Mr. Masters (Mr. 1)

I get a much-needed boost of confidence just as the waiter returns with our drinks.

“Thank you.” I smile as I reach for mine. I take a sip and lick my lips. “Oh, this is so good.”

Julian leans forward and cups my face in his hands, and I feel like I stop breathing. His eyes pierce mine, then he leans in and softly kisses my lips, and then licks his lips. “It does taste good,” he whispers.

My breath catches.

I have no words for how hot this man is.

He kisses me softly again and I feel myself lift from my chair.

“I have an offer for you.”

“An offer?” I ask.

“On these nights out, you can have my body, but you must know that my heart or my private home life isn’t up for negotiation. I will not discuss these nights at all with you in my home environment. You are a different person to me when you’re at work in my home.” He kisses me softly again and my eyes close.

Oh God, it’s the perfect kiss. Suction, softness, and a promise of what’s to come.

“I know,” I whisper.

“You need to think very carefully about what you’re agreeing to,” he mumbles against my lips. “I’m not wired like most men.” He dusts his thumb back and forth over my bottom lip as he watches me

He’s so fucking intense.

He pulls me forward, dropping his lips to my neck, and my head falls back as my eyes close in pleasure.

Oh, sweet Jesus.

I’m in a bar with my red lingerie hanging out, making out like a prepubescent teenager.

“Do you want to dance with the Devil?” He bites my neck hard and I whimper.

His lips continue to roam up and down my neck.

“You need to protect yourself, because I can’t protect you from me,” he whispers against my skin.

I pull back and my eyes search his. “Are you warning me, Julian?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

I smile softly. “Maybe you’ll be the one who gets hurt?”

He kisses me again and smiles as he cups my face in his hands. His eyes have a tender glow to them. “Beautiful Bree and her enchanting optimism.”

An uneasy feeling swirls deep within me. He’s warning me that he’s going to hurt me—to run while I can.

And I know I should.

Alarm bells ring in the distance. Who am I kidding? There is no distance; they scream all around me. I know for certain that this is dangerous territory, but dancing with an honest devil sounds so much more appealing than sleeping with a lying god.

He kisses me softly, once more, and pulls back to lick his lips. “I would like to go upstairs to our room now.”

My nerves return and my eyes search his. “What’s the rush?”