He couldn’t imagine what things would have been like had he gone to New York alone to meet with Simon. Marissa’s presence had saved him in more ways than one. “If that’s settled, then what’s the problem? Why can’t we move forward with this?”
“Because as much as you’re not like Geoff, I don’t trust that you won’t become him. Your reputation as a womanizer didn’t surprise me when I’d heard it. Your sins are yours to bear, but I want nothing to do with them. Even that…woman you brought, there’s something about her.”
“Marissa is sweet and kind and has nothing to do with this.” He had to force himself to relax his grip on the phone receiver. “Leave her out of this.”
“Perhaps Natalie is incorrect, then.”
“What did she say?”
“She suspected your lady friend wasn’t exactly who you were presenting her to be.”
Vince didn’t know if Natalie had actually said that, or if Simon was simply fishing, trying to get Vince to slip up and say something. Either way, he wasn’t going to play this game. “She’s my girlfriend.” That wasn’t exactly right, but it was the easiest thing he could manage. “And my personal life shouldn’t have an impact on this deal.”
“It shouldn’t. But I’m the one who gets to decide where my money gets to go. If I want to be sure the recipient is of a certain character, then that’s my prerogative.” Simon went silent for a moment, the faint sound of a keyboard clacked away in the background. “I do have another prospect, but they’re not as advanced as GreenPro. It would be much easier to go to market with your company than theirs.”
His unspoken warning came across loud and clear—Simon would work with Vince on this deal, but he’d be willing to switch teams if he didn’t like what Vince had to say. “Then let’s work together to make this happen.”
“Send me a complete company profile, market projections, and growth forecasts. I’ll have my lawyers look everything over and then we’ll talk. If I like what I see, and if everything remains unchanged, then I’ll seriously consider the purchase.”
Vince would need to keep his head down and his nose clean, at least until this deal went through. “You’ll have the documents first thing in the morning.”
“Wonderful. A pleasure speaking to you as always.” And then the line went dead.
He put the receiver back down and closed his eyes. Okay, Simon was on board and if everything went his way, Vince would be able to broker the deal within the next three to six months. Then he’d be free of Simon and his history and would be able to get back to his normal life. He’d be free to have whatever relationship he wanted with Marissa, and anyone who had any issues with it could bugger off.
He needed to hold on to this just a little bit longer and GreenPro would be gone, he’d have his money back and his father wouldn’t have an excuse to try and control Vince’s life.
How had things gone so wrong between them? Vince had given up years ago trying to change his father’s erratic behavior. Then Bull Rush had come along, and it was easy to throw himself into the intense filming schedule and ignore the growing mess that his father’s life had become. Regardless of what Geoff had done, he was still Vince’s father. They had no one else, no other close family. And despite the anger, the wall that had formed between them, there would always be a part of Vince who loved and missed the man his father had once been.
His hand was still on the phone, the temptation to call his dad strong, but he knew he wouldn’t. While he was willing to try again, to move beyond past hurts, he knew Geoff wasn’t there. Maybe he never would.
The loneliness Vince had felt since his mom had left them had never quite gone away. It was only in those moments he’d spent with Marissa that everything felt a bit easier, the world seemed to be a bit brighter. Releasing the receiver, he instead reached for his cell phone.
As though she’d read his mind, there waiting for him was a message from Marissa. We need to talk.
He hit the call button and even waited for her to answer before he spoke. “I’ll pick you up. We can’t go back to my place.”
“I’m going to stay at my mom’s.”
While he was certain that the woman who raised Marissa was no doubt an amazing woman in her own regard, he had no intention of letting her stay anywhere but with him. “I’ll be there soon. We’ll head to my condo.”
“Didn’t you hear me? I can’t stay with you.”
“Did I do something wrong? Something that has made you uncomfortable?” He’d gone an entire goddamned night without touching her. In his mind, he was up for saint status. “Because if this is you worried about taking advantage of me because of my money, that’s not an issue.”
“It’s not that.”
“Then get what you need from your mom’s and be ready to leave.” For the second time in an hour, the silence on the other end of a phone call made his chest tighten. When she let out a little sigh, he got to his feet and grabbed his jacket. “I’ll see you soon.”
This was going to work out. He’d sell GreenPro to Simon, even if that wasn’t what he wanted. His father would have whatever he’d hoped to get out of the deal, and Vince would be able to move forward with Marissa.
He’d make this work, no matter what.
Chapter 22
Marissa followed Vince into the lobby of the luxury condo high-rise, not knowing how the hell she was going to get out of this. She’d been unable to talk to her mom once she’d returned to the apartment. Her mom was still upset, which was probably the only reason why she hadn’t picked up on Marissa’s panic. It wasn’t as though she’d be able to help with this, and given her earlier reaction to Marissa’s status as a sugar baby, she doubted her mom would care too much about Vince’s reputation.
The last thing Marissa wanted to do was hurt Vince. Andrew was a bastard, and she knew him well enough to realize that he wasn’t going to let this go until he got his money. She’d never known him to be violent, but Andrew was smart and clearly more devious than she’d ever given him credit for. She needed to warn Vince about what was going on so he could cut ties and stay as far away from her as possible.
He’d clearly had a far better day than she had. He’d been relaxed and smiling from the moment she’d slid into the passenger seat of his car. Not that she’d ever tell him, but she loved that he’d been picking her up himself, rather than sending the limo. While he was used to that level of wealth, it wasn’t exactly something she’d gotten comfortable with.
“I’m in the penthouse. It’s actually owned by the firm, though none of us really use it. Caroline had the cleaners in so we wouldn’t have to worry about anything.”
Caroline was a saint as far as Marissa was concerned. “I’ll need to say thank you the next time I see her.”
“I’ve already sent her a thank you gift.” Vince looked up toward the elevator ceiling. “A nice one.”
“Pissed her off again, did you?” Marissa couldn’t even pretend to be surprised. “She’s going to leave if you’re not careful.”
“I know.” The elevator doors dinged open to reveal a small hallway. “We’re down here.”
The contrast of this hallway to the one leading to her mom’s apartment was staggering. There were no random smells of cigarettes and spices spilling from the other doors as they walked past. In fact, there were no other doors on this side, which spoke to the opulence she had no doubt she’d find on the other side. Even the exterior door shouted a wealthy person lives here, as the wood grains were natural and not the thin press wood, painted gray.
Vince pressed a code that unlocked the door, the deadbolt whirring and clicking as it opened. “I’m not sure if there’s much food here, but we can always order in. Probably the best idea given the paparazzi are on the lookout for us.”
The condo was stunning. The far wall was composed of floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over Lake Ontario. There w
as a balcony that had lounge chairs and lush potted plants that would never survive the cold winter if left outside. The living room was open, with a white couch that looked simple, but no doubt cost more than a year’s worth of her rent. The kitchen was open, with marble and wood that made the hotel in New York look like a cheap reno.
“It’s a bit cold. Let me know if you need a sweater. I’ll turn up the heat.” Vince turned on the fireplace as she continued to explore.
“I can’t believe you have two amazing homes.” She didn’t even have her little basement apartment. “How do you choose where to stay?”
“The house is mine. I bought it from my dad years ago, when he was more interested in traveling than staying in Toronto. This place is mostly a tax write-off, but Nate uses it more than me. We have it when we’re working late, or if we have a client we want to impress from out of town.”
“So, I’m the one you’re trying to impress?” She couldn’t imagine he’d think too highly of her once she told him about Andrew’s demands. “I’m flattered.”
“Our friend from this morning reached out to the press. We have a bunch of photographers buzzing around the house trying to get a glimpse of who you are.” He took off his jacket and tie, and rolled up his sleeves. “I figured this would be better than fighting the crowds.”
Marissa sat down on the couch—God, this was as comfortable as it looked—and tried to relax. “I don’t think I should stay here.”
Vince held up his hand before she said anything else. He then grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses. “I know something’s wrong. I can tell from the look on your face that this is even bigger than the flood.”
“It is. I need you to know—”
He flopped onto the couch beside her and handed her a glass. “In a minute.”
“You’re being stubborn.”
“I’m being practical.” He filled her glass, then his own, before putting the glass down. “Whatever you’re about to tell me is probably serious. I’ve had one hell of a day and for a little while, I need something not serious.”
She could only watch as he clinked their glasses together. “Like wine?”
“Like a glass of wine with a beautiful woman who makes me smile.” He took a sip, his eyes locked onto hers. “Is that so wrong?”
Marissa shivered from the intensity he was shooting at her. “No. I guess not.”
Liar! Everything about this was incredibly wrong. Andrew was blackmailing her and threatening him. If things were to come out about their relationship, she had no doubt it would put his deal with GreenPro at risk. She put her glass down on the table and turned once more to him.
Vince downed the rest of his wine in several gulps, set his glass on the floor, and took her face in his hands. “I’m going to kiss you now. I’ve wanted to kiss you since this morning when you got out of my car. I’ve had business calls, been dealing with pompous jackasses all day, and all I’ve been able to think about was getting back to you.”
His breath came out in soft puffs across her face. They were so close, she could feel the heat from him, smell his arousal through his aftershave. Her gaze flicked to his lips. “I thought you didn’t want a relationship?”
“I was wrong. I’m tired of being alone. Of having no one to come home to. No one to listen to, to hear what kind of day they’d had. I miss having a warm body in my bed. Not sex, but having another person there to hold on to, to listen to them breathe. I missed you.”
Vince leaned in and pressed his lips to hers in the softest kiss she’d ever shared. She sighed, couldn’t help it, and deepened the contact. His fingers flexed against her skin in a caress that had become familiar to her as only a lover’s could. Sliding her hands up his chest, she ignored the voice in the back of her head screaming that this was a horrible idea.
Despite everything that had happened in the past few days, she needed this. It wasn’t until she’d heard him express his needs that she realized she’d been craving that sort of contact herself. She wanted him, wanted to feel his body against hers. She wanted to relish the press of his cock inside her until she screamed from release.
When he slid a hand from her face to the side of her neck, Marissa reached up and encouraged him lower. Only once his fingers encased her breast did she give in completely. Her nipple was hard, rubbing mercilessly against the inside of her cotton bra. Pleasure sparked through her, as her skin became hypersensitive to every caress against it.
“Bedroom.” She spoke the words against his mouth, loathing to break even that little contact. “Please.”
Vince stood and somehow took her along with him. She’d long given up being surprised by what he could do. This was the man who’d swooped in and helped her in her moment of crisis, and yet hardly asked for anything in return. Even the meager barrier he’d put between them, the no-relationship rule, seemed to be little more than paper thin. Letting her head rest on his shoulder, Marissa followed his lead and ignored Andrew, her finances, and every other problem in her life.
As Vince carried her into the bedroom, she opened her eyes enough to take in her surroundings. The wall of windows continued here, presenting her with the most amazing view she was likely to ever wake up to. Vince must have noticed where her attention had gone, and set her down so she could have a better look.
“I don’t think I could ever get used to something like this.” She shifted back as he came up behind her, his hands falling to her waist. “It’s amazing.”
“Yes, you are.” He pulled her hair to the side and began to kiss her neck. His mouth worked the skin, nipping gently as his fingers began to work on the buttons of her shirt.
They were going to do this, have sex in this place where she didn’t belong. Marissa would take every last bit of pleasure she could from him, and then when they were done, she’d tell him about Andrew and the blackmail and await the inevitable dismissal from his life.
Marissa placed her hands on the window and arched her back like a cat. Her ass connected perfectly with his groin, and there was no mistaking the pressure of his cock against her. She wanted to turn around, drop to her knees and pull out his shaft. She wanted to lick up the length, from his balls to his tip, taste the bitter fluid that would have escaped from the slit. Instead, she bucked her hips back and prayed he wouldn’t leave her hanging for long.
Vince was an intuitive lover. He’d managed to undo the buttons on her shirt, her bra-covered breasts now readily available to him. She held her breath as he slid his hands beneath the wire and up to fully cup their weight. He leaned against her, his forehead to the back of her shoulders as he teased her nipples.
Marissa moaned, not caring how she looked or sounded. She wanted to be wild, primal. Wanted to shed her clothing so she could enjoy the scratch of his clothing against her nakedness. She wanted to soak in his heat, taste his sweat, all while memorizing each sound that came from him.
Vince moved his hands up, taking her bra with him, and leaving her breasts exposed to the world below. A shiver passed through her at the unexpected exhibitionism, a thrill that she was bared to all of Toronto to see, and knowing no one could. He continued to move his hands up, capturing her shirt to pull it down her arms.
He caught her gaze in the reflection of the window as he looked at her from over her shoulder. “I want to see you naked.”
“Yes.”
They worked together to shed her bra, her jeans. He hesitated when it came to her panties, taking time to tease the sensitive skin of the crease of her leg with his fingers, before slowly dropping to his knees as he slid the silk down her thigs. “I’ve always contended that a woman undressing is the sexiest thing in the world. It’s something special. Being the one chosen to see.”
As she stepped out of her panties, now completely naked before him, Marissa leaned back against the cold glass of the window and spread her thighs. “And you like to watch.”
; God, she had this crazy powerful, rich man on his knees in front of her, horny. His shirt was half opened, though she didn’t know when he’d done that. His blue eyes were hooded, heavy, as though the very act of looking at her was too much for him to handle.
She was a fucking goddess and he would do anything in the world for her.
Marissa spread her legs wider. “Lick me.”
His gaze traveled lazily down her body until it reached her pussy. He rose to his knees, and shuffled close enough to do exactly what she wanted. His hot breath on her front was a stark contrast to the cold on her ass. Instead of reaching forward, to brace her hands on his shoulders, she flattened them even more against the window. “Do it. Please.”
The growl that came from Vince sounded as primal as Marissa felt. When his hands found her thighs, he squeezed the fleshy muscles, kneading them as he drew closer. Marissa wanted to look, wanted to watch the expressions on his face. She was able to keep her eyes open long enough to see him smile before he pressed his nose to her pubic mound and breathed her in.
“You’re so fucking wet.” He moved his hands higher, until he parted her labia, exposing her clit. Marissa held her breath as she felt his hot breath kiss her wet skin a moment before his mouth engulfed her.
Unlike before, he teased her with small flick of his tongue. She bucked her hips forward, encouraging him to increase the pressure, to force the pleasure on her until she came. Vince wasn’t having any of it. He held her still, held her open, and continued to tease.
“I hate you.” Her voice cracked as a shiver ripped through her. Goosebumps crept across her skin, the combined sensations of cold and pleasure getting confused inside her.
Vince shifted down and ran his tongue from her wet pussy, up across her clit, and back down again. “I love how wet you are. How you taste.” He pushed a finger into her, and pressed against the top of her passage.
Sugar Sweet Page 20
