by M. E. Gordon
I want it bad! Really bad! And I want it now! I want his hands all over me. I can’t believe I was even considering shooting him down. There is no way my body is ever going to let that happen. I just needed to shut my stupid, doubting head up. It was obvious Simon was into this. I could feel it on the back of my head for Christ sake.
The gentle hand on my collar bone took a slow plunge down the center of my chest. Thank God I didn’t have a bra on, because his hand on my skin felt too good.
“Your heart rate is a little elevated.”
I opened my eyes to see his smiling face. “I wonder why that is, Doctor.”
Smiling back at him, I let a soft murmur escape as his hand ran over my breasts. I arched off his lap again, grabbing him around his neck, pulling him closer to me. That’s it. No more shield, I need this. I need him, now!
I pushed him off of me and sat up.
“Feeling better?” he asked smugly.
He knew what he was doing. I stood from the couch, looking down at him, grabbed his hands, and led him back to my room. If I was going to do this, it needed to be now before I chickened out or started thinking logically.
The seductive come-hither look I gave him was all he needed to move his ass off the couch. Ushering him over to my bed, I laced my arms around his neck, nervously biting my bottom lip. I watched in awe as he raked his eyes hungrily over me. Shit, this man is so sexy.
His strong arms grabbed me, pulling me closer to his hard body. The heat radiating between us was something I had never felt with anyone before, except--Nope, don’t even go there, Monroe.
His breathing was just as labored as mine as we panted between kisses and fell on the bed. His sturdy body straddled mine, his eager hands pushed up my tank top to reveal my stomach and bare chest. God, this feels good.
He sat up and unzipped his sweat shirt, taking it off with urgency. My hands seemed to have had a mind of their own as I slipped them under the hem of his shirt. My fingers moved slowly over the ripples of muscle. I had never felt a stomach as toned as his before, or arms as ripped as his. Yes, I want this! I’m so ready for this. I don’t even care if he’s just using me because I’m not far from using him in the same way.
Grabbing my jaw, he turned my head slowly, gaining access to my neck and leaving deep kisses along it. My eyes rolled to the back of my head as his tongue made my body spring to life with a sexual desire I had deprived it of for so long. The muscles in his back flexed and moved under my hands. Lost in the moment, I regrettably heard the familiar buzzing in his pocket. Of all the nights for him to get a call, it would be tonight, right in this moment. Stilling over me, he pushed himself up, pulled the phone from his pocket, and stared at the front screen. He’s joking right? He won’t answer it, will he?
I looked up at him, suddenly questioning everything. His expression was not what I wanted to see right then. What I wanted to see was him tossing the phone against the wall and finishing what he’d started.
Maybe I can persuade him. “Come on, don’t answer it.”
I tugged at the belt on his jeans, hoping to make him forget about whoever was on the other side of his ringing phone.
“Elizabeth, I’m sorry, I have to.”
Clearly he wasn’t desperate enough or I wasn’t seductive enough. What a blow to the ego. I let my hands fall from his belt. This is why I need armor.
He moved off of me, leaving me on the bed in a fit of raw sexual frustration. I felt like hiding under the covers or making a beeline for the bathroom. Tugging at my shirt, I covered my exposed chest.
What is wrong with me? Am I that repulsive? I mean, hello, I’m basically laying here saying take me and he just gets up and leaves me--for a phone call! Here it comes. My mind was fully awake. That was not what a girl like me needed. Well, it wouldn’t be the first time I got left alone in a bed. I should be used to it by now. I just thought Simon was going to be the exception. Wrong again.
As much as I wanted to turn away from him, I couldn’t. My gaze was fixated on him as he pulled the phone up to his ear. His right hand rested on his hip just above the belt I’d been trying to relieve him of a few moments ago. Too busy admiring his body and the naughty things I wanted to do to it, I didn’t hear much of his side of the conversation. Although, I did make out a few phrases in-between the long list of fantasies that were piling up in my head.
“Can’t you get someone else?”
Work, it was always work. I really wanted to give his boss a piece of my mind.
“Fine...whatever...I’ll be there soon,” he said, clearly aggravated.
All the delicious things that were just running through my head suddenly fell to the depths of the floor. I glanced up at Simon as he placed the phone back in his pocket and turned his attention to me. With a wicked grin on his face, he ran over and jumped on the bed, making me lose my balance. I giggled and squirmed in protest. Simon had gone right for the tender spot just under my ribcage and tickled. Finally, he let me breathe. I sighed with contentment as he pulled me closer to his body.
Face to face with me, he ran a tender hand over my cheek. “I have to go,” he said
“No, stay with me.”
That was pretty damn desperate. I hoped he would fall for it. I made sure to bat my eyelashes a few extra times. It worked in the movies.
“You are making it very hard to leave, but I have no choice in the matter. Trust me, it’s better if I go.”
What? He has no choice. Something isn’t right here.
“Better if you go? You don’t want this--me?”
Great, I must have freaked him out, or grossed him out. Sitting up in my bed, I drew my legs in close. I knew I should have waited. He didn’t want this, or me.
“Belle, that’s not what I meant at all. I want to stay here so badly, but I’m stuck in this job and I can’t tell them no. There is nothing wrong with you. You are perfect and beautiful. Maybe it’s just the universe telling us to take this slow. I want you, Elizabeth Monroe, and nothing is going to stand in my way.”
Taking my chin between his fingers, he turned my head up so I was forced to look into his eyes--soft brown eyes that warmed me whenever I stared into them. I’m so screwed.
I opened the front door for him while he slid his sweatshirt back on and zipped it up half way. Pulling the straps of his backpack over his broad shoulders, he stood in front of me, wrapping his hands around my hips, swaying me slightly. I smiled up at him.
“I promise you, next time, I’m not going to answer the phone.”
“You better not or I might chuck it out the window, but not before I tell your boss off.”
As he laughed down at me, I took in the deep resonance of his voice. He kissed me one last time then I pushed him out the door and leaned on the frame.
“Ooo a little hostile. I think I like it,” he said with a smirk.
“Ha, not even close, more like sexually frustrated. Get out of here, Doctor, before I sue for malpractice.”
Holding his hands up, he backed away from the door. “I’m gone. I’ll call you tomorrow, bye, Belle,” he said, before turning down the hallway.
Several hours later, I called it quits on school and changed gears to check my neglected e-mails. Scrolling down the screen and skipping over all the junk, I saw a message from Gran, not uncommon, so I opened it.
My Dear Muffin,
It’s your gran. I have been thinking about you, and how things have been going with the new men in your life. You seemed so excited when you visited the other weekend. I hope that these words find you well. Call your old gran more often. I miss the sound of your laughter. I’m very excited about the charity event. Theodor called me today to make travel arrangements. I’m looking forward to seeing all my beautiful grandbabies. Love you, Muffin.
Gran
Crap, I totally forgot about the charity event. With all the excitement in my new found love life, it completely slipped my mind.
Since we had been old enough, my brothers and I gave back eve
ry year to the program that helped us cope with the loss of both our parents. Over the years, the event had become bigger and bigger. I was sure my brothers being in the spotlight helped out, too. Anything we could do to raise a little money to help those in need. We hadn’t even started planning anything yet. I mean, I knew that Teddy usually took care of everything, but we always met up to discuss costumes and activities for the kids.
Grabbing my cell phone, I got ready to call Teddy. On second thought, it was nearly two in the morning. I decided to just wait until later to bug him. Before closing my laptop, I decided to check out Fame’s webpage. Yeah, I like punishing myself, so what?
There were new pictures of Spencer up. Shit, that man looks good in a suit. They’d been loaded only a few hours ago. I clicked through all of them. He didn’t look pleased at all to be getting his picture taken. He looked pissed and irritated, and I couldn’t blame him. Scrolling down, I read the caption.
Spencer Salvatore, highly private but sought after bachelor, caught leaving the night time, hot spot, Mood in DC. Why look so glum, Spencer? Are you missing your vixen? Were you hoping to see her tonight? So sad, I’m sure there are plenty of ladies, waiting to make you number one on their list.
My heart froze as I drew my hand up to my mouth in disbelief. Could any of this be true? Oh God, do I want it to be true? Yes--No! He hadn’t tried to contact me and I knew that he knew where I lived. I’d told him for Christ’s sake. Not to mention, he sent flowers. Shit, I guess I can be blamed, too. It’s not like I couldn’t ask my brothers for his number or where he’s staying. I didn’t want to admit how much seeing him or hearing his name affected me, but it wasn’t a good thing. It was not right to be so affected by someone you knew nothing about. Nope, that definitely can’t be healthy. God, why do I feel bad for him? Shit, it’s not like we were ever dating. We will never be dating. I wanted to punch the little devil and angel on my shoulders, just so they’d shut up and stop arguing back and forth.
Slamming my computer closed, I flopped down on my bed, waiting for sleep to come. I was stuck wrestling with the fact that I barely knew Spencer, yet the minute I saw him or heard his voice, all the crazy things I thought I felt for him came to the surface.
Crap! Then there was Simon, and his compliments that made me hold onto his every word. I really thought I was starting to fall for him. How could someone not fall for that? Sure, it started off rocky, but he hadn’t acted shady or distant since those first few nights. You’d have to be deaf, dumb, and blind not to fall for him.
Chapter 10
I sluggishly opened my eyes, then rolled onto my back and stared up at the ceiling. My face was flushed with the memory of a naughty dream, and I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face as I tried to remember it. Tossing the covers off, I skipped into the shower and let the scalding water fall against my chest. Steam rolled up and out of the shower, filling the room with a foggy haze. Leaning against the wall of the shower, I let my hands roam my body as I fantasized that they weren’t my hands at all, but the strong hands of a man. But which one? Both? Yes, please--
What am I doing? I don’t do this! My eyes flew open and my hands dropped from my sensitized body. I placed them on the shower wall, as if I was getting arrested for touching myself while thinking about two different men. I quickly turned the shower to spout out cold water. Come on, Beth, snap out of it. It was just a fantasy for Christ’s sake.
Rushing across the room, wrapped in a towel, I snatched my cell phone off my desk as it rang loudly. Grinning widely when I saw it was Simon calling, I wasted no time answering. “Hey, you!” I said happily.
“Hey, how did you sleep?” he asked.
“Good, how about you? Were you out late?”
“A little...Umm...Elizabeth, I need to tell you something.”
The sudden silence on his side of the phone was starting to scare me. If he was going to end things, he needed to just get it over with. Damn it, I knew he was too good to be true. I guessed he figured out last night that I wasn’t what he wanted after all. I waited for him to talk but there was just silence on his end. Oh, for Pete’s sake, if he’s not going to say anything, I guess I should just get it over with. “I get it, Simon, I had a blast spending time with you, and thanks for making me feel special for a while. Good luck with your photography career,” I said, trying to sound just as happy as I was when I answered.
“Wait, Elizabeth, are you breaking up with me?” he asked.
I can’t believe he’s still trying to string me along. Way to rub salt in it. “Weren’t you going to break up with me? I mean, usually ‘I need to tell you something’ equals we’re done in my book,” I said, getting pissed off that I was still on the phone with him.
“Well, not in mine. How could you think that? I’d be stupid to let you go.”
He seemed shocked and possibly hurt. Shit! I always overreact.
“If you weren’t ending things, then what were you going to tell me that made your voice all weird and stressed?” I asked.
“I have to leave town for work for the next week. My flight is leaving in an hour. I found out as soon as I woke up. Not exactly the wakeup call I was expecting.”
I didn’t know whether to be relieved or upset at this news. “Oh, well, where do you have to go?”
“I think they’re sending me to Seattle. Hopefully, I’ll be back by next weekend,” he said.
Just a week, I can handle that. “Will you call me?” I asked. Shit! That sounded desperate and clingy. I am so off this morning. Damn you, sexy dreams!
“Of course, I’ll call you, every morning and every night. Elizabeth, I’m going to miss you.”
How sweet is that! I needed to let my guard down and accept that good things could happen to me. Enough with the doom and gloom. I’d had an adequate amount of sadness and heartache, to last a lifetime.
I was tired of never letting anyone get close to me and, even if I was trying to fight it, I was letting Simon get close to me.
“I’m going to miss you, too.” I said, smiling into the phone.
***
The week Simon was gone went by faster than I expected. He kept to his promise and called every day, sometime twice a day. He ended up having to stay out on the road for longer than he’d thought, some special project that his boss wanted in only his hands.
I took the time I had alone to study and catch up on school work. I couldn’t afford to let my classes slip out from underneath me. After hitting the books all morning, I took a break and made myself a quick lunch. Just as I was getting ready to indulge in the masterpiece of a sandwich I had made, my phone started buzzing from in my room. I ran down the hall, snatching it from its charger. Simon! Fumbling with excitement, I finally slid the unlock button and accepted the call.
“Hello,” I said, a little too excited to speak with him.
“Hey there.” His voice was instantly calming.
“How are you?” I asked, almost sighing into the phone.
“I’m doing better now that I hear your voice.”
The raspiness of his voice sent a shiver down my spine. Thank God, he can’t see me because I know my cheeks are pink.
“You’re not blushing, are you?”
Damn, how did he know that? “Wouldn’t you like to know?” That should shut him up.
“You’re damn right, I would like to know. I miss you. It’s so boring here.”
“Don’t be so beastly. I miss you, too. When are you coming home?” I asked.
“Don’t be mad, but they are making me stay for the rest of the week,” he said.
“Really? They already made you stay one week, now they get two! I think you should find a new job.” If I didn’t like his boss before, I really despise him now!
“I’m sorry. I’m kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place. Don’t have too much fun without me.”
His voice sounded jealous, as if I would ever go out with someone else. Well--No! What am I thinking? Spencer has been MIA for
almost three and half weeks. I’m pretty sure he’s not going to show up to touch my ankles, anytime soon.
“You’re not the angry, jealous type, are you?” I asked curiously.
“They don’t call me the Beast for nothing,” he said, practically growling into the receiver.
“Maybe I should go out with someone else. Will it bring you home faster?”
“Don’t even joke about that! You know I’d be on the first flight home, but I’d also be living in a van down by the river if I didn’t have this job.”
Huh. Good to know.
Our conversation continued for the next hour. He told me that he was going from Seattle to Vegas, for some restaurant opening, and then coming home Friday.
“I wish I could come with you. I’ve never been to Vegas.”
“Next time, baby. When you’re done with school. Speaking of such things, I don’t want to keep you from your work, so get back to it.”
Looking down at my now-hour-old sandwich, I sighed, knowing that he was right. “I miss you. Call me later on when you have free time between jobs.”
“I miss you too, Belle. I’m counting down until Friday!”
“Me too!” I said, smiling into the phone.
“Bye, babe.”
“Bye.”
***
Two days later, I decided to go pay my brothers a visit at their office. Most of the time they were in New York at my father’s building, but since taking over, they had expanded to DC and LA. Their office was located in the tallest building in DC. It oozed New York sky scraper among all the older, more historic-looking buildings. To be honest, I wasn’t sure why they moved some business down here. Probably to keep an eye on me.