“Damon. You’re starting to worry me.”
“What?”
“You’re on another planet again. I think this woman is far from out of the picture, and if you need to put her in the picture physically to get your head back in the game, then do it,” George says, pointing at me before he stands and begins putting on his suit jacket.
“Seriously, Damon. Maybe it’s time to have a woman to go home to. It’s not a bad thing if you find the right one.” He pats my shoulder before he leaves me alone in the conference room.
George is a good friend. He’s forty, and two years ago, he married Renee. Another damn wedding I was forced to be in. He was a player before he met her, but that changed quickly, and they’re madly in love.
They’re also the couple that people have grounds to be jealous of; they’re educated, have the healthy relationship, looks, money and a baby on the way. I see that same happiness between Seth and Felicia.
I’ve not been myself since Alayna walked in and out of my life. I should’ve never picked her up at the airport that day. Actually, I should’ve never put my lips on hers at that wedding months ago. Damn, she’s gorgeous, sweet and smart. Alayna also tastes good ... smells good and feels incredible. Fuck.
Alayna
I literally hug my computer and kiss the screen. That has to be the fastest I’ve ever written a novel. Two weeks. Damon Lear was the inspiration I needed to get my head back in the game and complete another book.
I miss him, but when the thoughts and feelings come, I shove them away and get back to work. I managed to blah, blah, blah my way through the romantic parts, but this one is a lot juicier thanks to a certain male.
Damon was right about the hot sex being an inspiration. I would never write about what we did, so I get what he was saying, but it sure helped me write a more exciting read. I believe it’s just the right amount of dirty to keep it in the contemporary category.
My phone rings, and I see it’s Felicia.
“Hello, chick,” I say at my desk as I bring one leg up and plant my bare foot on the chair.
“You sound chipper. What gives?”
“I finished the first draft of my book. My agent will be thrilled.”
“Are you still in your PJ’s?”
“Um, yes.” I look down and see that I have granola bar crumbs on my flannel pajama shirt, so I dust them away.
“It’s five in the evening there. And when did you shower last?”
“Um ... I am due for a shower.”
“I know what you’re doing. I think it’s great you finished another novel, but what you’ve done for two weeks isn’t healthy. It will catch up with you.”
I sigh. Why can’t she leave well enough alone?
“There is nothing wrong with staying busy. It’s how I got over Michael, and that worked out just fine.”
“Did it? If I remember correctly, once you slowed down, you crashed big time, and then you didn’t date for two years. Then, you slept with the gladiator in a suit.”
“Bitch.”
“I love you, too, sweetheart. Now, move here like you planned.”
“No, I have to pick a new city and stay away from men, so I don’t have to keep taking up new residences.”
“I’ll convince you, and I’m about ready to cut the balls off the gladiator for killing all the hard work I put into getting you here. I wish you’d confide in me. Whatever went on between you two, I’m sure I could understand.”
“He’s an extremely complicated man, and I don’t wish to discuss him anymore. I’m in a good place. I work out every morning, and I write all day. Things are awesome.” Liar, liar, pants on fire.
“I’ll be in touch soon. Now, go take a shower.”
I grab a hunk of my hair and sniff it.
“Yes, I think it’s time. Love ya, girl.”
“If you love me, you’ll move here,” she chimes. “See ya.”
I hang up and let out an even bigger sigh. It’s embarrassing how few showers I’ve taken in the last two weeks. Hands tied behind my back, cheek smashed against the cold tile as steam billows around me, and a gripping pleasure like nothing I’ve ever felt before is all I see when I’m in there. Damn him.
Chapter Two
Two Weeks Later
Damon
The room is dark with only some red running lights. Without a word, I put her wrists and ankles in the black shackles connected to short chains that attach to the wall. I begin to get hard seeing her naked body bound.
She’s an attractive, natural blonde who has a tight body and goes by Candy. I had to fight an eye roll when she told me. Can she get any less creative? We’re not at a cheap strip club. It costs a lot for a membership here, so the women are always attractive but not always the brightest.
Occasionally, I’ll come across one who brings more to the scene than looks, and a part of me will be interested in getting to know her outside of the club, but there’s only one I ever let that happen with.
Jacqueline gets her kicks off being a submissive, and I thought she wouldn’t get attached, but she asked for more. She wanted to be my only submissive, but to me that still creates a bond, and I don’t do bonds. I only see her six times a year now.
The memory of considering Alayna as a long-term sub invades my mind.
This woman’s backside is to me. I run my hand up into her hair, but it’s not thick and lush like someone else’s I know, so out of frustration, I yank it, bringing her head to the side. I run my tongue along her ear and down her neck, causing her to whimper.
Sliding my hand around to her front, I feel that her nipple is rigid, so I tug it between my fingers. She whimpers again, and I’m becoming angry, so I tighten my grip on her hair and tug her nipple harder before letting it go. She moans this time, enjoying the pain.
I’m pissed off, furious because I have a craving to paddle this woman’s ass until it’s fire red but only to hurt her, not for pleasure. And no part of me wants to fuck her. What I’m doing already feels like a chore.
This place is elite. It’s masked as an event venue you’d rent out, and the number of public officials who are members keep it from being shut down.
I haven’t been here since a few days before Alayna stayed with me. I thought I was ready to return, but I was wrong. I’m not even undressed, and my hard-on is gone.
“Are you OK, sir?” Candy asks.
I realize I’ve been in a trance again, off somewhere else.
“I’m sorry, but I need to leave. It has nothing to do with you.” I help her out of the shackles. “You can go.”
She appears more hurt and disappointed than annoyed, but I have bigger problems–a gorgeous redhead that’s consuming my brain. After getting to my Nissan GT-R, I feel the sweat on my forehead and slam my hand onto the steering wheel.
Whatever is happening to me, I don’t fucking like it. I take off and head toward my place in the Hamptons. Getting away from the city is what I need.
***
It’s Monday, and I’m sitting in my office when George comes in. “So, are we in a better state of mind this morning?” he asks.
I keep looking at the paperwork in front of me.
“What do you need, George?”
“Helen’s going to bring you some papers to sign as soon as they’re couriered over. Don’t sit on them. I’m carrying your ass through this take-over of Vasser publishing, Damon, so I’m checking on you.” His tone is now serious. “You’ve had me worried.”
“I know we’re pals, but I’m still your boss. Can you show me a little more respect? I went to my other place for the weekend and got some rest. I’m great, so you can go.”
He holds his hands up in front of him.
“OK, I’ll go.” The door shuts, and I feel like an asshole.
My phone beeps. “Mr. Lear, Seth Rutherford is on line two for you.”
“Thanks, Helen.” I pick up the line and lean back in my chair. “Seth, what’s up?”
“There you are, ma
n. I’ve been worried. I tried to phone you a couple of times this weekend. I was going to see if you wanted to grab a drink.”
“I took a last minute trip up to the Hamptons and shut off my cell.”
“It sounds like you need a drink.”
“Damn. Am I appearing that off to everyone?”
“It’s her, isn’t it?”
“I’ll have Roger swing by and grab you at the office, say six?” I ask.
He chuckles. “You can’t run forever, man. Six is great. See you then.”
Alayna
“Your darkness was my light.”
“Pick up the damn phone, sweetheart. I know you’re listening,” Felicia says over my answering machine. She’s been calling for days. She was also right. I sort of crashed and burned about a week ago. My flame ran out of fuel.
I’ve still managed to get my cardio in every day for stamina; you know, in case I get to have hot sex again in this lifetime, but it hasn’t helped my mood any.
It’s doubtful there’s another man on this planet who could pleasure me the way Damon did. I haven’t edited my book, and I’m still barely showering. It’s sad. So I don’t stress Felicia out more, I call her back.
“Hi, girl.”
“Finally. I thought I was going to have to board a plane.”
“Sorry.”
“I warned you of this.”
“I know, and I don’t need it rubbed in.”
“Come stay with me this weekend. I’ll pay for your ticket.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“You can and you will. I want you to meet someone.”
I sit straight up in bed. “Hell no. No way. You can get the thought right out of that conniving head of yours.”
“You need this, Alayna. You’re almost twenty-eight, and you’ve never dated. I’ll send you a picture, so you can see that he’s attractive. He works with me, and he would be a great catch.”
“OK, but he has to at least have hair, and I’m buying my ticket. I’m only coming because I miss you,” I say in a pouty voice. I can’t help it. I feel that way at the moment.
The fact my best friend is setting me up on a date, so I can get over a man I wasn’t even in a relationship with makes me feel pathetic.
Damon
“Hey, buddy,” Seth says after sliding into the Mercedes.
I fold up the newspaper I was reading and set it next to me. “Hi. I’m ready for a drink. It was definitely a Monday.”
“I second that. Where are we headed?”
“How does The Bar Downstairs at Andaz hotel sound?” I ask.
“Perfect.”
Roger drops us at the door, and we find our way to the underground bar. It’s a cool, less stuffy environment to relax in compared to the places I have to frequent for business. I order us both a Hedonism scotch whiskey, and we talk work for a while.
Needing to change from that stressful subject, I order us another drink and ask him how his vacation was.
“Good. The in-laws drove me a little crazy, but the weather was incredible.” Seth points at me. “A beach vacation. That’s exactly what you need. This winter weather sucks. Go to some tropical paradise and find some women to tie up.”
“Since when do you encourage my behavior?”
“I’m encouraging you to do it somewhere else, not here. Felicia’s been all over my ass about you. Alayna won’t tell her details of what went down, so she’s certain I know them.”
“But you don’t.”
“Exactly, and I expect to keep it that way. Felicia spoke to her this afternoon.”
“When is she moving here?”
“Oh, you killed that plan. It’s another reason Felicia’s pissed at you.”
I’d been staring at my drink until I heard those words.
“What do you mean?”
“She’s not moving here. She doesn’t want to be in the same state as you, not permanently, anyway. I guess she’s flying in this weekend but only for a couple of days.”
“She’ll be here?” I ask, sounding overly interested.
“Felicia’s setting Alayna up with some guy from her work. I have to go on this blind date with them Friday. Want to talk about awkward.”
“Fuck. Get me her address.”
“Hell, no. You need to leave that woman alone.”
“I can’t get her out of my head, and it’s pissing me off royally.”
“You like her.”
I lower my head. “I guess I do.”
“Sorry, man, but I don’t know her address, and even if I did, I can’t give it to you unless you’re completely changing your ways.”
“Seth, I’ve done you some favors over the years, and I’m asking you to do this for me. I’m sure Felicia has some address book laying around or a letter from Alayna. Get me that damn address.”
Seth drums his fingers on the table.
“Shit. Alright, but please don’t make this situation any worse.”
“I’ll see to it that Alayna moves here. That’ll make Felicia happy and get her off your back.”
“Yeah, and her moving here and spending time with you is what worries me.”
“I didn’t do anything to her that she didn’t want.”
Seth throws his hand up. “Stop right there. Don’t tell me anything else. I’m already withholding information from Felicia about your past and your hobby. I’m not going to be put into a position where I have to lie to her, too.”
I down the rest of my drink and pull out my phone to call Roger to pick us up.
“Get. Me. That address.”
Chapter Three
Alayna
I’m doing rewrites, striving to get this book in good shape to send to my editor. My doorbell rings. Shit, I’m in my PJ’s. They’re my flannels, so I’m covered, but it’s still embarrassing since it’s the afternoon.
I peek through the peephole and see it’s the mailman holding a large envelope. Not having much choice, I open the door.
“Hi, just sign here,” the guy says. I give my signature and take the mail.
“Thanks.” It’s freezing outside, so I quickly shut the door. Holy Hell. It’s something from Golding R. Publishing, Damon’s company. He better not offer to help me out with my books because that is not happening. Thank goodness I have a different publishing company.
I tear it open and pull out a plane ticket to New York along with a sealed, plain white envelope. I rip that one open and find a hand written note.
Alayna,
I want to see you. Please spend the weekend with me.
Damon
That bastard. How dare he dig into this wound? I grab my cell phone to text him.
Me: You can’t just summon me whenever you feel like it! I’m sending the ticket back.
Damon: Dammit, Alayna, don’t be stubborn. I’m not in the habit of asking for things, but I at least made an exception for you.
Me: You made an exception for me? Well, how kind of you. I didn’t ask you to do shit for me.
Damon: I sense some sexual frustration.
“Oh, that asshole!” I yell, practically snarling after. I launch my phone from the living room to the kitchen. It smacks the floor and slides under the refrigerator. Damn him.
I hear it ding with another text as I use my broom to retrieve it from under the fridge. After I pull the dust bunnies off of it, I read another message.
Damon: I can take care of that for you, and you know you’re longing for me to. I bet you’re wet already, so get on a plane Friday, and come see me. Quinn and Roger will be waiting to pick you up.
Me: I can’t believe you’re doing this to me after a month of no contact? I’m not an escort service!
Damon: I’m not trying to buy your time! The ticket is a gift. I could never think of you that way.
Why does he have to show a hint of kindness? I can’t give in.
Me: I’m already coming to New York City Friday for a date so no thanks.
Damon: Dammit, Alayna.
That’s not what you want, so stop being difficult.
Me: I can’t do casual sex with you since there is nothing casual about it. You don’t do relationships, so go find someone else, and leave me alone!
Damon: You are maddening, woman, and this isn’t over!
Finally, the texts stop. He thinks I’d fly there just for sex. What nerve? He had to see I was developing feelings for him. I need more you selfish bastard.
Damon
I have a news flash for that woman. Another man is not touching her. I find Seth’s number in my phone and call him.
“Seth, where are you and Felicia taking Alayna for dinner.”
“I don’t know. Felicia arranged it.”
“Please find out and let me know.”
“Why would I do that? I think you’re losing it, man. What are you going to do, crash her date?”
“Just let me know the name of the place.”
“No, Damon. I have to draw the line here. She agreed to go out with this guy, so she’s obviously making an effort to move on.”
“Fine,” I say pissed before I end the call. Then I’ll have them followed. When it comes to Alayna, I’m not above it.
Alayna
My stomach is in knots as I exit the plane at LaGuardia. It’s already reminding me too much of Damon. It seems like so long ago since we strolled through this airport together. I brought his plane ticket with me.
I’m going to let Seth give it back to him. Maybe his friend will give him an earful on my behalf. I’m sure Felicia will want to after she hears about the ticket. Well, probably not since she doesn’t know all the details of my snow storm sexcapade. That sounds like a damn porno title.
Felicia picks me up and we have only enough time back at her place for me to freshen up and change. I went to the spa yesterday and had all the grooming done that I’d neglected over the last month, and I must say I cleaned up nicely.
I’ve been living in my pajamas, so I hadn’t realized how much tighter and shapelier my body has become already from the exercising and healthy eating I’ve been faithfully doing.
One Urge, One Plea, Keep Me Trilogy Page 9
