The elevator doors binged open, lively music greeted her ears, and splashes of revolving lights blinded her. Stepping out, Soraya found herself on a thriving rooftop bar.
Momentarily overwhelmed by the sudden noise and flashing lasers, she tilted her head back to look at the silent, silver clouds blanketing the black sky above it all. An overcast night in the heart of Los Angeles made the city dreamlike. At least, to Soraya, it did. She had always liked how the clouds looked illuminated by the urban brilliance, and as they pressed down on the skyscrapers, she felt like all she had to do was reach out a hand to touch them.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Jerking her gaze back to the party, she saw rays of gold and yellow lights beaming down on the excited crowd from the overarching pergola covering the dance floor. A couple of partygoers had popped champagne and were spraying liquid gold on the people nearby. Their laughter and shrieks of delight echoed off the buildings surrounding them.
Smiling, Soraya shook herself off and headed into the throng of revelers to become part of the night—and hopefully, find some enjoyable company while she was at it.
The farther she walked through the crowd, mostly young college kids, the more the crowd squeezed in on her. The humidity rolling off their drunk, sweaty skin was starting to make her uncomfortable.
The music shifted into a frantic, upbeat melody. The people around her were jumping up and down or swaying side to side, arms wrapped around each other. There was a lightness in the air she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
She watched as a boy with ice-blonde hair tipped his head back in rapture, lights flashing across his face. He held a cup of glowing orange liquid, and while he danced, it splashed down his front, even getting it on the people near him, but none of them seemed to care. All were lost in their drinks and good music.
Standing in the middle of this thrumming mass, Soraya felt removed from it all. Untethered and unbound from the ecstasy, the rhapsody, and even the feel of bodies moving around her. If Jesmine or Ahvi had been with her, they would have helped her feel more grounded and a part of the moment. She had forgotten that…the feeling of being lost and alone in a crowd. It was why she avoided a lot of places before they showed up in her life.
Sighing, Soraya tried to make her way to the bar, pushing against people who didn’t even realize she was there. A drink would help her settle, even though she promised herself she wouldn’t drink beforehand. She wasn’t there for the liquor after all.
As she fought against the current of people, a strange mist started falling from above. She watched as it sprinkled over her, and when she inhaled, an overbearing musky scent, edged with subtle sweetness, assaulted her senses. Coughing, she placed her hand over her nose and looked around to see if anyone else was affected.
If anything, the mist seemed to have the opposite effect on everyone else. People cheered, throwing their hands above their heads and basking in the cool vapor, and within moments, a shift happened. She could feel it as it rippled through the crowd. They became more upbeat, more manic.
Amazed, Soraya watched as a young woman practically jumped a guy as she threw her arms around his neck and clung to him like a stripper’s pole. The guy matched her enthusiasm, wrapping himself around her as they made out on the dance floor.
Someone bumped into her from behind, and when she looked over her shoulder, she saw yet another couple lip-locking and stumbling around as they ravaged each other. Not everyone was caught in the sexual frenzy; others were still enjoying themselves, hands raised high in the air as they danced to the beat of the music.
Before she could escape the mania, a pair of hands gripped her hips, and she felt a man’s front press into her backside. “Hey baby, you’ve got a fantastic ass,” a nasal voice leered behind her as he ground his dick into her ass. Without a second thought, Soraya spun around and struck the creep across the face. Hard.
“Fucking scumbag, do that again, and you’ll be waking up in the hospital,” Soraya hissed through her teeth. She meant it, too. The asshole was about her height, and he didn’t look all that muscular. If she wanted to take him, she was confident she could…until her legs started to go numb. The sensation hit her out of nowhere.
Perplexed, Soraya tried to shuffle her feet, but they wouldn’t respond quickly enough. That was a problem, especially as the creep turned his head, rage overtaking his features. “Stupid slut,” he spat. “If you didn’t want it, then you shouldn’t dress like a whore.” He raised his hand, aiming to backhand her.
Shit.
Before the blow could land, a hand caught the scumbag’s upraised palm. “Hey, Sweetness,” a smooth, raspy voice said over the music. “Give me one moment while I take care of this.” A tall, lean man stepped into their bubble. The people around them remained oblivious to the confrontation, but somehow, they still managed to give them space.
His back was to her, but from what she could see of her savior, he wore a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, tucked into cream-colored pants. Soraya couldn’t make out his face from where she stood, but she watched in shock as he wrapped his hand around the creep’s neck and jerked him forward.
Bending his head slightly, he whispered something in the creep’s ear. It almost looked sensual if not for the tension bracketing her assailant’s shoulders. Then, unceremoniously, her savior released the scumbag, who stumbled backward. A glazed look entered his beady eyes as he turned and disappeared into the crowd, swallowed whole by the mass of people.
Soraya addressed the stranger, “Thanks for that. I—" Her words trailed off when the man turned to face her.
Placing his hands in his dress pants, he gave her a smile dripping with seduction. His white dress shirt was completely unbuttoned, revealing a sliver of smooth, tanned olive skin stretched over taut muscles. She fought the urge to look down at his stomach, where she could vaguely see his chiseled abdomen. It was the polite thing to do.
Instead, she focused on his olive-green eyes as he said, “No need to thank me, Sweetness. I was glad to be of service.” He tilted his chin down in a half-nod, causing his sun-kissed brown hair to fall into his eyes.
He was fucking beautiful. His features were angelic, but it was his eyes and mouth that spoke of sin.
Soraya cleared her throat and stated, “Not many men would have done what you just did for me. When I thank you, I mean it.”
His eyes locked on hers, and it was like all the air was sucked out between them. Then, in one smooth movement, he bowed at the waist without breaking eye contact. “Then I most sincerely accept your thanks—my lady.”
A smile tugged at her lips at his theatrics.
My lady…she heard that phrase before.
“It’s a pleasure—” Soraya trailed off as a sudden flare of desire gripped her.
Heat ignited low in her belly, spreading outward. She was reminded that her legs were still numb, feeling heavy and sore. She hadn’t realized how feverishly hot she was getting; being surrounded by a dozen bodies and their collective heat didn’t help. Trapped in her own skin, a blazing inferno ripped through her. She bit her lip to keep from crying out at its intensity.
“Follow me,” the beautiful man commanded.
Soraya didn’t object as he trailed his fingers down her arm, gripping her hand and leading her out of the throng of people.
It took all her strength to keep her legs moving, one foot in front of the other—a welcome distraction from what was happening inside her body. Flailing arms and sloshing drinks blurred her vision, overwhelming her, so she focused on his hand wrapped around hers. She liked the way his veins bulged just beneath his tanned skin.
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Once they broke free of the crowd, he released her hand and gripped the back of her neck, guiding her against an empty gray wall. Soraya sucked in deep, cooling breaths. Her body temperature had lowered somewhat since breaking away from the crowd, but a certain haze crept into her eyes, making everything slightly blurry.
He thumbed her chin to tilt it up. “Eyes up. Let me get a look at you,” his silky voice instructed.
As her eyes lifted of their own accord, Soraya began to pant as she gazed up at him. A steady pulse throbbed through her lower belly, and she squeezed her thighs together, seeking some reprieve.
His gaze was intense as his eyes flickered back and forth between hers. His lips parted as his brows furrowed. Releasing her chin, his fingers brushed her hair back before his fingers traced the curve of her ear.
The simple touch sent shivers down her spine, and she sucked in a gasp.
He gritted his teeth. “Shit. Fucking xoli.”
She had no clue what he was saying—she just wanted him to keep touching her.
“Focus, Sweetness.”
Her thighs rubbed together as she watched his bowed mouth move—she licked her lips. She was focusing all right.
What sounded like a low growl emanated from deep in his throat. A thrill sparked through her to hear it.
A light wind blew along the rooftop, lifting the edge of her top. The cool breeze felt so good against her heated skin that it offered her a moment of clarity, the inferno inside her subsiding a bit.
“I can’t leave you here like this, can I?” He said rather tightly. Reaching out his hand, he offered it to her.
With one look at his face, she knew exactly what he was offering, and without hesitation, she took it.
Not wasting another minute, he led her to an elevator different from the one she had entered. They passed by the dance floor, where women and some men watched her with envy as he wrapped his arm around her waist. His bare forearm was pressed against her bare back, and she could feel electricity in every spot they touched. She had to clutch her thighs together again to relieve the throbbing pressure building at the apex of her thighs.
Once the elevator doors binged open, Soraya walked toward her reflection, and with hazy eyes, she watched as he stalked in after her.
The moment of reprieve she had from the inferno dissipated, and it returned twice as strong, causing her to stumble. Catching her forearm, he chuckled. “Watch your step now.”
He turned her around, walking her backward until she was flush against the mirror. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the cool glass, which did nothing to alleviate the heat radiating off her skin. She could feel his gaze burning into her face.
Soraya focused on her clit, trying to reason with it. Can’t just lose control like this—what's wrong with you?
Her pussy didn’t care about her inner turmoil. A wave of desire crashed through her, almost shaking her knees with its force. She could feel her pussy starting to drip. She bit down on her want. She just needed to wait to get to the room. She could control herself if—
His hands landed on her hips, and his long, slender fingers began to move up her sensitive, heated skin. Her heavy eyelids lifted so she could peer up at him. His gaze was locked onto her parted lips, and that’s when she noticed it…the desire swirling in his eyes.
Heart thundering in her chest, she wondered if he could hear it. She turned her head down, trying to keep him from seeing the blush sitting heavy on her cheeks, embarrassed by how such a simple touch turned her on to the point she could feel her panties moistening by the second.
Her thoughts scattered completely when his fingers traveled up her ribcage, sending dizzying sensations through her. Like little sparks of energy, where his featherlight touches glided against her skin, making her shudder. Such a small thing, yet she could feel it everywhere.
“What’s happening in here, Sorenth?” A teasing voice asked.
A snarl left the beautiful stranger, Sorenth’s lips. Blinking through her drunken lust, she peered around him to see that the elevator doors never shut. Another good-looking man who looked as if he did cross-fitness stood in the opening, blocking anyone from seeing within, his brows drawn up in surprise.
A pregnant pause filled the elevator along with Soraya’s heavy breathing before the newcomer said, “You’re going to need this.” All humor was gone from his voice.
He threw something, and without looking, Sorenth caught the mystery item in his hand. Looking into her unfocused eyes, Sorenth said, voice husky and deep with desire, “Inform everyone I’m retiring for the night, Zenon.”
Zenon didn’t say anything as he reached into the elevator, hitting a button and turning his back as if guarding the entrance.
The elevator doors slid shut on his broad back, and Soraya blinked slowly as the compartment began to move.
“Do you want him to join?”
Soraya snapped her hooded eyes back to Sorenth’s. Was he being serious? She couldn’t tell.
She shook her head.
“Good,” he ground out, a spark of possessiveness flashing in his eyes.
“Sorenth?” she all but panted.
“Yes, Sweetness?” he answered, his voice sounding more sensual.
She swallowed, then squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed again when his knuckles replaced his fingers, trailing up her ribs, right underneath her top. They stopped just below where her heavy breast ached before traveling oh so slowly back down her skin. Breathing raggedly, she struggled to get her mouth to work, and when she finally did, all she managed to say was—
“Sorenth,” she practically moaned on a shaky breath when his knuckles made another pass up her flimsy top—her whole body moved with that touch. She threw her head back against the mirror, her eyes glazed over.
The elevator felt like it was taking forever to reach the ground floor, but strangely enough, to Soraya, it felt as if they were going up. Her head was becoming lighter and lighter, her consciousness floating outside her body as it burned.
He muttered something under his breath, and before she could ask what he said, he moved with lightning speed. One second, he was teasing her mercilessly with his light touches, and the next, he had her pinned to the mirror, his entire body flush against hers.
Her legs wrapped around his waist without a second thought, and she reveled in the feel of his hot torso pressing against her equally hot center.
“Sweetness,” he groaned, “I need your eyes.”
She hadn’t realized she had closed her eyes, especially when it felt like her whole body was seeing for her.
When was the elevator going to stop?
Lifting her heavy eyelids, she found olive-green eyes staring into the depths of her soul. His dilated irises flickered back and forth between hers in quick succession. She liked that. Squeezing her legs even more tightly around his waist, she felt him groan, sending a thrill through her. He buried his head into the side of her neck and took deep breath after deep breath. Her whole body jolted when his hot tongue darted out to taste the side of her neck.
Soraya didn’t care about anything at that moment besides his tongue exploring her sensitive skin. She didn’t even care when the elevator lights flickered rapidly, plunging them into complete darkness and then back to light, causing her eyes to fall shut yet again. She didn’t need to see him as her legs spasmed around his waist as he ground into her center, causing her to cry out.
She was silenced a second later by his mouth. This kiss was not slow and explored the way Tariq’s had been. Oh no, he didn’t give her a chance to breathe as he slipped his tongue into her open hot mouth. She sucked him in, taking everything he offered. She no longer cared if she was good at kissing or not. She didn’t care as saliva—either hers or his—wet the corners of her mouth. Didn’t care how messy she was being, and he was right there with her.
Same desperation, the same need.
The elevator doors pinged open, and the strong scent of salt wafted into the small space until it surrounded her. An even more pronounced aroma of coconut and cedarwood enveloped her—consuming her.
He applied more pressure on her hips, causing her pussy to spasm around nothing.
And the elevator doors were open. Pulling herself back, he immediately backed off.
“We should go back to your room,” she miraculously managed to gasp.
Nodding, he looked as if his own lust was riding him hard.
Good, that made two of them.
Wrapping his lean, muscled arms around her, he didn’t bother setting her down, as he carried her out of the elevator. She tucked her head into the side of his neck, not caring where they were when a sudden and powerful wave of dizziness hit her.
Surrounding them was the soft glow of yellow light. Faintly, in the distance, she could hear the tinkling of glass and joyous laughter.
“Hey, Sorenth! Whatdoya got there?” Some drunkard shouted.
Sorenth didn’t answer them. He was a man possessed, and in the back of her mind, she knew she shouldn’t be wrapped around him like this in public.
She just couldn’t bring herself to care.
Sorenth grunted in her ear as her wandering hand gripped the back of his soft hair, and her lips latched onto the soft spot below his jaw, and she sucked at the soft skin.
What felt like a short moment later, she heard the opening and closing of a door.
She vaguely wondered if they had made it to his hotel room. A hand carded into her loose hair and firmly pulled until she had no choice but to let go of his skin. Her eyes focused on the bright red spot she left behind on his neck, and she licked her lips in victory.
“Possessive little thing,” Sorenth murmured.
Soraya’s glazed eyes found him, and her breath caught in her lungs at his beauty. He was truly an angel—an angel with a wicked—wicked mouth and the body of a sinner.
Gripping the backs of her thighs, he lifted her off him and—
Her ass bounced on the bed before she fell back completely onto a soft duvet.
Like an avenging angel, he stared down at her, his eyes locking directly to where her skirt had risen all the way to reveal her soaked center. She had the good sense to realize that she was perhaps going too fast, but that thought scattered to the wind when he took off his shirt.