The Arrangement Anthology 1(67)

After dinner, Sean stands and takes my hand, pulling me up. With my heels on, I can look directly into his eyes. They captivate me and swallow me whole. The floor of my stomach falls away. I suck at this. I don’t know how I’m supposed to do this and not be affected by him. Sean tells the waiter to send up the desserts in an hour or so. He takes my hand and leads me to the elevators.

Someone tries to come in with us, but Sean says, “Sorry, better catch the next one.” He holds up his hand until the doors close a second later. We’re alone.

I glance at him like he’s lost his mind. Sean grins wickedly and reaches past me. He pulls the stop button and the elevator goes dark. Sean presses into me and my back slams into the wall. Sean’s hands run over my sides as he leans in, pinning me in place. My breath catches in my throat. The darkness in the tiny room chokes me. Panic slide up my throat.

Sean whispers in my ear, “I’m sorry, but you seriously think you can tell me that you’re wearing nothing beneath this skimpy little dress and not make me hard the instant you say it? Feel me, Avery. That’s what you do to me.” Sean tilts his hips and presses into my leg. I feel his hard length press against me from under the constraints of his slacks.

I’m breathing harder and faster than usual. I hate elevators. I can’t breathe. The first time Sean stopped it, we started moving again two seconds later, but this terrifies me. Beads of sweat form on my face. I suck in a jagged breath, trying not to scream.

Sean has me pressed against the wall, which makes it worse. I can’t see him. I can’t move. Voice shaking, I plead, “Stop.”

Sean drops my hands and before I know it, my palms are against his chest and I’m pushing him away. Sean steps back. I feel a vacuum of cold air fill his place. He must push the button back in, because the lights flicker on and we start moving again. Nervously, I tuck my hair behind my ear. I wish I could shrink into the corner and disappear. My heart is still pounding like I’m going to die. Elevators are like big caskets. When they stop, it feels like there’s no air. My heart nearly exploded. It’s not sexy, it’s terrifying. And then Sean pinned me. I gasp, thinking that I’m going to be sick.

Sean gazes at me with a strange look on his face. Desire still swims in his eyes. His affection for me doesn’t diminish, the way I thought it would. After watching me for a second, Sean says, “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you are claustrophobic.” His eyes are burning a hole in my face, demanding that I meet his gaze.

When I look up, I can’t breathe. Sean is so intense, so attractive. He lures me in and I never had a chance. “I’m not,” I lie. No one’s realized this about me. I hate it that Sean does. I try to break the gaze, but I can’t.

“Then what upset you?” When I don’t answer he steps closer to me. “Was it the way I touched you?” I shake my head. I know where he’s going with this.

Swallowing hard, I answer. “I just didn’t expect it, that’s all.”

Sean nods and seems to accept that as my answer. It isn’t until later that I found out that he didn’t accept it at all.





CHAPTER 13



Sean unlocks the door to the penthouse. I follow him into the room. My heart still beats too fast, too hard. When Sean throws his keys onto the hallway table, he follows me into the room. Taking my hand, he leads me to the center of the room. Sean closes the space between us and presses his body against mine. He starts to sway slightly, like we’re dancing. I wrap my arms around him and hold on loosely. His hands slip over the back of my dress. I feel his fingers cup my butt before finding the hem of the dress insanely close. Sean’s hands smooth over the outside of my dress and he looks at me. I know he’s aroused. I don’t have to feel his pants, I can see it in his eyes.

My heart thumps in my chest when he looks at me like that. My entire body responds to him and prickles. I want to feel his hands slip over my skin.

Sean seems to read my mind. Without breaking eye contact, he slides his hands down my sides, feeling my little black dress. When he reaches the hem, his hands move under the fabric. He pulls me closer and slides his hands around back, feeling my bare ass. He responds instantly. I can feel his dick pressing into my belly. The sensation warms me in a way that makes my insides pulse. Why do I react to him? Can’t I just let him fuck me and not care?

The thoughts vanish along with every other logical thing in my brain. Sean dips his head to my neck and finds the place that makes me weak. He presses our bodies together, still swaying his hips gently against mine. One hand is firmly holding my butt and squeezes hard while the other drifts around to the front. He lowers his hand between us and dips his fingers between my legs. The response is instant. I moan and fall into him. I can’t stand when he does that to me, but Sean makes me remain where I am.