by Shandi Boyes
“Things are different now.” My pulse quickens when Isaac’s beautiful eyes drop to mine. “Isabelle and I have new Christmas traditions to make?”
Since his comment is more a question than a statement, I nod.
After running his thumb over the dip in my top lip, he returns his focus to Tina. Her mouth gapes, finally clueing to the fact that I’m here for the long haul whether she likes it or not.
“Ensure that each day's revenue is stored in the safe. If all goes to plan, Roger will deposit the money into the bank Friday morning.”
Unable to speak due to shock, Tina nods before accepting the key Isaac is holding out for her.
“See you in a few days. Have a good Christmas.”
With a smirk, he guides me to his town car, which is idling out front.
“Thank you,” I say when he gestures for me to enter before him.
My heart thumps against my ribs when his glide inside concludes with him pulling me across the cool leather seat until I'm snuggled under the nook of his arm. “How did you get Jae to sign off tonight when she wouldn’t do it this morning?”
My eyes widen as my throat works hard to swallow. The longer I delay answering his question, the louder the rumble in his chest becomes. I pop my head off his chest to peer into his furious eyes. His jaw is ticking, his entire composure switched from playful to infuriatingly angry.
“You lied to me?” His is tone dangerously low, and it quickens my pulse.
“No.”
His eyes narrow into thin slits, calling bullshit.
“Not one hundred percent.”
“You either lied, or you didn’t. Which is it, Isabelle?”
I exhale a shaky breath. “I didn’t go see Dr. Jae.” His whole body tenses. “Let me finish before you get all worked up. I didn’t see Dr. Jae, but we had a phone consultation.”
The tick of his jaw doesn’t lessen from my admission.
“She said if I hadn’t experienced any headaches all day and wasn’t feeling dizzy, I was free to resume normal activities. Although fucking isn’t a normal activity, it’s as necessary as breathing to me.”
He tries his hardest to hold in his smile, but the smallest one still curls on his lips. “And the letter you thrust in my chest?”
I grimace. “That was the bill from the lingerie store. I figured you’d want to know the price of the items you were planning to destroy before you shredded them.”
When he doesn’t smile at my taunt, I climb onto his lap and curl my arms around his shoulders, hating that I’ve made him angry. After resting my forehead on his, I glance into his unique, beautiful eyes. “I’m fine. I’m not dizzy. I don’t even have the slightest bit of a headache. Because of you, I feel the most alive I’ve ever felt. Tonight was incredible, Isaac. Please don’t ruin it because you feel inane guilt you shouldn’t be feeling.”
His thighs stiffen, but he remains quiet.
“You didn’t hurt me. You saved me. And you continue saving me every day.”
The pain hampering his eyes lessens from my admission.
“I love you,” I declare breathlessly since I can’t secure a full breath from being so close to his breathtaking face.
He gathers my hands from behind his neck and pulls them to his mouth. My heart skips a beat when he presses a kiss on their palms before placing them over his heart, allowing his actions to speak words he may never say—I love you too.
With the smile I was aiming for earlier, he brushes away a rogue tear spilling down my cheek with one hand while the other digs into the breast pocket of his jacket.
My heart stops beating when he produces a small, black velvet box. “I was planning to give you this for Christmas, but I can’t wait any longer.”
My breath hitches halfway between my lungs and my throat when he cranks open the box to reveal a beautiful princess-cut diamond solitaire ring. My eyes water when I notice it unique coloring.
“It’s called violet gray. They're a very hard diamond to secure, but I notice you have a fascination with the color gray.” His eyes drop to my bustier peeking out of my coat.
When he removes the ring from the box to slide it onto my ring finger, I bite my bottom lip hard, praying I don’t blubber like an idiot. Even in the shadows of the night, the purple and gray coloring of the diamond sparkles in the moonlight.
“Do you like it?”
I nod while grinning. “I love it.” I angle my mouth closer to his. “I love you,” I murmur over his lips before spearing my tongue between them.
Chapter 19
Isabelle
My steps into the master suite falter when I’m seared by a heated gaze. Isaac is standing in front of the full-length mirror near the walk-in closet, securing a light blue tie around his neck. He stops what he is doing so he can run his eyes down my body. When they return to my face, my pulse quickens. His gaze is hungry, demanding, and heart-clenching.
“You like?” I spin around so he can fully take in the dark blue lace half-sleeved dress I'm wearing. The skirt is a decent length, sitting just above my knee, but the lace adds an edge of sexiness to the everyday style of the design.
“I'd like to rip it off you.”
I wink before sauntering into the closet. “There's no time for that,” I mumble to myself while searching through his extensive collection of ties. We're already late to Cormack’s Christmas Eve cocktail party after our impromptu romp in the shower.
Once I find the tie I'm looking for, I unknot the one he just finished securing. “This one matches my dress.”
My knees meet from his sexy-as-sin growl. “Now the color of your dress makes sense.”
A grin tugs my lips high. I knew he would understand my clothing selection the instant I handed him the tie. That tie is the one he used to blindfold me when we slept together in the private jet.
My sex pulses when he steps closer to me. “Are you trying to tease me, Isabelle?”
“No,” I barely whisper. “I just thought it would be good to have handy for the trip home.” I glance into his heavy-lidded gaze. “If you can wait that long?”
Okay, maybe I'm taunting him.
My breathing shallows when he glides his index finger down my arm, forcing the hairs to bristle to attention. “Can you wait that long?” His tone is cocky and assured. “I know how greedy your pussy is.”
Our flirting is interrupted when a doorbell buzzes through the room. Harlow and Cormack organized to pick us up in a stretch limo earlier today. They’ll take the limo with us to the record label headquarters, but only Isaac and I will return in it since they're leaving for a weekend getaway Cormack organized for Harlow.
I snatch my cream clutch purse from the dressing table before making a beeline for the door. My excited steps stop when Isaac seizes my elbow. The hairs on my nape prickle when he presses his lips to my ear. “Remove your panties. I want your pussy bare for when I’m ready for it.”
While licking my lips, I do as requested. He grins a knee-clanging smile, relishing in my submissiveness. When he holds out his hand requesting my panties, hot blood sends a pink hue rushing to my cheeks. He doesn’t slip them into his pocket as I was anticipating. He lifts them to his nose and inhales deeply, growling when he smells how aroused he can make me with only a thought.
After placing them into the top pocket of his charcoal gray suit, he holds out his hand for me. “Now I can smell you all night.”
The trip to Destiny Records head office in Hopeton is long and torturous. Isaac ramped up our teasing game to a nail-biting level. His index finger has been tracing infinity circles high on my thigh for a majority of the trip, and his breathing is heavier than normal. I don’t know if he can smell how aroused his little teases have made me, or if he’s smelling my panties in his pocket—it may be a combination of both.
Harlow and Cormack sit across from us, completely oblivious that Isaac has my orgasm teetering on a very steep cliff. When Cormack is distracted by assisting Harlow in securing her gold hoop earr
ing that has come loose, I return Isaac’s tease. I cup his crotch and squeeze tightly, moaning when his cock turns to stone in my hand. When Cormack’s gaze returns to us, I stray my eyes to the window, feigning ignorance.
Any chance of acting innocent flies out the window when Cormack’s squinted gaze arrows down to Isaac’s crotch. I shake as violently as his head when he turns his eyes to look at anything but Isaac, then I completely lose it when Harlow says, “I guess the rumors are true.”
Cormack glares at her, making her blush. She isn’t flustered over Isaac’s impressive manhood. She's all hot and bothered from Cormack’s furious glance. I can’t say I blame her. It’s pretty damn impressive. The heat in the limo turns to roasting from the energy firing between them. I always knew they were a good match, but witnessing their spark firsthand is awe-inspiring.
When Harlow whispers in Cormack’s ear, the sternness hindering his gorgeous face slips away. Within seconds, they’re playfully nipping and caressing each other as I wish I could Isaac. We don’t need to hide our relationship anymore. I just can’t control myself around him—even when we’re in public.
Isaac remains quiet for the rest of the trip, only speaking when he instructs Cormack and Harlow to exit the limousine first. I give him a playful wink before scooting across the bench in preparation to exit. Just before I exit, he slams the door shut, secures the lock button into place, then yanks me over until I’m straddling his lap.
Before I can ask what he's doing, two of his fingers plunge into my sex. My nails dig into his shoulder blades as I shout his name, incredibly turned on by his dominance. His skillful fingers work me into a frenzied state that soon has me oblivious to the fact there are a handful of reporters standing right outside the door waiting for us to exit.
He toys with my clit as the hot pants of his breath bead condensation on my neck. He finger-fucks me so good, the coil he’s been tightening all night is mere seconds from being snapped. As stars form in front of my eyes and my pussy clenches, Isaac withdraws his fingers.
No!
My bewildered eyes snap to his, demanding an explanation for his sudden withdrawal of contact. He just smiles and winks before nudging his head to the door I tried to exit minutes ago. “We better get moving before Harlow wonders where you’ve disappeared to.”
After licking his fingers clean, he adjusts my dress, so I'm covered, then slides out of the limousine, taking me with him. My bewilderment intensifies when flashing lights hinder my vision, and a flurry of questions are screamed at Isaac and me.
While he holds me in close to his body, Isaac stops for the occasional photo as requested by the paparazzi and answers a handful of questions. I remain quiet like a deer trapped in headlights, still in an Isaac Holt lust haze. Only once we merge through the barrage of reporters does it dawn on me that he was returning my earlier tease.
Before I can form a reaction, I'm startled by a tiny pair of arms flinging around my neck. “Isabelle, I’m so glad to see you again.” Cate’s tone is a complete contradiction to the one her older sister regularly uses on me.
“Hi, Cate.” I return her embrace with as much eagerness. I like Cate. She’s cute and sweet and nothing like her big sister. “How long are you in Ravenshoe?”
“I’m here until the New Year.”
My brow pops up. “We should go out! Dinner? Maybe dancing?”
Cate’s eyes light up. “Sounds great! But I’m not twenty-one yet.”
“That’s okay. I’m sleeping with the owner, so I’m sure I can sneak you in the back entrance.”
“The Dungeon is an eighteen-plus dance club. You're more than welcome there, Cate,” Isaac tugs me in close to his side. “Then, I can keep a close eye on you.” Even though he's looking at Cate, I know the last part of his statement was directed at me.
When I slap his chest, I feel his cell phone buzzing in his breast pocket. His jaw sets into a hard line as he pulls it out to check the screen. “I’m sorry, I have to take this.”
When I nod, he places a quick kiss on my temple before striding toward the entrance we just walked through. I loop my arm around Cate’s, then make my way to Harlow standing near a makeshift bar set up in the impressive foyer. The room has been done up in a Christmas theme with red and white being the main colors. It’s elegant while also being warm and inviting.
Harlow’s eyes shoot around the room while she pours three shots of tequila. “Bottoms up.”
She sneakily hands a shot glass to Cate who licks salt from her hand, swallows the tequila, then sucks on a wedge of lime like a real pro, exposing she’s done this many times before. I giggle before following suit, except my face screws up when the ghastly taste slides down my throat.
I eye Harlow with suspicion when she hands me a funky-looking tomato juice concoction. “A chaser.”
I arch my brow. “When did you become Ms. Party Queen?”
Cate giggles. “That’s my fault. I may have dragged her to a college party. There was a boy—”
Before Cate’s can share all her story, I'm engulfed by a broad arm. Their hold is so strong, my feet lift off the ground. My heart squeezes when I recognize the woodsy smell filtering through my nose.
“Hugo!” My squeal gains me the attention of a handful of strangers surrounding us.
After climbing down from his clutch, I step back so my eyes can assess him in full detail. Other than his arm being in a sling, he looks like the Hugo I’m used to seeing, including his customary black suit with a white dress shirt underneath.
“Is the sling required, or are you aiming for sympathy points from the ladies?”
Hugo laughs a full-hearted chuckle. “A little bit of column A, a little bit of column B.” His eyes shoot around the room as inconspicuously as Harlow’s did earlier before tilting in close to Harlow’s side. “Are you going to share one of those?” He nudges his head to the tequila bottle in her hand. “Since I'm not officially on duty and can’t get fired by Izzy misbehaving, I may as well have a little bit of fun.”
When I poke out my tongue, he chuckles before bumping me with his non-injured shoulder. Nodding, Harlow pours another four shots of tequila. When Cormack joins us, Cate’s bottom lip drops into a pout, frustrated her big brother is killing her buzz.
Harlow, Hugo, Cormack, and I clinch our glasses together. “Bottoms up.”
“Or not.”
Regan snatches the shot of tequila from Hugo’s hand before downing it herself. I’m impressed when her face doesn’t allude to the harsh bitterness sliding down her throat. She doesn’t even grab a lime from the counter. She just scrubs the back of her hand over her mouth before dumping the empty shot glass onto the counter.
Regan is dressed to impress in a one-shoulder Donatello red slip dress. Her hair is pinned back, exposing her delicate neck, which is adorned with a gorgeous diamond and ruby necklace that appears high-priced. She looks like Hollywood royalty.
“Come on, Regan, one shot won’t kill me,” Hugo objects.
Regan’s red-painted lips twist. “No, but Raquel might if she finds out you were drinking alcohol after taking pain medication.”
“If she stopped ramming them down my throat, I wouldn’t have to worry.”
The hairs on my neck bristle a mere second before an arm wraps around my waist, and I’m pulled back. I suppress a moan when Isaac places a kiss on my neck before he greets Hugo and Regan with a nod of his head. “How did you get out of Raquel’s clutches for the night?” he queries, glancing at Hugo.
“I didn’t.” Hugo rolls his eyes before settling them on Regan. “She sent her evil twin in her place.”
Air whizzes out his nose when Regan whacks him in the stomach with her clutch.
“Did you tell them?”
I peer up at Isaac and shake my head. When he angles his head. so his anxious eyes shift between mine, I rub the wrinkle between his brows. “I was waiting for you since it’s our news to share.”
The fretful mask on his face relaxes. “Do you want to tell
them, or shall I have the privilege?”
“They're mainly your friends, so why don’t you—”
“Holy crap. What’s that?” squeals Cate at the top of her lungs, scaring the living daylights out of me and anyone within a five-mile radius.
When I turn to face her, her bulging eyes are fixed on my diamond engagement ring.
Realizing our secret has been busted, I bite on my lower lip before raising my left hand into the air with a wiggle. “We’re engaged.”
My voice doesn’t come out rickety because I'm dreading the engagement. I’m ecstatic about that. I’m just worried about how Harlow will take the news since she’s been officially dating Cormack longer than Isaac and I have been a couple.
Any apprehensions I have disappear when Harlow hollers, startling me for the second time in under a minute, before throwing her arms around my neck to hug me tight. “I shotgun being maid of honor!”
“I wouldn’t want anyone else.”
Hugo smiles a gigantic grin before holding out his hand in congratulations to Isaac. After they shake, he gives me a sneaky cuddle, risking death when he holds on long enough that Isaac shoots him a stern glare. Regan remains quiet, but the sheen in her eyes reveals she is happy for us. Cormack offers quiet congratulations while Cate announces it to the world with a declaration loud enough for all to hear.
“Congratulations.”
This blessing is a little hard for me to swallow. I can’t see the person who issued it, but I know her voice—very well. It’s never missing bitter bitchiness. Gritting my teeth, I spin toward the greeter. My assumptions are proven on point when I spot Clara’s narrowed gaze. As always, she's impeccably dressed in a dark steel gray dress that matches the intensity of Isaac’s eyes. Her hair has been recently cut into a daring shoulder-length, side-sweeping bob with bangs. With a light fluttering of makeup and her new hairstyle, she appears more her age of twenty-five.
She smiles, faking sweetness, before turning her eyes to Isaac. “Can I please request a minute of your time?”
