“Shit, he's a little over-the-top, isn't he?”
I can’t help but laugh at her very accurate assessment of Mika. “Oh Jillybean, you have no idea.”
We sit down in the living room, Jill huddled up on the couch and me in my regular spot in front of her, leaning against the couch with my back. Jill starts braiding my hair as she always does before we pow-wow about what is bothering me.
“So, you have this insanely rich guy vying for your attention and you are not jumping on this because…?” Jill pulls my head backward by my hair and looks at me, eyebrow raised.
“What does his money have to do with anything? And what even makes you think he has any money at all?”
She laughs.
“Girl, for all I know he looks like a Frankenstein monster. What I do know is that the man is working hard to sweep you of your feet and quite obviously dropping quite a few dimes doing so. And it looks to me like you are dragging your feet. Why?”
“Jillybean, guys like Mika Kingsley do not go for girls like me. Especially not for more than a night. And he had his fun, so that is that.”
“So the breakfast, the flowers, and the car were just an expensive kiss goodbye?” she says in a voice laced with sarcasm.
I sigh.
“I don’t think that I will be seeing him again. Even if he does want to see me again, which I highly doubt. I won’t put myself through another Ethan or Austin. I don’t think I could take that again.”
“I FLOVE you Rae but shut the fuck up. You can’t seriously be comparing this guy to dickweed and limp dick. You cannot go through live comparing every guy you meet to them. Not all guys are automatically assholes because they are interested in you. Seems to me that he has already treated you better than any of those pricks.”
I groan.
“You know that I have terrible taste in men; they always end up breaking my heart. The last time I gave someone a shot, he left me right after he slept with me, and that was after he told me for months that he loved me and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. And Mika is…If you saw him, Jillybean, you would understand what I mean when I tell you that I am nowhere near his league. I’m not even in the same game.”
Jill snorts.
“Oh please. We are not having this conversation again, are we?” she says as she stands abruptly. “Get up!” she barks.
I look up at my best friend. She holds out her hand to me, looking at me expectantly. I take it and she helps me to my feet. She continues to drag me through the hall and into her bedroom and stops in front of the full-length mirror that’s in the far corner of the room next to her small walk-in closet.
“Look,” she says.
Our eyes meet in the reflection of the mirror.
“Look, Rae,” she says more sternly this time. “Tell me what you see,” she demands.
I look at my reflection in the mirror and I don’t understand what she wants me to say.
“I know what I look like, Jill,” I say, annoyed.
She scoffs.
“I’m pretty sure that you have no fucking clue what you look like,” she bites back. “Look at those eyes,” she continues. “Look at those lashes. You don’t have a lick of makeup on and your skin is flawless. If I didn’t love you this much, I would hate your guts. I would kill to have a head of hair like yours!”
Now it’s my turn to scoff.
“Hush,” she warns. “How can you look at yourself and never see the beautiful woman that I see, that everyone else sees?”
I start thinking about how I felt last night as I was giving myself one last look before walking out the door before my date with Mika, or how I felt when he literally worshipped every inch of my body. This last thought causes my cheeks to heat up. I feel the smile spreading across my face before I look up and notice it in my reflection.
“Mika…last night he made me feel beautiful…”
I meet Jill’s gaze in the mirror and I watch her smirk at me. I smile back at her.
“See honey, that right there, that look on your face, makes me Kingsley’s biggest fan. I don’t think I remember you ever saying anything close to the words that just rolled out of your mouth.”
I think about that for a moment and the truth of that statement hits me like a ton of bricks. Maybe that is the problem. I don’t think that I expected him to slither in this far already.
“When something seems too good to be true, Jill…” I say as I turn to face her. “I just have to step back and stay away from him. I have to protect my heart.”
Jill pulls me into a hug.
“There is a difference between protecting your heart and completely shutting someone out, Raeva. Besides, nobody is telling you to marry the guy. Get to know him, let him get to know you. For the love of God girl, have some damn fun.”
As always, she manages to break through my sour mood and for a moment I let myself believe that I can do it. That maybe, just maybe, I can actually let him in.
For some reason I can’t fathom, I’m feeling extremely volatile right now. Sure, being pissed off at a situation like this is natural, but even I must admit that my reaction is uncharacteristic for me. I don’t lose my cool like this. Ever. I don’t think I have ever seen a grown man quiver in his boots like Matt Simon had just done minutes ago, right here in my office. Well, fuck if he didn’t deserve the riot act I wrote him. The amount of money that I pay the man should ensure the absence of fuck-ups like this. He should have made sure that this bullshit wouldn’t hit the newsstands or at least been privy to this shit before it got published.
I do not like being blindsided. Shit, I even detected a look of pity on Eric’s face and if that asshole felt bad for Simon it must have been something else. It dawns on me that although the ramifications are quite annoying from a business point of view, I am not nearly as worried about that as I am about the reaction Raeva might have to this. I can’t say that I’m proud of the fact that I ordered Sean to make her morning paper disappear.
Images of last night flicker through my mind. I feel my cock twitching at just the memory of her. I can't get the image of her out of my head. Was it really just a few short hours ago that her hot, naked body was writhing beneath me, matching me thrust for pounding thrust? I don't know what aches more, my cock or my back. I picture her piercing dark eyes and my breath catches in my throat. Seriously? What is it about her that makes me lose my composure?
“Kingsley, what the fuck? Are you even listening? Or are you just wasting my very valuable time?”
Eric’s voice shocks me out of my thoughts. Crap. I absolutely cannot focus. This girl has completely gotten under my skin. I don’t want her to know what is going on right now, not yet. I can’t risk losing her. She can’t know, not until I know for sure that she won’t run.
“I need to contain this. Raeva can’t know, not yet.”
Wait... what the hell. Did I just admit this out loud?
Eric raises his brow.
“Why do you even care about this woman finding out? Who is she?”
I let out a sigh.
“I need more time with her. I need her to understand.”
“So you care about this woman?”
His tone is laced with disbelief and who can blame him? He has never seen me care about any woman besides Mikaela or my mother.
He regards me for a moment in silence and continues when I nod.
“If you care about this woman you need to tell her what is going on or it’ll blow up in your face. It’s better if she hears this crap from you, before she gets the wrong version from different sources.”
I know he’s right but shit, I can’t think straight. Just the thought of losing her is making me feel like someone is choking me and fuck if that doesn’t freak me the hell out. Crap, I don’t even know if the thought of losing her is causing my insides to curl up in a fucking ball or if it’s the fact that I actually give two shits.
“What are you going to do? You can hardly stop her from reading the paper or watching the news.”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes just as my phone vibrates in my pocket. A text. My chest tightens when I see her name flashing on my screen.
Raeva - Thank you so much for breakfast and the beautiful flowers…and my car (we have to talk about that). I’d like to return the favor. How about I cook dinner for you tonight? Xoxo
Inspiration strikes. I feel the grin that paints my face as I look up at Eric.
“That’s exactly what I am going to do.”
I reply.
Mika - Dinner cooked by a beautiful woman? How can I refuse? One condition though, let’s do it at a place of my choice…
To my absolute delight her reply is instant.
Raeva - I’m intrigued. However, I need more information before I can accept the offer, Mr. Kingsley.
I smirk. I glance up at Eric who is watching me with an amused look on his face.
“Shut the fuck up.” I bark
He holds his hands up as he snickers. Prick.
Mika - I have a business deal to finalize and I need to go out of the country for a couple of days. I know you are not scheduled to work until the end of the week…and I really want that home cooked meal…want to tag along?
“Okay, I really want to meet the woman responsible for that ridiculous look on your face, Kingsley. She must be some piece of ass,” Eric says with a smug face.
“Watch your damn mouth, Hardwick,” I snap.
Whoa, that came out of nowhere. Of course my tone hardly deters him, in fact it only seems to egg him on. Fucker.
“No shit, you are actually invested in this woman?”
I lift myself out of my chair and walk over the window. I gaze upon the impressive view of the city and I realize that I have never noted how stunning the view is from my office. I’m silent for a moment that seems to stretch into minutes. Then, without any hesitation, I hear myself replying, surprising not just him but also myself when I realize the earnestness of my words as they roll out of my mouth.
“That ‘woman’…she is in a league of her own. Raeva eclipses her entire gender. She’s my tomorrow.”
What. The. Fuck.
I turn to look at my old friend and to my own surprise, I find him for the very first time since we met, rendered utterly speechless by my curt and frank admission of emotion in front of him. Apparently, I’m not the only one shocked, judging from the look on Hardwick’s face. He understands the significance of my statement. I remember a certain conversation that took place one night in college, after yet another alcohol and pussy-fueled night. It was sort of tradition to hook up with some broad and then meet up after to brag about the conquest.
“Damn that girl had a mouth like a vacuum.” Hardwick boasts about his conquest of the night.
I shake my head and can’t help but chuckle at his crude assessment. I take a swig of my scotch.
“You are kinda quiet tonight Kingsley, did you strike out or something? Don’t tell me that the ‘golden boy’ is losing his touch?”
I arch my brow.
“Hardly,” I scoff.
Hardwick throws his head back and laughs loudly.
“Shit, you had me worried there for a second, thought you might have caught some feelings.”
“Ha! Please! Don’t you know about his ‘tomorrow’ theory?”
I turn my head toward the door and see my twin sister leaning in the doorway.
“Fuck off Mikaela, why are you even here?” I snap.
Not at all impressed by my outburst, she giggles.
“Oh! Now THIS I want to hear!” Eric exclaims.
I narrow my eyes at my sister in an attempt to shut her up but she struts right in and plops down next to Hardwick.
“Spill it, Lady Kingsley,” Eric goads
Mikaela’s face lights up like a damn Christmas tree.
“Hmmm… what was it again? Let me get it right… the woman who is going be able to ‘capture’ my brother’s heart is gorgeous, obviously, and has a… how did he put it? Ah yes, ‘functional brain.’ She has to be funny, kind, independent, and have her own opinions, yet not be overly feminist But, most importantly, he needs to be able to look at her and imagine tomorrow with her in it which, let’s be honest, he can’t picture any of them an hour after they meet.”
Eric raises his eyebrow.
“So basically he described a woman who doesn’t exist,” he snickers.
“Well that’s the point though, isn’t it?” Mikaela chimes in.
“Tell her man, don’t mess this up for yourself. She needs to hear this from you.”
Not for the first time today, Eric’s voice brings me back to the here and now. I’m taken aback by the earnestness in his voice. I’m not quite sure how it happened but it’s clear to me. She is mine and I am going to make damn sure that it stays that way. Before I can respond to him, my phone chimes and I can barely hide my relief when I see her response.
Raeva - When do we leave?
I look around my bedroom, going through my mental checklist. Have I packed everything I need? Shoot, what do I even need? Mika won’t even tell me where we are going. Am I crazy for doing this? I wouldn’t even be doing this if Jill hadn’t grabbed my phone and replied for me. I’m just not that girl. I’m very apprehensive, it’s just my personality. I don’t do crazy or spontaneous things. I need time to plan, time to consider every angle of a situation. Mika told me to pack my passport. Where the hell is he taking me? He told me that it’s a surprise. I am not the kind of girl that likes surprises. I need to know what is coming. I don’t just have a plan A; I have an entire alphabet of plans, just in case. Without a doubt, I am the poster girl for type A personality. As always, my perturbation wouldn’t be apparent to anybody but my Jillybean. She looks at me, grinning widely.
“Baby girl, just go for it. What have you got to lose? If anything, you’re getting some great sex and a few days of vacation out of this.”
I roll my eyes and can’t help but smile at my best friend’s assessment. Still, I can’t seem to squash this nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach. Sometimes I wish that I could be a little more like her. I admire her carefree spirit and the way she just goes after whatever she wants and, more often than not, gets it.
“Stop it, Rae,” Jill tells me sternly.
I look up and meet her gaze.
“I know you are scared, baby girl. And I know you’ve been hurt because you are so caring. You care too much but honey, when you meet the right person then caring too much…it’ll become just enough. But you will never find it unless you give someone a chance to show you that they are that person for you.”
Jill puts her arm around my shoulders and leans her head against mine.
“Go and have a good time, Rae. You deserve a break.”
I smile at my best friend, thankful for her guidance.
“I love you Jillybean,” I tell her.
“I love you more Rae, even more than Oreos.”
She pulls me into a hug and just like that, my anxiety level has dropped dramatically. I look at the clock. Oh crap!
“We better hurry; he’ll be here in less than an hour!” I call out. Jill winks at me and smiles.
“We’ve got this baby girl, we’ve got this.”
I literally have butterflies in my belly as I see the car pull up. We both are standing at the window in my living room. I look at my best friend.
“Do I look okay, Jillybean?”
Jill gives me a once-over. I’ve chosen to wear a cute little multi-pattern belted sundress that hugs me in just the right places. It’s a little flowy, which makes it playful. I’ve paired it with some white sandals with a four-inch heel. I’ve kept my makeup to a minimum, sticking to just some blush, eyeliner, and a little lip balm.
“Honey, you look smoking hot. Do you really think I would let you leave here looking anything less than molten lava hot?” she asks in a mock angry tone.
Jill whistles as she observes Mika getting out of the car.
“Sweet holy mother of god!�
� she exclaims. “Baby girl, that man is quite literally god’s gift to women. Holy fuck,” she says while she fans herself.
I shake my head as a girlish giggle escapes my lips. I love the crap that comes out of this woman’s mouth. We watch Mika stride to my front door, closely followed by Sean. Jill grabs my arm and quite dramatically cries out.
"I FLOVE you Rae, more than I love Oreos, more than I love to bump uglies—and girl you know I love to get me some—but right now, at this moment in time, I hate your guts."
She throws me an exaggerated look of exasperation and I lose it. I’m laughing so hard tears start rolling down my face. We are both laughing heartily as we make our way to the front door. I open the door and my eyes meet Mika’s. Oh sweet lord have mercy, those eyes. A warmth spreads through my belly and I don’t think that I can smile any wider. For just a moment everything and everybody else disappears. It’s just him and me. He steps toward me and instantly I instinctively gravitate toward him immediately, as if I’m being pulled by invisible strings.
“Raeva,” he breathes.
“Hi,” I whisper.
I’m not exactly sure how long we stand there, not saying a word, lost in each other’s eyes. I seem unable to tear my eyes away from his. For several long minutes, we don’t break eye contact, until I hear Jill clear her throat. A feeling of annoyance washes over me but I quickly squash my irritation when I realize that I am the one being rude here.
“Oh I’m so sorry. Mika, meet my best friend Jill Baldwin. Jillybean, meet Mika Kingsley.”
Jill takes the hand that Mika extends.
“Charmed, I’m sure,” she says with a smirk.
He flashes her that sexy as hell lopsided grin of his.
“Pleasure is all mine.”
Oh Mika, you do not play fair, I think to myself.
“Are you ready to go Raeva?” Mika inquires.
I smile, attempting to hide any residual concerns that linger in my mind.
“I think I have everything,” I say, gesturing at the bags in my hallway.
Sean steps forward and Mika steps aside to let him pass.
“Please allow me, Ms. Ray,” Sean says as he collect my luggage.
Tomorrow: Kingsley series book 1 Page 6
