Sure, she was losing focus on her project at work, falling behind even, but he was an amazing distraction. The Gala could benefit her professional network tremendously; that’s why he was taking her. She had to remind herself of that, or be caught up in the moment, like she often was where he was concerned.
She chose a stunning gown, in a deep jewel tone red, from the closet. It was strapless with a drapey cowl like neckline and a deep, plunging, oval shaped, open back that was held up by a single strap crossing between her shoulder blades – it was both sophisticated and sexy. It hugged her like a well fit glove and took her own breath away. With hair in place, her makeup just so, she was ready but nervous to take to the living room and see her date for the evening.
Nick was leaning over the wet bar, overlooking the city, in an expensive tux with a drink in his hand when he sensed her presence. He caught her reflection in the glass, first, and stared. Drink on the bar, standing tall, he straightened his tie and turned to her. His expression was blank, which made her nervous, especially when he moved her direction, never breaking eye contact.
“D-do I look okay?” she asked, her insecurities lacing her voice.
He let out the breath he had been holding, his head shaking from side to side, nearly speechless at the sight of her. “More than okay. You are stunning. You look like a…dream. That dress, it was made for you.”
A giggle escaped her as relief settled in. “I think you’ve said that before.”
“I might have. There’s something about you. Something…I don’t know…amazing.”
In his mind, he wasn’t saying the dress was made for her, but she was made for him. He couldn’t say that aloud, of course, for fear that he would frighten her off before he had a chance to win her heart.
“There is something missing,” he said, breaking the silence.
“Oh, no. What? Is it my hair?” She ran her hand over her hair, insecurities threatening once again. “The handbag?”
From inside his jacket, he pulled a velvet box and opened it.
“Oh, Nick. You have got to stop doing this,” she said, taking in the diamond necklace and earrings he displayed.
“I can’t.” His reply was simple and honest. If he thought she would allow, he’d shower her in extravagant gifts every single day. She wasn’t that type of woman, though, so he would take what he could get and sneak them in when he could.
“Let me guess – not real, insured, you know a guy, favor?” she teased, taking in the sparkling gems.
“So, you know the drill – good – yes to all.” Handing her the box, he moved behind her to help affix the necklace he had pulled from its velvet case.
Eyes full of tears, threatening to spill over, she quickly put on the earrings and turned to him. Reaching inside his jacket once again, he pulled a monogrammed kerchief and blotted the corner of each eye.
“None of that,” he said softly. “None of that.”
With his finger under her chin, he tilted it up and met her beautiful full lips with a soft, sweet kiss. “Are you ready, sweetheart?”
Nodding her head, she laced her arm through his and let him lead her to the ball like the princess that she was.
***
It was spectacular, more than she imagined. She hadn’t been to a Gala before, but if she had, this was the crème de la crème. Nick’s hand never left the small of her now bare back as he courted her around, introducing her to all of the big players who could benefit her – people who could advance her career and change her life – even if he wasn’t in it.
It wasn’t all business, though. He was attentive all night, never let his business distract from hers. Rather than let someone get in his ear, he would tell them to call his office and they could talk. This night was about her. He wouldn’t let her fall into his shadow, no matter how often the conversations tried to shift – he would change the subject and put the spotlight on her.
She was his focus; her success was his goal. Her happiness and a pleasurable evening, his priority. It didn’t just touch her heart, it turned her on.
As the night wore on, Nick found himself greedy. He was tired of sharing his gorgeous date, and if one more smug bastard handed her his business card while staring at her beautiful tits, this gala was going to become anything but sophisticated. He didn’t doubt most of the men here were good and decent. But a beautiful woman like Cori, who also happened to be incredibly smart, had a way of pitting man against man in a pissing match where they compared bank accounts and their dick size.
He had enough sharing, wanted to be selfish and keep her to himself. He took her to the dance floor before men started whipping out their dicks, dueling for her attention. He held her close, his hand stroking her bare back, and danced with his lady.
He felt every delicate inch of her body against his as they swayed to the music. They were the couple of the hour, making every woman swoon at their chemistry and sultry presence while every man glared at Nick for making them look like a bunch of deadbeat bastards.
“I could do this all night,” he said.
“Mmm, me too. This night…it has been amazing.”
“You’re amazing.” It was a moment he couldn’t let pass. “Look around you. You have everyone’s attention. You command the room. You’re like the belle of the ball.”
“Stop. Nobody is even looking,” she laughed.
“Oh, but they are. Look again. Over their wine glasses, between the crowds…they’re looking,” he said, “And I can’t blame them.”
Taken aback by his honesty, reading between the lines, she knew this was more about him than anyone else. If she was the belle of the ball, it was because he made her such. The pedestal she was standing on was his.
“Do you want to get out of here?” It was time to leave, there were too many people, and he wanted to hide her away in his penthouse and keep her to himself for the rest of the weekend. “Maybe grab dessert…or whatever…you want?”
Just as she started to speak, a familiar voice caught their attention when he asked if he could cut in. Phillip Chancellor.
Nick sized him up with a sharp glare. No way in hell would he let him, of all people, dance with her. “We were actually getting ready to leave, Phil.”
“Yet…you’re still standing in the middle of the dance floor. Weird. Just…one dance,” Phillip finished with a smarmy grin that oozed creep. It was like he was challenging Nick with old history between him and Cori that would trump him.
A stare down ensued because if Nick said what he really felt, it would likely end badly…for Phillip…and Nick would never sink to such a level for a cretin like Phillip Chancellor.
Winnie walked up and eyed everyone individually. “What’s going on here? You all look like you’re about to dance battle or something.”
“Nothing, we’re just leaving,” Nick said, breaking the silence between him and Phillip. “Perfect timing though – seems your fiancé wants to dance.”
Hand in hand, Nick and Cori left the dance floor,
For added dramatics, and because he just couldn’t stand the two, he looked over his shoulder at Winnie and Phillip to say, “By the way, we booked Crab Shack. See you in the Hamptons.”
Winnie’s jaw dropped, as expected, before turning to a furious, red-faced Phillip who practically got caught with his pants down. Nick was typically a nice guy, but it felt good to know that Phillip had to ride home with Winnie bitching in his ear the whole way.
“Oh, you’re bad,” Cori snorted as they made their way through the lobby.
With a heated stare that was full of desire, he looked at her and said, “You have no idea, sweetheart.”
His look and deep timbre gave her a shiver. It was the kind that coursed through your body and ended in a warm pool that craved attention in all of the right spots. When they passed through the main lobby to the waiting area, he pushed her against the wall, his body firm against hers, and he kissed her hard. What was better, she kissed him back.
“Wh-what w
as that for?” she said in a breathy state of euphoria.
“For being you. For being the most beautiful woman in there. For being every man’s vision tonight when he fucks his wife. For being my date to an otherwise boring night full of ass kissing pricks. For dancing with me and allowing me to feel you against my body. For being my fiancé. For being…you.”
Before she could say a word, not that she had any to say, he did it again. One hand was full of her ass, the other trailing up her side while he assaulted her mouth and made her moan.
“It…it’s not…” she tried to catch words as much as she tried to catch her breath.
“I know…I know…not real. But for now, you are, and we can pretend there’s no real attraction like there’s no real wedding – or – we can take advantage of the perks of being engaged while we can and see…what happens.”
“You mean we...do…”
“I mean we do whatever we want to do. Whatever happens…happens. We don’t force it, no expectations, just whatever comes naturally. And we quit ignoring it,” he said, closing their proximity again, pressing his erection against her belly so she could feel what she did to him. “In case you haven’t noticed, I am having a hard time keeping to my side of the hand holding tonight.”
Licking her lips, encouraging him to press himself against her more, she admitted, “I’m having the same problem, Blackthorne.”
Though their car had probably arrived, Nick wanted to steal one more kiss, one more feel, and hear one more moan before they left, but she pulled away quickly.
“But when the lie is over…”
He shook his head and cut her off before she could say a damn thing that neither of them wanted to hear anyway, “Cori Dash, you are anything but a lie.”
Nick resumed the kiss. Saying the right things had her hands drifting under his jacket, feeling every rise and fall of his perfectly chiseled body. A man clearing his throat, mixed with a woman’s gasp, broke their kiss once again. This time, it was an older couple – her hand to her chest with a disgusted look, the man smiling, tossing them a thumbs up.
Cori and Nick ran to the waiting car, laughing as they did, anxious to finish their night. As promised – dessert. Still in their formal attire, they sat in the little bakery near the penthouse, sharing several desserts, light conversation, and plenty of stolen kisses. As much as each wanted to get to the real dessert that they knew was coming, they didn’t want their night to end.
A lust filled elevator ride later, where the two couldn’t keep their hands to themselves, and they were dropping the bakery box on the table just inside their door. Nick swept her off of her feet and carried her to the bedroom.
“Is this where we say goodnight? I suppose I should thank you for walking me home,” she teased, back on her feet, backing away from him.
Unsteady on her feet, drunk with lust, she undid his shirt and explored his body with her tongue. He was beautiful, and she needed more of him.
Backing away from him until the back of her knees hit the edge of the bed, she waited for his next move. While he shook his head in disbelief, the back of his hand stroked her cheek, down her neck, over her collarbone, straight to her breast where he finally stopped and traced his trail with his tongue.
When she moaned, he was done. He turned her around so her back was to him and slowly pulled her zipper down the length of her dress, kissing his way down her back. She turned to face him, holding her dress up, tempting him.
He stepped back to look at her, waiting for his special treat, when she dropped the gown to the floor. She was completely bare underneath. She started to step out of the shoes, and he stopped her. He stopped her again when she started to remove the diamond jewelry.
“Leave it on,” he said, “Only that…but leave it on.”
He drank her in, wearing only her fuck-me high heels and his diamonds. “If this is a lie, Cori Dash…I don’t see why lying is so bad.”
He lifted her off the ground, and she wrapped her legs around his waist while he took to his knees and crawled across the bed where he laid her in the middle. He sat up between her parted, bent legs and stared at the sight that she was. Her heavily hooded eyes gave away her desire, her pebbled nipples ached for his mouth, and her pretty pink mound deserved a taste.
She was every man’s wet dream and then some. He knelt to taste her, and her knee’s fell to the side, giving him full access to her most intimate parts. With very few strokes of his tongue, and fewer with his fingers, she was moaning and begging for him. The sound of her desire had his aching dick ready to finish what it hadn’t even started.
Afraid her cries would be his undoing, he sat up, once more, and watched her writhe in desire as he undid his belt, then pants, and rid himself of all clothing. She watched him, bit her lip when she saw what he had for her – anxious, greedy even – she opened her legs wider, inviting him in.
“Fuck, Cori. Where have you been all my life?” he said, hovering over her.
When his dick rested against her heated core, she arched and wiggled, trying to position herself under him. She was greedy, alright, and primed for him. When he plunged into her, it was almost over – she felt like heaven – she really was made for him.
They spent the rest of the night making love like they were making up for lost time. Maybe they were, or maybe it was for time they wouldn’t have. Either way, they were good together – there were no lies about it.
Chapter 18
Monday’s ride to work was different. They were different. Even their goodbyes as they went their separate ways were different. Good different.
Tony raised an eyebrow at the two, so it was clearly noticeable. With coffee in hand and a bag that he recognized, she took a seat next to him to catch up as they always did.
“Is that what I think it is?” he asked, knowing full well it was a giant apple fritter.
“You only get half; I get the other half. You need to watch your blood sugar,” she said, mindful of his diabetes.
“Pshh. I’m just fine,” he said. “C’mon, I’ll pace myself, half now and half later.”
“I am not falling for that one again. Besides, Raquel would have my ass in a sling if she knew I even gave you half.”
“She’d never know.”
“Ha! Raquel always knows. In fact, I’m surprised she hasn’t burst through those doors already,” Cori said, referring to Tony’s wife.
“You’re not wrong to worry,” he teased.
“How are things with you and Blackthorne? Everything alright, or do I need to call my cousins Vinnie and Guido?”
She didn’t doubt he had cousins named Vinnie and Guido but laughed none the less. “He’s…pretty amazing, actually.”
“Is that so? Falling a little bit for Nickie-boy, huh?”
“Oh, no! Never. I mean, this is just…you know, almost over.”
“It doesn’t have to be, ya know.”
“It does, Tony. It’s just one big lie on top of more lies. Not a good start to anything. Besides, these things never work out for me.”
“You mean relationships?” Tony deadpanned. “You know I love you like a daughter, so I’m going to give it to you straight, kid. You had some real hard luck with your folks passin’ and then what that putz, what’s his name…”
“Pencil Dick,” Cori said without thinking.
“Ehh?”
“Sorry, that’s just what we call him. I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she laughed.
“It’s just bad luck, kid. Not your destiny. There is someone out there for you – that’s why pencil dick didn’t work out. He wasn’t the one for you. If Blackthorne is…let it…happen.”
“I don’t know, Tony. If I let him in and believe in that, then it falls apart? I don’t know if I could survive it.”
“You’ll never know until you try. And what if it doesn’t fall apart? Nickie is a good kid – real good kid.”
“Is it worth the risk though?”
Tony shrugged, knowing he gave her ple
nty to think about. He left it at that; she knew where to find him if she was lost or did, indeed, need help picking up pieces. She kissed his cheek, and left for the elevator.
“Don’t eat all of that, or I’ll call Raquel and rat myself out; you hear me?”
He tossed his hands in the air in surrender, earning him a smile as the elevator doors closed, taking her to her floor.
When she got to her desk, there were more flowers. Interesting, Tony hadn’t mentioned a delivery. The flowers were all red this time – a mix of peonies and roses. The bright white card stood out and read,
Cordelia – you looked absolutely stunning this weekend. Red is your color.
Phillip…it had to be. There wasn’t anyone else, who she knew from before, at the Gala. What was he up to? Given how Nick reacted to him over the weekend, she thought it best not to mention the card…or flowers.
Her day got busy from there, which was a welcome distraction, because otherwise, her mind would wander. Wander to the magical weekend she just had with Nick. Weekend spent mostly in bed…naked. Startled from her inappropriate thoughts again, this time by her desk phone, she answered Eve’s call. Nick was requesting to see her over lunch.
Given the networking they had done at the Gala, she assumed some of those give me a call mentions, he’d handed out, cashed in. That meant it had something to do with her proposal. Gathering her things as quickly as she could, she made her way upstairs to the executive suite. It would be hard to get any real work done with him in the room, but she had to test her professional willpower at some point, and this was as good of a time as any.
Eve signaled for her to go right in, which she did. Nick was on the phone, but the minute she walked in, his eyes locked with hers, and he told the caller he had to go and simply hung up. That quickly. The look he was giving her was familiar, and it made her squirm, squeezing her knees a little tighter, trying to ease what he was tempting.
“Put your things on the couch,” he said, to which she obliged.
She noticed lunch was set up at the nearby table and thought, perhaps that was what he summoned her for. Until she felt his heated gaze boring through her, and she turned to meet it.
Imperfect Love: Liar (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 11