Gentle air blew in the open space where Maria and Miles alighted from the elevator.
Rare and expensive artifacts, far superior to those downstairs.
A special pass allowed VIP guests to explore this part of the museum.
Soft, warm light from a smaller chandelier glowed from the ceiling.
Only then did Maria notice the faint shadow of a balcony casting a subtle night glow inside.
"Wow!" Maria said before she could stop herself.
"Never been up here?" Miles asked, still looking ahead, his presence solid beside her.
"No, S-Miles," she replied, lowering her gaze and briefly biting her lips.
"Then I owe you a tour," he said. "Too tired to give one tonight."
Maria smiled inwardly.
He was too charming to be real.
She wished she'd met him before Daniel.
He moved toward the balcony, and she followed, side-eyeing the artifacts as they passed.
She had wanted to push her luck for his insights on the target list, but his confession about being tired made her swallow the thought.
The gentle breeze caressed her hair, the mint in her hair oil soothing her scalp as she stepped onto the balcony.
The view below was lovely.
Luxury cars lined the concrete and grass, each pole crowned with gold lights glowing against the night.
Some guests were already outside, and soft music drifted from the museum entrance.
"Too cold?" Miles asked, noticing her small clutch at herself.
Her eyes flickered, the wine making her thoughts double-edged.
She glanced at Miles, meeting his quizzical stare.
He was such a hot mess of a jealous man, and the thought made her smile.
She liked imagining herself as his, watching him struggle with it.
Maria dropped her hands to the sides of her dress as she let her gaze fall.
Miles' cologne enveloped her. "How has work been, Maria?"
She faced the balcony rail—her mind nudged her to speak, or else she'd keep waking up half-asleep, the workload actively threatening her performance on the project.
"It's been…" she fidgeted with her fingers. "It's been terrible."
"I can tell." Maria froze as his warm breath drifted against her ear—realizing he was now an inch behind her.
**
Miles's fingers stretched in his pockets, his eyes tracing the subtle arch of her back and the curve of her waist down to where her full rear pressed against the draping fabric.
He had noticed her tension, the way she sipped her wine, trying to enjoy the event despite exhaustion.
His gaze drifted from her shoulders to the nape of her neck. "Something I can help with? I need you focused on that project."
Miles' trousers tightened as his eyes caught her hands folding beneath her breasts, faintly outlining the aroused tips through the fabric.
He swallowed, struggling to hold back as he stood behind her.
One aim was to show her how much he valued her trust—and to erase Kayden's audacity toward her.
"Pete keeps piling unnecessary tasks on me. Tasks that interns could handle, he seems oblivious that I have the project to work on."
Maria said, tone slightly shaky; he couldn't tell if it was the cold or their closeness.
Miles stepped back slightly, resisting the heat of their scandalous tension.
Irritation flared through him at the thought of Kayden nearly offering her a date.
"I'll look into it," he said tightly. "We should head down."
She looked over her shoulders slowly—almost seductively, voice soft and husky. "Mr Kayden's wine is really good."
Miles closed the space between them instantly.
One of his palms pressed her back, soft yet firm against him.
A subtle gasp escaped her, lower lip caught between her teeth as she arched her neck toward his strained breaths.
"I might start to think you're doing this on purpose, Maria," he whispered against her neck, vanilla teasing his nostrils.
"I'm not sure I understand, sir." Her words made the pressure between his legs throb, her body pressing closer in response.
"I'm sure you don't need me to spell it out." his nose inhaled her skin, palms sliding along her waist.
Goosebumps rose under his touch, coaxing, soft, breathy sounds that licked at his senses.
He lifted her face to his, wine and lust flickering in her eyes.
"I think I had too much wine, sir," she mewled, lips parted slightly, her breath teasing him.
"You make it frustrating for me to understand you, Maria."
His fingers grazed the swell of her breasts, teasing the line of her dress.
"It's hard to believe it's frustrating for you," she countered, holding his gaze.
The urge to slip his hand beneath her dress burned, but Miles slowly withdrew, not yielding to her intoxicated state.
Kayden's wine had fueled the fire—no denying that.
As his body drew back, her lust-filled whisper cut. "Soft, beautiful hands."
Miles didn't hesitate.
He closed the distance, stealing her gasp in a breathtaking kiss.
His hands sank beneath her dress, finding the warm curves of her breasts, fingers grazing the hardened tips as he silenced the sounds that slipped from her.
Her knees weakened beneath him.
He freed a palm, sliding it around her waist to hold her there so she could take the kiss and reaction she had provoked in him.
Her hands moved on their own—one behind his neck, the other sliding along the side of his trousers.
**
Maria's mind screamed 'yes' as Miles devoured her, his strong hands stirring the flames the wine had lit inside her.
She liked the way he claimed her body, the precise urgency of every touch.
His hardness pressed between her buttocks, making her shiver.
He broke the kiss, their breaths mingled, washing over each other's faces.
"You didn't come to the fundraiser just for formalities, did you?" he whispered.
Before she could answer, the elevator chimed, and they parted quickly.
Maria adjusted her dress; Miles remained close until she was ready.
"The chauffeur will drive you home," he said, striding forward.
She followed, hand covering her lips, the other folded, passing four ladies approaching the balcony.
One winked at Miles, another glanced back to ogle him, before matching the stink eye her friends threw Maria's way.
Fear crept in; the wine had made her go too far.
She remembered telling herself in the mirror to be sterner with Miles—but had done the opposite.
She felt guilty blaming the wine; she should have controlled herself—perhaps why Miles had decided she would be chauffeured home.
Shame pressed down as they descended to the grand floor.
At their table, she gently picked up her purse.
"Leaving so soon?" Kayden asked, sly curiosity in his tone as Miles settled beside him, eyes still on her. "Thought it was Miles leaving soon."
Maria's gaze flicked to Rhea's cutting stare, capable of killing with a glance.
She forced a smile. "I have to tend to an emergency."
"Then let me drive you off," Kayden said, eyes sliding to Miles, a teasing smile on his lips. "You look flustered."
"Never mind, sir." Maria cut through the tension. "I have a driver. It's nice to meet you, Rhea."
Rhea nodded tightly, looking away.
"You too, Mr Kayden," Maria added, swallowing. "Have a good night, Mr Miles."
She walked toward the exit. At the front, the familiar chauffeur—the same from the night she first kissed Miles—waited by the blue Mercedes' open passenger seat.
She slid in, and as the car pulled from the Museum's compound, the weight of her situation pressed down.
Even if she wanted to escape Miles—the one who made the company recognize her relevance—Daniel wasn't an option, yet, he still pulled the strings as her employer, and in public, as her boyfriend.