by Cadence Vonn
“We’re going to play a little game of phone sex. Let’s see who can make the other person come first.”
“I’d better lock my bedroom door as well.”
“Fine, then stretch out on your bed and spread your legs. I already have the visual in my head, and I’m ready to explode. Tell me when you’re ready.”
“I’m way ahead of you. I’m on the bed and the thought of you sitting behind your desk with your hand stroking your long, hard cock has me panting.”
“Jesus, Tess, I want to savor this for a minute, but if you keep talking like that, I’ll be finished in seconds.”
“Mm, good. If I close my eyes, I can almost feel your fingers exploring my body, teasing me, making me want you to press harder so I can scream.”
“Mother fuck, Tess.” Max’s hand pounded faster the distinct sound echoed over the phone. “I can smell your sweet scent. I’m going to take hours tasting you this weekend. Then I’m going to ram this hard cock inside you and have you wrap your wet folds around me and squeeze me to death. I want to die in your arms, over and over and over.”
“Yes. Harder. I want to hear that low growl you make when you’re almost done fucking me.” Tess’s fingers worked her wet clit with frantic strokes. She moaned into the phone, arched her back and squeezed her thighs closed to extend the exquisite torture. Max groaned, his heavy breathing pounded in her ear as he finished.
“Another first.” His words came out in a ragged note.
“For me too.” Tess giggled. “Max, you and your games. I would’ve never thought the day I met you that you had such a naughty streak in you.”
“It’s all your fault. Until you came along, I was very straight-laced, my college days long forgotten.”
“Did you ever act like this in college?”
“Not really. I had my share of drunken hook-ups, but never a girlfriend. Never someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life getting to know. Hell, half the time I couldn’t even remember their name the next morning. How about you? Did you ever have any serious lovers?”
“No. A few guys in college, but they always turned out to be men who discovered my father’s identity and wanted to date me so they could meet him. I gave up dating and focused on my work when I moved to Boston.”
“Who’s your…” Max started to ask.
Tess heard Max push back his chair. “What was that?” she asked to change the subject.
“Someone knocking on my office door. I’m shuffling into the bathroom. I’ll call you back.” Max disconnected, and Tess slipped off the bed and headed into her bathroom to get cleaned up before Christopher and Julian returned. She had her clothes on and the bed straightened when Chris’s phone rang.
“Sorry about that,” Max said when she answered.
“It’s okay. I needed to get dressed before the guys get back.” She held her breath afraid Max might finish his question.
“I doubt I’ll have time to call again this week. I have meetings all day and into the evening for the rest of the week. But this experience gave me the idea to buy a burner phone that no one knows about and can’t be traced. That way I’ll be able to call you. I’m kicking myself for not thinking of it sooner. We could have been talking every night.”
“I’m glad you thought of it now. I’ll look forward to the nighttime. Call me from the train Saturday morning, and I’ll meet you somewhere.”
“I’ve booked a room at the Regency. We can hole up there and not emerge until Monday morning. How does that sound?”
Tess hesitated. She didn’t want to chance bumping into her father? With any luck, once inside Max’s room, she would be safe from discovery. “Wonderful. I hear Chris and Julian. I better go.”
“Sweet dreams, love.”
“You too. Love you.”
“Love you back.”
Tess unlocked her bedroom door and emerged into the living room. Chris and Julian deposited cardboard containers of food on the table. “Everything smells wonderful. I’ll get the silverware and plates.”
“Did Maximilian call?” Chris took his phone she offered.
“Yes. We had a pleasant talk. Thanks for the idea.”
“I can tell it must have been a stimulating conversation. The rosy glow of your neck and cheeks make you look content.” He chuckled.
Tess huffed and turned to look to see what kind of white wine was chilling in the refrigerator. She hoped the cool air would relieve some of the blush still visible.
“I have a cold Riesling or a Chardonnay.”
“The Riesling will complement dinner. That’s what we had at the restaurant, and the menu suggested the exact vintage to accompany the spicy dishes we ordered,” Julian answered.
“Anything new with Maximilian?” Chris asked when they were seated around the table.
“Other than everything working out with the Asian distributors, it sounds like he’s inundated with work.”
“Is he coming to New York?”
“This weekend. He’s staying at the Regency where my father also has booked a room. I’m meeting Father Thursday night for dinner, so I don’t have to worry about the two men bumping into each other since Max won’t arrive until Saturday morning. I’m planning on spending the weekend with him. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.” Chris and Julian exchanged a conspiratorial look. “I’m sure I can find something fun to do in the city.”
Tess didn’t need to suggest anything. She got the sense the two guys already planned something for the weekend that didn’t include her.
Chapter Twelve
Tess’s fear that Max and her father would cross paths was no longer an issue, so meeting him tonight at the Regency didn’t sound so bad after all. He would treat her to a nice meal at a top-notch restaurant, and her daughterly duties would be fulfilled for another few months.
She told Julian and Christopher to have a great evening. A twinge of jealousy twisted in her chest as they left. Her mentor and best friend had hit it off the moment she introduced them on Tuesday, and she became the tag-along. Tomorrow they planned a trip to Long Island for the day, and all she had planned for a Friday in the city was sitting around her apartment reading a book. Maybe she would take a cab to the Museum of Modern Art and see if any new paintings triggered fresh ideas for her designs.
Her cab pulled up in front of her building. She slid in and smoothed down the royal-blue skirt of her form-hugging dress. The color highlighted her eyes, and she wore her hair free. The cabbie eyed her in the rearview mirror and gave her a bold grin.
“Where to, gorgeous?”
“The Regency Hotel, please.” Tess relaxed against the seat. As much as she loved the theatre district and all the art museums the city had to offer, she hated the crowds. It reminded her of London. Boston, on the other hand, was manageable. She didn’t feel overwhelmed by all the people, and walking to different places could be done with ease.
She absentmindedly fingered the heart around her neck. Thoughts of Max swirled in her head. What was he doing tonight? After talking with him Tuesday, she had erotic dreams of the two of them having sex in his office. She pictured a large masculine desk made of wood that he could drape her over and take her from behind.
By the time the cab reached the hotel, she needed to get out of the vehicle so she could calm her raging libido before she met her father. She paid the driver and stepped out of the cab, wishing the night air was cooler. Her heels tapped a staccato beat across the lavish marble entry and lobby. It’d been a few years since she’d been to the Regency. She admired the rich, jeweled colors and the various textures used on the seating throughout the space. The chimes tolled six, ten minutes before her father would appear. She took the opportunity to sit and people watch. Some of her best inspiration came from everyday outfits. She sat on one of the gray velvet sofas in the far corner and enjoyed the colorful display of fabrics. She tried to figure out what each person did by the clothes they wore.
Shock turned her into a statue.
Millicent Westfield and Holly walked through the front doors. Dressed for evening dining in chic summer outfits, Mrs. Westfield wore a mint-green linen dress with a small bolero jacket to cover her shoulders, but Holly flaunted her perfect, tall, thin figure with a strapless red dress and matching open-toed fuck-me heels. Both women sparkled with jewels, and Tess wondered if any of the diamonds adorning Holly’s neck and ears came from Maximilian. They chatted and didn’t notice her sitting against the wall.
What were they doing in New York?
Tess’s fingers tightened around her clutch the moment Max emerged from the elevator and walked up to the ladies. He acknowledged his mother with a curt nod and looked down at Holly. Did his smile look forced? She so wanted to believe it wasn’t a happy smile. Holly wrapped her arm around Max’s like a deadly snake and pressed her breasts against him. His mother took his other arm and turned him toward the front door just as her father emerged from another elevator. “Teresa.”
Max turned to look back. Her gaze locked on the contact between Holly’s body and his arm. She snapped her head up to his eyes. Astonishment and guilt washed over his face as he disappeared out the front door.
Tess’s father blocked any further view of the threesome. She plastered on a smile and said, “Hello, Father. You look good.”
“You, on the other hand, look pale. Are you all right?”
“Perfectly fine. I’ve been busy. I don’t remember eating lunch, so I’m a tad hungry. How was your flight?” Tess mustered a smile even though her insides cried.
“Uneventful.”
“Good. Where are we dining?”
“I’ve made reservations at Le Petit Coeur. A new French restaurant down the street.”
“Julian told me about it. You must know someone. It’s the hottest reservation in the city and booked for the next six months.”
“I have my connections. Oh good, here’s Adrien.”
The man’s smile and short beard caught Tess’s attention before she noticed his appreciative gaze travel up her body. His eyes were blue, but a very different blue from hers, more of a deep ocean blue while hers were china blue.
He held out his hand toward her and said, “I’m Adrien Gormond. Your father’s description of you didn’t come close to the real thing.”
“Thank you. I’m Tess, and I’d love to hear how my father describes me. I find what he lacks in creativity he makes up for in business shrewdness. Isn’t that right, Father?”
“I supposed so. That’s why I leave the creative side to others and enjoy the moneymaking side. Do we need a car to go a few blocks or would you like to walk?”
“Walking sounds good. I need some fresh air, although the hot day has caused the somewhat acrid smells of the city to be extra aromatic this evening. I think they need some rain to wash away the grime.”
“Paris can be the same way. One has to pretend they’re walking through a field of scented jasmine fertilized with cow manure.”
Tess’s laugh bubbled up her throat and released the tightness from earlier. She relaxed as she walked between her father and Adrien. She pushed Maximilian to the back of her mind, where the thought of him lying to her could fester along with the visual of his shocked face.
The hostess seated them in a quiet corner of the restaurant; the black ceiling lit by thousands of tiny lights gave the feeling of being out under the stars. The crisp, white tablecloths and napkins contrasted with the dark shades of burgundy fabric on the chairs, giving the space an upscale cosmopolitan feel with a hint of bohemian color.
“You call yourself Tess and your father calls you Teresa,” Adrien noted after the hostess walked away.
“I call her by her given name.” Her father’s voice held a note of authority.
Tess smiled. “My father and I have disagreed about my name since I was small. My mother calls me Tess and my father calls me Teresa. When I was little, I always thought my father was mad at me when he called my name. To this day I have to make sure he isn’t angry when we speak because I tend to irritate him more than not.” That got a laugh out of Adrien and a slight smirk from her father.
“Both names are enchanting. Do you mind if I call you Teresa? It’s one worthy of a beautiful woman.”
Tess looked between the two men. Her hope that Mr. Gormond would be a breath of fresh air next to her stuffy father evaporated. Even his drop-dead-take-me-to-bed looks couldn’t erase the one thing on his mind—pleasing her father.
“You can call me whatever you like. Whenever I meet my father’s business associates, they all call me Teresa. So I suppose it’s appropriate for you to do the same. How do you like the Paris office? My father once suggested I get my MBA so I could handle that division. When I said no, he called me Teresa Marie. That’s when I knew I really pissed him off.” She took a sip of her wine, immune to her father’s stiff-backed glare. She took a perverse delight in tormenting him. And tonight he deserved it for bringing yet another ass-kissing suitor disguised as a business associate.
“You have a brilliant mind. It’s a waste to be doing nothing but sewing. I just want…”
Tess held up her hand, tired of the same old argument. “If you wanted what was best for me, you would want me to be happy. I love what I do. I know I’ve disappointed you from the day I was born a girl. Sorry. But you can’t keep making me feel I’m to blame. If I remember my science correctly, it’s your fault I’m female.”
“Let’s not bore Adrien with our family squabbles.” His look told her she had pushed him as far as he was willing to let her.
“You’re right. How’s London?”
“This time of year its crowded with tourists. How’s Boston?”
“The same. Tourists arrive by bus, train, and plane. Not to mention all the people who drive into the city without any idea of where they’re going. Makes for a lot of congestion. But the parks are beautiful, and the bay is always fun to run alongside.”
The rest of the evening consisted of awkward small talk. Adrien retreated to simple yes-and-no answers, no longer trying to impress her. Maybe if they had met under different circumstances, there might have been a spark, but being her father’s lackey clinched his fate before he opened his mouth.
“Would you like me to call a limo for you?” her father politely asked when they finished their meal.
“No, thank you. I’ll walk back to your hotel and grab a cab.” Tess rose, and the two men followed. Adrien deferred to her father when they reached the sidewalk, and he followed behind them.
“Good night, Teresa. It was a pleasure meeting you.” Adrien nodded his head toward her and left her standing in the lobby with her father.
“Good night.” The man merged with the crowd waiting for the elevators, and she turned to her father. “Will I see you again during your visit?”
“Adrien and I fly to London on Sunday. Unfortunately, we’ll be tied up with business so maybe on my next trip—or you could come to London. Jets do fly both ways.”
“I’ll plan a visit when I’m finished with this project. It would be nice to see the country house again. Do you think you might be able to take a few days off and join me?”
“Just let me know when you’re coming, and I’ll make sure I have some time. I’m sorry you feel you’re a disappointment. I never meant to give you that impression.”
For the first time Tess could remember, he leaned down and kissed her cheek, giving her a hug before he said, “Good night.”
“Good night,” she whispered, and they shared a brief, sweet smile. He got on the elevator, and she turned to leave the hotel, coming face-to-face with an angry Maximilian.
****
The look on Tess’s face flashed on the inside of Maximilian’s eyelids with every blink. Holly sat on one side of him and his mother on the other. Neither cared what he thought. He sipped his claret, careful to loosen his grip on the wine glass, so the delicate stem didn’t crack in his hand. Hurt, confusion, then anger had crossed Tess’s face in the seconds they made eye con
tact. His stomach clenched from the fear of losing her.
He bolted to attention and looked from his mother to Holly. “Ladies, I have an early business meeting in the morning, so I’m going to leave. Stay as long as you want and enjoy dessert.”
“Maximilian, don’t you think it’s rude to leave us here alone?”
He didn’t back down. “You and Holly came to the city to enjoy the shopping. I hope you have a nice day tomorrow.” He left no room for argument and walked out of the restaurant.
Instead of flagging down a cab, he walked toward the Regency oblivious to all the people around him. He pulled out his phone and dialed Tess. It went directly to voice mail, and he slammed it off, not wanting to leave a message. God, how could he explain what happened tonight?
He screeched to a halt. Why was she at the Regency in the first place? He stepped out of the foot traffic and dialed Christopher.
“Hello, cousin. Are you calling to have another go with Tess over the phone?” Christopher sounded drunk.
“Where is she?”
“Probably out enjoying the night life. How’s Boston?”
Maximilian heard a man’s voice ask who was calling, and Christopher replied, “my cousin, looking for Tess.”
“I’m in New York, Christopher. Is Tess with you?”
“Nope. She had dinner plans tonight. Wait, what are you doing in New York? Didn’t you tell Tess you wouldn’t be here until Saturday morning?”
“Change of plans.” He shut off his phone and flagged a cab. The sooner he was back in his room with a good stiff drink the better.
He stomped through the doors of the hotel after throwing the driver a twenty, not caring that he tipped the guy ten dollars.
There was Tess. His Tess. Being kissed by another man.
Maximilian fisted his hands, so he didn’t reach out and strangle the guy now hugging her. He had to be twice her age. What the hell was she doing with him?
Her sugar daddy. His already knotted stomach twisted with pain.
She didn’t follow the man to the elevator, or he would have lunged at the doors to keep them from going up to the man’s room together. He waited. Tess paused, then waved good bye to the man.
