It's strange traveling with a woman after years of doing it solo. My ex-wife and I would go on vacations, sure, but having Mara come with me to Las Vegas for a business trip is something I haven't done before. Even spoiling a woman the way I've been spoiling Mara is different than what I'm used to. 

But I do love seeing the way her face lights up when I lavish her with gifts. 

A smile isn't just a smile when it's Mara's. Her smile goes from ear to ear with a giggle that escapes as she practically kicks her feet with joy, and she always thanks me, which is something I seldom hear from other people. It's as if they think because I have money I'm doing them a favor when I pay for things. Mara isn't like that though, and sometimes her gratefulness comes with the bonus of her bum-rushing me with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

...always on the cheek.

Most women in her position would take advantage, but instead, Mara will slap her credit card on the table and insist on paying. I simply laugh and push her wallet away. I'm a damn gentleman and my mother raised me right, so there is no way in hell I will let her pay for anything when she's around me. 

Now, I wait for her to exit her room, dolled from head to toe in what I bought her for tonight. I'm sitting on one of the couches in the living room, my ankle crossed over one knee, and my foot rattling as I take slow slips of cognac. The curtains are parted, revealing the sparkling lights of Sin City against the iridescent amethyst sunset, and it should be relaxing. 

Yet, I'm anxious. 

However, I don't know why. It's just a business dinner. But who am I kidding? Most of the people we'll spend time with tonight have only ever seen me with Evelyn or alone. Now, here I am bringing a gorgeous date who is so much younger than me. I slide the sleeve on my suit and check my watch. We're not running late, but I also have no idea how long it takes Mara to get dressed. So, I go to her door and tap on it.

"I'm not rushing you, but we'll need to get going in a bit."

The door swings open, and I flinch from the surprise, but there Mara is, in the beautiful chartreuse dress that makes her look like a goddess. The peridot gems glint across her neck, and shimmer around her wrist as she smooths down a few loose strands from her updo. I don't know how she does it, but she gathered her curls into a low bun-type of ball at the nape of her neck, with a few tendrils framing her face to complete her goddess appearance.

"How do I look?" she asks as if I'm not already on my knees with how beautiful she looks.

"You are..." I step into the room, my hand going to her waist, and I brush her cheek with my lips. "Absolutely stunning."

Mara sucks in a quiet breath, her abdomen flexing beneath my touch, and we linger in the intimate proximity for a few seconds before gently pulling away. She averts my gaze when she heads to the bench at the foot of the bed, but it's clear by the flush of color in her cheeks she's flustered. 

I like making her blush, and I've been doing it a lot today.

"I just have to put on my shoes, and then I'm good to go," she says.

When Mara takes a seat and bends to strap her heels, the draping on the front of the dress pulls away from her chest and exposes her breasts.

She's not wearing a bra...

I look away, but it's an image that will be imprinted on my mind for the rest of the night. 

Clearing my throat, I step forward and offer to help her with her shoes, but really it's so she'll sit upright and spare me from embarrassing myself with the sudden hardness in my trousers. Mara laughs and tells me she can strap her own shoes, but I kneel and push her hands away.

"I've got it," I insist. "I don't want you to ruin your pretty manicure."

"Fine," she laughs and leans back on the bench, but crosses her leg over the other and wiggles her foot at me. "Have at it."

I rest her foot on my knee and fasten the thin straps that go up her ankles and stop just below her sexy calves. She switches legs, and I do the same on her other foot, then finish it off with a kiss to her knee.

And I freeze, realizing what I've just done.

When I slowly bring my gaze to hers, Mara's eyes search mine, and her chest rises and falls with a cadence as rapid as my heart beats.

"We should get going," I clear my throat and stand.

"Right." 

However, when I take her by the hands and help her to her feet, our eyes meet again. With her heels on, she's the perfect height for me to tilt her chin, and dip my head to mold my mouth to hers. 

But I don't.

Instead, we gaze at each other with an unspoken longing, like a prisoner stretching his arm through the bars of a cell, reaching for the keys to his freedom on a nearby hook. All it would take is for one of us to make a move, to breach the barrier of this respectful boundary we've drawn, and finally experience the supernova of emotions we've suppressed to protect ourselves.

I look away first, breaking the connection, and we leave the hotel to go to dinner as planned. For the next few hours, Mara and I exchange glances across the table as if we have our own little secret. It makes me wish I could snap my fingers and have everyone around us disappear. Then we could enjoy dinner alone instead of having to listen to business chatter. 

This entire weekend is meant to be an opportunity to mingle and meet new clients, but really it's an excuse for professionals to get shit-faced together. It's not my thing, so I usually parade the room giving a summary of the services I provide, then hand out my business card, eat dinner, and go back to my room. 

But this time I have Mara.

By the time everything wraps up, it's almost ten PM, which is right on time for the iconic water fountain show in front of the Bellagio. 

"We gotta hurry," I say, and take Mara's hand. "Come on!"

"Where are we going?" She trails behind me.

"You'll see!" 

We run through the hotel like a couple of thieves escaping a bank heist, and I pull Mara along with every turn, following the signs for the nearest fountain view. People stare like we're nuts, and maybe I am just a little bit when I'm with Mara because she makes me feel her age—back when I was carefree, and did as I pleased. 

Our destination is in sight when I notice she's struggling. In my eagerness to find a perfect spot for the show, I didn't consider that she is jogging in high heels. So, I whip around, scoop her up, and toss her over my shoulder. 

"Ahhck!" Mara giggle-screams and her hands immediately go to her butt to make sure her dress stays down.

"I've got you," I laugh, my arms fastened around her thighs, as I run.

"Please don't drop me."

"I won't," I say, my cheek accidentally grazing the side of her ass, and it makes me want to give her a light spank, but that wouldn't be appropriate. 

We finally make it to one of the verandas where people sit around sipping late-night coffee with dessert. A few heads turn our way, as I march forward with Mara slung over my shoulder. So, I set her down and take her hand to weave us through the maze of tables covered in white linen. 

There are people gathered in front of the iron fence that encloses the massive fountain with their phones out to capture the water show. It's busier than I realized it would be, but I spot an opening, and there's enough room for one of us to nestle between two other families. I let Mara stand between them since I've seen the water show dozens of times, but she hasn't.

And then, the show starts with water shooting into the sky like fireworks. Mara's jaw drops, her head tilting back to marvel at the colors that flash with each burst of water. Her eyes are wide, and her back thuds into my chest as she takes it all in. She whispers an apology for accidentally stepping on my shoe, but I tell her not to worry about it, and without giving it much thought, I slide my arms around her waist and rest my chin on top of her head. 

Mara's body relaxes into me as she smooths her hands over mine and rests them there. I coax her fingers with mine, and we lace them together. Standing this way, with our limbs entwined, feels so natural that I'm not sure where she begins or where I end. Our bodies might as well be one flesh, and she fits perfectly in my arms as if they're wings meant to protect her because she's mine to treasure. 

Mara says something, but I don't hear her, so I dip my head to bring my ear closer to her mouth. "What?"

"I said..." She brings her hand up and grazes my cheek. "This is really cool." 

"It never gets boring," I say, turning my head to smile at her.

But I didn't anticipate just how hard it would be to look away. 

Her honey-brown eyes, and the way her shimmery makeup enhances how they beam, ensnare me. As much as I try to fight my feelings, I can't ignore how Mara gazes at me every time we lock eyes, and its effect. From the moment I first saw her, she became part of my soul like the birthmark on my rib. She's there, permanently. 

A burst of colors flash in our peripherals, and it's about to steal her attention, but I don't want to break away from this moment.

So, I cup the back of Mara's head and crash my mouth into hers.

Our lips don't move at first, and it's as if time has paused so we can savor the sensation of each other. I've stared at her mouth for weeks, wondering how soft it would be, but not even the finest silk can compete with how smooth, tender and delicate Mara's lips are.

There's a rapid succession of splashes as water crashes down into the fountain before more shoots into the sky. Time resumes, but the kiss deepens as our mouths part, accepting that first stroke while invading each other. An inexplicable hunger takes over, my fingers squeezing Mara's hips while pushing mine forward, and grind myself into her backside. She moans into my mouth, and it's about as intimate as things can get with clothes on.

It nearly sends me. 

I reluctantly pull away, but don't let go of Mara's face, and caress her cheek with my thumb. "What else would you like to see?"

"I want to see the inside of your room," she says.

Without hesitation, I take her hand and begin leading the way. 

The elevator ride to our suite is infinite as we watch the glowing numbers light up with each level we pass. Guests enter and exit, the anticipation building the closer we get to the top. Part of me wonders if I'm making a terrible decision that could end badly with Mara's heartbroken or mine. Likely mine. Because one day she'll see the age on my face, realize there's no future with me, and decide she's not attracted anymore. Then there's the part of me that hasn't had sex in forever, is horny, and wants to throw caution to the wind.

When we're finally on our floor, I pull Mara along with eager, determined strides to get to the privacy of our suite. For the last few steps, we practically sprint, and I fumble with the key card, trying to get the damn green light on the door to flash, but it keeps showing red. Mara plucks the card from my fingers and gives a swift swipe. The door unlocks and she pushes through while grabbing hold of my tie, tugging me like a puppy on a leash. I follow while peeling off my jacket, ignoring the erratic drumming in my chest with each step. Sweat gathers in my palms, but when Mara begins sliding off the straps of her dress...

"Stop," I say.

Suddenly, what's about to happen becomes crystal clear, and I'm no longer nervous or unsure.

"I want to undress you," I rasp, my voice deep and determined.

We enter the room and she pauses in front of the bed but turns to face me, her eyes widening in surprise when she sees I've stripped down to my boxer briefs. I pull her in for a hungry kiss that spills down to her neck and shoulder, where I hook my thumbs under the straps of her dress, and slowly drag them down. I already know she's not wearing a bra, yet when I see her bare breasts in the flesh, upright, and perky as the material falls, I can't help but suck one into my mouth. 

This elicits a gorgeous moan from Mara, but when I tease her nipple with my tongue, her knees nearly buckle. So, I pull her in closer by the ass, and kiss up her neck and to her mouth, stealing every opportunity to taste and touch her. She's like bubblegum around my tongue, and I grow more aroused, my erection fighting to escape from the briefs. Mara can feel how hard I am and breaks away from the kiss with her eyes going to my bulge. 

"Off! I need them off!" she points breathlessly. I shove my boxers down and step out of them, but when she reaches for my cock, I pull away.

"Sit on the edge of the bed."

"What?" She furrows her brows.

"Sit. On. The. Edge. Of. The. Bed," I command.

"Ok." She backs up till she meets the mattress, and eases down.

Looking her in the eyes, I kneel before her, glide my hands to the cotton thong she's wearing, then gently tug it down her hips. Mara lifts her bottom to assist me, and I proceed sliding the panties off her thighs and tossing them aside where they'll be forgotten until morning. The scent of her arousal makes me push apart her legs, eager to get a taste, but first, I take a good look at the intimate part of her I've fantasized about and lick my lips at the sight of it. 

Everything about her is perfect.

Even this.

I run my hands through my hair, releasing a ragged breath. There is no turning back after this. Once I put my mouth on her, we'll officially cross a boundary that can't be undone.

Fuck it.

"Mara..." I say, my heavy gaze rising to meet hers. "I don't think I'll be much of a gentleman tonight. Because right now, I just want to feast between your legs and make you come repeatedly until you beg for mercy. If that's alright." 

She bites her lower lip and falls back. "Yes, please. Do whatever you want, Enzo. I beg you!"

So, I do.