Chapter 2 HOT, HOT STRANGER

All the fear and shyness and restraint inside of me evaporated.

My reason was gone too.

The only thing that was left was him, this stranger, his tongue dancing along with mine to a sweet symphony, his adventurous hands roving around my body, his fingers squeezing my ass.

My fingers slid over his broad chest as my hands moved up his broad shoulders and circled his neck on their own.

I had never been so thoughtless, so insane, so in a lack of control of my body. I was faintly aware that we were in the club, that other revellers were watching us curiously. But I couldn't make myself care. Not with the pleasant feeling that accompanied the smooth touch of his hand as his fingers traced down my spine, as his tongue stroked all the right nerves with perfect precision.

No one had ever kissed me that way.

The kiss was already enough to make me get a little wet below, making my panties moist.

I moaned against his lips and he responded with a breathy chuckle. My toes curled despite the uncomfortable stilettos my feet triumphed in. I didn't want this to end. I wanted more. I needed more...

A sudden wave of realization hit me.

This had to stop.

I had to defy my body desires and stop this.

I pressed my palms, with a good measure of reluctance, against his chest, instantly awed by its firmness. Then I pushed slightly and was free from his embrace.

My breath was uneven, shallow and fast as I stepped back away from him. Then I mustered the courage to look into his eyes to see what he felt about me ending the kiss.

Big mistake.

He was looking at me like he owned me.

And I felt, for some senseless reason, that I would love it if I was his.

That was when I knew I had to get away from him.

I had to say something. But what?

Was there a guide book that told you what to say to walk away from a stranger who had just kissed you? And it was not just any kiss, it was like the best kiss of my entire life!

My lips parted and I was shocked by what escaped them.

"Thank you."

He smiled, noticing my nervousness.

"Anytime, baby," he said, his tongue gliding over his lower lip. "I'll gladly taste you again."

My stomach tightened.

Run! My brain screamed.

I wanted to obey that still voice and take to my heels but my legs were adamant to move.

The hot black haired guy looked at me while I remained there feeling stupid.

Finally, I gave a slight nod as a way of goodbye and walked with numb legs back to Becky's booth. My heart kept thundering and my feet trembled as I walked .

I heard his faint breathy chuckle behind me but I wisely contained the urge to turn and look back at him.

I planned to walk in head high and give no reaction to the spiteful remarks that her and her equally bumptious friends were sure to greet me with.

I braced myself for all sort of jeers and spiteful words, but I met the opposite as I walked into their booth– silence.

My sister and her besties were deathly pale.

Becky's chest heaved, her fingers balled into fists, her eyes gleaming with anger.

I stopped in front of her and stared at her.

She had surely been expecting my dare to go south, expecting me to blow the whole thing up.

Too bad she had to swallow her disappointment.

"No insults this time?" I asked with a sneer and waited for a few heartbeats for a reaction.

There was nothing.

She only worked her jaw and said nothing. And neither did her dumb friends.

A small victory.

I slid back into my seat and grabbed the ridiculously pricey drink. I sure as hell needed one.

A dark chuckle punctuated the silence and when I turned to the source, my eyes met Becky's.

She let out a cold chuckle again and sipped from her drink. I was sure she was thinking of what to say, words to humiliate me.

Her lips parted, ready to spill out whatever she had been cooking in her head, when Rhea interrupted.

"That guy's hot though," she said, studying the man I had kissed through seducing eyes.

"Yeah," Becky sighed in agreement and flicked a glance at me. "Too bad he has such a crappy taste."

I ground my teeth and lowered my eyes to my drink.

Then, for a reason I don't know, my gaze went again to the bar, drifting to my hot stranger. And our eyes met. I gulped and returned to my drink, consciously looking anywhere but at the bar.

"The hottie is looking our way!" Trish gasped out loud, excited.

Becky instantly sat straight in her seat and pushed out her chest.

"Maybe he wants a kiss from someone better," Rhea said, playfully nudging Becky's side.

Somehow, as they squealed like senseless idiots, I couldn't resist looking back at the bar. My hot stranger was talking to his friend again.

I definitely shouldn't be staring but some insanely uncontrollable part of me wanted nothing more than to saunter up to the bar, pull his tie again and kiss him.

"Hey!" Trish suddenly interjected, snatching everyone's attention. "I know who he is! That's goddamn Francesco Giacomo!"

"No way!" Rhea gasped. "The Italian billionaire?!"

"I heard he's looking for a wife," Trish added with a whisper, her eyes still fixed on the man.

Becky pouted. "Too bad for me," she said. "Maybe one of you should give it a shot then."

"I will," Rhea said and rose from the seat. "Watch and learn, sucker," she sneered at me and smoothed her pink dress.

I suddenly felt jealous.

But why should I be jealous? I didn't even know the damn guy!

Shoving away the irrational feelings, I gulped down my drink, watching through the transparent rim of the glass as Rhea walked like a master seductress toward the bar.

She prowled forward, her eyes on the target.

I held my breath as she stopped and placed her hand on her hip.

Would I feel disappointed if he found her attractive?

But then, why wouldn't he find her attractive? Rhea easily fit into the category of drop dead gorgeous.

Her lips moved as she spoke with him indistinctly. I didn't hear what she said but my stranger seemed to be uninterested. Indeed, he found her words unimpressive, not even sparing my sister's slender blonde friend a glance.

Clearly annoyed, Rhea inched closer but before she could reach my billionaire kisser, his friend stepped in front of her and pointed at some object under the lapel of his jacket.

Rhea stumbled back, her face turning a deathly pale colour. Then she spun back and walked, trembling, back to our booth.

The little devil inside me began to celebrate and cheer and whoop. I didn't know what the hell had happened but I was pleased by the outcome and savoured Rhea's humiliation like sweet wine.

"Was that a gun?" Trish muttered excitedly as Rhes returned to her seat.

"How dare he threaten my friend?" Becky hissed. "Does the bastard know who my father is? I'll show the son of a bitch–"

Rhea held her with a restraining hand as Becky stood up, spoiling for a fight she was not ready for. "Don't go there," she said. "Just leave it. It's nothing."

She nervously tugged her almost white hair behind her ears. "This club is getting boring. Let's go somewhere else."

Becky pursed her lips, muttering expletives to herself, before she tilted the glass and drowned the rest of the liquor.

"Fine, let's go," she said, setting the glass back onto the table.

She started towards the exit, her friends following suit.

"Stephanie McMahon, get over here!" she snapped,.her face a big frown as she looked at me over her shoulder.

I rolled my eyes and swallowed a long line of curses I would have loved to yell at her. I hoped she would get drunk quickly so we could end the dumb, pathetic night and I could return to my mattress. I darted quicky to the nearest exit.

My lips still tingled from the delicious kiss and I was still excited by the humiliation Rhea had faced.

The reckless part of me wanted to remain behind in the club, my lips on the stranger's, her snuands around my waist. But the rational part of me urged my legs forward, quickening my steps towards the exit.

Guys like Francesco Giacomo meant trouble, and I had enough problems in my life already.

It would be good if I could never meet him again.