“Are you looking for Mrs. Witt?”

I swear the man could read my damn mind.

“Yes, is she here?”

He tugged my hand, pulling me toward the ostentatious floral arrangement. The sweet aroma of orchids eclipsed his woodsy cologne. Flinging his jacket onto a bench, Nox’s smirk returned as he effortlessly lifted me onto the edge of the marble table. Spreading my knees he leaned between my legs. “Would it matter to you if she were?” His arm surrounded my waist and pulled me closer as his other hand moved higher on my leg. “You told a whole gas station full of people you wanted my cock inside of you. My cock,” he repeated with the lifting of his brow. “That was the word you used. It doesn’t seem like someone who would do that would be concerned about the presence of one woman.”

I lowered my forehead to Nox’s shoulder. A rush of blood colored my cheeks as I murmured against his jacket, “I know Mrs. Witt. I didn’t know—”

“Matt and Sally…?” He lifted my eyes to his. “They were the only two wearing name tags.”

I shook my head. “I used the wrong word.”

“You did?”

“Yes, I should have said dick, as in you’re being one right now.”

Nox laughed as his pale eyes sparkled. “Am I now?”

“Yes,” I said defiantly; however, with my chin still held captive and a grin on my face, I didn’t think he believed me.

His thumb caressed my cheek. “I don’t think so. You see, princess, I doubt that crowd gives many standing ovations, and we were fortunate enough to get one.”

Oh! I was so embarrassed.

I met his wicked eyes, and asked, “Mrs. Witt?”

“She has her own suite. For the rest of the night…” He spread my legs wider. Brushing his lips to mine, his fingers found my folds. “…you’re mine. All mine.”

Tilting my head back, Nox nuzzled my neck. His stubble abraded my sensitive flesh like the prickling sensation of a thousand needles sending sparks from my neck to my core. When my breathing increased, Nox lifted me from the table and cradled me against his chest.

“This is where I get to decide,” he smirked.

“Decide?”

“Should I be the dick you mentioned?”

I reached up and kissed his cheek. “Do I have any other options?”

He carried me toward his bedroom. “I promised you what you deserved. I don’t break promises.”

My eyes opened wide in astonishment as he opened the door to a sea of flickering candles—hundreds of candles everywhere—on the armoire, windowsills, and tables.

“How?”

He set me on the floor and pulled me toward the bathroom, also illuminated by candlelight. I turned a full circle in awe. The large tub was filled with bubbles and the scent of lavender hung heavily in the air.

“The other night,” he explained, “my visit to your suite interrupted your bubble bath, and I told you earlier that you deserved walks on the beach and candlelight.” He gently spun me around and lowered the zipper of my dress, all the way down. “We’ve walked,” he murmured against my skin. “Now it’s time for candlelight.” Slipping the straps from my shoulders, he allowed my dress to flutter to the ground, creating a puddle of black silk around my feet. Nox gently pulled the tie from my low ponytail as I stood with my back still toward him, wearing only my heels. “You have the most beautiful hair.” He spoke as he gathered it higher and wound the tie around it. “In here,” he went on, “with the candlelight, it’s the color of mahogany, rich and distinguished, but in the sun, I see red and yellow.” He twisted the length and tucked it under the tie, creating a bun. “It’s just like you: beautiful, layered, and unpredictable.”

I stood statuesque as the puddle near my feet grew with the inclusion of Nox’s shoes, shirt, tie, and slacks. He turned me toward him. “You deserve to be treated like the princess you are, like a queen.”

I couldn’t stop the grin when I realized that he had dressed similarly to me, also commando, standing before me in his purest and sexiest form. I reached for him, seeing clearly, for the first time what I’d only felt. The tendons in Nox’s neck strained as I ran my hand over his length. Grinning at the pile of clothing that didn’t include his boxers or underwear, I asked, “Did the sea breeze thrill you as much as it did me?”

“No.” Velvety smoothness cut through the fog of the warm bath water and steam on the mirrors. “I believe your dress gave you a distinct advantage over my slacks.”

I lifted myself to my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Pity. You don’t know what you were missing.”

After slipping out of my heels, Nox helped me into the tub of warm water. Bubbles covered my breasts as the water rose and he slid in behind me. I settled between his legs, my back against his chest and erection.

Cupping the water, Nox showered my breasts and collarbone, caressing and fondling as he worked. Tilting my head back, I closed my eyes while the flicker of candlelight danced behind my lids.

“How did you do this?” I asked.

His words skirted over my neck. “I may have sent a text, and Mrs. Witt may have left just as we entered the elevator.”

“I never saw you do that. I didn’t even notice your phone.”

Nox laughed his chest vibrating behind me. “That means I was doing a good job of keeping you preoccupied. Now I plan on doing more than distracting you.”

Oh God.

With the twitch of his erection against my back, my once satiated core clenched with wanton lust.

“I believe it was you,” he cooed, “who mentioned that pleasing you was my job.”

I nodded as I closed my eyes again and yielded to his ministrations. His fingers found my core, rubbing, stroking, and caressing. I craned my neck toward him offering my lips as our tongues moved together. He continued to stroke the fire inside of me, building the pressure until I was afraid I’d explode too early. My nails dug into his thighs as my back arched and legs stiffened.

“Not yet,” Nox said, lifting and guiding me. I sucked in a deep breath as he moved me until we were face to face. After he made sure we were protected, he aligned himself with my core and pulled my hips down, sheathing his cock with my already tender body.

“Oh! God!” My whimper echoed off the tile as he stretched me in one painful yet pleasurable plunge. I bit my lip and lowered my forehead to his shoulder as he moved my hips up and down.

Nox coaxed my lips to his. “There’s no one else around to hear.” Nox kissed and teased my lower lip free with his teeth. “But don’t let that stop you. Hearing you turns me on.” He sucked my taut nipple. “It makes me harder.”

I wasn’t sure how he could possibly be harder, but if letting a few sounds come out was all it took, I was ready.

Up and down I moved, my knees against the side of the tub, the water sloshing about. I wasn’t sure what sent me over the edge, the marvelous friction building inside of me or the sated expression as his blue eyes clouded with pleasure, but either way, I couldn’t muffle my cries as my body detonated around his.

By the time we made it back to the bedroom and he laid me on the bed, some of the candles had burnt themselves out, making the room darker than it had been. With my head on the pillow, Nox fanned my hair around my face and lifted a votive. Swirling the warm melted wax, Nox asked, “It’s still my night, princess. Have I reached your limit?”

“No. But I don’t—”

His finger touched my lips. The flickers of flames danced as reflections in his eyes. “Just tell me if I do. I’ll listen.”

Oh God. What is he going to do? Do I trust him?

I nodded.

Never taking his eyes from mine, Nox tenderly wrapped a long piece of satin from the bedside stand drawer around my wrists. Each twist made my heart soar faster and faster. Questions came in rapid succession as he secured my arms above my head, but each time I opened my mouth to ask, his gentle kiss took away my words.