PROLOGUE

Ashley stumbled from her car as she struggled to come out of it in a hurry. she heard a cringe sound and when she looked down the heel of her shoe was broken. she cursed, this was her favorite and most expensive pair. But she didn't care, she hurried into the ballroom.

Sweat rolled down her cheek, her makeup was ruined, her heel broken, some layers of her dress torn, she quickly used her hand to rip off the remaining layer turning it into a mini ball gown.

Today was her billionaire boyfriend father's retirement party, and he had invited her to introduce her to his family after six years of dating. Finally, she was meeting Thomas family for the first time. it had to be perfect.

Ashley retouched her makeup before stepping in. she saw the man of the night, her boyfriend standing tall and handsome as always. He stood beside his father who sat on his retirement throne and greeted guests. Ashley wore a big smile, this was the perfect time for Thomas to introduce her to his father, so she walked over with all the ounce of confidence she could summon.

She spread her arms for a hug but instead Thomas went for a handshake. Ashley's eyes widened in shock, but Thomas barely looked at her.

"Who is she?" Ashley heard Thomas father ask, a smiley tone in his voice.

Ashley turned her full attention to him. "I'm his..."

Thomas interrupted her. "She's a guest."

A guest? Thomas turned this back on her and continued greeting other guests. Ashley just stood in the middle of the ballroom feeling out of place. But, she was grateful nobody paid her any attention, they were all too focused on the retiree to notice how pathetic she looked.

She leaped to a corner, and sat on a stool. Why had Thomas treated her in such a formal manner? Did she do something wrong? Maybe it wasn't the perfect time or place, maybe Thomas could invite her for an after-party where proper introductions would be made. Or so she taught.

Aiden, Thomas nemesis sat in a large couch surrounded by a flock of girls, all black haired and slim. Aiden disliked Thomas, but he respected his old man, that was the only reason Aiden accepted the invitation.

Aiden eyes scanned the room desperately looking for a source of entertainment when his gaze landed on a lady who appeared lost on a stool. She wasn't the kind of lady he would steal a glance at her, she was brown, voluptuous and red haired. He liked his women slim, and black haired. But, Aiden kept staring at her, the way her breasts stood high beneath the corset she wore, he could already imagine the fullness of it against his hands...he hated voluptuous ladies.

He stared at her exposed legs which appeared smooth, and flawless. She was obviously a lady that took great care of her skin. He couldn't take his eyes off her, the way her red haired made her standout.

Slowly, as if sensing his gaze, she turned her head and looked in his direction, Aiden couldn't make out the outlines of her face clearly from the distance and the dark lighting of the ballroom, but he could see she was beautiful. Beautiful? she was voluptuous and red haired!

Ashley gazed at him coldly, challenging him to look away but he didn't. There was something about his gaze, that caused her inside to become hotter, it sent hot currents through her body. She felt a burning sensation on all the exposed part of her body he stared at.

He was huge, his arms were strong and muscle flexed underneath his shirt. She had a strong night vision that enabled her to see his beauty in the dark. He was MAN in all aspects, his chin was covered with beards. He was surrounded by a flock of girls, Why was he eyefucking her?

Ashley was supposed to feel uncomfortable from the intense gaze of a total stranger, and the primal response it elicited from her, but she liked it.

His gaze consumed her in arousing passion, and beneath his erotic stare, she saw danger, the kind of danger she shouldn't be playing with, so she picked her purse and rised to leave, she wasn't looking at him but she felt a movement across the room where he sat. She hoped he wasn't coming after her, but she also hoped he was.

Ashley saw Thomas in the dark hallway, and she followed him. She went further and further into the dark following the fragrance of his perfume, until she lost it. And there was a new fragrance that filled the air, it was strong, masculine and intoxicating. She adjusted her eyes to the darkness, and she saw a shadowy figure, she knew it was Thomas so she flung herself at him.

The air crackled with tension as he gripped her hips pulling her close, his touch igniting a primal fire within her. His lips found hers in a fierce, urgent kiss that sent shockwaves through her body. It was a kiss of desperation, of longing.

She clutched his shirt, feeling the rough fabric beneath her fingers as he pressed her against the wall, his body a barrier between her and the world outside. Every brush of his lips against hers was like a wildfire consuming her senses, leaving her gasping for air.

The darkness seemed to amplify their passion, each touch, each caress magnified in intensity. His hands roamed her body, tracing the curves of her body as if trying to memorize every inch of her in that fleeting moment of darkness.

His hands wandered lower, tracing the curves of her waist, then lower still, until they found the hem of her dress and slowly lifted it up, inch by tantalizing inch. His lips trailed down her neck, sucking gently on her skin, sending shivers of pleasure coursing through her veins. His hands slipped under her dress, caressing her bare thighs, and she arched her back, wanting more of his touch.

His fingers traced the outline of her breast, his thumb circling her exposed cleveage as he suckled her bottom lip into his mouth.

Ashley placed her hands on his chin, and she rubbed his beard. Beards? Thomas was clean-shaven. Slowly, realization dawned on her. Ashley redrew from the kiss, and tried pulling away, but his grip was firm on her waist. "Tom?" She whispered

"Who's Tom?" That voice. It was so deep, it weakened her knee, but thanks to the strong hands around her waist it held her in place.

Fear gripped her as she answered. "My boyfriend."

"I'm not Tom, but I could be your boyfriend." She couldn't see his face in the darkness but she sensed he was smiling.

Ashley tried pulling away. "I already have a boyfriend."

He made a low throaty chuckle that defiled her insides. "With a single snap of my finger, I can get rid of him."

"Stop flirting with me."

He laughed. "Flirting? You're the one who couldn't take your eyes off me in the ballroom. Then, you followed he, pushed me against a wall, force yourself on me, molested and...I was just being a gentleman by responding."

Ashley struggled against him. "Let me go!"

There were many things Aiden was, but a man who forced himself on women wasn't one of it. He released his grip on her waist. "Can I get a name?"

"I'm taken."

A smile curved Aiden's lips as he watched her shadowy figure disappear out of the hallway and into the parking lot.