“Fuck, Meggie. Stop or I won’t be able to restrain myself from taking you right here and now, I mean it,” he growled. “I'm so close to burying myself deep inside you, you have no fucking idea, so don’t tempt me, not here, not like this.” He wrapped his long arms around Meg’s waist, covered her mouth with his and forced his way in savagely. His tongue danced around with hers and they continued to explore for what felt like forever before coming up for air.
Meg knew she could get lost in this man forever. But he was right and despite the fact that her body was sending a different signal altogether, this wasn’t the place. Meg’s body had a mind of its own, and she had no doubt if he bent her over here on this very balcony, in front of the huge crowd below, she would have let him. She was hungry for him and couldn’t think straight anymore. He ignited something in her that lay dormant for far too long. Meg always believed that sex was meant to be a slow dance of passion, gentle touches, nice romantic words, and gestures being exchanged behind closed doors. Drake’s passion was far different than what she anticipated. She realized that she hadn’t known what passion was until she met him, and she welcomed it.
They both stood straight, and he fixed the lower part of her dress, pulling it downward past her thighs. “Come on,” he said and exhaled heavily before he kissed the top of her head. They walked together toward the door leading to the stairwell. He took her hand in his, and they headed back down into the crowd. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, he pulled her toward him and tucked her into his side before they made their way out.
Meg looked ahead and thought her mind was playing tricks on her. There stood John Lake, in the path directly in front of them. He caught a glimpse of Meg and stopped dead in his tracks. Waiting for her to approach. His gaze swept over Meg and then straight to the man that had his arm wrapped around her. His eyes were wild, and he looked pissed. With his brows tightly knitted together, the look on his face was furious. He wasn’t at all happy to see her. John shoved his fingers through his hair. What the fuck is she doing here? “Meggie, this is a surprise. I thought you were working tonight?” There was a definite edge to his voice; his tone was bitter and held a note of sarcasm.
Meg looked up to see him glaring down at her. “John, what are you doing here?” This was by far the most awkward moment she had ever encountered.
“You first, Meg. You said you were going out for a business meeting so why are you here? That outfit seems to be a little too much for the office, wouldn’t you agree?” John was clearly irritated and she knew he was hurt. She had no idea how to answer him.
“I, um, I was working. I’m sorry. Where are my manners?” Quickly, she introduced the two men, who looked like they were about to throw back their sleeves and have it out with one another. Despite the uncomfortable situation they found themselves to be in, both men shook hands and proceeded to take a step back. Meg explained to John that Drake was the gentleman she was here doing business with.
“So, you said you were working, did I miss something?”
“Look, John, I sent you a message and...”
“Yeah, I got your message, loud and clear,” he said. He looked at her intently and then to Drake who chose that very moment to wrap his arm around Meg’s waist again. John’s jaw flexed; he wasn’t at all pleased. “This doesn’t look like business to me, Meggie. Is there something you didn’t tell me earlier?”
A young woman moved into their space, linking her arm with John’s before her eyes locked with Meg’s. She glared at Meg and gave her the evil eye just before her lips curled up into a bright smile when she eyed Drake.
Meg noted the the woman was pretty. But why is she here with John? If this is his girlfriend, why is he so interested in spending time with me? Meg felt confused. Here she was on the arm of one of the most eligible bachelors in NYC, but she couldn’t help but feel betrayed by John. She paused at that thought. She had buried any feelings she might have had for him years ago when she decided to put her past behind her forever. What the hell is wrong with me?
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your girlfriend?” Meg asked with a grimace. She knew once the words escaped her that she sounded a tad bit jealous. She couldn’t as much as look Drake in the eye after blurting that out.
“She’s not my girlfriend,” he lashed out bitterly. “I called her up after I got home and we came here for a drink,” he continued.
God, this is getting more and more uncomfortable. Meg noticed the woman’s smile disappear before she yanked her arm from John’s and stormed away after calling him an asshole.
Drake looked at Meg and searched for some clue as to what the hell was happening here. John combed his fingers through his hair and with a look of frustration he turned to Meg. “We’ll talk about this when we get back home,” he spat out before storming off.
Meg turned to Drake. He was pissed. She wasn’t sure how to explain all of this and had no intentions of spilling her past to him, but she knew she owed him an explanation.
He moved in closer to her ear. “Meggie, if you want me to drop you off right now, I will. But understand this, I won’t be made a fool of. If you are with this guy, I’ll deal with it, but I don’t share.” He stood tall and looked down at her waiting patiently for an answer.
“Drake, I’m so sorry you had to witness this, but I have nothing to hide from you. This situation is a little more complicated than I led you to believe and I wasn’t completely upfront with you.”
“Are you sleeping with him?” he asked. He was hurt…she could see it written all over his face.
“God, no, I’ve never slept with him.”
“Then I don’t understand.” he responded, looking confused.
Meg took his hand in hers. “Come with me, let’s talk,” she said. He heart was in her throat, and she had very little time to think about how to explain this to him without exposing her past.
Just outside the club they stumbled upon John and his friend. The two were arguing a few feet away. Meg heard him apologize, reassuring her that he didn’t mean to suggest she meant nothing to him. Meg squeezed Drake’s arm and walked quickly past the couple hoping they wouldn’t be seen. She was extremely grateful that Drake didn’t walk away from her and further was affording her the opportunity to explain.
Matt waited patiently and held the door open as they climbed into the backseat. They sat next to one another, and Meg worked up the courage to take Drake’s hand in hers. She sucked in a deep breath and started talking. She decided at that very moment that he meant something to her, and she wasn’t willing to give up what they had started, not without taking the time to explain and then hope for the best.
She braced herself; she didn’t know what to expect or what the outcome would be once she said her piece. She shut down her emotions in order to talk about parts of her past that she hadn’t dealt with in years. Meg started with her connection to John. She confessed that what were supposed to be the best years of her teenage life were spent hung up on him. He meant everything to her back then. She let him know that during their last summer after finishing high school, they both acknowledged their feelings for one another. She talked about that last night with John and how close they’d come to having sex and that he backed out when he found out she was a virgin.
With an ache in her chest, she managed to hold back the rest. She desperately wanted to tell him; he clearly would have understood why she didn’t want John back in her life. Post high school, Meg spent her university years with psychologists and meetings she attended for victims of rape. She refused to live her life feeling sorry for herself. Meg refused to let John back into her heart. He was part of her past now and that would remain buried deep inside her forever.
She knew that revealing her secret would change how he behaved around her. He would soften, take pity, and eventually her heart would be broken at the realization that he wasn’t being himself. Drake Noble was, without doubt, a very passionate man. He would definitely dominate in the bedroom, and M
eg wanted that from him. She couldn’t imagine him any other way. If he knew what she had been through, he would think of her as fragile, a broken woman. He would treat her differently or simply run in the other direction. But she wasn’t broken and if there was one thing she was sure of, it was the fact that she didn’t want him holding any part of himself back from her.
She wanted strength, and yes, she wanted to feel safe, but she didn’t want a man that held back in any way, shape, or form. She welcomed heated arguments and angry make-up sex. She wasn’t made of glass, and revealing her past would put anyone on the edge of sympathy. Now that she had had a small taste of Drake and his raw passion towards her, she wanted him exactly the way he was. She craved that dominate side of him.
Meg chopped her feelings up for John as a teenage crush. She confessed that it took her a long time to get over John and that she would always have a place in her heart for him. She turned her focus on the man sitting next to her. She didn’t want to lose any chance she might have with him. “Drake, don’t ever doubt that he is in my past. I was young and that part of my life is over. I’ve moved on. My feelings have changed, and he’s not what I want anymore.” Her eyes were begging him to believe her, to trust what she was saying.
He turned to look out the window and away from her. He wanted to believe everything she was telling him, but he couldn’t understand this uneasy feeling he had. He knew Meg still felt something for Lake, and that just pissed him off. He thought back to the balcony and their time alone. She was like a piece of heaven. He was completely mesmerized by her. Never had he wanted a woman so badly. He’d had high hopes of bringing her straight to his place and of taking her over and over again, all night long until they both fell into exhaustion. Now he was left wondering what the fuck was going on. He would put up a fight for her, he knew that much was certain. She was worth it. But he had no intentions of sharing her with Lake. That wasn’t happening.
“Drake, please say something, anything. I need to know what you’re thinking. I’m right here, in this moment, with you. I want to spend more time with you and get to know you. If I had any interest in being with John, I wouldn’t be here with you right now,” she assured him.
He turned back to Meg and stared deep into her eyes. She waited with bated breath for his response. Seconds felt like hours as silence fell between them.
Meg was about to pull her hand away, but he pulled it back and settled his hand over hers. He wasn’t sure what to say or how to say it. Drake simply spoke based on what he saw and what he felt. “Meggie, at some point, I think it’s fair to say we all had our teenage crushes and ex-girlfriends and boyfriends, but I have to say this. You looked a little jealous in there. If he isn’t someone you wish to pursue, how do you explain that?”
Meg hesitated before she looked down where he held her hand tightly in his. She couldn’t face him any longer. She thought for sure this was it for them. “I wish I could answer that for you. Truthfully, I was surprised by my initial reaction. Maybe I was a little jealous. Like I said before, it took me years to get past how I felt about him. Seeing him now after all this time has surfaced memories for me, some good and others not so great.” She let out a shaky breath and continued. “I’m not the same naïve teenager that was captivated by him so long ago. Yeah, he’s good looking and he’s sweet, but he’s not someone I want anymore. I get that you and I just met and we don’t know one another well. But I like you; there’s something here between us, Drake. Something I have never felt before toward anyone. More than anything, I want to explore that. I want to see where this goes.”
His lips formed a tight line. “You know, I was under the impression you were going to talk to him last night about how you felt toward him after I dropped you off. He seemed pretty pissed that you stood him up tonight, so I can only assume you didn’t quite tell him you weren’t interested?”
“No, I didn’t get the opportunity to tell him.” Meg was filled with regret, but she held his gaze. “Drake, look, if you don’t want to see me again, I understand.” She absorbed the beauty of his masculine features and waited quietly for him to respond. Her heart was beating hard in her chest, and she swallowed her emotions.
His jaw clenched and the muscles there flexed. “I won’t lie to you, Meggie. The fact that you’re staying at Sarah’s with Lake and sleeping in a bedroom somewhere in the close vicinity of his makes me want to punch something.” He ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “I’m not a violent man by any means, but I’m feeling extremely jealous right now. That’s a rather new emotion for me to deal with.” He let out a deep ragged breath before he reached over and gently stroked the pad of his thumb across Meg’s bottom lip. “I’ve never in my life been jealous over a woman. You have this hold on me, Meggie Malone. I can’t explain it. I just met you and I can’t help myself when I’m around you. You’re the most enchanting woman I have ever met.”
Those same fingers that had her screaming his name a short time ago enclosed her face. “I like you, too, and I want to see you again. I want more of you, Meggie Malone, and I want it all.” His face moved closer, their lips locked and they tasted one another. Their tongues engaged in a slow sensual dance. Meg noticed this kiss was different than what they had shared earlier. This kiss was meaningful. It wasn’t hungered, it was heartfelt, and she felt as though he were trying to reach in to the very heart of her.
* * * *
The drive to Sarah’s was quiet. Once they arrived, Drake walked Meg to the front door of the building before he came to an abrupt stop. “I hope you enjoyed your evening,” he said with a pained expression.
“Let’s just say I’m still trying to catch my breath,” Meg responded nervously.
He flashed her that million dollar half-smile, showing off his perfect white teeth, and with a quick brush of his lips, “Good night, Meggie,” he said before turning to walk away. He looked back and continued talking but the only sound she could hear was the sound of blood gushing through her ears. She just stood there and quietly stared back at him. “You know how to find me, when you’re ready. I’ll be out of town for three days. Matt will be available for you, and I insist you use his services while I’m out of town. Let Frank know I’m interested, and I’ll work on the offer when I return. I may need you to hang around for another week or so.”
And then he was gone. That’s it. It was over, and she had a feeling she had lost any chance she had with him. Meg felt numb as she watched the limo drive away. With her shoulders hunched, she whispered, “Good-bye, Drake.” She couldn’t move. Before John showed up, she was hopeful that tonight would have turned out differently, that they could have ended the evening on a more intimate note. But now she knew that would never happen. He was probably letting her down easy, and hell, she couldn’t blame him. Meg pulled out her cell.
DN,
I’m sorry tonight was such a disaster. I screwed up the evening for us and I didn’t mean for it to end like this. He doesn’t mean anything to me anymore and I hope you know that. Are we okay?
MM
She waited and stared at the screen on her phone. It vibrated and she read his reply.
MM,
I’m not the one that can answer that, everything lies in your hands. I hope when I get back you can tell me you cleared things up with Lake and ended any hope he might have of you two. Until then, I’ll be thinking about you.
DN
* * * *
Two days went by and Meg was at her wit’s end. John didn’t come home all weekend, and Drake didn’t call or text her.
She ran eight kilometers through Central Park twice both days, and rather than enjoy her surroundings, all she could think about was Drake Noble. Everywhere she looked, she envisioned his face, his smile, the pure desire in his eyes after the intimate moment they shared. Her mind was filled with thoughts of him and she worried it might be over. She had full intentions of calling him once she had her conversation with John, but he didn’t have the balls to show up all weekend, and
Meg was growing angrier with each passing hour.
* * * *
She finally called Frank and told him that Drake was definitely interested in putting forth an offer. After he gave her shit for not calling sooner, he shared his enthusiasm about the update. Turned out Frank also had good news. One of the two prospects he was dealing with were interested, as well. The second decided on a merger with another company and backed out. They ended the call on a good note, and Frank asked when she would be returning. Meg let him know she might be tied up for another week or so. He was fine with that and told her to take her time, that he was in no rush for her to get back until this deal was concluded one way or the other.
* * * *
With an empty heart, Meg sank back in the couch and read Drake’s last text. The same words went through her mind over and over again these past two days. I’m not the one that can answer that Meggie, what we could have lies in your hands. She repeated the words again. Finally, she got up from the couch and walked around aimlessly. It was time she had a talk with John. She had full intentions of making it clear to him that anything they had in the past was over now and that she had moved on a long time ago. Meg was falling hard for a man she had just met, and he was all she could think about. During her teenage years, she spent a lot of time crying over John. She knew now those feelings didn’t compare to how empty she felt at the possibility of losing Drake Noble.
Felisha Goulding's Stolen Innocence Series Page 20
