Facade

by Lexy Timms

  I lifted my gun and turned toward the movement, only to find Derek staring back at me.

  His phone was at his ear, but he wasn’t talking. He was staring at me from the shared door as he leaned against the doorframe. I lowered my gun at my side as his eyes raked up and down my body, and I felt a heat pool in my gut. I could see his pants tightening around his pelvis, and I shuddered at the thought. Our eyes connected again, and I could feel my goosebumps breaking out all over my legs.

  For some reason, I couldn’t seem to catch my breath.

  Chapter 13

  Derek

  HOLY FUCK, SAM WAS gorgeous. Her legs were toned and filled with muscle she had trained over the years. Her shoulders were strong but had a fluidity to them that beckoned to my fingertips. Jacob was rattling on in my ear about some sort of bullshit as my eyes raked up and down her form.

  Fuck. If that towel were two inches shorter, I’d be able to see her entire pussy.

  A pussy that had only been had by two other serious men in her lifetime.

  But a knock at my hotel room door pulled us both from our trance, and I quickly hung up with Jacob as Sam came running at me.

  “Don’t. Say. A word,” she said.

  I nodded as she slid past me, her wet towel brushing dangerously close to my body.

  She silently ran down the length of my hotel room and took a peek through the peephole. Her gun was hanging at her side as her ass threatened to spill out of that damn towel. I shoved my hand down my pants and tried to readjust myself, hoping my cock wasn’t too obvious.

  “It’s a woman,” Sam said. “Were you expecting someone?”

  I made my way to the door and moved Sam away from it. Holy shit. Gretchen was standing at my door.

  “Go to your room,” I said.

  “Nope. I need to stay here and make sure she’s trustworthy first,” she said.

  “You’re not dressed.”

  “Has that ever bothered you before?”

  “Suit yourself,” I said as I opened the door.

  I opened the door and greeted Gretchen with a simple hug. I pulled back and watched her eyes lock onto Sam standing in the middle of my room. In a towel. Dripping wet.

  With a fucking gun in her hand.

  “Well, looks like the party’s starting early,” Gretchen said.

  “Gretch, this is my personal assistant, Samantha Williams. Sam, this is Gretchen Lancaster.”

  “Journalist extraordinaire,” Gretchen said with a smile. “Derek, do your PAs make it a habit of carrying guns?”

  “She’s a bit protective. It’s mostly her personal preference,” I said.

  “Uh-huh,” Gretchen said as she eyed me curiously. “I’m not sure what game you’re playing, but I’m gonna figure it out.”

  “You’re a journalist. You always assume there’s a game,” I said.

  “Guilty as charged,” Gretchen said.

  “Speaking of, why are you even here?”

  “Honestly? I was hoping to get a few quotes from you,” she said.

  “Ah, so you’re actually a journalist now. Exploiting those connections. Sounds just like you,” I said.

  “Rumor had it you were coming into town, and I happened to be around.”

  I could hear Sam shuffle on her feet as I stepped in front of her vision. The last thing I needed was Sam shooting some innocent woman dead in my hotel room because she was a journalist trying to get her big break.

  “And exactly how did you hear I was in town?” I asked.

  “A bit of talk here, a bit of talk there. A well-placed call to your company, things like that,” she said.

  Fuck. She probably schmoozed someone like Sam did. I really needed to hire better security teams.

  “Yeah,” Sam said. “You’re good.”

  “Good on what?” Gretchen asked.

  I turned around and watched as Sam made her way back into her own room.

  “You know, it’s pretty interesting that your personal assistant is practically naked in your room,” Gretchen said.

  “It happens from time to time. PAs get a bit too comfortable, and then you have to make them sign paperwork. Comes with the territory.”

  “Paperwork?” she asked. “What kind of paperwork?”

  “Paperwork stating that what we have is a platonic relationship. I’ve had to employ the tactic with a past employee.”

  “Ah, well. Whatever measures protect you, I suppose. Though from what I last remember, small towels weren’t your fetish. I believe it was black lace and fishnets.”

  “Nope, that was just your specialty,” I said with a grin. “And boy, did you look phenomenal in them.”

  “It’s good to see you again, Derek.”

  “It’s wonderful to see you as well. You look good. Do you wanna come in?”

  “I’m actually not here for long. I was hoping you could give me a couple of quotes on what you think about the progress of your company. It’s for an article I’m writing.”

  “Really?” I asked. “Because that wasn’t your beat when we met. You hated the fact that I wanted to go into business of any sort. In fact, I’m pretty sure that’s why you left.”

  “Among other reasons.”

  “Such as ...?”

  “It doesn't make sense to open this can of worms,” she said with a smile. “We had a lot of good times. You were the first man I ever loved, Derek Steele.”

  “And don’t you forget it,” I said with a wink. “Now, what are you really here for? What quote do you really want?”

  I watched as Gretchen grew uncomfortable, and I sighed.

  “Who told you what?” I asked.

  “It’s really embarrassing now that I’ve come here to see for myself,” Gretchen said.

  “See what?” I asked flatly.

  “Someone gave me a hot tip you were going to be in Vegas for a couple of days having an affair with the wife of a CEO of one of the companies you’ve recently purchased. But that’s obviously not the case.”

  “This what you call fighting the man?” I asked.

  “Come on, Derek. You know damn well as good as I do that rich white men in your position do whatever the hell it is they want and get away with it. So yes, outing them for their bullshit ways is fighting the system.”

  “Gretchen, you have no idea what men in my position go through. You’re pissed off because we’ve created billions from nothing, so you decide to take out your retribution by telling yourself you’re fighting for a higher power. But you’re not. You have no idea the life we lead, so I suggest you find a decent way to roll your own agenda.”

  “Derek, what are you talking about?” she asked.

  “You got a bad tip. Someone who obviously wanted me to get bad press. You’re not fighting the system. You just got roped into it. Someone wanted to throw an ex-girlfriend at me to see how I would react. Get a couple pictures of me giving you a quote and then plaster it all over the news.”

  “Wait, are you serious?” she asked.

  “As fuck, Gretch. You got played, and you almost became frontline news.”

  I could see the anger growing in her face. Gretchen didn’t like being played. It was one of our downfalls. She felt she was being replaced by my company, and I told her that was partially true. My company needed a lot of tending to while we had been together with the merger that took place, and it all became too much. She felt I was pulling the wool over her eyes with how difficult my job was, and I accused her of not getting it because she wanted to be number one to everyone around her.

  This situation got bad quickly, and I was wondering if Sam was listening to the whole thing from somewhere in her hotel room.

  “I’ll bury you being in Vegas. I should’ve known you weren’t associating with anything near an affair. That’s never been your style,” Gretchen said.

  “Thank you for that, and I’d appreciate your efforts to squash this,” I said. “And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry someone tried to use you. You deserve better than
that. You always have.”

  “You leave them to me. Thank you for your time, Derek. And I’m sorry for interrupting whatever it was you had going on here.”

  “Nothing was going on.”

  “Something was going on. I saw the way she looked at you. How your eyes fluttered down her body when you looked back at her. I’m a woman, and if there’s one thing I do know, it’s chemistry between two people.”

  “Seriously, Gretch. There’s nothing here.”

  “I’m not writing a story on you, don’t worry. And for what it’s worth, I’m glad you found someone to share your time with. Even though things didn’t work out between the two of us, that doesn’t mean I don’t want you to be happy. Whether I agree with your life choices or not.”

  I was speechless at what she was saying as she turned to walk away.

  “I think you should go for it. She’s a very pretty woman, and she obviously cares about your well-being.”

  And with that, she pushed through the alcove door into the hallway and was gone.

  Chapter 14

  Sam

  I DROPPED MY TOWEL in the hallway and set my gun on the edge of the kitchen sink. That woman had seen me in my towel. She wasn’t a threat. She wasn’t a suspect. She wasn’t even important. She had just been one of Derek’s exes who was trying to exploit their past relationship for her own personal gain.

  And she had seen me in my towel.

  My client’s most important ex-girlfriend had seen all of me but my most sensitive areas.

  I was supposed to be keeping this professional, keeping my distance and getting the job done. I was supposed to be protecting this man and figuring out who the hell was trying to kill him. And instead, I was lusting over him. I was drinking in how he looked at me. I was bucking up to him while simultaneously wondering what it would be like to consume him, to give myself over to him and the pleasure my body knew he could grant me.

  My distraction was going to get him killed.

  I scrubbed my skin down, trying to wash his eyes from my body. I tried to wash away the warmth his gaze had brought when he saw me in the hallway, dripping wet and nothing clothing me but that measly little towel.

  What the hell was going on with me?

  I heard movement, and I tensed, ready to grapple at a moment’s notice. My hand wrapped around the knife I had with me in the shower as my ears listened out for Derek. Was he okay? Had someone gotten the jump on us? Fuck, I was slipping. I was slipping dangerously, and it was about to cost me my career.

  “I see you reaching for something. It’s just me, Sam.”

  I released the breath I was holding when I heard Derek’s voice. Until I came to my senses. I was in the fucking shower, and Derek was in the bathroom.

  “What are you doing in here?” I asked.

  “Joining you if you’ll let me.”

  I watched his frosted form slide his suit jacket from his body as he dropped it to the floor.

  “What do you mean, joining me?” I asked.

  “In that shower. It looks pretty relaxing.”

  “Are you insane? Get out of here,” I said.

  “Is that what you really want?”

  I watched his form staring at me through the frosted panes of the walk-in shower. My hand trembled around my knife as my fingertips released it. Was it what I wanted? Did I really want him going away? What was he offering? A shower buddy? A little bit of fun?

  Something more than that?

  The silence was deafening as the steam filled the bathroom. The water was beating down on my shoulder as I sighed. My entire body wanted to relinquish to him, to feel his skin against mine, even though I knew it wasn’t right. Even though I knew it was going to be a mistake sleeping with my client.

  But I wanted it more than I was willing to admit.

  “The hot water’s going to run out soon,” I said. “Better hurry.”

  I watched him remove the blurry pieces of clothing from his body before the door opened. He stepped into the shower, the steam encompassing him as his eyes danced along my form. He was taking me in, his eyes drifting along my muscles as I took in his. I reached out for his rippling abs, my fingertips grazing over each one of them as I watched the swell of his chest move with his breaths.

  His body pressed me into the bathroom tiles as his hands planted beside my head.

  “You’re a beautiful woman, Miss Williams.”

  My eyes found his as his lips feathered the tip of my nose.

  “Will you let me taste you?” he asked.

  I felt my entire body rise to his every want as my pelvis began to heat.

  His kisses were soft and feathery against my skin. I tilted my head off to the side, opening my neck to him as my hands slid up the strength of his torso. His hands slid down the bathroom wall as his tongue traced outlines upon my skin. Soft and sensual. Much unlike the man I had come to know.

  And I loved every second of it.

  I felt his hands flutter along my hips as I rolled into him. My body begged for friction. Any part of him I could feel against where I wanted him most. I peered down at him as the water dripped from our bodies, his hands pressing my knees apart as he eyed my pussy. He licked his lips as his gaze met mine. I watched as he kissed up my thigh, causing me to tremble.

  It was like he knew what buttons to press before I told him what I needed.

  His tongue snaked between my folds, and my knees grew weak. I grasped my breasts, massaging them as his hands pinned me to the wall. His grip was firm, yet gentle, stilling my body so he could properly taste me.

  I felt him swirling around my clit as my legs grew weak. He guided my thigh over his shoulder, propping me against him so he could move me. His hands rolled my hips, his tongue raking over my pussy as I tugged at my nipples. I was losing myself in him and in the feel of his skin against mine and the warmth his mouth brought me.

  It had been years since I’d allowed myself this and let my guard come down enough to trust a man with my body.

  And oh, the things Derek made me feel.

  My hands flew to his hair as I pulled him closer to me. He pressed expertly into my body as I shook and moaned. I bit down on my lip, trying to keep some semblance of control as my eyes screwed shut.

  “Let me hear you. Let it go, Sam. Give yourself permission to enjoy it.”

  His words hit me like a punch to my chest. I released my lip and opened my mouth as foreign sounds poured from it, sounds I didn’t know myself capable of came sliding out as my body trembled and shook. I could feel my pussy pouring its arousal out into Derek’s mouth as his hands gripped me firmly. My toes were curling, and stars were bursting in my steamy vision. I felt lighter than air and solid as a rock all at the same time.

  I felt myself growing weak, collapsing into him as he caught me in his arms.

  He carried me from the shower to the bed and spread my body out for his pleasure. I was still trying to catch my breath, reeling from the orgasm his tongue had dealt me. His lips dipped to mine, allowing me a taste of myself on his skin as our bodies dripped with water.

  I could feel every chiseled piece of muscle he had on his body, and I wanted to run my fingers along all of them.

  I spread my legs for him, and he dipped down slowly. His cock was throbbing against my leg as my hands ran up and down his back. Our tongues collided, and our lips swelled. Like an orchestra of instruments all tuned to the same note. My toes slid up the backs of his legs, feeling him trembling against me as I clung to him around his neck.

  “Should I get us something to prepare ourselves?” Derek asked.

  I looked up into his eyes and shook my head.

  “I’m protected enough,” I said.

  Then, I rolled my hips up and captured his dick, shivering as he groaned into my lips.

  Our bodies moved as one while his hands explored my skin. I rolled him over and planted my hands on his chest, bouncing on his hips as he watched. His hands gripped my breasts, tugging at my nipples like he’d se
en me do in the shower. He was studying me, finding what I liked so he knew exactly what to do.

  And it was working.

  He rolled us back over, and I was hanging off the bed. His large hand was cradling my head, holding me upright as he slid into my wetness. My body was humming for him as our eyes stayed connected, looking at one another through one of the most vulnerable moments we would ever be in together.

  I felt the urge to kiss him, but before I could make the move, his lips descended to mine.

  Almost like he knew what I wanted before I did.

  He picked me up into his arms and settled his back against the headboard. His cock was throbbing deep within me, pulling at a part of me he had stroked with his tongue in the shower. I rolled into his hips, feeling his hands squeezing my ass as he guided me toward what he wanted. I could feel him bucking up into me as my hands gripped his shoulders. I felt all his muscles working for my pleasure as our foreheads connected in exhaustion.

  We breathed one another’s air as our bodies writhed. We bucked and bounced. Moaned and whimpered. He grunted with exertion as the beads of water turned to beads of sweat. My skin was flushed from head to toe, and my nipples were puckered to peaks that were almost painful. I felt my toes curling again as that brushfire started in my gut, flaring out over my entire body while I buried my face into the crook of his neck.

  I moaned into him, my words escaping me as I shuddered and jolted in his lap.

  My pussy fluttered around him, triggering his own orgasm. He sank deeply into me, his dick trembling with every pump that filled my body. I leaned into him as his arms covered my back, hiding me from the darkness of the world I inhabited on a regular basis. Derek was this shimmering beam of light, trying to expose me to the positivity of the world he lived in and to the strength he possessed as a man, to the pride that had enabled him to climb the ranks of his life he had thus far.