Ask Me

by M. Malone

  “We shouldn’t be doing this. It’s too risky.”

  “It’s been too long,” he mutters. “I can’t go this long without you again.”

  With one thrust, we connect and I cry out at the sudden shocking invasion. He pulls back and strokes into me again, moaning into my ear the whole time. With his back covering mine, his arms holding me down, I feel completely overpowered. Completely overwhelmed.

  “Say you’ll stay with me.” He reaches between us, the heel of his hand tight against my clit. A hot coil of pressure builds beneath his hand, spiraling between the hard pistoning movement inside me to the gentle rocking pressure of his palm. He commands my body in a way no one else ever has.

  He also holds the key to my heart as if it’s a treasure box only he can unlock.

  He grips my hair and the bite of pain only sharpens the pleasure as he powers into me from behind, riding me hard, pushing us both to our limits. I stare mesmerized at our image in the mirror. He looks carnal, with the long, curling strands of my hair wrapped around his fist, whereas I look sultry with kiss-swollen lips and flushed cheeks.

  If I could take a snapshot of this image I would, just to prove our passion is really this intense. Then he flicks his finger in a certain way and the sensation sends me hurtling over the edge.

  I’m trying to be quiet but it’s impossible when something feels this good. I bite his arm to stifle the sound. He groans and nips my ear.

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.”

  He chuckles softly, resting his forehead against my back. “You can bite me anytime. You make me crazy.” He smooths my skirt down over my thighs.

  “You make me crazy too,” I whisper.

  Suddenly things are awkward, standing with him in a bathroom of all places, with the smell of sex all around us. “I need my panties back.”

  “You’ll get them back. Tonight.” Andre grins and pats the pocket of his jacket. “In the meantime, their absence will remind you of me.”

  He holds my head in his hands so I can’t avoid his eyes. “I want you to move in with me.”

  “Move in with you?”

  “Don’t say no right away. Just think about it. We’ll talk more tonight.” He kisses me then, a soft brush of his lips, before he backs away.

  “I’ll leave first. I don’t want to embarrass you. Plus, I should at least show my face in this meeting since I requested it.” He winks and then he’s gone.

  The door swings shut behind him and I hurriedly clean up before adjusting my skirt. The cool air in the room makes it even more obvious that I’m missing panties. Which was probably exactly what he intended.

  He wants me to move in with him.

  How did we go from one night to friends and now to sharing an address? Other people can live with someone casually but I’m not that sophisticated. Where I come from, living together is still a little taboo even if you’re engaged and getting married.

  I don’t want to imagine what my mother would think if she found out I was shacking up with a man I haven’t even been dating that long.

  The work day will be over soon and he’ll be expecting me at the penthouse. Which means I have between then and now to decide what to do.

  A few hours later, I step off the penthouse elevator to find Andre waiting for me. I follow him inside and go through my usual evening routine, taking off my shoes and my bra, before pulling my hair down from its bun. I’ve gotten so comfortable being with him in the evenings that I didn’t even realize how much I would miss that routine until it was disrupted.

  It’s amazing how fast I got used to being an everyday part of his life.

  “Welcome home.” Finally I can do what I wished I could earlier. I jump into his arms and he staggers slightly to keep from falling.

  “I felt very welcome earlier,” he murmurs.

  “That can never happen again, by the way. My coworkers could have heard us. Someone could have seen you leaving the women’s bathroom right before I did. That was way too risky.”

  He squeezes my leg. “I know. It was selfish of me to come to your workplace knowing what would happen. You have every right to want to keep things professional there. In my defense, I think I was delusional after not seeing you for so long.”

  “It was four days.” But I’m smiling, too. Four days without him felt more like four months.

  “We definitely need to talk about a few things.”

  “After dinner.”

  “Casey–”

  “That’s not a deflection, I promise. I’m just working through a few things in my head. We’re going to talk about this.”

  I can feel his eyes follow me as I wiggle down and walk into the kitchen. If we’re going to have a heavy relationship conversation, I’m not doing it on an empty stomach. Completely at home, I pull open the refrigerator and whistle softly under my breath. It’s crammed with food, enough to feed an army.

  “I think you went a little overboard with the groceries.” I gesture to the overflowing shelves.

  Andre peeks over my shoulder and chuckles. “I have a part-time housekeeper who stocks the fridge for me whenever I’ve been out of town. I guess she figured I’d be hungry.”

  “I’ll say. This is more food than you could eat in a month.”

  His phone rings and he sighs, then kisses the side of my head. “Pick out what you’d like and I’ll help you after I take this call.”

  “You mean you’ll watch me,” I tease. Another thing I learned spending so much time with him is that grilled cheese is pretty much the only thing he can cook.

  I roll up my sleeves. After a quick glance through the bottom drawer of the refrigerator, I line up onions, bell peppers and garlic cloves. I’m pulling out a few spices when I hear Andre’s voice again.

  “Jason, this can wait until tomorrow, no? Or call Philippe. He just got back in town so he can handle it. I have company. Very beautiful company. ”

  He’s standing in the middle of the living room, his phone cradled between his shoulder and his ear while he cuffs his sleeves. I take a moment to appreciate the view. What is it about a man in a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up?

  Most unexpectedly sexy thing ever.

  “Casey is here and I would very much like to get back to my guest. You understand, of course.” There’s a moment of long silence before his face twists into a scowl. “Yes, we’re at the penthouse and no, you cannot come over.”

  He looks up and catches my eye. “I want her all to myself.”

  I look at the package of meat. It’s filet mignon. Of course it is. Well, I don’t know how to make anything too fancy so I can only hope it tastes good broiled with onions, the way I usually make steak.

  “How about this?” I hold it up and he nods absently.

  “Jason, I’m hanging up now. The woman I love is cooking for me and I’m not missing a moment of that to talk about business.” He hangs up and tosses his phone on the couch.

  Meanwhile I feel as if I’ve just been punched in the chest. “What did you just say?”

  He looks at me quizzically. His brow furrows and then his hands still, his fingers stuck in the knot of fabric at his throat.

  “I said I love you. That wasn’t how I wanted to tell you. I had a whole thing planned. It was going to be romantic with an orchestra and some fireworks. Maybe a mime.”

  “That was pretty good, actually.”

  “Was it? Because you deserve the best, Casey. And I want to be the one who gives it to you.”

  I drop the meat on the counter and walk slowly back into the living room, aware the next few minutes could change both of our lives.

  “You asked me to move in with you. It’s a big step.”

  His eyes are tender as he holds out his hand. “It is. It will change your life in so many ways. Not all of them positive. People will take pictures of you and post mean things online. Just because they can. I’ve gotten used to living this way but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how much I’m asking you to give up. M
aybe I’m a selfish bastard for even suggesting it. But then I never claimed to be a nice man. Just a man who loves you.”

  He’s repeated all the negative things that I’ve been thinking. But when I was thinking about all the negatives, I didn’t know he loved me. That changes everything.

  And it’s not like living here will mess with my career or my education. The penthouse is actually closer to the Mirage office and I take online classes so living here wouldn’t interfere with my degree. Plenty of people will disapprove. His mother is definitely not my biggest fan. But it’s really no one else’s business.

  “My answer is yes. This whole thing is crazy but I love you, too so I’m not fighting it anymore. So yes. I’ll move in with you. For as long as you want me.”

  He picks me up and swings me around. “I guess that means you won’t be leaving ever.” Reverently, he pushes my hair back from my face. “My beautiful Casey. The one who got away and then came back.”

  I smile then because I feel beautiful, here in the rapidly fading sunlight with the man I love. Mya was right. I don’t want to be dumb about something that matters this much.

  He’s already proven he’s nothing like the men I’ve known in the past. Being with him isn’t a threat to my independence or my education. Andre has been nothing but attentive to my needs and will probably cheer the loudest when I graduate with my degree. He really is the classiest man I’ve ever known.

  Elegance isn’t just the clothes he wears. It’s him. His nature. His clothing is just an extension of the way he naturally lives his life.

  “That’s what’s wrong with the campaign.”

  I look down at him, casually sophisticated even while wearing a slightly rumpled dress shirt with his tie hanging loose around his neck. A picture of him like this would sell anything.

  “What are you thinking?” He gazes at me adoringly.

  “I just figured out what’s missing from your advertising campaign.” It’s such an obvious solution that it’s almost comical. “You.”

  He frowns. “You think I should be in the ad?”

  I place my hands on his cheeks and kiss him softly. “You are the true face of Lavin Couture. It’s not just a style, it’s your life. No one else can represent it better than the original Lavin man who started it all.”

  “Have I mentioned already that I’m in love with you?” he asks.

  “Maybe once. But you can show me.” I squeal when he races toward the bedroom with me bouncing in his arms.

  Dinner will have to wait.

  21

  * * *

  Monday morning, I whistle as I set my lunch bag down on the reception desk. Andre helped me move most of my clothes to the penthouse over the weekend. When I told Ariana that I wasn’t coming back, she didn’t look surprised at all. I still feel guilty about bailing on her but she assured me renting the room really wasn’t about the money.

  She joked that she’s apparently a good luck romance charm. Everyone who lives with her finds their soulmate and then gets married.

  I laughed but it made me think.

  Would Andre ask me to marry him? Things have progressed so quickly that I’m not even sure I want him to right now. I’m still adjusting to the idea of living with him and the changes that are going to happen once he makes it known that we’re a couple. He told me on Sunday that he’s scheduled a meeting with his internal PR team to discuss the best way to handle it. It was supposed to be reassuring but it’s honestly a little weird to think we need a PR team to tell people that I’m his girlfriend.

  I plop down in my chair. Time to log in to my online class dashboard and check my grades. It’s just loading on my computer screen when I hear a noise. Harold Meyer, an older man in the accounting department is standing in front of the reception desk.

  “Oh, you startled me.”

  “I’m surprised you came to work today.” He leans over the edge of the reception desk and tries to look at my screen.

  Anya warned me about him when I first started. He made a few borderline inappropriate comments but once I lied and said I had a boyfriend, he left me alone. It still annoys me that I had to do that. He’s easily old enough to be my father. Not to mention that he kind of gives me the creeps.

  I angle it away slightly and give him a tight-lipped smile. “Of course I came to work. Why wouldn’t I?”

  He smirks and throws a crumpled tabloid magazine on the desk. “You’ve found your golden meal ticket apparently. Why bother coming to work anymore?” He sticks his hands in his pocket and walks away whistling.

  I pick up the magazine and stare in horror at a grainy picture of me and Andre walking away from his car. My arm is through his and my face is tilted up listening to something he’s saying. It’s unmistakably intimate.

  The headline reads Italy’s Fashion King sows his wild oats with a local Cinderella! As I read the article, my chest gets tighter and tighter. It mentions the block where the penthouse is located and where I work. And there are pictures of us, including a blurry shot of us in the bathroom here at Mirage. Someone was in the bathroom while we were having sex.

  Oh dear god.

  Suddenly the doors to the agency swing open and Jason Gautier walks in, followed by James and Mya. One look at their faces and I know they’ve seen it.

  “Is Andre here yet?” Jason doesn’t even bother with a greeting. He’s always been polite but apparently he’s past pleasantries.

  I shake my head mutely. He curses and pulls out his phone.

  “I can’t believe people were following us around, taking pictures of us.” This is exactly what Andre was warning me about but I thought that I’d have time to get ready for it. Apparently it’s been happening all along.

  We weren’t doing anything wrong, but having my private business splashed across a tabloid makes it seem cheap and tawdry. And the article isn’t even accurate! I pick it up and read it again, my blood pressure rising with every word.

  “Neither of us is cheating on anyone. Why would they say that? They can’t just make up lies, can they?”

  Mya squeezes my shoulder. “Unfortunately, tabloids do it all the time.”

  “But why would they do that? I mean I’m nobody.” I’m on the verge of crying.

  “That’s what makes it so interesting. If you were some fame-hungry actress it wouldn’t have made the front page that you were dating him.” Jason turns his back and launches into a stream of French.

  Andre comes in then and I run into his arms. He holds me tightly and runs a soothing hand over my hair. “It’s going to be fine. I should have expected this. Prepared you for it. It was negligent of me to assume that they didn’t already know about you.”

  “I’m just sorry you have to be embarrassed.”

  He waves that away with a flick of his hand. “I’m hardly embarrassed. I’m used to this, unfortunately. The good news is that the media has a short attention span. In a day or two no one will even remember this story.”

  Jason waves him over. I leave them talking and walk over to Mya. James is on his cell phone with his back to us. I’d assumed he would be mad but his expression had seemed sympathetic when they walked in.

  “James doesn’t seem too upset.”

  “No one blames you for this, Casey.” Mya squeezes my arm. “You can’t control what those idiot reporters write. It’s not your fault. We’re going to consider this free advertising and find a way to spin it to our advantage. That’s what we do. Cole Fitzgerald, our head of PR, is on his way in. Actually that’s probably who James is talking to right now.”

  “Thank you for being so nice about all of this. And for your advice before. I’m trying not to be so dumb, as you put it.”

  Mya laughs. “Good. Now it’s probably best if you take the day off while we sort this out. Avoid going outside. I’m sure Andre will be able to tell you the best way to avoid the paparazzi. This will all blow over soon.”

  She’s right. Maybe that’s what he’s talking about with Jason. I walk up behind
them to hear them talking in low tones.

  “Find out who took those pictures. I want a name.” Andre sounds furious.

  “The investigator is already on it. Not that it matters at this point.” Jason makes an irritated sound. “We need to get to the office and figure out how to spin this thing. I haven’t come this far to watch you throw it all away for a piece of ass.”

  I gasp. Andre turns then and sees me standing behind them. His face twists into a mask of rage as he faces the other man again.

  “Apologize. Now.”

  Jason shoots me a look of derision. “I’m not apologizing. She may have you under her spell, but I’m still thinking with the head on my shoulders. No pussy in the world is that good.”

  The room goes dead quiet and then Andre swings, his fist connecting with Jason’s jaw with a loud crack. Jason tumbles into a side table before jumping up and charging at Andre. I scream as they fall backward into the wall, punching and kicking. Mya grabs my arm and pulls me out of the way.

  An ear-splitting whistle cuts through the air.

  “What the hell is going on here?” Anya stands with her hands on her hips surveying the men sprawled on the floor. Andre gets up and walks over to me.

  I shake my head and back away. “Please, I can’t talk right now. I just need a minute alone.”

  His face falls but he nods and then walks out the front doors, Jason trailing a few feet behind.

  Anya picks up the pieces of a ceramic bowl that was broken in the scuffle. “The good stuff always happens when I’m late.” She tosses the broken pottery in the trash can.

  “Oh, you didn’t miss much. Just a tabloid story with yours truly on the cover. Also the entire Lavin account is now in jeopardy because someone sold compromising pictures of us to the tabloids.”

  Anya gestures to the mess on the floor. “Does that have anything to do with the boxing match I just witnessed?”

  I snort. “That was just the encore, where my lover’s best friend told him I’m a cheap whore who’s not worth all this trouble. That’s all.”

  Anya crosses her arms. “Hmm. Sounds like prime-time television. A little over the top for my taste.”