Guns and Royalties

She’d been hitting the bars for two weeks straight and still nothing.

No butterflies. No chemistry. No immediate attraction.

The guys were either gay or jerks. Or both.

Being a twenty-three-year-old near-recluse virgin was pretty frustrating.

All she wanted was a guy she was attracted to, to help her lose her virginity.

She frowned. She sounded like a college party girl.

But honestly. Was it too much to ask? Lots of girls lose it on prom night.

She wasn’t super pretty, but she wasn’t ugly either. She was just a bit picky.

Who wouldn’t want a hot guy for their first time?

And of course, she wasn’t stupid. Not at all.

She had no desire to be taken advantage of by some random guy or a creep hiding in the shadows of San Francisco.

She also didn’t want to meet someone online.

And end up with a grandpa pretending to be Liam Hemsworth. That may or may not have happened once.

She shivered at the memory. Not a pleasant one.

She wanted it on her own terms.

That was the main reason she was here, scoping out the scene. Getting a feel for the place, so to speak.

The new bar she’d decided to try out this fine Saturday evening was fancy.

Clearly, all the rich and famous had chosen to gather at the same spot.

This looked promising. She hoped.

She even felt pretty in her Versace gray dress. Bought specifically to attract guys.

It highlighted her curves, waist, and legs. All the necessary bait.

Back in college, she’d tried to do it with a jock. The guy was buff and good-looking.

Even though she felt nothing for him, she had convinced herself to just go for it. She did, and didn’t back out.

With her eyes tracing the glow-in-the-dark stickers on her dorm ceiling, the jock between her legs trying to put a condom on his average dick, she waited. And waited.

Then nothing.

When she looked down, he was done, having finished in the condom. She kicked him out, feeling more disgusted with herself than with him.

The next day, the whole campus knew and she was labeled as a cold-hearted bitch.

She never tried to repeat the embarrassing experience. She had better things to do.

Which she did.

When she finished her degree, she had never been prouder of herself.

Freelancing was her thing. She was her own boss. All she had to do was meet deadlines and that was it.

Until a few weeks ago.

Being single and alone made her feel lonely. Maybe.

Maybe she could have a baby of her own...

No, she wasn’t interested in relationships and white picket fences. Just the baby. Why not?

She lived in a small, charming cottage.

Even though she’d grown up mostly alone, she knew she could be a great mom.

She knew it was a bit heartless to use a man, but again, why not? Men had been using women for the same reason.

Specifically, a dick. And ultimately a sperm donor.

And she desperately needed to experience the earth-shattering orgasm she’d only read about in books.

She hoped it would happen tonight while she was ovulating. Or she’d have to do this all over again next month.

She quickly scanned the dimly lit room. Nothing. Sighing heavily, she turned her attention to the cute bartender.

“Another drink, Ms…?”

She noticed his interest. He’d been flirting on and off since she walked in.

Giving him a small smile, she nodded. “Dry martini, please.”

She rarely drank but she needed some courage. Not for the bartender, but for whoever caught her eye.

To make sure he didn’t get the wrong idea, she turned her gaze back to the dimly lit room.

The place was crowded. Men in casual clothes. Women barely dressed, giving seductive looks.

Some were dancing. Some with their chosen partners for the night.

Beau was about to order another drink when someone near the entrance caught her eye.

Her jaw dropped and she blinked.

Wow! He looked like a god. All cocky confidence, like he owned the place.

Very tall and muscular under his black Armani.

His perfectly tailored suit hugged his body, outlining his thighs, his slim waist up to his wide chest and broad shoulders.

Her eyes widened as they reached his chiseled jaw, well-defined nose, and intense gaze, she sucked in a sharp breath.

Awareness tingled across her suddenly alert skin. He was so incredibly attractive, he took her breath away.

She didn’t realize she was openly checking him out until their eyes met across the room.

For a moment, everyone else faded and it was just the two of them.

His dark gray eyes had a hard look in them. His jaw was clenched tight.

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.

He’d caught her staring at him and he didn’t seem to like it one bit, his disapproval reaching her across the room.

Who was she kidding? A guy like him could have any woman he wanted.

Guys like him just had to snap their fingers and women would come running.

And it was clearly not for her. She wasn’t that desperate. Yet.

She decided to stay a few more minutes and then go home. This was a stupid idea anyway.

She’d wasted two weekends when she could have been making more money.

Yes. It was time to move on and forget the intense attraction she felt for the man.

Licking her wounds, she moved to a dark corner of the dance floor, near the exit sign.

She knew how to save face. One dance and she’d say goodbye to this place.

Enjoying the beat of the music, she let loose. Eyes closed, hips swaying. His face kept popping into her mind.

She tried to think of other things to avoid looking at him again. It was pointless.

She really wanted that man. Seriously. There was a throbbing need inside of her she couldn’t ignore.

Her thighs clenched. She knew she was wet down there.

The music was about to end and she had made up her mind to leave.

She gasped out loud when her back was pulled against a firm body, strong hands on her hips, guiding her movements.

Her whole body stiffened. No one touched her without her permission.

A warm breeze brushed against her skin as the man behind her dipped his head to kiss her neck, then lick it.

She shivered.

“Are you dancing for me, moya lyubov?” He whispered, his lips tracing a path on her heated skin.

She knew it was him. She didn’t need to turn around to confirm it. She just knew.

“Hmm…cat got your tongue, baby?”

She needed to be confident. Beau. This was her only chance to sleep with him. She cleared her throat.

“What if I am? Dancing for you.”

Her voice was barely a whisper.

He pulled her closer until she could feel his hardness pressing against her lower back. She responded by moving her hips.

He muttered something in a foreign language, then groaned. Good. He was as affected as she was.

“Fuck! I want you.”

His voice was rough with desire.

He led her deeper into a shadowy corner for some privacy. This time, she was facing him.

With no space between them, he looked down at her, his eyes searching hers. His eyes were still sparkling, filled with lust.

Slowly, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down; he was tall, even with her heels on.

He seemed to understand what she wanted because he cupped her ass in his hands to pull her up, pressing their bodies together before his lips crashed onto hers with hunger.

He swallowed her moan, his tongue exploring her mouth.

She savored him as well, sucking on his tongue, tasting a hint of vodka. He was intoxicating, more potent than any martini.

He responded to her passion by rubbing his hardness against her stomach while his hands massaged her hips and ass.

The heated kiss continued until they had to pull away to breathe.

Both panting heavily, their chests heaving, her breasts pressed against his hard chest, still glued together, with no intention of separating until their desire for each other was satisfied.

“I...” She cleared her throat, then continued. “I want you.”

Her voice was barely audible, but he heard her.

“We can...”

She was about to suggest they go somewhere private, but he shook his head.

Had he changed his mind? He must have seen the disappointment in her eyes because his expression softened.

“Not here, detka. My hotel. I want to fuck you all night. And I don’t want anyone else to see your delectable body.”

She nodded, aware that her cheeks were burning. Thank god, the lights were dim. It was not the time to be shy.

To her surprise, he lifted her into his strong arms, carrying her to the back exit of the bar.

He seemed to know what he was doing. It was strange to trust him, but she did.

Ignoring the envious stares of other women, she held onto his neck, her cheek resting against his broad chest.

She felt like she had hit the jackpot tonight.

The cool night air brushed against her skin; she shivered. He held her closer, sharing his warmth.

Beau closed her eyes, savoring his strength.

He barked orders in Russian. Immediately, a car door opened for them, and he gently placed her on the black leather seat, then slid in next to her, pulling her closer to his body.

“Close the panel, Dmitry.”

His voice was so commanding and deep, she shivered in anticipation.

He must have noticed because he pulled her onto his lap.

“Oh, God!” The short dress she was wearing had ridden up to her hips, which he took advantage of by kneading her buttocks covered in a thin silk red lace thong.

The front was no better. His thick length, covered by his pants, was pressed against her wet panties which barely covered her slit.

“My name’s Dominic, baby. Scream my name when you cum.”

Now that they were alone, their kiss was unrestrained. More desperate.

He nibbled her lips, his tongue sweeping the inside of her mouth. His hands were not idle either.

He showed her how to grind against him even though they were still fully clothed.

It went on and on. Making her lose her mind.

She protested when he pulled away. “We are here, baby.”

He smirked. She hadn't even realized they had reached the hotel.

He got out first, then, like a gentleman, he helped her out of the car.

However, as soon as her feet touched the ground, he swept her into his arms again.

Ignoring the onlookers, he didn’t even stop at the reception desk, heading straight for a private elevator, where a man in all black held the door open for them.

Three men followed them inside, making her nervous.

She hoped she hadn’t made a mistake. She didn’t want anyone else, just him.

He must have read her expression. His face hardened.

“I will never hurt you nor share you with anyone, moya lyubov. You are mine and mine alone.”

There was a fire in his gray eyes that spoke the truth.

She smiled faintly at him, letting him know she trusted him—as crazy as it sounded.

The ding of the elevator told her they were on his floor. His men held the doors open for them but didn’t follow.

Dominic carried her to the only set of double doors on the floor. The place looked like a penthouse.

His men bowed their heads, leaving them alone.

Dominic adjusted her in his arms so he could place his palm on a scanner, granting them entry to his suite.

He walked directly to his elegant bedroom with a masculine interior. She didn’t get a chance to admire the suite.