by Bella Grant
“Thank God!” he exclaimed, and not caring that his air hostess was beside us, he grabbed my shoulders and kissed me hard. “I kept hoping you would come.”
“I wasn’t sure I would,” I said honestly as he took my case and ushered me ahead of him. “On the way here, I kept thinking I would turn around.”
“Well, I’m glad you didn’t,” he asserted and stowed my suitcase before he led me into a lounge. I tried not to gawk and acted unaffected as though I was used to this. The seats were long lounge chairs and couches with plush cushions and throw pillows. A flat screen television was affixed across from the longest couch with the burgundy and cream throw pillows.
“Wow.” I couldn’t stop myself from expressing my surprise. “Who needs a home when you have this?”
“All this is empty without someone to share it with,” he commented as he led me to the lounge where we sat together. “That’s why I wanted you to come.”
“And here I am,” I answered with a half-laugh. “Although I’m not convinced I’m in my right mind.”
“Then keep it at bay until we get in the air and there’s no return.” He grinned at me before becoming serious. “Just kidding. If you feel uncomfortable at all, you must tell me. If you want to go home or anything, I’ll have the pilot return you the minute you say the word.”
“Eager to get rid of me already?” I quipped with a grin.
“The opposite. Trying to find a way to convince you to stay with me.”
His words were so captivating and sincere I felt breathless. Luckily I didn’t have to search my brain to find something to say because he placed one hand on my cheek and drew me towards him. He left enough space between us so I could move away if I wanted to, but I inclined myself towards him, closing the distance between our lips. His hand slipped from my cheek and backwards so he could tangle his fingers in my hair. I pressed forward, feeling the power in his body.
The pilot’s voice over the intercom, asking us to buckle down for take-off parted us. We buckled into our seats, holding hands and waiting until we were given the clear to wander around.
“I forgot to mention,” he said beside me, “I have a function tonight, a cocktail party. I was hoping you’d be my date for the evening. Of course, I understand if it’s too late a notice.”
I thought of the three dresses I had packed in my suitcase because I suspected this would happen. Hopefully they were up to the standards of his party. They weren’t terribly expensive, but I’d spent good money on the classic dresses.
“I’d love to go with you,” I told him and saw him visibly relax.
He squeezed my hand, and I knew I had taken a huge step in this relationship, if it could be called a relationship. The step seemed to be the right one though. So far, we were both feeling each other out and he wanted me as much as I wanted him. Yet my deception bothered me. I gnawed on my bottom lip as the green light flashed, indicating it was safe to unbuckle our seatbelts.
“Come on, let me show you the rest of the jet,” he said, getting to his feet and tugging me to mine. I followed him, my heart lodged in my throat as I hoped everything would go well between us. But how could it when I was hiding the truth?
Seth
I was about to walk to the connecting door separating my room from Robyn’s when my mobile phone began to ring. I had made the decision to pay an exorbitant amount of money to change my room to a presidential suite with two interconnected rooms. While I wanted Robyn to share a room with me, I didn’t want to take it for granted that she wanted such intimacy so soon with me.
I would like it if we had sex on this trip. Based on our kisses and the heat between us, I had a feeling making love with her would be nothing short of explosive. But at the same time, sex wasn’t the reason I had asked her on this trip. I already felt a whole lot better than I would have attending this function on my own, and I was looking forward to having her on my arm tonight.
I snagged my phone from the nightstand before it could ring off, not surprised the caller was Greg. I had spoken to him last night about my evening with Robyn. He had advised me to give her space and she would come around, and he had been right. I felt grateful to have a friend like him, someone so experienced and who understood women way more than I did.
“Hey, man, make it quick,” I answered the call.
He snickered. “Hot date?”
“You know it.”
“I take it everything went well, then?” he queried.
“Yes, she was late, but she did get there so nothing to complain about.”
“I won’t keep you, then,” Greg announced. “Was just checking if you needed company to keep away the lonely nights in Bahamas.”
“Even if Robyn weren’t here, I’d have passed,” I answered with a laugh. “Gotta go or we’re going to be even later than usual.”
“Hope you brought lots of rubbers.”
“I’m not discussing that with you,” I told him sternly. “We talk a lot, but I’d never share that.”
“You’ve shared about other women before,” he informed me.
“Yeah, well, they weren’t Robyn.”
“What’s so special about this girl?” he wanted to know.
“I don’t have time to explain it,” I retorted. “She’s just special. Now I’ve got to go.”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
I hung up and took a deep breath, checking myself in the mirror once more. I looked sharp, dressed in a black three-piece Armani suit. My shiny black shoes were also from the same brand. She’d never seen me dressed up before, and I hoped she didn’t react the way she had when she was enlightened about how much I was worth. I didn’t want my attire tonight to affect how she saw me.
For a second I wondered if I should take her with me to this cocktail party. She had never seen me in business mode, and I didn’t know how she would react. Would she be turned off by the man who knew how to negotiate and come out the victor? I hoped not.
I usually avoided looking at my face in the mirror, but I was so distracted with my thoughts of Robyn that I found myself staring at my reflection. I didn’t flinch, didn’t find the sight distasteful. In fact, I observed the lines on the left side and felt lighthearted enough to smile. I saw the light in my eyes, life, something that had been lacking before. And all because she chose to see me, not my scars.
All worry ceased from my mind as I walked towards the connecting door and knocked.
“Coming,” she called from her side, and I heard the sound of heels clicking on the floor then muffled on the carpet as she walked to the door. I didn’t hear any bolts pushing apart, which meant the doors hadn’t been locked. She simply spun the door knob and opened the doors and was standing before me.
I stared, appreciating her beauty. The off-the-shoulder, V-neck midi-dress fit snugly to her curves. The creamy tops of her breasts teased my eyes at the same time the split that formed her cleavage attracted my attention to that area. Her breasts were high and firm, and I curled my hands to resist the impulse to reach for the top of the dress and pull it down. Would I find her naked beneath, or was she wearing one of those bras that made it seem like she wasn’t wearing one? At the thought, that all I would find were mounds of perky flesh and tight nipples, I could feel the stirring of lust in my pants.
I forced my eyes away from her breasts, and the rest of her curves added to my arousal. Her waist was small, her tummy flat, and her hips called out to me. I imagined spanning her waist with my hands and trailing them over her hips to cup her sweet backside. She was well-endowed in that area too, but I could hardly ask her to turn around so I could lust over the material stretched across her ass.
Her legs were slender and smooth, tapering to dainty feet encased in a pair of black, high-heeled sandals with red soles. I trailed my eyes back up to her body and to her face, which was a deep red and not from cosmetics. Her hair was curled in an intricate knot with tendrils falling down her face, and I wished I had thought to get her som
ething nice like a pair of diamond earrings. She looked exquisite, like a woman who should be wearing diamonds.
“Is it too much?” she asked, her voice revealing her doubt. “I have another-”
“Don’t change a single thing,” I told her, smiling. “You look stunning. I’m going to be the envy of every man on this island.”
She chuckled. “You’re such a flirt.”
“Only with you.”
She looked pleased at my words, and with a hand at the back of my head, she tugged me down and kissed me briefly. “Thank you. You look wonderful too. Now, this guy does look like a billionaire.”
I captured her hands and brought them to my lips. “I won’t apologize for my wealth,” I remarked, being honest with her. “In fact, I’m glad I’m in the position to offer you the world if you wanted it.”
“I don’t want the world,” she whispered. “Just you.”
I groaned. “If this party wasn’t important…” I let the words trail off, not wanting to embarrass her further by vocalizing my thoughts of stripping the dress off her body and taking her to the bed.
“Is it time to go?” she rightly asked, diverting my focus.
“Yes, a driver is waiting for us out front,” I answered her. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
We left the room together and rode the elevator down to the first floor. We’d already met our driver, who had picked us up from the airport and was slated to be with us for the remainder of the weekend. I helped her into the car and followed suit, sitting close to her. On the drive over to the estate where the party was being held, I explained to her what the party was all about. A bid for tender, providing telecommunications services to the island was being offered by the Ministry of Telecommunications, so tonight was for us to get a feel for the competitors.
We were a few minutes late, so there wasn’t a long wait to get in. We passed through security with ease and were set to mix and mingle for the remainder of the night. I kept Robyn close to me, my hand never far from her waist for long, especially since I could tell she was uncomfortable being with this particular set of business-minded, influential, wealthy individuals. I was the same when I just started out in this business. I was even worse, given my scars and my apprehension that nobody would take me seriously because they were too busy staring at my disfigurement. She was polite, managed conversation, and even relaxed as the night progressed, which I was grateful for.
Several of the corporations interested in putting in their tender were familiar to me, and I had expected them to be here. Armstrong Co. wasn’t the only corporation looking to invest offshore. I chatted with some of these men, ribbing each other but asked Robyn if she was okay every now and again.
She was a champ. I couldn’t tell if she had any interest in what was being discussed, but she never let on if she was disinterested. She was also clearly following the conversation as she answered appropriately when questions were directed at her.
I wasn’t certain exactly when the questions started to be more directed at her than me, probably about the same time I became aware of the different men who made a point to stop and chat with us. Almost all wanted to know if we were an item. The question irritated me more and more until my mood blackened.
“Excuse me, I have to use the restroom,” she said during one of our conversations with two local men who served in the government. I squeezed her hand affectionately, watching her go before turning back to the two men, who were speaking with me about the telecommunications sector in the island. Their attention was focused on Robyn, however, watching her as she walked through the throng of people, lust in their eyes. They weren’t the only ones watching her, either. Eyes all around the room watched my woman, wanting her.
In that moment, I considered her my woman. I’d never felt possessive with a woman before, and the feeling surprised me. I was jealous as hell as I reached for another glass of champagne from one of the island girl waitressed who walked by.
“You’re a lucky man,” one of the two men said to me. I wasn’t paying attention which. “She’s a beautiful woman.”
I grunted a response that could have meant anything, grateful when the conversation returned to the reason we were there in the first place. I hadn’t thought Robyn would catch so much attention tonight. I should have thought twice about dangling the woman I was beginning to care for so strongly like a carrot before dozens of horses.
I was watching the entrance of the ballroom where we were congregated for Robyn’s return. As soon as she entered the room, trying to make her way back to my side, she was stopped by one of our countryman. Based on the blush I could see clearly from where I was standing across the room, I knew the man must be complimenting her on her looks. David Shortridge, who was a fierce competitor back home held out a hand to her and she shook it. The handshake lasted much longer than was necessary.
After that encounter, she was stopped two other times by island men who were in attendance. I noticed how bold they were in their approach, openly staring at her frame. Heat rose in my cheeks, irritated as I was by these men. From Greg’s own exploits, I knew men didn’t particularly care if the woman they were attracted to was with another man and more often than not found it a pleasant challenge to try to seduce the ones who were taken.
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” I told the two men I was standing with, cutting them off in the middle of their conversation. I strode with purpose towards Robyn. Almost as if she could pick up my scent, she turned her head in my direction. I saw a look of relief on her face when she saw me, which calmed me somewhat. Whatever this handsome, dark man was saying to her wasn’t to her fancy.
“Darling,” I greeted, wrapping my arms around her waist as I stood behind her. “I’ve come to whisk you off for a dance.”
“I’d love that,” she answered and turned a polite smile to the unknown man. “It was nice to meet you, Trevor. Good luck.”
“Good luck with what?” I asked her, pulling her with me to the side of the room where those who felt inclined were dancing.
She shrugged. “It doesn’t really matter.”
I frowned at her as I pulled her into my arms and linked her hands behind my neck. I wrapped mine around her waist so we could rock slowly to the tempo of the Caribbean music playing in the background.
“He was flirting with you, wasn’t he?” I inquired.
“It doesn’t matter,” she repeated. “I only have eyes for you.”
Her answer appeased me somewhat, and I relaxed as we swayed together, our bodies moving as one to the rhythm of the music. But at the back of my mind, I was bothered by the thought that I might be setting myself up for hurt by dating such a beautiful woman, while I was the opposite.
Robyn
Seth’s mood had shifted towards the end of the night, and I didn’t know what to make of it. I had been so sure we would tumble through the hotel room door once we arrived, hopeful thinking on my part. The way we’d been teasing each other over our past meet-ups, I didn’t expect to leave the elevator with all our clothing intact. So what were we doing standing at opposite sides of the elevator?
I knew the attentions I had received from various men at the party had thrown him off a little, but he had seemed fine, pushing it from his mind as we danced in each other’s arms. He had been quieter than usual, and the ride to the hotel had been silent most of the way. He only spoke to tell me he had a business meeting tomorrow. Or later today since it was already past midnight.
I hoped we would at least have some time to spend together before we had to leave. It would be a shame to be in a beautiful paradise such as this and spend the weekend working.
The elevator dinged, and Seth indicated for me to go ahead of him. He stayed clear of me as I stepped out and he followed. We walked the corridor to the presidential suite. I’d been disappointed we weren’t sharing a room together but had adapted. Separate hotel rooms didn’t mean we wouldn’t eventually end up in the same bed, especially when only a door separated us.
“I hope you weren’t too uncomfortable tonight,” he finally spoke as he opened the door to our rooms and we entered.
“Only at first,” I admitted. I liked that about us. I felt like I could be honest with him. I didn’t feel compelled to lie that I hadn’t fitted in with the wealthy men and their spouses. Only afterwards did I cease feeling intimidated. And it wasn’t just the fact that they were loaded, but their ability to influence. And Seth was one of them.
“Good.”
He walked in the direction of the adjoining doors, and my heart sank even though I tried to tell myself there was nothing wrong with waiting to have sex. In fact, I wasn’t the kind of girl to casually jump into bed with a man, so my receptiveness towards Seth was surprising. I wanted him so bad, especially remembering how closely we had danced. I wanted to dance with him beneath the sheets, our moans and cries becoming the music to which we would rock against each other in tandem to the sound.
“Well, I guess you must be tired,” he announced, pushing the connecting doors open. “We had that flight and then had to prepare for the ball.”
“I’m not that tired,” I told him, hoping he would get the drift. Dare I be bold enough to grab him by the lapels of the jacket and pull him through the connecting doors with me? I trembled at the thought but didn’t think I had the guts to pull it off.
“Trust me, you’ll fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow,” he disagreed with me, not biting the bait at all. He was swimming in the opposite direction as fast as he could. “Good night, Robyn and thanks again for coming.”
So polite. “Good night, Seth.” I pushed down my disappointment and slipped into my room, closing the door behind me. I leaned heavily against it as tears pricked my eyes. Had he just shunned me or was I overreacting?
The door suddenly opened behind me, and a startled cry escaped my lips as I plunged through thin air. Strong arms caught me and I was hauled up against a muscular chest. My heart was thumping hard from the near fall, and the closeness of him did nothing to ease it. If anything, my heart pounded even harder when he grazed my neck with his lips and ran his hands up my sides and to the front of my chest to grasp and squeeze my breasts through my dress.