by Hazel Gower
Without letting her answer, he dived for her mouth and pistoned harder into her, squeezing her ass cheeks together.
Dawn’s nails dug into his back as she clung to him. Their sweat-covered bodies slid against one another her nipples rubbing his chest. Dawn raked her fingers down his back and screamed into his mouth as her pussy quivered and tightened around him. Giving one final thrust, he let himself go with a roar. “Dawn.” His cum shot from his body, filling her up, and he hoped it took root.
Slowly easing out of her, he rolled to the side and gathered her against him. “Best birthday present ever.” He leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. “Making love with my gorgeous wife.”
Dawn stared up at him. “I’m staying. I’m giving us a chance, but… and I mean this, no more lies, tangling truths, and not telling me what I need to know, or I’ll leave. I’m still pissed at you, but today, you get a boon.”
Smiling, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her close to him. Gordon was so happy, a stressful weight lifted, and he basked in the light feeling for a moment. “I promise. No lies.”
Chapter Six
Dawn had never been so nervous in her life. She was used to meeting new people, especially with how much her parents moved and the new schools she had attended. This was different though. It wasn’t her just meeting new people. It was her meeting people important to Gordon. She wasn’t sure what his friends would think of her, and Dawn usually wasn’t one to care what people thought of her, but Gordon’s father would be there. He wasn’t just anybody. Dawn even wore a dress with no black. It was a deep rich red, and her high heels were silver, along with the clutch purse and manicure she’d gotten. She knew Gordon had been ecstatic at what she’d come out in for his party. She’d expected him to say something, but she knew he was on his best behavior.
They’d spent the day making love, in the bed, the shower, theater room, and Jacuzzi tub. Every part of her ached, but it was such a good ache, and her thoughts couldn’t help but stray to the Jacuzzi.
“What’s that smile for?” Gordon squeezed her hand, and she gazed up at him. He looked so good in the black and white striped Armani suit. He had gold cufflinks and black leather shoes. It was so different from the look she was used to, but he was no less handsome.
She shook her head. “Nothing. Let’s go in.” Big double doors stood before them.
Gordon let go of her hand and gathered her into him for a hug, tilting her head up. “You look amazing. Absolutely stunning. Thank you.” His lips claimed hers, and she eased away before they got carried away. She didn’t want to mess her outfit and all the work she’d done to get ready.
Reaching up, she rubbed her bright red lipstick off him. “Come on, let’s go. You’re already late.”
“All your fault.” He winked. “That Jacuzzi.” His grin was so cheeky she couldn’t help but giggle. Argh, she’d never been a giggler before, but with Gordon, she seemed to always be doing things she hadn’t done before.
“I’m surprised an old man like you kept up.” Dawn smiled and knew if she didn’t enter the party, Gordon would prove to her just how much stamina he had for someone his age. She pushed the doors open knowing Gordon was hot on her heels.
Once in the huge room, she stilled, not only speechless but scared. She wasn’t sure what she really expected, but this extravagance wasn’t it. Stunning model like women walked in elegant ball gowns while all the men wore fancy suits. The room was a circus, literally. Scantily clad women hung from the roof with slick blue fabric, men on stilts walked around juggling things. There were small stages around the room filled with fire breathers, another with pole dancers, and one had a juggler that was throwing knives, another throwing sharp-pointed objects. Animals did tricks and waiters with their body covered in body paint wondered around offering food. To top it off, there was a full orchestra on a stage.
“Holy crap,” she whispered. “I’m so out of my element.”
Gordon’s arm came around her waist, and it was then she noticed the orchestra had stopped, and everyone was now staring her way. David came forward with a man who looked like an older version of Gordon, but with green eyes.
“Son, you’re back. Happy Birthday.” Gordon’s father shook the hand that wasn’t wrapped around her. “You look great. Happy, relaxed. I bet you’re raring to get home and to get back into everything.”
Looking at what she now guessed to be Gordon’s father, she thought he had aged well. He looked a lot younger than she bet he was, only in his late fifties or very early sixties. He was shorter than Gordon but not by much. His green eyes were what showed his age, Gordon had told her his father was older than his mother was, and Gordon had been born when his father was in his mid-thirties. Gordon’s father had lighter olive skin, Gordon’s had darkened while he’d been in Australian. Dawn couldn’t help staring. It was like looking into a mirror of what Gordon would look like in thirty years. The only difference she could tell was the eyes. Gordon had amazing blue ones where his father had a deep, dark green.
Dawn could feel David’s penetrating stare, and she avoided looking at him. She wondered what part he’d had in everything that had happened between her and Gordon, him coming to Australia and not telling her who he was. She had a feeling it was a lot.
“Thank you, Father. It’s great to be back.” Gordon squeezed her waist. “I’d like you to meet my wife, Dawn.” Surprise flashed for a moment in his father’s eyes before he quickly concealed it. “Dawn, meet my father, Arthur James Wilks.”
Nibbling on her bottom lip, she held her hand out. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Arthur chuckled. “I see why you married her.” He yanked her out of Gordon’s hold and hugged her. “Welcome to the family.”
The party picked up again, but what looked like an odd line had started of groups waiting to see and talk to Gordon.
Gordon gathered her back to his side and started chatting about business. Dawn tried to listen and interact, but really, the conversation bored her, and there was only so long she could listen before she’d drift to sleep. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand most of it because she did. She’d done very well in school and her three years at University. It just wasn’t what she was passionate about. When she did attempt to contribute, they stared at her as if she’d grown a second head. Half the women ignored her and the other half were snotty nose bitches who stuck their nose up at everything and turned anything she said into a bad or nasty comment. She stayed by Gordon for as long as she could endure, but after a couple of hours, the snide comments and the nastiness got to her, and she needed to get away.
The party was a nightmare. Dawn was in hell. She’d told Gordon she was fine for him to leave her hours ago. She now sat at a table and watched him work the room. The more she saw, the further out of her element she felt.
A beautiful blonde draped herself over Gordon and gave an exaggerated laugh. Dawn giggled, but she hadn’t the first hour. She’d been filled with jealousy as women practically threw themselves at Gordon. Now, though, she saw Gordon wasn’t even remotely interested. He detangled himself from every woman with a flash of annoyance clear on his face.
Plenty of women had come up to her trying to intimidate her. Ha. Dawn had been the new girl so many times she knew how the bitches worked. The last woman had only just left, and Dawn was not only bored, but she was physically and emotionally drained. There were only so many times you could hear about how you were too fat to keep Gordon’s interest, or she was too young and inexperienced. The list of things she wasn’t that Gordon would leave her for was a big one. Even her clothes apparently were a reason why he’d leave her, as she wasn’t wearing this seasons ‘it’ designer.
Needing a drink, she got up and went to the bar. The young guy behind it wore a Caesars uniform. He came over to her with a huge grin. “Hi. What can I get you?”
“A creaming soda would be great.” Dawn had never been much for alcohol.
“We don’t have that here.” His
gaze traveled up and down her, and she saw interest in his eyes, but she wasn’t even remotely interested. She may be annoyed with Gordon for not telling her who he was and the secrets he kept, but she loved him.
“Oh, what nonalcoholic do you have?”
“I have coke, lemonade, and Dr. Pepper.”
“I’d love lemonade, please.”
The guy nodded and got a glass and filled it and handed it to her. “So, your dad’s party is pretty rocking.”
It took Dawn a moment to figure out what the bartender was talking about, and then she realized who he thought Gordon was to her and burst out laughing. “Oh, that’s hilarious. Don’t let him hear that you say that. His age is a sore spot. He’s not my dad.”
The bartenders gaze narrowed. “He your boss or something.”
“Or something.” She giggled. Dawn probably should be offended for Gordon that the bartender thought he was her father, but she knew, with their age difference, people would assume things even though they looked nothing alike. Dawn didn’t think Gordon looked at all old enough to have her as a child. She gazed over at him and tried to see how someone like the bartender could think he was old enough to be her father. There was no white in his hair, he didn’t have wrinkles, and his body was in shape. To her, he looked a like a very attractive businessman in his early thirties.
The bartender tapped her shoulder getting her attention back. “Did I hear an accent?”
“Yeah.”
He leaned in closer. “I can hear you now. Where you from?”
“I’m Australian.”
“Great, how long you here? Do you need someone to show you around?”
Holy crap, was the bartender chatting her up? What did she do? She should have told him she was Gordon’s wife. Taking a sip of her drink trying to calm herself, she choked when it tasted like lemons. “Um, this tastes like lemons with sugar.”
“You ordered a lemonade?”
“Yeah, I know, but… um, where I’m from, that would be… uh, a sprite or a similar flavor.”
The bartender winked at her. “You’re not in Australia anymore.” He leaned over the bar. Crap, crap, he was flirting with her. “You didn’t answer any of my questions. You don’t look like the type to be at this party, uh, going from what I’ve seen.”
Taking a sip of the lemonade, which tasted okay, it just wasn’t what she was used to, she rushed out. “Oh, I don’t fit in, but Gordon, the birthday boy, is my husband.”
Laughing, this time because of the guy’s shocked face. Dawn told herself she shouldn’t find it funny, especially when she knew it was one of the things that bothered Gordon, and the guy had been flirting, but she couldn’t help it. She wasn’t bothered by the age difference. That wasn’t what made them so different. To her, it was things like this party and the people here. She understood why Gordon was so hesitant to say who he really was now. Most of the people she’d met tonight seemed like greedy snobs.
The bartender left without even saying goodbye to serve other people, and after a good ten minutes, came back over, his face very sheepish. “I’m sorry. I was rude. You just look so young and, well…”
Smiling at him Dawn shook her head. “No, I know how different I look from all these people, and there is a decent size age gap. You should see me when I’m not in this.” She pointed to her new red dress. “I’m a bit of a Goth girl, uh, woman.” The guy gave her a forced smile, and Dawn knew she wouldn’t get anything else out of him. Great, that was probably the best conversation she’d had all night. Relaxing back against the bar, she closed her eyes.
“I’ve never seen Gordon like this.” Turning, she opened her eyes toward the voice she’d heard a couple of times now, and stared at David. Dawn wasn’t sure she liked him. He looked at her like she was a puzzle he couldn’t figure out.
“Like what?”
“He hasn’t kept his gaze off you all night, and he smiles when he catches sight of you.” David’s brows furrowed. “I don’t understand. You’re nothing like what I expected or even thought he would marry. You’re nothing like his type.” His gaze focused on her body, and she knew he was referring to her size and height.
Even his best friend was an arsehole. Leaning in close to him, she was angry and sick of the comments, and to tell the truth, she expected better from one of his closest friends. “Fuck off,” she growled and turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm stopping her.
“You don’t care what they are all saying, do you?”
Raising her eyebrow, she frowned. “Should I?” She shook out of his hold and eased away from him.
“A year ago, I would have said yes, but now, no. I’m surprised steam didn’t come out of Gordon’s ears when you were talking before to the bartender. He’s never been the jealous type. He’s also never defended anyone like he has you all night.”
“Against who?” She folded her arms over her chest.
He shrugged. “Fine, so it’s been more like Gordon telling everyone how beautiful he thinks you are. How lucky he is that you agreed to marry him and move to America. There was a comment about your fuller figure, and after he finished talking, I see the benefits.” His gaze roamed her body, and she shivered, her skin crawling.
Was this guy for real? The more he spoke, the more she wanted to slap him.
“It’s love, or so he says. I’m not convinced, though. What do you two have in common?”
Blinking, because Dawn couldn’t believe the balls on the guy before her—he was supposed to be Gordon’s friend. “Have you ever heard the saying opposites attract?” She shrugged. “Probably not, because you’re a wanker.” Dawn had had enough. “I don’t have to explain to you or anyone. It’s mine and Gordon’s choice who we’re with. I will ask you this, though. What do you want in your own relationship? Ask yourself and see if you have it because I have everything I want and need with Gordon.” With that, she stomped away—well, the best she could in her heels.
Dawn went over to Gordon, who was talking to a group of men who had women clinging to them like a fashion accessory. “Gordon, I’m tired. I’m going back up to our suite,” she said into his ear.
Gordon’s arms slid around her, and he turned from the men. “I’ll come with you. Let me just say bye to—”
“No, you stay. Enjoy yourself. I’ll see you later.” She wiggled to get out of his embrace, but he wouldn’t give her up.
He turned them so they faced the group again. “Thank you for coming. It was great to see you all, but if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to leave with my wife.”
Dawn knew she was grinning like a loon as the men stared, shocked at Gordon, then nodded and bid him goodnight. They were probably surprised he chose her over them, over staying. Her smile faded when he walked them over to David. “I’m leaving. If anyone wonders where I’ve gone, please make my excuses.”
“You can’t leave your birthday party.” David gave her a glare that she was sure with other women would scare them, but on her, it just pissed her off.
“Sure, I can. Dawn and I only have two other nights here before we fly to Dallas, so tomorrow, I want to take her around Vegas, and then she wants to see a burlesque show.”
“She wants to see a burlesque show?”
“Yes, she does, and she is right here,” Dawn growled at David. “I also want to go to the Tournament of Kings at the Excalibur, a Gondola Ride at the Venetian, the Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio, and I’m not missing M&M’s World. Do you have a problem with any of those?”
Gordon chuckled, and David’s eyes grew large—they reminded her of an owl. “I’ll go to the burlesque show with you.”
“Nah, three’s a crowd.”
“Dawn,” Gordon berated her and swatted her arse.
“Fine. You can come to the show with us.” She’d make an effort but only for Gordon.
David nodded. “Go, I’ll make your excuses to the guests.”
He didn’t have to tell her twice. She grabbed a hold of Gordon and left.
*
***
He’d seen a bunch of different burlesque shows including the one they went to tonight, but this had been his favorite. Dawn had been fascinated with the show, and Gordon spent his night just watching her reaction and enjoyment of the show. She was now in their room talking with her sister and friend telling them everything they’d done.
During the day, they’d gone to M&M’s World, and Dawn had gone crazy buying stuff—a black top with a blue M&M, and a black with red M&M’s, Who’s Your Candy Adult Lounge Pants. That was just some of the clothes. She also got cups, pillows, and silly straws. Dawn had fought him in front of everyone at the checkouts that she was paying. Fortunately, for him, with her angry and talking fast, the poor cashier girl couldn’t understand Dawn with her accent and had happily accepted his card. Dawn bought only blue and black M&M’s and tonight sat back and ate them as she watched the burlesque show.
He now sat in the bar room of his suite with David drinking scotch and catching up on what he’d missed while in Australia. “Talk is Swarovski and Daringhurst are looking to other companies as they weren’t being given their usual special treatment. The Stockton deal you lined up fell through, and the Hectdom deal is looking to go south, too.”
“Fuck, you were right. The investors are worried. I was sure a year wouldn’t have them too scared. I’ve come back just in time then.” Scrubbing his face, Gordon tried not to think of the emails, business meetings and lunches, and the workload he had ahead. He wanted to enjoy time with Dawn, not go back to fourteen hour work days. It made no sense though why so many companies were looking to jump ship, something wasn’t right. A year away with his father there as head again shouldn’t have them all uneasy.
“I told you your father was good, but he’s not you. You’re the one who tripled sales and revenue since being CEO. You have your work cut out for you when you get home. A lot of clients like the gold class treatment you give them. Your devotion to your work is different from what your father has. They will need wooing back.”
