by Parker, Ali
I blinked. “What?”
She grabbed the glass of wine and took a long drink from it, leaving a red stain at the corner of her mouth. “You know, I don’t think I’m hungry. I’m going to finish this wine because it’s really good, but then I’m going home. I need to unpack.”
“Sade, wait. Slow down. I don’t know what you’re going on about, but I came here to talk to you about how we can make this long-distance relationship work.”
She took another swallow from her glass, grabbed her napkin, and wiped her mouth. “You want to what?”
I let out a deep breath. “I wanted to talk to you about figuring out the logistics of a relationship. I want a relationship with you. I’m hoping you want the same thing.”
She stared at me without saying a word. Instead, she reached for her glass and downed the wine before setting it on the edge of the table. I had never seen her drink quite like that. I wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or bad thing, but judging by the look on her face, I was leaning toward the latter.
Had I completely misread the entire situation?
I had thought she felt something for me, but maybe I had truly been a one-night stand, a hot summer love affair before she settled into her world.
It had been a long time since I’d felt inadequate, but in that moment, I felt completely inadequate and underqualified to be her boyfriend.
Chapter 24
Trent
I knew I’d dropped a bit of a bombshell on her. My declaration that I wanted to try a long-distance relationship was likely very unexpected.
We’d known each other a week. That was it. But to me, it felt like I had known her for years. It was as if my soul recognized hers. I knew her inside and out. I was the first man to touch her. That had to count for something.
I studied her face. She was shocked. I wasn’t necessarily trying to get her drunk, but she’d downed her wine and looked like she could use another glass. I held up my hand to get the waiter’s attention and ordered two more glasses of wine. Judging by the look on her face, I had a feeling I was going to need the alcohol to dull the blow she was about to deal me.
“Sade?” I said her name, checking the pulse of the situation.
“Um,” she murmured, not looking me in the eyes.
“Did I freak you out?”
“What?” she asked, her voice high-pitched and clearly nervous. “Freak me out? Freak me out about what?”
“I’m sorry to have surprised you. I thought we were on the same page.” I was backpedaling as fast as I could. “Can we start over?”
“No.”
My brows shot up. “What?”
“No. I mean, I don’t want to.”
She might as well have stabbed the dull butter knife sitting on the table into my chest. “I see.”
She waved her hand through the air. “No, no. I mean, I don’t want to start the conversation over because I like what you said.”
I looked at her, reading her brown eyes and seeing what looked to be honesty. “You do?”
“I do.”
I let out a breath. “Okay.”
She reached out her hand and took mine. “Trent, are you sure this is what you want? You’re an attractive man, and I’m sure you have plenty of women in Tahoe who would love to be with you.”
“I’m sure,” I said firmly. “I know what I want. I want you. I know that sounds crazy. I don’t know if you were looking for a fling or to just have a little fun before you settled down, but I know what I feel. I know what I want.”
“I wasn’t looking for a fling,” she said with a smile. “Finding you was definitely a bonus for the trip.”
“I’m glad you feel that way. I know it is going to be tough, but I think we can make it work.”
She grimaced. “You’re a very busy man. I’m working full time and can’t exactly ask for time off after a day of being on the job.”
“I’ll make the time. I can usually get away on Sundays. Saturdays can be a little chaotic, but maybe I can do a Sunday overnight every other weekend.” Hearing the words made me realize just how limited that was. I didn’t want to get by with seeing her two days a month.
“I work Monday through Friday, and although I’m not going to be doing it right away, there was talk about working overtime if a project came up that had a strict deadline,” she explained.
I nodded with understanding. “We’ll figure it out. I’ll come over every weekend if I can. If you get a three-day weekend, I’ll send the helicopter to pick you up.”
“Trent, that is going to cost a small fortune,” she lectured.
“I can afford it,” I said nonchalantly. “I’m not worried about the cost.”
She gave me the same look I had seen in the shop that day I had bought her the scarf. I knew she didn’t have any idea about how wealthy I was. I didn’t want her to know. Truthfully, I was a little embarrassed by it.
I didn’t want her to think I was some arrogant, rich dude who threw money at women to get them into his bed. I didn’t, and I would never do that to her. She would assume I was trying to buy her. I knew she was fiercely independent and would never allow any man to persuade her with money.
“You’re not worried, but I can’t afford to be hopping back and forth across state lines.”
“Sade, I’ll make the trips. I’ll send my helicopter or the plane to pick you up. I am willing to do whatever it takes to make this work. This is important to me.” I squeezed her hand again.
She smiled, her eyes squinting as she did. “You are crazy.”
“Crazy for you,” I shot back with a grin.
She giggled, smiling at the waiter who delivered our fresh glasses of wine. “You’re also a little silly.”
I shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know that I’ve been called silly before, but I’ll take it. Being with you makes me feel a little silly, like a schoolboy with a crush.” Her smile lit up my world. I felt warm and gooey inside every time she looked at me like that.
“Are you telling me you have a little schoolgirl fantasy?” she cooed. “Should I dress up in a cheerleader outfit?”
It was like a punch to the gut that immediately made my dick harden. “I wouldn’t hate that,” I told her, my voice husky.
She giggled again. “I’ll have to keep that in mind. All these back and forth trips are going to be grueling. I’m going to have to give you some incentive to come and see me all the time.”
I shook my head. “I need no incentive. You are enough just as you are.”
She smiled again. “Good to know.”
We ordered the typical steak dinner with smothered baked potatoes. I was hungry and was hoping the food was as good as it sounded. “How was your first day really?” I asked her.
She grinned. “Boring as hell,” she said bluntly.
I laughed. “I hate the first day anywhere. All the blah, blah, blah. I wonder if anyone ever pays attention to the same, boring speech that every company gives on the first day. With my hotels, I thought I could skip that whole boring orientation garbage, but it is a necessary evil. Even though the questions that are covered in the orientation are always brought up again and again.”
“It wasn’t terrible. I’m just anxious to get started with the good stuff. I want to put all those years of school to work. I have to or I’m going to forget everything I learned.” She laughed.
“I doubt that,” I said with full confidence in her. “You’re a smart lady. I think you’ll be running the lab in no time.”
“Thank you. I hope you’re right. How about you? Did you get the new hotel deal all buttoned up?”
I nodded. “Yep, it is signed and sealed. Waiting on a few things to go through the red tape, but for all intents and purposes, it’s mine. I can’t wait to get started on it. I’m hoping to have it open for business by next spring to take advantage of the Spring Break crowd.”
“I can’t wait to see what you do with the place.”
I smiled. “I’d like you to see it. I h
ope you can take a few days off to check it out.”
“You’re going to be crazy busy with a grand opening,” she pointed out.
“True, but I can always make time for you.”
“You’re very sweet.”
I scoffed. “I don’t know if sweet is the word, but I’ll take it.”
We ate our meals, chatting about my hotel and her plans for the week. I was glad I’d made the trip. I had missed her, and she’d only been gone a couple of days. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through a full week of not seeing her.
We started the walk back to her place, my hand holding hers. “You know, I really appreciate you coming all this way, but I need you to know that I’m willing to try a long-distance relationship without you going through so much effort and expense to come here. My parents managed to stay married, and they would go months, sometimes a year, without seeing each other when my dad was deployed. I’m a military kid. I understand that relationships are sometimes done over the phone with sporadic visitations. I don’t want you to think you have to bend over backward to see me.”
I stopped walking, pulling her to a halt as well. I grabbed her face with my hands, forcing her to look at me. “You’re totally worth every penny I spend and every minute it takes. I want to be here.”
She gave a very slight nod of her head. “Okay.”
I gave her a quick, firm kiss on the lips before I took her hand and we started walking again. I walked her to her door, expecting to give her a kiss before I called a car to take me back to the airport. “Thanks for dinner.”
“You’re not leaving yet, mister. You said I had you for the night. Get your ass in here.” She pulled me into her condo.
I happily went. I had told her I was here for the night, but I had meant the night, like the evening. My pilot was sitting at the airport, waiting for me to return. I figured I had some time and eagerly went along with her.
“You have a lot of stuff,” I told her, looking around at the boxes.
She laughed. “I know, but when I moved here, I thought I was going to have to buy a bunch of stuff, and I kind of went overboard with the Amazon Prime ordering.”
I nodded, grinning as I passed a stack of boxes. “I can see that.”
“I have an extra bedroom. It was only fifty bucks more a month on the rent. I figured it would be nice to have a place for Khloe or Julia to crash—assuming they come to visit me. I’m sure this is the beginning of the end of our close relationships. Everyone always says the friendships you make when you’re in college rarely last. I know we’ll keep in touch, but they’re both going to have their lives and be far too busy to visit. I’m sure I will as well.” She sighed.
“I know what you mean. My buddies I met in the Army are spread across the country. We always talked about getting together once we got out, but I’ve barely spoken to any of them. It’s strange how people can be such a huge part of your life, and then one day, you wake up and realize you haven’t spoken to them in a year.”
“I guess it’s part of growing up,” she said, pushing open a door. “This is the spare room. I’m going to move some of those boxes in here until I get time to get them unpacked. And that is the grand tour of my little condo. I think my entire home can fit in your bedroom.”
I smirked. “Maybe, but it’s perfect all the same.”
She turned to look at me, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “I know something else that is perfect.”
I raised one eyebrow. “Oh?”
She slowly nodded before taking my hand and pulling me across the hallway into her bedroom. “You. You and me and the things you do to my body. You came all this way. I’m not letting you leave without giving you something to remember me by.”
I cupped her cheek, staring into her warm brown eyes. “Baby, I will always remember you. You are unforgettable.”
“Good, but how about you give me a little something to think about on those nights I’m alone in bed, with you alone in your bed?”
I grinned, looking down at my chest as her fingers worked to undo each of the buttons on my shirt. “I think I’d like that.”
Chapter 25
Sade
I couldn’t believe he was standing in my bedroom. Even more impressive was the fact he wanted to have a relationship with me. Me! The man was gorgeous, rich, and incredibly sexy, and he wanted me. I was a little weirded out by his extreme wealth, but he hadn’t exactly brought it up, and I wasn’t going to admit I’d Googled him.
He didn’t want to talk about it, and it didn’t really make a difference to me. I wasn’t interested in him because of his money. In fact, his money actually bothered me a little. I felt like I couldn’t compete with the people in his life. I quickly shut down that line of thinking. I had the man in front of me, and that was what really mattered.
I pushed his shirt open, gently shoving it down his arms and leaving him standing in a plain white shirt that hugged his body. It showed off the muscular chest and arms I had been absolutely gaga about when I first saw him shirtless on his yacht. To think those muscles were mine to touch and kiss and anything else I wanted made me heady.
I pressed my open hand against one pectoral muscle before sliding it around his chest, over his arm, and around to his back. I ran my hand over his back, feeling the corded strength ripple as I slid my hand over him.
“Your body is hard and perfect,” I whispered, moving around to stand in front of him.
He looked down and smiled. “I like your body, all soft and curvy.”
I giggled. “I’m definitely soft compared to you.”
“I like your curves. I especially like your ass. God, I think about your ass all day.” He reached down and squeezed.
I reached for the hem of his shirt, ready to get to the good stuff. I wanted hot flesh under my hands. He pulled the shirt off, tossing it on the floor. I didn’t hesitate to touch him, scraping my nails over his flesh. He sucked in a breath. I dropped my mouth to his chest, sucking his flesh into my mouth.
“I’ve missed this,” I murmured, sliding my tongue across his chest.
“I’ve missed you, but you’re still dressed.”
“I am,” I whispered. “Why am I still dressed?”
He snatched my shirt, lifting it over my head in one fell swoop. There was a lot of frantic action as we stripped each other naked. We stood in my bedroom, naked and feasting on one another with our eyes. I drank in the sight of him. He was so damn hot. I couldn’t believe he was mine to do with as I pleased.
“You’re naked,” he said with a grin.
“I am.”
“I want you.”
“I’m right here,” I answered, holding my arms out.
“I want to drag this out—god, I do—but I don’t have that kind of self-control,” he said. “You’re too sexy.”
“Don’t. I don’t want control. I want you unhinged. Out of control.”
“Baby, you don’t know what you’re asking for,” he murmured, his eyes roaming my body.
I nodded. “I do. I know what I want. I want you.”
His eyes smoldered. He looked me up and down, his eyes resting on the apex between my legs before looking up at me again. “God damn. You’re fucking hot.”
He pounced like a tiger jumping on his prey. I didn’t mind being the feast. His mouth slammed against mine, kissing me hard and deep. The force of his kiss pushed me backward until I was pressed up against the wall. I ran my fingers through his hair and latched onto his head, holding him steady as I took over the ferocious kiss. I was the one losing control. I felt ravenous, a woman feasting after a long fast.
His hands dropped to my waist and then around to grab my ass, yanking me against his erection that was pressed against my belly. I rubbed my body against his. My breasts brushed over his chest, tweaking my nipples. I gasped before moaning low in my throat and rubbing harder.
“Shh,” he murmured, pressing a finger to my lips.
“I’m so ready,” I whined.
&
nbsp; “Not yet.”
I couldn’t wait any longer. As much as I loved foreplay with him and as much as I wanted to drag things out, I needed him, and I needed him right then. I reached down and grabbed his erection, gently squeezing and sliding up and down.
“Now.”
“That’s playing dirty,” he growled, nibbling on my ear lobe.
I moaned. “That’s dirty.”
He chuckled, the sound vibrating through my body. “Baby, that isn’t the least bit dirty. If you could see in my head, you would know dirty.”
“I would like to see what’s in your mind.”
He slowly shook his head, dropping a kiss on my lips. “I don’t think so, but maybe one day I’ll share my fantasies with you.”
“I’d like that, but for now, I think I have my own little fantasy I’d like to play out.”
I pushed him backward, nearly knocking him to the floor. His eyes opened wide, and a small smile spread across his lips. I arched a brow, my only warning before I pushed against him and knocked him onto my bed. His arms splayed wide as he smiled up at me.
“I want to ride you,” I said, watching his reaction.
His deep blue eyes looked into mine. He reached down and rubbed his hand down his hard length. “Do it. Ride me.”
I climbed over him, feeling a little out of my element. With the skill of a practiced lover, I reached my hand around him and guided him to my opening, slowly sliding down until he was completely seated inside me. I closed my eyes, letting my body adjust to the fullness.
“This is so good,” I whispered.
“You feel so good. When I’m alone in bed at night, this is what I think about.”
I smiled, opening my eyes and looking down at him. “Me too. Like this and so many other ways.”
“Do you dream about me like this?” he asked, his voice raspy.
I moved just a little. “Every. Fucking. Night.”
He moved his hips, just a little jerk but enough to send electric shocks radiating through my body. I groaned, arching my back and rotating my hips. I heard him mutter something under his breath. I was sure it was something like fuck, but I couldn’t be sure.
