by Ace Gray
“For the record, I don’t want you to leave.” He was sincere but his face betrayed some sort of confusion.
“I don’t really want to go, but I have to before you sex me up all day. Again,” I said teasingly. He rolled his eyes at me.
“Fine. After I feed you.”
“I’m not a child; I don’t want breakfast. I need espresso. And I’m talking a large, quad-shot Americano with a little sugar.”
“You’re quite a particular little thing.”
“I grew up in Portland. Of course I’m picky about my coffee.”
Without another word he stood and set me softly on the carpet. His lips pressed against my forehead, singeing me with the jolt that accompanied his kiss, then he turned. As soon as he rounded the corner into his closet, I slouched against the foot of the bed.
God, I don’t want to leave.
My hesitation was compounded by another random thought. “Do you think the press is waiting?” I asked, still leaning against the bed.
The nerves bubbled up in my chest at the mere thought of paparazzi; my shoulders tensing at imagined headlines.
“I don’t know, honestly, but I couldn’t care less.” His voice drifted from the closet.
“Ugh, they’ll be merciless.” I paused, “I guess they come with the territory.”
“Most girls can’t wait.” His disdain was thick, even through the wall. “I understand you have a reputation to protect and don’t want to be seen with me. We can arrange something if needed.”
I could imagine the flat gray eyes that accompanied that tone. And him shoving hangers around in his closet and sighing heavily. It was exactly how I would react.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, don’t throw a tantrum. This has nothing to do with you. I only have the clothes I was photographed in Friday night.” Nicholas Bryant’s mood swings exasperated me to say the least.
“I’d be just fine with everyone knowing where you’ve been all weekend. I’m quite proud of it.” He laughed.
Bastard.
“I’m borrowing one of your T-shirts,” I said sharply.
“Be my guest.”
I walked out of the room, down the stairs, and over to where my dress had been laying since Friday night. The temperature rose in the room and pink spread like wildfire across my skin when I realized a boxer-brief clad Nicholas had followed, drinking in my naked flesh the entire way. He leaned against the couch, his eyes sparkling, to watch as I pulled on my dress.
Without pulling up the straps, the skirt could ride lower on my hips and help cover my completely inappropriate-for-Sunday-morning shoes. I pulled on his shirt and checked myself in the nearest mirror.
I combed my hair with my fingers then tied it up in a knot. I was lucky I could pull it off without any ties. I inspected myself a little more, smoothed a few stray hairs, and decided I was as good as I was going to get.
Nicholas came up behind me and kissed the back of my head before disappearing back upstairs. When he came down again, he was dressed in leather loafers and tailored jeans. I wanted to drool. He offered me a pair of aviators and his hand.
We were walking toward the main elevator when Bryant’s driver, Jaime, appeared in a tailored day suit to meet us. I recognized him from both the car Friday night and Chinese Saturday; I guessed he was in his late 40s, but would have guessed younger if it weren’t for the crinkles around his eyes and salt and pepper of his short hair. He had broad shoulders and a barrel chest. I could picture him yelling drill instructions across a muddy field of recruits. He had warm brown eyes and thin lips. Despite the intimidating physique he radiated goodness.
“Jaime, car? And the other thing I asked for?”
Nicholas’ face had changed in mere moments. Gray had settled in his eyes as he spoke; they were neither scary nor sad, just gray. Something had slipped back into place, and it covered all the intimacy of our weekend.
“Both downstairs.” Jaime nodded as he followed us into the elevator.
In the small space it was obvious Jaime held a firearm concealed under his jacket. Somehow my mind tracked from the gun to handcuffs in less than a heartbeat. I blushed and rubbed my wrists. Nicholas remained serious and hard, only responding to my color with his sweet gesture of kissing my palm.
We stepped out and Jaime led us to the front door. Both men paused for a moment at the concierge and Bryant reached for a tall white cup. Thick black writing was scrawled above the coffee sleeve. It was my Americano, as requested. I nestled closer to him and whispered a sincere, “Thank you.”
Jaime started moving again with Nicholas and I naturally following. When we stepped out of the building photographers pounced, clicking furiously. Nicholas kept hold of my hand as he shifted his arm around me and lead me to the car. Wrapped in him my shoulders didn’t inch up, my heart didn’t race.
The car ride was quiet, but Nicholas kept his arm firmly around my shoulders. He looked out the window or straight forward, except for the few times he turned to kiss behind my ear. When I opened my eyes after relishing one such kiss, my building had appeared outside.
How does he know my address?
Before I figured it out, he used his arm to pull me in and lock his lips to mine. His free hand found a way into the slit of my skirt and pulled my hip closer, too. My body instinctively bowed toward him; my breathing heavier. My fingers flew to his back and started softly scratching. I went to slide my knee over his thighs but he stopped me.
“You should invite me up.”
His serious facade slipped and I laughed against his soft lips. I couldn’t remember why we’d left his apartment in the first place.
“Come up, Nicholas.”
His lips took mine once more before his head dropped and shook ever so sightly.
“I shouldn’t have asked.” His voice was more of a groan than anything. “If I don’t run the Venture Group no one will. I have this meeting tomorrow that could change everything…”
I could relate. My Monday schedule was undoubtedly packed, my weekend workload was far past suffering. I almost groaned myself, but the tumultuous eyes that peaked out beneath his glasses made me pause.
That’s a tad dramatic.
I certainly wasn’t a fan of being apart, but my world wasn’t turning upside down. His look said his was, and it made me uneasy. He’d been conflicted about something all morning.
“When will I see you again?” I said, trying to shake the feeling.
“Maybe later this evening if you keep running your nails up and down my back.”
“That’s not much incentive to stop.”
“Tomorrow for dinner.” He was more determined now.
“I work late Mondays. I’m usually at Vesper until nine.”
“I’ll pick you up at nine, then.”
He didn’t wait for my response before kissing me hard again. He brushed the bruises on my hip and I hummed into his mouth. He pulled away and without a word opened the car door.
I missed him the moment he left my body. Nicholas waited while I slid out of the car then walked me to my door. He pulled it open and stood like a statue as I walked by. The door’s telltale woosh said it had shut unceremoniously behind me. And that Bryant wasn’t in the lobby with me. There was no current, no thrumming filling the space.
When I turned to watch his car pull away, I found his perfect backside obscuring the view. Unexpectedly, he spun and took two powerful strides back to my door and whipped it open. He grabbed my hand and pulled it up to press his lips to my palm, lingering there for a moment. Then he slipped away; the door shut behind him as quickly and quietly as before.
I was fixated on the taste of Bryant that lingered on my lips as I walked through my lobby. I paid no attention to the marbled floors, or the gaudy, gold railings that’d never been my taste, nor the tufted maroon couches that always irritated me. I was in a bubble and would have gone straight to my bedroom and got off on memories alone if I hadn’t been interrupted by a voice behind me.
“It’s
about time your sleazy self came home.”
Of course I knew whose voice it was, and I didn’t necessarily want to deal with Laura right now. I wanted to relive every moment from the weekend. In detail, and alone. Or rather with my vibrator and restless fingers in the shower. I didn’t break stride.
“I was going to call when I got upstairs.”
“That phone call is about thirty-two hours too late. Do you know how many messages I’ve sent? How many missed calls you have?”
“Yes.” The BlackBerry light had been flashing again when I opened my clutch. “Why aren’t you waiting upstairs?”
“I was hoping to catch your walk of shame.” Her lips curled up wickedly. “And I was going to get a sandwich next door. Why didn’t you feel like answering a single one of my messages?”
“Because I was fine.”
“You’re something else. I knew you were fine. It was the hot sex you were having I wanted to hear about!” She threw up her hands, half joking, half genuinely exasperated.
“Well I have work to do or I would still be having it.”
“Come on. I need details!”
“No.” I narrowed my gaze at her for effect, and she returned it, positively pissed. “Fine. Lunch tomorrow if you really need it.” I relented and rolled my eyes.
“Nope, now. I’m busy tomorrow.”
She grabbed my elbow and pulled me into the waiting elevator. “I’ll wait while you work. I’ll order food, your treat, then you’ll dish.”
I let her drag me up to the apartment. I showered quickly and ducked into my office. It was only a matter of moments until I was answering emails and typing proposals.
Laura waited a whole hour before she huffed in with deli sandwiches and wine. Once plopped in a seat, she propped her feet up on an empty corner of my desk; I arched my eyebrow at the move then returned to my work. She cleared her throat a few times while she ate her sandwich. When I glared at her again, she only shrugged innocently and stuffed the rest of her sandwich in her mouth. She was an expert at irritating me; she’d continue until I stopped. Accepting my fate, I growled and grabbed a sandwich. I leaned back, matching her casual pose, then purposely ate and drank in silence.
“OK, Kate. Spill it.”
“I’m not telling you anything.”
“That’s not even remotely funny. You always tell me everything about your conquests, whether I want to hear or not. This time I desperately need details and you’re not going to share? No friggin way!”
She threw her hands up in the air and wobbled on the chair. She almost fell backward she’d been so dramatic. I laughed at her and the tension melted between us.
“Look, it’s not that I don’t want to tell you, it’s just that I don’t know what to say.”
“Well, you can start with his penis. Big, little, hooks left?”
“Laura,” I warned. Her eye rolling said she wasn’t deterred.
“What am I saying? Of course it’s big and beautiful just like he is.” She laughed at her own joke.
I was going to kill her.
“Laura!” I barked.
Her laugh choked off and her eyes bugged.
“It was just a joke. After that much sex I thought you’d be relaxed. Jeez.”
“I’m not going to kiss and tell on this one. It was wonderful, he was wonderful. Now leave it.”
“Why won’t you share?” She stuck out her bottom lip.
“It’s different this time.”
I hadn’t thought about the implications of my words.
“Different how?” It was her turn to narrow her gaze.
“Just different,” I shot back but my voice wavered.
Shit.
The words were innocent enough, unless you knew me like Laura did.
“Oh my god! Kate,” a cheshire cat grin rolled across her lips. “I think you love him.”
Double shit.
I tried to wave her off, even forcing a half-hearted laugh. “I barely know him.”
“Honey, I don’t think that matters.” She clapped her hands and stomped her feet. “This is exciting! I’ve never seen you in love.”
“I am not in love,” I grumbled.
“I have, however, seen you lie. Often.”
She took a paper clip off my desk and threw it at me. I caught it, stood, and wound up dramatically to throw it back at her.
“Don’t you dare!” She whined and blocked.
I only tossed it lightly and watched it harmlessly bounce off her then to the floor.
“It’s not the end of the world to be in love, Kate. It’s not the end of the world to let your walls down, either.” She kept her voice calm; I kept my eyes down.
Of course she was right. I just didn’t want to hear it, I didn’t like being vulnerable—period. I’d built up many walls for a reason. They’d served me pretty damn well, too. I’d been less distracted and achieved more because of them.
“They get any good pictures of you?”
She broke the silence with a change of subject.
Thank God.
“Have no idea. You’ll know when I do. Probably sooner because you’re a sicko that enjoys early mornings.”
“Perfect! I’ll read all about my best during my five a.m. cardio.”
“That’s disgusting.” I shook my head and rolled my eyes.
Around 11 I called a car for Laura. She left and I went back into my office. It had large windows cut into small squares by white trim. They were old fashioned and cranked open—absolutely nothing like Nicholas’—but they made me think of him nonetheless. I was against them, pondering real estate when my phone rang.
Without looking I answered. “Hello?”
“I missed you all day.”
“Nicholas,” I breathed.
“Please tell me you missed me too.”
“Of course I did.” I let a smile crawl across my face and sat on the edge of my desk to focus on the conversation.
“You’re trouble, you know. I couldn’t fully focus on anything.” There was a hint of agitation in his sultry voice.
I could relate. He was the vivid shadow behind my eyelids, and the ghost of his touch had been playing tricks on my skin all day.
“I want you here with me, Kate.” He was soft but urgent.
“I’d like that, too.” I couldn’t help the longing that colored my words.
Just the sound of his voice transported me back to his sprawling apartment, lit only by city lights. In my mind he sat, shoulders gracefully rounded forward, as he murmured quietly on the phone. His shirt was off—or, at least I was happy to picture him that way—and every muscle involuntarily flexed and rippled when he shifted positions. His dark hair was mostly combed back, except for the strand or two that fell across his forehead.
Yum.
“Could we possibly change plans so you’d accompany me to a business dinner tomorrow night? It’s too important to cancel, but I don’t want to wait to see you.”
I was caving which was a massive problem. I likely would have agreed to anything because of the image I’d conjured up, but then he’d gone and melted my heart with sentiment. No had been on the tip of my tongue but I couldn’t follow through.
“Yes, of course.”
“It might be presumptuous, but could we go to your place after?”
“I’m not sure about that,” I scoffed. “But dinner will work. How will you explain me being there?”
“I don’t usually have to explain myself,” he said simply. “Can you possibly be available at seven?”
“I’ll find a way.”
“Until then, think of me. Think of me against the windows. Or pulling at your handcuffs. Just promise me you’ll think of me.”
His voice was dark. Dangerous even.
“I am.” I gulped.
“Good and, Kate, goodnight.”
He hung up before I had a chance to respond. I was truly at a disadvantage when dealing with Nicholas Bryant. I stared at my phone until I gave up on work a
ltogether and slunk off to bed.
13.
Monday mornings were not panning out well as of late. After tossing and turning for hours, today was starting out as no exception. I had no inclination to do anything but see Nicholas again, and when I admitted that, I cursed myself. I’d never lacked motivation for Vesper and the shift was unsettling. Bryant—despite the tech possibilities and the orgasms—was both bad for business and for me.
The warm water from my shower flowed over me. I was hoping it would wash away my unbalanced feeling. Instead, it tickled my sensitive skin and reminded me of Nicholas’ lips crossing my flesh. I stomped out of the shower.
I pulled my hair back into a loose, low bun. I chose black and white Ombre tights that paired with a white, long-sleeved and short-shorts romper. Black Louboutin booties and a shimmering statement necklace capped off the look. I grabbed a lightweight silk trench as I ran out the door.
Photographers swarmed as soon as I stepped out of the building. I was glad I’d chosen to use Vesper’s car service; it made for an easy escape. The plush backseat of the town car was a silent bubble and the slight vibration of the tires was hypnotic. By the time I got to office I’d shaken most of the Nicholas induced haze.
My calm only lasted a moment as I found Gemma waiting for me with coffee. That always meant trouble.
When she tentatively held the paper out, I knew exactly what today’s trouble was. “Give me a minute to look it over.” I rolled my eyes, snatched it and headed toward my office. A blush accompanied her simple nod as I went.
Oh Lord, this is going to be good.
I plopped into my big leather chair and propped my feet up. I sipped the coffee and flipped straight to Page Six. There we were, plastered across another two page insert. Bryant and Elliott Have Weekend Long Affair.
“Bastards,” I mumbled.
There were a few photos of us from Friday night. I was highlighted wearing the green dress, which, they pointed out, looked incredibly similar to the green skirt I was wearing Sunday morning.
This was the last type of publicity I needed if I wanted to be taken seriously. And I couldn’t badger them into a correction this time. No falsities or slanderous items here. I wanted to call Nicholas but Gemma interrupted with the intercom.
