"If no one has questions, please sign the agreement and bring them to the front." Gabriel's commanding voice fills the room.
Each of my remaining classmates signs the agreement and begins filing toward the front of the room.I waste no time following behind them, but as I place my agreement on the table, I come face-to-face with the last person I planned to see here: Bryce.
My gaze roams his body, taking in his muscular legs covered in perfectly-tailored black pants and the sleeves of his chef’s jacket rolled to the elbows with the top button open, exposing the lightly tanned skin of his neck. Finally, I fixate on his hazel eyes, which are blazing with something I can't quite name.
Moisture instantly pools between my legs, and I lick my lips, imagining what his skin would taste like if I ran my tongue across it before pressing a feather-light kiss to his lips…
How can this be happening to me?
Oh, my God.
I can't hear anything but the sound of my heart pounding in my ears as I become lightheaded and pitch forward slightly, causing me to grip the edge of the workstation for support.
Bryce. The man I fantasized about all night to the point that I couldn't sleep. I dreamed about him doing very naughty things to me, things I've never eventhoughtof letting anyone do to me before. I wasn't kidding when I said he was my first kiss. He is my first everything.
"Are you alright?" The deep timbre of his voice causes my center to tighten.
My pulse spins out of control as I try to wrap my head around how I'm going to keep control of my body enough to focus on the class.
I clench my legs together tightly, seeking some sort of relief from the feeling coursing through me. I've been attracted to men before and even given myself an orgasm or two, but never anything like this. It’s like a tidal wave of pleasure is waiting to consume me and I'm powerless to stop it. The only thing on my mind is the desire to feel the scruff of his beard rubbing against the inside of my thighs or the way his hands would feel wrapped around my waist after he bent me over this workstation.
"Yep," I mumble before pulling my lip between my teeth and biting down.
I open my mouth a few times, trying to find something, anything, to say to make this situation better. But I can't stop the filthy images from my dreams from running through my head like a movie reel.
"I have to go," I squeak as I dash toward the nearest exit and tears spring to my eyes.
Out of all the people I could've shared a kiss with last night, it had to be the man who could shape my future. Bryce Thomas could call any restaurant in the world and recommend me, or he could force me to go home with my tail between my legs and work for my parents. They'd be ecstatic, but if I'm being honest with myself, I want something more out of my future.
CHAPTERFOUR
BRYCE
"Charlotte!" I shout as I spin on my heels to race after her, but Giselle grips my arm.
"What's going on, Bryce?" Her eyes pull down in confusion.
“Fuck off, Giselle.” I pull my arm from her grasp and burst through the door in search of Charlotte.
My entire body ached after she left the bar last night. I tried to chalk it up to being aroused by a woman for the first time in years, but even after taking matters into my own hands, I'm still just as keyed up. I only spent a few moments with Charlotte, but the tinkling sound of her laughter, the way her cheeks darkened when she looked at me for the first time, and the way her lips felt pressed against mine are engrained on my soul.
I had no idea it was possible to feel so possessive of someone I’ve just met, but the need to keep her hidden away from everyone is overwhelming. I had every intention of heading back to the hotel after class tonight and demanding they tell me what room she was in, but it seems fate had other plans. It's as if the universe is pulling us toward one another, ensuring we don't waste this chance.
There's no denying it: Charlotte is mine. Mind, body, and soul. Now that I have her in my sights for a second time, I refuse to let her get away, even if I have to chase her to the ends of the Earth.
I skid around the corner to see Charlotte crumbled down in the corner, swiping at her eyes as she sobs.
"There you are." My voice softens as I approach her slowly before lowering myself in front of her.
I grip her chin lightly between my fingers and lift, forcing her to look me right at me. Her emerald-green eyes shine with tears.
"Don't cry, mon ange,”I whisper, using my thumb to brush the tears from her cheek.My angel.
"I'm sorry, Chef." Her eyes drift shut as she nuzzles her cheek into my palm and sighs.
The sound goes directly to my cock as it hardens inside my pants.
I lean forward and brush my lips against hers. Her eyes fly open as she steps away from me, adjusting her chef’s jacket before plastering a fake smile on her face.