by Pamela Ann
“Mr. Knightly, welcome back!” greeted the auburn haired, blue-eyed, svelte lady with a flirty smile.
“Krista, hello! How are you?” Blake said, acting polite yet distant.
“I’m very good, Mr. Blake.” Krista gazed back through her lashes, quite suggestively. With a few taps on her keyboard, she spoke again, “Okay, your room is ready. Olga will show you to it.” I caught her wink at him and bite her bottom lip.
I almost grunted out loud from her obnoxious, flirty attitude. Disgusting much? Jesus.
Olga appeared almost immediately and politely showed us to our reserved room and I couldn’t have run out of there fast enough.
My massage haven awaited.
Chapter Thirty-Five
The moment I walked in, I felt like I had walked onto a set of the Arabian Nights. The room had an oval-shaped pool that was decorated with rose petals. Further to the left stood a colorful silk tent with beaded throw pillows and kaftan rugs. Plus, there were large, glass bowl-stands with petals and floating candles embellishing the room.
The masseuse tables, situated at the edge of the tent, sat about ten feet from a lightly-lit fireplace. The strategically placed scented candles made the ambiance intimate, seductive and downright romantic. The room smelled of romance, a mixture of roses and berries with hinted notes of vanilla.
I was guided to the ‘his and hers’ changing rooms, where it was requested that I wear this skimpy, barely there thong. I smirked. Great, how the heck will I ever be comfortable lying next to Blake almost naked? If I could relax, I was going to doze off the minute those powerful hands started kneading my back; I was sure of it.
Is romance what Blake has in mind? Is it possible? Why would he book a suite? He could’ve gotten separate rooms, but he didn’t. So, if it is, am I ready to date him? I was and I wasn’t. I had just gotten out of being with Kyle and I was sure as hell was not emotionally ready for someone as intense as Blake. That was like taking on Hurricane Katrina. Besides, he didn’t seem to be keen on long-term relationships, anyway.
Apart from Kyle, I hadn’t been with anyone else; emotionally or physically. Blake was a very intense person, too. How the heck would I handle him? I had watched as women became beyond helpless when he ended it with them. They were hysterical; calling incessantly, hoping he would take them back. He never did. It was mayhem.
No, thank you. I didn’t want to be one of those women. Risking our friendship over sexual satisfaction? Maybe? I shoved that thought quickly to the back of my mind.
I came out of the changing room dressed in a thong and a robe. I made my way toward the massage tables where my masseuse, a tall, stern-looking man—possibly Eastern European—waited patiently for me. He introduced himself as Alec.
Blake was already on his stomach and had a scant towel draping his glorious ass. His back was all ripping-hard muscles, defined and cut. He had his head down, even though the session hadn’t started yet. I was sure he’d done that to make me feel less uncomfortable when I tried to position myself on the narrow table.
Hopefully, that scant towel will be enough to cover my bottom. Alas, as dreadfully predicted, it just barely covered it. Most times, I was proud of my “well-rounded assets,” but at times like these, I wish they were a little less rounded.
As they started working on our backs, Blake turned, reached out and touched my arm softly. “Feeling better?”
I smiled shyly at him. “Yes, thank you. It’s exactly what I needed. Next time, I’ll be the one giving you surprises, though.” His beautiful face lit up, giving me a devilish grin.
“I’ll hold you to that!” I nodded, tranquility washing over me as I closed my eyes while I continued facing him.
Shouldn’t I be mourning the loss of my relationship with Kyle? Yet, from the moment I opened my eyes today, Blake had railroaded my thoughts, putting Kyle somewhere faraway and distant. Except for the email…
How was that possible? I was crying my eyes out last night and, today, I felt like an entirely different person.
Powerful hands started to work their way down to my lower back. Hovering around where the slope of my butt started. Kneading thumbs and fingers made the towel slide lower. I gasped from a jolt of pain and then exhaled deeply, lips slightly parted. The pain felt good and I welcomed it. The stress I had from the last couple of weeks had taken its toll on my body.
Opening my eyes, I found Blake staring intently at me. He didn’t smile or speak; instead he kept those magnetic eyes locked onto mine. I swallowed, nervous. Those eyes had the power to penetrate and reach inside of me. It was disconcerting. He’s been doing that a lot today.
Not knowing what to do, I closed my eyes again. Christ, I’m so screwed! Heaven help me if he did try something.
God knows I had a hard time resisting Blake when he asked something of me, however this Blake—pure full-on Casanova-mode Blake—would be my undoing.
The smell of roses and the crackle of fire lulled me to sleep, unperturbed and tranquil. I happily dozed off into a blissful slumber.
I woke up from the soft click of a door closing. Befuddled from my nap, I glanced around and realized that I was alone, lying there, almost naked and asleep.
The darkened lighting from the candles made it hard to see much further into the room.
“Blake?” I called out, sitting up and looking for my robe, but it seemed to have vanished! It was nowhere in sight.
Biting my lip, I pulled my long hair forward to cover my breasts; it was good enough to cover my nipples, but not enough to cover the outline of my boobs. I tried to gather my wits.
“In here!” called out Blake. Where was in here?
Slowly, walking barefoot in a thong with my boobs partially covered by my long hair, I glanced around in the dimly lit room. “Blake!” my voice laced with urgency. I started to make my way to the pool area, but couldn’t see him.
Instantly, out of nowhere, he started gliding from the darkened corner of the left-side of the pool.
My eyes rounded in admiration. My, God! I’m going to have a heart-attack.
Gaping at his muscled pecs, six-pack abs and his wet hair swept back; I felt a jolt of instantaneous lust. I swallowed hard. He was absolutely breathtaking. Wow. I’ve never seen his chest before. NOW, I really think he was made perfectly!
Rooted to where I was standing, heart beating erratically and barely breathing, I was mesmerized by his sheer beauty. I barely forgot to take note that I was almost as naked as he was.
“Care to join?” he asked, glancing at me with the same look he’d had at the massage tables. He looked like he was ready to pounce. Still and waiting… The look was full of yearning… and pure, blatant lust.
My stomach flip-flopped.
Standing there—virtually naked—I was staggered, astonished.
Being in that room, with him, the air—the smell of heady perfumed roses, the darkened setting of candles, making the room glow—I suddenly felt like I was there purposely to do his bidding!
Enraptured and enthralled, I slowly walked to the pool, joining my god-like mortal of a man without breaking eye contact.
I went into the pool that was scattered with rose petals. The water gently rippled as I went deeper in, but I stopped when the water barely hit the tips of my hair.
Standing on the very last step of the pool, I looked over to where he stood, unmoving like a statue, although his electric midnight eyes roved all over my body, branding me. I gasped from the burning, ardent-filled scrutiny of his roaming eyes.
He moved toward me, his tanned, rippling body glistening with water. My eyes examined his abs, slowly making my way to his hardened chest, his broad shoulders, his neck, his enticing lips, until my eyes stopped at his burning, silver-rimmed, midnight blue eyes.
The air was charged, electric and perfervid.
Looking up to his face, I was stunned frozen. He was so tall and all male.
I gasped again as he traced his thumb over my bottom lip, his eyes darkening.
/> “You look like a goddess; exquisite and beautiful,” he rasped out as the back of his finger gently stroked my neck and collarbone with utter concentration. I shuddered from his delicate touch. “You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for you, my sweet Sienna. I’ve always wanted you—from the moment our eyes met. I wanted you, badly, but you were with someone else. I’ve been patient—biding time—until you were free, and so here we are.”
I drew breath and slightly wetted my dry lips. He’d always wanted me? What?! This was insane! How the heck did I not see this?
Being with Blake would be passionate, thrilling and tumultuous; however, did I have the capacity to go through a circus ring? I wanted him, no doubt. My mind boggled; I couldn’t think straight. As much as I was attracted to Blake, I didn’t know if I was ready, just yet. He was too intense, too commanding, too everything. At the same time, I was hypnotized and my mind was beyond puzzled. It really was disconcerting.
“Blake, I—” I looked at him with beseeching eyes, licking my dry lips. “I don’t think I’m ready for this. I mean, I’m attracted to you, but this is too sudden. You must see—understand—that I need time.” I searched his eyes as he studied mine, waiting for him to answer me.
After what felt like forever, I saw him nod his head. “All right, my lovely Sienna. I’ve waited for eight months; I can wait a little more. I’ll wait until you are ready, but I want to make something clear, I don’t just want you for your body… when you’re mine, I want your all; your body, your soul, your mind. I will consume you. I’ll be your world and in return, I’ll worship the ground you walk on and make you a very happy woman,” he spoke with a strong, decisive and determined voice without his eyes leaving mine.
He wants me. Blake Knightly. Wants. Me. I was excited, yet at the same time, I wanted to run for the hills.
“Blake, if you must insist, but until I make up my mind, you have to respect my boundaries.” I gave him a peck on the left cheek, moved a little closer to his ear and whispered, “Thank you.” I accidentally grazed my nipples on his chest and the friction tingled all the way to my core. He immediately hissed through his clenched teeth. Oh my God. That felt wonderful.
“Sienna, try not to test my limits because I would gladly throw caution out and take you right here until I’ve had my fill of that glorious body; until you’re limp and worn-out from me fucking you,” he warned me with tested patience.
“Right.”
What the hell do I say to that?
I stepped out of the pool, leaving him as his powerful gaze burned holes through my back. I daren’t look back unless I wanted to play with fire. He was searing, scorching and sizzling with fire waiting to be unleashed. ON. ME.
Shit.
Chapter Thirty-Six
I woke up startled from my surroundings and it dawned on me that I was in Blake’s apartment. The bedroom was simple with a touch of understated, warm elegance and twice the size of my room. A modern, queen-sized bed sat in the middle of the room with russet-colored, damask patterned wallpaper. The other two walls were painted an ecru shade, complementing the chic design. Amber colored lamps made of an actual rock sat on both sides of the bed. A contemporary chaise lounge in pistachio silk slanted in the corner along with a large antique mahogany coffee table. The room basked aglow with three shaded, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, overlooking the streets of Mayfair.
His entire apartment, which was the whole tenth floor, was styled in the same manner; modern contemporary and expensive French antique accents. The combination gave the whole place subtle warmth. I smiled. The comparison of the apartment and its owner was uncanny.
I gently rubbed my eyes as I yawned. Events from yesterday flashed through my drowsy head. He drove us straight back to his place from the spa. Surprised, yes, but I was too exhausted to argue with him to take me back to my own place in Covent Garden. Deep down, I was pleased that he’d wanted me to be close to him.
He cooked dinner and it was superb; I hadn’t known he was such a skilled cook. After we ate, we caught a couple of episodes of Game of Thrones from the DVR player. We lounged with a bottle of red wine and chocolate truffles from the famous La Maison du Chocolat—a completely marvelous way to end our day.
During the entire evening, he never once tried to make a pass. He was respectful and kept his distance, though he did find ways to subtly touch me. Whereas you turn into a brainless creature every time he does touch you? I was aware of him; whether he was in the room or not.
He acted like the usual Blake and that put me at ease. I was relieved. My mind was confused when it came to him. I mean, I knew what I wanted, but when he was being all sexy and seductive, my thoughts turned to mush and that was perplexing.
When it had been time for bed, he’d handed me one of his silk boxers and a shirt to wear. He decided—without asking me—that I should stay with him for the next few days until Sunday, when Luce arrived.
School started Monday as he, too, began his lengthy training to become a tycoon like his grandfather. Blake would be shadowing him until he was ready to retire, which loomed on the horizon. Blake had been learning the ins and outs of the business for the last two years, but this time, he’d take on most of the responsibilities. His grandfather wanted Blake to take over as soon as he’d deemed him ready.
Their family business was vast from what Toby had told me. From oil to five-star restaurants, real estate, hotels and casinos, merely to name a few. I doubt their family would be estimated to be worth billions without an enormously diverse portfolio.
Blake knew full well that his granddad would not be there forever. He needed to prepare for the inevitable, hence the prepping and training of him at the age of twenty-four. He’s almost four years older than me.
The only thing that I was worried about was Blake changing. He was rich now, making a lot of money from his own investments, but when the time came, when he could tap unlimited funds and resources while being surrounded by powerful men as well as the world’s most beautiful women, I was afraid that would change him. I heard Toby joke about it before. I was quite certain that he too believed it was possible. Money and power could be intoxicating, especially at Blake’s impressionable age.
I had stretched for five minutes or so before going to bed. It helped me sleep better and my body didn’t ache as much if I stuck to one side during my entire sleep. The moment my head hit the pillow, I immediately went to sleep. Sometime during the night, I felt him bend over and softly brush my cheek with his lips and whisper, “Sleep well, my Sienna.” Then he quietly left my room to go to his own.
I slept like a baby after that.
Still lounging in bed, his beige, fifteen-hundred count Egyptian cotton sheets haphazardly tangled on my legs, I looked across the room and stared at the sky through the windows. I felt well rested and almost like I was myself again.
My face heated and my stomach coiled as memories of the pool incident surfaced. I groaned. Damn that man. He looked so good. That body… my God. Thinking about it made me all hot and bothered. I would never, for the life of me, fathom how I managed to decline his offer last night. It would undoubtedly baffle my psyche for the rest of my life.
Not hearing the door creak open, I was surprised when Blake sat on the bed across from me, amused and sexy as hell. “Devising a plan to stay in bed all day, poppet?”
If he only knew… how long can I endure this longing for him before I succumb to what my body is aching for?
I noticed that he had light stubble growing on the sides of his face; it made him utterly and painstakingly gorgeous. How does one manage to look beautiful after waking up in the morning? I bet I look a fright. He was wearing a fitted, black shirt and sheer, black cotton pajamas; I would not have guessed in a million years that he was a pajama man. I would have thought commando was more along the lines of his thing.
I looked away from his face. He’d caught me studying him several times already—much to my growing embarrassment—I didn’t need him catching
me yet again.
“Can we please? I need to just rest and unwind,” I exclaimed. I was still tired from my trip.
Watching me intently, he reached out, brushed the hair off my face and tucked it behind my ear.
“As you wish.”
I looked up, smiling and meeting his gaze. “Really?” I asked, loving his easy, jovial demeanor.
“Yes, really!”
My laugh abruptly halted as he slid his body next to mine. I stiffened when his strong hands pulled and hugged me from behind. The sudden feel of his hard, chiseled chest made me shudder. I was frozen in shock. Body, what happened to waiting?
I want you… my damn mind kept nagging.
His strong hand snaked around my waist, holding me tightly, imprisoning me to the feel of him. The heavy thud of his wildly beating heart was proof that he was as affected as I was. My body was shaking with hunger for Blake; a hunger that seemed to be getting close to impossible to resist.
“Hmmm… I just want to smell you. I hardly slept knowing that you were sleeping in the next room. Can you grant me this small request, my sweet Sienna?” My body shivered with anticipated excitement. I nodded, urging him on.
His lips touched softly behind my earlobe as he trailed soft kisses all the way down to the base of my neck where he neatly pulled my hair to one side, exposing my neck and inhaling deeply. He groaned with frustration and a burst of lust surged from my aching core.
Just one kiss, I thought wildly. I just want a taste. Turning around to face him, we stared at each other intently. An electric current between us crackled and sizzled. It was heady, intoxicating, searing.
My gaze fell on his lips. One taste, that’s it. Feeling bold, I licked my own bottom lip. It’s now or never. Do it. Slanting my head, I kissed him very softly. A guttural sound came from his throat as he devoured my lips. His kiss was demanding with potent alacrity as I matched his passion.
