“Oh, my…” Charlotte felt her heart racing. Somehow, they’d strayed from the game and she liked it better that he could tell her the truth and be a part of her fantasy.
“Now can we talk about your legs?”
“My legs,” she croaked.
“Hmmm yeah. Your legs are long and lean and right now all I can think about is how they would feel wrapped around my waist as I’m fucking you hard and deep.”
A burst of heat exploded in her and she gulped her drink, thanking God it was ice cold. “You are not a subtle man, Herman.”
He shook his head. “Not when I see something I want.”
“And you want me?”
“Oh yeah.” He took another pull of his beer. “I want every man in this place to see me fucking you and die with envy. I want every woman in this place to want to be you because you’re so beautiful.”
“And because I’m with you.”
“You’re the prize, Gladys, not me.”
What exactly was he saying? She wasn’t sure she understood. He was the rock star, not her. Women wanted him, men wanted to be him. She was just plain Charlotte Lambert who was only someone because she had inherited money. Looking down at the table she had to think. “I think you flatter me.”
“Hell yeah I am. You deserve to be flattered. Hell you should be worshipped.”
She gave him a shaky laugh. “I think that you’re …”
He reached over and took her chin in his fingers. He lifted her head until their eyes met. “Don’t say it. Don’t sell yourself short.”
“I wasn’t.”
His fingers began to caress her skin. “What do I have to do to prove to you that I’m right?”
She reached up and slipped her fingers in his. “What do I get if I promise to be agreeable?”
“Anything you want.”
“And if I want you?”
“Done.” He stood and held out his hand to her.
She took it and stood. “So where do we go from here?”
“Wherever you’d like.”
“I did want to take a walk on the wild side.”
“We could just check out all the rooms and see what strikes your fancy.”
She leaned over and stood on her tiptoes. “That would be you, Herman,” she whispered near his ear.
Charlotte noticed a theme in every room. The Roman room was like a roman bath. There was a western saloon, a Turkish bedroom, all filled with people having sex, watching sex. Some of them were just sitting around talking like they were in their own living rooms having cocktails. My goodness, she thought, I’ve been sheltered all of my life. How did Viv and Everett find out about these kinds of things and keep her in the dark? Did they think she couldn’t handle this kind of knowledge?
“Gladys, I’m guessing that is not your happy face.”
She looked at Travis and bit her bottom lip. “I have spent a lot of time living in a convent.”
“You were a nun?”
She stared at this couple just going at it. The woman was in some sort of swing. She just couldn’t believe that a swing could be used for such a thing. “I might as well have been.” She pointed to the couple. “I did not even know you could use a swing for that.”
He put his head on hers. “You want to try that?”
“No.”
“What do you want to try?”
“The greenhouse was nice. And dark.” It had been designed to resemble a jungle.
He laughed. “Are you sure?”
“Lead on, Herman. I want play.”
It took a few minutes to get to the greenhouse. They had to walk the gauntlet of writhing bodies to get there. By the time they arrived, Charlotte was really turned on. She had no idea that watching other people make love could be so stimulating. She was discovering sides to herself that she had no idea existed. A part of her thought she should be more disgusted, but really she was a bit saddened that she hadn’t discovered this about herself. It took Travis and a list to bring it out. What did that say about her? Would she have come this far, had she not met Travis? Truly, she thought if he hadn’t taken her home, she’d have given up because Vaughn scared her silly. Self-preservation was kicking in and she’d been planning her getaway, but there wasn’t a part of her that wanted to escape Travis. She was willing to follow him, no matter where he led her.
Her thoughts were cut off when Travis pulled her over to a wooden table in the corner of the greenhouse. They were exposed, but it was dark enough that anyone watching them would only see glimpses of them. Travis took off his jacket and spread it out on the table. Then he lifted her up and set her on his jacket.
“What are you doing?”
“I don’t want to be picking splinters out of your ass tonight.”
She giggled. “You say the most romantic things.”
“I’m that kind of guy.”
“I like that you make me laugh.”
“Tonight I’m gonna make you scream.”
Charlotte tilted back her head. “Do your worst.”
“I intend to.” He leaned over and kissed her. “Just focus on me. We are the only people in the room.” He opened her legs and settled his body between them.
Charlotte reached up and brought his face to her mouth. His lips were warm and firm. His tongue gently slipped into her mouth. His hands caressed her bare thighs, massaging her skin until the heat rose and her flesh was scalding. He pressed himself between her legs and she could feel his erection pressing against her vagina. She could feel his readiness for her. Wetness and heat surrounded her and her nipples pebbled. Through the thin material of the dress she could feel his heated skin against hers. Charlotte began to unbutton his shirt, she wanted to feel his skin. Taste him.
Travis ground himself against her. “Sweet Baby, take what you want.”
“I want everything.” She ran her hands up his muscled stomach. His skin was smooth and warm. She loved the way his muscles contracted under touch. The way his nipples got hard under her fingertips. Being with him was intoxicating and she loved that he responded to everything she did. She loved that he seemed to know how she liked to be touched and that she pleased him.
He laughed against her mouth. “Good.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a couple watching them. For a brief second she made eye contact with the man and saw the desire burning in his expression. He lifted his glass and toasted her. Her body stiffened and she had the urge to push Travis back, leap off the table, and run for the limo. She stopped herself. This is what she came for.
Travis lifted his mouth from hers. “We have an audience.”
She didn’t even bother to question how he knew. “Yes.”
“Are you okay?”
“Fuck me, Travis.” As she reached down and quickly unzipped his pants and took out his already erect shaft, she couldn’t believe she had actually said those words. How liberating! He felt so full and velvety in her hand. The tip of his shaft was already wet with his pre-cum. She scooted her bottom closer to the edge of the table. Then she grabbed the hem of her dress in both hands and carefully pulled it off her body.
“Charlotte?”
“Fuck me now,” she whispered against his lips.
It took him a few seconds to get a condom on, and then he grabbed his cock and slowly glided it into her body. The heat overwhelmed her and she shifted her hips to take him all the way inside of her. Oh dear God, he felt so good inside her, so powerful. She felt so full, so complete. She braced herself on the table and arched her back to get him all the way inside her. She lifted her hips and locked her legs around his waist. He gave her hard, slow thrusts. How she loved this. Him inside of her, their skin touching, kissing. She’d never get enough of him. Her excitement grew as he deepened his thrusts. Her excitement was almost at the breaking point. Her head fell back and he buried his head in her neck. She glanced at the couple watching them and she noticed the woman’s hand down the man’s pants before she closed her eyes. It turned her on knowing that it turned someon
e else on.
“You feel so good.” He whispered in her neck.
“Harder, please.” Her voice came out in a harsh whisper. It didn’t even sound like her.
Travis grabbed her ankles, spread her legs wide, and pounded into her, sending her over the edge. Her vagina clenched around him, she felt his body tense, and a second later she felt him come. He bit down on her shoulder and she relished the pain. His body collapsed against hers and he laid her down on the table and let go of her legs. She wrapped her body around his and rocked them. She barely stopped herself from telling him that she loved him. She wasn’t sure how he would take it. Seconds later they heard a low moan from behind them as the man watching her came. It broke the spell.
“I have to get you home.” He lifted her up and gently dragged her off the table to stand on shaky legs.
Charlotte looked around, but couldn’t find her dress. The couple that watched them had faded into the shadows and Travis was texting. “What are you doing? I can’t find my dress.”
“Telling the driver to meet us at the front door.”
“I can’t leave without my dress.”
He held up a hand. “I got this.” He reached behind her, got his suit jacket and put it around her, buttoning it up. “This is sexy.”
She looked down at herself and thanked the stars he had a double breasted jacket. She was completely covered, but still… Her juices were dripping down her legs. She must look a mess.
“I gotta get you outta here or I’m going to fuck you again.”
She pointed to his crotch. “Then you should zip up your pants.”
He started laughing and zipped up his pants.
She started to giggle herself.
Afterwards, he took her hand and led her out of the greenhouse and through the house. When he got her in the car he leaned over and kissed her on the mouth. “Thank you.”
“I should be thanking you.”
Chapter Seventeen
Charlotte walked down the stairs to fix her breakfast before she went to an early meeting with her staff. When she entered the kitchen, she was surprised to see a blue-haired young woman sitting at the table eating cookies out of an eggshell blue box –– which happened to be the same color as her hair. “Oh, hello.”
“You must be Charlotte.”
“I am. And you are?”
She held out her hand. “I’m Gwyn.”
“Gavin’s … um, friend.” She smiled because when she felt as if she was being rude, it was good to smile and pretend she knew what she was doing.
“That would be me.”
Charlotte made herself a cup of coffee. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Same here.”
What were they going to talk about and how much did she know about her? She was good at small talk and making people feel comfortable, but Gwyn eyed her as if she knew all her dealings. “Are you enjoying your time in the city?”
“I haven’t had much of chance to see it since I only got here the other night and Gavin isn’t much of a tour guide. I did want to check out the local art scene.”
They did have some common ground. She could get Gwyn into a lot of places with just a phone call. “That’s right, you’re an artist.”
“That I am.” Gwyn ate another cookie and took a sip from her bottled water.
Charlotte sat. “I know they are busy, but I could arrange for you to meet an artist friend of mine. I’m sure he’d be happy to give you a tour of city.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
Charlotte wanted to be Gwyn’s friend. “Patrick loves to show off his city and his own work. You might have heard of him. Patrick Wells.”
The cookie dropped from her fingers hitting the tabletop. “You know Patrick Wells?”
She reached into her purse to get her phone. “He’s a friend of my brother’s from school.” Charlotte texted Patrick and asked him if he was free for lunch.
Gwyn was actually shaking. “Normally, I try to be cool and pretend I’m not impressed, but Charlotte, you are my new favorite person. And if you want Gavin to be the third in your threesome, I’m okay with it.”
She felt a hot flush creep up her cheeks. “Oh heavens, you know about that.”
Gwyn nodded. “Gavin said he might have to help a girl with a list. I’m sorry he has no boundaries.”
“I know we’ve just met, but how do you handle that?”
“I don’t believe in love.”
“How can you not believe in love?”
“Before I decided that art was my passion, I was a science geek. It’s all chemicals and neurons in the brain.”
“I refuse to believe that, but if it works for you…”
“It does, and it works for Gavin. Although looking at him you’d never guess, he’s a member of Mensa and has a genius IQ.”
“Well, he’s very sweet and he likes my cooking.”
“He uses his stomach as his guide. I had to bring him cookies.”
“You bake?” Charlotte looked at the chocolate chips cookies wanting to take one, but she was already going to the Café Du Mode for beignets and coffee. If there were any of those tasty looking cookies when she returned home tonight, she promised herself one or two.
“No. I burn. My sister bakes… a lot.”
Charlotte’s phone pinged. “Patrick is free at two. Would you like to meet him alone?”
“Normally, yes, but it’s Patrick Wells so if you wouldn’t mind…”
“Of course. Patrick is charming company and like a true Southern gentleman, he always picks up the bill.” Charlotte smiled and mentally added Gwyn to her collection.
“What’s not to like about that?”
“I know.”
She giggled. “I don’t know why Gavin was worried.”
Gavin had been touchy since her cousin’s wedding. Had she insulted him in some way? That bothered her because she was fond of him. “I’m not sure I understand.”
“Sometimes when things don’t go his way, he gets cranky. I’m here to chill him out.”
“I’m sorry to say this, but I am lost.”
“That’s okay. Gavin can be confusing. B. T. W., you are totally rocking the Alexander McQueen today.”
Charlotte smiled. She loved how the black and white silk dress fit her. “Thank you. I saw the dragonflies and just had to have it.”
She had a dreamy look on her face. “While you are at work, I’m checking out your closet.”
“You should see what I have at home.”
She pointed to Charlotte’s red slingbacks. “Don’t tempt me. I’d kill you for those Jimmy Choos.”
They both laughed.
“If you’re in the city for a few days, I’ll take you to Glory’s in the Quarter. And I’d say you are into vintage, so we could go to Blue Heaven.”
Gwyn put both her hands on her chest. “Shopping, art, and lunches with one of my favorite artists –– I may never leave.”
“Also, Patrick does own his own gallery and he is always hunting for artists to exhibit here.” Charlotte just had to sweeten the pot.
Gwyn held up her hand. “Stop. Gavin’s right. You are the Pied Piper.”
“I do try.”
“You are my new best friend.”
Charlotte stood. “I have to run. I’ll be here at one-thirty. Patrick is going to love you.”
“Thanks, Charlotte, I’ll see you later.”
Charlotte sat on the gold brocade sofa and stared at the hunter green walls. Over the fireplace was a beautiful Cézanne landscape Viv had given her for Christmas one year. Her house was a masterpiece. Her decorator captured a Parisian salon down to the last detail. She should love it, but she couldn’t. It seemed so empty without Travis. She didn’t want to come back here. She wanted to stay in his room. She didn’t care that he was a slob. Or that he lived with five other men. She’d always loved that house, from the second she wrangled the foundation’s board into buying it and restoring it to its former glory. But now she
loved that house because he was in it.
This was bad. She didn’t know how long this affair with Travis was going to last, but she wanted to spend every second she could with him. So this is what real love felt like. She thought she loved Preston, but no that was a pale imitation compared to this.
She loved coming home to him and lying in bed with him, talking about their day. She loved just lying in bed with him in silence. Here she was, sitting in this beautiful home that was all hers, and she couldn’t even muster the appreciation it was due. What was she going to do?
The front door opened. “Charlotte?”
“I’m in the living room.”
A few seconds later he walked into the room. “Wow.”
“I know, it’s perfect.”
“So when can you move back?”
Did he want her to go? “Tonight.”
“So do you want to go get your stuff now or wait until tomorrow?”
She turned her head and looked at him, trying to figure out how to get him to ask her to stay with him. “I don’t know.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Do you like it?”
She let out a sigh. How could she tell him what she wanted? Would he feel trapped? There were so many things to ask if she could find the courage. “I love it.”
His eyes narrowed as he studied her. “I know I’m only a guy and I’m not very good at these emotional subtleties, but are you unhappy?”
“The fact that you called it emotional subtleties means you are good at it.”
He laced his fingers through hers. “Okay, then I’m going to take a shot here and say that you don’t seem as happy as you should be.”
Her lips trembled and she opened her mouth to speak.
“You don’t have to come back here, if you don’t want to.”
“Do you want me to stay?”
“I want two things.”
Please ask me to stay. “What are they?”
He leaned over and nipped her ear. “I really want to fuck you on this couch, then I want to take you home with me.”
She covered her mouth with her fingers and let his words play in her head. “You want me to stay with you?”
You Shook Me All Night Long (Scorned Lovers Book 1) Page 20
