by Katie Dowe
“I said I would.” She wrapped her hands around his neck. “You look very good in a tux.”
“Want to take it off me? We could get a room upstairs.”
“Aren’t you the best man or something?” she asked him.
“A mere usher.” His lips feathered along her cheek. “In a party of twelve.”
“Twelve?” She laughed at that. “What a crowd!”
“You see why I need to get out of there and be with you?” He tilted her chin up and ran his tongue on her full bottom lip causing her to tremble. She could feel his erection through the thinness of her dress.
“We cannot pull the disappearing act another time. My friends will start to get suspicious.” She opened her mouth for his tongue and arched her body to his. “You could come over after.”
“And spend the night?” He lifted his head and looked down at her.
She hesitated and then nodded. “Yes.”
“Yes?” His dark blue eyes smoldered at her response.
“Yes. We have to go back.”
“Not yet,” he whispered as he took her lips with his again.
******
He watched as she came back into the room. He had come back first and then she had waited a few minutes before she came in. His eyes narrowed as a man cornered her. He was on the board and had been friends with his dad. He saw when the man touched her arm and wanted to go over there and claim ownership! He stiffened as the man leaned forward and whispered something in her ear. His hands clenched into fists and he tried to appear calm as his mother came over to him. “There you are, darling. I have been looking for you.”
“You found me.” He tore his gaze from them to look at her. “Where is the fire?”
“I was just talking to Mel and he was saying that we should take this opportunity to make an announcement about the new scent. I think that should be you.”
“Why not someone from the PR department?” His gaze wandered over to where Hailey was dancing with the bastard. He had his hands all over her!
“Darling, you are the face of the company.”
“Mother, I am sorry. I can’t right now.”
“Darling, is something wrong?” She asked looking at him anxiously.
“No.” He took a deep breath to get his feelings under control. Jealousy was new to him and he did not like it! He had to get out of the room or he was going to do something she would not like! “I just need a minute.” He turned and walked away without waiting for her to respond.
*******
He was waiting for her when she got there and he did not say a word as he walked behind her up the stairs. She opened the door and he came inside and went straight to the bedroom. Hailey looked after him and with a shrug she went into the kitchen to get a glass of water. She deliberately stayed in the kitchen long enough for him to consider stewing then went into the bedroom. She saw him standing by the window looking out. “Are you going to tell me what’s eating you?”
“I did not know you cared,” he said coldly as he turned to look at her.
“Let’s pretend that I do,” she said calmly as she sat on the sofa and took her shoes off.
“I am not one of your goddamned students, Hailey!” he snapped.
“Then stop behaving like one.”
He shoved his hands into his pocket and stared at her. “Did you get his number?”
“I am assuming you are referring to the man who was dancing with me?” she asked him mildly. “What is it to you? Don’t tell me that you are jealous?”
“He had his hands all over you!”
“And it is my body. You thought I was your property?”
His eyes smoldered as he looked at her. “I wanted to tear him away from you.”
“It was just a dance, David, and it is not like we are in a relationship.”
He moved towards her swiftly and before she knew what he was doing, he hauled her up to him. “We are in something and the next time I see a man’s hands on you like that I will not be responsible for my actions.”
“Do you think you can frighten me with threats like that, David?” She could feel the anger shimmering off him. “Just because we have sex does not give you the right to-”
He cut her off as he roughly took her lips with his. David felt his control slipping away from him and felt the desire and frustration punching through his body. He lifted her slender body and carried her off to the bed. He threw her down onto the bed and climbed over her, his hands going between her legs to tear the flimsy underwear. He fumbled with his zipper to release his erection. This was the only time he had some control over her and he was using it to prove a point to her and to himself. He entered her swiftly, going in deep. He had taken off his jacket and his tie and unbuttoned his crisp white shirt. Hailey ran her fingers over his muscled chest before wrapping her hands around his neck. She wrapped her legs around his waist and pushed up against him. With a groan, he buried his lips on hers, his hands biting into her hips as he plunged into her helplessly!
Chapter 6
“Stop fidgeting,” she ordered as she looked over at him.
“I cannot help it. I have never been this still for so long. Are you almost through?”
She wrinkled her small nose at him and looked so endearingly beautiful that he wanted to kiss her! “Perfection takes time,” she told him loftily as she ran the brush slowly over the parchment. She wanted charcoal but never had any in her office at home and she knew she would never get the opportunity to paint him like this again, or maybe she would! They had just finished making love on her desk and his eyes were still heavy with passion. He was lounging on her sofa with one muscular leg thrown over the arm and the other on the carpeted floor. His wonderful penis was semi-erect and she felt her mouthwatering as she looked at him. He truly was a magnificent man! she thought with a pang. Maybe if he had been ten years older and not a rich playboy she would contemplate a relationship. Too bad, she thought as she concentrated on the painting.
“Could I at least get a drink?”
She laughed at the pained look on his handsome face. “You are impossible! Just a few more minutes and I am done.”
“What do I get as a reward?”
“What would you like?”
“A date.”
She cut him a glance and continued painting.
“There is a gallery opening on Saturday and I would like you to come. Our company is one of the sponsors so I have to be there and make nice.”
“I love art.” She poked her tongue at the side of her mouth as she concentrated and he found himself getting hard. “But I am not going out with you.”
He sighed in frustration. “I have not been with anyone else since us.”
“I am sure that’s temporary,” she said mildly.
“Baby, you are killing me,” he said huskily. “I want to show you off.”
“I am not a trophy, David.”
“You know what I mean,” he said impatiently. “I want us to start doing things together. I want you to see another side of me.”
“I have already seen several sides.” She put the finishing touches and rinsed the brush out. She examined the work and nodded with satisfaction. Only a true artist could capture the arrogant beauty of his face and body, but it was not bad. She folded the piece of paper over it and getting to her feet she came over to kneel in front of him. “I wish things were different but they are not.” She touched his strong jaw fleetingly. After their fight a week ago, he had not mentioned another man again. They saw each other almost every night and several nights a week he spent the night. She was beginning to get used to sleeping inside his strong arms. “Stop asking me for more.”
He slid off the sofa and tumbled her onto the floor, his hands spanning her small waist. “I cannot help it. I am falling in love with you.”
“David-” She groaned as she felt him against her.
He lifted her and put her on him and she sank down with a sigh and a quiver. “Deal with it,” he whispered as
he reached up and took a nipple inside his mouth. She arched her body to his and gave in to the helpless pleasure!
******
This time she did not invite her friends. The opening was formal and she had chosen carefully. Her dress was a shimmering black number that came to her knees and had thin straps that crisscrossed at the back. She had on strappy black sandals and her curls were brushed away from her face. She saw him the minute she came into the room and felt a stab of jealousy as she noticed the woman clinging to him. She had told him that they were not exclusive, but how she wanted to tear the bitch’s hair out by the root! The reaction startled her for a moment and took her aback. She quickly walked over to a piece that showed the work of a fairly new artist that she did not recognize. It was a very interesting painting and the artist had used a lot of bold bright colors which swirled together to form a myriad of colors. It was an abstract piece and was very interesting.
“I never know what the hell these pieces mean,” a deep voice said at her elbow. She turned and saw a tall attractive man with greying hair standing next to her.
“It’s called abstract for a reason,” she said with a smile. “You can give it your own interpretation.”
“It looks like a damned kid made a mess on the paper,” he grumbled.
Hailey laughed at that. “I like his style. The lines are swift and bold.”
He looked at her in admiration. “You are an artist?”
“No, just an admirer.”
He extended a hand. “My name is Bill Stephenson. Nice to meet you.”
She shook it. “Hailey Donaldson. What are you doing here if you are not into this sort of thing?”
“My sister dragged me here.” He indicated the blonde woman who was almost draped over David’s arm. “Lila is interested in Snyder more than she is in the pieces here.”
“I see.” She tore her gaze away from him. He had seen her come in and had not moved from her. Two could play the same game! “How about I explain all of them to you?” she asked, linking the man’s arm with hers.
His green eyes lit up. “It would be my pleasure!”
******
“I think Bill found himself a friend,” Lila drawled as she looked at her brother with the stunningly attractive woman as they wandered around the large elegant room. David stiffened as he looked over at them. His mother was present as well as his sisters and her new husband so he was not able to go over to her. He took Lila’s arm from his. “I need to speak to someone,” he muttered as he walked away. He stopped first with his mother and a group of people and then made his way to them.
“Bill.” He forced a smile at the man before turning to her. “Ms. Donaldson, I see you made it.”
“Of course. I was just telling Bill that he might have to buy me this piece.” She pointed at a sculpture of a man and his son.
“I told her that I would buy her anything she wanted. She has made this evening so interesting,” he said with a glint in his eyes.
“I think Lila was looking for you.” David was afraid he was about to make a fool of himself.
“She is?” He lifted one of Hailey’s slender hands and kissed it lightly. “I will be back, my dear.”
“I will be waiting.” She waved him away.
He stood beside her and pretended that he was admiring the awful painting there. “What the hell are you doing?” he hissed at her.
“I have no idea what you mean,” she said smoothly.
“He was touching you.”
“So was that bitch.”
He blinked at her in surprise and he felt the anger and jealousy melting away from him. “You are jealous!” He felt like dancing around the room. The cool unflappable woman had the incredible power to wrap him around her little finger was actually jealous of another woman touching him!
“Don’t be ridiculous!” she said sharply. “Isn’t Bill a sweet guy?” she asked him softly.
His expression glowered. “Don’t push me.”
“I think he said he was fifty-two and single.”
“Hailey.” His expression had gone grim.
“He is a mature business man, darling, and I can actually see myself going out with him. He invited me to dinner.” She could not stop herself. How dare he think she was jealous! “I think I might just go.”
“Try me,” he told her in a soft ominous voice. “Just try me.”
“I am not afraid of your threats, David,” she told him sweetly and turning around she walked away from him. She kept close to people in order not to allow him to get close to her again. Bill came back to find her and she deliberately engaged him in conversation, smiling up at him as he brought her some of the food. They talked and laughed and she deliberately ignored David who was watching her with a smoldering look on his face. She saw when the blonde came over and stiffened when he pulled her closer to him, a grim smile on his face. With a determined look on her face, Hailey pressed closer to Bill and saw the appreciative look on the man’s face. She felt awful using him like this, but she had to prove to David that she was above being jealous! She did not look at him but continued the conversation with Bill, her expression animate as she explained the different pieces to him. When she looked around the room again, she noticed that neither David nor Hailey were around. The feeling of despair was over her so much that at first she could not breathe. Then with a determined smile, she turned to Bill. Maybe this was teaching her something!
******
“Darling, you have not heard a word I said,” Lila said with a pout. He had guided her into another room just to show Hailey a lesson, but now the joke was on him. He had not paid Lila any mind since he go into the room and was wondering if Bill was touching her. This was torture and he did not know how much more he could take! He wanted to show the world that he was in love with this gorgeous woman and his eyes were tied. He had to endure watching her and pretending that he did not know her was clawing at him!
“I need to get back in there,” he said abruptly as he turned away.
“Please stay a little bit,” she said, grabbing his arm. He looked down at her. She really was pretty in an unremarkable way. If his heart was not so tied up with Hailey, he would have had her in a flash. She did not have Hailey’s sculpted beauty or the fire and passion that simmered below the surface. Neither did she have that self-confidence that Hailey wore like a cloak. She was plain and needy just like the other women he had been out with!
He pulled away from her. “I have to get back!”
But she was not in the room and Bill was gone as well. He shoved his hands into his pockets, his expression bleak. Maybe he should give her a break!
*****
He did not call and did not come over and she had told herself that it was for the best. She had spoken to Bill outside and had told him she would let him know about dinner and had taken his number. She poured herself a glass of wine and stared broodingly at the gaily printed wallpaper in front of her. It was a little past nine and she had not called her friends or called her mother. He had taken up so much of her time that she did not get in touch with the people who were and dear to her. It was good that she found out what kind of person he was and had not fall for his superficial admission of love! What did he know about the emotion? she thought heatedly. He had been with too many women to count and she was sure he had told several of them that he was in love with them! She was too mature to be falling for that line! She knew better. He was probably sulking or lying in bed with that clingy blonde. The thought caused the pain to zing through her heart. The bastard!
*****
“It’s a summer program, Mom. The college introduced it several years ago and opened it up to people of all ages. Not just those who failed the courses.” Hailey brought the jug of lemonade over to the table on the porch and sat opposite her mother. It was a lovely sunny day and the second Saturday in July. She had not spoken to David in two weeks and she told herself that she was better off without him. She had been on two dates with Bill and found tha
t they had things in common. “I have this eighty-year-old woman in the class. She is quite talented.” Hailey poured the icy cold liquid into two glasses and handed her one. “Maybe you could come and sign up. I would only charge you half price.”
Her mother looked at her dryly as she took the drink. “I spent most of my time in school. I am not going to spend the rest of my days there.” She looked at her daughter curiously. “I thought you were planning on going to France for the summer?”
“Maybe in August. I am really enjoying the course. It’s more relaxed than my regular classes and there are more mature people there than I usually have.”
“Honey, this man you are seeing; is he the one?” her mother asked her suddenly.
Hailey had told her about Bill. “What does that mean?”
“Is he someone you can see yourself with? You said he has a couple of kids from a former marriage. I am not sure about possible stepchildren.”
“Mom, we are just having fun!” Hailey told her with a laugh as she leaned back against the worn chaise lounge on the porch. “It’s not like we have plans on tying the knot any time soon.”
“Honey, I hate to be the one to remind you of this, but you are a mature woman without a child and have never been married. I highly doubt that this man is going out with you just for fun. He is probably looking for wife number two.”