by Reese Ryan
Darius ripped open the foil packet and sheathed himself. He grabbed the base of his length and pressed it against her slick opening, his other hand resting on her hip.
Audra’s lashes fluttered as she slowly lowered herself onto him. Their bodies fit together as if the past five years apart had never existed.
She whimpered with pleasure, her head lolling to one side. He swept her hair off her neck and shoulder and planted kisses there. Then he placed his hands on her bottom, guiding her up and down his shaft.
Audra was getting closer. Her whimpers came louder and faster as their hips slammed together. She dug her fingers into his shoulders, her cries growing louder.
“Fuck, Audra.” His voice trembled, his arousal building. “You feel so fucking good. I need you to come for me, baby. Because I don’t know how much longer I can hold on.”
Her eyes drifted shut and she slipped a hand between them, her fingers moving over her clit. Her movements, slow and deliberate at first, became quicker and more determined.
He’d always loved her uninhibited nature. She wasn’t ashamed to ask for or take whatever she needed.
It was one of the sexiest things about her.
He tightened his grip on her hips as he glided her up and down on his painfully hard shaft. Her breathing was quick and shallow. Her whimpers loud and breathy. Finally, her body tensed, the muscles inside her quivering as she called out his name.
Darius laid her on the couch, his hips thrusting hard and fast and the pressure building until he shuddered, cursing and moaning, as he found his own release.
He kissed her, his heart racing as he tried to catch his breath.
“Don’t go, Audra.” Darius couldn’t bear the thought of her leaving. He craved the warmth and comfort of falling asleep with her in his arms. The joy of waking to her lovely face and sweet smile. “Stay. Please.”
She stroked his cheek and nodded. Her kiss-swollen lips quirked in a faint smile that made his heart feel full and reminded him of all the reasons he’d fallen in love with her back then.
The reasons he was falling for her all over again.
* * *
Later, they sat in bed drinking wine and nibbling from the charcuterie tray. He was glad she’d accepted his invitation to stay.
“Well, we know the bikini is easy to get in and out of.” Her mouth curved in a mischievous grin. “I’ll have to swim in it to see if it stays on as well as it comes off.”
Darius chuckled, then pressed a kiss to her lips. “If you could swim in both suits, that’d be great. I’d love to see how they hold up to chlorine and a hand wash.”
“Sure.” She swiped some aged Gouda and a few grapes from the tray, nibbling on them. An uncomfortable silence settled over them again.
Darius set his wineglass down and turned to her. “Audra, we should probably talk about what’s happened between us tonight.”
“I disagree.” She tucked some of her wavy hair behind her ear. “I don’t mean never,” she clarified. “I just don’t think either of us is prepared to have this discussion right now, while our emotions are still high.” She plucked another grape from the tray and chewed thoughtfully. “We should process what’s happened and how we feel about it. So neither of us makes any promises we aren’t prepared to keep.”
Her voice was calm, her reasoning cerebral and dispassionate. The very opposite of the woman who’d clawed her way up his body not an hour before.
“Are you sure that’s what you want, Audra?” He threaded their fingers.
“Of course.” She pressed her lips into a smile and nodded once. “We’re both really involved in our work right now. I’m racing to make sure all of Sophie and Nigel’s pieces are completed on time and to their satisfaction. You’ve got the biggest event of your career coming up in less than a week. I don’t want this to become a distraction...for either of us.”
“Okay.” Darius kissed her hand, his eyes not leaving hers. “Then we’ll revisit this conversation—”
“After LA Fashion Week and Sophie and Nigel’s wedding.” She shrugged. “That’s just a few weeks. If this is really something worth exploring, a few weeks of contemplation won’t hurt.”
“Right,” Darius agreed with more conviction than he felt. He snatched a few grapes from the tray. “In the meantime, maybe you’ll let me take you out to dinner in town.”
“As your friend and neighbor?” she asked, her eyes searching his.
“As the woman I’m dating...or whatever this is that we’re doing.” He pressed a lingering kiss to her mouth.
“Dare, I don’t know if it’s wise for us to take this beyond these walls.”
He was surprised that she used the nickname she’d always called him. It didn’t even seem like a conscious decision. Just something that had slipped out. But that didn’t soften the impact of her words.
They were five years older, both successful entrepreneurs. Yet, their relationship had regressed. Now she wasn’t just hiding him from her disapproving parents. She wanted him to be her dirty little secret.
“We should decide on our next steps, based purely on what we want,” she continued. “The fewer people involved in that conversation, the better.”
“You mean Sophie.” Darius swept back the hair that fell over one eye when she nodded and tucked it behind her ear. He kissed her. “If you really want to hide out here in my bed, I think I could be okay with that. For now.”
“Oh, you’re taking me out all right, big shot.” She stroked his stubbled chin. “But for now, if anyone asks, we’re just friends. Deal?”
“Deal.” He moved the tray onto the floor. Then he pulled her closer and kissed her.
Audra wasn’t prepared to decide whether this was a meaningless fling or destiny. He could pretend that was fine by him. But he was clear on how he felt.
He’d made a colossally boneheaded mistake when he’d walked away from her, and he’d been given a second chance. He wouldn’t blow it.
Besides, two weeks would give him time to tell his parents that he now knew Buckley Blackwood was his father. So when he and Audra finally talked, he could tell her everything.
Lies and half-truths would never come between them again.
Fifteen
Audra had spent most of the past three days either in bed with Darius or working quietly beside him in his office or by the pool.
He’d taken her out to dinner nearly every night. They’d gone to the Glass House—an upscale farm-to-table restaurant, and the Silver Saddle—a bar and tapas restaurant. Both were located in the Bellamy, Royal’s five-star resort, inspired by the lavish Biltmore estate in Asheville, North Carolina.
They’d also shared a casual meal at the place that had first brought them together: Royal Diner.
But with just a few days left to prepare for the runway show, Darius needed to get back to California to be onsite. He’d made love to her that morning, kissed her goodbye then left her naked and sated in his bed.
Audra slept in an extra hour, then climbed out of bed and put on the Thr3d bikini that Darius had designed just for her. He’d had a second made more precisely to her measurements than the first. It fit perfectly. She went to the kitchen to grab a glass of juice before her morning swim when she saw Darius’s thoughtful gift.
There was a gorgeous bouquet of two dozen red roses in a clear glass vase with a lovely note that made her smile. Another two dozen pink roses were on the coffee table in the family room with another sweet note apologizing for not being able to be there. Later, when she went to the bathroom to grab a towel, she discovered another two dozen roses, only these were white. The card read: Can’t wait to see you again. So come join me. If you do, I have a special surprise for you.
Audra couldn’t help the grin that spread from ear to ear. She regarded herself in the bathroom mirror. She looked like a giddy schoolgirl who’d fallen hea
d over heels in love.
And maybe she had. Because Audra couldn’t imagine going back to life without him.
But even if she could get over their past and her nagging suspicions that there was something he wasn’t telling her, there were additional obstacles they’d need to address.
The Audra Lee Covington brand headquarters was in Dallas. Thr3d was based in Los Angeles. And they were both obsessed with their businesses. Could they make time for a long-distance relationship once they’d returned to their everyday lives? Was that what either of them wanted?
Then there were her parents.
Darius hadn’t been wrong believing that her parents would’ve disapproved of their relationship. He wasn’t from a wealthy, powerful or political family. None of that had mattered to her then. Nor did it matter now. She hoped her parents would be impressed that Darius had built Thr3d from nothing.
If they couldn’t respect her choice, it would put a further strain on her relationship with them. But she didn’t need their money or their approval. She and her eponymous business could survive without either. Still, she’d be much happier if her parents could accept her relationship with Darius.
“You’re getting way ahead of yourself. There is no relationship,” she muttered, removing the silk scarf she slept in and smoothing down her hair, pineappled in a wavy ponytail near the front of her head. She released her hair and slipped the tie onto her wrist until she got ready to get into the pool.
Her phone rang and she glanced down at it.
Cash again.
Audra sighed. She realized that Cash’s pride was wounded when she’d broken things off with him. But she’d done so as kindly as possible. They’d known each other for so long, and their families were close. She hadn’t wanted to hurt him or create tension between their parents.
Cash was a good guy. He cared about the community and championed a number of worthy causes. She respected him, and she believed he’d someday accomplish great things. But she just didn’t love him in that way, and she realized now that she never would.
But Cash was obviously still determined to win her back.
That was why she’d eagerly accepted Sophie and Nigel’s proposal to spend time in Royal. And she was glad she had. It’d given her a chance to clear her head. Reminded her of what a healthy, happy relationship looked like. And maybe, just maybe, she would get her happily-ever-after with Darius, after all.
* * *
Audra had been on the phone all day. She’d fielded calls from her design team, last-minute requests from clothing designers showing at LA Fashion Week, and an actress and her musician husband who wanted to borrow pieces for a movie premiere.
She was physically and mentally exhausted. And famished.
Audra was back at her own rental home, and she’d worked through lunch to take a call with a West Coast designer.
She made herself a grilled cheese sandwich on artisan bread with smoked provolone, prosciutto, caramelized onions and heirloom tomatoes. Then she dove back into working on the engagement ring and wedding band designs for another couple.
Her phone rang again.
It was Sophie. Audra sighed. She adored Sophie and Nigel, but if Sophie made one more change or special request for their rings or custom bridal party gifts, Audra was going to scream.
“Hey, Sophie. What’s up?”
“Audra, I’m glad I caught you. The Secret Lives ladies invited me to join them for a girls’ night out before the wedding. I’ve invited a few friends. You should join us.”
“I don’t know, Sophie,” Audra studied the ring design on her tablet. She wasn’t satisfied with it. “I’ll probably be working late.”
“You and Darius are workaholics. You can’t work around the clock. Besides, taking a little break will give you a fresh perspective. I do it all the time.”
Audra’s mouth twisted as she studied the design. Sophie was right, she needed to step away from it for a few hours and come back with fresh eyes.
“This isn’t another setup, is it?” Audra paced the floor. “If so, hard pass.”
“It isn’t. I promise. It’ll just be me, the girls, a couple of cameras and a few million viewers.” Sophie laughed. “Free publicity for my brand and yours. Are you really going to say no to that?”
She has a point. “Where?”
“The Glass House. Have you been there?”
Audra glanced at the three vases overflowing with roses that she’d brought back to her place, thinking of the dinner she and Darius had there a couple nights before. “Yes.”
“Perfect. Then you know where it is. Get dolled up and meet us there at seven thirty. My friends are a hoot. This is going to be tons of fun, I promise.”
Audra agreed and ended the call with Sophie.
A girls’ night out might be nice. Most of her friends lived in New York or LA, so she hadn’t had many girls’ nights since moving to Dallas. She’d focused on work and growing the Audra Lee Covington brand. She had no regrets about that. Still, it’d been nice spending time with Sophie and Darius in Royal.
It almost felt like she had a social life again.
She’d gone to plenty of functions while she and Cash dated, but they were usually stuffy fund-raisers at country clubs and the homes of wealthy donors. Not the kind of place where she could cut loose and be herself.
Audra turned off her tablet and went to the closet to find something to wear. She was actually looking forward to a night out with Sophie and her friends.
* * *
Audra stepped out of her convertible and into the lobby of the Glass House.
“Audra, I’m glad you made it,” Sophie practically squealed. “You already know Tessa Bateman and Milan Valez. Meet the rest of my friends.”
Sophie introduced her to Shelby Mackenzie; Sophie’s new sister-in-law, Irina Blackwood, who was expecting; Rachel Galloway; Lydia Harris, whose husband, James, was the current president of the Texas Cattleman’s Club; Alexis Slade-Clayton; and Dixie Musgraves, who owned both her rental home and the ranch where she and Darius had kissed.
Then there were the Secret Lives ladies: Rafaela Marchesi, Lulu Shepard, Seraphina Martinez, who was engaged to a local man and would be leaving the show at the end of the season, and Zooey Kostas. Miranda Dupree Blackwood—Sophie’s ex-stepmother, to whom her father had left his fortune—was notably absent.
“A few others might join us later, but the majority of us are here. We’re just waiting for the camera crew to get everything set up in the room,” Sophie informed her.
One of the producers of the show announced they were ready, and the hostess asked them to follow her to a private dining room.
Audra froze. She could swear she heard someone call her name. It can’t be. She turned around.
It definitely was.
“What are you doing in Royal?”
“Looking for you, of course.” Her ex, Cash, gave her a bright smile, his hazel eyes twinkling.
Audra looked over at the group of women who were staring in their direction with interest.
“I’ll catch up with you shortly,” she said with an overly cheerful voice.
She didn’t do drama or messiness. As the daughter of a politician, it was something that had been drilled into her head as a little girl.
Smile for the cameras. You can fall apart once you’re alone in your room.
With the Secret Lives cast and crew onsite, the last thing she needed was for them to get wind of possible drama between the diamond heiress and her ex, the aspiring politician. The headline practically wrote itself.
Out of either concern or curiosity, the women hadn’t moved.
“Cash is a family friend. We’ve known each other since we were five. It’s fine, I promise.” That seemed to convince them.
Audra turned back to her ex, her smile gone. “Did you follow me here?
”
“Yes, but not in a creepy way.” He ran a hand through his dark blond hair and chuckled. “I went to the house where you’ve been staying. You were pulling out of the driveway, so I followed you here.”
“How did you know where I’m staying?” She propped a hand on her hip.
“Your mother told me. I was concerned because you haven’t been answering my calls.”
Audra was going to have to have a talk with her mother.
“Well, as you can see, I’m fine, Cash. You shouldn’t have come here. Good night.” She turned to walk away.
“Audra, wait. Since I’m here, let me treat you to dinner.”
“I already have plans.”
“Then I won’t keep you long. Maybe we could just have a quick coffee?” Cash smiled in that disarming way he employed with complaining constituents and opposing lawmakers.
Audra sighed. She glanced around the lobby, hoping no one recognized either of them. “Thirty minutes, Cash.”
“That’s more than enough time to say what I came to say.” A broad smile spread across his handsome face, revealing his perfectly white teeth.
“Is everything all right, Audra?” Sophie approached suddenly and slipped her arm through Audra’s. She eyed Cash as if she was trying to place his face. “We’re starting soon.”
“Sophie Blackwood, right?” He grinned.
“That’s right.” Sophie frowned. “Do we know each other?”
“State Representative Cassius Johannsson.” He extended his hand and shook hers. “And sadly, Audra’s ex.” He kept his tone and expression light.
“Oh.” Sophie’s gaze shifted from Cash’s to hers, then back again. “And how do you know me?”
“I worked with your father in the past.” His tone became more solemn. “He was extremely proud of you, Sophie. I’m very sorry for your family’s loss. I know your father could be a tough old guy, but we worked on a lot of important projects together. He’s done more good than you probably know.”