The Chase

I flashed a glare. “It appears we have a misunderstanding, Mr. Wilder.”

“Yet I see the situation clearly.”

“Really?”

“Zara.” His breath felt warm on my mouth.

“Yes.”

He tilted his head slightly and his left cheek hovered near mine, his mouth close to my ear as he whispered, “It’s just a painting.”

I tried to remember the last time I’d been this daring and nothing came close to being whisked away by a gorgeous man in a helicopter to view a secret masterpiece. My universe was all about respectful whispers around century-old paintings housed in well-lit galleries in carefully controlled settings.

Was I going to let this adventure slip through my fingers?

“I promise to keep you safe.” He looked sincere. “Aren’t you even a little intrigued?”

“A little.”

“I want you to want to come,” he said without a hint of sarcasm.

My gaze moved over to that flashy helicopter.

“Say yes,” he whispered.

Whoever that girl was who’d stormed out of his house was nowhere to be seen now.

Instead, with my hand firmly in his grip I followed him back in and we walked through the foyer and down the hallway and back into the room with the dress.

He guided me into the center.

“I’ll put it on.” My gaze swept over the dress.

“I appreciate that, Zara.”

He was gone again, and I was left staring at my own stunned reflection.

It didn’t take me long to undress, peeling out of my underwear and then putting on his Coco de Mer. Staring at the mirror, I marveled how the lingerie flattered my figure, the bra with its delicate design that barely skimmed over my breasts and the Venetian lace panel on the back of the panties showing off my pert bottom. All self-consciousness left me, all embarrassment, as though it was quite natural to stand here wearing Tobias Wilder’s gift that barely covered anything.

My nipples beaded and nudged my bra.

A rush of blood to my head that he might have cameras installed in here and from another part of the house might be ogling me. The thought of me arousing him sent tingles between my thighs, his strong arms pulling me into him and holding me tight against his firm body and delivering a kiss so fierce it took my breath away; his full lips, his tongue teasing mine and delivering that unspoken promise he’d fuck me harder than I’d ever experienced.

The kind of passion that had women screaming for more.

I’d never reached those kinds of erotic heights with Zach. Not even close.

There’d been too many intimate moments where I’d feigned release with him because I just couldn’t get there, that elusive orgasm well out of reach, and until now I’d believed there was something wrong with me.

My breathing stuttered as my reflection came back into view and I realized I’d never thought of myself as sexy until now. Auburn curls tumbled over my shoulders and brushed my breasts.

I’d never been turned on by my own reflection. Until now.

Keeping my focus on why I was actually here was essential if I wasn’t going to lose my way, or lose my heart again and screw this up.

Within minutes I’d pulled myself together and put on the Alexander McQueen. I took a few more minutes to admire how well the dress fit over my curves and how incredibly gorgeous it looked on me. The intricate crystals woven into the material proved this was worth at least three months’ salary for me.

I used the counter for balance to slide into the high heels that were surprisingly comfortable. I opened my handbag and found my lipstick and dabbed my lips with a soft pink.

I went in search of Tobias, hoping he’d be pleased at least with the way I looked. I found him texting on his phone in the foyer.

When his gaze rose to mine he viewed me like something he’d created; his back stiffened as he stood taller.

A flash of excitement burned in his eyes.

Despite the fact that he was a virtual stranger, I somehow trusted him. This alluring enigma that was Tobias William Wilder was seductively hypnotic.

I loved being around him, and never had I met anyone as exciting as him.

I wanted, no, needed his approval. “Will I do, Mr. Wilder?” Searching his face for any sign of attraction to me, I forced a confident smile.

He merely held a fixed, stern expression and blinked my way.

I broke his gaze. “I’m afraid my handbag doesn’t match.”

“Do you have your magnifier?”

“Yes.” Rummaging through my bag, I felt for my miniature magnifier.

He stepped forward and took it from me. “Thank you.” Tobias tucked it into his jacket pocket. “You don’t need your bag.”

“But my phone—”

“Please—” He gestured for me to set it down on the table near the stairs. “You won’t need it.”

With each step toward it I questioned the sanity of leaving my phone behind and my credit cards, but his glare edged me on.

“Good.” Tobias gave a reassuring smile.

Staring through the glass window, I caught sight of the helicopter. “We’re really going in that?”

He gestured for me to follow. “Of course.”

Following him out into the crisp night air, I said, “I feel like Cinderella.” I giggled at my cuteness.

“I’m not sure what that makes me.” He smirked as he opened the passenger-side door of the helicopter and beckoned for me to get in. “Cinderella, we have to get you out of there before midnight.”

“Out of where?”