Heated Secrets (Rose Garden Apartments Book 1)

by Elizabeth Lennox

  Unfortunately, understanding why Drako would never love again didn’t help her tender emotions. It didn’t help her heart that had been madly in love with Drako since the first question he’d snapped at her during the job interview. She’d been fascinated by the man from the moment she’d stepped into the room. Nervous at first, since two of the other applicants had left the office in tears. But Lilly had been curious. Until she’d spoken to the man.

  Then she’d fallen in love. And those feelings had grown over the years she’d worked for him. Granted, there were days she absolutely hated her job. That first year had been horrible, but now…now she craved the excitement, the challenge of keeping up with Drako. Of making his world run smoothly.

  Pulling into her private parking space at the office, she glanced down at her lap. Would Drako love her if she’d lost weight? Was her mother right? Was she fat? Was she disgusting? Did Drako look at her…?

  “Stop it!” she hissed, closing her eyes and leaning her forehead against the steering wheel. “Just stop it!”

  Suddenly, the door to her car whipped open and Lilly let out a yelp of surprise.

  “Where are you hurt?” Drako demanded, his deep voice sounding even more lyrical than normal because his Greek accent deepened with his concern. “What happened to you? Were you in a car accident? Did it just happen?”

  He paused to look around at the parking garage, as if he could spot the car who had done this to her.

  “I’m fine,” she replied, but the words were ruined when she sniffled.

  “You’re not fine,” he argued, rubbing his thumb over her cheek to wipe a tear away. “You’re hurt. Where are you hurt?”

  The tenderness of his touch, combined with the concern in those dark, wonderful eyes of his, what little control she’d regained shattered. She burst into tears, curling in on herself as the pain lashed her soul.

  “I’m…f…fine!” she tried to tell him. Obviously, Drako didn’t believe her. He lifted her out of her car and into his arms.

  “What are you doing?”

  “You’re not fine!” he growled, then started across the parking lot. “You’re hurt and I’m taking you to a doctor!”

  Lilly wanted to laugh, but his words were so sweet, so caring that she only cried harder. “I’m not hurt,” she muttered. “And I’m too heavy to carry. Put me down.”

  “You’re not too heavy,” he countered, his arms tightening, holding her closer to his muscular chest. “You’re perfect,” she heard him murmur.

  Did he kiss the top of her head? Lilly wasn’t sure, but it felt as if his lips brushed against her hair. And that felt really nice!

  Drako settled her carefully into the soft leather seat of his luxurious sedan. “What are you doing?” she asked, looking around in surprise. It wasn’t the first time she’d been in his car, but she was always amazed at the luxury that surrounded her when she rode in this car.

  “You’re hurt,” he said and slammed the door shut. He slipped into his seat and revved the motor. “I’m taking you to a doctor.”

  Lilly’s heart ached with love for this man. He might not love her. She knew that he’d never love her. But he cared about her. Just a little.

  “I’m not hurt,” she repeated. There was a tiny hiccup that betrayed her.

  He shook his head and sped out of the parking garage. “I don’t believe you. You’re hurt and a doctor will tell me what’s wrong.”

  She laid a hand on his arm and, at the stoplight, he looked over at her. “I’m not physically hurt,” she admitted. “I met my mother for lunch. We had spinach salad and…” she sighed and looked at her lap.

  “You hate spinach,” he growled. Lilly felt his muscles tense under her fingers.

  “You’re right. She also…said something that hurt my feelings.” Lilly turned her head and looked out the window. “She’s probably right. But that doesn’t mean that her words didn’t hurt me.”

  The light changed and he sped through the intersection. There was a long silence as he drove away from the business area of Washington, DC. The tourists sites were next, the tall, grey buildings of the Smithsonian Museums flew by. The Smithsonian “Castle”, the “Mall” – the long strip of grass that connected the Capital to the Washington Monument and then to the Lincoln Memorial – it all rushed by as Drako drove out of the city, crossing the 14th Street Bridge right into Virginia. It was a massive bridge with about ten lanes, maybe more. The traffic here was chaotic. Thankfully, Drako knew the area well and maneuvered through the insanity easily.

  Lilly was only vaguely aware of the trip as her mother’s comments continued to echo through her ears.

  Suddenly, the intense summer sunshine vanished. They had pulled into a parking garage. She blinked and looked around. “Where are we?” she asked.

  “We’re at my place,” he replied as he turned off the engine. “I’m going to make you something to eat and then you’re going to tell me what happened at lunch that hurt you so deeply.”

  Before Lilly could say a word, he was out of the vehicle and coming around to her side of the car.

  Drako was more than ready to punch someone, but he didn’t have a target for his fury. His little tyrant was hurt and he needed to fix that. He needed to make her world right again. Everything inside of him wanted to lash out at her mother for hurting her.

  “Come,” he ordered, extending his hand. She lifted an eyebrow at his forceful command and he stifled his amusement. “Please?” he added.

  How could she do that? The little tyrant was wounded, her eyes filled with pain, and yet, she refused to put up with him being an ass. Dekara, he loved that about her! She was so soft and beautiful, but underneath all of her softness, she was as strong as steel and twice as determined.

  When she put her hand into his, Drako felt as if he were all-powerful! Just one touch from Lilly, and his world felt right again. When she put her hand in his, when she touched him and put herself in his care, he felt as if he could roar with satisfaction.

  “Thank you,” she whispered when she stepped closer, those long, dark lashes fluttering higher, then her eyes were hidden from his view. When Lilly lowered her lashes like that, it was almost as if…what was she hiding?

  “This way,” he said as he put a hand to the small of her back, steering her towards the private elevator. “What happened during lunch?”

  Lilly leaned back against the elevator wall and closed her eyes as he entered the code that would take them to his penthouse.

  “Oh, the usual. My clothes are all wrong. I didn’t accessorize my dress properly. My job is wrong, my apartment is wrong, the way I live my life is wrong, and…!”

  She closed her eyes and stopped speaking, her lips pressed tightly together, as if that would stop them from quivering. Drako knew that whatever she was holding back was the most important. Whatever she wasn’t saying was the issue that had hurt her.

  “What else?” he asked softly.

  Unfortunately, the elevator doors opened, giving her an excuse to avoid answering him.

  “Come with me. I’m making you something to eat.”

  He shot her a firm glare when she opened her mouth to argue, so she sighed and nodded, following him into the apartment.

  Drako led her into the kitchen and waved towards a stool. “Talk to me,” he instructed as he pulled out some bread, cheese, and butter. At the last moment, he grabbed the jar of pesto sauce. Grabbing a pan and a bottle of wine, he poured her a glass, and went to work making her a grilled cheese sandwich.

  “Drink and tell me everything.”

  “I can’t eat that, Drako,” she told him. “And I can’t have wine in the middle of the day. It will go straight to my head and I won’t be able to focus this afternoon.”

  “Good. You’ll take the rest of today off. Start talking.”

  She laughed softly. “Think that attitude will work with me?” she teased.

  At least, he suspected she was teasing.

  “Why does your mother think
that your dress is wrong?”

  He sensed her shifting on the stool, but didn’t look up as he worked on making her sandwich.

  “She thinks that purple is garish,” Lilly explained. “But she didn’t actually say my dress was wrong. My mother just sort of…well, she has this way of saying things with her eyes that is loud and clear. I’ve learned to translate her glances.”

  “I happen to like your dress,” he told her and put extra cheese on the sandwich. He placed both pieces in the pan, adjusting the heat before looking up at Lilly. Waiting.

  “I like my dress too,” she replied, but he saw her hand slide down her waist and noticed the self-conscious way she moved.

  “So, what’s the problem?”

  Lilly sighed, deflating slightly. “My mother just…I’ve always craved her approval, even though I know, intellectually, that I’ll never get it.”

  “Why?”

  “Why do I crave it?”

  “No, that’s obvious. We’re human beings and every one of us craves approval from our parents. It’s natural. When we don’t have it, that’s when teenagers rebel and adults…well, you’re not one for self-destructive behaviors.” He paused and shifted the pieces of toast slightly in the pan before glancing up at her again. “So, why do you think you’ll never measure up to your mother’s standards?”

  Lilly toyed with the wine glass, admiring the beautiful color. “Well, you know who my family is, right?”

  “No. I know that you’re an excellent executive assistant. I also know that you had impressive references from your previous jobs. But other than that, I don’t delve into my employee’s lives.” He looked at her curiously.

  “My father is Senator Von Deuch. He’s a very powerful man in this city.”

  Drako nodded. “I’ve met him. He’s a good politician. He understands both sides of an argument equally well.”

  She snorted. “Yeah, he’s pretty good at that. But…my mother. She’s his wife, but she’s more than that. Her whole life is wrapped up in ensuring his success. She has plans for everything, including me. Lunch today was, among other things, about that fact that she doesn’t approve of my job.”

  “Many political marriages are like that. Possibly, many business marriages as well.” He pulled a spatula out of a drawer. “What does that have to do with your job?”

  Lilly sighed, her shoulders curling further inward. “My mother wants me to get married. She thinks that my job isn’t politically correct enough. That it reflects poorly on my father.”

  He stood there for a long moment, struggling to understand. “Lilly, you direct most of my executive staff. How the hell can your parents consider your role in my company to be a liability to your father’s political ambitions?”

  Lilly twirled the glass, watching the sunlight shimmer through the wine. “Well, she thinks I’m a secretary.”

  He snorted. “First of all, what’s wrong with being a secretary?” he growled, adjusting the temperature under the pan. “And secondly, you’re my right hand person. You are essential to the running of my business. How could your mother have a problem with that?”

  A tear slipped down her cheek.

  “It doesn’t matter,” she said and took a deep, steadying breath. “I love my job. I love how challenging it is.” She glanced up at him, a small smile flickering over her face. “Sometimes, it is exhausting trying to keep up with you, but most days are…” she paused, contemplating her word choice. “Exhilarating.”

  He grunted his approval and put the two pieces of perfectly golden bread together. Immediately, the melted cheese began oozing down the sides. He cut the sandwich in half, then handed it to her on a plate. “Good. Now eat. And drink your wine. You’re tense and you’re not going back to work this afternoon.”

  She laughed, shaking her head. Drako couldn’t seem to stop himself from watching the sunshine glinting off her dark hair. Damn, he loved her hair! He hated how she pulled it back into a professional twist. He knew, from their Saturday work sessions, that her hair was long and glorious! She was always prim and tidy during the work week, but when they worked on the weekends, she wore jeans that hugged her luscious hips and let her hair flow down over her back in long waves, the ends curling under slightly. He’d often wondered what her hair would feel like. Would it be soft and silky? Or slightly rough, because of the waves? Damn, he wanted to know!

  “You’re not eating,” he noted, watching as she stared down at the grilled cheese sandwich. He knew that it was one of her favorites. “Did I make it wrong?”

  “No,” she said, looking up at him with a weak smile.

  His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “What else did your mother say over lunch?” he asked.

  Another tear slipped down her cheek and he muttered a curse, coming around to her side of the counter. Taking her hands, he pulled her off the stool and pulled her into his arms. “Tell me,” he urged softly, wrapping his arms around her. She felt so damn good! She was so tiny, barely reaching his shoulder, but every part of her was perfect and she felt amazing against his body.

  “I can’t,” she mumbled and he heard a sniff as she buried her face against his chest.

  “You can. You’ve always been honest with me, Lilly. Tell me what happened so that I can make it better.”

  Lilly laughed, but the sound was remarkably similar to a sob. “I can’t, Drako. Please, just…!”

  He waited, praying that she wouldn’t ask him to release her. He wasn’t sure that he could. But there was silence. So instead, he pulled back slightly, looking down into those beautiful, blue eyes of hers that were now filled with sadness.

  For a long moment, neither of them moved. It was almost as if both of them were suddenly aware of how close they were. Their bodies touching, feeling, sensing.

  In slow motion, almost against his will, Drako lowered his head. He waited, moving slowly, but relentlessly closer, willing her to push him away. To stop his kiss.

  But she didn’t! In fact, Lilly lifted her face, as if wanting this kiss as desperately as he did.

  When their lips touched, it was…explosive! The first touch opened the floodgates. When Lilly didn’t pull away, when she, instead, pressed closer, Drako’s defenses crumbled. His mouth covered hers, his hand moving to the back of her head so that he could deepen the kiss. Ravenous now, he lifted her higher, reeling with the reality that he was finally kissing the woman that he’d wanted for so long!

  Lilly whimpered softly, her hands fisting on his dress shirt. Every time he kissed her, he felt her soft curves as she shifted against him and it was driving him wild!

  He set her back down on the kitchen stool, standing between her legs, his mind blanking on why this was such a bad idea. Nothing that felt this good could be bad!

  Lilly couldn’t believe that she was actually kissing Drako! After years of wondering what it would feel like, Lilly now knew it was better than any fantasy she’d ever imagined! His kisses were intoxicating, teasing and nipping and making her moan.

  Or were the shivers caused by his hands trailing up the outside of her thighs? She wasn’t sure, and she didn’t care! Finally, she was in his arms. Yes, she knew that this was wrong. It would be awkward tomorrow. But in this moment, she wanted to revel in his touch, in the way he kissed her, and the way the taste of him made her head spin with desire!

  When his hand slid underneath her skirt, Lilly gasped. His hand stopped, but she reached down to stop him from retreating! Looking into his eyes, she pressed his hand against her thigh, silently urging him to keep going.

  Immediately, his fingers tightened around her thigh and Lilly’s reaction caught her off guard. She arched into him, biting her lip to keep herself from crying out.

  “Please kiss me, Drako!” she whispered. “Don’t ever stop!”

  She felt his fingers dig briefly into her thighs, before his hands slid around to her bottom, pulling her closer, his erection pressing against her core. She moaned even as she lifted her legs, wrapping her thighs around his
waist. She felt one of his hands leave her bottom and heard the whimper, but didn’t realize she made it. Then his hands gripped her hair. How had it come loose?

  She didn’t know, nor did she care! He was touching her!

  Smoothing her hands down the front of his shirt, she dared to slide them under his jacket. Just a touch, she told herself. A little touch, just enough to feel his muscles so that she’d have this knowledge when she thought about him later.

  But instead of a small touch, his suit jacket hit the floor. For a brief moment, his hands moved away from her, then they were back. Her fingers focused on the knot of his tie, pulling and tugging. She made little hungry noises when she couldn’t figure out how to release the knot, so Drako took over, removing the tie and tossing it aside. He deftly unbuttoned several of the buttons on his dress shirt, then reached for her hands. “Touch me, Lilly,” he ordered, pressing her fingers against his chest.

  The muscles there were fascinating and she never wanted to stop touching him! Each place she touched was more fascinating, more intriguing than the last. Leaning forward, she pressed a kiss there and…dare she do it? Yes, she dared! Because this was Drako! So, instead of pulling back, she let her tongue taste the spot she’d just kissed. When he groaned, Lilly took it as a good sign and did it again in another place. And again. She explored every inch of his chest with her tongue and her fingers, tracing every muscle, kissing every tanned expanse. His nipples enticed her, so she lingered there. When she traced them with her fingers, she felt him shudder. And when she explored them with her tongue, he pressed that delicious erection against her core, making her tremble with need.

  “No more!” he snapped, but he didn’t pull back. In fact, Drako lifted her into his arms! She had no idea where he was taking her, nor was she willing to stop exploring to find out. When she was in his arms like this, she had better access to his skin! Where had his dress shirt gone? His shoulders were bare now. Her hands moved higher, tracing those amazing indentations where one muscle connected to the next. Goodness, his chest and arms were packed with muscles.

  The world tilted and she realized that he was putting her down. On a bed? She wasn’t sure because Drako pulled back, his hands moving to his belt buckle and…then he was naked! Gloriously, amazingly naked!