Epic Love Stories--Complete Box Set

by Kelly Moore

  “I’d like that, but I promised Greg we wouldn’t be late.” She smacks my lips with a kiss.

  “Your partner is a cock-blocker.” I huff and straighten myself in my slacks.

  “I’ll have to tell him you said that,” she says as picks up her black clutch purse.

  “When we come back here later, leave those shoes on. Everything else can come off.”

  “You like my Jimmy Choos?” She laces her fingers with mine.

  “I have no idea who or what that is?” I scoff.

  “I’ll let you two get aquatinted later.” Laughter fills her eyes.

  I tuck her in close to my side on the way to my car. The night is gorgeous, but I keep the top up so it doesn’t mess up her locks of curls she has pulled up.

  It’s a short drive over, and there is valet parking only. “Don’t touch that,” I tell the attendant when he reaches to open Reese’s door. Hopping out, I toss him the keys and go around to her side. Opening the door, I hold out my elbow for her to take.

  “Such the gentleman.” She stretches one long leg out the door and takes my arm.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to skip this?” I whisper in her ear as she stands.

  “Maybe we’ll find a coat closet we can hide in for a bit.” She presses her red lips to my cheek then wipes it off with the tips of her fingers.

  “I’ll locate one.” I chuckle.

  The art gallery has a welcoming and open concept entryway, showcasing a few of his black-and-white pieces of photography. We’re handed a flute of champagne at the reception desk decorated with a silk flower arrangement. A sign-in book and business cards are laid out on the artistic looking desk.

  The walls are painted a solid white for the displays of artwork to stand bold. Greg and Grace are walking along the freestanding walls that guide the guests from area to area to the different collections.

  “It’s so good to see you again.” Grace hugs my neck. “And, Reese, you look gorgeous.”

  “Thank you. So do you in this emerald green number.” Reese runs her hand down Grace’s long sleeve.

  “You clean up nice.” Greg shakes my hand. His Rolex sticks out from under his white sleeve.

  “I’d rather be in a pair of jeans.” I tug at my tie.

  We follow Greg and Grace, admiring the displays. Reese excuses herself when her phone rings. I take another glass of champagne off a tray being offered by one of the hostesses.

  “Do you see anything that catches your eye?” Greg is admiring a chunky piece of colorful artwork.

  “I like the black and white one of the Rialto Bridge in Venice in the entryway.”

  “That is a beauty. Consider it a gift from us for all the business you’ve sent me through the years.”

  “That’s not necessary.”

  “It is,” Grace chimes in. “My dear husband says he wouldn’t have been as successful without you.”

  “I’m not sure that’s true, but thank you.”

  Reese returns but she looks upset.

  “Everything okay?” I place my hand on the small of her back.

  “Yes, nothing to worry about.” I can tell her smile isn’t genuine, and she doesn’t replace it with a real one.

  We continue to wander through the gallery. Greg and Grace stop to talk to the Thompsons. I tug Reese over to a corner out of earshot. “What’s got you upset?”

  “Some unfinished business in New York. It looks like I’ll have to make another trip.”

  “Anything I can help with?”

  “No, but thank you for being sweet enough to offer. It will all work out, I’m sure of it.”

  “I spotted the coat closet in the other room,” I razz.

  “I’m really not in the mood. Actually, I have a headache brewing. Do you think you could take me home?”

  “Sure. I’ll make an excuse to Greg.”

  Ten minutes later, we’re back in my car headed to her condo. “Are you sure you’re okay? You’re awfully quiet.”

  She lays her head on my shoulder. “I’m sorry I ruined the evening.”

  “You didn’t ruin it, but I wish you’d talk to me.”

  “You know what, there really isn’t anything to talk about.” Her demeanor changes, and she paints a real smile on her face. “I say when we get home that Mr. Tie here meets Jimmy Choos.”

  “I don’t know who Jimmy is, but I’m starting to get a little jealous,” I tease, knowing damn good and well it's her black high-heel shoes.

  As soon as the door shuts behind us, my hands find her luscious hips, and I pull her flush with my body. “I want you out of this dress.” I nip at her lip, and her hands tug at my tie, loosening it.

  “As long as this can be involved.” Her voice is raspy.

  “I think I can make good use of it.”

  She slips out of her dress as I remove my tie and unbutton my shirt. “On the couch,” I order her. “Leave the shoes on.”

  She brushes her satin panties down her long, lean legs and sits in the middle of the couch.

  I push the coffee table out of the way. “Kneel with your front to the couch, hands behind your back.”

  She does it without question.

  “Don’t move,” I order and walk around her room, still fully dressed, looking for a remote to turn on some music. I find it on a shelf and click the button. A soft melody starts to play. I dig my phone out of my pocket and connect it to my Bluetooth. I flip through my playlist and pick “Climax” by Usher.

  She looks over her shoulder and grins at me. “Nice choice.”

  “No talking,” I growl. Kicking off my shoes, I pat toward her. I unwind the tie I wrapped around my hand and get on my knees behind her. Tracing my fingers down her arm, I see the chills rise on her skin. Stopping at her wrists, I gently draw them together and wrap the tie around them several times and tie it snuggly. She moans when I pull on it. I rise and straddle her legs, pressing my hard-on to the back of her head. I run my hands through her hair, pulling it down to flow over her shoulders and breasts.

  “Beautiful.” I bend over and swallow her mouth to mine. A hint of champagne floats between us. I stand, taking her with me, walking her to the back of the couch. “Bend over.” She does, and I widen her stance with my legs. I run my hand from the back of her neck down her spine to the curve of her ass.

  I kneel and find the spot between her legs that I know will drive her crazy. She arches up, and I guide her back down.

  I explore every inch of her with my tongue until she gives me what I want from her. Her legs wobble, and I brace my hands on either side of her hips to keep her from falling. “That’s it, baby,” I say between laps of my tongue. When she’s spent, I get up and unzip my pants.

  “Stand up and turn around.” She does as she’s told. I have my cock in my hand, stroking it. “Do you want to taste me?”

  Her eyes are hooded, but she responds with a lick of her lips. “May I go to my knees?” she rasps.

  I nod, and she does. I continue to stroke myself as her tongue dashes out and licks the dew on the tip. I clench my teeth at the sweet sensation. She licks around the tip then the shaft while her eyes are locked on mine. She stops, rubs her lips together, then opens her mouth, sucking me inside her. I grip the couch behind her with one hand and the other tangles in her hair. “Yes,” I groan.

  She sucks harder and deeper until I’m seeing stars. I pull out of her mouth and grab her shoulders, standing her up. I spin her around and bend her over the couch again. I untie her hands, and she braces them on the couch. I stroke myself a few times, then thrust inside her with one movement. She gasps but surprises me when she pushes back against me.

  “Again,” her voice cracks.

  I pull out and jolt into her again. She gasps every time I repeat the movement. Skin slaps against skin, and it’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard. It fuels me, and I thrust harder, moving the couch a few inches. She pushes back again, and her entire body tightens then shakes uncontrollably as her orgasm rolls throug
h her. I can’t fight the clenching around my cock, and I lose control. I thrust deeper and deeper, and her orgasm starts all over again. I see it ripple over her body, clenching me tighter until I give into it with a roar of her name. “Reese!” I collapse on top of her until we’ve both caught our breaths. I stand, she turns, and I pick her up and carry her to the bedroom.

  I pull back the covers; she kicks off her shoes and climbs in. She’s curled up in a ball and fast asleep by the time I strip out of my clothes. I get in beside her and roll her over, so her back is to my front. “Sweet dreams, baby,” I say as kiss the back of her head.

  I’ve fallen for this beautiful woman, and I’m no longer afraid. Sex was good with Lyla, usually sweet and gentle. With Reese, it’s completely different. I’ve acted off the vibe she’s given me. She has to maintain control in her professional life and wants to lose control in her personal life. I like that she lets me dominate her. It’s brought out something in me I didn’t know existed. It’s a passion like I’ve never felt and the fact that this gorgeous, strong, determined woman gives into me, makes me want her even more.

  Chapter 12

  “Greg, we need to talk,” I say into the phone as I push the code on the door to lock up the studio that I rented.

  “When are you headed back to Sausalito?”

  “Tomorrow. I have a client scheduled late afternoon.”

  “Do you want to come by now. I’m free for an hour. Grace and I leave for Paris at the end of the week, so I’ve got a lot to go over between now and then.”

  “I won’t keep you long. I’m heading your way as we speak.”

  I need to tell him something before I broach Reese. I don’t think she’s going to take the news very well, so I’d like Greg’s input on the matter. Traffic isn’t too bad this time of day, and I make it to the office in no time. The Yukon is parked in its usual spot, which means Reese is here. I was hoping she’d be at lunch.

  The elevator doors open and I walk straight to Greg’s office, praying Reese is too busy in hers to interrupt us. His receptionist smiles. “He’s expecting you.”

  Greg’s door is open wide. I walk in, shutting it behind me. “Thanks for seeing me.”

  “Sure thing. What’s going on?”

  “I worked on the demo all morning with The Blind Shadows.” I sit in the chair across from his desk.

  “Reese is taking all demos now for contract.”

  I blow out a long breath of air. “I’m not sending the demo here.”

  “Why? You don’t think they’ll make the cut?”

  “No, that’s not it. They’re very talented with lots of potential for the right label.”

  His chair squeaks when he leans back, stretching his hands behind his head. “What are you not telling me?”

  “I have this questionnaire I go over with all my clients, giving them details of what their lives will be like if they choose to sign a contract. Monster Music isn’t going to be in their best interest.”

  “Why not?”

  “They don’t want to travel outside of California. Each of them is in their last year of college, and none of them feel like a worldwide spotlight is for them. There’s a small label company that focuses only in the state of California. They’ll be able to choose the gigs they want and the terms.”

  “You couldn’t convince them otherwise?” He leans forward, folding his hands on the top of his desk.

  “That’s not my job. I give them the facts. They make a choice.”

  “You know Reese is not going to be happy.”

  “That’s why I’m sharing the information with you first. I’ll tell her, I just want to know that I have your support.”

  “I know your reasons all too well. If it’s not what they want, then it wouldn’t work out anyway.” He opens his desk drawer. “While you’re here, Grace wanted me to give you our tickets to see Wicked on Broadway. The dates are right in the middle of our month-long trip to Paris.”

  “I’ll check my calendar and see if I can work it out. If not, what do you want me to do with them?”

  “You can either give them to Reese or have her sell them. I hear she’s scheduling another trip to New York.”

  I shove them in my pocket. “Tell Grace thank you for me.”

  He glances at his watch. “I have a meeting in the conference room. Since you’re already here, I’d like you to attend. We’ll be discussing new equipment and different ways to generate leads. I’d love your input. It will give you a chance to see Reese in action.”

  I follow him down the long hall to the conference room behind glass walls. Reese is setting up her computer and projecting reports on the large screen hanging at the end of the conference room.

  “Hey, I wasn’t expecting you to be here.” She smiles when she sees me.

  She looks hot in her navy suit. Her long locks are pulled up into a bun. “I needed to meet with Greg before I left town tomorrow.”

  “How did the recording go?”

  “We can talk about it later,” I say as a few of the employees enter the room. I take a seat near the back next to Greg. The table fills up quickly, and Reese starts the meeting. Everything about her is professional, not the same woman I had bound with a tie around her wrists on bent knee. All traces of her are gone. Instead, there’s a confident businesswoman commanding the respect of her staff.

  “As you can see, I’ve come up with some new lead generations to expand our business. I need each of you to do some research and get back with me on any questions or recommendations. I want to directly hire recording studios that only work for us.” She looks over at me. “We need to acquire only the best like Jameson Wilde Studios.”

  I press my lips together to chill my rising anger. No way in hell will I sell out, and I’m pissed that she’s indicating such.

  “Mr. Wilde is our highest-producing recording studio, and we’d be lucky to gain someone like him.”

  “My studio is not for sale, Ms. Adams,” I say coolly, gripping my hands together on the table.

  I see her jaw flex, but she moves on with her next agenda. “The studios we purchase, we’ll upgrade their equipment.” She points to the screen. “You’ve all been given a list of the top five products in the industry. Form a team and do your research. I happen to know for a fact that Mr. Wilde has only the best equipment in his studio. Maybe he could be a resource of information for you.”

  I bite my tongue. I don’t mind helping, but it bothers me that she’s treating me like I’m one of her employees.

  “I’m receiving all demos now, and I’ll outsource them to the teams we created, based on the genre of music. I’ll have the final say in the contracts.” She turns her body in my direction. “Speaking of demos, I’d like the one from The Blind Shadows. I can play it for them to give them ideas about the kinds of things I’ll be looking for.” She holds out her hand.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t have the demo on me.” That should stop her in her tracks.

  “I don’t understand. Didn’t you cut a track for them today?”

  “Yes.”

  “We’ll not be taking on The Blind Shadows.” Greg places his hand on my arm to keep me from responding. “I have some demos in my office if you’d like to keep on this track or you can call a meeting in the morning.”

  Her facial expression hardens as she squints her eyes, but she lets it go. “Tomorrow will be fine. It will give me the chance to find the perfect demo to talk about.”

  For the rest of the meeting, she doesn’t make eye contact with me again. She dismisses the meeting and shuts down her computer as some of the employees stay and converse casually with one another. Her high heels clip across the tile floor as she heads out and down the hallway to her office.

  I stand. “Excuse me,” I say to Greg.

  “Good luck.” He chuckles.

  I catch her office door with my hand before she shuts it. “We need to talk,” I say, closing it behind me.

  “What the hell was that about?” She tosses
her computer on the couch.

  “You tell me? I’m not selling my company to you or anyone else for that matter.”

  “I just thought you might want in on it. We’ll be paying high dollars to attain recording studios.”

  “You should’ve talked to me first before mentioning it at a meeting.” I stuff my hands in my pockets.

  “I didn’t know you were going to be at the meeting, so I took advantage…” Her voice slows, drawing out the word, but not finishing her sentence. She looks down. “I’m sorry, you’re right. I let my business mind take over and didn’t consider your feelings.”

  “I hated that you treated me like I was one of your employees in front of your staff. We had this conversation the first day we met. I do not work for you, nor will I ever.”

  She tugs my hand, freeing it from my pocket. “I’m so sorry, Jameson. It will never happen again. I got carried away.”

  Her sincere apology deflates my anger. “Okay, you’re forgiven.” I nestle my hands around her waist and kiss her on the cheek.

  “I’ll make it up to you later if you’ll let me.” She throws her arms around my neck.

  “You may want to wait until I tell you about The Blind Shadows.”

  She drops her arms, walks over to the couch, picks up her computer, and places it on her desk. “What happened? I thought you really liked them.” She leans on the edge of her desk.

  “I sent the demo to a small company in California that only deals with local groups.”

  “Why would you do that? I told you that I wanted them.” Her voice raises.

  “This company isn’t the right fit for what they want to accomplish.”

  “You didn’t even let us offer them a contract. I’m betting they would’ve jumped at the money.” She storms over to sit in her rolling desk chair.

  “Not everything is about money, and not everyone wants to be bought.”

  “Everyone has a price, Jameson. Even you.”