The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife

Hazel's POV

I refused to let anyone interrupt this moment. My fingers closed around Scarlett's delicate hand, pulling her toward my car with deliberate purpose. The parking lot seemed to fade around us as I opened the passenger door, watching her slide into the leather seat with feline grace. That emerald dress clung to her curves, the hem creeping higher up her thighs as she settled in.

I circled to the driver's side, my pulse hammering against my collar.

"So tell me, Copper, are you really ready to call it a night? Wouldn't you rather chase the sunrise with me instead?"

Her laughter bubbled up, rich and teasing, as her palm found my shoulder. The contact sent electricity shooting through my shirt.

"Easy there, Romeo. Since you're being so insistent, just drive me home like a gentleman."

"Come on, Copper. Don't torture me like this."

"Poor thing! Looks like you'll be greeting that sunrise all by yourself!"

She was enjoying every second of my predicament, and somehow that made her even more irresistible. This woman had me completely under her spell.

"Go ahead and put your address in there, but pick the scenic route. I need every extra minute I can steal with you," I said, flashing her my most charming grin as the engine roared to life.

Scarlett possessed this magnetic energy that filled every corner of the car. She was quick-witted, bold, and had this infectious laugh that made the drive feel like it lasted mere seconds instead of the eternity I craved. I found myself constantly torn between focusing on the road and drinking in every detail of her presence.

Those incredible legs were driving me to distraction. Her dress was a masterpiece of temptation, that deep green fabric molding to her body and creating a neckline that made my mouth go dry. Her porcelain skin was dusted with the most enchanting constellation of freckles across her face, throat, and the swell of her chest. My imagination ran wild wondering where else those adorable marks might lead. The contrast between us would be stunning, my olive complexion against her creamy skin decorated with those copper kisses. The growing pressure in my jeans was becoming impossible to ignore.

Scarlett defied every conventional standard of beauty, and that rebellion made her absolutely devastating. Her curves were generous and perfectly proportioned, from those strong thighs to the swell of her hips, that heart-stopping backside, and breasts that made my hands ache to explore them. Her face held an almost innocent sweetness that contrasted beautifully with those full crimson lips, emerald eyes that sparkled with mischief, and that cascade of flame-colored hair that caught the streetlights like silk.

When I finally pulled up to her house, panic shot through me. I wasn't ready to let this firecracker slip away. My mind raced for any excuse to extend our time together or secure another chance.

"Copper, you're absolutely stunning. I have to be honest with you – I'm dying to taste those lips."

"Oh honey, the world is full of things we want but can't have."

"Are you telling me I haven't managed to charm you even a little? That I haven't earned the right to kiss you?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying. You haven't convinced me you've earned anything yet." My confidence crumbled as rejection stared me in the face.

This little temptress actually smiled at my deflated expression. I turned toward her, shoulders sagging in defeat. Then she leaned closer, rising slightly from her seat to bring her lips to my ear. That dangerous neckline hovered inches from my face, and my body responded instantly with a surge of pure want.

"I never said you weren't charming, sweetheart. You're magnetic, gorgeous, and sexy enough to stop traffic. But I'm not some easy conquest. If you really want me, you'll have to prove it. Get my number and show me you're serious enough to call."

This woman was absolutely incredible. Joy exploded across my face like I'd just won the lottery. As she pulled back to study my reaction, I couldn't contain the grin that threatened to split my face in half. She took one look at my expression and burst into delighted laughter.

"I'm guessing you want those digits pretty badly, huh?"

I nodded enthusiastically, probably looking like an overeager teenager instead of a grown man. My face hurt from smiling so hard.

I thrust my phone toward her with trembling fingers. She took her time entering her information, her movements deliberate and graceful. When she handed it back, our fingers brushed, sending another jolt through my system.

"Thanks for playing chauffeur tonight, handsome."

Her lips pressed against the corner of my mouth, soft and warm and gone too quickly. She slipped out of the car with fluid elegance, and I sat transfixed as she walked toward her front gate, her hips swaying in a rhythm that hypnotized me completely.

I was absolutely ruined. This redheaded goddess had turned me inside out in the span of a few hours. For the first time, I understood what my brother Liam had been trying to explain about finding that one woman who changes everything. I peeled away from the curb with my foot heavy on the accelerator, desperate to get home before this aching need consumed me entirely. A cold shower was definitely in order.