by Calista Fox
L.L. moaned. Her fingers threaded through his hair. Her spine arched, so she was melded to him, offering herself to him. His hand slipped around to her back and he pressed her even tighter against his body. His tongue fluttered over her nipple and she let out a lusty sigh.
“Want your pearls?” he asked.
“Not tonight.” A dreamy smile graced her plump, glossy lips. “I just want you,” she told him. “I don’t need anything else.”
Tague’s body tightened. His heart kicked into an erratic, staccato beat.
“Loralai.”
“Just you,” she murmured. “Now.”
He shifted slightly and his cock rubbed along her slick folds, back and forth. Her breath hitched. Desire lit her eyes. Soft pants of air fell from her partially opened mouth. The mouth he’d wanted to claim within the first ten minutes of meeting her. Maybe less.
“You are so beautiful,” he told her, emotion coursing through him. “So amazing on every level.”
“Make love to me, Tague. Slowly. All night long.”
He sank into her. Deep. Burying himself in her warmth and her wetness. Surrounding himself with her very essence.
She held him to her and they moved in perfect unison. Her heart pounded as hard as his. Her breathing kept time with his so their breaths became one.
Their eyes locked as they worked each other into that blissful state, shattered together, and shared more than just a breath.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I feel the same.”
And Tague hoped like hell that was a bond distance could never break.
L.L. felt a peculiar mix of emotions when Tague’s driver dropped her off outside of Kensington & Marks. She and Tague had said their goodbyes at his apartment. He’d wanted to ride with her this morning, despite the fact that he wasn’t heading into the office. But she’d had to get the farewell over with before that or she likely never would have gotten out of his car, were he here with her. She would have just sat there, clinging to him, letting the heartache consume her.
As she took the elevator up to her floor, anxiety clawed at her. As she walked the halls, they felt narrow and confining. Like they were closing in on her. As she entered her office, it felt empty and lonely.
She unraveled from her winter apparel and crossed to the window. Stared at the building that housed Mason, Hoffman & Stein. Tears filled her eyes. Her heart hurt.
Shifting her gaze, she stared down at the street and sidewalk below. The very sidewalk where Corey had appeared from thin air on Monday morning. He now lived in Manhattan. And that made her feel…lost. Like the city no longer held the same appeal. Was no longer hers.
She couldn’t explain why.
So L.L. bundled back up and left the building. She hailed a cab and provided the address for the new facility Max and Len were in the throes of setting up. She pushed through the heavy metal door, expecting a rush of ahh…now you’re home to hit her.
It didn’t.
Because Tague had been in this building? Because everywhere she went, she was reminded of him, but could no longer feel his presence?
More tears stung her eyes. Max noticed immediately.
“Hey, L.L.” He clasped her hands. “Sweetie, what is it?”
“I don’t love it here anymore.” Fat drops rolled down her cheeks.
39
Confusion and remorse slithered down her spine. “Nothing’s the same without Tague. He’s leaving today. For good.”
“What are you talking about?” Len asked.
She explained the situation.
Her friends looked duly stricken. For her.
L.L. sighed dejectedly. “I suddenly feel so hollow. So out of sorts. He asked me to go with him, and a part of me knows that’s crazy. I mean, we fell in love, sure. But so fast. In a week…really?”
Len gave a shrug. “Happened for us. Maybe even quicker than that. Instalove, Max called it.” He beamed at his partner.
L.L. said, “And I couldn’t be happier for you. I just… I’ve spent so much time not believing in a happy ending and then I suddenly fell down that rabbit hole, only to have the rug ripped from beneath me again because Tague’s future isn’t here in New York.”
Len eyed her speculatively. Then shared a look with Max.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “What?”
“L.L.,” Len said. “This isn’t like you at all. This…apprehension and distress.”
“Sweetie,” Max chimed in. “You’re an adventurer at heart. You’re fearless when it comes to spreading your wings, living in a different city, a different country. Hell, you didn’t even know French when you moved to Paris. But you learned. And you fell in love with the city. You’ve loved it here, too, but Manhattan no longer feels like home because Corey Crenshaw has invaded your turf. So for fuck’s sake. Why would you stay when you have a more appealing option elsewhere?”
Len added, “No one ever said you needed to be here with us to get the job done. We’ve never had to be in the same location before. You design the product remotely and work all the admin aspects—which will also include our website development—in a virtual environment. Max and I are responsible for everything that happens here, physically.”
“He’s right,” Max said. “You have the opportunity for something great…somewhere else. So go, L.L. Go.” He gathered her in his arms and squeezed her tight. “Our business model works whether you’re here or not. But your heart… That’s what you really have to follow.”
She cried on his shoulder. She couldn’t help it. But even through her sobs, L.L. knew what she had to do.
Pulling away and swiping at her wet cheeks, she said, “I love you guys. I just need to try something different. It might not even pan out, but… I have to give this thing with Tague a chance. He deserves that much from me.”
“You deserve it, too, L.L.,” Max insisted.
She nodded. Drew in a long breath. Gave a shaky smile. But told them, “I’m sorry about the timing.”
“Don’t be. Now get the hell out,” Max quipped. “We have our own work to do.” He winked.
She hugged them both. “I can’t believe I’m about to do this, but… I’ve got a plane to catch.”
“That’s our girl,” Len said. “Trust us, Mr. Right doesn’t come along every day.”
“No, he certainly does not,” she agreed as more tears tumbled down her cheeks.
They confirmed a conference call later in the week to hammer out their business details, discuss schedules and how L.L. would return when needed. Then she was in a cab, on her way to JFK. She didn’t even have time to stop at her apartment to pack a suitcase. Luckily, she had some bare necessities with her in her laptop bag.
On the way, Chip coordinated with Tague’s assistant and relayed Tague’s flight number and seat assignment. L.L. thought it was a sign from above when she found there were several first class pods available on the same plane—one adjacent to Tague’s. She’d surprise him, difficult though it was not to call or text him. She could barely sit still in her seat. Her pulse raced and her heart thundered.
It was crazy and impulsive, but for the first time that morning, something finally felt right to her.
With no luggage to check, L.L. breezed through security and made it to the gate as the passengers were boarding. She was directed to the first-class cabin by a flight attendant and slipped into a fancy pod, breathing heavy from rushing to make it on time. Yet as the plane filled and the minutes ticked by… No Tague. The pod beside her remained empty.
Dread snaked through her. L.L. phoned Chip.
“He’s not here,” she said, panicked. “On the plane. Tague’s not here.”
“Give me a sec.” Chip put her on hold for what felt like a small eternity and had her nearly jumping out of her skin with anxiety. It was pure torture.
Where the hell was Tague?
Eventually, Chip came back on the line. “He never checked in for the flight, according to his assistant.”
“Wh
at?” L.L. shrieked, her panic skyrocketing.
“Sherry’s been trying to reach him. The calls are going straight to voicemail and he hasn’t answered any texts.”
“Where could he be?”
“Wrapping up loose ends?” Chip offered. “Look, chances are good he was late for the flight so he’ll need to rebook. Probably in the evening. Happens all the time.”
“But I’m on this flight!”
Holy. Fuck.
“I suggest you get off it.”
“Oh, goddamn it, Chip. This is a disaster!”
L.L. knew better than to be spontaneous when it came to romantic gestures. What the hell had she been thinking?
She leapt to her feet and grabbed her bag, just as an attendant came over the intercom and announced the doors were closing.
“Wait!” L.L. cried out as she rushed down the aisle. “I have to disembark.”
Another attendant informed her, “If you leave now, you won’t be able to get back on the plane.”
40
“That’s fine,” she curtly said and slipped through the narrow passage, making her great escape. In the nick of time.
She ran down the jetway, through the terminal and out to the taxi queue, heaving from the physical exertion, though desperation propelled her forward. If Tague rescheduled for the evening or a different airport she could end up missing him. She needed to find him and tell him she wanted to go to Tokyo with him.
Goddamn it!
Since he wasn’t here…
Please let him be at his apartment!
She tried him on his cell as well, but her calls also went directly to voicemail. Christ, why couldn’t she reach him?
Apprehension and adrenaline had her all spun up. She hit the speed-dial number for him once more.
“Come on,” she whispered agitatedly. “Pick up. Pick up!”
“L.L.”
“Tague!” She started to speak, but then his recorded message filled her ear.
What the actual fuck?
“L.L.,” he repeated.
Her head snapped up. Her heart launched into her throat. Tears pooled in her eyes.
It wasn’t just his voice on the phone she heard. It was his voice in person!
Here he was. Her perfectly dark and devastatingly handsome knight in shining armor.
“What are you doing here?” he asked as he joined the queue, looking deeply perplexed. Stunned. Yet…hopeful?
She threw her arms around him. Held on tight.
“Oh, Jesus. Tague,” she sobbed. And couldn’t stop the waterworks to tell him she didn’t want him to leave the country and start a whole new life…
Not without her.
Tague had no idea how long they stood there, L.L. wrapped in his embrace.
Seeing her did all kinds of crazy things to his insides. But it didn’t make sense that she was at the airport when they’d parted ways this morning at his apartment.
So, eventually, he detangled himself from her, wiped away some of her tears and then clasped her biceps. He looked into her misty eyes and quietly demanded once more, “What are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here?” she countered. “You’re supposed to be on a plane to Tokyo.”
“Change in plans. I’ve been on the phone with the managing partners. We’re still going through with the Japanese office, but I’ll run it from here and we’ll send someone else to be the onsite manager.”
She gazed up at him, gaping.
He said, “Turns out I couldn’t leave, Loralai. I couldn’t leave you.” Her tears flowed again. He couldn’t keep up with them. “Hey, baby. I thought you’d be happy about this.”
“No, Tague.” She shook her head. “This is your dream. You have to go to Tokyo. Call the partners back and undo everything you’ve just done. Go to Japan.”
“Sweetheart.” His gut wrenched. His breath came in heavy pulls. “Don’t you see that I can’t walk away from you? Ever. I love you, Loralai. I want to be with you. You mean everything to me.”
“Oh, God.” She gasped. “You never stop being the hero.” She tried to brush away her tears, but they just kept coming. “You can be with me, Tague. I bought a ticket. The seat next to yours. I was on the plane. Waiting for you. Then Chip told me you’d never checked in for the flight, so in a split second, I got off. Just barely. Just in time.”
He stared at her. “What?”
With a shaky laugh, she said, “I want to go with you. Everything in this city feels so…off. None of it feels right anymore. Not without you here.”
“But your company. Your building. Max and Len…?”
“I’ve already spoken with them. They encouraged me to chase after you, Tague. They’re absolutely correct in that the three of us have never had to be in the same location to get our work done, and I know nothing about their part of the business. I can do my work anywhere. Even Japan.”
She rendered Tague speechless. Just like the first time he’d met her.
And spellbound. Just like the first time he’d met her.
“You do still want me to go with you…don’t you?” L.L. asked, her voice suddenly tentative.
He snapped out of his dazed state. “Hell, yes, I do.” He swept her into his arms again and kissed her with all the love, all the passion, all the desire he felt for her. And all the excitement rushing through his veins.
The crowd in the queue went wild, their thunderous applause causing L.L. to break the kiss and let out a sweet laugh. She wiggled out of Tague’s arms and turned to their audience, delivering a curtsey and then facing Tague again.
“Looks like you can’t fight the inevitable,” she said as more drops fell.
He grinned. “Glad I finally made a believer out of you.”
“When it’s right…there’s no denying it.” She hugged him fervently once more. “Take me to Japan,” she whispered in his ear. “And show me every night just how much you love me.”
“So much, Loralai,” he said in a fierce tone. “More than you’ll ever know, baby. Forever.”
“Meg will be so happy.”
He chuckled around the lump of emotion in his throat. “I’m only concerned about you being happy.”
“I am,” she assured him. “More than you’ll ever know.” She lifted her head and stared deep into his eyes. “Forever.”
And this time, L.L. knew she’d surrender to the right man.
About the Author
Calista Fox is a multi-published and award-winning author, writing for St. Martin’s Press, Hachette and Radish Fiction. Her most recent series, THE BILLIONAIRES, is a Romantic Times magazine TOP PICK series. Book 2, THE BILLIONAIRES: THE BOSSES, is a Romantic Times magazine nominee for Best Book of the Year. The concluding title, THE BILLIONAIRES: THE STEPBROTHERS, is a Romantic Times magazine Seal of Excellence nominee.
She is professionally represented by Sarah E. Younger of the Nancy Yost Literary Agency.
Calista is a Past President/Advisor of the Desert Rose Chapter of Romance Writers of America® and a four-time member of the local chapter’s Board of Directors. She teaches workshops and online courses on novella writing, creating flawed characters and generating believable and sustainable sexual tension.
Web: www.foxknowshot.wordpress.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/calistafox
Twitter: www.twitter.com/calistafoxbooks
Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/Calista-Fox/e/B002BO84XS
