by R. F. Allie
It surprised me that Mr. Davis shopped for himself for a long time, before he got a personal shopper that he mentored into knowing his likings. He had to, because his work didn't allow him much space.
Overall we drank and talked about everything and anything. Well, I didn't talk much. He never took his eyes off me for more than a minute. He watched me intently. I was still processing his presence. I had a million questions. I wanted to know why he was there. I wanted to know what he wanted from me. I watched him as much as he did me. He was sharp and smart. He didn't talk too loud or too low. He didn't monopolize the conversation, although his presence held most of the attention. He engaged in every subject he was invited to bring his opinion about and talked with so much refine. I was in awe. He was perfect.
Too perfect.
The conversation carried on for a while, until all of my friends decided to head out at the same moment when Maria said she had to check on Terry.
Jude gave in not-too-eagerly to Ryan's nagging about needing to sleep early. Jenna used one too many chocolate dipped strawberries as an excuse for a nocturnal walk around the neighborhood.
Soon, we were alone. Mr. Davis and I along with the sudden tension and awkward silent.
He had that damned gaze, beautiful gray gaze undressing me inch by inch.
"What are you doing here Mr. Davis?"
I asked as a way of intruding into the heavy silence.
"Why do you think I'm here Miss Dane?"
Jeez... I don't know...Maybe To fuck me senseless like you'd suggested.
"Just answer my damn question."
I bit at him resigned to hold my grounds
"I'm not one of your groupies. I don't have the time nor the patience for your stupid games."
"Stupid games huh?"
He suddenly pushed to his feet and in one swift move pulled me to a standing position and closed the mere distance between us. Before I could react to his brutality, he sealed our lips together in a kiss.
If I thought the kiss from the previous night was violent, I was formidably mistaken. It was gentle compared to that one. It was deep and demanding. His hands were traveling upward until he reached my messed up bun and relieved my curls. He gripped them in a fist deepening the kiss. He sucked at my tongue extracting a moan. He stopped to gather his ragged breathing. I was just as responsive. As soon as he sealed our lips I bit at his and sucked them. I pushed myself upward and wrapped my legs around his waist gripping him from the back of his neck. He pulled me to him as if there was still too much airing distance between us. I had never wanted someone that much, the notion itself was frightening me. It felt as if I'd been waiting for a chance to just unleash my desire and just consume all those emotions he aggravated deep inside me.
I was vaguely aware of my surroundings. He moved us hurriedly to the sofa, my back against the leather. He levered himself over me, keeping our lips secured. Landon groaned in my mouth and gripped my knee with a possessive hand sliding his body upward along my thighs. He broke our kiss only to suck along my neck. His breath so hot that it made me lose the little remaining reason I had left in me. I pushed greedy fingers into soft strands of hair.
"I want you Clea."
He spoke against my earlobe biting it and nibbling his way down my jaw.
Landon's tone added to my wanton state.
"I've never wanted someone this much." He said looking through my eyes with piercing gray ones.
"You want me too. I can see it in those damning eyes." He was watching me between swift kisses, trying to calm his breath.
"I can feel it too." He brought his hand between just over my heaving chest.
"You're trembling."
He was irrevocably right. I'd never been that aroused by a man. I wanted him more than I'd ever wanted anything my whole life.
I didn't say a word. I just brought my lips to his and kissed him with silent moans.
Supporting his weight on his left arm, Landon brought his palm and cupped my breast. He pinched my nipple through the soft material extracting a moan. He leaned down and bit at it. I cried out. I was a damping mess aching for something. Aching for him.
Landon pulled my tank briskly, exposing flushed skin and erect nipple; they felt heavy and hard. He licked avidly in circle, making me lose my mind further. I had no rational thought. He went from one breast to the other, licking and biting extirpating loud cries. I gripped him harder, rocking against him. He renewed our kiss, more passionately as if possible.
"You are a taste of heaven Clea."
I loved the way my name wrapped around his tongue. It felt almost poetic.
"I want to be inside you."
Landon spoke in my mouth.
"I need to be inside you."
He slid his palm down my navel burning a path through my skin and slipped it under the hem of both my pajamas and little piece of lacy fabric.
He sucked in a sharp breath.
"You. Are. So. Wet." He spoke slowly making a statement of each syllable.
"Can you feel you sweet little cunt thumping against my palm?"
There were so many words a woman should and would be offended by. He'd just spoke them crudely and matter-of-factly. Yet, they only enlivened my arousal. Only he was sliding deeper. I could feel him reaching further.
Suddenly a flash intruded on my shattered thoughts and I saw him. My heart started pounding relentlessly and my breath caught. I was suffocating.
No no no no…
I jolted myself from under him, petrified.
Landon was taken aback, confusion drawn all over his soft features. He pulled back straightening himself.
He was disturbed. As was I. I'd never let things get out of control. But I saw him; I saw Caden. I did everything I could to push back the tears begging in the back of my eyes. I was still haunted; it happened every time I’d tried to move on or even just flirted with a guy. He scarred me.
"Fuck. Clea, I'm so sorry. I was out of control."
He held his head between his head.
I hated myself for making him feel any regrets. It wasn’t his fault; but I couldn’t let him know. How could I ever tell anyone how damaged and defective I was?
"No." I finally said. "Don't be. I wanted it too, but...”
I was trying to rummage through my messed up head to find a way to explain what happened, or rather why it didn't happen. Maybe telling the other truth would be less of an exposure; or humiliation.
"I can't do it." I sighed.
"Why not?"
Landon spoke composedly.
"Is it all the tabloids stuff, because if it is..."
I interrupted him.
"No that's not it."
I didn't think about all that stuff. Hell, I didn't even take Jude's advice. I was also pretty sure that if it wasn’t for those images flashing between my eyes right about the moment he’d slipped his hand inside my pants; I was ready to go a little further. I didn’t know how much exactly; but I was conditioned for something more.
Was he worried I'd reject him because of the entire celebrity buzz?
Truth was, if he hadn't showed up on my doorstep an hour ago, he might've been right. I hated all the exposure the minute I saw the flowing results from the search engine. I was never cut out for it when I'd to make social appearances for my father, and I was certainly not about to throw myself in there by getting involved with such a media-magnet.
"What is it then?" He said moving closer to me
"Because I could tell you wanted me at least as much as I wanted you."
I could hear the confusion in his voice.
"Well... Hum..."
"Just tell me Miss Dane."
We were back at formal calling. I hated it, although he made my name sexy and appealing the way he said.
I gathered my courage
"Truth is, I've never done it before."
I admitted feeling a little embarrassed.
Landon stared at me with a frown.
"Never done wh
at before?"
I couldn't say anymore and I didn't. I saw realization dressing his features.
"You mean... You're a virgin."
He spoke in disbelief.
"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck."
I flushed crimson. I understood it was shocking, but he didn't need to make me feel like a freak. I looked down at my toes.
He slid hurriedly to my side and held my chin up and looked into my eyes. It felt like he had the ability to see further through my soul. It was scary and enticing.
"I'm sorry. I made you feel embarrassed." He brushed a feathery kiss to the corner of my mouth.
Even the smallest gesture made me shiver.
"I'm really sorry Clea, I haven't been focused lately."
He said taking my hand in his.
"Why?" I spoke to him; myself less anxious.
He twisted his mouth and looked at me.
"It's you. I haven't been myself since I met you Miss Dane."
I blinked at his words. Me... He'd said me. But why?
Landon Davis could have the most beautiful women in the world. He was just so uniquely handsome. And as I'd discovered earlier, really wealthy and successful.
Why would he want me?
"Trust me." Landon intruded on my confused thoughts.
"I didn't plan any of this, which I'm not accustomed to. But that defying look aggravated what little control I'd left in me since yesterday night."
I agreed.
"I understand that. Truth is, you seem to have the same effect of my nerves."
I admitted truthfully.
"And that kiss...” He added.
"I know." I acceded.
"More than nice then." He smirked with a knowing look.
I just kept silent, it was my way of conceding without giving out much.
Landon stood up rocking his pair of exquisite loafers.
"I should leave." He said.
I was grabbed by a profound disappointment. I thought about his confession; it must've been hard. I knew for a fact that men were never all that forthcoming when it came to their feelings. Sure he played a lot, and in the few times I'd been with him I could never make the difference between a mocking smirk and a good old laugh.
He had that enigmatic aura that made him impossible to fathom.
Truth was I didn't want him to leave.
"You can stay. I can make you a plate if you want to."
I blurted out the words wondering what had happened to the filter between my brain and my mouth.
I didn't want to be rejected. I thought that discovering the truth about me might've been a deal breaker and it scared me and disgusted me at the same time.
What if he knew the other one?
Landon stared at me for the longest time. Even out of words, the man looked edible in his shirt. I was silently begging for him to say yes.
"You want me to stay?"
I couldn't understand his surprised tone. It wasn't very unpredictable.
"I mean... If you'd like to. We can watch a movie or something."
He extended an arm for me to stand up and pulled me to him in an embrace. It was my turn to be surprised. I loved how his arms felt around me. It felt safe, like I'd be untouchable. As if he could shield me from anything and everything. I had no intention to rethink it.
He pressed a tender kiss to my temple and pushed an unruly curl behind my ear.
"Or something huh?"
He knew what I meant. I wanted him to stay and kiss me.
"Oh Miss Dane..." He breathed out and smiled at me.
"What am I going to do with you?"
I knew exactly what I wanted him to do with me and I was at a complete loss about it.
I nuzzled at his shirt. He was still holding me in silence.
"I think I'd better conform back to my initial plan." Landon said to my ears.
"What was the initial plan?"
He pulled from me and studied me.
"Dinner, tomorrow."
I preferred my plan a whole lot better, because I wouldn't have to wait. But I decided that it might be a better idea. After all, he didn't reject me and I'd been overdosing on pheromones for the last hour and a half. I'd be safer in my bed all alone. I started a new job tomorrow and I didn't need any more distraction for the night.
A frown marred the space between his brows "Well?"
"Well what?"
He smirked at me twitching his mouth.
"Miss Dane; will you do me the pleasure and have dinner with me tomorrow night?" His voice was soft and it stirred an alarming languish.
"What's in it for me?"
I'd resented Landon for preferring to leave rather than spend a little more time. I'd also resented myself for being such a tease, but in the end I'd said it just in the hope of dragging the conversation for a little longer; I wanted him enough to take a calculated risk.
A blazing predatory glimmer sparked in his eyes as if I'd exposed my deepest thoughts to him.
"What are your expectations Miss Dane?"
He didn't sound flippant, as if he'd known that I would be expecting something from the dinner. And maybe I was.
"I mean I need to guarantee myself an equal exchange during a date. I'm merely questioning my earnings."
As bizarre as the conversation must've been for him, his face remained impassively unreadable.
"Can't it just be a dinner for two at a nice restaurant?"
The heated gleam made my breath rush out of me. He was expecting something, I could discern it for a second in his eyes. He was yearning.
"Not with you, it can't." He was too demanding, too intense.
He studied me for the longest time. He was challenged, or at least that was my impression. He remained unreadable.
"How about an exclusive tasting of French gastronomy." He proposed suppressing a smile.
He was teasing me. He knew I wasn't talking about the food. It could've been a drive-through burger place for all I cared.
"I don't know. Remember we met in France, and I lived there for a long time. So I'm pretty accustomed to French gastronomy."
"How about some exquisite wine?"
He said slowly and took a step forward.
He was already so close. It was hard to concentrate while sharing breath with Landon Davis. He was making it arduous.
"I've drank my fair share of good wine, and bad, real bad." I smirked at him remembering the days I couldn't afford more than a cheap bottle.
"It still doesn't sound tempting. Not in the least."
I had no idea where I'd gotten that confidence from. After all, what was he getting other than a dinner with a boring-virgin-bitch?
"How about...”
He closed the inches between us cocking his head to the left.
All the air left my lungs in a beat.
"What?" I breathed
"Me, Miss Dane. How about me?" He brushed a kiss to my cheek. His voice only a whisper, yet shaking me to my core.
He continued trailing kisses along my neck.
"You get me, feeding you the best truffles in town. You get me talking with you. You get me kissing, and touching you."
I lost all consciousness. My brain went blank like a computer screen.
“Does that sound like a fair deal to you?"
I moaned, because really? What could I say to that?
Landon pulled from me and left me wanton. I didn't realize I'd shut my eyes. I blinked to the intrusion of the suddenly too bright bulb.
"So Miss Dane, will you be joining me?"
He was so composed while I was almost dizzy with desire. How was it possible?
I cleared my throat trying to collect my answer.
"I guess that is tempting enough." I was surprised how self-possessed I sounded to myself.
"Where should I meet you?"
Landon came close again. He was enjoying playing yo-yo with my hormones. He lifted my hand to his mouth and nipped at my fingers making me yank my hand away.
"What was
that for?"
He smirked and gripped it again and kissed the ache.
"It was just an attempt to assess your level of placidity."
As a way to calm the fake hurt and avenge it I tugged my hand to my mouth and sucked at every finger he'd bit.
A burning desire gleamed in beautiful gray eyes and he sucked a breath without flinching.
"I'll punish you for that."
Landon spoke slowly. He sounded hot. His promise, as absurd as it was, awakened something in me.
"We'll see about that." I said dispassionately.
He wore an unfathomable expression and pressed a light kiss to my lips.
"I'll pick you up at six."
I frowned
"Isn't it too early? I start a new job tomorrow and I finish at five thirty. I won't have enough time to get ready."
"I'll pick you up at work. Good night Miss Dane."
He just walked out leaving me standing and stunned.
He just ignored me and walked out. I was both sad and a little annoyed.
Sad that he'd left. It felt like a loss. I had an inexplicable pull to him, as if he'd exerted a spell to which I was bound to concede.
I brushed my fingers over every inch he'd trailed the touch of his lips upon. I could sense them still, like he'd marked an invisible path for me to always remember him. I cherished the agonizing delight, he was still in there even-though he was gone.
I heard a key chain turning and a door slam. I walked outside the living room.
"Ok please know that I'm your best friend and I love you so very much but I couldn't help feel a dash of envy."
Jenna clasped my hand and dragged me through the kitchen door.
I laughed at her comment.
"Slow down Jen." I admonished her stifling my laugh.
"No slowing down. I've been dying for the last hour. Tell me everything."
She said looking around.
"Where's the rest of that delicious Pomerol?"
"In the fridge." I said climbing on one of the stools.
She poured two glasses of wine.
"Mariée dans l'année!" She exclaimed a French tradition that suggested if you get the last of the wine in a woman's glass, she'd get married in a year.