a smile. “But the secret about those girls who think they’re the elite is they’re all batshit crazy. Not my scene. At least, not anymore.”

Isabelle is eerily silent at that, and a thick tension fills the air between us. If there was ever a moment for me to kiss this woman, it’s right fucking now. I don’t deserve anyone like her, but if I don’t take this chance to get to the bottom of all this chemistry between us, I’ll want to kick myself later. Chances are it’ll never come back around. Hell, I may never see her again. The thing is, I have a choice. This chance meeting could be a fleeting passing of ships in the night, one where we stop long enough to fuck each other’s brains out just one time and keep sailing on afterward, never to see each other again. It can also turn into something good, a rekindling of our deeply honest and authentic friendship.

Fuck it.

I lean in.

Living with regret or hesitating, it isn’t like me. I act on impulse. Always have. I have no desire to hold back. This magnetic force drawing me to her is too intense to ignore anyway. Plus Isabelle’s full lips are fucking intoxicating, and I absolutely need to get a taste of them. She’s uncharted territory for me. The anticipation’s too appealing for words.

Shutting off my brain completely, I let lust and need take over. Isabelle draws in a shaky breath as I close in. Her chest rises and falls as though she knows what’s coming but isn’t too sure what to do about it. At this point, she doesn’t need to do a thing. This part, I can handle all by myself.

My lips crash into hers and Isabelle stiffens for a second, but soon her shoulders relax and she relaxes into my insistent kiss. Tasting her lips sends an urgent need through me. This won’t end with just a kiss, or an innocent makeout session.

I’m taking all of her.

Tonight.

My hand slides up her arm and I let my fingers curve over the front of her neck. I won’t hurt her, but she needs to know I’m rough through and through. I’m not a gentle kind of guy and that won’t ever change. Her hands lift to press hot palms on my chest in response, warm and inviting. I take it to mean she enjoys a little rough play as her lips part for me to kiss her more deeply. We’re panting breathlessly and I’m wanting more by the time I pull from the kiss. Taking her hand again, I get to my feet.

“Come with me.”

She seems to hold her breath as we walk toward a closed door I saw as we left the banquet area earlier. It isn’t right of me to act without asking her if this is what she wants, but at the same time, she can stop me whenever she wants to. If Isabelle says no, it won’t be the end of the world. We can try being friends again. Maybe.

“Where are we going?” she asks.

I test the doorknob and find that it’s locked. “We’ll have more privacy in one of these smaller rooms.” I know how suggestive it sounds, but hell, why else would we sneak away? She has to understand that our kiss was a prelude to more.

Isabelle’s eyes widen and she bites down on her bottom lip as I wait for her to say something. “We probably shouldn’t. I admit, yes, I feel something strong between us, something undeniable that might not have been there before. But…can we talk?”

“Sure,” I answer but that’s a lie. I don’t want to rehash what I did wrong. Not right now. “But I’m game for whatever the moment brings us, young lady.”

With a smile, I lead her up a flight of stairs to the mezzanine level. Yes. Much better. The area’s lined with open doors to smaller banquet rooms, and no one’s around. Taking a glance back at Isabelle, I see her hesitation. She’s probably conflicted, not ready to throw in the towel that is our friendship. Not yet. Either that or she doesn’t do this type of thing very often. Or it could be both.

Her face is awash with uncertainty. There’s a glint of excitement in her eyes too, probably at the idea of being a naughty girl, which only serves to encourage me that much more. Who wouldn’t want to corrupt this stunning beauty? Particularly as this will likely be a one-time thing. I want to see her face when I make her come. That’s not too much to ask. For sure, it’ll be memorable for Isabelle. Judging by the pent-up craziness that’s rapidly coursing through my veins, I’m sure it’ll be memorable. Even if it is for just one night and will come at a huge cost: a future friendship with my best friend.

5

Isabelle

What the hell am I doing? I think to myself as we race down the hallways of the hotel, giggling like silly teenagers on the run from our parents.

This is Knox Steele... your friend.

Only tonight he doesn’t feel that way at all, and that makes me feel like someone else too. It’s like living in a raunchy fantasy for just a moment. Stepping into someone else’s shoes can be so exciting. Especially for someone like me who never does anything wrong. I’m the good girl who doesn’t get the boys. Well tonight, for one night, that’ll change. And hell, the idea of a naughty escape from reality has my pulse racing so fast I fear I might pass out.

It will only be one night. I hold no illusions about that truth. Knox Steele isn’t the type of guy any girl can or should settle down with. He lives for moments, not a lifetime. He spends more time running away than standing still. He lives for the escape, for the thrill of knowing this second will be different from the next. That’s all anyone will get from

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