Page 24 of Strictly Business
Lost in the melody of a slow, seductive holiday song, I feel Reece's presence behind me before he even speaks. “How was your food, Miss Jones?” His voice, a soft murmur next to my ear, sends shivers down my spine. I resist the urge to lean back into his embrace, maintaining a sliver of distance between us as I glance over my shoulder.
"It was delicious," I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper. I notice how he watches my lips move, and I try to sound casual, even though every fiber of my being is attuned to him.
Then the moment I dread, yet secretly long for, arrives. The band shifts to a slower, more intimate rhythm, dimming the lights and casting the ballroom in a magical glow. I know what's coming next.
"May I?" Reece asks, his voice laced with a quiet confidence that I find both infuriating and irresistible.
I hesitate, acutely aware of Mr. and Mrs. Forrester's potential scrutiny somewhere in the crowd. "Reece, really? I don't think we should..." I begin, but he cuts me off with his reassuring words.
"Don’t worry about my parents, okay? Let's dance," he says, his hand taking mine gently. I don't resist. I want to be in his arms tonight, even only for a dance.
As he leads me to the dance floor, our bodies fit together naturally. His hands rest lightly on my waist, and mine find their way up his arms, feeling the strength beneath his suit. We move together to the rhythm of the music, and for a moment, all my reservations fade away.
"You feel like magic, Genesis," he whispers close to my ear. His words make my heart race, and I struggle to maintain composure. “But I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable. If you want me to stop, please say.”
"I'm not...uncomfortable," I reply, though my body betrays me as I shiver in reaction to his nearness.
Reece looks into my eyes, his gaze intense. "Tell me I'm wrong about us," he challenges, and I know I can't deny the truth. There's something undeniable between us, a connection beyond physical attraction.
Before I can respond, he's leading me away from the dance floor. We weave through the crowd, and he takes me to a quiet hallway, away from prying eyes. And then, his lips find mine in a fervent kiss I've been craving since our last encounter.
His taste, the scent of his cologne, the muffled music in the background—all of it is overwhelming, and I give in to the moment. I lean into the kiss, and he responds with equal passion. Our clothes are a frustrating barrier, but even through the fabric, I can feel the heat of his arousal pressing against me. The intensity of our mutual need is almost suffocating, and I can't help but ache for more.
"Come with me upstairs?" Reece asks, hope and desire mingled in his eyes.
My heart screams 'yes,' and my body aches to be with him, but my mind races with a thousand reasons why this shouldn't happen. Yet, as I look into his eyes, I realize I no longer want to deny this. Tonight, I crave Reece Forrester, the man I've always wanted.
In a bold move, I press my lips to his again, signaling my consent. His response is immediate before I can change my mind; his arms wrap around me, pressing me against the wall. It's a promise of what's to come, a night where we can finally give in to the feelings we've held back for so long. Tonight, I choose Reece, and whatever consequences tomorrow brings, I'll face them. But for now, I'm his, and he's mine.
He guides me swiftly through the deserted employee corridor, his hand firm in mine. "Where are we going?" I whisper, my voice a mix of curiosity and excitement. The empty hall, usually bustling with servers and staff, feels like our secret passage.
Reece glances around a partition, ensuring our privacy before answering. "We're taking the back way up. It's quieter, more discreet." His voice blends urgency and anticipation, making my heart race.
Once inside the service elevator, its doors closing us off from the rest of the world, he draws me close. His gaze, intense and full of desire, meets mine as the elevator hums upward. He brushes a stray curl from my face, his thumb tenderly tracing my lips, now swollen from his kisses.
"You are beautiful,"he murmurs, almost to himself. In a playful response, I catch his thumb with my tongue, a teasing lick that makes his eyes smolder. "Oh, you're playing with fire, Miss Jones," he says, his voice low and husky.
“I’m not playing,” I confess.
Without warning, he slams his hand on the emergency stop button, halting the elevator mid-ascent. The space becomes our secret hideaway, suspended in time.
With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Reese closes the gap between us. His hands find my waist, pulling me into him, our bodies fitting together perfectly. His lips find mine again, this time with an urgency that ignites a wildfire within me.
I respond eagerly, my arms winding around his neck, pulling him closer. His kisses are a heady mix of passion and sweetness, setting my senses ablaze. I press myself against him, feeling the hard lines of his body, the heat of his desire matching mine.
Lifting me effortlessly, he presses my back against the cool metal of the elevator wall. My legs wrap around him instinctively, the world outside forgotten. It's just us, lost in a rhythm as old as time, our bodies moving in perfect sync. His erection presses through his pants against my dampened panties, and I moan against his mouth as he grinds against me. His hand slides up my thigh toward their mark, and I encourage the exploration.
"Reese..."
"I got you, sweetheart," he ensures.
His lips leave mine, trailing kisses down my neck and collarbone, igniting a trail of fire along my skin. Every touch, every stroke of his fingertips unleashes a torrent of sensations, sending me spiraling toward the edge of bliss. I cling to him desperately, his strength and tenderness intertwining, making me feel safe and desired all at once. As his hand reaches my inner thigh, teasing the edge of my lace panties, a shiver of anticipation runs through me.
"Reese," I breathe, my voice barely a whisper. "We shouldn't...not in the elevator."
"You're right; maybe we shouldn't, but..." A devilish smile curves his lips as he dips his fingers beneath the fabric of my panties, feeling the dampness that betrays my arousal. He teases me with gentle strokes, tracing circles around my throbbing clit, driving me to the brink of insanity before his mouth descends on mine once more. The taste of him, warm and intoxicating, fills my senses as he continues to delve deeper into my core.
He withdraws his fingers, leaving me wanting and breathless. A whimper escapes my lips, pleading for more. But he loosens his grip on me, and I slide down his hard body like he is a stripper pole. He waits until my feet are firmly on the ground before he reaches out to reengage the elevator.