“That sounds great. Sushi sounded great. Isn’t it hard to get reservations last-minute at these places? How did you ever get us into Per Se?”
I told Jade about our first meeting at Per Se, and she nearly fell over. There was a four-month wait if you were somebody. A nobody could wait forever. Obviously, Jonathan was more of a somebody than I thought.
“It’s a lot easier when you hold the future of their finances in your hands. I find a lot of doors open when you’re juggling people’s money.”
“That makes sense. Money is a powerful tool.” I would probably go out with Jonathan even if he weren’t paying me. For other girls, his money would have probably been the lure. Hell, who was I kidding? His money was what got us together. In what lifetime would I have had the opportunity to hang out with a man of his wealth and stature? Never. Dressed in my Forever 21 jeans and H & M T-shirts, he would have never given me a second glance. Tonight would be my first real lesson in the buying and selling of commodities.
“Money, used for the right purposes, is a powerful tool. Put in the wrong hands, it’s a dangerous weapon. Don’t forget that. And while we are speaking of dangerous, never give your address to a client. It’s not smart.” He had a drill sergeant quality to his voice. A tone I wouldn’t argue with.
I pinched my mouth shut. I would love to find a comical retort, but he was right. I wasn’t thinking, and I had put myself at risk. Thank God he appeared to be a good guy. “You are the only one who has my address,” I said quietly.
“Good. You can trust me, River. I won’t be camping out on your doorstep.”
Did he talk to Jade? They sounded like a song on repeat. Sadly, the thought of him camping out on my doorstep sounded appealing.
* * *
The car came to a stop in front of the restaurant on 52nd Street. The heat of his hand scalded my back as he helped me exit and led me upstairs to the posh French restaurant. Just like Per Se, the staff knew him by sight. We were taken to a table tucked in a dark corner. The flicker of the candle danced across his gold tie. King Midas came to mind as I watched it sparkle in the light. Everything Midas touched turned to gold; when Jonathan touched me, I turned to liquid. He offered the maître d' what appeared to be folded bills before he sat next to me. His hand glided over my knee and settled on my thigh. My breath hitched. Prickles of sensation pinged through me. My nipples hardened, and my thighs quivered under his touch.
“Wine?”
“Yes.”
“Red or white?”
“You choose.”
With a single brain cell left, I couldn’t choose anything to save my life. Why was this man’s touch so intense? Was it the forbidden circumstances that surrounded us? Was it my lack of recent sexual partners? My senior year kicked my ass. I didn’t have much time for a social life. The homework nearly killed me. I certainly didn’t have time for men.
The waiter delivered and poured us a glass of red. We perused the menu. Jonathan chose some kind of beef, and I selected the lamb chops. Dinner was the last thing on my mind when his hand gently caressed my thigh.
“How was school yesterday?” Talk about out of left field.
“Good, although it’s hard to get back in the swing of things. I have a full load, but I’m piling them into two days. So, Tuesday and Thursdays are devoted to education. I have this analytics class that will more than likely bore me to death. Do you know Professor Pollard?”
“Professor Ralph Pollard? Yes, the man’s a genius. Pay attention to him. If you can forecast financial trends, you can write your check at any company. Trends are important because, like history, everything repeats. It’s the smart ones who know when to jump on board, and when to pass. If you want to manage portfolios, then analytics should be your bedmate.”
“How about you be my bedmate, and I’ll solicit advice from the master?”
His hand crept under the edge of my dress to caress higher on my thigh. He was distracting me, and my filter was gone. I’d just asked him to sleep with me in exchange for inside information.
“Being my bedmate is a given, River. As for information, I’m your mentor, and I will guide you, but I won’t give you an edge. You will earn what you get, as far as your career is concerned. You can use your body to get you in the door, but only your brain will keep you there.”
I loved that he was direct, as it cleared up a few things for me. I would get in a door somewhere, but once there, I was on my own, and I was good with that. I would never want to be accused of sleeping my way to the top. I would have to figure out how I felt about being accused of sleeping with the top to get my foot in the door. Once I graduated, no one would ever know what I did to get a ticket to the party. I could see why all ties were broken after graduation.
“I’m not asking for an edge; merely a chance. How was your week?” My snarky inner bitch took over my thoughts. Yeah, Jonathan, how was your week? What kept you so busy, you couldn’t take the time to push yes on my profile? I so badly wanted to know why he dragged his feet, but I would never ask. I was happy to be with him—to have him as my first.
“Things were busy. I signed a few new clients and played golf with a few long-term patrons. I went to a charity auction for disabled veterans. Speaking of which, are you free Saturday? I need a plus one for an event. It’s a crazy opera mixed with an art auction. I’m not a big fan of opera, so I need a distraction while I’m forced to sit through the event. I have a private box.” His look was so seductive, it made me press my thighs together, trapping his hand between them. His chuckle sent a blush to my face. I could feel the heat of my embarrassment warm my cheeks.
“I’m free Saturday and would love to be your distraction.”
I released his hand from between my legs. Instead of pulling it free, he slipped it between the juncture of my thighs. My initial thought was how mortified I was to be soaked with arousal, but I remembered Jade’s words this morning about men loving that you got wet for them.
A sexy, slow smile spread across his face as he pulled my panties to the side and dragged his fingers through my heated flesh. Painfully slow, he circled my bundle of nerves with deliberation. I’d never had public sex, but I could see myself spreading my legs and falling back to let this man take me. Everything he did was with control and purpose. The power I felt before was gone. His fingers controlled the situation.
The arrival of the waiter stopped the exquisite torture. As Jonathan’s plate was set in front of him, he pulled his hand free and licked his finger. The man licked his finger like it was a delicacy. He didn’t wipe my arousal on his napkin, but rather he savored my moisture like it was caviar. Was it possible to come from simply watching a sinfully sexual man lick my essence from his fingers? If so, I was almost there.
When the waiter left, we stared at our plates.
“Eat up, Princess, you’re going to need your strength.”
Without a glance in my direction, he sliced into his medallions of beef. I stared at my lamb chops and wondered how I was going to get through dinner. My ravenous appetite had nothing to do with food.
“Is Saturday’s affair formal? If so, I will have to shop for something appropriate.”
I should get paid on Friday, so getting a dress for Saturday shouldn’t be too much of a problem. I knew of a few places I could shop. Maybe the consignment shop on Madison would have something appropriate. My mind ran through my options.
“Who’s your personal shopper?” He sipped his wine and scanned my body. I had a body made for men’s pleasures. And it seemed Jonathan liked the full-bodied woman. Lucky me.
“I’ll have her send you some options.”
He set his glass down and brought his hand to cup my face. His eyes sparkled, but I didn’t know if it was passion, reverence, or mischief behind his look. I didn’t know him well enough. Any conclusion would be a guess at this point.
“I don’t need you to do that. I’m capable of coming up with something appropriate. I just needed to know the details.” Why did I
ask? I could have googled the event and looked up the dress code. I certainly wasn’t trying to get him to buy me something to wear.
“River, it’s my job to make sure you’re prepared for whatever I throw at you. This won’t be the last formal event we attend together. You have enough to worry about with school, so you don’t need to add shopping to your list. I’ll take care of this. It’s my pleasure to spoil you. I hope you return the favor when we’re alone.”
Soft lips pushed against mine. The kiss lingered for minutes. He had kissed the fight out of me. Who was I to argue if this man wanted to dress and undress me?
“I want to go,” I said breathlessly. His mouth traced my jaw to my ear.
“You haven’t eaten. Eat, and then we’ll discuss dessert.”
Disappointed, I hung my head slightly and whispered, “I thought I was dessert.”
His roar of laughter surprised me. “River, you and I are going to be amazing together. Now eat. I wasn’t joking when I said you were going to need your energy.”
Jade’s statement about three to four times being the norm repeated in my head. Oh hell, I would need to eat. I sliced into my perfectly cooked lamb chops and savored the first bite.
“I have to confess, I googled you. It said you lived on Center Island. How is that commute every day? I can’t imagine trying to get in and out of the city during rush hour.” Mundane conversation was how I would get through dinner.
“You googled me? Good. It’s important to find out all you can about a person you do business with. Did it say I own a property in the city as well?” He slid his fork into the creamy potatoes and placed the bite into his mouth. I was obsessed with his mouth and lips. I felt jealous of the damn fork.
“No, it just mentioned you had a house on Long Island, and I thought about your commute.”
He shook his head. “That’s what I like about you. There are so many other things you could focus on, and you worry about my commute. I like that. I offered to buy you a dress, and you try to fight me on it. You’re not typical.”
“What’s typical?” It was probably not a question I wanted to know the answer to, but I couldn’t stop myself from asking.
“Girls who enter this type of service say they need help with school, but they get drawn in by the money, and often their focus changes. I hope you don’t change, River. I like you just the way you are.”
“Everyone changes, Jonathan. After tonight, I will be forever changed. The question is, how can I remain the same?” The next few bites of lamb chop were eaten, and my wine glass was almost empty.
We ate our dinner and chatted about superficial things like the market and movies and music. As it turned out, we had a lot in common.
He studied me for a few minutes. “I see you didn’t bring a bag. From now on, I’ll expect you to spend the night. An hour or so with you will not be enough. I’ll need time to savor you. What I want from you can’t be rushed.”
Holy shit. Clench, quiver, and gush. My already wet center was drenched from his words. They were a promise of things to come.
“Okay.” My breathy whisper was almost as unrecognizable as my voice. My ability to form a complete sentence was gone.
The waiter was called, the bill was paid, and I was helped to my feet. All I felt was his hand on my bare back leading me to the car. Nothing in-between registered; just the heat of his hand on the small of my back and his lips on mine the minute the car door closed.
“What time is your first class tomorrow?” he asked as he pulled from my lips.
A shake of my head cleared the cobwebs from my brain. He said something about class tomorrow and time. “Ten. Thursday classes are at ten.”
“Nice, we have plenty of time to explore each other. Are you okay with moving forward?”
It was a bit late to ask now. The man slid his fingers through my wetness before dinner and set my parts aflame. The rest of the night, I watched his mouth and fantasized about the ways he could make me squirm with that alone. Not once did I think about not moving forward with the night.
“Jonathan, let’s be honest. We have this incredible chemistry. It’s hot, nearly volcanic. If we don’t get to your room fast, I may erupt. Mount St. Helens will look like a puff of smoke compared to how badly I want to let go.” Thank God for the divider between Howard and us. I couldn’t imagine him listening to our conversation.
“River, spread your legs.” I didn’t think about disobeying, so I did what he asked. I separated my thighs for him. On his knees before me, he shimmied my blue dress past my hips.
A gasp escaped his mouth the minute my garters and stockings were revealed. In the confines of the restaurant, he didn’t get the full experience. Thank goodness for the space a town car provided. Kneeling before me, he buried his head between my legs. The heat of his tongue brushed against my drenched panties. “I’ve wanted to taste this all night. That little teaser before dinner only made my appetite bigger.”
A moan of frustration broke from my lips. I wanted more.
“Jonathan, I need more.”
Pulling the wet fabric aside, he assaulted me with his tongue. I had no idea what was hotter—the slip of his tongue across my lips or the plunge of his tongue deep inside me. I had thought his lips were delicious. His tongue was heaven-sent. Then there was the primal growl that escaped his mouth. Hot. Hot. Hot.
Holy. Hell. Heaven-sent might be an understatement. The man’s tongue matched his tie. Gold.
Chapter 10
Was the car stopped for a while, or did we just arrive? I wasn’t sure. Jonathan straightened my dress and sat back in his seat. A single knock on the blackened window alerted Howard of our intent to exit. The smell of sex filled the air, but there was nothing I could do about that. Taking Jonathan’s hand, I followed him into the foyer of the Four Seasons Hotel.
The lobby didn’t disappoint. Granite floors that shined with the luster of a diamond and marble pillars that stretched to the sky greeted us. When we approached the front desk, we were greeted by name.
“Good evening, Mr. Ferris, Ms. Roberts. Welcome to the Four Seasons. Your suite is ready. Do you need assistance?”
They knew our names. Jonathan thought of everything. He had made me feel special, not like the girl he was paying to have sex with him, but like a woman who was spending a romantic evening with a wonderful man. Like somehow, I mattered. This alone would change me. The bar was just set higher. How were normal men supposed to compete with this?
“No, we can find our way. Thank you.”
With the key in his hand, we walked to the elevator and entered. It zoomed to the fiftieth floor in seconds. My knees were shaking. Not from fear, but from anticipation. His long, slender fingers gripped the key card confidently. As he pushed it into the slot, I imagined all the part As that could go into part Bs. My imagination ran wild.
The door opened into a beautiful suite. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the Manhattan skyline. The king-sized bed dominated the room. In the living area, a bottle of champagne sat chilling in a bucket of ice on the coffee table. I didn’t expect this. I expected a decent room with a bed and bathroom. I imagined the event would be quick and I’d be sent away. I didn’t expect the man to care about my pleasure. I didn’t expect him to entice me with words like devour and savor. I expected him to take care of himself. Deep inside, I wanted more, and that was why I needed Jonathan to be my first. Somehow, I knew he would be generous.
The windows drew me in. I dropped my bag and scarf on a chair along my way to them. The bright lights of the city were hypnotic.
“Lovely,” he said from behind me as he moved my hair to the side and kissed my neck.
“Yes, it is. The city is quiet and peaceful from the fiftieth floor.” My head tilted, giving him better access to that sensitive area between my shoulder and neck.
“No, you’re lovely. The skyline has nothing on you.” His lips grazed my neck until I shuddered.
“Oh, Mr. Ferris, do you flatter all the women?”
>
“No, Ms. Roberts. I usually screw other women and move on, but you’re special. You deserve more.”
I was crushed by his words and buoyed by his intent. He screwed the others, but I was special, so something was different about me. Jade’s words came to the forefront of my mind.
You are not his first, and you won’t be his last.
She was spot on. This wasn’t a date. It was business. A transaction—a sale of goods and services.
It was going to be an amazing sexual experience, but that was all it would be for both of us. How special could that be? Only time would tell.
“I wasn’t trying to pry into your relationships. It’s none of my business.”
I needed to keep reminding myself I didn’t have a right to information. My rights ended at the door. Thankfully, he didn’t appear fazed by the conversation. He continued to worship my neck.
One would think a side zipper would be inconvenient, but the minute he pulled it down, the dress simply fell from my shoulders and pooled on the floor. Standing for all of Manhattan to see, I faced the glass wearing garters, a thong, silk stockings, and heels. Scratch that. With a tug at my side, the thong was torn from my body.
“Damn. You’re so beautiful. You have a perfect ass. These,” he held my torn panties in front of my face, “won’t ever be needed when you’re with me. Knowing you’re bare for me is a turn on. Next time I bury my face between your legs unexpectedly, I don’t want to hit a barrier. Next time we’re at a restaurant and I crave a taste of you, I want to be able to slip my fingers inside you and pull your essence from deep down.”
His words filled me with heat. Labored breaths fogged the window in front of me. My forehead rested against the cool glass. He skimmed my arms and pulled my hands to press my palms against the glass. He positioned me where he wanted me. My legs were spread. My arms were spread. His hands skimmed my body as he began to speak.
The Dean’s List Page 9