Chapter 17
Lily's POV.
My hands clung to Joe's shoulders as my lips crushed into his, my body aching for more. Every inch of me was trembling. Some part of my brain told me I should stop him, that this was too much, too fast, too dangerous.
But my body had a will of its own. Right then, there was nothing more real, more irresistible, than Joe's hands on me.
He pulled back, his lips brushing mine as his dark gaze searched my face. "Lily," he breathed.
"I'm sorry for pushing you away. Sorry for everything."
I didn't want to hear apologies. I pressed a finger against his lips. "Not now." My chest ached with want, years of rejection, confusion, and longing all bubbling up to this moment.
My fingers tangled in his hair as I pulled him back to me, kissing him deeper. The heat of our kiss was like fire, igniting every nerve in my body. He hesitated at first, but then closed the distance, capturing my mouth in a fierce kiss.
It wasn't gentle, it was desperate and urgent, his hands tangling in my hair as he pulled me closer. I kissed him back, each movement building until everything else vanished, the hotel, the hallway, even Mark's waiting at dinner.
Soon my hands were fumbling with the buttons of his shirt, desperate to feel his skin against mine.
We sank to the floor, our bodies pressing together. Joe's hands roamed my back, unzipping the side of my dress while our lips never parted. I gasped when the fabric pooled at my ankles, leaving me in nothing but my undergarments. Heat flared down my spine as his fingers brushed across my skin, admiring, exploring.
The room seemed to disappear around us as our clothes slid to the floor. My gaze drank in every inch of him as I stepped out of my dress, my hands trembling with anticipation. His dark eyes roamed my body like I was something precious, and I felt my cheeks flush under his stare.
"God, Lily, You're beautiful," he murmured before his hands began their slow, gentle exploration, his touch electric against my skin. Every careful caress made me gasp, every brush of his fingers drawing a low moan from my lips. He took his time, kissing a path along my collarbone, pausing to let me feel every inch of him against me. My pulse thundered and I arched into him.
His hands guided mine to his chest, and I traced the ridges of his muscles. He groaned at my touch, and I realized I'd never felt safer, or more alive. In that moment, the world narrowed to the two of us on that carpeted floor, breathing in the same heady rhythm.
He knew what he was doing, skillfully using his hands to draw me toward dizzying pleasure. I clung to him as I felt myself spiral higher and higher until my body broke into trembling waves of sensation. When I finally opened my eyes again, Joe was looking down at me with a dark intensity that made my heart pound.
He leaned in close to kiss my neck, hands already moving to free himself when a sharp knock on the door shattered the moment.
"Room service," a voice called. "Sir, there's someone looking for a Miss Lily? A Mr. Mark has been going room to room."
Another sharp knock came through the door again, which made me flinch.
"Lily?" Mark's voice drifted through, loud, anxious. "Lily, are you in there?"
Joe's body stiffened, and my eyes went wide with panic. "Lily," he whispered urgently. "You need to hide."
I grabbed my dress in a scramble, pulling it on as quickly as I could while Joe yanked on his clothes. My heart was beating in my ears as he moved to the door and cracked it open just enough to hide me behind it.
Joe opened it just enough. Mark's eyes widened. "Hey, Joe…have you seen my girlfriend?" His voice was light, but when he spotted Joe's tense posture, it faltered. "I've been looking all over…"
"Sorry, man," Joe said smoothly. "She's not here."
Mark tilted his head, suspicion flickering. "Are you sure?"
"Positive," Joe replied, stepping aside to let Mark look in. The suite was neat…no sign of us. Mark's gaze searched the room, lingering on the couch where I'd been lying.
He frowned. "Okay… I'll keep looking." Mark paused in the doorway, my eyes meeting Joe's for a tense second, then he stepped out, closing the door behind him.
Finally, I heard the shuffle of footsteps moving away, and Joe slowly closed the door. My hands were still trembling as I slipped past him, avoiding his eyes.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I… I'm fine. I uh… I have to go," I murmured, slipping into the hall before anything more could happen.
The hallway was empty. I slipped out and sprinted down the corridor, my breath catching in my throat. My heels clicked as I fled until I found the ladies' restroom and locked myself in a stall.
There, with my heart still racing, tears stung my eyes. Guilt and exhilaration warred inside me. I'd just surrendered to years of longing with the man who'd rejected me… but it was the most intense, alive I'd ever felt. My old code against cheating shattered under the weight of that kiss.
I felt dizzy with shame and exhilaration at once. "That can't happen again," I whispered to myself. "That was the last time."
After what felt like an eternity, I straightened my dress and applied fresh lip gloss. My reflection showed a girl both exhilarated and broken. I took a deep breath and slipped out of the stall.
The corridor was quiet. I tiptoed down the stairs to the lobby restaurant and slipped back to our table, my dress straightened and my face as calm as I could make it.
Moments later, Mark appeared, breathless and worried.
"There you are," he exclaimed, reaching for my hands. "Where have you been? I was looking all over for you."
"I was in the bathroom," I replied, forcing my lips into a tired smile. "Guess you didn't look hard enough."
Mark searched my face, brow furrowed. "You sure you're okay?"
"Yes," I whispered, my heart pounding. "I'm fine."
He hesitated before pulling me into a hug, relief flooding his voice. "I was so scared I lost you. I was so worried. You just disappeared."
I met his gaze, words choking in my throat. "I'm sorry." I gave his back a gentle squeeze. "I'm here now."
I held him back stiffly, my mind flashing back to Joe's hands, his mouth, his warmth. "I'm okay," I repeated, my voice softer, feeling as if my words might shatter like glass at any second.