by Amber Heart
“Well, then, I suppose I should leave. I’ll be waiting to hear from them,” I said, meeting his dangerously gray eyes as confidently as I could.
“Have a seat, Nina,” he repeated himself, more authoritatively this time and I found myself sitting down. I cleared my throat nervously and avoided his eyes.
“It didn’t take you long to find out who I was, or did you know already?” he asked, and leant forward over his table. His eyes were drilling into me, while I couldn’t bear to look at him directly.
“I didn’t know that night, no. But yeah, it wasn’t difficult finding out,” I replied and tucked in some loose strands of blond curls behind my ears. I hadn’t even bothered with presenting myself well. Just an old plaid shirt, skinny jeans and my hair left open. I was so convinced that I wouldn’t bump into him, and my mind was elsewhere.
“I can see that you still regret it,” he said and my eyes flashed with rage and I met his gaze.
“Of course I do. Who you are, doesn’t change how I feel about our drunken marriage ceremony,” I snapped and a soft smile grazed Cole’s lips.
“I didn’t think it would. You didn’t strike me as the kind of woman who it would affect,” he said and I noticed how sharp his jaw was, and wondered what that stubble would feel like under my fingertips.
“Are you saying that I should feel lucky to be married to you? That I should be frothing in the mouth right now?” I said, sticking my chin up in the air at him. Cole’s smile widened and then he shook his head.
“You’re still so bitter about it,” he said and suddenly stood up. I followed his movements with my eyes as he walked towards me, and casually came to a stop right in front of me. I had to crane my neck to look up at him.
“I’m not bitter. I just want it to be over, so that I can move on with my life,” I said and Cole’s smile didn’t waver.
“Maybe you shouldn’t be wearing that ring on your finger then,” he said and my eyes dropped to the ugly brass ring on my finger. My cheeks flushed instantly. How had I forgotten to take it off? I tugged at it immediately, only now realizing that it was too tight for my finger.
I pulled at it some more, aware that he was looking at me, but the ring just wouldn’t come off. I winced, struggling to pull it off. To show him how little I cared, when suddenly, I sensed him kneel down in front of my chair.
Cole’s large hands were suddenly covering mine and I couldn’t help but look up at him. My eyes widened, my mouth hanging opening, because my body was violently and physically reacting to his proximity again.
“Stop it, Nina. You don’t have to do it like this. I’m not going to judge you for wearing that ring for a few more days,” he said in a much softer voice. Our faces were so close together that his breath shook the single curl that was lying over my nose. I stared into his eyes and felt a cry rising up in my throat.
“It won’t come off. I’m trying to take it off,” I said in a weak desperate voice. Cole smiled again, and to my surprise, lifted my hand and pressed my fingers to his lips. That kiss was unexpected, unrealistic and completely changed how I was feeling. It was the kind of tenderness I would never have expected from a hardened, shrewd billionaire like Cole Emery. It melted me.
“That ring doesn’t change anything,” he said in a low gruff voice, still kneeling in front of me, still smiling. I could smell his expensive cologne, I could have reached out and touched his face if I wanted to…but I was still holding back. This wasn’t the reason why I was back here. Was it?
“Nina…” he breathed my name softly, and before I knew what was happening, Cole had pushed himself towards me and our lips were about to meet. I greeted him, by jerking myself towards him and our lips pressed together in a sizzle. I gasped when I felt his lips on mine, his tongue quickly parting my mouth. We were kissing like we hadn’t seen each other in years. Like we were holding back when we didn’t need to.
My eyes closed and all I could think about was being naked with him again. That kiss had completely disoriented me.
Chapter 10
Nina
“Take off your clothes,” Cole commanded, rather than asked, when he pulled his face away from me. I was still sitting on the chair and he was kneeling in front of me. I did as I was told.
With our eyes locked, I unbuttoned my shirt, while he did the same with his own. My jeans slid down, his pants came off, then my underwear and so did his. Within seconds, I was sitting on the chair with not a thread on my body and Cole was in front of me, with none on his. We were both completely naked in his office and I wasn’t even ashamed.
I knew now why I had so suddenly turned up here. I wanted him. I wanted to have him while I still could. There was nothing wrong with sleeping with your husband.
“I was hoping I hadn’t imagined how beautiful you are,” I heard him say, snapping me out of my thoughts. Without missing a beat, Cole had thrown himself at me. He was kissing my neck, leaving a wet trail of kisses down my neck, down my chest and between my breasts. He didn’t stop till he reached my navel, till he had made me completely dripping wet between my legs. I was squirming in the chair, arching my hips towards him.
I could see his dick throbbing and growing between his legs, I was aching for him. Desperate for him to be inside me again.
With a smile on his face, Cole reached for me, stroking my wetness suddenly with his fingers. I gasped, shocked by the feeling of having his fingers there, on that sensitive bulging flesh that trembled with every stroke he made. His finger slipped in easily inside me because of how wet I was, but he didn’t thrust them in. He was only preparing me for what was to come.
I was embarrassed when I found that he was staring at me, looking straight into my eyes while he stroked me. I reached out for his chest, wrapping my arms around him and dragging him closer to me.
We were kissing again, while his fingers continued to play havoc between my legs. He was making the feeling more intense. That feeling of being desperate for his cock inside me. I could feel the knots inside me tightening, growing wild. I wanted that sweet release of an orgasm, and his fingers were bringing me close to it. When Cole pulled away from the kiss eventually, he dipped his head to quickly take one of my nipples in his mouth. The tug of his mouth on my breast was erotic, making my hips wriggle with pleasure and desire for him.
“I think you’re ready,” he said hoarsely and all of a sudden, he was positioning himself. I remained sitting on the chair, with my legs dangling off the side, while Cole lowered himself over me, with his muscular ripped thighs stretching. His enormous velvety, throbbing cock was pointed in my direction and my mouth hung open with anticipation. It felt like the first time again. As though I had never had him inside me before.
Cole grabbed the arms of the chair tightly. I could see the way the muscles on his shoulders tightened, how his neck reddened as he lowered himself. He was taking it slow. Heightening the anticipation. I could do nothing but hold my breath and lie very still while his cock moved towards me.
When I looked up, I saw that he was staring at me again and then I felt the tip of his cock on my flesh, parting it slowly. I gasped as I felt him sliding inside me, slowly, an inch at a time. But there was no holding Cole back this time. He wasn’t going to give me time to adjust to his size, he was going to go all the way. There was a new kind of yearning in his eyes. Like he had been thinking about this, almost as much as I had.
I moaned when I felt him inside me fully, and Cole groaned as well.
And then he was pumping inside me. With more force than I could remember from that night. His hands on the arms of the chair, with his gray steely eyes on me, his jaw clenched, the muscles on his bare body solid and rippling…Cole drove into me repeatedly, in a quick rhythmic motion that made a loud slapping sound every time our bodies met. I moaned, unable to stop myself. His cock had reached deep inside me, stroking me where I knew the knots were coming undone in my belly.
I was going to come very quickly. I wasn’t going to be able to hold back f
or very long this time. Cole thrust and thrust, with increasing force every time and I could feel his cock sliding in and out of me, the friction against my own flesh that was driving me to oblivion.
“Come for me, my beautiful Nina,” I heard him say. I exploded almost immediately after that. His voice, those words and the way in which he was pumping into me. I had no self control left and I screeched as I came. My orgasm met his and I felt him coming inside me, his seed being buried deep inside me. His hands moved from the arms of the chair to my shoulders and I felt the strength in his hands. The tightening grasp on my skin, on my bones as we soared high together.
We were breathless, rasping heavily as our orgasm continued. Lasting longer for me than it had ever before.
When my breathing finally began to subside, Cole pulled out of me and straightened himself. He had his still-raging hard cock in his hand, and I blushed when my gaze fell on it. The power in his cock. What he was capable of doing to me with just an organ of his body.
We were looking at each other, trying to stabilize our breathing when the phone on Cole’s desk rang.
Chapter 11
Nina
“Sir, Mr Logan has arrived for your one PM meeting with him,” Maria’s voice was crisp and loud in the room when Cole walked over and pressed the button on the intercom.
“Thanks Maria, I’ll be with him shortly. Please ask Dan to show him into the conference room,” Cole spoke authoritatively and then cut the call.
I straightened up in the chair, modestly covering my bare breasts with my arms. Without turning to look at me again, Cole began dressing himself. I smoothened the top of my hair and taking in a few quick breaths, then I slid down from the chair and started collecting my own discarded clothes.
“I apologize, Nina, I have a pressing meeting to attend,” he spoke almost harshly, without looking at me still. I couldn’t tell if he regretted sleeping with me already, but either way, I was utterly embarrassed that I had allowed this to happen again.
“Of course. I need to leave, I have an event coming up in a few hours that I need to prepare for anyway,” I said and felt foolish for trying to give him an explanation.
“You’re singing tonight?” he asked, finally turning to me once he had his shirt tucked back into his pants. I had already started pulling up my jeans. Clothed now, I could finally bear to face him, but I was aware of my watery eyes and flushed cheeks. He could very easily tell that I wanted to disappear into the ground.
“Yes, the usual. An engagement party,” I said, as I buttoned up my own shirt and smoothened the front of my clothes.
Within minutes, Cole had managed to make himself look impeccably presentable again. Not one strand of hair was out of place. While I didn’t have to look in a mirror to know that I looked like a mess.
“I would have liked to hear you sing again,” he said and thrust his hands into the pockets of his pants. I stared at him for a few moments…guilt, rage and embarrassment rising in me again. Sleeping with him a second time was an utterly foolish mistake. The first time had been wrong enough. Now there was no hope for me. I felt like I would never be able to get over him. The more time I spent with him, the more hopelessly floored I was by him. As complicated as this situation was.
“You don’t have to be kind to me. I know what this is. We don’t need to pretend like it’s anything else,” I said and clasped my hands together in front of me defensively. Cole’s eyes narrowed and a sour look came into his gaze.
“I don’t know what you think I’m doing here. I was only being honest. I like your voice, you’re a talented singer,” he said sternly and I gulped. It was breaking my heart to know that there was no future with this man. I wanted to hate him. I wished I despised him, but Cole Emery was leaving an impression on me that I couldn’t deny.
“Well, thank you,” I said bluntly and forced a weak plastic smile on my face that he didn’t return.
“I can see that you’re trying to hate me,” he said in a quieter voice.
“I don’t hate you. I just want this to be over, so that I can forget about it,” I said and was reminded of the cold brass ring on my finger that was digging into my flesh.
“And I told you that I’ll take care of it,” he said.
“Have you spoken to your lawyers?” I asked, still a little dazed from my explosive orgasm. It was strange to be having this conversation so soon after we had just had sex.
“No. But I will. You can leave it to me,” he said and I glared at him. I wasn’t lying. I did want it to be over. I didn’t want there to be any excuse remaining for me to see him again.
“I did and you still haven’t done anything about it,” I said in a harsher voice and Cole took in a deep breath. He didn’t seem pleased by the tone of my voice.
“What is the rush? Are you planning a wedding?” he asked, without any humor in his voice and I licked my lips.
“The rush is because I don’t want something like this happening again,” I told him and he arched an eyebrow at me.
“Something like this? Like sex, you mean?” he asked, finally a flicker of a smile appearing on his face and I blushed again.
“Yes,” I replied bluntly and Cole nodded his head.
“I thought we were just having fun. It had nothing to do with a stupid piece of paper,” he said and I turned from him. I didn’t want to talk about it any more.
“You give it too much importance, Nina. It’s just a document. It doesn’t have to mean anything,” I could hear him saying, while I walked towards the shut door of his office. I needed to get out of there. I didn’t want to have to spend another moment talking to him and explaining what that stupid piece of paper meant to me.
“Marriage is more than just signatures on a document, Nina,” I heard him say and I stopped in my tracks, just when my hand was on the door knob. I gulped and bit down on my lip. I couldn’t find the words to reply to that.
“It has nothing to do with vows, a party or the first dance or the first kiss. Marriage is about the relationship, the connection and trust,” he continued and I turned the knob. I couldn’t believe that a womanizing, selfish man like Cole Emery was lecturing me on marriage. What did he know about it and who had made him an expert on the subject?
Chapter 12
Nina
I was surprised to find Clara waiting for me in my apartment when I got back that night. I knew I was a little drunk. After the singing was over, I had helped myself to the open bar and eventually called a cab to bring me back to the apartment. My sequined dress was short, my hair was a mess, my makeup was smudged…but I couldn’t care less. I was having the worst couple of days I’d had in a long time and I didn’t care about propriety any more.
“You got drunk at work?” were Clara’s first words when I banged the door shut behind me. I flung my purse on the couch next to her and slid down to the carpet. She was sitting prim, in a tailored skirt-suit, with her blond straight hair tied up in a bun at the back of her head. She had come straight over from work, and now I regretted ever giving her a key.
“After work,” I corrected her, aware of the shininess of the tip of my nose. I was tipsy and smiling too much, but at least I was feeling better. Nothing seemed so bad any more. I had all but forgotten about Cole and what had happened that morning, but now it seemed like Clara wanted to talk about it.
“You should really clean up around here more often, sis,” she said, looking about her and noticing the pile of empty pizza boxes near the kitchen sink. I waved my hand in the air without a care and got up again, to go look for the bottle of gin I usually had stashed away at the back of the kitchen cabinet.
“What’s going on with you? You rarely ever drink so much,” I heard her saying as I banged the cabinet doors open, looking for the gin and tonic.
“Don’t you think I deserve a few drinks with what’s been going on lately?” I said, in a loud voice.
“No. I think you need to think clearly. You have to figure out what Cole Emery is doing abou
t the annulment. You can’t keep drinking yourself silly and expect him to take care of it,” she said, as I poured myself the drink and took a hurried sip of it.
“I went to see him today. He’s done nothing yet,” I said and flipped around to look at her again. Clara’s eyes widened.
“You went to see him?” she asked and stood up from the couch.
“Yeah, and he’s not even spoken to the lawyers about the annulment,” I said and took another sip of the drink. Clara walked towards me, looking worried.
“Why not?” she asked and I shrugged my shoulders.
“He doesn’t give a Fuck,” I said, in a loud harsh voice again and I noticed that Clara flinched. We had been raised without any profanity in the house, and unlike me, Clara still found it uncomfortable to swear or hear anyone swearing. I smiled at my sister. I thought then, that maybe we were both really naive. Just like Cole suggested. We believed in a fairytale life, in finding perfect happiness…when maybe none of that existed. I suddenly felt very stupid.
Clara seemed upset, and I felt like she deserved more of an explanation.
“He doesn’t care about marriage. To him it’s just a stupid piece of paper. He’s going on living his life, without giving this a second thought,” I said bitterly, and just then there was a knock on the front door.
Clara looked at me with her eyes wide.
“I’ll get it,” she said and walked over to the door. I saw her peeping through the hole, and then she looked at me, horrified.
“It’s him. It’s Cole Emery,” she said and my brows crossed. Even through my drunken haze, I knew that this was odd. I hadn’t told him where I lived. And we had just seen each other a few hours ago.
