CHAPTER 2

BLAIR POV

An unintentional blush appeared on my cheeks from my spicy thought but a familiar voice hit me out from the thought bringing me back to my present moment.

“Blair! Where have you been? I have been looking for you,” Ella gushes, trudging towards us with her very high heels that may eventually cause her blisters. She stood in front of us, ignorant of the tension hanging thick in the air. “What are you both doing here? I have been searching the whole place for you two___the toast is about to start soon.”

I blinked my eyes, trying to shake off whatever spell Ronnell had cast on me. “I was about to head back inside,” I say with an unnatural smile.

Ella looks at both of us as her eyes tend to reveal her surprise. “You guys already met each other,” she says. “I was actually planning on introducing you both.” She turns her attention back to Ronnell. “I told you she was extraordinary. You should honestly consider her for your business. Trust me, I know exactly what I'm talking about.”

I stared at Ella in confusion because I had no idea what she was talking about. Sure, I knew that I was at a loss for clients at the moment, but I never planned on disclosing that to him. And working for her brother had never been something I considered. Currently, my mind was swirling around something different that I wanted to do with Ronnell, and it had nothing to do with business.

I watched as Ella beams at both of us for the last time before heading back to the hall. Ronnell stood up and unexpectedly held out his hands to help me to my feet. I hesitated a bit before grabbing his hands.

“We better hurry back before Ella have our heads chopped off.” He says softly. His grip lingered for a second too long, and I couldn't help it as I found myself hoping the night wouldn't end.

“Sure!” I responded, heart racing at the promise in his smile.

We soon rejoined the bubbly party, but this time around we were aware of each other in a way that made the noisy ballroom fade into the background. Ronnell guides me towards the bar area with a high table near the front. As the toast begin, he pulled out my chair like a perfect gentleman, and I sat. Happy to be away from the crowded table.

Throughout the speeches, I could feel the heat of his gaze on my face, they seemed wordless but intense.

As Ella and her fiance, Felix, share their first dance. Ronnell's hands unexpectedly reach for my hand on the table, and casually taps his fingers across my knuckles like we had known each other for a long time. A whizz trots up my whole body, causing me to suck some air in.

“Would you like to go somewhere less crowded?” He asked out of the blue. “uh__i'd love to know you more better.” He says while his burning gaze leaves me with a slight option.

I stared at him unsure if I should take him on his offer. It was very unlike me to actually accept such an invitation from a man but he was Ella's brother. And it's not like he was a stranger, and Ella seemed genuinely happy that we had spoken to each other at the party, her approval was crystal clear.

And, I had to admit that the loud music and noise were a bit too much. Judging from the look on his face, it seemed like he also was fade up with it too.

“Fine__ we can do that!” I say. “What do you have in your mind?”

“What about a drink somewhere with softer music?” He asked keeping his eyes fixed on mine.

“Sure,” I accept. “That would be better.”

He nodded with a smile, taking my hands casually in his. He led me out of the loud ballroom and back into the hotel entrance, and we both let out a loud exhale together, leaving the noisy ballroom seemed like a relief to both of us.

“I don't want to prey but what did Ella mean when she said that you needed help for your business?” I questioned, thinking about her unexpected suggestion to have me work for him. I kept wondering what on earth I could be of use to him. “What kind of work are you into?”

He gave me a slight grin while he walked me to the bright hallway area, towards the small bar near the other entrance. A few of the hotel guests were spotted around sitting and sipping their alcohol.

Ronnell casually walks to the mahogany counter, gesturing to the barman. I watched as they had a brief exchange, and then Ronnell turned back to me. “I have a top security company___ it's actually top ranking right now. It is known globally. I'm looking to expand to Italy.” He reaches for the liquor bottles and glasses that the barman hands him.

“Thank you, man.” He says to the barman while he lifts his eyebrow flirtatiously at me. “Ready?”

He walked me towards the elevator, pressing the button to the top floor while I followed curiously. We wait in silence, tension thumping hard in my chest. “You have a room here?” I asked.

“Uh,” he clutches my gaze in a very astonishing pause, while the elevator climbs up. My mind raced hard, imagining the thought of being alone with my best friend's brother, having all the privacy to do what I wanted to do to him.

The thrill excitement in every nerve in my body was tremendous as I anticipated letting my guard down and tossing away all rules of my dating etiquette out of the window tonight. All I knew was that I wanted to be alone with Ronnell, and he clearly has that same idea of me.

As the elevator kept climbing higher, he turned his body towards mine, spreading his stance wide as he closed in on me. I back against the wall, unable to avoid his intense posture, and my breath quickens. He holds his hands out on either side of me, trapping me inwardly.

He moves his face close to mine. “I have never asked a girl to my suite, are you comfortable coming up to my suite with me?” he whispers, his breath tickling my lips. “I might not be able to resist, and the view is amazing up there.”

His choice of tone and words only made my pants more damper. The elevator chimes in and the elevator stops. “I would love to see how amazing the view looks,” I say even though the view is the last thing that I care about seeing. Feeling the heat that radiated through his well-fitted designer suit.

I can hardly believe that I'm actually having all these illicit thoughts right now. I had convinced myself that my desire to be with a man had dried up after Smith hurt me, sleeping with his ex-girlfriend In my bed. But now, Ronnell woke up something inside me that I thought that I would never feel.

The door slid open and Ronnell gestured for me to follow him as he stepped out, leading me down the hall to his own suite. I held the glasses for him as he fumbled with his keys, I could hear him swear some words under his breath, and I just couldn't help but giggle a little at his longing.

The moment he got the door opened, he invited me in while switching on the light. I couldn't help myself as I felt astonished at the enormous and elegant space, the amazing view of the whole hotel from his suite was spectacular. He takes the glasses from my hands and places them on the side table with the bottle of liquor.

And without a word, he pins me against the wall, pressing his muscular frame on my body, allowing me to feel his strong build.

He lifted my chin, his face inches from my lip, and then he whispered. “You have no idea how much I have been wanting to kiss those lips badly.” He locks my eyes with his, perhaps waiting for my permission.

Meanwhile, the whole muscles in my body had melted from the desperation in his gaze. And with the same level of desire rising within me. I moved my face closer, inviting him in. With a satisfied grin, he lowers his mouth to mine, hesitating a tiny distance from my lips, making me grow hungrier. And then he kisses me, strong and urgent, causing every nerve in my body to explode nicely.

It felt like weeks and months of longing between the two of us, unleashed in a single moment of connection. And I melt into him, fingers running through his shadow perm hair and around his neck.

He breaks away for a moment, gasping very hard. “Christ!” He breathes out heavily, eyes trailing along my body. “Who exactly are you? Why are you driving me this wild,” he growls softly, trailing hot, open-mouthed kisses down along my throat. I gasp, tilting my head to give him better access.

“You have no idea how long I have longed for something like this.” His voice is low and vulnerable, making me crave him even more, as he buries his face in my hair, inhaling me.

“I want you, Ronnell,” I said shamelessly, desire burning through my veins, trailing my hands down his chest, feeling his muscles through my gown.

Without another word, he scoops me in his arms in a bridal way, carrying me to his bedroom. We fell on his king-size bed together, and he kneeled over me, unbuttoning his shirt without taking his green eyes off me.

As he throws his shirt to the floor, the sight of his bare chest makes me weak, all thoughts of any consequences flee my mind at that very point in time, replaced only by the need to be close to him as humanly possible.

As my gaze trails down his stomach, landing on his belt, he grins, reaching around my back, and pulling off the zipper of my dress. In seconds, our clothes were scattered on the floor, while he kissed me with hot desire.

At that instant, I cared about nothing because all I wanted was him.