Lace

by Deborah Bladon

  “You looked surprised.” Olivia takes the glass of champagne from my hand. “Did you not realize this was a party in your honor?”

  I step closer to her. God, she smells incredible. It’s a combination of the fragrance of her skin and a trace of perfume.

  All that’s missing is the scent of sex that permeated every pore of her body the other night when she was in my bed.

  “I want to fuck you.”

  Her eyes widen. “Alexander.”

  “Olivia.” I reach to touch her hand. “Now, who looks surprised? Did you not realize that I want to fuck you?”

  “People will hear you,” she lowers her voice.

  I do the same, leaning in so my breath breezes over her cheek. “People have sex. Some people talk about having sex.”

  “Not here.” Her head shakes.

  I smile at the expression on her face. It’s surprise mixed with desire. “There’s a private room in the back. The door locks.”

  “How do you know that?” Her gaze narrows.

  I tap a fingertip to my ear. “I’ve heard.”

  “Dinner will be served soon.” She nervously taps her shoe on the floor. “I wasn’t sure if I should come, but my boss invited me.”

  “Gabriel?”

  “Cathleen.” She gestures toward a woman dressed in a knee-length navy blue dress. “She’s a big fan of yours. She told me on the way over that she’s been dying to meet you.”

  “I’m dying to eat you.”

  The corners of her lips twitch. “After the party. My place tonight.”

  “Something to look forward to.” I place my hand on the small of her back. “Introduce me to Cathleen.”

  Her smile widens. “She’ll like that.”

  “As your lover, Olivia.”

  “What?” Her eyes slide over my face.

  “Introduce me to your boss as your lover.”

  A blush sweeps over her cheeks. “Are you?”

  “We established that the other night when I fucked you raw.” I run the tip of my nose over her cheek. “I’ll remind you again tonight.”

  She turns to me, her lips hovering just over mine. “I welcome the reminder.”

  A tap on my shoulder lures my gaze back to catch Jack standing behind me. “Get to the front of the restaurant. Gabriel and Isla are waiting to toast you.”

  I nod abruptly before turning my attention back to Olivia.

  She raises her glass in the air. “Here’s to gentle reminders.”

  I move to rest my lips next to her ear. “Who said anything about it being gentle?”

  She gasps; I kiss her softly and leave her with a promise of what’s to come.

  Chapter 33

  Olivia

  It’s been more than an hour-and-a-half since I left Axel NY.

  Alexander kissed me goodbye after he told me that he’d meet me at my apartment as soon as the last guest had cleared out of the restaurant.

  I texted him thirty minutes ago to see if he’d be on his way soon, but I haven’t gotten a response.

  A faint knock at my door draws me to my feet. I’ve been camped out on my sofa watching Netflix since I got home.

  I changed into my favorite black bra and panty set. I covered that with the black silk robe I treated myself with for my birthday.

  I want to wow Alexander.

  Tugging on the sash of the robe, it falls open to reveal my lingerie. I smooth a hand over my hair, run a finger over my bottom lip and swing the door open.

  “Holy hotness, baby.”

  I roll my eyes at Kate. “It’s you.”

  “I take it you were expecting someone else.” Her brows perk. “Alexander Donato perhaps?”

  I yank her hand to pull her into my apartment before I shut the door. “He’s supposed to come over.”

  She watches as I tie the sash on my robe into a knot. “I’m not staying long. I stopped by to give you something.”

  “What?” I follow her movements as her hand dives into the large red leather tote that’s slung over her shoulder.

  She yanks out a book. “I got an advanced copy of the new Nicholas Wolf novel.”

  I crane my neck so I can get a better look at the cover. “You did not.”

  She holds the book up to give me the perfect view. “I did. Tilly got it for me.”

  I know that her friend, Tilly, is married to Sebastian Wolf, Nicholas’s older brother. I didn’t realize that Kate’s friendship with her included a perk like this.

  “He’s my favorite.” I reach my hands forward. “I’ll give it back to you as soon as I’m done.”

  “You’ll keep it.” She flips open the cover. “There’s a special treat in there for you, Liv.”

  My gaze drops to the book and the personalized inscription.

  It’s just my name, the word ‘Enjoy,’ and the signature of one of the greatest detective novelists of our time.

  Tears prick the corners of my eyes when Kate slides the book into my hands.

  “Why did you do this for me?” I ask softly.

  Her hand brushes against my forearm. “Friends treat friends. I know you’d do the same for me if you were friends with anyone who knows the Hemsworth brothers.”

  I laugh as I slide my hand over my cheek to brush away a tear. “I totally would.”

  “Especially anyone who knows Chris. He’s my favorite.”

  I tap my forehead. “I’ll store that to memory.”

  “I’ll take off before Alexander gets here.” She turns back toward the door.

  I glance over at my phone on the coffee table. It’s still silent. “Stick around for a bit. When he gets here you can make a quick exit.”

  Her bag drops to the floor. “I read the last page of the book on the subway on my way home from work. Do you want a spoiler?”

  I lift a finger to her lips to silence her. “Don’t do it.”

  She smiles. “I won’t tell you how that story ends but the one playing out between you and Alexander tonight is going to have a very happy ending.”

  “If he ever shows up.” I roll my eyes. “If he’s not here by midnight, I turn into a grump and go to bed alone.”

  Her gaze drops to the watch on her wrist. “The man has exactly one hour to get his ass down here.”

  ***

  Three hours later, I wake up with a start when my phone rings.

  I fumble in the dark to find the lamp on the nightstand next to my bed. I turn it on, shielding my eyes from the bright glare of the light.

  I pick up my phone and bring it to my ear.

  “Hello,” I whisper into it.

  “Olivia?”

  I rest my head back on the pillow. “Alexander? What time is it?”

  “It’s late,” he pauses. “Very late.”

  “I was asleep,” I state the obvious. “I’m going back to sleep.”

  There was a time in my life when I would have given up just about everything, including sleep, to accommodate a man.

  I won’t anymore.

  I have an important meeting tomorrow. I need to be alert and rested.

  “Wait.” His voice is gruff. “I’m fucked up right now.”

  I move to sit up in bed. He doesn’t sound like himself. His voice has a tremor to it that’s not usually there.

  “Is everything alright?”

  He exhales audibly. “Alvin.”

  “What about Alvin?” I question before he can say another word.

  I don’t know his nephew well, but he’s a good kid. He was sweet to me when we had dinner together. I’ve been looking forward to seeing him again.

  “Phoebe got called away from the party right after you left. He was sick. She ended up in the ER with him. I went down there. It scared the fuck out of me.”

  “Are you there now?” I swing my legs over the side of my bed.

  It’s not like I’m going to rush down there, am I? I barely know Alvin. I’m not Alexander’s girlfriend. I don’t belong there.

  “No, I’m here. I’m in
the lobby of your building.”

  I pick up my robe from where I threw it on the foot of my bed. I slip into it. “I’ll buzz you up.”

  Chapter 34

  Olivia

  I shut the door behind him once he’s inside my apartment. “Is Alvin alright?”

  He looks around my living room. “It’s food poisoning. They’re keeping him overnight for observation. Phoebe is staying with him.”

  I nod and gesture toward my couch. “Do you want to sit down?”

  His eyes rake me from head-to-toe. “I’d like that.”

  I follow as he moves across the room. “Can I get you anything? I can make coffee.”

  He scratches his chin as he lowers himself onto my couch. “Sit with me.”

  Taking a seat next to him, I adjust my robe.

  “Blue velvet?” he asks, running his hand over one of the cushions.

  “I found it in a vintage shop,” I say quietly. “It’s the most comfortable piece of furniture I own.”

  He leans back and sighs. “I like your taste.”

  I look around the room. Nothing matches, yet it all fits together perfectly.

  I’ve always decorated by my rulebook, pairing modern with vintage. My mom tells me that my style gives her a migraine whenever she comes to visit. I find it soothing and calming.

  “Will Alvin be released tomorrow…I mean later today?”

  “The attending physician told Phoebe that they’d kick him out at around noon if he keeps improving. I’ll pick them up.”

  He’s a good brother and uncle. “I’m glad he’ll be alright.”

  “Me too.” His voice quakes. “I’ve never seen him like that before. He could barely move. His eyes were sunken in. I wanted to help, but...”

  I nod, not surprised that his voice trailed off. He looks exhausted. I offer the only other thing I can think of that will help. “It’s late. You need to rest. You can stay if you want.”

  He raises his chin until our eyes meet. “You want me to stay?”

  I want to comfort him. “Yes.”

  He pushes to his feet, yanking his phone from his jacket pocket. “I told Phoebe to call if she needs anything. I’ll need to leave the ringer on high.”

  “You can put it on the nightstand next to your pillow.”

  A ghost of a grin floats over his lips. “Thank you for this, Olivia.”

  “Let’s sleep.” I stand and reach for his hand. “Come with me.”

  ***

  I’ve been watching him sleep for almost an hour. I woke shortly before six. I’m not used to sleeping next to someone else.

  I found comfort in every movement he made. He tossed and turned until he finally settled on his back with his arm over his head.

  He looks masculine and sexy with my blanket resting just below his stomach.

  I can see the trail of dark hair that disappears out of view.

  He’s nude. He dropped all of his clothes on the floor before he climbed into my bed.

  I tossed my robe onto a chair in the corner before I joined him.

  He talked about Alvin and the teenage babysitter who cooked for him. She had gotten sick too, but she was released soon after she arrived at the ER. Alvin ate more of the fish she prepared for the two of them than she did.

  When he laughed about Alvin never wanting to eat fish again, I joined in.

  It was easy and fun and when he kissed me goodnight I felt the promise of more, but he put his head back on the pillow and drifted to sleep.

  I reach to turn off the alarm on my phone. I know it’s set to buzz in five minutes.

  “You’re not going to leave me here alone, are you?” Alexander’s voice in the morning is pure sinfulness.

  It’s gravelly and thick.

  I turn back toward it. “I was just about to wake you.”

  His eyes are barely open, his hair a mess. He’s sporting a shadow over his jaw and a smile on his lips.

  “Thank you, Olivia.”

  “For?” I ask so there’s no confusion.

  He motions me closer with his arm. I move quickly, resting my head against his chest.

  I settle in, smelling the scent of his skin, feeling the roughness of his trimmed chest hair against my skin.

  He circles his arm around me. “You let me stay with you.”

  I press a kiss to his chest. “You were exhausted.”

  “You were kind.” He returns the favor by kissing my forehead. “I wouldn’t have slept at home. I would have stayed up all night replaying the image of Alvin on that hospital stretcher in my mind over and over again.”

  “I’m glad I could help.”

  “Help me now.” His voice drifts into a seductive tone.

  I pull back and look up at his face. “How?”

  His hand slides down his body, pushing the blanket away. His cock springs free, hard and curving up to his belly. He grabs the base. “Fuck me.”

  I stare at him; at all of him. I’ve never woken up next to anything like this before.

  “I’ll get a condom,” I whisper as I slide off the bed.

  He watches as I walk to my dresser. I tug open the top drawer and reach inside. I pull out a condom before I unhook my bra and slip off my panties.

  “Hurry,” he growls. “You can’t walk around like that and not expect me to blow my load.”

  The room is darkened. The only light cast on me is from the hallway. “I’m coming.”

  “You will be.”

  I push the condom package toward him, but he shakes his head. “This time is for you. You sheath it. You ride it. You take what you need from me.”

  My hands shake as I rip open the package and fumble with the condom. I suck in a deep breath before I roll it over his cock.

  “Come here,” he commands, tapping his chin. “I want you nice and wet.”

  I scramble up the bed and slide over him, straddling him. “Like this?”

  “Like this,” he echoes before he pulls me down onto his mouth.

  Chapter 35

  Alexander

  “You’re a million miles away.” Phoebe’s hand lands on my shoulder. “What are you thinking about?”

  Who am I thinking about is the question.

  The answer is Olivia Hull.

  I spent last night at her apartment. I left her four hours ago and I haven’t stopped thinking about her for a second.

  She made me coffee after we fucked, joined me in the shower and when she got dressed for work, I sat on the corner of her bed and watched her every move.

  I had no idea that watching a woman readying for her day could be so captivating.

  Everything from the way she slipped into her white lace panties and bra to the way she brushed her hair made me want her even more.

  I’ve never felt this way about a woman. The lust is consuming me, but there’s a hint of something else there. I have no fucking clue what I’m feeling for her.

  I step out of the way when a nurse rushes past me on her way down the corridor. I glance into Alvin’s room again, but he’s still in the washroom.

  “Once Alvin is changed, we can go home.” Phoebe drags a hand through her hair. “Thank you again for stopping by my house to pick up the change of clothes for us.”

  It was the least I could do.

  That and the coffee I brought her along with a banana muffin. I knew she wouldn’t put anything into her body since she refused to leave Alvin’s side all night.

  “How’s Monte?” I ask because I know firsthand that he was a wreck last night.

  I talked to him on the phone briefly before I left the hospital. He was near tears knowing his son was sick and he was over a thousand miles west of New York.

  Phoebe’s eyes close on a sigh. “I told him that Alvin would be just fine, but he’s having a hard time forgiving himself for not being here.”

  I grab her shoulder and squeeze it. “He loves that kid more than anything.”

  Her eyes mist once she opens them. “I need him here, Alex. Dammi
t, I wish he could be here all the time.”

  I pull her into me for a hug. “You’re both doing the best you can. Alvin’s a lucky kid to have two parents who love him as much as you and Monte do.”

  She nods through a sniffle. “He has you too. You’re staying in New York for a few more weeks, aren’t you?”

  I haven’t laid out my long terms plan for her yet, because nothing is written in stone. I have a meeting this afternoon that will put more of the pieces of my future in place.

  “I’m not going anywhere.” I glance over her shoulder to the sight of Alvin waving both hands in our direction. He’s standing next to the hospital bed where he spent the night. “It looks like your son is ready to hit the road.”

  She turns back, waving a hand in the air. “We’ll be right there, sweetheart.”

  “Mom,” Alvin groans. “I’m ten-years-old. I’m not your sweetheart.”

  I laugh. “He’s feeling better.”

  “Let’s get him home.” She reaches up to adjust the lapels of my suit jacket. “It didn’t slip past me that you’re wearing the same clothes you were wearing last night.”

  I cock a brow. “You always did have an eagle eye.”

  She smiles and grabs my hand. “You smell like my favorite body wash. Monte got me a bottle from Matiz Cosmetics for my birthday.”

  “You wanted to be a police detective when you were a kid. You should have gone with that. Your investigation skills are impressive.”

  “I like Olivia.” She squeezes my hand. “Alvin likes her. Be good to her, Alex.”

  “I’m starving,” Alvin calls from behind us. “Can we please go home already?”

  I look at Phoebe. “You heard the little man. It’s time to get out of here.”

  She gives me a curt nod and a wide smile. “I couldn’t agree with you more.”

  ***

  “Fancy meeting you here.”

  I feel a tap on my shoulder with those words.

  I’d know the seductive tone of that voice anywhere. I turn around eager to kiss her, but that’s washed away when I realize she’s not alone.