Sinful Pleasures

“Why?” Part of her hair was still secured at the back of her head, but most of it had fallen down around her pretty face, and he reached out and smoothed a few strands away from her cheek, letting his fingers linger on her smooth skin. “Do you turn into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight?”

She laughed. “No,” she said, her tone light and teasing despite the subtle sadness that passed through her eyes. “But I definitely have the evil stepmother and sisters for that particular fairy tale.”

She turned her gaze from his, as if she’d said more than she’d intended, although Hunter already knew that her stepmother and sisters were hateful women, though he couldn’t imagine why they’d despise someone as sweet and kind as Elle. He wanted to ask, wanted to know everything about her, wanted to put those other women in their rightful place . . . and the fact that he was feeling so protective of Elle took him completely off guard. The realization that he wasn’t running scared was another anomaly he wasn’t prepared to dissect, because the reality of the situation remained. He wasn’t looking for anything serious. His mangled heart had nothing left to offer a woman . . . but his body, well, that had a lot of pleasure left to give to Elle.

“I’ve never done this kind of thing before,” she said softly, cutting into his thoughts. “And even though tonight was the best fairy tale a girl could ever ask for, I really should go.”

“How about I convince you to stay?” He gave her a charming, persuasive smile. “Just a little longer?”

She shook her head, so much stronger than he was when it came to resisting this chemistry between them, though the longing in her gaze contradicted her attempt to end the night. “Hunter, it’s really not a good idea—”

“You’re wrong,” he said, his voice low and husky and determined. “It’s a great idea.”

To prove his point, he looked directly into her eyes and splayed a hand on her belly, then deliberately slid his way down into her panties. Despite her recent orgasms, she gasped as his fingers rubbed across her sensitive clit, and as he stroked deeper, she moaned and her body swayed unerringly toward his, seeking more of his touch.

A satisfied smile curved his lips as he lowered his head and put his mouth near her ear. “You feel so fucking good around my fingers and even better surrounding my cock with all this wet, silken heat while I’m fucking you,” he murmured, making her legs quiver as he grazed his thumb across her clit again and his mouth feathered along the side of her throat. “Tell me no, Just Elle, and I’ll let you walk out of here right now. Tell me yes, and I guarantee you’ll leave my bed in the morning sore in places you never knew could hurt so good, along with being a very happy and satisfied woman.”

A breathy laugh escaped her, and her hands came up to his chest, though she didn’t push him away. “I’m already very satisfied.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, burrowing his fingers back into her pussy, feeling her body surrendering to his seduction. “Yes or no, Elle? The choice is yours,” he told her, even though he knew he wasn’t making the decision easy on her, not when he was employing such irresistible tactics.

Another slow, sensual caress, and she tipped her head back, sliding her hands up to his shoulders, then around his neck. “You play dirty, Mr. Wilder.”

He could see and feel her resistance fading. He flashed her a sinful smile and cupped her breast in his free hand, tugging on her nipple the way he already knew she liked it best—and her sweet moan confirmed it.

“You haven’t seen my full, filthy potential yet, but I promise if you stay, I’ll introduce you to all sorts of debauchery that will have you blushing through next week.” He dragged his fingers along a precise spot inside her sex that made her eyes glaze over and her body shudder as he pushed her right to the edge of climaxing yet purposely kept her from falling completely over until she gave him what he wanted.

“Last chance, Elle. Stay or go?” Orgasm or no orgasm?

Whimpering with need, she lifted up on her tip toes and brought her mouth close to his. “Stay,” she breathed against his lips just before she kissed him and the rest of the night became a blur of lust-fueled fantasies.

Elle had no idea what time it was when she felt Hunter ease off the bed, then pad across the room and enclose himself in the adjoining bathroom. But as she heard the shower turn on, she forced herself to wake up and pry her eyes open to look around. The light streaming in through the bedroom windows indicated that it was definitely morning. She’d spent the entire night with Hunter, and God, judging by her sore muscles and the delightful ache between her legs, he’d made good on all his sensual promises.

The man was, quite frankly, a master at pushing her boundaries and stripping away all her inhibitions, while being conscientious enough to make sure she was comfortable with everything he did. He definitely liked to be in charge when it came to sexual positions and doling out orgasms, which there had been plenty

of, all on his terms, which had made them all the hotter and more explosive.

She discovered that Hunter Wilder was insatiable, utterly addicting, and hotter than every sinful fantasy she’d ever imagined. A gorgeous, sexy man who knew exactly what she needed and what she craved, because all those shameless inclinations she’d secretly harbored aligned with his own proclivities. She’d never felt so thoroughly desired or so completely pleasured by any man. No part of her had gone untouched by his hands, his mouth, or the way his body had fused so perfectly with hers each and every time he’d claimed her.

But even though they’d spent a spectacular night together, it was time to part ways, because there was no doubt in her mind that Hunter was a man she could easily fall for if she let herself. He’d given her a night to remember, from the moment he’d invited her into the fairy-tale ball as his guest to how kind and attentive he’d been while her stepmother and sisters had glared at her from afar to the best sex she’d ever had.

But the reality was, her life was currently a mess, and she had no time to devote to any kind of relationship—not that Hunter was asking or would ask her for anything more. He didn’t even know her full name, which she’d deliberately kept undisclosed to keep their tryst impersonal, though their connection had been anything but dispassionate. As crazy as it was even to her, Elle had felt more with Hunter in a few short hours than she had with Benjamin during their time together. If she believed in real fairy tales, in love at first sight and happily ever afters, in another lifetime Hunter would have certainly been her Prince Charming.

Knowing it would be for the best if she slipped out while Hunter was in the shower to avoid any awkward goodbyes, Elle got out of bed, found her panties, and slid them on. As much as she liked Hunter, she was forced to accept her time with him for what it was . . . a night of breathtaking, unforgettable passion she was certain she’d never again experience on such an intense and, yes, emotional level.

The sound of the shower turning off prompted Elle to hurry into the living room to put on her dress, which was easy enough to slip into, except tightening the corset fastenings at the back was more difficult to do on her own than with someone’s help, but she managed to pull the ties together so the gown somewhat stayed in place. She grabbed her purse from where she’d left it on the couch and withdrew her phone to summon an Uber while frantically searching for her shoes that had fallen off her feet when Hunter had been carrying her to the bedroom.

Her gaze swept the general area . . . where in the heck were they? Eventually, she discovered one on the floor near the hallway and picked it up, but the second one was nowhere to be found, and as much as she loved the crystal-encrusted shoes, she knew she’d never have a reason to wear them again, and they had been on the clearance rack. Regardless, she had no time to search further if she was going to leave before he had the opportunity to stop her.

She rushed to the elevator before Hunter came out of the bathroom, realized she was no longer in his bed, and came looking for her. Once inside the plush cubicle, she pressed the button for the ground floor just as she caught sight of herself in the mirror-paneled walls and cringed at her disheveled reflection.

She looked like a hot mess, but it was fitting considering that was the general state of her life these days.

CHAPTER SEVEN

The moment that Hunter stepped out of the bathroom after taking his shower and saw his empty bed, he tried not to jump to the obvious conclusion . . . that Elle was gone. But considering how quiet his place was, he had a sinking feeling that the woman who’d fucking rocked his world last night had taken the opportunity to ghost him while she’d had the chance . . . without him finding out her last name or getting a phone number or a way to contact her so he could see her again.

Yeah, he’d been prepared to break all his rules with her, and while he’d told himself in the shower that there was no reason they couldn’t keep things noncommittal and enjoy their insane attraction and chemistry for as long as it lasted, he instinctively knew that what the two of them had shared was anything but casual. Elle wasn’t the type of woman to give her body, her trust, and her submission over to a man unless there was a deeper connection. And there was no denying he’d felt it, too.