“Just do it.” I hear from the top of the stairs, and my attention immediately turns to a man in a black suit surrounded by a group of women and two men. They all seem to be listening to him intently, and when his blues eyes flash to me, I feel my breath catch in my throat, as the world pauses around me.
Never in my life have I seen a man so devastatingly handsome, but his glare is so intimidating, I’m frozen.
“What are you doing up here?” He barks, and I turn to look behind me, hopeful he could be speaking to someone else.
“You. What are you doing up here?” He confirms my fears, his eyes piercing through me.
“Pictures,” I utter. My mouth is dry and the complete sentence I had in my mind seems to have died on my tongue. “I was looking at the pictures,” I add after a deep swallow.
The entire entourage is staring at me now. Some of the women are grimacing as if I’ve chosen the wrong steps to walk up, but the two men both share a look of sympathy.
“I’ll be down soon,” the man says to the group and they scatter without hesitation, some staying on the upper level, while a few rush past me so fast I’m hit with a gust of wind from the stampede.
“Come here,” he orders, his eyes squinting as he looks down the stairs at me.
My body follows without a second thought and I climb the stairs slowly, both excited and afraid to be closer to this man who seems to have a hold on everyone around him.
“What are you doing here?” He asks again as I approach him on the top step.
My mouth is dry and my heart is racing, but this time my sass is far from missing. “I told you I was looking at the photographs,” I repeat, glancing down the staircase at the last image he’d interrupted me from enjoying.
This one features three young boys, with a worn soccer ball at their feet. Their arms are wrapped around each other’s shoulders to show their closeness and their smiles are happiness personified.
“Yes. That’s what you said, but the party is obviously not upstairs.” He says lowly, his voice is even sexy.
Now my hands are sweaty, and I can feel my chest rising and falling rapidly as I repeat Petra’s mantra in my head, act like you’ve been here.
Our eyes linger longer than necessary as I try to take in every detail I can manage. He’s strong. I can see that even through his suit as his biceps flex while he grits his teeth. Even more impressive is his jawline, which is like a Roman sculpture. My eyes wander to his full, pink lips and I know it’s a mistake when I swallow hard, my stomach muscles tightening with desire.
“Are you stealing from me?” He finally asks, but his words are too soft to be true. I can sense he just wants to continue this interaction, and he seems to be the type of person who would react much more hostile if he truly believed I was attempting to take something from him.
“Are you kidding me?” I scoff.
“I’m just saying, why are you upstairs, wandering around a clearly empty wing of my home when you see the party is elsewhere?” He stresses the words my home just like an arrogant man of wealth in LA.
“Do you want to search me?” I challenge, slamming my clutch purse on an end table behind him before holding my arms out to my side.
To my surprise, he decides to take me up on my offer, stepping so close I can see the shine on his mouth after his tongue glides across his lips. I can smell the cologne on him when he moves, a delicious aroma with rosewood undertones. His hands slide from my wrist, up my forearm, and an electric current rushes through me from the connection. His skin is soft, and his hands move with a sense of confidence, just like everything else about him.
There’s not a word between us, but from the way his lips part, as the cool minty breath escapes him, I can tell he’s attracted to me. And if my eyes are as revealing as they usually are, he can tell I’m seconds away from jumping him.
“Are you satisfied?” I smirk, but he doesn’t answer.
Instead, with his eyes locked on mine, he runs the palm of his hand down my chest, splitting my breasts as my body silently pleads with him to go further. My pelvis is tightening with anticipation, while his hand stalls on my belly.
“I think you’re clear,” he whispers, our faces too close for standard tones.
Dropping my arms in disappointment, I smile at him. However, before I can come up with a response, my phone vibrates in my hand, and I glance down to see a text message from Petra.
Come outside now!
“I’ve gotta go!” I blurt out before taking off down the stairs as fast as possible. Petra has been known to get thrown out of events after a couple of drinks, and the last thing I need is for her to forget about me, leaving me stranded.
“What’s your name?” I hear him yell from behind me, but I simply look over my shoulder, taking in his gorgeous face one last time. A look of confusion clouds his blue eyes, and I can’t blame him.
I know I’m darting out of the party like a lunatic, after wandering into the restricted area of his house, but at that moment I’ve got bigger fish to fry.
Just when I make it outside, I see Johnny getting out of Petra’s Mercedes as she anxiously waits to get in. When our eyes lock, she waves me on with a sense of urgency that prompts me to race down the front lawn in my stilettos.
“What the hell happened?” I ask,
