Alex took a moment to catch his breath. For a second he wanted to pull her back to him, prove to her that she did want to. In the end he didn't. He wasn't one to pressure a woman.
But where did this leave them?
Alex zipped himself up. He took a few steps away, over to the table with the remnants of a feast. One far eclipsed by the cook herself. It took the sight of her gourmet fare to remember that, whatever had just happened, this was a business meeting. A planning session for his party. His engagement party.
"Everything you prepared was stunning," he said, surprised that his voice came out in such an even tone. "I honestly can't choose which dishes I liked best because each was phenomenal."
Lila nodded, a small smile on her face, but she didn't stop working to look at him.
Alex returned to his boardroom demeanor and got to the point. "I'm leaving it up to you. Build me a first-class menu, charge whatever you want. My assistant will be in touch with my address and the remainder of the details."
She still didn't face him, her back to him, her hands busy in the sink.
Alex pulled out his wallet, abstractly noting that his hands had a slight tremor, and counted out ten hundred dollar bills. He set them down on the counter. "Thank you for tonight."
She nodded but didn't turn to him.
He frowned. "I'll show myself out."
* * *
Lila finished rinsing the dishes and filling up the dishwasher before she turned away from the sink. She caught sight of the stack of bills sitting on the island and promptly turned back again, gathering up more dishes. The next hour was spent cleaning up, her mind forbidden from thinking about what had just happened in her kitchen.
When the last load was in the dishwasher and the counters sparkled around her, she considered the bills sitting there, staring at her. She hadn't even spent close to half of his deposit preparing for tonight. Why did he leave so much more, without her estimate and without her even asking for it?
Maybe it was for a job well done?
She wouldn't let herself consider that, since it wasn't her cooking she was thinking of. No, Drake wouldn't have left her a stack of money like a common...well, you know. It had to be intended to add to her deposit, she convinced herself.
Leaving the money on the island, she headed upstairs and into the shower. Memories of Drake's body pressed against hers had her nipples hardening under the hot spray, and she quickly pushed those memories away and hopped out, briskly toweling herself dry. Then she wandered out of the bathroom and into her small room.
Boxes still lined the walls, but at least her bed was made. She climbed into it now, foregoing pajamas as usual and sliding between the cool sheets. The smooth jersey knit against her still-raw body was stimulating, and she tossed and turned, trying to settle down.
Her cheeks burned as she remembered her eagerness. And embarrassment at the aftermath. She couldn't talk to him, couldn't think of anything to say that wasn't awkward. Lila was supposed to be a professional, and instead she'd acted like anything but.
She'd gone down on Drake without hesitation, attacking his cock like a starving woman. But then, in a way she was. Lila hadn't allowed her body such freedom since...well, since Damien.
His name conjured up a whole new tangle of anxiety, a tangle that pulled her down into sleep and uneasy dreams.
Damien had returned, again and again, during those couple weeks before school started. They had never talked, instead letting their bodies go where words could not.
A few days after that morning, when Lila had seen up close and personal what a man's climax was like, a knock had sounded at her door. Damien stood there, shirtless as always, and she'd let him in without a word. He'd taken her hand and pulled her down the hall and into her bedroom, closing the door behind him.
"No interruptions today, I hope," he'd mumbled, then attached his hands to her chest, kneading her breasts, pulling at her tank top and bra until he'd exposed her to his touch. She was moaning in desire while he tugged on her nipples, turning them into hard, aching points.
Then he'd abandoned her breasts and gone to sit on the edge of her bed, crooking a finger at her to follow. But when she made to sit beside him, he tugged her into position between his knees.
"Kneel down," he'd whispered, putting pressure on her shoulders until she went to her knees before him.
Damien had tugged his shorts down, exposing the fact that he wasn't wearing underwear as his hard cock sprang out. He kicked off his shorts, then wrapped a hand around himself, tugging on his dick.
"Taste me," he'd said, lifting his cock toward her mouth.
Lila had knelt there, wordless, her eyes flying up in alarm to meet his gaze.
"It will feel so good," he coaxed, now rubbing his cock against her closed lips. "Stick out your tongue."
Lila wasn't sure what to do. Damien was hot, no denying that, and the sight of his dick poised right outside her mouth was causing moisture to pool in her panties. But this...this seemed so...intimate.
Damien traced the outline of her lips with his cock, a hand going to the back of her head to push her forward. She'd finally given in to the pressure and stuck out her tongue, just a little bit. It hit the underside of his cock and he moaned.
"That's it," he sighed, pressing his dick inward, encouraging her to open her mouth wider. "Good, just lick around the head...yesssss...."
His moans were driving her crazy, as was the knowledge that it was her tongue that was making him feel this way. An intense feeling of power arose in her and she opened her mouth wide, drawing the tip inside and sucking.
"Oh yeah, that's it." His words were the only encouragement she needed. She sucked harder, pulling more of him into her mouth, her tongue swirling around him even as she took him deeper.
"Don't stop," he said, the hand on the back of her head becoming more insistent, so she picked up her pace. Damien's thighs tensed under her hands, and she knew he was getting close to his climax. But he didn't let up on the pressure, and so she took him deeper, all the way to the back of her mouth and then farther, until he pressed against the back of his throat.
"Fuck yes," he said, just as she began to gag. Lila tried to pull away, but another hand joined the first and both pushed on the back of her head, keeping her in place. Then she felt it, the proof of his orgasm, as it filled her mouth.
At last the pressure relented and Lila fell backwards on her heels, coughing. She was forced to swallow his release, then coughed again. She stood up and rushed into the bathroom, rinsing her mouth out and catching her breath.
When she returned to her room, it was empty. Lila crept into the hallway, just in time to see Damien opening the front door. "Thanks," he said with a wave. "See you tomorrow." Then he was gone, out the door and down the front walk.
Lila had slid down the hallway wall and sat there. Her breath was heaving in her chest. He'd done it again, come and gone. Shaky hands covered her face where she could feel the flush of shame staining her cheeks. Damien, the hottest boy in school, was using her for sex. And she was letting him.
Not anymore. She'd rallied herself, ignoring the unfulfilled ache that was throbbing in her lower region. She wasn't a toy to be played with and then ignored. Tomorrow things would be different.
Only the next day things had gone much the same. Damien had come over, had lured her back to her room, and before long he'd had his cock in her mouth again. And that wasn't the last time. Why Lila allowed it, why she kept sucking him, growing to like it more and more, was something she preferred not to think about. Instead she reveled in his attention, in the ripple of his abs, in the straining of his thigh muscles, in the twitches of his cock when it exploded on her tongue. Those sensations alone were worth the price of admission.
Even if every day the scene ended with Damien's brief expression of gratitude and then his exit.
When the alarm went off, bringing her back into the present, she realized that was exactly what had happened with Alex Drake. She'd gr
own shy afterwards, silent, unsure of how to behave. Lila realized it was because she didn't know what to do or say after. There'd never been an after with Damien. And now, she'd made sure there was no after with Drake.
Lila sat up with a sigh. It didn't matter. That stuff with Damien was long in the past, and whatever she had with Alexander Drake was over too. Now, if she could just make it through the party without dropping to her knees to inhale his sexy cock, things should turn out fine.
She was downstairs, staring at the pile of money on her island, when her cell phone rang.
"Lila Johnstone."
"Ms. Johnstone, this is Alexander Drake's office calling. Do you have a moment to discuss the upcoming party plans?"
"Of course." Lila scrambled to grab a pen and pad, then sat down at the table to listen. She breathed deep, straining to hear over the pounding of her heart.
"Mr. Drake has informed you that there will be around fifty guests attending. He would like your organization to handle the food and wine list, as well as a non-alcoholic option for those who won't be drinking. He's said not to bother with champagne, as he'll be dealing with that separately."
"Not a problem," Lila replied, even as her mind balked at picking out suitable wines for the occasion.
"Mr. Drake also asks that you hire serving staff for the event. Valet parking will be handled separately."
"Of course." Another thing she had no experience at. How many servers would she need, and where would she find them? She'd gotten some members of the waitstaff from the restaurant to work the Masterson reception, but they lived in another city and she couldn't rely on them for everything. Good thing you think on your feet! she told herself. Keep positive, or collapse into an indecisive mess and give up on your dream now.
No way.
She tuned back into the phone call, praying she hadn't missed anything vital. The capable-sounding woman continued. "Finally, he asks if you'll be needing additional funds before the event. He's authorized me to send over a check by courier today if you'll let me know the amount."
Lila swallowed. He was ready to send her more money, and she hadn't even spent the entire first deposit, let alone touched the pile on the island. "That won't be necessary at the moment. If I need a larger deposit, I'll call the office."
"Great. One more thing."
Lila held her breath. Didn't she have enough on her plate already?
"As the event is only about a week away, Mr. Drake asks that you meet him at his house in the next few days so that he can show you around the space and discuss any last-minute arrangements. Which evening are you free?"
Lila almost sighed but held back so as to not sound unprofessional. "Let's see," she thought, considering how late she could push back a meeting before the party. Even though part of her wanted to scream "Tonight!" just for the chance to spend a little more private time with the seductive Mr. Drake. "I'm free this Sunday."
"I'll pencil you in for seven o'clock." She gave Lila the address.
"Great."
"Thank you for your assistance, Ms. Johnstone."
Lila hung up, her thoughts a jumble. She would see him again. Tall, Dark, and Dangerous. And he had no idea just how dangerous he was to her calm, quiet life. How dangerous were the passions he brought to her surface, passions she'd kept hidden since high school.
She'd have to push those passions back down, bury them deep, if she was to have any hope of getting through the party unscathed.
Chapter Six
Alex Drake paced the halls as the clock chimed. Seven bells rang around him, filling the cavernous silence. Where was Lila?
She'd been in his thoughts all week. He'd known it was dangerous, instructing his assistant to invite her over to his place. The excuse that she needed to see her working space was a good one, but it wasn't the reason that had driven him to suggest it. No, he wanted to see her again, to have her in his space, at his mercy.
Wrong, he chided himself. You're going to be the consummate professional tonight. He would treat her with deference. With respect.
And he would apologize for his actions at her house, explain to her that he'd made a mistake and that it wouldn't happen again. That he was engaged to be married and that he hoped she could forgive him.
Guilt had reared its ugly head, but strangely it wasn't focused on his betrayal of his fiancée. No, his conscience harped on him about hurting Lila. Not Alana.
Not good.
Thought fled when his doorbell rang. Alex scurried to the entrance, swinging open one heavy door. There she stood, her hazel eyes wide and almost golden in the light spilling out of his doorway. She was dressed in the same jeans, this time paired with a wide-necked knit top in blue.
"Come in," he said, standing aside to allow her entry.
She nodded and walked in, then paused, scanning the entrance hall. He felt a tingle of pride, one that he’d not felt since he’d bought the stunning Queen Anne mansion. Someone was noticing it for what it was, a historic beauty with more character in one of its ornamental pillars than could be found in a dozen McMansions.
He was momentarily distracted by the play of color over her face, reflected from the stained glass windows in the imposing double doors.
She looks like she fits here. A beautiful jewel only enhanced by her setting. The thought caught him off-guard, but he realized the truth in it immediately.
When he remembered to breathe again, he said, "If you'll follow me, I'll show you around." Leading the way, he lamented his decision to go first. He'd have liked to follow behind her again, to watch that round ass as she walked.
Wrong again, Drake. Get it together!
He couldn't help it. He was obsessed.
Definitely not good.
* * *
Lila snuck in a deep breath as she followed behind Drake. She was trying to take in everything, but her eyes kept returning to the trim and athletic body of her host. He was distracting, to say the least. As he started up the massive wooden staircase, gleaming in the light of an enormous chandelier, she tore her eyes from his backside to really look her surroundings.
The outside of his Victorian mansion had been imposing enough. Painted a deep green that almost blended in with the forested hills around it, the lighter green accents had kept it from fading into the background. There were several peaked roofs and delicate scrollwork abounded. The wide covered porch that wrapped around one side was decorated with ornate supports interspaced. A tower rose above it all, the windows reflecting a golden glow from inside.
The interior of Drake's home was even more breathtaking. The staircase she was currently climbing could not have fit in the entire front half of the house she was renting. It curved past two more towering stained glass windows, the carpet under her feet thick and floral. She followed Alex down the hall of the second floor, pausing behind him as he flung open a double door to reveal the cavernous room beyond.
"This is the ballroom," he said, and Lila's eyes went so wide she thought they might fall out of her face.
"Gorgeous," she managed to mumble, raising her eyes to the elaborate ceiling, white chased with gold, and the huge chandelier that hung above it all, dwarfing the smaller ones scattered in its orbit. Above the chandelier was a cutout, and in the cutout a painting of the blue sky. Lila was reminded of fantasy-inducing baroque estates that she'd only ever seen in pictures. This was the real thing, and it was spectacular.
Before she could catch her breath, Drake was stalking across the wooden floor, its geometrical patterns polished so that they shone, and pulling open another door.
"These are the back stairs that lead directly down to the kitchen. Follow me."
Lila nodded and swallowed thickly. This house was beyond anything she could ever imagine. The man who owned it was just as magnificent. The question was, could she measure up?
Shaking her head to clear it, she told herself to keep her thoughts on the event. But it wasn't her head that was leading now, and she was afraid that good intentions would
n't be enough to get her through the rest of the evening.
* * *
At last Alex led his guest into the kitchen, its surfaces sparkling in the warm light. The appliances were older, more in keeping with the traditional dark wood decor of his kitchen, but there were enough modern touches to make her happy, at least he hoped. "Can you work with this?"
"Oh yes," she said, her voice breathy, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, like his cock in his pants.
Down boy. She's not for you.
"There's additional room in here if you need it." He opened a door to show her the pantry and waited while she ducked inside to examine it.
"It's empty," she said, her voice showing surprise.
"Yeah." He shrugged. "I don't do much cooking. Mostly order in."
Lila nodded as she made her way back to the center of the kitchen. "Everything seems to be in order. I'll do most of the prep at my own place, then bring things over here for the finishing touches. As the party starts at 8, I should come in around 3, with the wait staff arriving closer to 6."
Alex nodded. The details didn't matter. "I've got an appointment that afternoon, so I'll make sure to send over a key." His appointment, a fitting for his wedding tuxedo, seemed to be a hardship now that he realized Lila would be here and he wouldn't be.
"Was there anything else you wanted to show me?"
Her innocent words struck a chord with him. Oh yes, there's plenty I want to show you.
Alex briefly closed his eyes to get his wayward thoughts under control. He opened them and met her golden gaze. "There is one matter I'd like to discuss. About the test dinner..."
"No need to bring that up," she said, waving her hands around in front of her. "It was unprofessional of me, and I think it would be better if we pretended it didn't happen."
Here she was, offering him the easy way out. No need to apologize, to let her in on his own personal missteps. Still, her straightforward brush-off of the situation irked him.
Worth the Risk: (A Contemporary Bad Boy Romance) Page 57