Enemy's Secret - Ashlee Price Page 0,29

have... steak."

"I'll have the steak too," I say.

Kyra takes a deep swig of her Sex on the Beach, and I drink my whisky on the rocks deeply too. I'm going to need it.

"So," I say.

"Sorry." Kyra forces a smile. "I'm hungry."

"Of course."

It takes me a good minute to figure it out: she's not going to tell me. It, or the 'things', whatever they are.

Although I have other things on my mind, too. "Tell me. What does a guy have to do to get you to stay the night?"

She leans in, the beginnings of a smile on her red lips. Were they always that red and juicy, or did she touch them up in the bathroom when she changed?

"We'll see," is all she says.

Overhead, there's a big band playing and, for the first time, over her shoulder, I notice a small crowd dancing.

"Look," I say.

She looks over her shoulder and laughs. "Wow. How did we miss that coming in? Looks like they're having fun."

"Want to join?"

"I don't know."

I rise. "I do. May I have this dance?"

The corners of her lips quirk up. Damn, do I want to kiss her. But this is second best. "Alright."

That 'alright' gets her off her seat, glides her onto the floor with me - it wraps our arms around each other's shoulders. Grooves our hips.

"Fuck," I mutter, suddenly remembering.

"What?" she asks.

"I hate dancing."

She just laughs. "This was your idea."

And yet, there's something about her hips moving with mine. Even as I step on everyone's feet. It makes it OK, fun even.

One song, then another. I can't seem to leave. I'm still a shitty dancer - all the moves, even as Kyra, laughing her head off, tries to show me, are as mysterious as if we're on an alien planet. But her grin just widens and widens, takes over her face. Takes me in, too. As long as she's smiling, I am.

Who knows how long has passed when our waitress taps me on the shoulder and gestures to our meals on the table.

Back at the table, eating, I say, "Phew."

"You were having fun, admit it," Kyra declares.

"I'll admit it. Though I didn't get any better. Admit that."

"I'll admit that," Kyra says.

We laugh.

Another drink, some chocolate pudding cake for dessert. Then, all at once, we're at the door, and I haven't asked the most important question of all. The only one that matters, really.

"Tonight?" I ask.

"Tonight," she answers.

And when we kiss, I finally figure out the meaning to what I'd always thought was a stupid phrase: takes your breath away.

**

"No," Kyra says, stopping in the doorway of the penthouse, her hand in mine. "No way."

I saunter in. Grin at our luxe surroundings: all white tones with a 360-degree view of the skyscraper-laden deep blue sky.

It's almost good enough for her. Almost.

"Yes way."

"I..." She looks at me carefully, a guarded look on her face that I hate. That I put there. "I can't accept this."

I shrug as I go to the couch to sit down. "I can't get a refund."

She goes to sit beside me, leans her head on my shoulder. "Thank you. For the dress, dinner, everything."

Her lips nuzzle mine. It's now. This is the moment.

I can finally give into the hunger ripping through me.

She tastes so good - like chocolate. Smells like vanilla. I can't stop looking at her, how beautiful she is, even when we kiss.

Opening her eyes slightly, she giggles. "Are you kissing me with your eyes open?"

"No," I bluster. "That would be weird."

She kisses me with a giggle. "Weirdo."

I chuckle, my hands going to the straps of her dress. "Not my fault with you wearing that dress - can't stand it on you a second longer."

Her mouth parts. "Oh?"

"Fuck yeah."

I pull it off her, toss it to the side. Then I rise.

"What are you doing?" she says, squirming.

I hold her in place, feast my eyes on her. "Let me look at you."

Hot as fuck. Those pale, milky-white curves. Those upturned tits with just the right amount of hang. I could eye-fuck her for hours.

Except she's here right in front of me and I'm hard as hell.

I sink to my knees, my lips going to one breast, then the other, then both. I press my face in between her full breasts and breathe in her scent.

Then, I kiss my way down as her groans grow louder.

"Been wanting to do this all night," I say between kisses. I lap and kiss and nibble at her upper thighs as her torso twists back and forth with pleasure.

And