“I was mingling,” she argued. “The room is full of potential advertisers. I haven’t seen you do any socializing.”
“That’s your forte,” he retorted, preparing a cracker for himself. As he ate, the MC appeared by the left wing of the stage and waved him over. Elias turned to Ava. “I’ll be back soon.”
“Where are you going?”
“Just stay here. Don’t accept any more drinks.” He walked through the crowds and met with the MC hanging back in the shadows. “Is everything all right?”
“Ms. Wolfe’s due on stage in ten minutes,” the MC exclaimed, his round cheeks flushed red. “We’re drawing the ticket for the car and we need to get her prepped.”
Behind the curtains, Elias could see the curvaceous silhouette of the Mercedes as it waited off stage, driven in from the foyer. “Pop the mic pack on me. I’m going up instead of Ava.”
“What? You’re not on the itinerary.”
“Things change, just like business. These people will understand. They came here for the car, anyway.” Elias pointed in the direction of the crew running around backstage. “Who do I speak to for the mic setup?”
Chapter 9
Twelve minutes past midnight, Elias half-carried, half-dragged a drunk Ava to the fifth floor of the hotel. With the night’s excitement still ringing in his ears, he paused outside her room, propping Ava against the wall as he searched her clutch purse for the key.
“You did good tonight,” she drawled, a hapless smile plastered across her face. “I’m proud of you. We’ll be in the papers tomorrow for all the right reasons.”
After Elias pulled the winning raffle ticket and stood with the victor for photographs, he returned to the crowd, finding Ava sitting alone at the bar, running her finger up and down an empty wineglass. He found the act incredibly sexy, like a cat twitching its tail in pique. She had sobered up enough to throw him a look heavy with drunk lust. He had ignored it because when Ava drank, her guard was lowered, disarming her. Breakable. Weak. He didn’t want to become that type of man.
Now, as he tipped her clutch’s contents onto the carpet, he wondered if she would remember tonight's events in the morning. He pushed aside her mobile phone, a driver’s license, a tampon, and a candy wrapper before locating the slim white card. Triumphantly, he swiped it and grinned when the door unlocked. He helped her inside, using his elbow to turn on the light switch.
“Why are you so nice to me?” Ava mumbled as they wandered to the couch. Elias assumed it was safer here than trying to get her into bed.
He lowered her down onto the plush cushions. “You’re my friend. I care about you,” he replied matter-of-factly, sliding one heel off her foot. “Anyone would do the same.”
“No, they wouldn’t.” She raked her hand over her face, her lips twisting with self-loathing. “I’m a bitch. Everyone knows that. I have no friends outside of work.”
“You have me.” Elias placed both heels on the floor beside the couch and leaned down to sweep a lock of hair from her face. “You’re a talented, savvy, and beautiful woman. I’ve learned more in the months with you than I ever did at university.”
“Why are people so frightened of me? My staff practically cower when I walk past them.”
“They don’t know you, Ava. People are scared of the unknown. You rebuilt Blue Tail Media from the ashes and that’s a hard thing to do. You had to be tough and resilient to survive.” His hand lingered on her cheek, his thumb caressing her smooth, white skin. He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, knowing it was Daisy checking up on him again. A part of him wanted to walk out the door and go home to her, but he didn’t want to leave Ava. He felt responsible for her, to ensure she didn’t hurt herself—or anyone else from hurting her. Her eyes closed when his thumb brushed her parted lips.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked.
Ava sat up slowly, taking his arm for support. “I’m drunker than I thought I was.” Her jade gaze locked with his. “You don’t have to stay with me. I’m fine.” Her hands reached behind her neck and she unclasped the necklace. Holding a pool of diamonds in one hand, she added, “Go home to Daisy. I can hear your phone vibrating in your pocket.”
Elias swallowed the lump in his throat. “I don’t know if I want to.”
Ava shuffled over and patted the space next to her. “Sit down then. Let’s talk. I would offer you a drink but I think this hotel is fresh out of alcohol after the fundraiser.”
Elias laughed. “How about something to eat? We can charge the company room service.”
A wicked smile crossed Ava’s face. “How devilish of you, Elias. I’m all right for now. Go home to Daisy. I’m pretty sure I’m in her bad books for keeping you away tonight.”
As they sat shoulder to shoulder, Elias felt every move Ava made, every breath she took, every nerve synapse inside her body. He was sure she could feel his too because she turned and looked at him, clarity in her eyes.
“You don’t want to go home,” she said.
Elias pulled at a loose thread on the couch, begging for his heart to slow down. Maybe it was the alcohol in his gut, or the adrenalin still coursing through his veins, but all he wanted to do was take Ava to bed and clear her from his system. Liam was right. The sexual tension between them was palpable. It was so strong he could almost smell it, radiating off their bodies like smoke.
“I don’t think I’m ready to face all of that yet,” he whispered, snapping his gaze to her large, wide eyes and mouth that begged to be kissed.
“Face what?”
“What I’m about to do.” He was upon her so fast, she gasped, capturing Ava’s face in his hands. He kissed her. Hard. Like his life depended on it.
~ ~ ~
Ava drew a sharp intake of breath as Elias’s azure eyes—now dark with ravenous hunger—pinned her to the couch. A heat bellowed off him in waves, something she recognised as raw, unbreakable desire. He wanted her.
When he spoke, she listened, absorbing every word he said, feeling insecure when his eyes toured her face. Then, his lips crashed upon hers, so fast she missed a breath. His hands felt cool against her cheeks, despite the heat in the room. He tasted so sweet and warm.
Elias groaned deep in his throat when she kissed him back. Ava knew it was wrong to reciprocate, but judging by the desperation in Elias’s kisses, he wasn’t thinking of his girlfriend anymore.
His fingers buried into her hair, pulling it from the jade hair clip holding it together. His kiss was deep and passionate, leaving Ava breathless. She wanted more. She climbed onto his lap, straddling his slim hips, pressing herself into his erection. Elias moaned, shifting his hands from her hair to the hem of her dress, lifting it up to squeeze her bottom. Pleasure ribboned through Ava as his nails bit into her flesh, inciting bittersweet pain.
Her fingers fumbled to unbutton his shirt, frantic to see him underneath his clothes. Elias appeared to have the same idea, locating the zipper on her dress, unfastening it, freeing her from the confines of the fabric. He pulled the straps down over her shoulders, feathering hot kisses along her collarbone. Ava tilted her back and let out the breath she’d been holding in. Like her, it was if a dam inside Elias had broken, freeing all the tension inside her.
With both hands, Elias jerked the dress’s neckline down until her breasts sprung free, aching for his touch. Taking one hot peak into his mouth, he sucked and licked, earning a moan from her lips. Ava tore at his shirt, almost ripping it from his body.
“I want you,” she breathed, her hands reaching for his zipper. When she wrapped her fingers around him, he gasped. Ava silenced him with a kiss, pushing down the guilt inside her. Her past actions had destroyed relationships before, ending her young marriage to Liam. But Elias was a good man. He didn’t deserve to lose Daisy if their actions got them into trouble. Ava was just lonely and there were p
lenty of faceless men downstairs more than willing to share her bed tonight. She broke the kiss, preparing to let Elias down softly when he stood from the couch, taking her with him.
He heaved her into his arms, carrying her to the bedroom down the hall. He kicked the door open and tossed her onto the mattress, stripping off her gown and underwear without a word. She lay naked in front of him, unabashed, watching him undress.
His body was lean and toned, with a sculptured chest and arms. A birthmark shaped like a starfish imprinted the skin on his left hip.
When he removed his pants, she inhaled sharply, not at the sight of him, but at the conflicting feelings inside her. She was doing it again, diving down the rabbit hole, but this time she knew of the consequences.
Her face twisted in pleasure when he slipped inside her, hooking her legs around his waist. When they found a rhythm, she welcomed the touches, smells, and tingles Elias incited on her body. His fingers left a scorched trail in their wake, burning her skin, making her wanting more. He pumped into her so fast and quick that he hurt her, but Ava didn’t tell him to stop. She liked it rough.
“I don’t have a . . .” Elias finally spoke, breathless in the nook of her neck. His entire body shuddered and she knew he was close.
“I’m on the pill,” she whispered back, lifting her hips against his belly, wanting him to go deeper. “Keep going.”
As they climaxed together, Ava fell back into the pillow, out of breath, sore, and completely satisfied. She was certain it was the copious amounts of alcohol she consumed tonight that made sex with Elias the best of her life, but he fed the urge inside her, making her feel wanted and attractive.
Not one for chatting after making love, Ava rolled over to check her mobile on the nightstand. There was a text from the MC congratulating her on the successful night and a barrage of drunk dialings from Liam.
As she climbed out of bed, eager for a shower and one last glass of wine, Ava turned and studied Elias sleeping among the tangled sheets. She would think fondly of tonight, of the unspoken pleasures Elias unearthed inside her, even if it was a one-off fling. He would return to his normal life in the morning and she would go back to the office, like nothing ever happened.
Chapter 10
Elias awoke with a start. A beam of sunlight broke into the bedroom, blinding him when he rolled over. Ava slept with her back to him, naked, her fiery, red hair fanned across the silk pillow. Her milky, white skin begged to be touched, but a crashing wave of guilt overcame him, forcing him out of bed. The sheets still reeked of sex. His discarded clothes lay scattered across the floor. He had cheated on Daisy. The line he didn’t want to cross was now blurred.
Elias wandered into the bathroom and closed the door. He couldn’t look at Ava now, too ashamed to see last night’s indiscretion painted on the sheets. He took a shower and dressed, grabbing his shoes and jacket on the way out. He didn’t bother to leave a note or text Ava that he was going. What happened last night was a mistake, a one-time thing. He was drunk. She was drunk. He had to move on and put it behind him.
He caught a train back to his apartment, knowing Daisy had stayed overnight. As he walked down the hallway, he wondered if she could tell by looking at him that he had slept with another woman. Did he look different to others? He certainly felt different.
He unlocked the front door and stepped inside. The television was on, broadcasting an episode of Day Break. The rich aroma of coffee filled the air, soothing his nerves.
“Daisy, I’m back.”
She materialised from his bedroom, dressed in an oversized T-shirt. It looked like she hadn’t slept one wink. Dark bags shadowed her eyes and her blonde hair was pulled back into a messy bun. Yesterday’s makeup was smeared across her face.
“Hey, baby,” he purred, tossing his jacket over a kitchen barstool. He opened his arms wide, expecting a welcoming hug. Instead, she greeted him with a nasty slap across his face.
“Ow! What the fuck was that for?”
“You ignored my texts last night,” Daisy shot back. “I was worried, Elias.”
“What texts? Do you mean the fifteen messages you sent me throughout the night? I couldn’t answer every single one. I was working, Daisy.”
Her lips pursed together with hurt. “If you had invited me, I wouldn’t have blown your phone up with texts.”
“I’ve told you it was an employee-only event. You’re being melodramatic.”
“I saw you check-in on Facebook and comment on a few people’s statuses, so you were using your phone.” She perched her hands on her hips. “Why did you ignore me?”
“I’m telling you why! I was waist-deep entertaining Sydney’s elite society. I didn’t have time to stop. I was there to make sure they drunk the bar dry and donated their dusty, old money.” Elias pinched the bridge of his nose and drew a calming breath. “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t reply to your messages. Let me take you out for breakfast. A new vegan café opened up in Bondi. I think you’ll like it. They serve sugar-, dairy-, and cruelty-free food.”
Daisy’s eyes surveyed his crumpled white shirt and he prayed Ava hadn’t left any lipstick marks. “Have you showered already?”
“I did at the hotel.”
She reached over and flicked some dried food off his collar. “I’ll get this washed and ironed so you can wear it tomorrow. It’s your good work shirt.”
“So, do you want to check out that new café? I need a good damn coffee.”
A small smirk appeared on Daisy’s lips. “Only if you’re driving. Parking in Bondi is a bitch.”
~ ~ ~
The twenty-minute drive into Bondi was silent and awkward, a wedge building between them. There was something odd about Elias. Daisy could sense it as she watched him across the café table. He spoke differently, held himself differently and even touched her differently. A million excuses ran through her mind as she tried to make sense of it. Maybe he was just tired from the fundraiser or angry at her for bombarding him with texts. Either way, Elias wasn’t the same man she said goodbye to last night at the hotel.
Did something happen at the event? She pushed down the unease in her gut and reached for her soy coffee.
“You haven’t told me anything about the fundraiser,” she said, taking a sip, pushing the last sugar-free chocolate cookie towards him. “I’m dying to hear about it. Who was there?”
Eager to see if Elias would take her peace offering, Daisy curled her fingers around her cup and waited. Something flickered in his dark eyes—a memory, perhaps—and he leaned back in his chair.
“It was a good night,” he said at last. “Heaps of money was donated to the charity and people seemed to enjoy the food and prizes. An eighty-thousand-dollar Mercedes was raffled off to a rich guy who would probably never drive it.”
“What colour was it?”
“Cherry red.”
The next sentence slipped out before she could stop herself. “What did Ava wear?”
Elias’s shoulders instantly tensed and she knew she’d hit a nerve. “I’m going to get another coffee.” He stood up and pinched the Sunday paper off another table. “Check the society section in here. There may be a photo of Ava’s dress.” He sauntered off towards the register.
Obediently, Daisy flipped through the newspaper to the society page and found an article on the fundraiser. She skimmed through it, looking for Ava’s name and any gossip on the woman. The piece had a three-page spread, mostly filled with photographs of the night. Happy and drunk business people stared back at her. There was one photo that didn’t match the others, a private moment shared between two people. As Daisy inspected the image more closely, a cold sweat broke across her skin. It was Elias and Ava captured in deep conversation. They weren’t touching but Daisy could see the intimacy between them, as they leaned toward each other, their bodies facing.<
br />
She lowered the paper and studied Elias walking back to their table, his hands thrust deep into his pockets, his head casually cocked to the side. Women eyed him hungrily over their sunglasses as he strode past them. He was a handsome man, someone you expected to see on the cover of GQ or Vogue. He had model-good looks and a body of an athlete.
Daisy couldn’t deny she felt threatened when Elias accepted the job at Blue Tail Media. The rumours surrounding Ava Wolfe and her alleged affairs could fill a novel. But Elias was a loyal and loving boyfriend. He would never be seduced by Ava’s charms. Surely.
He sat back down, jerking his chin towards the article in front of her. “Is that a spread on the fundraiser? I haven’t seen any press on it yet.”
Wordlessly, she pushed the paper towards him, studying his face for any emotion or reaction as he read. There was nothing. Deadpan.
“Did you find out what Ava was wearing?” he asked. “I have no idea about fashion or designers.”
She pointed to a full-length photograph of Ava draped over another guest and bit down her jealousy. The woman looked radiant as usual, the knee-length dress accentuating her famous figure. The diamonds around her neck were blinding. “It’s a Gerald Loft gown,” she explained. “His designs are popular for their feminine silhouette and vibrant colours. I saw Ava’s dress in last month’s Vogue. Must’ve cost a fortune.”
“Does this guy have a store in Sydney?”
“Probably. Why?”
Elias reached over the table and caressed her cheek, his eyes softening. “Let me buy you something nice. You deserve it.”
For a split second, Daisy thought she saw something else in his blue eyes other than affection. Guilt? Remorse? She couldn’t tell, but it made her feel sick in the pit of her stomach. She swallowed the lump in her throat and forced a smile. “I think there’s a store in the city. Can we go?”
Depths of Deceit Page 7