by JC Szot
“I’m in deep trouble,” Drake told her, his chest compressed, needing more air.
“I want to get this right,” Kelly said. Her words were faint, her eyes frightened.
“Right doesn’t do you justice. You’ll be perfect. God, I can’t wait to touch and kiss you all over. I want you,” he said, his eyes roving over her. “Let’s go get this done,” Drake said, steering her elbow toward the door.
Chapter Twenty-Three
An edgy anxiousness grated over her, picking at her skin. The grand ballroom that was swathed in rich reds and bold whites had her brow beading with sweat.
Clusters of people gathered at the bar and around the surrounding tables. A tux was a tux, but the chicness of the women had Kelly thinking she was attending a runway show for Calvin Klein.
I’m way outta my league.
Drake’s soft voice had her head jerking back.
“You okay?” he asked, his smile heating her insides. His fingers tickled over the skin of her shoulder. She nodded quickly. A woman in a rose-colored pantsuit was walking toward them, her smile open and friendly.
“Mr. Larson,” she beamed. “A fabulous occasion, as always.”
* * * *
“So…who’s your new lady friend?” Keith raised his brows over the rim of his glass. Drake sipped his gin and tonic, leaning against the bar.
“I met her downtown. It was sort of ironic,” Drake informed him. “Fate works like that, I suppose.” He expelled a deep sigh. “Isn’t she gorgeous?” Drake winked, fighting off his raging libido for the hundredth time. Drake would never spill the details of how he and Kelly met. Not that he cared, but he knew Kelly would.
“That she is,” Keith agreed. “You look happy, relieved really,” Keith said, elbowing him in the ribs.
“I am. She’s changed everything,” Drake told him, setting his empty glass down on the bar. Keith knew more about his personal life than any other of Drake’s employees. He was relieved that Keith had attended the event. He was the first one he’d introduced Kelly to. They’d had a pleasant conversation until Colleen had intercepted Kelly, dragging her away to introduce her to the other women.
He had decent people working for him. Drake treated them well and they respected him. A sense of pride warmed through him. It was the clients they had to cater to that could make a pool of sourness fill his mouth.
The event was going smoothly. The women appeared to be confused that he hadn’t shown up with Nina on his arm, their expressions evident. Thank God Colleen had come over, initiating first contact, extending her hand. She had taken Kelly under her wing.
“She appears to be mingling well,” Keith said. Drake noticed Keith’s eyes drift over to where Kelly was chatting it up with a group of Colleen’s colleagues from accounting.
“She is, and to think she was worried,” Drake said mockingly. He flagged down the bartender for another round. Soft yellow light fell from the chandeliers above, making every sleek strand of Kelly’s hair shimmer. Drake bit down hard on his lip. The exposed flesh of her body glinted due to the dress he’d so cleverly selected for her. The garment baited him, pulling him under, filling his mind with brazen thoughts.
“What does she do?” Keith asked, rocking back on his heels.
“She’s in limbo right now. Her parents were ill for a long time. They recently passed, so Kelly is at a bit of a crossroads right now, but—”
Keith finished the thought for him. “I’m sure you can provide her with adequate direction,” Keith said, eyeing him over the rim of his drink, a wicked gleam in his gaze.
“Oh, yeah.” Drake nodded at the bartender, lifting the glass to his lips. He lowered his eyes into his drink, needing to keep it reeled in.
Keith placed his hand on his shoulder, tearing him out of his naughty thoughts. “I’m gonna take off, that okay with you?” Keith asked, fussing with his tie.
“Go,” Drake said, lifting a shoulder. “I’m not far behind you. I’ve had about enough.”
Keith gave him a pat on the back and slipped through the French doors. Drake sat down at the bar, watching the suits and skirts mingle.
Tokens for Tots was an annual charity Drake ran from the end of October until the New Year. They supplied families in need with medical and dental care as well as other support services so children wouldn’t have to go through the holiday season with no turkey, trimmings, or gifts under the tree.
He was thankful that the Cypress Hill Convention Center allowed him to use the space each year to promote the event. The holidays would be upon them before they knew it. It helped to plant the seeds of giving early before everyone exhausted their holiday budgets.
Drake downed the last drink he would have. It was time to tend to other things he had on his list for this evening. He’d networked and socialized. Now it was his time to enjoy Kelly before she insisted he drop her off in those dismal woods. That was his next focal point, convincing her to pack up her tent and make camp with him.
A hand on his arm sucked him back into the glitzy, crystallized ballroom. Colleen’s eyes pierced his.
“I love her! Absolutely love her.” Her hands cut through the air, enunciating every syllable of her speech. Her fingers tightened around him. “If you let that one go I’ll kick your butt, Drake Larson, and don’t think you’ll be able to fire me for it,” she told him, grinning.
“Thanks, Colleen.” A rush of heat he could no longer contain swept over him.
“See you tomorrow,” Colleen beamed.
Kelly had freed herself from the cluster of women, making her way across the ballroom.
“Down, boy,” Drake whispered to himself.
The slinky dress clung to her shapely thighs, sliding over her skin as she walked. The long slit that ran up her thigh provided him with a strip of flesh that looked as sweet as dripping honey. Her hazel eyes flicked to his, a peculiar smile curving her mocha-painted lips. Her sweet scent gusted across his face. He was starved. He needed to be fed, and now.
“You have very nice employees,” Kelly said softly, straightening his tie.
“It didn’t take long for you to form a fan club,” Drake said, his observation mocking. “I take it you’ve survived this gig?”
Kelly nodded.
“I did,” she admitted, her words sounding surprised. Drake slipped his hand around her waist. He leaned into her.
“It’s time to devote a little attention to your biggest fan,” Drake murmured, licking the shell of her ear. Her body trembled into his, making him all the more excited.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Where’re we going?” Their footsteps resounded through the darkness as Drake pulled her down a darkened hallway.
“You’ll see,” Drake told her, giving her fingers a squeeze.
“Colleen’s very nice.” Kelly wobbled on the high heels, unable to keep up with him.
“We’ll talk about my office personnel later,” Drake said, dragging her behind him.
Kelly’s eyes widened, attempting to see through a deserted area of the convention center that was closed off. Drake moved the velvet ropes to the side, motioning her to step through.
“Are you angry with me?” Kelly asked, unsure of where all this discreet urgency was leading. Drake faced her, yanking his tie from around his neck. He slowly shook his head.
“I’m famished. I can’t wait. That’s what happens when I’m left to watch you,” Drake said. His voice was raspy, smoldering with need. He took her shoulders and backed her through another door.
Kelly gaped around the huge men’s room, their breaths echoing. Drake quickly shoved the large trash can in front of the door, then spun around and pushed her body into the wall. All the air rushed from her lungs at once.
“Drake,” Kelly whimpered.
“You said it, baby. Are you going to let me do what I want?” Drake’s teeth caught the sensitive skin of her neck, biting down on her flesh, his words mumbled. His hot breaths blew into her neck. His hands were on her, groping, h
is desire rushed and unyielding.
Her body began to hum. Kelly hoped Drake hadn’t felt ignored. Colleen had been so friendly, sort of rescuing her from the pressures of her first gala appearance. Apparently Drake had been as distracted as she, but in an entirely different way.
His tongue washed over her skin, tracing the line of her collarbone. Drake steered them back to the vanity, spinning her so they faced an immense mirror. Her hip bones ground into the edge of the hard counter. Their gazes locked. Soft light from the bulbs above shined in their eyes.
Drake’s fingers worked the strap behind her neck. The halter top of her dress fell, her breasts now free.
“Jesus Christ,” Drake groaned. Kelly watched his hands smooth over her skin, cupping her breasts from behind, fondling them. She fit in his hands perfectly. “You ready?” he asked. Hot breaths puffed on her neck. The loosening of his belt reverberated through the men’s room. That erotic thrill she was coming to know well heated her blood, scalding her veins as anticipation barreled through her body. Her calves ached, the high heels suddenly excruciating. Drake’s hands scaled down her body, yanking her dress up, bunching the silken material around her waist.
“No panties.” Drake’s eyes darted to the mirror. A sly grin played over his lips.
“I didn’t want the lines,” Kelly said. Her voice was hoarse, her body twitching like a junkie.
Hard, erect heat answered her, thrusting into her tailbone. Kelly shifted her stance, wanting to give him access.
“That’s it, yeah, so hot,” Drake coaxed her, his tone gruff. His hand skimmed around her tummy, dipping down into the soaked folds of her pussy. Her eyes tracked his every move, the reflection an added visual, mirroring the intensity. The pads of Drake’s fingers rubbed her clitoris. Kelly’s knees melted, her belly expanding with a heat that swathed her entire body.
“God, Drake.” Breaths heaved, filling the small space between them. Kelly could smell herself, her pores opening and spewing with the fruity fragranced lotion she’d used earlier.
“You’re so wet, so pliable,” he said, his words serious, but strangled. Drake licked her neck, scoring his teeth over her flesh. “I’m so fucking hard. I’ve never been so hard.” Kelly stared into his eyes, eyes that’d gone black. His brows pulled together, knitted in concentration. One hand petted her pussy, the other gripped her hip. His hips thrust forward, forcing her over the counter in one swift motion. The room tilted. Kelly reached, stabilizing herself as Drake speared into her.
His cock pushed through her inner walls, jamming into her. An intrusive pain bloomed into pleasure. His body pulled back before pounding into her again, making her gasp in delight.
“Yes,” she hissed. Kelly arched to meet him. His hands raced over her body, cupping her breasts, squeezing her mounds hard as his hips pumped. Drake’s solid body pinned hers, taking as much of her as she could give. Her knuckles went white, clenching the edge of the vanity. Her neck arched, her eyes darting across the ceiling. They called out to one another. Their vocalized pleasure rang out, bouncing off the walls.
“Kelly, oh God.” Drake released a throaty cry, his body jutted up against hers. Kelly turned her head, searching for him in the mirror, needing to see him.
Drake’s head was tipped back, his eyes rolling beneath their lids. His chest dragged in more air, pushing into her back. His musky scent hung between them like a sedating storm cloud. His hand was back, fidgeting between her and the vanity’s edge, searching for that warm, wet place. Fingers swirled over her clit. Kelly shuddered, her body about to be undone. She lowered herself onto the cool marble. Her breasts pebbled into hard points, pressing against the cold surface.
Her eyes tingled, misting with the emotional heights he was taking her to. Drake’s husky words clawed their way in.
“I’m gonna come,” he growled, throwing his body into hers, pushing her further and further into mirror. Her inner walls tightened around him. “I want you, not just here and now, forever,” he said, his confession a guttural groan. Drake howled in ecstasy. Teeth sank into her flesh, knifing through her skin, a wound of passion.
The wet ache between her legs throbbed, calling out in relief as his relentless fingers pulled her over the edge. Orgasmic pleasure detonated, rolling over her again and again with a sensation of multiple contractions that had her weeping with joy.
“Drake, yes…” Her words died on a euphoric sigh. His internal heat pulsated into her, raining her insides.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Each time he left her there it was becoming harder and harder. It was unnecessary and ridiculous. Drake wasn’t sure how long he was going to tolerate it. Kelly refused to stay with him. Her argument was that it was a work night and she didn’t want to interfere with his routine.
Drake had helped her set up the tent and made a small fire before leaving. Kelly was stubborn. Her pride was going to be the most difficult thing to deal with. She somehow didn’t think that she deserved him, or his money. He knew the focal point was his money. He wished it wasn’t. It was hard for her to see beyond that, though Drake knew she was no gold-digger.
Kelly was no Nina. The errors of her past had her thinking she wasn’t worthy and needed to suffer for her mistakes. It was something he was going to have to address. How he would do that he wasn’t sure.
* * * *
Nina popped the trunk, tossing in the two empty gas cans. Anger boiled as tears rolled, spilling down her cheeks, drying in the cold, chafing wind that blew across the mountain. Emotions collided. Pain, rejection, and rage wrapped around her, the chains pulling tighter and tighter. All logic had been strangled out of her, suffocating any common sense.
Seeing Drake tonight at the annual Tokens for Tots event with another woman on his arm had her world spiraling out of control. Everyone knows now! The embarrassment was like an allergy she couldn’t medicate. Who was she? Where’d she come from? It couldn’t be anyone local. Nina had never seen her before. Someone he met on business?
The trees rustled in the darkness above. Strands of hair blew across her face, sticking to her damp cheeks. She pulled a cigarette out of her pocket. The flame of the lighter flickered against her face as she drew in deeply. The residual odor of fuel from her fingers burned through her sinuses.
Cool menthol iced down her throat. It’d been ten months since she’d picked up a cigarette. She needed the old crutch tonight. There was nothing else. There was no one or nothing else to lean on. She was tired of her father’s words. “He’s made his choice, and it wasn’t you. It’s time to move on.” The nicotine raced to her head, making it swim. Nina pulled more smoke into her lungs and opened the car door. She reached in and turned the key, starting the engine.
The smooth idling receded as she trekked around the house, taking one last look. The stiff grass crunched beneath her shoes as she rounded the rustic structure. Drake hadn’t uncovered the hot tub in the back. I guess he didn’t sanctify his new woman in there.
Nina walked alongside the house. Her heart rate rose, drumming in the back of her throat. Standing off to the side, she took one last drag, sucking in a rush of smoke and nicotine. She stared into the darkness, flicking the cigarette at the foot of the raised foundation. She darted to the car, her breaths heaving. Nina spun around, seeing the line of fuel give birth to a thin trail of flames. It moved around the house slower than she anticipated. Fiery points of carroty light flickered into the dark night air. The wind blew, feeding the fire. Its heat and pungent fumes hit her face, engulfing her with a thick, heavy smog. Her eyes narrowed, tearing from the burn. Plumes of black smoke ascended into the night sky, consuming Drake’s house in a black cloud of hell.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“How long is this going to go on?” Steve asked. His face scrunched into a frown. “It’s pretty silly, don’t you think?” He laughed, shaking his head.
“I’m not doing this for the handouts,” Kelly said, her tone clipped.
“I know that!” Steve answered, now ir
ritated. “The man wants you. You’re focusing on the one thing he doesn’t want you to look at, his fucking money. Isn’t that what he told you?”
Kelly looked away, stifled by Steve’s confrontation. She was exhausted. The fire warmed her chilled fingers. It was insanely late. She wanted to sleep before she had to break down camp. The leaves were falling quickly, and her campsite was getting harder and harder to keep concealed from the parking lot.
Steve had gotten the hint, rising to his feet.
“I’ll let you get some rest. I’ll just say one more thing,” he told her. Kelly faced him, Steve’s expression grave. “That man is in love with you, whether you want to look at that or not.” He stared down at her, his face slack. “Don’t you see? Having all that money comes with a price. He’s never had someone who can look past that. The others probably feasted on his bank accounts daily. Now you’re looking at his money like it’d give you the damn bubonic plague. The guy wants to love, and be loved. It’s not all about you. I’ll see you later,” Steve waved, turning on his heel, defeat in his gait.
Kelly watched the lines of his shadow blend in with the darkness. She bent down and started scooping up dirt, throwing it onto the fire, watching the embers shimmer before slowly burning out.
* * * *
The next morning Sam was in early. She’d been missing him the last few weeks, having not seen him since they argued about the tarp. When Kelly came out of the restroom, he was waiting for her.
“How’ve you been doing?” he asked, his head tilting in question. His inky eyes narrowed, suspicion coating his expression. Does he know about Drake?
“I’m fine, thank you.” Kelly gave him her most pleasant demeanor. She didn’t want to jeopardize her arrangement with him. “I’m going to move myself further away tonight, you know, with the leaves falling and all,” she told him, wanting to be helpful. Sam nodded.
