The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress
[Book 2] Chapter 18

Lorelai POV

I hesitate at the question. It's innocent enough, innocuous, and yet, I know that just feeling his arms around me is going to cause my heart to start racing. I cough as he gently helps me up and before I can protest or even think of a suitable reason to refuse him he leads me out to the dance floor, where I'm uneasily aware of guests watching us with fascinated looks on their faces. He takes my hand and puts his other hand on my waist, beginning to lead me slowly in time to the music as I hitch in a breath. At this position, he's just slightly taller than me. His grip is firm and comforting. I can smell his cologne and it makes me dizzy as we sway to the music, my eyes looking up at him as he looks off into the distance with a grim expression on his face. I stumble and he immediately wraps his arm around me, bringing me in closer, my breasts pushing against his chest as his eyes fill with concern. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I give a light laugh "I'm not used to these heels." Dumb response Lorelai, really dumb.

I wait for him to release me, but he continues to hold me against him, his grip never loosening. He looks as though he's in a world of his own, and I can feel myself struggling to draw breath. This is dangerous, I think to myself as my self-control begins to slip, so dangerous, and yet, I can't bring myself to move away, to force a wall between us. This book has many missing chapters and scenes if you're not reading it on Jo b n I b.com. He strokes my cheek, pushing back a loose tendril of my hair and I shiver. A single touch is enough to make me yearn for more from him. I grit my teeth as I reluctantly step back. Is that disappointment in his eyes as he regards me silently?

"You're good at dancing."

I blink. Of all the things he could have said, that was the least expected. I don't know whether to be amused or slightly indignant. I choose amused "I like to dance." Particularly with handsome men who make my knees go weak, I think silently to myself.

He gives a sharp nod, his eyes glinting. "You're very graceful" he compliments me, his hand dipping slightly lower on my back and causing heat to pool between my thighs. Damnit, what was it about this infuriating man that had my hormones all over the place? Just because he was handsome didn't mean I needed to jump his bones.

But it's much more than that, isn't it Lorelai the voice in my head mocked me as I tried to keep a neutral expression on my face this goes beyond his looks and you know it.

"Knox why didn't you just get one of the maids to go with you?" my tone is abrupt and thoughtful. "I'm sure Charlie would have gone if you offered a large enough bonus."

His eyes slide away from mine. He stiffens "The other maids are not as in sync with my moods as you are" he answers causing me to frown "And I didn't want to take them" he answered, while my heart skipped a beat.

Did that mean he had every intention of just taking me and this had all been for show or was I reading too much into it? I was about to answer when Abigail Stevens began to head towards us. Knox saw the look in my eyes.

"What?"

Abigail looked determined. I suspected that she was about to interrupt my dance with Knox. She was making a beeline for him, her eyes fixated on the two of us. I shook my head, a wry smile on my face. This girl didn't give up easily. I didn't know whether to admire her tenacity or curse her. "Your lover is coming," I said calmly as Knox grimaced "I think she wants a dance."

"Don't you dare leave me alone with her" he said tightly and I swear he went pale.

It was amusing to see Knox look so vulnerable. Adorable even.

I placed my hand on his cheek and gave him a seductive smile. He gulped looking down at me. I leaned into his embrace. "I guess we should make it impossible for her to interrupt us then" I breathed, murmuring directly into his ear. His eyes widened and a look of comprehension came across his face. I put my hand gently around his neck and then pulled his head down towards me, reaching up to plant my lips against his as his mouth parted slightly in shock.

I kissed him. His lips were as gentle as I had envisioned and they tasted as divine as I thought they would be. For a moment he hesitated, perhaps trying to be a gentleman and extract himself from the situation but then he gave a low groan and I felt his own hand go around my waist as he pressed me against his body and deepened the kiss, causing me to moan slightly as I felt his tongue beginning to pry my lips further apart, using the opportunity to delve inside my mouth and begin to caress my tongue. I panted, my whole body beginning to burn, my body pressing up against him, as though seeking more, more of what I didn't understand, maybe more of him. His hand tightened around my waist and I placed my hand on his chest, feeling dizzy and intoxicated.

This was unlike any other kiss I had ever experienced in my life. Knox was practically making love to me with his mouth. I was burning on the inside, my eyes closed as I gave way to a rush of emotions sweeping through me. It was like a dream that I never wanted to end. I didn't even care about the crowd watching us, or the piercing gazes of the jealous women who wished they could be in my place. All I could do was feel and pray that it would never end.

I felt his lips slowly pull away and opened my eyes, feeling short of breath. Knox's eyes were sparkling. I put a hand up to my mouth, awed, my heart racing all over the place. There was a curious look on Knox's face as he stared down at me. For the moment, everything else was forgotten about. I was so lightheaded that I swayed on my feet. Never in the history of my life had any other man made me feel this way with a simple kiss. Never. Knox cupped my cheek, his fingers lightly caressing my face as I hitched in a breath, feeling like I was breathing for the first time.

"Lorelai" he murmured.

I was shaken. Devastated. What had I done? This had been meant to be a distraction and as I looked over Knox's shoulder, I saw that Abigail had halted in her tracks and her face had gone a bright pink as she gazed at us with jealousy written all over her face. But this had gone beyond that now. Now I knew the full extent for what I felt for Knox and it wasn't an innocent relationship between an employer and employee, but a strong desire to be more than that to him. I wanted to cry. Knox would never fall for a girl like myself. Not when he had wealthy heiresses desperate to have him and women with connections that he could utilize. I had nothing to offer, I thought staring up at him dismally. I hadn't even attended college. I was useless to him, I concluded, my head beginning to bow as I became resigned to what my role would be in his life and the knowledge it would never be more than just as a mere maid.

"Lorelai" he murmured again, his hand reaching for mine and I reacted instinctively, ashamed of myself and what I might have given away.

"I um, need the restroom" I muttered, as he frowned at me "I'm not feeling well" I added shakily, my pallor going white.

I turned and began to flee through the crowd, heading to the back of the event room and towards the ladies' room while Knox called out my name with a sense of urgency. I almost flung myself into the ladies' room and shut the door with a sense of relief, feeling like a wounded animal.

Get a grip Lorelai, I chided myself, feeling hysterical, you can't hide in here forever. Eventually, Knox was bound to get some woman to help him lure me out. I splashed cold water on my face, feeling my legs quivering.

"You can do this Lorelai," I told myself, staring into the mirror "Just go back out, finish this evening, and go home. Tomorrow you'll be just a maid again."

My heart broke. My voice shook. Tears pricked my eyes. I felt like an i***t. I was behaving like a lovestruck teenager. Knox would think I was a loony at this rate. I resolutely washed my face and reapplied my makeup.

At the very least you'll always have your memories of tonight when you're feeling at your lowest. Jackson can never take this from you.

I tried not to wince at that. It had never occurred to me till now what Jackson's response to tonight was going to be, but the voice was right. Jackson could not take the memories away, especially the memory of Knox's kiss and how it had felt to be kissed by him. I would always have that, if nothing else to remember him by. I gripped the edge of the sink and forced my shoulders to straighten.

"Do the job you're being paid to do" I reminded myself sadly.

It was a harsh reminder. I swallowed hard and reached for the door handle, swinging the door open and stepping back out, only for Knox's hand to reach out and grip mine, yanking me out the side exit nearby, his body pressing mine against the building as he glared down at me with smoldering eyes.

"What the hell was that?" he spat out "And why did you run away from me?"

Looking up at him, I had no answers. I was struck by how furious he looked as well as how protective he suddenly seemed to be as he kept his body over mine, against the harshness of the wind and protecting me from the cold that accompanied it.