Masquerade was bustling, even for a weeknight. I’d only been here a handful of times, but I always enjoyed it. The food and drinks were top-notch, and the staff—both men and women—were easy on the eyes.
Plus, the patrons were generally friendly.
I made my way to the bar, squeezing in between a bachelorette party and a group of guys. I managed to catch the bartender’s eye.
“Hold on... don’t tell me,” she said, drying her hands on a towel. “Margarita, no salt?”
I grinned. “Wow. You’re good.”
She shrugged. “Hard to forget a pretty face. Especially when one of the city’s most eligible bachelors nearly loses his cool when you walk in.”
She subtly nodded toward the other end of the bar. “I don’t know what you did to Dylan Rochester, but I’ve never seen him like this.”
I was taken aback. “Like what?”
She shrugged again. “Nervous. Excited. Surprised.”
“Well, it’s not what you think. He probably freaked out because he didn’t expect me here. The man can’t stand me.”
She laughed. “If that’s what hate looks like, he can hate me anytime.”
I couldn’t help but join in her laughter.
“I’ll get your drink.” She winked, then walked away.
She was back quickly with my margarita. She placed a napkin on the bar and set the glass on top. “This one’s on the gentleman at the other end of the bar.”
She said it as if we hadn’t just been talking about him. I glanced over and saw Dylan raise his glass. I nodded and took a sip.
I was halfway through my drink when I saw him start to approach.
I’d hoped to have a drink or two and leave without having to interact with him. I mentally scolded myself. Who was I kidding? I’d come here hoping to see him. Lying to myself wouldn’t change that.
“Evelyn.”
I took a deep breath before turning to him. “Mr. Rochester.”
He squinted at the formal address but didn’t comment.
“This is Asher.” He gestured to the movie star beside him.
Harvey was crazy to sue Lexi Johnson, his own daughter and a respected artist, and Asher Anderson, one of the biggest celebrities right now. They were the dream couple.
I doubted this would end well for Harvey, publicity-wise, which meant it wouldn’t end well for me either. They say there’s no such thing as bad publicity. I was about to find out if that was true.
“Hi.” I nodded at Asher. “I’m a big fan, honestly.”
“Thanks.” He smiled genuinely, which surprised me, considering I was the lawyer for the other side.
“I should get going, man.” Asher finished his drink and set the glass on the bar. He shook Dylan’s hand before turning to me. “Nice to meet you.”
I returned his polite smile. “Nice to meet you, too.”
I turned back to the bar, refusing to look at Dylan. He was too good-looking for his own good. I could feel my body reacting to his proximity.
I involuntarily squeezed my thighs together as I shifted in my seat.
The bartender held up a beer that Dylan must have ordered earlier, catching his attention. He moved next to me to grab it.
God, he smelled good. It was intoxicating. I bit my lower lip as I watched him reach for the beer.
When I saw him smirk as he took a sip, I realized how obvious I was. I cleared my throat and looked away, my face probably turning a shade of red.
“Want another?” He gestured to my empty glass.
Before I could answer, a group of drunk friends descended on us. A woman from the bachelorette party squealed with delight before jumping on the man next to Dylan.
Startled, the man lost his balance and bumped into Dylan, causing a domino effect. I gasped as beer soaked my shirt.
The man started to apologize, but Dylan forcefully pushed him, causing him to stumble backward.
“Are you okay?” he shouted over the noise. “Lucy! Can you toss me a towel?”
The bartender from earlier threw a towel over. Dylan caught it easily and handed it to me.
“I’m fine. I’ve had beer spilled on me before.” I tried to shake out my shirt as if it would magically dry.
“You’re so stubborn. Just take the fucking towel.”
I smirked as I took the towel from him. It didn’t help much, but I thanked him as I handed it back.
While he was returning it to Lucy, I gathered my things.
“Wait. What are you doing?”
“I think I’m going to go.”
He grinned at me. “I didn’t mean to ruin your night. I was hoping to spend a little more time with you before I did.”
He was so attractive when he smiled.
“Was that a joke?” I raised an eyebrow at him. “Were you trying to be funny?”
“That depends.” He tilted his head in a way that was undeniably sexy. “Did you find it funny?”
I tried not to laugh but couldn’t help it.
“Look, I’m sorry. I hope your shirt isn’t ruined.”
“It’s not your fault. It was an accident.” I paused. “I should get going, anyway.”
“Please don’t go.” His plea made me pause, but I recovered quickly.
“Have a good night.”
I’d made it out the door and a little way down the sidewalk when I heard him.
“Evelyn! Evelyn!”
I tried to pretend I didn’t hear him.
“Eve!”
I froze at the sound of my nickname on his lips.
He jogged up to me. “At least let me drive you.”
“I’m just a few blocks away,” I said, starting to walk again.
He shook his head. “You’re not walking alone at night.”
I looked back at him and rolled my eyes. “I think I can handle it.”
“Oh, I’m sure you can handle it.”
The tone of his voice made me think he was talking about more than just the walk home.
I stopped and looked at him. “What do you want, Dylan?”
“Fuck, Eve, I don’t know.”
I shook my head. “Whatever this is, it’s not going to work. Our careers are too important to us.”
“Tell me you don’t feel it.” He stepped closer to me.
“I don’t even know you.”
“Admit it, your body responds the moment you lay eyes on me.”
“Dylan…”
“Confess that you’ve been consumed with thoughts of me since our first encounter.”
My heart pounded so fiercely that I was convinced he could hear it. His heady, masculine scent, the hunger in his gaze, and the memory of his touch on my skin. It was a lethal mix.
“I don’t want you,” I murmured, almost in a daze.
“You’re not being truthful.” His voice was low and enticing.
Reality slipped away from me. All I could see was him. I reached out, clutching his shirt, and pulled him closer.
His quickened breaths gave me the courage to continue. I gently bit his lower lip, teasing it before fully engaging in a kiss. He wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me against him.
I could feel his arousal. It stirred something within me, making my knees weak. I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding him tight.
It felt like we couldn’t get close enough. I wanted him, craved him.
“Come home with me.”
It wasn’t a request. His voice was authoritative, dominant. I was ready to yield.
I always had to be in control of every aspect of my life. It was draining. I wanted to surrender to Dylan completely.
To give him total control.
I nodded in agreement.
We hurried to his car. Thankfully, he lived nearby. Doubts were beginning to creep in.
I wanted to reach his place before they fully took hold. Sensing my hesitation, he placed his hand on my knee and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
I glanced at him, and he flashed me a quick smile before focusing back on the road.
“Stop overthinking.”
I turned slightly toward him and crossed my arms. “What if I was contemplating how much I want to undress you?”
His eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Were you?”
I let my gaze wander over his body. I didn’t need to verbalize my answer—the look in my eyes said it all.
As soon as we entered his home, he swiftly removed my shirt. It was as if he wanted to get started before I had a chance to change my mind. Or before he did.
His fingertips grazed my skin, starting at my shoulders, gliding over my lacy bra, and then down to my stomach. My eyes fluttered shut as the sensation sent shivers down my spine.
“You are so fucking beautiful, my dark angel.”
I wasn’t sure where the nickname originated from, but I had to admit, I loved it. I opened my eyes to find him staring at me.
“Remember when you referred to me as Mr. Rochester?” he asked, slowly unzipping my skirt.
I nodded in response.
He let my skirt drop to the floor. Then he grabbed my hair, pulling my head back. I gasped at the sudden movement.
His lips were barely touching mine when he spoke. “Say it again.” His voice was low and sensual.
He had me under his spell. His voice, his touch, his commanding presence. I wanted to satisfy him.
“Mr. Rochester,” I whispered seductively, before licking his lips. “I want you to fuck me.”
A wicked, playful smile spread across his handsome face. “Sorry, angel. I don’t fuck my enemies.”
My stomach churned. If this was some sort of game, I wasn’t participating. Before I could object, he kissed me.
With his arm around my waist and his hand still in my hair, he guided me backward. When my back hit a wall, he pressed his body against mine.
His mouth traced along my jaw, up to my ear. “Not without torturing them first, at least.”
I wasn’t entirely sure what he meant, but I was eager to find out. I squealed as he lifted me over his shoulder and smacked my ass.
He carried me into the bedroom and set me down on the bed. “I do enjoy seeing you in my bed.”
He quickly stripped. The sight of him alone nearly pushed me over the edge. The man was a god.
His muscular arms and sculpted abs. His powerful thighs and… My mouth fell open at the sight of him. How could I forget?
“Is that your torture device, Mr. Rochester?”
He chuckled lowly but didn’t reply. Instead, he reached into a drawer next to his bed and pulled out a blindfold.
“Do you trust me?” When I didn’t respond, he prompted, “Angel?”
I looked into his eyes. Yes, I did trust him. I wanted to speak, but all I could do was nod.
I barely knew this man. Yet, he had a strange hold over me. I was ready to surrender to him completely, to give him full control.
I should have been considering how this would impact the case. But that thought was buried deep in my mind, overshadowed by lust and desire.
“I need to hear you say it, angel.”
“Yes. I trust you,” the words escaped her lips in a breathy whisper.
I knew what Eve craved. She yearned for someone to take control. She wanted to escape from every worry and decision.
She wanted to be dominated. I was more than willing to liberate her from whatever burdens she carried. Eve is a smart and independent woman.
Even the strongest women need to let go sometimes.
I gently covered her eyes with the silky blindfold. Tying it securely behind her head, I gave it a firm tug. She gasped and arched her back.
I placed her hands above her head. “Are you going to keep your hands there? Or do I need to tie them up?”
I watched her chest rise and fall rapidly. “I’ll keep them there.”
Her complete submission was making me impossibly hard. I traced my fingers down her arms, then removed her bra.
I groaned at the sight of her, blindfolded, hands above her head, wearing nothing but sexy panties. “God, Eve. I want to devour you.”
I began lightly licking her nipple. Her body squirmed. I moved to the other one.
While licking and teasing the second nipple, I pinched the first one. I looked up to see her hands gripping the headboard. She hadn’t moved them. I smiled.
“Good girl, angel.”
The way her body responded to my words was enough to make me climax without even being touched. I moved down her body, leaving a trail of soft bites and kisses.
Once I reached her panties, I wanted nothing more than to tear them off. But that wasn’t the plan. My dark angel needed to be tortured first.
“Dylan…”
She moaned my name as I gently bit her through her panties. She needed more. Her body was practically begging for it.
I needed more, too. I just had to wait a little longer.
I continued to tease her for another minute before I ripped her panties off. I didn’t hesitate to taste her.
I’d been craving her taste since the moment I first laid eyes on her. As I held her hips steady, I moaned into her, savoring her.
She was so wet, so ready for me. But I wasn’t about to let her off the hook that easily.
Just as she was on the brink of climax, I pulled away. The soft whimper that escaped her lips made my cock twitch.
I gripped it, trying to convince the eager bastard to wait its turn. “Dylan, please.”
“Mmmm… I love it when you beg.”
Without any warning, I flipped her over. I positioned myself at her entrance and leaned in.
“Is this what you’re begging for? Do you want my cock inside you?”
She nodded, her face buried in the sheets.
“Words, angel.”
“Yes. Please.”
I had every intention of entering her slowly, to relish the moment. That plan went out the window immediately.
The moment my cock felt her wetness, I thrust into her from behind. We both cried out, finally getting what we’d been craving.
I slid out slowly, then gave her ass a smack before thrusting back in. I groaned as her pussy tightened around me.
I did it again. I slid out slowly, gave her another smack, then entered her again.
“You like that?”
“Yes.”
She barely managed to get the word out, but she remembered to speak. That earned her a reward.
I leaned forward, still holding her hip steady with one hand. With my other arm wrapped around her, I began to rub her clit. Her pussy tightened immediately, gripping my cock.
“Fuck.”
I couldn’t hold back any longer. “I need you to come, angel. I need to feel your wetness all over my cock.”
My dirty talk was the final push she needed. She came with a scream.
A few more hard thrusts and I was spent. I collapsed on top of her, both of us panting, trying to catch our breath.
Then I laid down beside her, a satisfied smile on my face. I had her. My dark angel was here.
