Don't Close Your Eyes

by Lynessa James

  Don’t Close Your Eyes

  PROLOGUE

  I walked back toward the high-rise where my office was, openly appreciating the architecture of the city. In all honesty, I didn’t mind so much when my messenger was unavailable. Taking a break from the office to go run a quick errand was not so bad. Besides, I needed to get out for lunch every once in a while, and I’d certainly had my fill. The walking was a good idea after such an indulgence.

  I held the door open for a couple of ladies walking up behind me, smiling to myself in knowing. They had been talking openly until they’d caught up to me, where it became all hushed, girly whispers as they gushed about me privately. I am no fool. I am all too familiar with the affect I have on the women around me. I’m simply uninterested in the advances of a desperate female throwing herself my way or pining for my affections. Too much on my bloody plate for that shit, not to mention, I’m a hunter by nature. Where the hell is the fun in that unless you’re looking for an easy lay? I offered them both pleasant smiles, watching as they wilted beneath my gaze accordingly. Predictably. What? No sigh?

  I rolled my eyes and smiled behind their backs as they resumed their gossip while I followed toward the elevators. The woman in the black pencil skirt reached forward to press the button, and they both turned slightly so they could see me. Ogle me was more apt. They spoke openly about a one-night stand the one in the blue dress had apparently had this weekend with a fellow co-worker. I hid my sneer at the unprofessionalism of the entire situation. Personally, those were lines I never crossed, or even allowed to become blurred. Well, except for that one time with that skank, April. Not so much a skank before that, but after she’d taken advantage of me on one of our business trips, my good opinion of her was never the same. Trashy, really.

  I unleashed my charm like a weapon as I gestured they go ahead when the doors opened. “Ladies, I trust you both had quite the lunch while you were busy plotting to flush the poor gentleman’s reputation down the drain, then?” I said with a devilish grin, listening as they laughed. They were obviously thrilled with the fact that I had decided to speak to them, let alone joined in their conversation. No doubt I would hear word around the building eventually of how Mr. King actually ‘flirted’ with them. Whatever made them happy. Anyone who knew me, knew better.

  I followed them on as young woman moved aside to allow us more room where I was hit with the sweetest perfume. The amusement and excitement that lit this woman’s beautiful face struck me stupid for an incredulous moment, but I quickly remembered myself and asked which floors they were headed to. I lightly shook my head as though to clear it somehow. I felt as though all my damn thoughts were scattered in a million bloody places, and it was all I could do to focus on their responses. I pressed our buttons and noticed hers was already pressed, though in my haste to study her I didn’t bother with taking the time to look at which it was.

  Who the hell was she? I had never seen her here before. She didn’t appear to work in this building since her dress was flamboyant, rather than professional. What I did know was that I had never been so damn instantaneously attracted to another in my bloody life as I was in this moment, to this woman, who was obviously way too young for me. However, I felt drawn, as though she were pulling me by an invisible line; one of which I wished would close the distance between us badly.

  Never before had I seen a redhead with the coloring she had. Hmmm, to see if the carpet matched those drapes… Was she naturally a redhead? None of the redheads where I came from looked like this one, and the UK was practically the breeding ground for gingers. Damn, she was pretty! I wanted to simply take her in like the best of views. The type you appreciate when visiting an exotic place you will be forced to depart far too soon, so you try and memorize every single thing you love about it? Commit it to memory to reflect upon? Yeah. In a nutshell.

  She glanced in my direction, and I was caught openly staring at her in my attempt at memorization. I was transfixed. Frozen. Tangled. I meant to look away, but her eyes held my attention. So green, so bright, so prominent. Her cheeks warmed in embarrassment at having been caught looking at me before she quickly glanced away. Hell, I was the one that should have been embarrassed for my blatant appreciation of this sweet girl. Ahem, young woman. I chuckled to myself in a bit of awe at my own audacity and cleared my throat. To try and regain my shit, I forced myself to listen to the ladies openly insulting the poor bloke the one in the blue dress worked with.

  “Oh, girl, never go there! Michelle warned me that it would be a waste of time, you know, glutton for punishment and such, but I just didn’t listen because he’s so hot! Such a shame, really. I mean, maybe if Lance hadn’t been such a dick afterward, I wouldn’t be about to spread word that his dick is small,” the blue dress giggled in wicked delight. Brutal! The doors opened on the fifth floor. “Feel free to spread the word and cut him down to size at any opportunity to help a sister out. I am out for blood after that bull. We will start off at four inches and go down from there,” the woman told the other as she walked off. The three of us snickered before the pencil skirt quickly responded as the doors were closing.

  The pretty redhead glanced over at me, openly granting me a mischievous smile, her embarrassment gone. I felt as though my tie were too tight! Like I needed an oxygen mask for a brief moment, perhaps a paper bag? I inhaled deeply while my blood was busy rushing from my head down to places that weren’t allowed to be in activation while at work, my bad side presenting itself. Shit!

  The woman getting off on the sixth floor now looked at me in open lust, casting me a smile that matched. An open invitation? How nice, dear. Such a shame. Too bad you aren’t the one I want, would have been nice to quell this suddenly dark craving.

  When the doors closed again, we were blissfully alone. Oh, the things I would love to do alone in an elevator with the likes of her! I was practically grinding my teeth at the longing surging through my entirety. So many things filtered through my mind as I discreetly skimmed her body. I allowed my gaze to meet hers again, my own amusement showing as she was apparently stunned at the previous woman’s behavior. Her innocence was a painfully obvious light that I, myself, wilted under instantly! I had to look away quickly! King, what the hell is the matter with you, you blasted pussy! Get your shit together! Just another bloody female! No different from the rest, damn it.

  I clenched my jaw to try and force myself to focus on anything disgusting to try and tame my lust, but, hell, she smelled so good! She was so… Everything… So strikingly different, indeed! Damn it! I wanted to pull her against me, to inhale her delicious scent while running my hands and mouth along her throat, to kiss her pillowy glossed lips, tug her ponytail down, shuck her innocent white bow, run my fingers into all that fiery hair, pull a darkness from this light!

  I coughed slightly, attempting to regain my composure once more. Get the damn upper hand back, you pathetic wanker! I looked back up, deploying the smile I pulled like a weapon, but hers only became larger, brighter, and she was completely breathtaking. I shook my head, I mean who was playing whom here?

  I offered some charming comment about the poor bloke those women had been referring to in an attempt at disarming her as I subtly stepped closer, leaning against the wall so she didn’t feel the need to move back. I watched as a sweet shyness came over this captivating creature that I wanted so desperately to touch. Yes, a creature. Magic. What else could it be? Klive King didn’t react to women in such a fashion, rather they reacted to me.

  What would it be like to kiss her? To lift that pretty pink dress she had on? I wonder what kind of panties lurked beneath it, what kind of grooming lurked beneath them…

  This woman’s light was damn near blinding, and I fel
t like my black soul was exposed as I ate her up in my carnal longing to do the dirtiest of things to her. I was itching to touch her pretty throat, to have her tan legs wrapped around my waist. I was willing to bet the moaning I could pull from her would be positively maddening! Whether she could even handle a man like me in all that pretty sweetness was doubtful. She’d probably be terrified, to tell you the truth. I wasn’t a gentle man, per se, and the heat I was packin’ wasn’t simply average if you get my drift. Not to mention, this sweet girl was merely a lamb locked in a lion cage in this ironic meeting of good and evil, having no idea about the two men I had killed only last night. No idea who she was in the presence of. Oh, little lamb how I would love to devour you. I bet she tasted pretty damn good. I could push her up against the wall and taste her now…

  My dirty musings were put on pause when she unleashed her own charm out of nowhere in a witty agreement to the observation I’d made merely a moment ago. Hmmm, not very many women who can hold their own under my charm, but to actually give it back to me? The fact that she seemed to simply be herself in doing so, very impressive! She didn’t appear to be flirting or coming onto me, rather she was friendly, sweet, genuine. I tell you, the voice of this angel was a contradiction of that innocence she was waving like a white flag for anyone to see. There was a depth and texture to her throaty timbre that sent your mind packing on a one-way trip to bad places. I hadn’t a damn shot at pulling my mind from the gutter! Oh, Love, I want you badly! I shifted even closer, trying like hell to keep it from being noticed. It was a bloody good thing I was so able to multitask, because it was so hard to keep my eyes off her beautiful smile, her breasts, her legs, shit!

  King, get your bullshit together, this damn ride isn’t going to last forever! What the hell was wrong with me? Damn this woman! I don’t date! I don’t feel shit! I don’t get involved, but here I was like a fucking loser, panting with the need to know this woman, among other things… The words escaped my mouth before I could even stop them.

  “Speaking of office relationships, Love, would you happen to have plans for lunch?” I offered, putting all my appeal into it. I hoped like hell my pathetic bullshit was not on full display. You already had lunch, you pussy! Damn it all to hell if she didn’t look as though she felt unworthy. No! Not you! Don’t look at this dark soul as though your light is not good enough! I am unworthy to be in your sweet presence! Please come to lunch with me, I will eat again, gladly!

  “That’s very nice of you…” she trailed bashfully, that pretty smile still gracing her beautiful face as she looked down. Love, don’t say those words, they are the kiss of death that this man before you has never gotten before! “But, I’m having lunch with my Daddy today, thank you for the offer,” she continued sweetly and picked at the bow on top of the box in her hand while she looked back up at me.

  Bleeding hell, kill me now, and get it over with. Did she really just say those damn innocent words?! Her Daddy? You’ve got to be kidding me! I bet you are daddy’s little pride and joy; just a preppy, all-American princess. Little princess, I would love to dirty your sweet perfection completely up! Too much light. Too sweet. I could never make it work with someone like you in all my evil.

  This whole thing was ridiculous, and I was ready to be done with this ride and the way she made me feel. I wanted to roll my eyes, but when she looked up at the digital counter, a flash of disappointment hit her pretty face, and I felt ashamed. How could I think of fucking her world up, not to mention fucking her in general, when suddenly I desperately only wanted to be given an invitation into the light she apparently basked in? After all, what was so wrong with being sweet and innocent?

  Without warning, my desperate lust turned into an ache that overtook my black heart the likes of which I hadn’t known since I was a teen. She was likened to the light that had penetrated the darkness when my little brother had been sick with cancer, then finally given the mellisonant news of remission. She was remission for a sick soul, and mine was ghastly ill indeed.

  When the lift stopped on what must have been her floor, she smiled sadly, as though she were feeling the same inner conflict I was! Was it only because I was a pretty face? Considering I had spent all of maybe five minutes with her? Probably. I promise for you I could try harder! I could be more than attractive! More than bad! I can be more for you! Just tell me what you need!

  “Maybe another time?” she offered as though she were trying to ease the disappointment that was busy lancing through my previously dormant heart. Her already prominent eyes took on a new look altogether. So big, so innocent, so angelic, almost pleading! This woman had a weapon of her own in that look alone, damn it! Was she using it on purpose? To make me a blasted slave to her? Apparently it was working because I was ready to give her whatever the hell she wanted of me with that look, ready to pledge fealty to her from my knees.

  I clenched my jaw as I tried to swallow this feeling while giving a speechless nod. I couldn’t speak through this. It was too much. How was I to deal with the fact that I wanted someone so badly for the first time? That she made me feel at all? That I wanted her light for my own?

  Sweet Remission, do not leave me!

  Leave me, she did. She stepped off the elevator, and I had no choice but to move so I could look at her fully as she departed my presence, tugging me by that invisible line she still held.

  Mine.

  It was a single word that hung in my presently hollow mind as I watched her pretty, polka-dotted dress sway softly with her hips as she walked, her heels enhancing her amazing calves; hell, she had great legs for being so petite. She cast a beseeching glance over her shoulder at me, and her expression was no longer light. I could practically hear her beckoning me to follow after her. Go after her! Move, damn it! I couldn’t, though! I was stuck!!! Shit, how do I proceed?! Come back to me, Love. Come help me to follow you!

  Instead, she gave me a wistful smile, and I felt like there was no way that the desperation I felt was not showing on my own face as the doors closed and my opportunity was lost.

  Lost.

  I’d lost.

  Me.

  I didn’t lose anything, however, I’d just lost at something.

  I’d never had an addiction to anything in my entire life, but I had never felt more sober than this moment, as though I’d slammed into the hard ground of reality and couldn’t shake its cruel, lingering pain in the absence of what was a blissful high.

  “Shit, shit, shit!!!! You nesh bitch!! Where the hell were your balls, you friggin’ pussy?!” I let my head fall against the doors in desperate disappointment. What floor had she gotten off on?! I needed to go back to it now!!! I need her!

  The elevator stopped at my floor, and I wished to God I had been watching that damn counter so I could have tried narrowing it down. What had it said when she had looked at it? Twenty something…?

  Oh, God! What have I done?

  I’d just allowed the only woman who ever sparked that kind of longing within me walk away from me! I had been so lost in my own thoughts of what I would like to do to her, that I hadn’t even had the sense to ask her bloody name?! “Well, it was a good thing you managed to ask her to a lunch that you had already eaten instead, you fuck up…”

  I gave curt nods in response to all the pleasantries that were given as I made my way to my office. I was angry as hell now. I wanted to shove shit off of the desks I passed and throw a postal fit. Why had I killed both of those guys last night? How I wished I could kill tonight! I need that girl! I need that light! Focus, King. Hunt her down. Should I go back to the first floor and wait to see where she goes? Who her father is? Was she leaving with him for lunch, or were they ordering in? Ask around the building? A redhead with features like that one had were bound to be memorable to someone. Where did I begin? Damn, wait a bleeding minute! This wasn’t hunting, this was all out stalking! What the hell kind of wanker was I already being reduced to in the name of a woman I hadn’t a bloody clue about? But th
at was the problem, wasn’t it? I knew everything about anyone I wanted. I wanted to know everything about her.

  I ignored Abigail as she proceeded to try and give me the messages that had been left for me over my lunch break. “Not now, Abby!” She cringed with a flush to her pretty face and walked away in a bit of defeat. Poor woman, I would have to apologize and calm her down later. I couldn’t deal with that shit now.

  There was a knock on the door frame of my office, and that cunt, April, poked her head in with a dirty smirk at my expression. She sauntered in wearing a very sexy black dress no woman with professional integrity should ever wear to the office. Normally, I may have subtly skimmed her figure, right now I wanted to put her on my hit list because I was so pissed off.

  “Klive, what’s the matter, dear? Anything I can do to calm you down?” she purred suggestively and snickered as I shot her a look that told her to fuck off. It seemed to only make her want me more. Go figure. Didn’t matter that I was ready for launch, I was never a desperate man, and I was definitely not this desperate.

  I waved that skank away and and locked my office door after that. If she wasn’t so valuable, I’d have fired her on the spot for her shit. Especially right now! How could I ever look at another woman when that innocent had clouded every damn area of my brain to make me feel such sharp conviction at the mere idea? Ugh! I speared my fingers through my perfect hair, for once not giving a shit if I messed it up. I was so bloody screwed if I couldn’t find her. Probably because the prospect of screwing suddenly wasn’t so appealing if fiery hair, tanned skin, innocent green eyes, and the voice of a phone sex operator weren’t a part of the package. I put away the idea of how relieving it would be to unload inside of her and pulled my phone to my ear.

  “Chris, contact the security department of my building. Get the surveillance tapes for the elevators for today from between eleven and two o’clock. If you could outright hack the system and watch for a redhead in a pink, polka-dotted dress, pony tail, white bow and heels, that would be even better,” I told my PI. Barked would be a far more apt description. I worked to calm my tone.