by Lara Swann
“Right. Yes. Damn.” I glance down at myself. “I haven’t even thought about what I’m going to wear. Oh god—”
“I don’t think you have to worry about that.” She looks up at me, eyes sparkling.
My own gaze narrows. “You know what he’s got planned?”
“Not saying a word, girl - but you go meet him, it’ll be fine. And I’ll look after these two - I doubt I’m going to have to do anything but watch them play. It’ll be a nice, easy evening for once.”
I hesitate. “You better be right about this.”
“I am. Go.” She makes a shooing gesture, and I grin back - hugging her again.
It feels like it’s been a lifetime since we’ve seen each other.
Then I say a quick goodbye to Maddie - who doesn’t appreciate the distraction - and grab my bag.
Seeing Mathilda has taken a weight off my mind, but as I start to head towards his office, thoughts of her disappear - to be replaced entirely by, as she called him, my boyfriend.
Which feels a little teenage and silly, especially as we have a kid now. But I don’t care - and I feel the familiar thrill at the idea of seeing Alistair again. Even though I saw him last night…in so many ways.
But I’m really getting hung up on the guy. Giddy and happy and totally falling for him.
Teenage, indeed.
I grin.
Chapter Seventeen
Leah
Alistair isn’t in his office when I get there. And Meredith isn’t outside it, either.
I wait for a few minutes, but I’m buzzing and excited, and wanting to see him overtakes me.
I haven’t felt this way in a long time, and with Mathilda taking care of Maddie, I’m going to fully indulge in it for a little while.
Besides, seeing him at work could be hot. Powerful and in control, taking care of business matters and making his fortune. Certainly sounds hot - even if I am aware of the irony of me thinking that. But it’s different when it’s like this - at work, where it should be directed.
So I go looking.
It’s a big floor, even though I’m pretty sure it doesn’t have more than a few occupants - and I realize I’ve never seen the other floors of his business. And, it seems, most of the rooms are empty - but interesting anyway, all decked out in big, executive chairs, shiny marble tables and the latest gadgets.
He does seem to like marble. Or maybe his designer does.
“What are you doing in there?!”
I spin around at the angry voice from further down the hallway, quickly stepping back and closing the meeting room door I’d been peering into.
A man comes towards me, walking fast and obviously irate - in a sharp suit, and with an even sharper expression, that isn’t softened by his slightly thicker waist or average height at all.
“I was just looking for Alistair.” I say, trying for a conciliatory smile. It wasn’t like I was really intruding or anything - this is Alistair’s company. “I’m Leah, his—”
“I know who you are.” The coldness in his voice takes me by surprise. “You’re the gold-digger chasing after him, and I won’t have it in my company. Get the hell out of here before I call security.”
I stand, stunned for a moment - then feel a completely inappropriate burst of amusement.
Second time I’ve been here, second time someone has threatened to call security. I seem to attract it. Only this time - I do belong. This isn’t just his company. It’s Alistair’s.
I can feel the smile tugging at my lips anyway, and since that only seems to infuriate the guy in front of me more, I don’t hide it.
“No…I don’t think so.” I say almost casually, as if it had been a suggestion. “Doubt you’ve got the nerve for that, either - but I guess you’re not going to help me out with finding Alistair, huh?”
His eyes bug out, just a little. “Do you have any idea who you’re talking to?!”
I shrug. He pretty much walked into that one.
“Some arrogant old man with an ego large enough to compensate for…other things?” I ask, almost sweetly, and watch his face redden.
This is almost fun, though I wonder idly whether I’m going to regret it. Still, he started the fight.
He doesn’t actually look old, either - though with the thinning hair-line, he probably has enough insecurities about it. The other thing though…that’s got a good chance of being true.
“You little whore.” He snarls at me.
I just raise an eyebrow, and he seems momentarily disconcerted. Maybe he was hoping for more of a reaction.
“I’ve been called worse by better men.”
Seriously, working the jobs I have…a few little insults…yeah, I’ve got a thick skin.
“I’m sure you have.” His voice turns snide, and I actually chuckle.
Okay, I walked into that one.
“Leah! I didn’t know you were here yet.”
I turn to see Alistair walking down the hallway, with Meredith just behind him. She has a pen poised over a bunch of papers, so I guess he was in the middle of dictating something.
He gives us both a wide smile as he reaches us, his hand slipping around my waist - and the way his eyes light up as he looks at me makes my heart pound faster. I almost forget about the boorish guy I was talking to, except Alistair turns toward him.
“Barkley! Meet Leah, my—”
“We’ve already met.” He says, with the same frosty expression.
And then he spins on his heel and walks off, leaving Alistair frowning after him.
“I’m sorry.” He says to me. “God - that was rude. He can be a little bit…difficult, sometimes. But still, I’ll talk to him about it.”
I just laugh.
“Yeah, that wasn’t the rude part.”
I grin at him though, and lean up to kiss him - far more interested in that than his dickish partner. I see the flicker of a frown across his face before I meet his lips, and then he returns my sweet-greeting kiss with the kind of passion that leaves me dizzy and makes me ache.
Daaamn.
“Meredith.” He says after we break apart, his eyes still lingering on my mouth before he turns to his secretary. “You know Leah.”
She, at least, smiles at me.
“It’s good to see you again, Meredith.” I match her smile.
“You too, Leah.” She nods.
Alistair turns towards her. “We’ll pick the rest of that up tomorrow. I’ve got an overwhelmingly urgent appointment to attend to now.”
She actually rolls her eyes at him, but I can see the warmth in her expression as she looks at us and nods.
“Tomorrow, then.” She turns without saying anything more - heading back to her desk, I guess.
And I’m finally left alone with the man I love.
He pulls me into him, and then leans down to finish that kiss, our mouths and tongues tangling as I let out a slight, breathy moan.
My god, is he good at that.
By the time we pull apart, I can already feel myself getting wet, and we haven’t even started the date yet.
“I’m glad you’re early.” He murmurs, caressing my cheek.
I laugh again, shaking my head. “I’m late, dumbass.”
His brow furrows, and then he glances down at his watch.
“Damn, where did all that time…” He shakes his head. “It’s been so busy lately. But in that case, we have lost time to make up for.”
And he leans in for another kiss, our mouths melting together. My roaming hands are starting to become a little more risque now, and I can feel him hardening against me - that’s how close we are.
When I finally break it, I’m laughing lightly. “We’re never going to get anywhere if we keep doing that.”
His eyes roam down my body, head tilting. “I guess it would spoil my plans if we just skipped straight to the fucking part…”
The way he says that sends another surge of heat through me, and I suddenly want to do just that.
“You
r partner probably wouldn’t appreciate us dirtying his office.” I say wryly, slipping my arm back around him and deliberately turning us towards the exit.
After a moment, the obvious haze of lust in his eyes subsides - and that hint of a frown appears on his forehead again.
“What did you mean - ‘that wasn’t the rude part’?” Alistair asks. “Did he say something?”
I roll my eyes at him, still amused. “He called me a gold-digging whore.”
Alistair freezes beside me, his whole expression changing.
“He did what?!” The deathly tone to his voice tells me he didn’t quite see the same funny side as I did.
“Mm, and I called him an arrogant old man with a small dick.” I say lightly, trying to tease the humor out of him. “It was all totally adult and mature.”
That does startle a grunt out of him, but his eyes are still dangerously narrowed as he looks at me.
“Oh, c’mon, Alistair. I’ve heard worse before—”
“That.” He says firmly. “Does not make me feel better about it.”
I pause, feeling the irritation practically radiating off him, and suddenly remember what happened with that secretary when I first tried to see him - the other one who’d tried to throw me out.
Sighing, I squeeze his waist and lean my head against him.
“Okay, okay. But it was kind of my fault too - at least after that first gold digger comment. And I don’t want to cause problems with your partner, you know. I really don’t think it matters.”
“It definitely does matter.” He says, but after a moment he relaxes just a little. “And I will talk to him. But not right now - we won’t spoil today with any of that.”
He looks down at me, and as I offer him a small smile, his irate expression starts to ease and the mischievous heat there comes back. It makes my smile widen, and I lean up to brush his lips with mine again, before decidedly starting to walk towards the elevators.
It’s sweet that he’s so protective of me, but I do feel a little bit bad about the exchange. I wasn’t exactly well behaved myself, but I have a habit of talking first and thinking later when insults start flying around.
I really shouldn’t have been baiting the guy Alistair has to work with, especially if he already doesn’t like me - but I couldn’t help it. Just being with Alistair makes me feel good - and after everything I’ve dealt with for years, the little problems I’m facing now, like irate businessmen…they just don’t hold anything to scare me.
For the first time in so long, I feel safe, and Alistair’s given me that. I don’t exactly want to invite trouble, but I can’t imagine anything going wrong, not now that I know this man - this rich, powerful, perfect man - still loves me. It feels like a warm, protective bubble around me, and it seems impenetrable.
By the time we get to the elevator, though, it seems like that unpleasant start to our date has been entirely forgotten - and when Alistair looks at me, his gray eyes are clear and sparkling once more, the shadows gone from them.
“So how’s your day been, baby?” He asks it sweetly, and I can see the mischief dancing in his eyes.
That’s all it takes for me to forget that altercation with Barkley, as I immediately know what he’s talking about.
I give him a decidedly unimpressed look.
“Mathilda.”
I say it in a ‘reeally’ tone of voice, and that’s all I say. Not quite a question. Not quite a statement.
A topic of conversation - and just a little bit of outrage.
We couldn’t not talk about her tonight - and actually, before Barkley appeared, it was going to be the first thing I said to him. Well, almost the first. The kisses might have distracted me.
“Are you totally pissed off?” He asks, eyes sparkling, and I swear he actually enjoys the idea of that.
“Yes.” I say immediately, but I know it’s not really true. And I can’t help the rueful smile that plays on my mouth. “No. I don’t know.”
I’m still buzzing from talking to Mathilda all afternoon - and knowing that nothing has changed between us. Knowing that Maddie and Tommy will still be able to play together, and one of my closest friends is going to be able to transform her life.
It seems stupid to be mad about that, even if I can’t say I quite approve of Alistair inserting himself into someone else’s life and presuming to throw money at their problems.
But…this thing with Mathilda was bothering me. And it would’ve taken me a lot longer to reach out and resolve it. With Alistair’s approach - it’s done. And now I know, and I’ve got someone special back in my life.
“I can’t say I agree.” I say finally, giving him a reluctant smile and linking arms with him as we walk out of the building. “But…I might be wrong about some things.”
He gives me a look of amazement that’s only half fake, and I laugh.
“This really is a special day in our relationship.” He says. “I’m glad we’re celebrating it properly, baby.”
I raise an eyebrow. “If that’s what we’re celebrating, I’m going home right now.”
“Well, I’ll tell you on good authority - you’d be wrong about that decision, too.”
I roll my eyes at him, a smile tugging at my mouth, and wonder whether I’m ever going to live that comment down.
When I glance up at him, though, all I can see is the warmth in his eyes - and it seems to fill me up from the inside.
I squeeze his arm, and say softly. “Thank you Alistair. Whatever I might have thought if you’d asked me…you’ve made Mathilda happy, Alistair. You’ve given her some hope. And I can only appreciate that.”
He smiles back at me, gentle and caring - and I wonder why it took me so long to see how much of that there is in him - but a car pulls up beside us before he can say anything. The driver comes around and opens the door for us, and Alistair gestures me inside.
I raise my eyebrows at him, but slip inside the high end car without comment - until we’re both inside anyway.
I know Alistair enjoys his cars - and probably has more than I’ve even seen - but so far, I’ve resisted getting involved in any of that. I still feel weird about using his money like that.
But a driver, too?
That’s another level entirely, and I’m starting to get a small idea of the kind of day he’s got planned. Something…expensive, anyway. Luxury. Things I’ve barely ever experienced, even when we were together the first time - probably because of the same feelings that have been holding me back this time, too.
The car starts up, and I look over at Alistair with a wry expression.
“So are you going to tell me what you have planned, at all? The car is…an interesting start.”
He laughs at me, then pulls me close into his body, his warm lips on my forehead. My heart does a little flip-flop and my only semi-formed objections to the car start to dissolve.
“I love you, Leah. Everything about you - even this cursed obstinate streak.” He pokes my nose, and I shake my head at him. “But today - just for one day - please just let me spoil you. You deserve it, you know.”
I’d probably argue about that, but the way he’s looking at me makes my breath catch, and…I don’t even know why I want to argue. Or why I’ve always objected so fiercely to the idea of all of this.
I think of what Mathilda said earlier today. And what Emma has been saying all along.
I might be a stubborn bitch, but…
I think I’m starting to see their point.
Alistair leans down to kiss me, and I don’t know what he sees in my eyes, but by the time we separate again - it’s gone. I don’t want - or need - to keep resisting. I just want to have the perfect date with my boyfriend, with whatever he has planned.
“I want to give you some of this, Leah. Everything I have - it’s always been yours. Let me show you, baby.” His hand caresses my cheek and I sigh, relaxing as I lean into him - and eventually nod.
“Okay.” I say, reaching up to nibble at his lower l
ip and smiling back at him. “No more objections. So long as I get a piece of you at the end of it, anyway.”
I run my hands over his chest, then down, until one is cupping his ass in between the seat and the other is gliding along his thigh. He groans under me, pushing me back against the seat and framing my head in his hands before kissing me deeply.
I fumble for the control to put the window separating the driver from us up, but I don’t even really care about what he’s seen so far. I’m too lost in the thrill of being with Alistair - the way he makes me feel, and drives me completely crazy.
I feel like a kid again, making out in the back of a car - only this car has a driver, and enough room that we could probably…
Ohh no. Don’t think that.
Alistair sees me eying up the space, and laughs.
“I can’t keep my hands off you, Leah - but I wasn’t thinking of going that far. It’s not…a long…journey.”
His hands are working their way up my chest though, and I can hear my heady breathing as we kiss and touch, my pussy squirming with need again. I would’ve thought after last night, I’d be satisfied enough, but…no, if anything I only want him more.
“No…no fucking.” I agree, my mouth running down his neck, kissing and licking and nibbling. “Just…this…”
“Mmhmm…I want this between us for every moment of today. Behind every look, every touch, every innocent comment…this is what I want you to be thinking about. And what I’m going to do to you when I finally get you home.”
I shudder at the words, moaning into him, and the way we’re crawling all over each other I worry that we’re going to break that promise only a few minutes after making it - but the car comes to a stop just in time.
I’m glad the driver gives us a minute, because we need it to untangle ourselves from each other - and I’m still slightly out of breath and dazed when I finally step out of the car.
“I’m a complete mess now.” I mutter to Alistair, glancing over at him.
He only looks rakishly disheveled, sexy as ever, the bastard.
He chuckles. “Not going to be an issue - we’ll take care of that.”
I turn around to see where we are, and blink.
