding me.

I was wrong. This man wasn’t my prince charming. He was a sadist.

Before I could do much more than right the seat and myself, we were parked but not at a pump. I gasped as my door was opened and Nox pulled me from the car, my feet doing their best to maintain his gait. The fluorescent lights assaulted my eyes as we passed the counter filled with lottery tickets, and watched over by an attendant. There may have been other people. Were there cars? I couldn’t think or remember as he tugged me forward.

He threw open a door and pulled me inside. Disinfectant assaulted my nose as the lock’s tumblers reverberated through the small bathroom. I stared up at Nox, confused as hell.

“Wha—”

Gleam and want shone from his pale blue eyes, making the world beyond us disappear. Our breaths, shallow and fast, filled the silence. I didn’t have a chance to finish my word, much less my question, before my back collided with the cold tile wall, and Nox pulled my tangled hair, tilting my head.

A gasp escaped my lips only a moment before his mouth captured mine, swallowing the sound of my protest.

Protest?

I couldn’t fight him off if I wanted to. But as my body melded to his, I knew it was all right. I didn’t want to fight.

The scent of disinfectant was soon lost to the musk and desire that filled the air. His movements were no longer refined as his hunger overtook him. Nox wasn’t hungry—he was ravenous, a man on the brink of starvation and I was his meal. Tugging at the zipper of my dress, he released the fitted material and freed my breasts. They were his first course as he kissed, sucked, and abraded my sensitive skin with abandoned disregard for the coarseness of his cheeks.