Nightclub Surprise

by Michelle Love

  “Nonsense. We had a big day, and we’re both tired. All I need is you here beside me to make me happy.” The fire crackled again, and I snuggled close to Damon, feeling his warmth envelop me as I took a slow breath.

  I woke up, frightened at first, not knowing where I was. I looked around and felt Damon pressed against me as I stroked his hair and remembered the night before. I looked toward the closed curtain and got out of bed, walking softly across the carpeted floor to pull open the fabric. The ocean was choppy, and I looked at the horizon where the sun was just starting to come up, in colors of pink and orange. My breath caught in my throat as I heard my name across the room.

  “Come look. It’s beautiful.” Damon yawned and walked over to join me, pulling me into his arms as we watched the sky brighten together. “This is amazing.”

  Damon pulled me back to bed once the sun had risen completely and we kissed under the covers as he ran his hands over my body. “I loved that with you. I want to taste you and feel you again, doze off, and check out at the last possible minute.”

  “I like that idea,” I murmured as he slipped down over my breasts and stomach before ending up between my legs. I learned how incredible an orgasm was first thing in the morning when the room was dim with the morning light. I learned what it felt like to have someone inside of me when I was newly awake and cried out his name both times that Damon made love to me.

  We fell asleep, tangled together, for another couple of hours before we made love again. I never wanted to leave this room, since everything was frozen in time here. We didn’t have to go to work, or even go back to Boston if we stayed here. I reluctantly showered in the huge tiled space as he joined me, washing my hair carefully so I could do something with it today. I left it down in curls and kept a band around my wrist as I smoothed some moisturizer on my face. I took the clothes from the dresser, pulling them on as I watched Damon dress. He seemed quiet and we looked around the room before we made our way down to the lobby. I helped myself to some coffee while he dealt with the bill before joining me. “Want to eat in the restaurant or find something in town?”

  “What’s better?” I asked, as I looked out of the windows and let my eyes rest on the ocean waves.

  “There’s a nice place on the corner. Good food and an amazing view of the water. Sound good?” I nodded as he took my hand and led me to the car, opening the door so I could settle in.

  Damon was right. The cafe was small but offered everything he promised, and I added some cream to my coffee as I looked out of the windows. We were both on the quiet side today, eating and wandering around for a bit in town afterward. Damon started back towards the city just after noon, and I leaned back on the comfortable leather seat. I fell asleep as we drove, with the radio playing softly in the background.

  We arrived in Boston too soon, and I felt his eyes on me. “Home or my place?”

  “I should deal with the roomies,” I said slowly, as he beamed at me.

  “You’re taking the apartment?”

  “I am, but we’re going to be discussing a rent payment,” I warned him, as he headed to my side of town.

  “When do you think that you’ll be moving in?” Damon asked, as I shrugged. I thought my roommates might be eager to fill the space once I broke the news, though I wasn’t sure. He drove to the curb as I looked at the run-down building, already missing everything about the weekend.

  “Thank you for everything,” I told him, as I turned to look at him. I had paid for our breakfast today, after gave up the fight, but compared to everything he had done, it seemed like nothing to me. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  “It’s your day with me. I’ll try to keep my hands off you,” he promised me, before leaning in for a kiss. Just being in his car was risky, but the brush of his lips against mine could start a lot of rumors.

  “See you tomorrow. Thank you,” I told him again, as I slipped out of the car with my small bag of belongings. I walked through the complex as I imagined the new place, clean and beautiful.

  Mine.

  I walked through the door to see the front room empty. I walked back to the tiny shoebox of a bedroom and found Melody studying. “Hi,” I greeted her softly as she glanced up with tired eyes. “Where is everyone?”

  “You know that I hide in here all of the time. I have no idea. Why?” Melody asked, with curious green eyes.

  “I found another apartment. I’ll have it all to myself. I wanted to tell everyone together.” Melody looked jealous as she pushed a hand through her hair. I could write a check and leave with the few things that I had tonight, running to Damon. I settled for putting my things down and sitting on the bed as I looked around.

  “I’m jealous. I’d love to live alone. How did you find it?” Melody asked.

  “A friend from work,” I told her, as I slipped off the Henley, leaving the thermal on. We talked about school for a bit before I put on my headphones to sleep, covering my eyes. I slipped the jeans off but left the shirt, wishing that it smelled like Damon.

  I had an early class, and I got up and put the jeans on with a smile, changing into a sweater from my closet before I headed to the campus. I got coffee and sipped it as I took my seat. I had three classes today before I needed to change for work. I was hoping that I could talk to everyone in the apartment tonight at dinner.

  When I came out of my apartment that night, I noticed a familiar car on the curb. Mark smiled at me. “He wanted me to bring you to the office.”

  “Oh. Thanks.” I let him open the door, blushing as I slipped inside and licked my lips. “Is he like this with a lot of people?”

  “Damon is selective on who he chooses to help, so I’d say no. I haven’t seen him the way that he is with you before, to be honest. I worry that…someone will end up hurt.” Mark spoke carefully, as I stared into the front of the car, where he’d left the window down.

  “Him or me?”

  “Both,” Mark replied, as he kept driving towards the office, letting me out at the curb as I told him I’d get out on my own. The car was enough, without the grandiose display of a driver. I smiled at him and walked up the curb in my favorite heels and a simple black skirt and white shirt as I heard someone call my name. I turned my head to see Autumn as she ran over to me with a bag in her hand.

  “Nice ride. Do you have a driver or something?” She asked, as I blushed and forced a laugh.

  “No, of course not. That’s just a friend who saw me leaving and offered a ride. It beats the bus,” I laughed, as she nodded and we walked in together.

  “How was your weekend?” She asked in a friendly tone, and I realized I could say nothing about it.

  “Nothing special. Just hung out around the city,” I replied, as she told me about how she had seen a band at a club and loved them. I nodded and smiled at all the right places as we took the elevator upstairs. I decided to hang out with the team for a bit, since I was too nervous to see Damon just yet. We walked in together and Autumn handed out some sandwiches to everybody, offering to split hers with me. “I ate at school, but thank you.”

  Damon

  I glanced at the clock, knowing that Elisa would be arriving soon. I had missed her last night, and I sighed as I heard my cell ring. Glancing at the screen, I saw that it was my attorney, and I answered with a frown. “James. Is everything okay?”

  “There are some pictures of you with a woman popping up on some of the gossip sites. Do you want me to prepare something?” He asked as heat flooded my face.

  “Fuck. How close are they?” I asked, as I pulled up my computer to do a search. I found them quickly, relieved to see that they were taken at the beach and quite grainy. That was the point when Elisa was all bundled up and wearing her hood as well, so nobody could clearly see her. Of course, the story talked about the inn and my romantic weekend with the mystery woman. I groaned. I didn’t understand how we escaped further photos, but I thought I was in the clear. “If anyone asks, it’s nothing serious.”

  “Of cours
e,” James agreed, as we ended the call. There had been bits and pieces about me in the gossip columns before and even pictures with women along, with a lot of speculation. That didn’t matter before now, since it was never an employee. I didn’t want Elisa to suffer the backlash that would come with the publicity. There was a good chance that I’d escape without any damage, but she was just starting her career.

  It was a couple of hours later that she tapped on the door and walked inside when I told her it was open. “Good afternoon,” Elisa greeted me as she sat down and licked her plum stained lips. She looked stunning in a simple outfit that showed her curves, parts of her that I was very familiar with after this weekend. “How are you?”

  “I need to talk to you,” I started to say, as her face paled. “There were some pictures this weekend that showed up online. You’re not recognizable in them at all, but I wanted you to know in case anyone said anything.” All the color drained from her face as I reached out to take her hands.

  “Mark drove me in today. You sent him.” I nodded, not realizing then what it could do to this situation. “Autumn saw me, and I passed it off as him just being a friend. What if she sees the pictures and someone knows who he is? This wasn’t supposed to happen like this, Damon. It has been so brief.”

  “I have a plan. I will get someone to pose with me in a few convenient places. A friend. That will make everyone think it was her with me at the inn and the beach, and all of this will go away,” I told her, as Elisa narrowed her eyes.

  “Who?” Her voice was small, and I stroked her hands with my thumb.

  “Nobody that I’m involved with, Elisa. She’ll only be a prop,” I promised her, knowing that I’d slept with Brooke a few times during some drunken nights. She was a friend of the family, and it was never meaningful in the least, but it would get people talking. She just made the most sense in the moment for me. “That is the quickest way to deal with this, before people start digging.”

  “Fine. Do what you need to.” I saw something cross her face before she took a deep breath. “What can I help you with today, assuming we’re done with that?”

  “I haven’t gotten any work done at all today. I’ve been thinking of you,” I told her, as I looked at the door. “Go lock that.”

  “No. There’s enough chance for chatter as it is, Damon. We need to work.” I saw her pulling away again as I turned to my computer. I emailed James and told him to make a reservation at a trendy place in town and get Brooke there so we could get that started.

  “How did it go last night? Did you tell them?” I asked her. She shook her head. “Why not?”

  “We’re rarely home at the same time. That’s going to be hard, but I was going to try tonight. Should I?” She asked me, as I stared at her silently.

  “Of course. The apartment is yours.” I cleared my throat. “I can meet you at my place later tonight. I’ll send Mark to get you.”

  “Bad idea. I think that we should just keep our distance for now, so you can…do what it is you’re going to do with your prop,” Elisa said, as she ran a hand through her hair. “I am going back to the team. We’re not going to get anything done today.” Elisa stood and walked out, leaving me alone and in shock as I watched her close the door. A part of me wanted to tell her to get back here, and to do everything I could to get her to comply with my wishes as my cock hardened. I couldn’t believe that she walked out on me.

  I let the urge to demand her return go and focused on the details of tonight. Brooke and I suited each other, at least to the public. She was the wealthy daughter of a CEO and right for me, by society’s standards. She was beautiful, but to be honest, the sex was never great and the attraction mild at best. When I got involved with her, I was younger and willing to sleep with anyone who wanted it, and Brooke was convenient. I didn’t know how that would affect my plan, but I needed to do something fast.

  I stayed in my office, even though I was desperate to talk to Elisa and fix this. I hadn’t been in this situation before, but a prop had always calmed down a rumor before. I needed this one fixed immediately.

  I made myself go to lunch, just to get some fresh air.

  My phone chimed in my pocket, and I found a text from Brooke telling me that she’d meet me, ready to look stunning for the cameras. I rolled my eyes and set the phone down, knowing how much she loved the attention. I kept looking out to the street, and that was when I saw Elisa walking with her team, looking a bit lost. A man was close to her, seeming to guide her, and I narrowed my eyes as he reached for her arm. Elisa looked at him with a slight smile, as if he had caught her off guard, and moved back into the group as they made their way to an Italian restaurant.

  I threw the rest of my lunch away and stalked toward the door and back to the office. I was desperate to touch Elisa, and my body raged at me to turn around and claim her, while my remaining logic told me to give her some space. It was useless to try and work, so I just sat at my desk and sipped coffee, only making myself more jittery.

  I sent a text to Elisa toward the end of the day, telling her that I missed her. I promised her that everything would be okay, and that we could resume everything, but she only told me to do what I needed to do. I didn’t know if she was still moving, working for me, or even what she was doing tonight.

  I went home to dress for dinner, since it was one of the best places in the city. Mark picked Brooke up along the way and opened the door, so she could slide into the car. I gave her a glance, seeing that she was dressed in something skimpy before I looked away. “Someone is in a bad mood. What the hell is wrong?” She asked, as she moved closer to me, filling the car with an acrid scent of her floral perfume.

  “Nothing. I just need the paps off my ass. You know the drill,” I said, as I felt her hands slide over my shoulders and tensed.

  “I do, but I also know where this has led us before. I haven’t been with a man like you since last time, Damon. Let’s have some fun with this.” She slipped her hand around my arm and moved closer as I looked outside to see how close we were to the restaurant. This was going to be miserable.

  I put on my best smile for the cameras as we left the car, taking Brooke’s arm as she beamed. I knew that there was a part of her that got off on this, a part that I was all too familiar with. I was still horny from earlier, and my emotions were all over the place as we walked up the steps and inside, looking every bit the couple that we weren’t. People called out, asking if she was the woman from the beach as Brooke winked coyly at them. With her curly hair recently done in a lighter, caramel shade I figured that someone could easily assume that it was. I kept my head high and my smile charming as I worked the room, feeling Brooke inch closer and closer to me with every step.

  We took our seats in a cozy little booth, where she moved close to me yet again and I fought the urge to grit my teeth. “Who is beach girl?” She asked in a whisper, as someone approached to take our drink orders. Brooke ordered a glass of wine and I asked for Hennessey on the rocks as her eyes twinkled. “Did the man with no feelings suddenly develop them? Poor Damon.” Her hand slid over my thigh, making me jump.

  “You are a prop tonight. Nothing more,” I told her in a low voice as the drinks were delivered. I smiled as I thanked the waiter. I assured him that we’d be ready soon as I grabbed the menu, hating my body for reacting to a woman’s touch after the day that I had. “Enjoy your free dinner and the spotlight, Brooke. That’s all you’ll be getting.” I gave her a cold look. “You must be lonely after Ben dumped you.”

  I knew that her engagement had ended recently, one to a good guy who I knew through family connections. I didn’t think it would ever happen when I’d heard the news, but Brooke got caught with another man and ended things badly. “That was a bad move. This might boost you up, if you stop acting like a desperate whore.”

  “Fuck you. You called me, Damon, or had your attorney do it. I think that this night is on your shoulders,” she shot back, as the blood in my veins turned to ice. I reminded myself
that it was just a few hours. I smiled and faked a toast with her as we read the same menu together. There would be a lot of pictures from this night, and I needed them to be convincing. We stayed at dinner for two hours, and I forced the meal down my throat, smiling and laughing as I flirted with her. We left in the same rush of camera flashes and questions, but I told Mark to pull into my private entrance and let me out before he took Brooke home. She stared at me as I slid toward the door, almost in disbelief. “That’s it?”

  “I’ll see how this works out over the week, and James will contact you if we need a repeat.” I got out and closed the door. This was something that we all did from time-to-time, and it wasn’t her first rodeo. I didn’t understand why she was acting this way, unless she really wanted me to fuck her. I was aching with need, but it was all for Elisa. I watched the car pull back out into the street.

  I walked into my empty apartment, feeling the silence heavy in the air. I reached for my phone and saw that there were some Google alerts, but I pulled up the phone screen to call Elisa. The phone that I’d given her was powered off, and I fought the urge to throw my iPhone across the room. I dropped it on the couch and went to take a shower, jerking off like an animal as I played back the times I’d made love to her. I came all over the tile, despondent at the fact that it had been solo, since I’d fucked Elisa in here. I used up all the hot water and dried off, tugging some shorts up my legs before I went back to the living room to do some damage control.

  The pictures were surfacing one by one, and I felt sick at how convincing they looked. In an alternate universe, Brooke and I would be a great looking couple, but it wasn’t going to be this one. I just hoped that it worked and everything calmed down so I could get Elisa back. I walked into my kitchen for the bottle of whiskey.

  The alarm woke me up on the couch as I blinked and looked slowly around. Shit, it was only Tuesday. I needed to be at the office, but I felt like complete shit. In truth, what would I get accomplished? I sent a text to my managers, telling them that I had a bug and was staying home. I could sleep this off and not fight the urge to go find Elisa and beg to talk to her. I stumbled to bed, ignoring the return texts as I left my phone on the couch.