The doors eventually open and Mr. Marquette steps onto the patio, followed by Prescott.
“There you girls are,” the businessman says jovially as he approaches.
Gemma stands and intercepts him halfway. “Did you miss me?” she teases.
“Always,” he says kissing her cheek. He runs the back of his hand down her face. “You’re cold.” He shrugs out of his jacket and drapes it around her shoulders.
I feel a pang of jealousy in my stomach as the older man fusses over his wife. That’s what real love looks like. That’s what I wish I had with Prescott.
I rise and Prescott comes near, wrapping his arms around me. The warmth of his body is soothing and he fits so well around mine. “The gala is over,” he tells me. “Almost everyone has gone home.”
“Yes, we’ll be leaving now,” Mr. Marquette announces. “We’re heading back to Denver tonight.”
We say our goodbyes and the Marquettes head off to their waiting limo. Prescott leads me into the ballroom and immediately pulls me onto the dance floor. No one else is dancing. Most of the guests have left the room. The wait staff moves busily, clearing the tables and the band provides a jazzy soundtrack as the event comes to a close.
I drown it all out and enjoy the feel of my body pressed against Prescott’s. We sway against each other. He presses his lips to my forehead and I feel his smile. "Success," he proclaims in an excited whisper with a discreet fist pump.
“What?” I ask leaning back to look him in the face.
“I did it, Leigh. We did it!”
My eyes bulge wide and excitement fills my chest. “Marquette agreed to hire the law firm?”
“Yup. Marquette agreed to hire the law firm!”
He’s beaming and I’m grinning as though the victory were my own. “I’m so happy for you!” I squeal barely able to contain my excitement.
Prescott squeezes me tight, swaying me excitedly from side to side. I soak in the moment as we celebrate this big win with restrained enthusiasm.
"Just don’t forget my recommendation letter," I remind him with a laugh.
He slaps his hand dramatically to his forehead. "Ah, shit! Completely forgot about that!"
My eyes go wide as I pull out of his arms. “What?! Prescott! How could you forget? It was part of our deal –”
He throws his head back and laughs. “Just kidding, Sugar Bug.” He slides his hand into the inside pocket of his tuxedo jacket and pulls out an envelope. In the process, a shiny, little silver packet falls to the floor. I clasp my hands over my mouth as Prescott stoops hurriedly to retrieve the condom. “What the hell?”
“Sanaya!” We both shout in unison, unable to stop laughing.
Prescott shoves the condom into his pocket and jiggles his head as if to shake off the thought of his nutty secretary. “Anyway, here you go.” He slides the envelope into my hand.
“My recommendation letter!” I say as I tear it open, bouncing with excitement.
“Oh, much better than a mere recommendation letter.” He grins wide and smug.
I unfold the letter, my eyes scanning quickly down the page. “I – I – got accepted? I got the internship?” My mouth hangs open in disbelief. “How? What?”
He laughs. “Let’s just say that I pulled a few strings.”
“So, I got the internship? Without an interview? Hell, I didn’t even mail in my application yet!”
He cups my cheeks in his hands. If I weren’t so caught up in the excitement of this good news, I’d be swooning right now. “You got the internship, Annaleigh.”
I still can’t believe it. My mind is scrambling for the right questions to ask. “But how? It’s the most competitive internship at Reyfield Memorial.”
He leans in with a conspiratorial glint in his eye. “Remember when there were rumblings of a nurses’ strike at the hospital last winter?”
I nod.
“Remember how those rumblings stopped just before things exploded?”
I nod again.
“Let’s just say the Director of Human Relations owed me a favor for taking care of that.” He winks.
Fucking lawyers.
I breathe a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Prescott. So much.” I wrap my arms around him and pull him in for a bear hug.
When we separate, his eyes settle on me with an intensity that makes electricity flicker down my spine. "It was a pleasure doing business with you, Ms. Clarkson. Thank you kindly for your assistance," he says with mock cordiality.
"It was a pleasure to be of service, " I say imitating his tone as I ease my body away from his. The desire pulsing through me is just too strong. If I stay this close to him, I may do something I’ll regret. I try to maintain my cool façade by cracking a silly joke. "Are there any other services I can render before we part ways for the evening?" I cringe as soon as the words leave my mouth because they sounded completely innocent in my head but now that I've said them out loud, they're sopping with innuendo.
He cocks an eyebrow at me. "Did you just proposition me?"
My cheeks are hot with shame. God, I’m so awkward.
"You’re freaking adorable, Annaleigh," he whispers through a grin.
No. No no no. I don't want to be Adorable Annaleigh right now. I want to be Sexy Annaleigh. Irresistible Annaleigh. Can't-Keep-My-Hands-Off-Of-Her Annaleigh.
I straighten my shoulders and stand confidently. “Maybe I did…”
The air shifts between us and his expression goes serious. His jaw tenses before he leans in slowly and brings his mouth to my ear. "You could kiss me."
My heart is on fire. "What?" My voice cracks.
His gaze is transfixed to my lips when he speaks in a hoarse voice. "Since the other night, I've wanted to kiss you again."
Before my stuttering brain has the chance to reboot, his lips are on mine.
I relish the soft heat of his mouth, the sweet flavor of his tongue. I press my electrified body close to his. I feel his big hands settle on the curve of my back as he groans into my mouth. I feel his erection pressing against my belly and the space between my thighs is humming with desire.
This kiss is turning explicit. Fast.
My good sense comes crashing into me like a wave. I want this. So bad. But I’m scared. I’m not the type of girl that gets to ride off into the sunset with a guy like Prescott. Maybe he’s drunk. I know I am. Tomorrow, everything will go back to normal between us. I’ll just be his sister’s best friend again and whatever is buzzing in the air right now will be gone. And I’ll be left with nothing but hurt feelings.
Breaking free of his embrace is almost painful, but it’s the right thing to do. My dignity demands it.
My heart cracks right down the middle as I slide the engagement ring off of my finger and set it in Prescott’s palm. “I guess I won’t be needing this anymore.” I bite my bottom lip to keep it from quivering. “Thanks for everything, Prescott.” I’m not just thanking him for helping me get the internship. I’m thanking him for the past several weeks. They’ve been a whirlwind of experiences and emotions and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. Even though my heart is aching right now.
I move past him, heading for the staircase. I make it out the front door before the first tear spills down my cheek.
Chapter 15
"Okay, Annie - I know you're heartbroken and all, but this place is turning into a nesting place for rodents. We've got to do something about it."
I roll over and glare at Blakely who's standing in the doorway. She's wearing her yoga studio uniform, holding a broom in one hand and a bottle of Febreeze in the other.
God, she's right. I'm a fucking mess. Ever since I walked out of the mayor’s residence the other night, I've been in shambles.
This is exactly why I didn't want to play Prescott's fake fiancée in the first place. I knew it would be too easy to fall for him, too easy to lose myself in his caramel eyes and his lopsided grin. And now, even though I have the internship I was after when this all started, I'm too b
roken to even enjoy it.
But I brought this on myself and I can't wallow forever.
I roll into sitting position and peel a random cake wrapper off of my cheek as I swing my legs over the side of the mattress. Blakely watches me with sympathetic eyes.
"I hate seeing you like this, Annie," she says as I take the cleaning supplies from her. "Maybe you should call him?"
"And say what?" I huff in irritation. "'Hey Prescott. I know we agreed to play make believe for a little while but I actually fell head-over-heels for you and now you’re all I think about as I sit around in my pajamas and cry into bag after bag of knock-off Doritos'?...Not a good look, Blakes."
She folds her arms across her chest. "How do you know he isn't missing you, too?"
I weigh her question for a while. Yes, he did kiss me - twice - but that was all part of our game, it was just pretend. How can I be sure of that? Because our charade is over - Prescott got Marquette's mandate, I got my internship - and we haven't uttered a word to each other since. It's been days.
My heart aches in my chest when I say, "He doesn't want me, Blakely. Please don't make this more painful by acting like I have a chance with him."
“Come on, Annie. Take a risk. Talk to him. No cliffhangers. I want to see you get your HEA!” She winks.
“My HEA?”
“Your happily-ever-after…”
“Blakely, my life isn’t one of those erotic fairy-tale retellings you’re constantly reading on your Kindle. I won’t make a fool of myself just for your entertainment.”
She sighs. She won't continue to press the issue. Thank goodness. "Well, figure it out because you’re completely miserable."
I nod, combating tears, as she pulls me into hug.
"Okay, I'm off to work," she says sliding into her cardigan and stalking toward the door, "text me if you need anything."
"Thanks, lover," I call after her.
A wall of overwhelment crumbles on my shoulders when I look at the mess around me. But I won't put it off. I've procrastinated long enough. Time to get myself in order. And having a clean environment is step one.
I start by stripping the bed of its dirty linen and running a load of laundry. I dust and buff and shine my sparse furniture. I organize my books and clothing.
But even after I'm done, my heart is still achy and incomplete.
Gosh, maybe Blakely was right. Maybe I should talk to Prescott because these blisters inside of me won't heal on their own. That's becoming clearer and clearer.
I take a quick shower and wash out my clammy hair. I take the time to blow dry it and add a swipe of gloss to my lips. I throw on a rock band T-shirt - a clean one without any holes - together with a pair of skinny jeans and a bomber jacket. I swipe my keys off of the kitchen table, yank on my combat boots and step outside.
…Prescott is pacing back and forth outside my front door.
Chapter 16
He looks nervous as fuck as he sits on the couch next to me. Foot bouncing in an anxious rhythm, fingers pulling on his hair.
I set my hand on his thigh. Ignoring the electricity sizzling at the site of our contact, I ask, "Are you okay, Prescott? What's going on?"
He looks at me, worry creasing his brow. "What I'm about to say to you is going to sound crazy. And it may be crazy because I honestly feel like I'm losing my mind."
Okay, now he's scaring me. He’s always so calm and confident. I’ve never seen him rattled like this. "What are you talking about?"
He steals a sharp breath, his eyes boring into mine. "I want you to marry me, Annaleigh." He shoves his hand into his pocket and pulls out the diamond that spent weeks sitting on my finger. "I love you and I want this ring back on your finger."
Whoa! Head rush!
I fall back against the cushions for support. "You're not making any sense." My heart is beating to an insane tempo and I doubt that my lungs are working the way they’re supposed to. An hour ago, I was mourning my broken heart. Now, the man of my dreams is sitting in front of me, telling me that he loves me and he wants me to be his wife.
I must have overdosed on corn chips and gone to heaven because this is too good to be true.
Prescott positions his body to face me, holding both of my hands in his. He watches me with solemn eyes. “We’ve spent the past few weeks building a life together. We got a house, we decorated it, we held a freaking dinner party. All the while, you’ve been wearing my ring…I can't let this go. I don't want this thing between us to end. In fact, it feels like it was the beginning of something. Something real.”
“Prescott…” I stand from the couch and walk over to the window. I need some space, some air because I think I might pass out. “Why are you saying these things to me? I thought we were done playing pretend.”
His eyes darken with determination as he stalks up to me, putting his hands on my hips. “Oh, I’m done playing pretend. I want you, Leigh. Forever.”
I shake my head. I can’t formulate words. I can’t believe this is happening.
He leans his forehead on mine. "You're phenomenal, Annaleigh. Do you know that? When this whole thing started, all I cared about was landing the client and helping you with your internship. But now I see you. You’re beautiful, you’re funny, you’re ambitious. And that ass…” He cranes his neck around me to take a peek at my behind. He shakes his head in disbelief. “There are no words to describe that ass…”
I laugh, slapping him softly on the chest. “You’re silly.”
“Even if Marquette hadn’t chosen my law firm, I’d still be happy that we did this. ‘Cause it allowed me to get to know you on a deeper level…I’m head over heels for you, Leigh.”
A wayward tear runs free down my face. “Prescott,” I say in a whisper. “I’ve wanted to hear you say that…I’m head over heels for you, too.”
He exhales a sigh of relief as he sweeps me into his arms. His lips find mine and I grip the fabric of his shirt as insurance against my unreliable knees. Fainting right now is not an option. I want to feel every tiny instant of this moment.
"I'll marry you..." I hear the words coming out of my mouth and I can't even believe that I'm saying them. I laugh, repeating the words over and over. “I’ll marry you…I’ll marry you…”
"Yes, baby!" He pulls me into another mind-bending kiss.
When Prescott pulls back, we’re both panting. His eyes shine with love and arousal. “So fiancée, what do you say we go into your bedroom and make use of those condoms Sanaya slipped into my pocket the other night?”
My lips spread into a coquettish grin as I slide my hand into his. This dirty, little proposition is what I’ve wanted all along.
Chapter 17
Prescott lays me on my clean (shout out to Blakely!) sheets and crawls on top of me, pressing his lips to my jaw, my neck, my collarbone.
"Shit, Leigh. I've always wanted to kiss you like this." I swallow hard, my heart tingling at his words.
His hand slides under the hem of my T-shirt and gooseflesh rises all along my skin. I moan his name into the air. His lips move over the bare flesh of my stomach and I pull my shirt over my head, discarding it.
He unbuttons my jeans, peeling them down my legs with a hunger so fierce I’m sure he’ll eat me alive. My panties come off next and he buries his tongue in my hot, slick folds.
Every sensation that flows through me as he works at my core is confirmation that I’m not imagining things. The man I've loved all my life is loving me back.
And he’s so fucking good at it.
Within minutes, I’m shaking and groaning, coming on his swollen lips. “That’s it, baby. Come for me,” he whispers against my delicate flesh, goading me on.
While I recover, he sheds his clothes, revealing to me the body of a Greek god. And I can’t help it; I want that long, hard shaft in my mouth. I pull him down on the sheets and climb on top of him. I take his erection into my mouth, sealing my lips around the steely column of warm flesh and pulsing veins.
Presc
ott groans my name and it’s the hottest thing I’ve ever heard. I take him deep in my throat, choking on his precum and the spongy crown dipping into my windpipe.
It’s vile and it’s crass and it’s perfect.
When he comes in my mouth, I swallow as much as I can, letting the rest slide down my chin.
Not a moment later, he robes his cock in a condom and pins me to the mattress. My world flips on its head when the broad tip of his erection sinks into my body. I’m completely at his mercy as he fucks me senseless. His thrusts are confident and unrelenting. Pleasure fires through my pulsing core. My pussy squeezes him, massaging his cock as he pummels me.
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