The Accidental Mistress

Careful of where she stepped, she crept out into the suite. She saw nothing at first. There were too many shadows in the unlit suite. But when she turned to go back in the room, she caught a glimpse of him. Slouched down in the sofa with torn pieces of paper all around him, it was her hero, Christophe.

"Mon Dieu!"

His eyes stretched open as he frowned and squinted at her in the darkness.

"What am I doing here?" she asked him.

Christophe slumped forward. He seemed as confused as she was. He set the empty glass on the coffee table and looked down at the shredded remains of what she now guessed to be photographs.

"Did you bring me here!" she demanded.

"Stop yelling," he said, putting his hand to his forehead.

"Answer me! Did you take advantage of me?"

He peeked through his spread fingers at her. "What?"

"You did! You got me drunk and brought me here!"

Christophe glared at her. His eyes doing a full long sweep of her.

"Why are you in my robe?" he snapped back.

Suddenly it dawned on her that she was in his robe, and nude underneath. She gathered the collar in her fist and clenched the other at her side. "I thought I was with my sister. I took a shower, I... I didn't know I was in your room. Why am I here?"

Christophe rose and Zuri stepped back. His shirt was pulled out of his slacks and his tie cast aside. Half his face was covered in shadows. But even in the darkness, she saw the light of anger in his eyes. "You've recovered. Fine, get dressed and get out," he mumbled, going back to the bar. She watched him pour another drink from a nearly depleted bottle.

Instead of leaving, curiosity drew her to the pictures torn to pieces all over the floor. Zuri stooped and picked up a piece then another, trying to understand.

"I said go."

"What's wrong with you? Why did you do this?"

"That's none of your business."

Zuri’s gaze turned toward him. He glared down at her. "I apologize for accusing you of something improper. I apologize for, I dunno, for this. I appreciate what you did, bringing me here. My father wouldn't have been happy to have me dropped at his door drunk. So thank you. That being said, there is no need to be nasty. I'll go."

"Wait." Christophe set the bottle down. She did. For what she wasn't sure, but there was something oddly compelling in the way he spoke that single word to her. She turned, the darkness had cleared like a black fog retreating to the corners of the room she could see him now. "I'm sorry too. Tonight, it's been a night."

Zuri watched him approach with a predator's ease. "You okay?" he asked. "You were pretty wasted."

"Yes. I should go."

Christophe smiled. She liked when he smiled. Her lungs filled with air and she relaxed. There was nothing to fear about him. He touched her hair. The strands were wet from the shower. Her roots were frizzy from the steam. She knew from her cursory glance in the bathroom mirror that she must look a sight.

"Accept my apology for snapping at you, Zuri."

"Um, ookay."

"You are quite lovely. Do you know that?" She stammered another half reply, and before she knew it he kissed her. Zuri eyes stretched. His lips covered hers, their teeth clicked until his tongue forced its way in. Shocked by the boldness of the kiss, she gripped his sleeves. He brought his arms around her waist and lifted her to the tips of her toes as he dipped his tongue in wonderful swirls that swept through her mouth.

She should have pushed him away. It was totally reckless and unlike her to just kiss a man in his hotel room after a night of drinking. But his urgency and her curiosity made her bold. The mix had a devastating chemical reaction that stoked the idle flames of her desire for his touch. Her brain silenced her objections with a sensory overload. She concentrated on the rhythm of his tongue as it guided her to the pleasures of a truly passionate kiss.

Finally, he released her, but her mouth gaped and her eyes remained closed for round two. She felt him grab her by the collar of the robe and was immediately aware of the arousal he stirred.

"I'm a dead man, beautiful. Do you understand? Dead." He pulled her closer and pressed his lips this time softly to hers, trailing them next to her neck. There he nuzzled and applied several gentle kisses. She felt her spine melt and all her limbs grow weak. His gentle manner caused her to react with her head as he sucked her neck. Breathing became a chore. Her hands now gripped his waist, fingers slipping into the belt loops. His mouth continued to massage her neck with his tongue, moving sensually to her shoulder. It felt good.
When his passionate kisses ended, she nearly dropped. If he hadn't held her, she would have stumbled from the newfound feeling of passion that overcame her. "I shouldn't do this," he said in a gruff voice. "Tell me to stop and I will."

Zuri blinked up at the ceiling, dazed and confused. Tell him to stop? How was she supposed to do that? She had no idea what this was or why her body was both hot and cold all at once. She could barely breathe through her desire, let alone retain a coherent thought. Now it was up to her to decide if this would go further? Didn't he know? It had been decided when he kissed her.