I didn't bother to reply to her. I was too overtaken by her beauty. The shine of her red hair begged to be touched. Her bright green eyes told me to move closer. Her red lips pleaded for a kiss. My face was just above hers. I tilted my head slightly, ready to kiss her, when I felt the sting of her hand against my cheek.
"How dare you try to kiss me!" she screamed.
As I turned away, she grabbed my arm, reached up towards my face, and kissed me. I stepped back, confused, my cheek still burning from the slap. I wanted to say something but words escaped me.
I turned towards the door and headed to my office. It was almost time for the guests to arrive, and I needed to change into my tux.
Samantha confused and excited me at every turn. I couldn't figure her out though. What did she want? Maybe she wasn't worth my time, but I still had one more trick up my sleeve.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Samantha
Peeking out from the back into the main room, I watched as the three waiters I hired for the night made their way around with their trays. The main exhibit room was a strange mix of memorabilia and tall bar tables each with a red tablecloth and a single votive candle.
The lights were dim except for spotlights on various movie props and sets. Classical music drifted from the balcony above. Around fifty people mingled in their tuxedos and cocktail gowns as if they were completely unaware it was a Wednesday night and they had work in the morning.
Or maybe they didn't. Maybe they had nannies to care for the kids, cooks to prepare their meals, and maids to clean their houses. I grew up as a have-not in a have world. These weren't people I understood. I simply didn't fit in.
I really didn't care about what was happening at the party. I only looked out to get a glimpse of Drake. My clothes still smelled like him, like an ocean breeze, from when I kissed him.
I kissed him. What was wrong with me? He was going to kiss me. I wanted him to kiss me. And what did I do? I slapped him.
Then to make matters worse, I then decided to kiss him. No wonder he walked out. He was running from the crazy redhead. I couldn't blame him. I'd run from me, too.
But what a kiss! It didn't matter how brief it was, time stood still once my lips touched his.
I finally spotted him in the crowd as he schmoozed with his guests and couldn't remember what was my issue with him. It seemed suddenly childish to blame him for ignoring me in the past. When I thought about how awkward I was, it was probably for the best.
He looked over in my direction and I quickly hid behind the door. Ugh, talk about immature. I liked to think I was better than how I acted, but it definitely didn't seem like it.
Noticing the time, I decided to pack up. The waiters were doing great, they didn't need me. I certainly didn't need to stay for much longer. As I cleaned my knives, I heard someone enter and assumed it was one of my wait staff.
"After before, I don't think I feel safe with you holding knives." Drake had one hand in his pocket as he casually strolled into the kitchen. "By the way, you messed up earlier."
My smile left my face. "Messed up? Was it the food? Did something happen?" I slid the knives into my bag as I ran through the evening in my head, worried I did something terrible.
"No, the food was great. It's just that most women slap me after the kiss, not before."
"Well, I'm not most women."
"I know. I wouldn't be here if you were." He slid my bag further down the table. "Are you leaving already? I thought we could have a drink."
"I'm sure people are looking for you. You're hosting a party, remember?"
"They like me, so they'll stay. You on the other hand had to be bribed to come here."
I couldn't help but laugh. I found him charming and easily saw why women constantly fell for him. He seemed like the total package. But who was I kidding? Nothing would ever happen between us. He was beach-front property and I was hole-in-the-wall apartment. No way could he be interested in more than just sex…but was that so bad?
"Okay, I'll have a drink with you."
Without a word, he left the kitchen. I continued to clean and pack my things, then stacked them near the door to be carried out to my car. Before he returned, I found two stools and placed them by the cool aluminum prep table, thinking it would help the drinks stay chilled longer.
When Drake returned, he carried a bottle of white wine and two glasses. He loosened his bow tie and seemed to have a permanent smirk on his face, which was sexy and mischievous at the same time.
"I found a Pinot Grigio, I hope that's okay."
I shrugged, not having a clue. I knew there were different varieties of wines, but they all went straight to my head.
He leaned against one of the stools and poured a small amount of wine into each glass. "Try it. If you don't like it, I'll get something else."
I took a sip of the chilled wine. It was sweet but not overly sweet. The taste surprised me since normally I didn't care for wine.
"It's good. It'll do."
He raised his glass and we clinked. I worried he might make some lame toast, but he didn't say a word. He took a sip of his wine, then filled our glasses some more.
"I think you need to tell me why you hate me. Is it the Sammy thing? I didn't know you hated that."
"You've been asking about me? I'm flattered. I think." I laughed and put down my glass, which slid a bit on the aluminum table.
"You think? You should be flattered. You know how many women..." he let his voice trail off.
"Yes, many many women. I know. Too many. That's all women are to you--toys."
"That's not true at all," he sighed. "You have no idea how hard it is for me."
"Aww, poor little rich boy," I teased, then we both laughed.
"Maybe I was like that a long time ago. Maybe it once mattered how many women I could bed, but not anymore."
"I bet that line gets you a lot of girls. Not this one though."
"What would get you? Is there anything I can do, or are you so dead set against liking me that I'll never get a chance?"
He caught me off guard, which put me on the defensive. "Listen, I'm sure you just think because I'm fat and a nobody that you can just pay a little attention to me and bam, I'll end up in your bed. I'm telling you right now that's not going to happen. I will never sleep with you. Now why don't you leave? Some of us have to actually work for a living."
There was no way Drake Winslow was interested in me. Someone that gorgeous and wealthy? No freaking way. He just thought I was an easy target. I had never been so sure of something in all of my life.
"Okay okay." He put his hands up as if I was physically attacking him. He took a drink of his wine then studied me. "You're an interesting woman, Samantha Mayfair." His eyes traveled over my body, and I felt my cheeks begin to burn.
"First of all, you're not fat and you should never say you are. I think you're beautiful and I know many women would kill for your body. Secondly, you could never be a nobody. Not to me." He set his glass down on the table and got up. "Thanks for the drink."
He walked towards the door and I regretted letting my big mouth go. When would I learn to think before I spoke? My heart sank as I watched him walk out the door, but I felt powerless to do anything.
* * *
Towards the end of the night, I loaded up my car with most of my things and then gathered the rest by the door. As soon as the party ended, I paid the waiters and grabbed the rest of my stuff and headed to my car. I couldn't get out of there fast enough. I was so distracted by Drake that I didn't notice the Maserati blocking me in until I started backing out and saw it in my rear view mirror.
"Dammit! This better belong to someone at the party or I'm screwed."
It seemed like I had been outside longer than I thought because the museum looked different since I left. Most of the dimmed lights were off, and everything was silent. I walked down the hallway towards the exhibit room the party was in, guided only by the lights on the displays.
"Hel
lo? Is there anyone here?"
I heard footsteps on the marble floor, so I entered the main hall looking for them. It was two stories high with giant movie posters hung like tapestries. A spotlight lit each poster. It was oddly beautiful and awe-inducing at the same time.
Walking past the posters, I realized how huge the Winslow name really was. Hanging around me were more than just movie posters, they were my life. Movies had always been my escape. and each of these movies connected to a memory.
Whenever I was down, I popped that one into my DVD player. Or this one when I wanted a big laugh. Maybe my love of movies gave me high expectations. Maybe I hated Drake so much because I always thought in the movie of my life, he should fall in love with me. Boy, was I stupid.
I approached the poster for one of my favorite movies. An old movie that had a scene I judged every romantic experience of my life by even though it involved a pottery wheel.
Suddenly, I heard the song playing from that scene. The haunting melody came from the room under which the poster hung. The lights slowly increased to a glow and there, in that exhibit room, was the entire set from my favorite scene, with the pottery wheel spotlighted in the middle.
My heart thumped wildly as I entered the room. Drake stood on the set, still in his tuxedo. Overwhelmed, I rested my hands on the waist-high plexiglass barrier guarding the set.
"What is all this?"
"I heard this was one of your favorite movies. I didn't want you leaving without seeing the set."
He walked over and unhinged the barrier, letting me in. I headed for the pottery wheel and stared at it.
"Can I touch it?"
"You can even use it, although I wouldn't recommend that. It's a working pottery wheel. Go ahead, sit."
I awkwardly sat on the stool, wishing I had pants on. The draw of the pottery wheel was too much. I needed to sit at it like the girl in the movie. Hiking my skirt up enough, I repositioned myself with the wheel between my legs and turned it on to a slow spin.
"This is awesome! I wish I knew how to throw clay."
He laughed. "I was hoping you'd like it."
I smiled at him and our eyes met. Once again, I forgot why I hated him. Deep down I knew I didn't have a reason.
I couldn't take my eyes off him. His entire face smiled when he laughed, crinkling the corners of his eyes and putting a dimple in his cheek I never noticed before.
"You know, there is one thing missing from this scene," I said.
He looked around the set and shook his head. "It should all be here. What's missing?"
"In the scene, she's making something and her husband comes up behind her and sits with her."
He laughed and nodded as he realized what I was asking him for. He removed his tuxedo jacket. His bow tie was undone and hanging loose under his collar where he unbuttoned his top button. I couldn't imagine wanting anyone more.
I scooted up to give him a little space on the stool and he sat behind me. Excited, I began giggling like a little girl. I would have felt embarrassed for myself if I wasn't enjoying myself so much.
My anger disappeared. Although I wasn't sure what to expect next, I didn't care. For once I was going to live in the moment. No more second guessing myself.
Leaning back against his strong chest, I melted against him and closed my eyes. I smelled the ocean again and briefly wondered if he smelled like that because he lived at the beach.
My mind wandered to what he said earlier. How he thought I was beautiful. His words were so filled with conviction, I had no choice but to believe him.
As I grinned like a school girl, I felt his hands slide down my arms and over my hands until he entwined his fingers with mine. His hands made mine feel delicate and small and just like at the reception, his simple touch sent warmth shooting through my body.
As he stroked and held my hands, my desire for him grew even stronger. Just a tender caress of my fingers and he made my body pulse with excitement. I couldn't deny it to myself any longer, I never hated Drake Winslow. I might even love him.
"We should get going," I whispered.
He let go of my hands and rose from the stool. I could see he planned on being a gentleman tonight. I didn't want that.
"I had a lovely evening, Samantha. Maybe you'll let me take you out sometime?"
His eyes never left mine as he took one of my hands and brought it up to his lips and softly kissed my fingers. A shock of electricity engulfed me and I knew I couldn't let him go. I held onto his hand after his lips left my fingers and smiled.
"Maybe you could take me home tonight."
He swept me up into his arms, knocking over the small stool. My arms wrapped tightly around his neck as our lips came together again and we kissed hungrily.
I wrapped my legs around his waist and began unbuttoning his shirt as he carried me over to an aluminum table at the back of the set, similar to the one in the kitchen. My skirt was still hiked up when he sat me on the table, and a rush went up my spine as I felt the cold metal through my panties.
While he removed his shirt, I quickly unbuttoned and tossed mine aside, leaving me in my lace bra. His hands cupped my face as we kissed again. Our tongues slipped into each other's mouths while my hands loosened his pants.
I had to have him. He bit the soft skin of my cleavage, and the throbbing between my legs that I tried to ignore began to pulse in my ears. As he slid my bra off me, I reached down to touch his hard member.
I was like a woman possessed. My hand curved around him and moved up and down his shaft. I could feel my panties getting wetter and wrapped my legs around him again, letting myself use the table to slide closer to him.
His hands moved into my hair and removed the elastic containing my curls. Loosening my hair, he let it fall around my shoulders. He buried his head into my curls and kissed my neck. I heard him inhale deeply and sigh as his smooth cheek rubbed against my shoulder.
So lost in him and the set surrounding us, I was startled to feel the cold against my thighs as he pushed my skirt up my hips. I pulled myself closer to him and felt his erection pressed against my panties. I let out a soft breath, feeling him and thinking how badly I wanted him inside me.
Relaxing my legs from around him, I wiggled myself out of my panties. He wrapped his large hands around my fleshy thighs, digging his fingers in slightly as he yanked me to the edge of the cold table where he still stood.
The warmth of his body contrasted with the cold of the table. I felt reckless but didn't care. I pulled him closer to me as I wrapped my legs back around him.
His cock felt hot against my skin as he pressed against my wet entrance. As he slipped inside, I moaned softly. I ran my hands up his muscular back, holding him against me and pressing my large breasts against his chest as he rocked his hips.
Suddenly I felt one of his hands slide between us, down close to my hip. He positioned his hand so his thumb could slide over my clit as he rubbed me. The pulsing between my legs grew more intense.
Thrusting deep into me, I gasped for air. I listened to the rhythmic clank of the table against the wall. His short breaths that matched mine. I clung to him as I felt everything building and rising inside of me, but it was his thumb that sent me over the edge.
I took a quick deep breath and suddenly chills and tingles coursed through my body as I orgasmed. My moans echoed through the quiet museum, and I bit my bottom lip as I hoped the museum really was empty.
As my body writhed against his, Drake grabbed my ass hard before gasping. His hips slowed as he came. He looked into my eyes again, brushed my hair back from my face, and cupped my chin as he pulled my face closer to kiss my lips.
After helping me down from the table, we gathered our clothing and quickly got dressed. He held my hand as we walked back towards receiving where our cars were.
"Stay with me tonight?" he asked.
I grinned but couldn't bring myself to speak. I nodded and let him lead me to his car and laughed when I saw it was him who blocked me in.
He held my hand the entire drive out of town and through the winding canyon. As we approached his home, I smelled the salty air of the ocean, a smell I now thought of as his and which my clothes and skin smelled like.
Drake's house was much smaller than I imagined. It was more of a townhouse, but it was right on the beach. As we entered, he took my hand again, intertwining his fingers with mine.
"Let me show you around. I want you to feel at home," he said.
The first floor had a sunken contemporary living room with a stone fireplace. The kitchen ran the length of the floor with an entrance by the living room and by a small dining room. The wall facing the ocean was ceiling-to-floor glass and led to a patio which extended onto the sand. His home looked like it had been professionally decorated yet still looked comfortable and homey.
On the second floor was his bedroom and bath. A large bed was in the center of the room, and he led me towards it and undressed me before undressing himself. We got into bed together.
He held me close and I felt safe. I lay there thinking how strange it was to be in his home, naked beside him. I tried to get it out of my head and just focus on how good and happy I felt, but the nagging feeling wouldn't stop.
I heard his breathing become steady and knew he was asleep. I was kidding myself if I thought anything would come from tonight. Nothing had changed. I was still the nobody I always was and he was still Drake Winslow, billionaire playboy.
How ironic that I became a notch on the very bed I laid in beside him. I pushed away his sweet words and everything he did that night. To me, they were bait to get me in the sack. I didn't want to be there anymore, I felt foolish. I had to take matters into my own hands.
Slipping out from under his arm, I grabbed my clothes and got dressed. I thought about leaving him a note but didn't see a point. We both got what we wanted, it was better to leave it at that and move on.
I called a cab when I got to the street and rode back to the museum in silence, in my little ride of shame, back to get my car. I wanted to believe Drake, but logic didn't work in his favor. I fell for his charm just like all the others, but it wouldn't happen again.
My Boss’s Whim Page 13