Now and Forever: A BOX SET OF STANDALONE NOVELS

by Ann, Pamela

  “You have plans tonight? A date with that boyfriend of yours, perhaps?”

  “What is this, twenty questions? You already know that I do. Drop it, will you? You’re starting to get on my nerves!” I exclaim with passion, but the man is being infuriatingly dense.

  “I was just curious, Lil. I haven’t seen you in almost a decade. I suppose you can say that I miss making you blush. You’re blushing now and I must say I like this look better on you.” A devilish grin suddenly emerges as he eyes me closer as if in inspection, again.

  Not today, Drake, or ever AGAIN will I succumb to you. Once was lesson enough.

  Without blinking, I speak with utmost certainty. “I am not interested, Drake. So, please, do us both a favor and drop the Mr. Seduction act because it will never work on me.”

  Drake moves closer, our chests touching. I instantly try to pull away, but he has my shoulders on lockdown. “Why do you tense up when I’m close to you, Lil?” Drake painstakingly brushes my cheek and I look away and try to avoid his touch. “Or why does your breathing become shallow…” Drake whispers as he draws himself closer. All air leaves me when I feel his hot breath against my ear. “You still want me, but you’re fighting it.”

  Fine, maybe I still do, but that doesn’t mean I’ll act on it.

  “Dream on, Drake.” I forcefully push him aside and stride out of my office. It doesn’t take him long to catch up with me as I wait for the elevator.

  The man is beyond exasperating! He makes me want to commit bloody murder.

  I don’t acknowledge him when he jumps next to me inside the elevator.

  “Do you want to go out for dinner?” Drake annoyingly asks.

  For the love of God! Leave me alone! I want to scream, yet, I hold myself in check. I can’t lose my temper on my first day of work. Although, I’m tempted… oh, so tempted.

  “Nope, I’m going out with Jared. Remember?” I almost feel triumphant when I don’t hear a smart comeback. It only lasts briefly.

  “Is Jared staying over at your place, too?” he finally speaks, his voice low, but succinct.

  I glare at him. With both of my hands on my hips, I tell him off. “My sex life is none of your business. Who I fuck and don’t fuck is irrelevant. This interrogation ends now.”

  “For now,” Drake states in a matter-of-fact tone, but I completely ignore him.

  I don’t even bother to respond because the elevator doors open. I hurriedly scramble out and into the lobby and race toward the parking structure.

  Once I’m in traffic, I begin to fume some more. “Fuck you, Drake Tatum.” I swear. Drake is royally screwing with my head and I hate it.

  Chapter 164

  The fundraiser event for independent films is held at The Beverly Hills Hotel in The Crystal Ballroom. It’s illuminated with subtle pinkish-lavender lighting and each table is decorated with white orchids. The ambiance is dreamy and the soft jazz eases some of my tension.

  I’m sipping my champagne when I feel a zinging sensation on the back of my neck all the way down my spine. There is only one man who can make me feel like a fucking magnet and that is Drake. Knowing he’s close by, I don’t even bother to look for him. Instead, I opt to savor the beautiful surroundings and the beautiful ambiance.

  “Lily.”

  Guess that didn’t last long. I spin around and greet him, bitingly, “Drake.” I briefly assess him, looking handsomely dapper as ever, but I force my eyes to drag away from his striking features. I am not going to dwell about this man, I repeat many times in my head.

  “You look gorgeous. Gold suits you. It brings out your eyes,” he compliments as his eyes gingerly rove over my body. Admiration clearly stated in those metallic orbs.

  Well, heck, I didn’t plan to look like crap even though it crossed my mind, once. Or twice. Instead, I wore a tight-fitted, body-hugging, gold sheath dress that exposes my entire back with a slit up one leg. My hair is stylishly piled on top of the crown of my head.

  “Did you need something?” I go back to my old pose, trying to block out his handsome face.

  He comes closer. Drake stands behind me, brushing my butt softly against his thigh. “You can’t ask me that question and expect me to not get hard. I always need you, it seems.” His lips caress the tip of my ear.

  I simply shudder and try to ignore the tell-tale signs of my own arousal. “Stop being a twit and start thinking with your head, Drake. And I mean the head up there and not down south, nestled in between your legs.” I bring the point home by poking my finger at his topmost head.

  Drake roars with amused laughter. “That sharp wit of yours, Babe, it will get you in trouble. I get turned on more when you whiplash me with your words. I can’t help it. You’re sexy as hell . . . and that dress is giving me all sorts of ideas . . .” Drake uses the back of his fingers to trace my naked back and doesn’t stop until it reaches the top of my ass. “I do so want to rip this off your body. You naked with your heels on and nothing else . . . bent over and ready to be mounted.”

  Mother of God! What in the world?! “Damn it, Drake. We’re at a fucking event. Stop being such a horny kid and focus,” I chide him, but to no avail.

  “You can’t dress like this, dangle this sinful body of yours, and not expect me to react.” Drake moves closer, his state of arousal hard against my butt cheek. I try to compose myself before I pass out from the feel of it. “Behave yourself tonight. I don’t want you talking to other men.”

  I straighten up, tense. “You wish.”

  “Don’t push it, Lily. You’ve been running away from me for too long. That’s coming to a close. I will possess every inch of you, soon… very soon.” Drake’s deadly warning pins me on the spot, but I will not be threatened.

  “Not yours, Drake. Now, go find your seat and be a good boy. I will find mine. I’ll see you around.”

  When Mindy made the reservations, she had assumed that Shannon was going to be with Drake tonight, so our seating arrangements are different. I am grateful for it since the tension is too much with him. I can only take it in small doses.

  Of course, Drake sits with The VIP’s while I sit next to the minions, but I don’t mind it. In fact, I have a blast. Chris, a guy who works at one of the most sought after PR firms in Hollywood, is quite entertaining. His stories about celebrities are hilarious. It actually drowns out whoever is talking and making a speech about so and so. Yeah, I don’t pay much attention on those since Chris’s storytelling is much livelier and not as much of a snooze fest by some stuck-up CEO.

  I’m already on my fourth champagne flute by the time dessert rolls in when Chris asks me to dance, and I delightfully say yes. He chooses a spot where it is dark and secluded. I don’t mind since he is quite attractive with his brown hair, mini-faux hawk and chocolate brown eyes. Chris holds me close against him as we dance to the slow jazz beat.

  We’re not dancing for long before a gruff voice comes out from behind me. “Excuse me, but I need my assistant. Right now,” Drake barks while Chris apologizes as he recognizes who Drake is.

  When Chris leaves, Drake orders me to follow him outside. His chilly demeanor makes me nervous. Drake leads me to the garden, away from the fountains and the noise, behind some tall bushes. Once we are out of earshot, all hell breaks loose.

  “How dare you defy my order! Did you enjoy flaunting him to me?” It’s dark, and yet, I can still see the anger profoundly etched across his face.

  “I wasn’t thinking… honestly, I forgot about you for a bit.”

  That stops him. “Did you just tell me that . . . you forgot about me?”

  I lick my lips nervously as I look away. “Well, newsflash, Buddy. You’re not the only attractive man living on the planet.”

  Drake cusses me out before he moves in and before I know it, he is biting my lips hard and devouring them. I don’t even hesitate to respond when he growls as one of his hands seeks the slit of my dress and roughly pushes my underwear aside. I mindlessly writhe against him as he drives his
middle finger inside me while his thumb crushes my clit. In a minute, I’m coming apart from his fingers.

  “What you said is true . . . but there is only one man that is meant for you . . . and you are staring at him, moaning his name as you come beautifully on his fingers. Stop fighting it, because I have. I’m yours.”