Page 7 of Choosing Scarlet

Henry straightens as we approach, surprise flashing across his face. It’s not unusual for me to leave early, but he likely expected me to stay longer this time. His gaze flicks from me to Scarlet, and momentarily, I see the curiosity behind his professional restraint.

Before he can say anything, I reach into my jacket and pull out my wallet. I hand him a few crisp hundred-dollar bills. He looks confused as he accepts them.

“Sir … ?” he begins cautiously.

“I’ll be driving home myself tonight,” I say. “That’s for the inconvenience and for the taxi fare to get you home. Take the rest as a bonus for waiting.” I meet his eyes briefly, making sure he understands. “I’ll see you again tomorrow afternoon. Thank you.”

Henry hesitates for a moment, but he eventually gives a respectful nod. “Of course, Mr. Fisher. Have a good evening.”

I nod back and turn my attention to Scarlet. Her gaze meets mine in the dim light of street lights above us, and for a heartbeat, everything stills. I open the passenger door for her, ensuring she’s comfortable before walking to my seat. For the first time in a long while, I’m not thinking about business, reputation, or control.

All I can think about is her.

I reach for the ignition, but stop when my eyes meet hers again. The soft light catches her face just right, and for a moment, I can only think about how close she’s now that we’re finally alone.

“I want to kiss you,” I say quietly, giving her the choice. Even in this situation, her consent matters to me more than anything else.

Her breath catches, and she whispers, “Yes.”

That single word is enough. I lean in, my hand finding her cheek, my thumb brushing lightly against her skin. Our eyes meet one last time before I close the distance.

The moment our lips touch, I feel like a spark igniting deep inside me, setting my entire body on fire until no rational thoughts are left inside my head.

Fuck, I need her.

That’s the only thing that matters at that moment.

My body is hardly my own as my hand drifts down, toward her throat, where it wraps around the delicate skin firmly to make my claim. Instantly, she melts into my touch, with another moan escaping her lips.

“Yes,” she pleads again, her breath catching in her throat. I kiss her once again, and my grip tightens just a little bit more, restricting her further. “Yes, please.”

Right then, as those words echo in my ears, I know there’s no going back.

SCARLET

His hands are on me before we even make it to the penthouse. The drive back to his place drags on into an eternity, and I can barely handle it, but somehow, we make it.

The moment we step into the elevator, he grabs me and pins me back against the wall of endless mirrors behind me. I greet the gesture with a slight grunt, tipping my head backward. One of his hands is on my hip, while the other remains on my throat. Since he’s grabbed it back in the car for the first time, I suppose he’s noticed that it gets a rise out of me, and he has every intention of using it against me.

Not that I mind.

Breath play has been one of my main kinks since I first discovered sex and started engaging in it. It’s not often that clients care much about my pleasure and preferences rather than their own, so I gladly take any chance I have to enjoy it.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he murmurs against my ear in that low, growly tone that has goosebumps rise across my skin. His lips drag heavy kisses over my skin, leaving a trail of heat in their path. “I’ve been thinking about it from the moment I first set my eyes on you.”

My lips part, and a small gasp escapes. Compliments from clients aren’t unusual, but there’s something so sincere and raw about his, that it makes me feel like I’m about to lose my mind. I feel every single word that leaves his lips all over my body.

“Knox …” I moan, squirming against him. My composure is long lost; I’m at his mercy now, and I know it. “More. Please.”

As the words leave my lips, a loud ding notifies us that we’ve arrived at his penthouse. The door opens, but he doesn’t let me go. Instead, he picks me up with ease as my arms wrap around his shoulders, and carries me down the brief hall that leads to his penthouse door.

As he opens the door, his dogs come rushing forward.

“Back,” he commands sternly, and both instantly step back, obeying his voice. His focus returns to me as he carries me into the bedroom. He places me down the moment we step inside, and his lips find mine again. I don’t even have the time to look at my surroundings, nor do they matter. My purse drops to the ground, and I couldn’t care less about it.

I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him in closer, barely able to steady my breathing as his hands roam across my body. At last, they climb up to the straps of my dress, slowly sliding them down my shoulders. I allow my arms to fall by my sides, so the dress slides down my body effortlessly, leaving me bare and revealed to him in nothing but my underwear.

It’s the same thing I’ve done a million times before; gotten undressed before a client like this, yet there is something so different about all of this. The way he looks at me. The worship in his expression. The hunger in his gaze.