His apartment was close, and Natalie was glad he did not bring her to a hotel. While the taxi ride had been sobering to her, it had also been a revelation. Ryan could never make her heart race like Armand did. She wasn't blind to Ryan's love. He made it clear often that he loved her and planned to have a future with her, but for Natalie, the fact that she could be so easily distracted by another man confirmed her feelings. She really liked Ryan, but love? The deep kind of love he had for her just wasn't something she felt. Their relationship was never the kind she wanted, but it had been perfect for now. Ryan had been so desperate for someone to cling to in the city; she had been ok with it because he was a good-looking guy. In Ryan, she could find the kind of corn-fed hero you only see on TV.

As sad as it was to admit in these circumstances, Natalie had known from the beginning that Ryan was not her happily ever after. She also knew that Ryan did not agree with her, and Natalie was sure he had heard wedding bells the first time they slept together. But Natalie was lazy, and Ryan was right for now, for however long now was. Tonight had allowed her to act, even if the act itself was selfish. Natalie knew that she should have broken up with Ryan first, but she couldn’t do it by text. One look at Armand, his arm over her shoulder and fingers teasing the loose curls of her hair as the taxi delivered them to his apartment stairs, and she knew calling Ryan was not going to happen. Natalie knew she would have this one perfect and selfish night before she did the right thing tomorrow. Ryan didn’t need to know.

She followed Armand to his apartment door, where he paused. Her heart sunk, a soft panic rising in her chest as she considered what that pause meant. Natalie could almost hear his sophisticated reasoning telling them both that this was wrong and that she should go home. Whatever the pause had meant, it was lost to time as Armand pushed the door open. Taking a breath, Armand stood back and held the door open for her to enter first.

Nothing was surprising about the room, and Natalie was a little disappointed that Armand might not be as exotic as she first thought he was. A simple set-up and a moderate-sized TV made up his living room. Three beer bottles stood empty on the table beside a used glass. “Trying to perfect my technique?” Natalie asked because there had been too much silence between them.

Armand was quick to swoop by her and collect the stranded bottles.“Well, you weren’t working last night. I had to entertain myself somehow.” He tried to joke, but there was a tension between them that had never existed before. He took the bottles with him, leaving Natalie alone in the space and took a much-needed deep breath. Armand stopped at the bin, taking his time as he dropped them one at a time into the trash. Of all the fantasies he had taken liberties with, the way he imagined whisking Natalie away from the bar and the prying eyes of her peers, and acting out every contortion he could think of, the reality was far less glamourous. Now that the opportunity was here, he felt it might still not happen. The kiss had not been a mistake; Armand knew that. But to go further... Armand was not sure if he could get back that impulsive passion from the street. He was also confident that Natalie might start to doubt this as well.

Armand ran his hand back through his hair, gripping it as he nodded to himself. He was finally getting the time with Natalie that he wanted. He wanted this. She wanted this. Tomorrow, they can decide what this one night means. For tonight, they would just be two people. With this false bravado, Armand returned to his living room, seeing where Natalie had been left standing was now bare.

“Natalie?” he said her name and heard a deep breath reveal that she had moved herself to the couch. The top button of her pants was undone, the apron was lost, and her aqua-coloured bra peeking from her shirt made his mouth dry. “I thought you left.” He managed to say.

Natalie shook her head and beckoned him over with her finger. “Afraid your stuck with me.” Usually, she wouldn’t be so forward. Even just undressing just a little, she felt almost like she was part of a play, following a role. It felt unnatural as she reached to emulate the sensual creature she wished she was. But this was her fantasy, and she loved the role of the sex goddess she had assigned herself to play. Armand slipped into the faithful and needy man perfectly in tune with her persona. The weird tension that followed them into the apartment lingered but was fading as Armand stepped towards her.

She smiled as Armand loosened the first few buttons on his shirt. “Take it off.” She said, and even though she had imagined the demand being vigorous and directive, her voice came out like a light whimper. Armand didn’t argue, and casually, the shirt was removed with a sweeping motion over his head. Natalie was breathless as he revealed his lean body to her.

Natalie bit her bottom lip, taking in the body of this near stranger and marvelling at how different he was from every other man she had known. Sprouts of dark hair sprung from his chest, allowed to cover his chest in their natural pattern. His body was lean and casually athletic. He had no tan lines to distract her from his masculine frame, and instantly, she was aware of the scant inches that separated their bodies. Armand suddenly hovered over her, and Natalie reached out to run her hand through his hair.

She rose from the couch, just enough for their lips to touch, but it was like the magic of the first kiss had never left them. Armand stayed poised over her, making quick work of removing her shirt as Natalie was free to explore the skin that had been so tempting before. The bronze colour of his heritage seemed even darker against her pale skin. Running her hands through his hair on his chest, she broke the kiss as her back arched and his mouth latched onto her skin.

Teeth found flesh, soft and painless nibbles that made Natalie giggle as Armand's scent surrounded her. In a rush, her bra and shirt seemed to disappear, and her hands sat on the hard buckle of his belt. She felt no need to rush, her legs wrapping around his hips and her body rocking in the mimicry of sex. Armand’s breathy groan in her ears was the only sound she could hear. His beer-tainted breath and the same spicy aftershave scent that followed him in the bar intoxicated her.

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Blindly, Natalie reached for the zipper, panting in anticipation as his clothes revealed him to her. Before she could find an opportunity to explore him, suddenly Natalie was lifted from the couch. “Where are we going?” she asked, giggling as he kicked off his pants before striding through the apartment.

“We need a bed for this.” The gruff sound of his voice made her body throb in anticipation, more than the knowledge of how effortlessly he seemed to be able to hold her as he walked. She was far more distracted by the man who carried her than to even think of where he might be taking her. His hands were soft on her skin, yet strong. She had never had a man who could carry her around, and Natalie realised that her first assumptions of Armand being casually athletic might have been too simple. Armand was stronger than he looked.

Armand laid her on the messy bed. It might not be the right thing to do to Ryan, but she had never felt more right in her life as Armand started a trail of kisses that went over her collarbone and led his mouth to her exposed breast. There was never a thought of turning back or not following through, but the warmth of his mouth and the slick feel of his tongue cemented her desire.

She felt protected as he undressed her, and her last remaining clothes were tossed as carelessly as the others. There was a scattering line of evidence that led from his front door and to the bedroom, her panties the final addition. Back arching, Natalie gripped his hair and quickly released them. The loose, messy curls were soft under her hands, just as she always imagined them to be, quickly giving into all of her demands as she raked her hand through them. Armand groaned, and goosebumps erupted over her skin in response. The groan had not been one of disappointment but one of animal response. He liked what he saw, and she felt glorious under his gaze. Natalie reached out and guided him back to face her by his jaw.

Armand’s eyes seemed darker than before, his body tense as he prepared to devour her and Natalie wanted him to do it.

Natalie was panting in anticipation beneath him, but Armand said nothing. Although it was still dark outside, the street lights pushing through the curtain gaps and his clock radio, the only light illuminating the room was still enough to see by. “Just stay exactly where you are.” He kissed her, demanding and sudden, before rolling to the side and retrieving the foil package from the side table. There was no denying that sound, and Natalie turned her head to watch as he lowered the condom over himself.

Armand had met so many women who insisted on doing tricks or sexy things with condoms when really there was nothing sexy about them. He was surprised by her calm gaze, slightly inquisitive and yet not intrusive. He had been watching her for a long time, and it seemed like it was about time that she returned the feelings he had been fighting against for weeks. he knew he should feel self-conscious, but none of those feelings came when Natalie looked at him. He felt empowered, sensual and desired as she watched him toss the wrapper aside. His hand wrapped around her ankle, and with a grin, Natalie laughed as he pulled her closer and climbed back on top of her.

Armand smiled, pushing her hair back from her face. The kiss he delivered was slow, and when she frantically grabbed for him, he took her wrists and pinned them back into the bed.

Natalie struggled before she smiled. “So, this is how it’s going to be?” she asked, and Armand grinned in return.

“Just enjoy it.” He said, a stronger edge to his accent coming from his lips that Natalie had never heard from him before. She shivered, and when he kissed her again, she did enjoy it. Slowly, he explored her mouth, his tongue toying at the crease between her lips before she opened her mouth to him. Their breath mixed, and their hearts started to find a strange sync that Natalie had never experienced before.

She was lost in that moment, never wanting to leave the intoxicating embrace of his arms. She let Armand set the pace, the kiss growing until he was devouring her, and she was a whimpering mess just trying to keep up. She was all too aware of where he touched her, his skin hot against hers, the need for breath fighting with the demand to stay attached to Armand at every point she could. Even the heavy weight of his body on hers, as he kept her pinned back into the matress, was a welcome one.

He released one of her hands, but she had learnt her lesson the first time. She didn’t grab at him like a starved animal but explored him like they had all the time in the world. Her body rocked up, pressing her breasts into his chest and bringing their bodies in sync.

Just as he pushed inside her, Natalie’s eyes rolled back into her head, and a shout of pleasure erupted from her lips before she shoved him away. Crawling backwards until her back hit the headboard, she stared at Armand from across the bed where he sat staring at her, his eyes wide for a moment before he recovered quickly. “We need to go.” She said, grabbing at his sheets in a lame attempt at covering herself.

“Can’t we just enjoy this?” he asked. She said nothing, “Natalie, wait.” Armand sighed, but Natalie was already out of bed and looking for her clothes in the dark.

The once romantic city lighting was now hiding her clothes from her view, and she turned her frustration back on him. “No, Armand. We have work to do, and you know it.” She stood, draped in his sheet. She noticed that Armand had refused to cover himself, hard and ready, even as she looked at him. She didn’t avert her gaze, but looking him in the eye was getting difficult. “Where are the files?” she asked.

“In a PO box.” He answered. “It is also almost two in the morning. There is nothing we can do until at least six.”

Natalie stared at him with her lips pressed in a firm line, but finally, she had to admit that he was right. “Fine.” She sat on the edge of the bed in a huff.

Armand came up behind her, pulling her hair aside and kissing her neck. Natalie twisted away slightly, but not enough to deter him.

“So how will we pass the time?” he said, speaking into her skin and feeling her slowly relax as he paid her body more attention. His hand went over her hip, and as she opened her legs a little so he could explore further, he knew this fight was over. “I know you wanted this body from the moment I saw you.” He said, cupping her sex and making Natalie press back against him.

She parted her legs a little more to allow him deeper access, her arm coming up to find his shoulder, any part of Armand she could anchor herself to. “But as soon as the sun is up, we get to work.” She tried to remind him, but Armand found her mouth and silenced her demands quickly.