"Can we dance now?" Hope clung to Bill as he scanned the room. He was looking for her. Steffy had run off when he entered with Hope. Not the reaction he was expecting, but now he needed to hear her out. She was in the middle of telling him something when Hope appeared. That was just dumb luck.

"I actually, was in the middle of something with your sister when we got here. I need to find her."

"Steffy? Why would you want to talk to her? And she's not my sister. She's my dad's other daughter."

Other daughter? Now Bill saw why Steffy hated them so much. The girl was vapid and self centered. He'd figured that out on the drive over. Showing up with Hope was to make a statement, and now he saw it was the wrong statement. People had snapped pictures of them together and he was sure he would be on several covers with the wrong woman.

"Listen, Hope, I only agreed to be your date after you showed up at my office begging. You know I work closely with Steffy and I need to talk to her."

"Talking work at a party? My dad was right about you."

This got Bill's attention. "What? What was your stepdad saying about me? He doesn't know me."

Hope obviously caught his dig but brushed it off and kept going. "That you're obsessed with work and winning. He thinks you're using work to get close to Steffy. I'd really hate it if her fiancé knew all this."

Bill laughed at her futile attempts to try and dissuade him from finding the object of his affection. Good thing for him he didn't give a damn about what Liam or Ridge thought.

"Your stepfather can discuss me until he's blue in the face, and you can tell Liam what ever you please. He can't do anything that could hurt me, but I could hurt him. And I could most definitely hurt your mother. You'd do well to remember that."

"You don't know my mom."

"Your dad, when is the last time you saw him? He go back to your aunt or is your mother still sneaking around with him at Loews Hotel? Room 1217, right?"

With that Bill walked off and left Hope stunned. Bringing her here was probably the biggest mistake he could have ever made, he saw that now. He was just angry and wanted to hurt Steffy. Now all he had done was hurt his chances of having what he really wanted. Damn his need for retribution.

Searching the room, Bill didn't see who he was looking for, but he did see Liam, glaring at him. Obviously he'd picked up on the tension between Bill and Steffy. Well good for him. It would make things easier when Bill took Steffy for his own. He'd made up his mind, he was back in the game.

Bill was walking, aimlessly, not sure of where to go until he felt his arm being pulled. Before he knew it, he was facing down his best friend and the woman he was sure his best friend was seeing, Amber.

"What the hell were you thinking? I should kick your ass right now," Amber seethed.

"I wasn't thinking. I was just—Where is Steffy? I need to talk to her."

"You pull this kind of stunt and you expect me to just point you in her direction? Hell no." Amber crossed her arms. "You give me one reason why I shouldn't knee you in the balls and throw you out on your ass?"

"Because i'm sorry. I don't take being hurt very well, and I care about Steffy. I thought she wanted all this. I thought she wanted him."

"She wants to be happy. She wants a choice and not feel forced into things. She wants to call this whole engagement off, but you may have messed everything up," Amber shrieked.

"She wants to call it off?"

"Yes!" Both Justin and Amber scolded.

"Dollar Bill, you messed up. How are you going to fix it?" Justin asked.

Bill ran his hands through his hair and let out a deep breath. "I don't know."

"Let me talk to you for a second."

Justin opened the door behind them and Bill walked in. He could hear sounds from the room, sniffling, and before he could question anything, the door slammed shut. It was kind of dark in the room but he could hear another person's movement, and when he walked up to twist the doorknob, he realized he was locked in.

"Just great," he fussed.

"Get out." He listened to the voice carefully and turned to face it.

"Steffy. I was looking for you. I wanted to tell you—"

Slap. She slapped him so hard his jaw rattled. He deserved that. Bill tried to calm her down, but she slapped him again.

"Don't you touch me!" He grabbed her arm and she jerked away. It was when he realized she was wearing the bracelet he bought her. Okay, he really messed up.

He touched her shoulder and she tried to fight him again. As he stepped closer to her, he saw the streaks of her makeup. She had been in here crying. He'd hurt her more than he thought.

She was throwing her arms, trying to break his hold on her, but he wouldn't let up. He needed to fix this. He needed to fix them.

"I'm sorry, Steffy. I had no idea—"

"No idea of what? That I had feelings or that coming here with her would actually hurt the bitch with the heart of stone? I never tried to hurt you intentionally. I'd never do that to you."

"I know you wouldn't," Bill admitted. "You wouldn't because you're perfect and I'm the one with the problem."

"She takes everything from me," Steffy calmed at his words and sat on the floor. He took a seat next to her. He wanted to pull her into his arms, but refrained for now. "Ever since we were kids she's always wanted what I had. My dad loves her more than me and she was always the perfect daughter to him. I never measured up. The company was the only thing I ever had that she didn't get. Well that and you."

She looked at him, her beautiful eyes clouded with tears and he saw her. He saw the hurt and rejection and smoothed her tears away. "I thought of all the people I ever encountered, you would be immune to her. I thought she'd never sink her hooks into you."

He kissed her forehead and lingered there. "She doesn't have her hooks in me. How could she when I'm so wrapped up in you?"

"You don't mean that."

"I was an ass. When you called and texted, I ignored you when I should have listened. I was just hurt, but only someone I care about could hurt me."

"Why do you care when you could have perky, perfect Hope?"

"I don't want perky, and she's definitely not perfect. My idea of perfect has flaws. She's the kind of woman who puts the good of her family above what she wants, she's kind enough to not want to kick someone while they're down, and she has one hell of a backhand," he laughed. "She loves seafood, blue looks amazing on her because it accents her eyes, and she wants more than anything to be happy but will often stifle that for other people."

"Sounds like a head case," Steffy chuckled.

"Maybe," Bill shrugged. "But the more I think about it, the more I know that I want her to be my head case. I want her to be mine."

"Bill..."

"It's not a proposal. Maybe not even romantic, but it's how I feel. I came here mad at the world because I knew I'd have to watch you with another man, but now I want that feeling for every other man that sees us. You want me, I'm yours. I just need to know where you are on this."

"I'm engaged to another man."

Bill swallowed hard at her words, and she rushed to clarify.

"I don't mean it as an excuse to negate giving you an answer. It's just a fact. It's an example of how big of a mess I made. Here I am at my engagement party locked in a room, crying over a man that's not my intended."

"You're not crying anymore."

"No." She smiled. "No because the man that made me cry is very sweet. He's so used to showing the world one side of him but let's me see all the good things. The irresistible parts of him that deserves everything the world has to offer, and not a woman torn between two men."

"I'm a flawed man that has eyes for only one woman. There has never been anyone like you in my life before. I'm willing to fight for you, Steffy Forrester. I won't just hand you over to him when I know what's between us. You feel it."

Steffy nodded. "I've thought about you every day since we—"

"Had sex," he finished for her. "We had sex and it was the most powerful thing I've ever felt."

"Me too," Steffy admitted. "I've never been so connected to anyone. You get me, Bill." He made a silly smirk and she smacked him. "You know what I mean."

"I do," he agreed. "You get me too. So what do we do?"

"I have to break things off with Liam. I was getting through tonight and then I was going to end the engagement."

"And the relationship?"

"Bill..."

"I'm not going to share you."

Steffy's lip trembled and Bill took it upon himself to draw her closer. He slid his fingers into her hair and pushed their mouths together. She was hesitant, probably thinking about the party going on for her outside the door, but he didn't care. A part of him wishes they were found this way. It would kill two birds with one stone, Liam and Ridge.

Kissing her lips, gliding to her neck, Bill cradled her in his arms. Gently, he laid her on the floor and took her hand in his. He continued to kiss her as he gripped her shaky hand tighter.

"Relax," he whispered into her mouth. "I won't hurt you." He gripped her hand tighter and touched the inconvenient reminder of where they were. That stupid ring wasn't going to stand in his way. Gripping it, and pulling the ring from her hand, he tossed it behind him. She gasped, and he ran his finger down her full lips. "There is no way in hell i'm kissing you while you're wearing that asshole's ring."

"Please don't lose it. I have to give it back."

"You don't have to do anything. You never have to do anything."

She smiled at him and he touched her beautiful face. "I want you, Bill."

"Right here?"

"Please?"

Bill was overjoyed, hearing her request. He didn't want her, he needed her. He'd finally admitted it.

Pulling her panties down, Bill debated undressing her or just going for it, fully dressed and decided he couldn't wait. He kept condoms in his wallet, he pulled one out and only dropped his pants, bunching her dress up around her waist, leaving her stilettos on. He'd dreamed of having her in heels, it was sexy.

Steffy held his hips as he guided himself inside her. She felt amazing, better than the last time, and this time it was even more intoxicating. The danger, the promise that this wouldn't be their last time, and the knowledge that she wanted him as much and he did her made him crazy. And her breath on his neck was driving him. Harder and faster deeper and rougher.

"Bill, Bill, yes," she chanted as her stilettos dug into his ass. "Oh God, harder, Bill."

He loved this. A woman that mirrored his own sexual appetite. She was clutching him as each ramrod stroke brought them closer together. Maybe she wanted them to get caught as well. It would sure get her out of explaining things.

Gasping, gripping his neck tighter, she kissed him harder and he moved his hands down to caress her body. Sucking the only air that seemed to be free in the room, he exhaled into her mouth and she bit down on his lip. Pulling himself up a little, he gripped the leg that was wrapped around him and drove himself deep into her all-consuming core. Listening to her say his name quietly, he pushed harder and her ramblings stopped while he gave her body the workout it deserved.

Stretching her self-lubricated walls, he was captivated by the hoarse cries of his name. Lifting her from the floor, he slid his hand down her back bringing them eye to eye. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she brought them closer and he indulged himself in a brief kiss before pushing her back. Sliding her back a fraction, he planted her hands behind her back and rolled his hips forward. Stretching her legs around his waist, she caught on to what he was aiming for and he grinned, running his hand down the front of her clothed chest.

Stopping at her breasts, he traced patterns on them with his fingers and felt her tremble. He'd made women tremble before, but never one like her. He had been with many women, but there was something about Steffy he just had to have. Besides the fact that she felt so damn good, he knew there was more to her. She was a magnificent person and he was finally getting the moment he had craved since kissing her full lips.

Shifting to feel more of her, Bill took his time. Stroking her gently, making her body roll to his, making her feel the longing between them. Reaching for her hips, he brought her closer and placed them pelvis to pelvis with her breathing lining his lips. Watching as she opened her mouth to speak, he thrust forward, taking her breath away.

"Uuhh, Bill."

Raising herself and rolling her hips against him, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and he bit down on her shoulder. "You feel so good."

"I'm almost there, Bill," she breathed out, pressing her hands to his shoulders.

"Kiss me again."

Throwing his hips forward, holding her in place, he buried himself inside her as deep as he could and opened the floodgates to her warm, wet, explosion. "Bill," she screamed, digging her nails into his shoulder. "Oh, God."

As she convulsed and clutched around him, he paused, trying to slow it down, but one last movement from her sent him sliding into pleasure he had never known. Strumming her back with his fingers, he shook with his release and ran his hands up to the back of her head to bring her forehead to his. As his ragged breathing began to slow, their eyes met and they shared a moment of silence.

Giving him a gentle peck on the lips, she exhaled and he just sat still, trying to stay in the moment. He was there with her, blocking out the world until a boom against the door broke their trance. Looking away from him, she focused on the sound, and he knew the moment was gone.

"Promise me you won't run," Bill requested when she jumped up and tried to brush over her appearance.

"I won't. Promise me you will give me a little time."

"A little, not long." He touched her cheek before moving a strand of hair from her face. "I need to be with you."

"I think I'm figuring out that I need that too." She said it freely and he inhaled her air.

"I'm glad you did." He pulled out his phone and she looked at him strangely.

"What are you doing?"

"I think I know how to get us out of here. Not that I wouldn't love spending the rest of the night wrapped up in you." She blushed. "I just have to get rid of this," he pointed at the condom, "and we might want to freshen up."

Bill hit a button on his phone for FaceTime and got Justin in a few rings. Pulling Steffy to him, he kissed her and she let out a cute giggle. While they were all smiles, Justin didn't look so pleased.

"Bill, take Steffy and get her out of here. Her father is being arrested for embezzlement. Amber is coming to let you two out."

Bill tried to shut it off, but Steffy heard every word. "Steffy, come with me."

"I can't just leave my dad."

"Steffy, you can and you will. We're going to have to sneak out of here. Think about how it would look to see you reemerging with me."

"You don't have to come."

"There is no way in hell i'm letting you go into that lion's den alone."

He saw her expression soften and she clutched his hand. "You would do that?"

"I'd do just about anything for you."

And so he did. Bill swept her out the back, away from prying eyes and into his car. The entire way to his house, he gripped her hand. Tonight wasn't what he expected, but he'd made headway with her. Now he just wanted to know what was going on with Ridge. He didn't really believe he'd be stupid enough to get caught stealing from his mother's foundation. Someone was setting him up.