“You look hot, Cinderella. We may just meet prince charming tonight,” she grinned naughtily. “Ready? Mike and Stephen are waiting downstairs.”
“After you, fairy godmother.”
She laughed as she linked arms with me, escorting me out of our apartment. Stephen and Mike were leaning against Mike’s SUV. As we came into their line of sight, they broke into a slew of catcalls and whistles.
“Damn, pumpkin,” Stephen drawled as I laughed, turning in a circle for him.
“Stop. And get in the car,” I demanded between my laughter. I couldn’t help from feeling good about the night.
I was freezing, wishing I had brought a coat as we stood in line for one of the hippest clubs in Boston. Stephen cocooned my body with his in attempt to keep me warm as we waited for entry. Mike was doing the same for Lizzie. Looking over at them, I couldn’t help thinking they would make a great couple.
Once we finally made it through the bouncer, pushing our way through the crowded club, we split up. Mike and Stephen headed for the bar to get our drinks while Lizzie and I looked for a table or area we could get off our feet. As luck would have it, a group of people moved away from a table right next to the dance floor. We snatched it up and waited for Stephen and Mike to find us with our drinks.
The music blared through the sound system as multi-colored lights flashed across the dance floor. I surveyed the two story club, my eyes being drawn to the less crowded second floor that was reserved for VIP guests - the stairs roped off, guarded by a bouncer. Private settees were separated from each other by dark, velvet curtains and walls, each one having a direct view to the dance floor below.
I was watching the mob of sweaty bodies grinding on the dance floor when Stephen and Mike appeared with our drinks and a round of shots.
“Let’s get this party started!” Stephen hollered, passing us each a shot with a cheeky grin. We toasted to the end of the semester, throwing them back.
Lizzie jumped up from her seat, grabbing my hand. “Let’s dance,” she yelled, pulling me towards the crowded dance floor.
I usually needed to drink more before having the courage to dance, always feeling out of place at clubs like these. Not tonight. Tonight, I was on a mission to have fun. As I let my body move to the rhythm of the music, I started sweating. We danced through a few songs before returning to our table.
Stephen had disappeared back to the bar to get another drink. Lizzie and I downed ours, thirsty from all the dancing. She tugged at Mike’s hand, pulling him to the dance floor. He looked at me, pleading for an escape. I threw up my hands in feigned apology, laughing as shook I my head. He was getting no help from me.
I watched as the two of them moved together naturally until Stephen returned with more shots. We clinked our glasses together and tipped them to our mouths. I decided to take a note out of Lizzie’s book, pulling Stephen onto the dance floor. Weaving our way through the drunk bodies, we squeezed into a spot next to Lizzie and Mike.
The four of us danced and drank as the music played and the hours passed. I had a good buzz from the alcohol, feeling confident and sexy as I danced. Stephen had, once again, wandered off somewhere to get drinks - I assumed, leaving the three of us to dance.
Lizzie and Mike continued to cling to each other as they had all night. Mike never took his eyes off her as she swayed and grinded her body with his. She seemed only focused on him, also. The few guys that had attempted to approach her, in Mike’s brief absence, she ignored, turning away from them.
The DJ was one of the best in town, and as one song ended, he would transition to the next, melding them together seamlessly. My body slowed with the new rhythm, as I swayed my hips from side to side. I was lost in the music when I felt a masculine body press against my back, a hand spreading across my hip, stopping my movement. I didn’t have to look to know who was behind me. I knew that gentle touch. It sent a shock of electricity through my body, bringing every nerve alive.
I felt his hand glide across my waist to the other side of my body, gently nudging, rotating me to face him. I closed my eyes, as he turned me around. I didn’t want to look at him. I didn’t think I would be strong enough to do what I had to do if I looked into his eyes.
“Open your eyes,” he gently demanded. I shook my head no, unable to speak. “Ava, please. Open your eyes,” his plea still commanding.
I inhaled a deep breath, opening my eyes to his muscular chest draped with a gray, buttoned shirt. He gently raised my chin, forcing me to look into his intense stare - the way he had once before. Rhett’s piercing blues bored into me, quickening my heart.
“Come with me. We need to talk.”
He took my hand, intertwining our fingers, pulling me off the dance floor as he marched us through the crowd of people, who moved out of his path without resistance. He led me to the VIP stairs where the bouncer had already removed the rope, allowing us to pass.
I expected for him to pull me into one of the VIP booths, but he didn’t. He stalked passed them to a curtain which he pushed aside to reveal a hidden door. He punched a code into a keypad before opening the door, stepping aside to let me enter first. I looked at him as he held the door open without a word, staring back at me expressionless. It was the first time he’d allowed me to make my own choice since approaching me on the dance floor. I raised my chin with confidence and walked in.
It was a massive private suite with a personal bar. It had a cozy seating arrangement of couches and chairs that faced a one way mirrored window that looked out into the club. I stepped up to the glass, looking down at the dance floor. I could see Mike and Lizzie still dancing, oblivious that I had left, it dawning on me that he must have been watching me from up here. Stephen was still in line at the bar, a pretty little redhead starting to advance on him.
I turned to face Rhett. He was watching me, his eyes roaming over me, his beautiful body dripping with rage. If I hadn’t been so angry myself, I probably would’ve been frightened.
“Well, spit it out,” I reflexively flung my hands to my hips. “What did you want to say? Or did you just bring me here to lead me on and play more mind games?”
I didn’t know if it was the alcohol or the confidence I had tonight, but I was going to let him know just how I felt about him and the messed up game he was playing.
“Lead you on?” His brow pinched together.
“Yes! Stalking me everywhere I go, making a pass at me in the hallway at your parent’s, saying you would find me and then what? Nothing!” I threw my hands up frustrated.
He stared at me, trying to make sense of everything I was saying, his body stiffening with irritation. “I did come find you. Only I found you in another man’s arms on the beach. Why didn’t you tell me you were unavailable? If anyone was being led on, it was me,” he gritted through his teeth, taking one step towards me.
I gawked in disbelief. Once again, I felt humiliated in front of him. He had seen Stephen and me on the beach that night, assuming we were together. I reeled in the irritation I’d been feeling, realizing the obvious misunderstanding. “I’m not with him,” I sighed, my defensive posture deflating. “The guy on the beach, the one downstairs in the club, is a friend.”
As he processed my words, his body relaxed, his irritation fading. He held my eyes with his for what seemed like an eternity before he stalked closer toward me, like a hunter moving in on his prey. “Is there anyone else?”
You, only you my body screamed. I needed to run. I was losing the strength to fight him. My body was instantly betraying me. The closer he moved towards me the harder it was to resist him.
“No,” I glanced around the room for an escape. “…I need to go now.”
“Stay,” he pleaded with that voice that brought me to my knees.
“I can’t.” I shook my head adamantly. “My friends will be looking for me.”
“Stay,” he demanded again. He was inches from me now. I could feel the heat radiating from his body while his delicious smell flooded my sen
ses. I knew I was losing the battle.
“Give me one good reason to stay... I can think of a hundred reasons to leave. Give me just one to stay.” I had no idea how I was keeping my voice level when I felt like I had lost complete control of my body. Everything about the man was tempting me.
He leaned in closer, bringing his hands to my face, his touch setting my already sensitive skin on fire. He tilted my head so our foreheads were touching, both of our eyes closing as we breathed each other in.
“Ava,” he whispered with desperation.
I heard his breath quickening. My lips parted with anticipation. He slammed his lips against mine, walking me backwards until I was pressed against the glass. Trapped. Bodies melded. His fiery, passionate kiss possessing me, demanding I submit to my urges.
I wanted to pull away. I couldn’t. I was drunk with lust. I reached my arms up, tangling my fingers in his hair, pulling him in deeper as a soft murmur of contentment released from my mouth. I hadn’t been kissed in years. I hadn’t been kissed like this, ever.
He broke our lips apart, his hands remaining on the sides of my face, our heads still touching as we both breathed heavily from the kiss - from being pressed up against each other.
“Ok,” I breathed out, finally managing the words, “I’ll stay.”
I felt his head nod against mine. “Not here,” he pulled our heads apart to look at me, his eyes studying mine. “I want to take you somewhere else.”
“Fine,” I agreed without hesitation. “I just need to let my friends know I’m leaving.”
He nodded his understanding before grabbing my hand, once again, to lead me out of the private suite. As we walked passed the VIP section, he released my hand, placing his at the small of my bare back, guiding me to find my friends.
We found Mike and Lizzie at the table, taking a break from dancing. Stephen had, apparently, wandered off somewhere with the redhead I had seen him with from the private suite.
“Ava!” Lizzie exclaimed, “Where did you go?!”
I smiled without answering her question. “I’m leaving.”
She gave me a look of concern until she noticed Rhett standing a few feet behind me, waiting patiently. Her face broke into a wide smile with the realization of where I had been and was likely going. She stepped forward, hugging me to her, “Call if you need me,” she whispered in my ear.
I nodded as we broke apart, glancing over her shoulder to look at Mike. “Make sure she gets home safe.”
Mike nodded. I turned from my friends, leaving with Rhett.
Walking out of the club, the cold air hit my warm, damp skin, causing me to shiver. Rhett put his arm around me, guiding me towards a black Bentley parked right outside the front door.
“Mr. Blackwood,” the valet nodded as he handed Rhett the keys.
Rhett held the passenger side door open for me as I got in. After shutting the door, he smoothly strode around the car to get in the driver’s seat. Every step he took was powerful and confident.
My nerves overwhelmed me as I watched him. My body on high alert as he smiled optimistically. My brain all over the place as I realized how far out of my league he was. I had no idea what I was doing. He slid into the car, looking over at me. As if sensing my nervousness, his hand reached over, resting above my knee in a reassuring gesture. For some reason, his gentle touch calmed me. He started the car, the engine roaring as it came alive and pulled away from the curb.
We drove through the darkened streets in silence, only making me more anxious. “What are we doing?” I broke the silence, looking over at his beautiful profile.
He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye, appearing amused, “What do you want to do, Ava?”
“I don’t know,” I thought out loud, “I don’t normally do this kind of thing, you know?”
“And what kind of thing is that?”
“Leave with random men from bars.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” A smile pulled at the corners of his mouth.
“I’ve never done a one night stand,” I added.
He turned his head, momentarily studying me. I couldn’t read his face. Was it concern? Relief? I wasn’t sure. Turning his eyes back to the road, his face turned impassive, “It wasn’t my intention to have a one night stand.”
My breath caught in my throat. I didn’t respond. I didn’t know how to. I had no idea what that meant or what he wanted with me then.
We pulled up to the curb outside a brownstone in the historic Beacon Hill neighborhood. Rhett shut off the ignition before shifting to look at me with his extraordinary eyes locked on mine.
“We won’t do anything you don’t want to do. You’re in control of what happens tonight.”
It was obvious him saying these words to me was a struggle. He was a man used to getting what he wanted. I nodded my head in understanding without saying a word.
He got out of the car before walking around to open my door, offering his hand out to me. I took it, stepping out of the car. He didn’t release my hand. Instead, he pulled me with him up the steps of the brownstone, unlocking the door swiftly before guiding me inside.
The interior of his home was impeccable. The original wood floors, trim and architectural features remained intact, but it was obvious it had been upgraded. The whole home was tastefully decorated to feel cozy and comfortable, yet elegant. I was surprised, expecting more of a bachelor pad.
As if reading my thoughts, he stated, “My mother’s hobby is interior design. She took it upon herself to furnish and decorate for me.”
I smiled, “Ah, I see. She has great taste.”
He showed me into the kitchen, offering me a seat at the island, “Would you like a drink?”
“Water.”
I really wanted something harder to calm my nerves. I knew if I drank anymore though, I may do something I wasn’t ready for.
He opened a cupboard, selecting a glass and then a bottle of water from the fridge. He moved around the island, handing me both, taking a seat next to me.
“So, Ms. Conner, what is it you would like to do?” he mused, watching me intently as I fidgeted with the expensive bottle of water, ignoring the glass.
Surprised he knew my last name and how he always showed up randomly, I reciprocated the formalness, asking the one question at the front of my mind. “Are you stalking me, Mr. Blackwood?”
He smirked. My question only amusing him more. “I do my research on things I invest in, but I would hardly call it stalking.”
“So, you’re investing in me?”
His gaze darkened, his voice lowering, “I think we both know I’m already invested.”
His words sent goose bumps traveling across my skin, the pure magnetism between us shooting straight to my core. Our chemistry was undeniable. Still, I wasn’t ready for whatever this was, so I tried turning the topic to a more innocent conversation. “Tell me something about you.”
He smiled, knowing my tactic, proceeding to tell me about his family and the family business. His father was a self-made billionaire entrepreneur, starting Blackwood Industries fresh out of college. Rhett had been helping his father run the business for the last three years after graduating from Harvard with his masters. His mother was a housewife, who mainly focused on charity events and redecorating their various homes. His younger sister was still in high school and starting to date, much to his dismay.
I could tell by the way he talked about his sister, they were very close. Hearing him talk about his whole family, it was obvious they all were, softening my heart towards him. They all resided in New York, where Blackwood Industries headquarters were, while he remained living in Boston, looking after some of their more recent investments.
Not wanting to admit it, much of what he told me, I had already known. I had googled him when we returned from the Hamptons. The curiosity eating at me. I couldn’t resist. I had mostly found business and tabloid articles showing him with various blondes on his arm at social events, including the one from the
party. I wished I had never bothered, because the whole thing was just self-inflicted torture.
When he finished telling me his normal practiced interview answers, I grinned. “Okay, now tell me something I can’t find on the internet.”
He laughed. His deep baritone reverberating in his chest, making my own smile widen.
“What do you want to know?” he asked as his laughter died down.
“I don’t know,” I shrugged, then tapped my finger to my chin. “Hmm…okay, did you always know you were going to work in the family business?”
“Yes.”
“Did you always want to?”
He hesitated, shifting in his seat slightly. “Sure.”
“I don’t believe you.”
He laughed again.
I grinned wryly. “Was there something else you wanted to do?”
“Not really. I was raised to want this, so I never put much thought into doing anything else.”
“That’s… depressing,” I screwed up my face as I processed his answer.
He chuckled, “Most people would call my life anything but depressing.”
“Nobody likes a bragger, Blackwood. Modesty is much more attractive.”
He smirked. “You’re different, Ms. Conner… Not like any other girls I’ve met.” His gaze scanned over me, his teeth tugging at his bottom lip, reminding me how it felt to have those lips on mine.
I self-consciously tucked a hair behind my ear, clearing my throat. “Okay, next question... First kiss?” I blushed at my new line of interrogation, unsuccessful at getting his mouth off my mind.
He smiled, shaking his head slowly, ignoring my previous inquiry. “Nope. It’s my turn.”
“Okay, shoot.” I straightened my posture as if I was preparing for an interview. Amusement danced in his eyes.
“I assume you’re in school…so tell me, what’s your major?”
A Reason to Stay Page 7
