His mother turned to face Sylvie. “I was just about to leave,” Yvonne said as she rose to her feet. Sylvie couldn’t help but notice her lipstick. And it wasn’t red.
“Oh, no. Don’t leave on my account.”
Erik stood up and walked over to his mother. “I’m going to walk my mom outside and I’ll be right back.”
It didn’t go unnoticed that he hadn’t bothered to introduce Sylvie to his mother. So, what were all of those sweet words about earlier? Did he think that she wasn’t good enough to meet his mother? She crossed over to the window and tried not to get lost in her thoughts. But her mind flashed back to Stephen.
“Listen, my mother is judgmental. You not meeting her is a good idea.”
Sylvie folded her arms across her chest and pouted. “If we’re building a future together, why wouldn’t I meet your family, Stephen?”
He rolled over on his side. “Go to sleep, Sylvie. You’re making a big deal about nothing at all.”
She scoffed and climbed out of bed. “Why are we together? What are we doing here?”
“I’m going to sleep, so if you want to have this argument, do it alone. Downstairs.”
Erik’s hand on her shoulder brought her back to the present. “Hey, you all right?”
Sylvie whirled around and looked into his eyes. “Thanks for introducing me to your mother.”
He sighed. “Today wasn’t the day. My mother made it onto TMZ and Worldstar today because she got in a fight at a Midtown restaurant.”
“What? Your mother was out there brawling?”
He stroked her shoulder. “Oh, it gets worse. She was fighting with the model who replaced her years ago. Just think about how this narrative is going to play out in the media. First my father tries to jump bail, sending the stock plummeting, and now my mama is out here acting as if she’s auditioning for a Real Housewives show.”
“Sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry, I had the day from hell and I’ve been edgy.”
Sylvie gave him a hug. “It’s all right. Why don’t we go have a drink when you’re done with work and try to put this day behind us.”
“You’ve had a bad day too?” He stroked her cheek. “Tell me about it.”
“Actually, I’ve had a good day. One of my first clients called me and wants me to decorate her new shop.”
“That’s great, babe. Looking at what you’ve done here, I’m not surprised that people keep coming back.”
“And you’ll also be happy to know that we’re almost done here and under budget. I just have one last office to tackle.”
He tugged at the waistband of her jeans. “There was always one thing I wanted to do in this office, on that desk.”
“You know that desk is the first thing that’s going to go, right?”
“Then you should really help me live out my fantasy.” He lifted Sylvie in his arms and carried her over to the wide oak desk. She tugged at the buttons on his shirt, then stopped.
“You should probably lock that door.”
“Right.” Erik dashed to the door and locked it. Then he crossed over to Sylvie and untied her work boots. After slipping them off her feet, he laughed when he saw her Mickey Mouse socks. “Now, you’re the only woman I know who can make the mouse sexy.”
“Stop it,” she joked.
He spread her legs and stood between them. “Then again, you could make a brown paper sack look sexy.”
“Is that so?” She reached for his shirt and pulled at the few buttons that she hadn’t undone. “Then I guess that’s something we have in common. The way you looked in my sweatpants this morning was beyond sexy.”
She slipped the shirt down his shoulder, then leaned in and kissed his smooth skin.
Once his shirt hit the floor, Erik made quick work of removing her T-shirt and her bra. He ran his hand down the valley between her breasts and Sylvie sighed with delight.
“Can’t wait to taste my yoni,” he said as he unbuttoned her jeans. She placed her hand on top of his as he slipped his finger inside her. With her urging, Erik went deeper and deeper inside her wetness.
“Yes,” she breathed as his finger brushed across her throbbing clitoris.
“Lift those hips for me so these pants can get out of my way.”
She followed his instructions and Erik snatched her jeans and her panties off in one swift motion. He dropped to his knees, spread her thighs and buried his face in her sweet yoni. Sylvie tried to muffle her cries of passion, but when his tongue circled her throbbing bud, she screamed in delight.
“Erik, Erik, Erik,” she repeated like a mantra as she came. He looked up at her, his face shining with her essence.
“Delicious. Maybe I need to put you on my pancakes.”
She licked her lips. “So, what else did you want to do on this desk?”
“I’m thinking that chair, which you cannot get rid of, might do better for the next part of this fantasy.” Erik crossed over to the other side of his desk and rolled the chair out. “I want you to ride me.”
A slow smile crept across her face. “Absolutely. Drop those pants, first.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said with a mock salute. Erik quickly kicked out of his slacks and boxers, then sat down in his chair. Sylvie knelt in front of him. She stroked his erection until he threw his head back in delight. But when her mouth covered his hardness, it was Erik’s turn to scream. Deeper. Wetter. Deeper. She stopped and locked eyes with him, then licked the head of his dick as if he were a chocolate ice cream cone on the verge of melting.
Sylvie took him all the way inside her mouth, never taking her eyes off him. When she felt him tense up, as if he were about to climax, she stopped and rose to her feet.
“Now, it’s time for the ride of your life. And for the record, that chair is the first thing that’s going to go.”
“Umm, at this point, I’ll go along with everything you say.”
She mounted him, holding on to the leather headrest as she ground against him. Erik gripped her hips, hitting every spot that made her wetter and wetter. Sylvie bounced up and down as she came closer to another orgasm. Fast. Slow. Faster. Then they exploded together like firecrackers on the Fourth of July.
It wasn’t until they caught their breath that they realized how reckless they’d just been. “We really should’ve used protection,” Erik mumbled as he stroked her back.
“I know. Well, there are two things you don’t have to worry about on my end. No STIs and not a chance that I’ll get pregnant.”
Erik furrowed his brows. “How do you know that?”
“Because I had my yearly physical last week and got a clean bill of health.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”
Sylvie jerked out of his embrace, wishing that she hadn’t said a word about a baby. One day she planned to tell him, but not today. And not while they were naked.
“It’s not important.”
“That’s not something you drop on someone and then say it’s not important.”
She tilted her head to the side. “Was it your intention to get me pregnant today? Why does it matter?”
“You want me to say that it doesn’t matter? If you have a health issue, maybe it’s something I can help you with or . . .”
“Didn’t ask for your help. I was just trying to ease your mind.” She rubbed her hand across her face. “I’m sorry I said anything.”
“I’m not. But let me be clear, nothing changed because of what you said.”
Sylvie grabbed her clothes and dressed quickly. “I have to go.” Her mind filled with rejection, or the day Erik came around with a baby he had with another woman. Right now things might be the same, but there was going to come a time when things changed. Isn’t that how it always went?
Not even bothering to put his boxers on, Erik leapt up and blocked Sylvie’s exit. “Stop. Don’t leave like this.”
“Like what? I have stuff to do.”
“Don’t leave thinking that what I feel
for you has changed or I’m looking at you differently or that I’m going to do whatever he did to you.”
She sucked in a deep breath and tried to fight back her tears. Erik cupped her chin and forced her to look into his eyes. “If we decide kids are in our future, we’ll make it happen. Trust me on that.”
Tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she nodded. “I’m sure this wasn’t a part of the fantasy.”
Erik kissed her on the forehead. “Reality is fine. Even better than the fantasy. Dinner at your place tonight?”
“If you mean takeout from Modele’s, then yes.”
“And I’ll bring ingredients for breakfast. Because you still owe me a tour.”
“All right.” She wiped her eyes and stood on her tiptoes to give him a peck on the lips. “You’d better get dressed before I open that door.”
“Good idea, because I’m sure Ingrid is going to be in here sooner or later.” Erik crossed over to his chair and grabbed his slacks. After he was dressed, Sylvie unlocked the door and waved to him as she headed out.
“See you for dinner.”
“And I look forward to having you for dessert,” he said with a randy wink.
Chapter 20
Erik was about to pack it in for the day when Ingrid walked into his office. “Why did your mother attack my mom?”
Erik furrowed his brows. “Your mother?”
“Yes, I saw the video after taking all of those calls about two former models from Jordan Industries fighting at a restaurant. I just want to know why your mother attacked mine.”
Erik rubbed his forehead. “I don’t know. I didn’t even know that was your mom. I thought you said your mom’s name was Violet?”
“Yes, it is. She uses Violet professionally now, has since I was a little girl. Do you think it’s true what people heard them say?”
“About my dad having an affair with your mother?”
Ingrid wrapped her arms around her midsection and hugged herself. “I don’t even want to go home and talk to her about this.”
“Maybe this will all blow over in the media pretty quickly and we can focus on what’s important.”
“Erik, my mother is important and I want answers as to what’s going on. This is bigger than Jordan Industries!”
Erik stood up and pointed his finger at Ingrid. “Stay away from my mother. She’s going through enough and she doesn’t need you harassing her about some age-old bullshit. Talk to your mother and leave it at that.”
Ingrid turned on her heels and stormed out of the room. Erik felt bad for talking to her so forcefully after everything she’d done for him and the company over the past few weeks, but he wasn’t going to allow anyone to go after his mother while she was battling cancer. He wished Yvonne hadn’t fought with Helen, but he had questions of his own now. The only person who could answer them would be his father. But did he want to know the truth? One thing he’d always believed was that Simon loved Yvonne.
The way she stood by him over the years, Erik couldn’t believe that she’d been rewarded like this. If this woman had a child with Simon . . . The thought popped in his head like a gunshot.
Was Ingrid his sister? Erik picked up the phone and called the federal prosecutor on the case.
“Ronald Taylor.”
“Mr. Taylor, this is Erik Jordan.”
“Mr. Jordan, it’s a little late. What’s going on?”
Erik sighed into the phone. “I need to know where my father’s being held.”
“You don’t watch the news much these days, huh? Despite my objections, the judge decided to release your father on bail this afternoon.”
“What? Isn’t he a flight risk?”
“I did get his passport confiscated and he is confined to his home. One violation of that and he’s going to be in jail until the trial begins.”
“Thanks,” Erik said. “I have to go.” Hanging up the phone, Erik wondered if it was a good idea for Simon to be in the house with Yvonne. He grabbed his cell phone and called Logan as he rushed downstairs to his car.
“What’s up, E?” Logan said when he answered the phone.
“We need to get to the parents’ house now.”
“Man, I’m not in the mood for Jordan drama today. Olivia and I have resorted to watching old-school cartoons on Netflix to avoid all of the news about the family today. But we did enjoy your interview.”
“Then I guess you aren’t aware that Dad’s under house arrest and Mom is probably still pissed about her fight with Helen.”
“Wait. What?”
“Turn the cartoons off and meet me over there. Please.”
Logan started speaking under his breath in French and Erik rolled his eyes. “I’ll be there,” Logan relented.
Erik hopped in the car and started the engine. Before he drove off, he texted Sylvie, telling her that he might be late for dinner. Speeding out of the parking lot, Erik hoped that he would get the truth out of his father for a change.
* * *
Sylvie walked into her house and tried to pretend that Erik’s text didn’t take her back to that dark place where she was when Stephen ended their relationship because she couldn’t have a child. What if Erik was trying to distance himself from her—slowly and deliberately.
“The man said he’s going to be late for dinner. Calm down,” she muttered as she went upstairs to take a shower.
Before she started the water, her phone rang—Olivia’s ringtone. “What’s up, Liv?”
“Where are you?” her friend asked.
“At home about to take a shower. What’s going on?”
Olivia sighed. “Have you seen the latest Jordan news?”
“You mean Yvonne Jordan’s fight at The Lawrence?”
“Since you’re at home, why don’t I come over so we can talk?”
“Okay. But where’s Logan?”
“He and Erik went over to their parents’ house. Wine or ice cream?”
“Is it that bad?”
Olivia’s sigh filled Sylvie’s ear. “I’ll bring both.”
After hanging up with her friend, Sylvie took a quick shower and changed into a pair of cotton leggings and a tank top. She was on edge as she waited for Olivia. What if something had happened to Erik’s mom? Had their father done something else that was going to make headlines?
She said a silent prayer for the Jordans, especially Erik. Part of her wondered how much more he could take. He’d been thrown into a job he hadn’t wanted, and every day there seemed to be some kind of firestorm surrounding his family.
And you want to add yourself to the equation? Even if Erik wanted to have a future with you, it’s going to be hard to move forward. And then there’s this job in London. Who knows what’s going to happen while I’m there?
When she heard the doorbell, Sylvie assumed it was Olivia. Although she wondered how she’d made it to her place so quickly. Opening the door, she was shocked to see Stephen standing on her doorstep.
Had he not seen her, she would’ve left him standing or maybe even called the police because he was trespassing. But she wasn’t going to be petty right now. Sylvie cracked the door open and glared at her ex.
“Why are you here?”
He folded his arms across his chest. “Are we at a point where you can’t even invite me inside your home?”
“You’re lucky that I’m allowing you to stand on my front steps. What do you want?”
He sighed. “I know that Amanda told you about the baby. I didn’t want you to find out that way, and I certainly don’t want you to think that something was going on between the two of us when you and I were together.”
“I really don’t give a damn about what you’re doing or who you do it with.”
Stephen rocked back on his heels. “Then why are you harassing Amanda? She’s in a tough situation and having a high-risk pregnancy. The last thing she needs is to be confronted on the street by you because you’re jealous.”
Sylvie scoffed. “Jealous? Seriously? You w
eren’t the man for me and I’ve dealt with my mistake. I’m not carrying some torch for you, nor am I following Amanda around harassing her. I have a business to run.”
“Aww, yes, your business. Nothing has changed, huh?”
“Get off my steps and don’t ever darken my doorway again.”
He shook his head. “We’d still be together right now if you knew what was important. You’re never going to be happy or satisfied with that business alone. Anyone can move furniture and slap paint on a wall. There’s nothing special about you or what you do.”
Sylvie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Thank you for your irrelevant opinion about my life. If there was a time when I gave a damn about what you thought about my life, trust me, those days are gone. I wish you and Amanda the best and I want her to have a healthy baby. But you’d better forget that you know me, know my address, my phone number, or anything about me at all.”
“So, you’re a tough girl now? You can’t even let go of an old car because your father drove it. I know you’re wishing that you were the one having my child, but it just isn’t that way.”
Sylvie laughed. “If I’m the one who can’t let go, why are you here? I saw Amanda in passing. She announced that she was pregnant and guess what, the sun came up the next day and life moved on. For the last time, leave.” She slammed the door in his face and released a triumphant sigh.
A few months ago, seeing Stephen and hearing him say those things about her might have devastated Sylvie. But tonight, she was going to do her happy dance. And pop a bottle of champagne.
The next time the doorbell rang, it was Olivia. “Okay, what’s with the bubbly?”
Sylvie held out a glass to her friend. “Stephen came by.”
Olivia grabbed the glass and gave Sylvie a questioning look. “And that caused you to break out the champagne? What the hell is going on and why is that loser coming to your house? If you tell me that you two are getting back together, I’m going to make you wear this.”
“Take a sip and chill out. I am not getting back with Stephen. Hell would have to freeze over and Satan himself would need to hit me in the face with a snowball. But seeing him on my doorstep did nothing to me. Hell, I didn’t even let him in.”
Tempted at Midnight Page 20
