Legacy by M.A. Foster

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Katie

Several drinks later, the three of us are back on the dance floor moving to “Best Friend.” Kennedy is in her dance bubble once more, making her signature duck face as she bends over in front of me and shakes her skinny ass—which I can see clearly because her dress is so short. She looks back and laughs, but it’s short-lived. Straightening, she whips around and narrows her eyes over my shoulder.

Turning my head, I follow her line of sight to see Adam chatting with a several models huddled near the deejay booth. It’s harmless. He’s not touching them or being inappropriate, just showing off his charismatic smile. I start to tell her to shrug it off, that he’s an entertainer and it comes with the territory, but then I remember how upset she was earlier. Who am I to tell her how to feel?

I look back at Kennedy to see the crestfallen expression on her face, and my heart twists in my chest.

“Go,” I yell over the music and jerk my chin toward the deejay booth.

“What’s wrong?” Gabbi asks with a frown.

“I guess the dress was a bust.” Kennedy gives us a sad smile and waves a hand over the front of her outfit.

“You look hot, Ken,” Gabbi reassures her. “He’s just too busy to appreciate it. Don’t overthink it.”

Kennedy nods, but the damage is done. Her self-confidence has sunk to an all-time low and been replaced with self-doubt.

Ugh.

“Go claim your man.” I grin and give her a light smack on the butt for good luck, then turn back to Gabbi, who’s disappeared in a sea of writhing bodies. It only takes a second to spot her through the crowd, on the opposite side of the dance floor, draped all over Cooper. I wondered where he was hiding.

I feel a hard chest at my back and a pair of firm hands on my waist. I turn my head to the side to peek over my shoulder and see it’s Dylan Mackenzie.

He leans down so his lips are close to my ear. “Dance with me,” he says in a deep, velvety voice with no hint of flirtatiousness. He’s not asking me to dance—he’s commanding. And I like it. It’s so… alpha. Yum.

Who am I right now?

Desire stirs low in my belly, and suddenly I forget how to move. My heart is pounding in my chest, and my legs have turned to jelly. Then he presses into me and we begin to move together, our hips swaying to the beat of “I’m The One.”

Reaching behind me, I snake my arms around his neck. He moves his hands from my hips to my lower abdomen and dips his head, brushing his lips across my jaw. “I can’t believe I’m dancing to fucking Justin Bieber.”

I roll my head to the side and laugh out loud, drawing attention from couples dancing close by. His body shakes with laughter against my back.

Turning in his arms, I drape mine loosely over his shoulders and take in his features. I’ve only met Liam Mackenzie a couple times, years ago, but I’ve seen him plenty on TV and in magazines. There’s definitely a familial resemblance. Black hair, eyes the color of emeralds, and lips I want to kiss at midnight. Hell, I want to kiss them all night. I don’t know anything about this man except that he comes from a very well-known family.

I suck in a deep breath through my nose, inhaling his masculine scent, a delicious mixture of soap, sweat, and alpha male. A recipe for bad news. Warning bells are going off in my brain, but I’m too drunk on desire to care.

Then he smirks, and I’m fucking done. “What’s your name, beautiful?”

Beautiful?The man who just had Gianna Puglisi in his lap called me beautiful.

Between champagne brain and having his hands on my ass, I can barely remember my name, much less form the word.

“Katie,” I finally breathe.

“I’m Dylan.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him I know exactly who he is, but that would require a whole lot of explaining, and I don’t want to break this connection with talk of Vanessa and Liam.

We continue to grind on the dance floor as one song rolls into another. I wonder how long I’ll have him before Gianna comes over and drags him back to the VIP section.

Dylan moves one hand from my ass down the back of my thigh, lifting my leg and sliding his thigh between mine. My nails dig into his shoulders as I roll my hips to the beat of Post Malone’s “Better Now” while grinding down on his muscular thigh, creating a delicious friction against the throbbing between my legs. It’s been so long. Too long. I need more.

As if he can hear my thoughts, Dylan dips his head, pressing his lips to that sweet spot on my neck just below my ear, sending an electric jolt straight to my nipples as a soft moan pushes past my lips. My chest heaves as he trails kisses along my jaw. He pulls back slightly to look down at me with hooded eyes before dipping his head once more and capturing my mouth in a scorching kiss, pushing his tongue past my already parted lips and sliding it against mine.

The music fades in the distance until the only sound is my pulse pounding in my ears. Dylan continues to devour my mouth for what feels like hours until someone bumps into us, breaking the lust-filled spell. I gasp for air as I take a step back and look around the dance floor, relieved to see no one is paying attention. My eyes dart to the VIP area, expecting to find Gianna glaring at us, but she’s not there.

Dylan curls an arm around my waist and leans into my ear. “Let’s get out of here. I’ve got a room upstairs.”

“I’ve got one, too.” I counter.

“Let’s go.” He takes my hand and pulls me toward the exit leading into the lobby of the hotel. I’m tempted to ask him about Gianna, but I don’t. Because it doesn’t matter. He’s leaving with me. My one-night resolution.

Which reminds me….

I pull my phone from my pocket and send a group text to Kennedy and Gabbi. I’m with Dylan. See u in the a.m.

The elevator pings as the doors open, and Dylan gestures for me to go first. Stepping inside the car.

“I’m on the fifth floor,” I tell him.

He presses the button for the penthouse, and I raise my brows in question.

“The view is better,” he explains with a devilish grin.

As the doors slide shut, I notice a small group of men gathered in the lobby, one of them my boss, Tom, and of course, Peter, who’s staring this way, his curious gaze bouncing between Dylan and me.

Unease rolls down my spine, but the feeling is thwarted by Dylan when he steps forward, cupping my face and pressing his lips to mine in a deep, passionate kiss that has my knees buckling. All too soon, the elevator slows to a stop with a ding, and we pull apart, both breathless and vibrating with need.

Dylan clears his throat, and out of the corner of my eye, I see him adjusting himself through his dress pants. I twist my head to the side to hide my grin. The doors open, and he reaches for my hand as we step out into the hallway.

I give myself a little pep talk as we make our way down the hall, Dylan beside me, our hands entwined.

Should I tell him I know who he is? That I know Liam? Why am I so nervous? It’s just one night with a hot stranger. Although, technically he’s not a stranger. Is that worse? What happens when I see him again?

Shut up, Katie, and let this guy fuck your brains out.

Yeah, I can totally do this.

“Alex said you designed Bliss,” he prompts, pulling me from my thoughts as we stop outside his hotel door.

“I did.” I nod and look up at his profile. “What did you think?”

He turns his face to me. “I’m impressed.”

Releasing my hand, he pulls a keycard from his pocket and waves it over the electronic lock. “Will Alex be worried when he realizes you’re gone?” I ask as I follow him through the door.

Dylan chuckles. “I’m a big boy. I can handle myself.”

God, I really hope so.

* * *

Before the door is even shut, Dylan has my back against the wall, his hands on my ass and my legs around his waist. My phone slips from my hand and clatters to the marble floor. Tilting his head slightly, he seals his mouth over mine, and I moan. He runs his hands up my sides and under my top to cup my breasts through the thin lace of my bra, brushing his thumbs over my nipples.

Arching my back, I push into his big hands as I rock my hips against the erection pressing into my center and moan softly into his mouth. Damn, this man knows how to kiss.

He gives my ass another squeeze before he tears his lips away and slowly lowers my feet to the floor. I move my hands to his arms, gripping his biceps to keep myself upright. He bends over to retrieve my phone from the floor and passes it back to me. Thankfully, it’s not cracked.

“Bedroom.” He holds out his hand, and I take it before he leads me through the suite on unsteady legs.

The bedroom is bathed in moonlight pouring through the window. Curling an arm around my waist, he tugs me to his chest and leans in, his lips grazing the outer shell of my ear and his warm breath drawing goose bumps to the surface of my skin.

“Get naked,” he instructs, sending a shiver down my spine.

Releasing me, he gives my ass a little smack, and I squeak as I stumble forward. Kicking my heels off, I turn to face him and pull my shirt over my head before tossing it on the chair in the corner.

Dylan quickly peels away his dress shirt, then reaches behind him and, in one swift move, tugs his undershirt over his head and drops it on the floor.

My hands freeze on the button of my pants, my eyes going wide as I take in his lean, muscular body and the tattoos decorating both his arms, though it’s too dark to make out the details.

He moves to stand in front of me and trails his index finger down my chest, between my breasts, down my stomach, dipping just under the elastic of my panties. I suck in a breath when his finger comes close to my scar. It’s small and faded, but it’s still a painful and ugly reminder of why I haven’t had sex in over three years.

“Second thoughts?” he asks, pulling me out of my head.

I draw in a deep cleansing breath and shake my head slightly. “No.” My eyes flick over his face. “It’s just… you’re beautiful.”

His lips pull to the side. “I don’t think anyone has ever called me beautiful before.”

I can’t help but smile, because damn. “Maybe not to your face, but it’s true.”

He leans forward and brushes his lips against mine. “You’re beautiful, Katie.” Reaching behind my back, he undoes the clasp of my bra and tosses it onto the chair with my top. Bending down, he pulls a nipple between his lips as he makes quick work of my pants while guiding me backward toward the bed. The backs of my knees hit the mattress, and Dylan releases my nipple just before I fall backward. My chest heaves as he yanks my pants and panties down my legs and drops them on the floor.

Nerves getting the better of me, I pin my knees together.

“Are you nervous?” he asks, amusement in his voice.

I haven’t had a one-night stand since college, which turned into a short-term relationship and ended horribly.

Rolling my head to the side, I reply honestly. “It’s been a while.”

Reaching into his back pocket, he pulls out his wallet and takes out a condom, tossing it on the bed beside me. I watch as he removes his dress pants and boxers in one swoop, steps out of them, and kicks them off to the side. My eyes zero in on his hand wrapped around his cock, stroking it as his gaze narrows on the spot between my legs.

“Open your legs. Let me see your pussy.”

His dirty talk sends a shiver down my spine, and I drop my legs open, thankful I got a wax last week.

A low, husky sound rumbles from deep in his throat as he steps closer to the bed. Propping a knee on the edge of the mattress, he grabs the condom, tearing it open with his teeth and then rolling it down his length before crawling between my legs. Planting his hands on either side of my shoulders, his hard body hovers over mine.

Our eyes lock as an indescribable feeling spreads through my chest and settles in the pit of my stomach. Dylan lowers his head to my breast, swirling his tongue around my nipple before sucking it into his mouth. He repeats the move with my other breast before dragging his lips down my body, pressing soft kisses to my hot, oversensitive skin. I feel myself tense briefly as his lips pass over my scar before his mouth latches onto my clit.

A sharp moan escapes me as my back arches off the bed, fingers curling into the comforter. My thighs slam against the sides of his head instinctually. He presses a hand on my lower belly, anchoring me to the bed as he alternates between licking and sucking my clit. He slides two fingers inside me and curls them at the perfect angle. My hands fly to his hair, tugging on the strands as I rock my hips, riding his fingers. My body coils tighter with every flick of his tongue until I snap with a loud cry.

Turning his head, he kisses the inside of my thigh and straightens. “Turn over on your stomach,” he commands.

My body feels boneless as I roll over. The bed dips behind me, and I feel his hands smooth up the backs of my thighs before pulling my legs apart. Reaching past me, he grabs a pillow and tucks it under my stomach, putting my ass on display.

With one hand gripping my ass, he slides two fingers inside my pussy, and my inner walls clench greedily.

“Mmm,” he hums as he strokes his fingers in and out of me.

Removing his fingers, he moves over me, planting his knees on either side of mine. Positioning himself at my opening, he slowly pushes inside me. “Fuck,” he breathes. “So fucking perfect.”

I gasp, arching my back as he stretches and fills me all at once. I’ve never had sex in this position before. It feels so primal.

Dropping down on his forearms, he presses a kiss to my neck before moving his mouth to my ear. “You ready to be fucked?”

My pussy clenches at his warning, and he lets out a hiss. “Greedy girl.”

Then he begins to move, pumping into me with slow deliberate strokes. Slipping a hand into my hair, he tugs my head back and seals his lips over mine. His tongue dips into my mouth in teasing strokes.

Breaking the kiss, he moves back into position, his fingers digging into my hips as he picks up his pace, slamming into me. Fucking me.

Laughter and celebratory cheers ring out from a balcony somewhere below, cutting through the sounds of our moans and heavy breathing. And then the countdown begins.

10… Dylan slows his thrusts.

9… Each stroke unhurried and deep, hitting that sweet spot, my eyes roll to the back of my head.

8… With one hand still gripping my hip, his other slides down to pinch my clit.

7… Oh.

6… Oh my God.

5… My thighs begin to quiver.

4… That familiar white-hot tingling sensation starts in my lower belly.

3… My fingers curl into the bedding.

2… My inner walls begin to convulse.

1… I throw my head back and close my eyes as he slams into me one last time with a deep groan. Fireworks explode behind my eyelids, and my muscles tense as a wave of pleasure rolls through my body.

Breathless, I drop my head down on the mattress, and Dylan collapses on top of me.

A few moments after we both catch our breath, he kisses the top of my shoulder. “Happy New Year.”

* * *

I’m jolted awake by the sound of a door slamming followed by laughter and then a “Shh.”

I blink away the sleepy haze, the dark unfamiliar room coming into focus. I roll my head to the side to look at the man sleeping peacefully beside me. Dylan’s lying on his stomach with his arms shoved under the pillow, head turned toward me, his beautiful face hidden in the shadows. Streams of moonlight peek through the window and cast a glow over his muscular back, the dip of his waist, and the curve of his ass.

The champagne buzz has long worn off, and as my mind sobers, the events of the past few hours sink in. I feel a flutter in the pit of my stomach. It’s been a long time since a man has touched me, but no man has ever controlled my body the way Dylan did. I’ve never felt so consumed by someone so fast.

My gaze moves to the window to see snow flurries falling from the sky. Sliding out of bed, I make my way over to the window. With the light snow dusting the sidewalks and lit trees lining the quiet street, it looks like something on a postcard. I tiptoe over to the chair and dig out my phone from under my clothes, then move back to the window, snapping a few pictures to send to my family and Vanessa.

I look over my shoulder at Dylan’s still sleeping form, and warmth spreads through my chest. He was supposed to be a one-night resolution. Uncomplicated. Nameless. A memory I could take back to Heritage Bay and reminisce over drinks with my friends. But all that went out the window the moment he pinned me with that familiar stare.

For three years I’ve avoided sex, dating, and relationships all together. I’d built a protective fortress around my heart, only allowing access to those I trusted. I should’ve known the moment Dylan Mackenzie put his hands on me I was no longer safe behind those walls. It’s as though my body—my heart—had always belonged to him. As though he’d invaded my space, claiming what had been his all along.

Maybe I’m reading into this way too much.

This is what happens when you wait three years to have sex. Good sex. Amazing, mind-blowing sex.

Ugh.I need to go.

Moving back over to the chair, I gather my clothes and hurry into the bathroom to dress before quietly slipping out of the bedroom.

Just as I cross the living room, passing the small kitchen, a male voice says, “Leaving so soon?”

Startled, I look over to see Alex in the kitchen, leaning with his backside against the sink, a bottle of water in his hands. His dress shirt is untucked and unbuttoned, showing off his smooth tan chest.

He holds up the water. “Want one?”

Inhaling sharply through my nose, I nod before moving over to the breakfast counter and climbing onto a barstool. “This is weird.”

He smiles as he passes me a water. “Why?”

I swing my hand in his direction. “Because you’re you.”

His brows pinch, but I don’t miss the hint of amusement tugging at the corner of his mouth as he brings the bottle to his lips and takes a sip.

“You’re a famous rock star,” I say, stupidly stating the obvious.

Alex breathes out a soft laugh through his nose. “My father was the famous rock star.”

“I beg to differ.” I shrug as I twist off the cap of my own bottle. “I saw you in concert.”

“Oh yeah?” he asks, his curiosity piqued. “Which one?”

“The first one back in July. Levi gave Gabbi and me tickets.”

“Oh that’s right.” He nods. “Gabbi is Levi’s sister, and your other friend—the tall one—is engaged to the deejay. You’re all from Heritage Bay.”

“Actually, we’re all originally from Magnolia Park. Kennedy and I moved to New York for college. Kennedy still lives in New York. I moved back over three years ago. Gabbi lives in The Village of Magnolia Park. Vanessa was staying at my loft, but she just recently moved in with Liam. Have you met her yet?”

“Who?”

“Vanessa. She’s Liam’s ex….” I wave my hand.

“Oh, the ex-wife?” He nods, grinning. “Yes, I met her at the family Christmas brunch.” He rubs a hand over his jaw. “So, you’re a club designer. How’d you end up in London?”

“I’ve worked for Van Doren Designs for a couple years. I designed Abyss, which opened back in August in downtown Heritage Bay.”

“I haven’t heard of it.”

“It’s a nice club. One of the owners is also part owner of Bliss, and he wanted me to do the remodel.”

“What a cool job. Do you have anything lined up after this?”

“Not sure. I’m heading back tomorrow—actually today.” I stand from the barstool. “I should probably get going. I’ve got a lot to do before my flight. It was very nice meeting and talking to you, Alex.”

“You, too, Katie.” He extends his hand over the bar. “I’m sure I’ll see you again very soon.”

I shake his hand and try not to read into his last statement. “Would you mind telling Dylan I said goodbye? I didn’t want to wake him.”

Alex smirks. “So you were sneaking out.” It’s not a question.

I offer him a sheepish grin and head for the door. “Bye, Alex.”