“You are a magnificent woman,” he praised, “a princess in another life.” His words came between kisses—no, nips and bites behind my earlobe, collarbone, and breasts. “You deserve a man who worships and makes tender love to you.”

My entire body trembled with need.

His gallant words were in severe disparity with the roughness of his actions. He spun me around to face the sink and his voice lowered. “And I think you’ve had that. You’ve had chivalry. Charli, tonight I’m going to give you the opposite. You deserve candlelight and walks on the beach.”

Nox forcefully placed my hands on the edge of the sink and yanked my ass backward. Looking up to the mirror, I watched the erotic scene unfold. With my breasts exposed and auburn hair mussed, I looked into my own eyes and saw the golden color clouded with desire. Spreading my legs with his knee, he pushed my feet apart.

I closed my eyes and willingly surrendered, knowing that what he was doing was wrong and went against everything Alex had worked to become. That didn’t change the reality: I wanted this. Nox was right. I’d had sweet, and just like the woman in the mirror, I was his for the taking.

He bunched the skirt of my dress around my waist. “Our first time,” he said, “because there will be more than one time, won’t be what you deserve.” His words skirted in hot breaths against my ear, making my knees tremble and skin pepper with goose bumps. He lowered his lips to my collarbone. “Our first time will be what you want, what you fantasize about. I’m going to take you, right here, right now.” He tugged my hair, bringing my eyes back to the mirror to make our gazes meet. His blue swirled with dark navy as he stared into me, into my soul. His tone demanded honesty. “Limits, Charli. I’m going to fuck you like you’ve never been fucked. Tell me now if I’ve crossed that limit. Tell me now if you don’t want this.”

Words didn’t form; instead, I pushed my ass backwards until it brushed against his erection. Sometime during his speech he’d freed it from the confines of his slacks.

“Last chance, Charli.”

“Please.” My word was barely audible.

He tugged my hair again. “What did you say?”

“Please, Nox. I want you. Take me.”

He didn’t need to be sure I was ready. The evidence glistened under the awful fluorescent lights. The sound of the condom package tearing was soon replaced by my whimper as he plunged deep.

I tried to brace myself against the sink, but his unrestrained passion was more than I could handle, and my grip began to slip. Just then, his strong arm wrapped around my waist and held me steady as he fulfilled every desire. In two, three, no, four thrusts, my back arched and he buried himself inside of me.

“I want to hear you.” The command came out as a growl against my neck as he moved slowly in and out.

The tension, building since our drive to Oceanside, intensified. Those flames that earlier he’d only fanned began to rage. The friction inside of me was the fuel feeding the growing blaze. I bit my lower lip to stop my screams. I was almost certain there were people out there.

Nox thrust over and over. Reaching forward, his fingers on my clit masterfully added to the growing wildfire.

“Oh!”

“That’s it. I want everyone out there to hear us.” He continued to move in and out. “When we walk out of here, everyone’s going to know exactly what we did.” His fingers mimicked the movements I’d done in the car. The waves building within me blocked out the cramped bathroom, the terrible lights, and even the world. It was only us and what he was doing and saying. “They’re going to know that I fucked you, not like a princess…” He continued to move in and out. “…but like a slut in a public bathroom. And every one of them will know you wanted it.” He slapped my ass, the sting kindling to the ever-growing inferno. “Now, Charli, say it. Tell me you want this.”

“Yes.”

“Louder.”

“Yes! I want this.”

“What? What do you want?”

Oh God. I’m about there.

“You,” I said breathily.

He pulled out, leaving my insides clenching at nothingness. “Tell me exactly what you want.”

I thrust my body backward. “You, please. Inside of me.” My inhibitions evaporated. “Damn it! Asshole, I need your cock inside of me! Now!”

My words were rewarded with a deep laugh as he went deeper, stretching me, filling me, moving faster and faster, finding my breasts, and tweaking my hard nipples.

“Oh yes!” I cried out as we fell deeper into the fog of musk.

“I-I…” My fingers gripped the sink as my legs stiffened.

Nox pulled out, turned me around and lifted my body to his. Pressing my back against the cold tile, I hugged his neck and wrapped my legs around his waist. We were like two locking pieces of a puzzle. Once I’d accommodated him completely, I screamed and surrendered to the most earth-quaking fall I’d ever experienced. With my face buried in the nape of his neck, I gasped for breath. The woodsy cologne filled my senses as the stars exploded like fireworks, the sparks lingering until the world around me came back into focus. With one final thrust, Nox’s growl rumbled against my bare chest and bounced off the bathroom walls. His massive shoulders fell against me and pinned me to the wall.

Shit! They’d probably heard us all the way to the gas pumps.

Tenderly, Nox kissed my lips and lowered my feet to the floor. I stood on wobbly knees as he lifted the front of my dress over my breasts and pulled the zipper up.

“Adjust your dress,” he said with a smirk.

He discarded the condom in the toilet and turned back to me. Lifting my chin, he said, “Walk out of here with your head held high, princess. When we get back to Del Mar, you’re getting what you deserve.”

WHAT I DESERVE… the words rang through my consciousness as Nox parked the Boxster under the large awning and gave the keys to Ferguson.

“Welcome back, sir and miss.” Did I imagine his grin?

As we walked toward the private elevator, Nox leaned down and whispered, “You’re a princess, and I’m going to show you how a princess should be treated.”

I hadn’t thought about it earlier, but no one since my real father had called me princess, not in a positive way. While my body ached from his last demonstration, the name made my heart soar. Curiosity about his plans pulsated through me, tightening my insides, erasing the soreness.

We both smiled and politely conversed with Fredrick as we waited for the elevator. It appeared so natural, no one would know that I was still without panties and we’d just had sex in a filthy public bathroom. All right, it wasn’t filthy, but it wasn’t a five-star hotel either. It was a roadside gas station.

“Thank you, Fredrick,” I said as we stepped into the elevator.

“Good night,” Nox said, handing Fredrick a bill from his money clip and pushing the close button for the door.

I smirked at Nox’s polite and not-so-subtle way of letting Fredrick know that we didn’t need his assistance to push the one button.

“Good night, sir, miss.”

We both giggled as the doors closed.

“I have plans for you.”

His deep tone sent chills across my skin. “Plans?” I asked with my most innocent tone and expression.

The corner of Nox’s lips moved upward. “Oh princess, you do that doe-in-the-headlights look very well.” The elevator began to move. “But I just fucked you in the bathroom of a gas station.” He pushed me against the dark paneling as his lips covered mine and his tongue took my breath. “That fuck’n innocent act… that ship has sailed.”

I swallowed, unsure what to say. Nox did that to me, took away my breath, words, and maybe my heart. When the doors opened and we stepped from the elevator hand in hand, I peered around, looking for Mrs. Witt. I’d never been to the suite when she wasn’t there.