Chapter 1: Introduction
Rome sweltered in a heat wave, and as Laura opened the hotel curtains, the scorching sun bathed the room in liquid light. She watched as the golden waves cascaded through the shimmering air and painted the cityscape below in gilded tones. Rome was alive, and it pulsed to the rhythm of its humid breeze. The city stretched out before her, as far as the eye could see, in a breathtaking panorama.
And yet, it was the man behind her that made her heart beat faster, her breath hitch in her throat, and all thoughts of Rome disappear. The luxurious bed, hedonistically adorned with Egyptian cotton sheets, called to them, whispering of sinful pleasures yet unimagined.
Alexander stepped closer, his presence overpowering as he exuded a potent musk that lingered in the air. She glanced back to see him rub his five o'clock shadow as a dark smile played upon his lips.
The man had no qualms about what was to come—he knew full well the affect he had on her, and he reveled in it.
He slid his arms around her waist and pulled her close, his fingers dancing across the gentle slope of her toned stomach. "See anything you like?" he whispered into her ear, before biting down playfully on her lobe, sending shivers down Laura's spine.
"I see a lot I like," she replied breathily, tilting her head to look up into his piercing green eyes.
Moving her hands to his chest, she could feel the coarse hairs beneath her fingers, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, and the corded muscles that lay beneath. She reached for the buttons on his shirt, undoing them with deft hands, eager to explore the body that lay beneath.
He stopped her, placing a hand on hers. "Not yet," he growled, his animalistic side taking control. She shivered again, goosebumps erupting across her skin.
"Fine," she pouted, reluctantly pulling her hands away.
Alexander chuckled, a dark sound that sent a thrill of anticipation running down her spine. He leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, "Lie down on the bed, my dear."
The commanding tone of his voice made her melt, and she eagerly complied. She crawled onto the bed, her body quivering with every movement as she waited for his next instruction.
Laura lay down on the cool sheets, the feeling of the smooth fabric a soothing balm to her heated skin.
As she settled back against the softness of the pillows, she noticed Glenn out of the corner of her eye, quietly observing them from his seat nearby. Her heart fluttered in her chest as she met his gaze; the want and need she saw burning in those blue eyes sent a jolt of desire straight to her core.
Her husband knew what was to come and he supported her.