Margot tossed her tools down and sighed. “What do you want?”
“You,” he said promptly.
“No, not right now. What do you want, Nori.”
“I want you to be mine.”
“Your girlfriend?”
“For now.”
She stared at him as she considered. “Okay.”
Nori released a harsh breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “You are mine.”
“Yeah.”
“Faithful only to me.”
“Yeah, and vice versa.”
“Yes,” he agreed impatiently. “Of course.”
He made a move toward her, but she held up a hand.
“But if we do this? You can’t come between me and my work. I’ll try to save my nights for you. But sometimes you’re gonna have to share me with my muse. I can’t be aggravated like this. You’re fucking with my livelihood. Understand?”
He nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m fuckin’ sorry. Tommy’s bubblehead ass sucked up hours today with a bunch of fucking dresses. She’s nuts.”
Nori chuckled softly, and came forward to pull her into his arms. He nuzzled her neck, and she shivered as his soft, warm lips touched his favorite spot beneath her ear. Suddenly she didn’t feel much like working. Of course, now that she’d changed her mind, his phone buzzed.
He read the incoming text with a frown.
“Will you come to my house tonight? I now have a meeting early tomorrow morning, and there are some papers there that I need.”
“Okay.”
“Okay,” he agreed. “And bring your shit.”
She gave him the side eye. “Watch it.”
He just laughed.
“What’s up?” she asked the doorman.
“He’s met you twice and asks about you every time he sees me,” Nori told her as they rode up in the elevator.
Margot just smirked. Then she stared. She’d seen it before, but it was still impressive that there were only two doors on his floor.
She walked into his living room, re-admiring his stunning view of the lake. “You ever go out on the water?”
“Yes. Shall I take you out this weekend?”
“You have a boat?”
“No. My father does.”
“Forget it.”
“He won’t be there!”
“Just the two of us?”
“We could invite Tommy and co. if you like.”
He was pleased when she shook her head. “Nah. Tommy’s not a big boat person.”
He sighed soundlessly. It would have been nice had her primary concern been to be alone with him. But he forgot his momentary pique as he watched her walk around. He smiled, smug and pleased when she kicked off her sandals and padded barefoot.
“You want something to drink?” She opened the refrigerator.
“Water, please.”
She came back to the window with two bottles. “I thought you had to work.”
“After I give you the tour. You weren’t here long enough before.”
He led the way, opening doors for her to peek her head in. Gym, office, two guest bedrooms and bathroom, laundry room. When they got to his room, he had to rein in a laugh when she lay down on his perfectly made bed and made a snow angel with her arms and legs. It was her way of saying the bed was huge.
“Make yourself at home.” He left her to it, wanting to finish work so he could take her in his bed for the first time.
His phone rang. His assistant was trying to cram in as many details as possible now that she finally had his attention. “Yani. I got the email from Scott.”
Three hours later, having crammed in nearly a days’ worth of work thanks to Yani’s skill and efficiency, and prepped sufficiently for his morning meeting, he sought her out.
She was asleep, one of the books he’d given her under her cheek, a half completed earring and a clutch of jewelry making paraphernalia nearby. He lay a hand on her back. She looked tired. “You’ve been working too hard.”
She yawned and stretched. “I got a lot on my plate.” She gathered up her things and stored them in the large purse she favored. “I’ve been thinking about taking a vacation come winter.”
“Yes? Were you thinking of Mexico? I know the perfect place for us to go where you could rest, relax, and I can watch and fuck you every chance I get.” He laughed when she grinned.
“When?”
“We could go for Christmas.”
“Where is it? In Mexico, I mean.”
“Cancun, but it’s on an island, not in the hotel zone.”
“Then it’s not La Blanc.”
“No. It’s smaller, more exclusive, only accessible by boat. Do you want to go to La Blanc?”
She shook her head. “It’s beautiful, but it was too crowded when I went. We went around to all of the big hotels, and there were kids everywhere.”
“I thought you liked children?”
“I do. But not screaming and running all over my feet like savages.”
He laughed. “This resort is adults only.”
“Sybaris?”
“Very funny.”
She laughed softly. He followed as she went into the bath, taking her clothes off as she walked.
She never spent long in the shower at night, just long enough for a good rinse, to wash her face and the important bits, she said when he first commented on her speed. In the morning she took forever. He saw she’d already put her toothbrush in the holder beside his. Her floss was on the vanity beside her travel tube of Sensodyne toothpaste.
He stepped into shower but she was already getting out. He sped through his ablutions, brushed and flossed and found her already abed, with the light out. She’d left the curtains open though. He slid into bed and picked up the remote to close them.
“No. I like the starlight.”
And between one word and the next, she fell asleep again. So much for his plans to christen the bed. Margot was the first woman he’d ever brought here. His last almost girlfriend had pushed and pushed to see the place, and it was her pushing that made him realize he didn’t want to date her anymore.
His father had trained him to always visit the lady’s home first.
“You need to see how she lives, to evaluate whether or not she’s worth sleeping with,” Aro said when he was 14 or 15. “If she lives like a savage, drop her immediately. You want a woman who knows how to build a comfortable nest. Or at least has enough sense to pay someone else to do it for her.
“If she doesn’t keep a ready home where she can throw an impromptu dinner party, or entertain close friends without relying on paper cups, she’s not worth sleeping with more than once. And only that if you’re desperate, which you should never be. And remember, never bring a woman to your home until you’re sure she’s going to stick around. You don’t want a lot of women knowing where you live. Females have a way of possessing a space. And every man needs a place to go where he can be free of unwanted influence.”
Then he’d thought his father was an old-fashioned snob, but he realized now he’d unconsciously been acting on those old dictates. Nori had been excellent at compartmentalizing his life. Even reserving certain cars for women, not wanting that unwanted influence, as his father called it.
He recalled the girl he dated throughout his first year of college. It was no great love affair. She was pretty and funny and an excellent lay, and he’d liked that she was rather dim. Not dumb exactly, more spoiled. Oblivious. It meant that he could do what he wanted without a lot of interference or questioning. It also meant after the novelty of the sex wore off, she bored him.
He broke off the relationship after he dropped her at home one night, walked her to the door and got back to the car to find her perfume lingering in the air. The smell made him faintly nauseous, and he knew he’d never sleep with her again.
Now he lay staring at Margot. He considered waking her, but once he had her in his arms he too fell fast asleep.
T
he next morning when she woke he was gone. There was a key on the pillow where he’d lain, along with a note that read, “Have breakfast at the little hotel around the corner. It’s called Volta. They have my credit card on file. I’ll see you later.”
She thought about snooping in his lovely apartment. But without him in it, the place felt cold, and she showered and headed out for breakfast on him.
Margot wondered if she should be going along with his wishes like a docile little cow. But lately she hadn’t felt much like asserting herself. She liked not having to make decisions all the time. She’d probably always liked that, but before him no one had ever carried through to her satisfaction – or with such flair – and she got used to taking care of things herself.
But she trusted Nori, which was probably stupid as all hell since they were in business together, and he was a man. A rich, beautiful man. But he hadn’t let her down yet. He’d actually been working overtime to please her since she pointed out his “negligence” in taking her out on dates or contributing to a household where he spent most of his time.
But it was more than nice dinners out, presents and groceries. He made her feel calm. Protected. Until they hooked up, Margot hadn’t realized how often she felt threatened. It was never as simple as plain, ordinary fear. The threat always had another name – disrespect, maybe, or, stupidity – but with Nori standing beside her, a 6’2” buffer between her and the rest of the world, there was no need for fighting.
Number one, no one ever fucked with her when he was around. And number two. Well, number two was complicated. And scary. And who needed either one of those when there was a free breakfast at hand.
He called as she was spreading blackberry jam on her toast.
“’Lo?”
“Are you at Volta?”
“Mmm.”
She chewed, waiting for him to speak. He didn’t, and she listened to him rustling papers at his desk.
“I’ll be in the office all day. I have a dinner this evening.” He paused, waiting for her to respond, but she remained quiet beyond another, “Mmmm.”
“Come with me.”
“To a business dinner?”
“Yes. We’re meeting at Catch 22 at 7. I’ll pick you up.”
“No. I’ll meet you.”
“Perfect,” he said, and Margot suspected she’d been played. “I’ll see you later.”
He hung up and she cursed softly. Now she had to find something to wear. She called Tommy. She so didn’t want to, but if she tried to dress herself and someone took a picture it would be the living end.
The dinner went well. She’d been a little nervous. This wasn’t his father, but their last dinner party had ended so badly, she figured it was reasonable for her to be skittish. But Nori’s associate was a gentleman, even after nearly a bottle of excellent merlot he remained charming, though some words became a challenge.
At the end of the meal, he paid with a drunken flourish, needed Nori’s assistance to get into a cab, and waved a boozy goodbye out the window before he blew Margot a kiss.
“He’s going to be mortified when I tell him he did that later.”
Margot laughed softly. “Then don’t tell him. No harm done.”
Nori snorted. “Of course I shall tell him. He shouldn’t be blowing my woman kisses. Besides, he needs to stop drinking so much. He only does this when he’s in a couple’s dynamic. His fiancé broke things off with him about six months ago.”
“Oh, poor thing. Why did she do it?”
“She’s a bitch. She found someone richer, and now she’s engaged to him.”
Margot whistled. “Damn. That sucks.”
“Why? He should be glad he found out she was a slut before the wedding. He had a lucky escape. If he had any brains, he’d go out, find someone new and forget about her.”
“How long were they together?”
“Maybe a year, if that.”
“Well, a year’s not so long to meet someone and then decide you want to spend the rest of your lives together. The relationship must have been pretty intense.”
Nori snorted. “Whatever. Did you not hear me say she dumped him for another man?” He flicked a dismissive hand. “The fact that she replaced him so quickly – with one of his business associates at that – should negate any finer feelings for her at all. She’s a disloyal, money grubbing, cunt. He’s well rid of her and the dick head partner he’s no longer in bed with. We just can’t get him to see that.”
“He must have loved her.”
“Love! You sound so American right now it’s scary.”
“And you sound like such a dick right now it’s scary.”
Nori’s brows blended in with his hairline. “What?” he laughed.
“Dude. Grow a heart. Your friend’s is broken. Can’t you find any sympathy for him?”
Seeing how pissed she looked, Nori realized he’d better speak more carefully, lest he widen this hole he suddenly found himself in.
“I thought you’d agree that he had a lucky escape. That you would see the good in what’s happened.”
“As opposed to being sentimental over lost love and sympathetic for the pain your friend’s dealing with?”
“Well, yes. You’ve never struck me as being particularly sentimental. You’re just the opposite. Practical, straight forward. You’d never lie and behave the way that trollop did.”
“No, but I’m not a machine, Nori. Man.”
They’d pulled up in front of her building. He quickly paid the cabbie and as he used his key to let them in he said, “I’m sorry.”
She shrugged, tossing her clutch down and immediately pulling the pins out of her hair. He watched as she kicked off her shoes and plopped onto the couch, absently picking up her last project. But she didn’t pick up any tools, she just turned the earring over and over in her hands. He doubted she could even see it. What was wrong with her?
“Is something wrong?”
She frowned, seemed to consider his words. “What day is it?”
“The 17th.”
She laughed softly. “I have PMS. No wonder I’m so touchy.”
He relaxed. PMS he could handle. He didn’t want to, it meant he wouldn’t be able to touch her for nearly a week, but he could.
“Does your belly hurt?” He sat beside her and pulled her onto his lap.
She shook her head. “No, I don’t get bad cramps or anything. I suffer more emotionally. Irritability, I cry more, that type stuff.”
He nodded, massaging the back of her neck with one hand, and running a hand up her skirt with the other.
“I like this dress.”
“Tommy picked it out.”
“She has excellent taste.”
“You’re only commending her choice because it covered my ass completely and is easily pushed up and out of your way.”
He grinned and kissed her, his fingers flirting with the edge of her bikini panties. They were cut lusciously high on the thighs.
“You know me too well.” He stared at her as he realized he spoke the truth. Margot did know him well. Better than any woman he’d ever dated.
“I have to go out of town in a few days.”
“Yeah?”
“Mmmm. I almost forgot about it, but Tommy text me before dinner to remind me. I have an event and some meetings.”
“Where?”
“LA.”
Shit! He had a bunch of shit he couldn’t cancel. “How long will you be gone?”
“I think three days.”
“Jesus, Margot.”
He pushed her off his lap, and she landed on the couch with a muffled fabric plop.
“What’s your problem?”
“I can’t go with you. I have meetings all day for the next two days.”
“I didn’t ask you to go with me.”
They stared at each other.
“Nice,” he said, and walked into her bedroom.
Shit, she thought. Open mouth, insert foot. Okay, poorly played, Goti. Sh
e hadn’t meant to hurt him. It was just the truth. She hadn’t thought to ask him to go with. Which, since they were now fighting, was fucking stupid.
She dawdled going to bed. Cleaning up, sorting clothes in the laundry room and starting to pack. She took forever to wash her face and clean her teeth, taking a shower and buffing and shaving everything that needed it in the other bathroom.
Nori was asleep when she crept into her room. Oddly disappointed she lay down beside him and turned out the light.
He obviously didn’t expect to have sex that night. But about an hour after he fell asleep, she woke him with her mouth on his cock. By the time he realized what was happening he was already close.
“Wait,” he whispered, laughing. “Darling, wait!”
“Come on,” she urged, hand busily tugging his balls in the rhythm she knew drove him crazy. “I need some.”
His heart leapt, sleep falling away as though it was 9 am and he was fresh from a work out. He loved it when she was hungry. But it was always good to tease a woman. Fucking with her head was almost as important as making her come. Fortunately, he excelled at both.
“Do you, mon coeur?
He laughed softly when she tried to pull him on top of her, easily resisting her insistent tugs as he nuzzled and kissed his way down her body. She subsided when she realized which direction he was heading, no doubt thinking there was an oral orgasm in her near future.
Nori had other plans. He knew she was close. She was restless and wet and hot, so he licked her slowly and thoroughly, raising the heat another notch and making her run ever wetter. Her long fingers tugging his hair only spurred him on, made him more intent to torture her with pleasure as he gently sucked and finessed the famished pussy under his tongue.
He brought her to the edge not one, but twice, reveling in groans thick with pleasured disappointment. Her slender thighs trembled around his ears, and he pulled her open wide, knowing she liked being vulnerable under his hands.
When he brought his finger into play and circled her walls she cried out, and he grinned and gave her another, curling them gently as he sped up his pseudo thrusting ever so slightly.
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