Allan remained quiet, perusing the gathering crowd of people who were trying to be discrete about their eavesdropping. For a moment, Riana thought he was going to say yes just to save face. She had to be realistic. Allan and the slut were important people in the society and Riana wasn’t.
“No.” His response had such finality in it, leaving no room for argument. Riana held herself still to keep from dancing with joy.
“Riana.” Allan held out his hand to her. “Let’s go.”
Riana stared at his hand, then his face. They were really going to do this. Run off to Venice and do God knows what together.
“I don’t have a passport,” she said it so low she wasn’t sure he heard her.
Allan’s lips spread in a wide heart stopping grin. “Not to worry. I’ll handle that.” He beckoned her with his fingers to take his hand.
Was she really going to Venice with him?
Why the hell not?
For once she deserved to act crazy and let her hair down. Here was her opportunity to stop living vicariously through Loraine and actually live! She laughed giddily and raised her hand to place it in his.
Before she could, the slut slapped her hand away placing hers in his instead.
Allan turned sharply to her, his eyes narrowing to dangerous slits, his lips pressed in a thin line. If he were a wolf, Riana was sure he would have snarled or growled and then rip her hand off, judging by his flaring nose.
He dropped her hand and roughly pulled Riana toward him. She bumped into his side, her hands holding onto his waist for balance. He placed his hand on her waist and pulled her into him, effectively tucking her under his arm. And for the first time in such a long time, she felt protected in an embrace.
“You are no longer invited on this trip Theresa. Neither is Michael!” he barked.
“Oh, Michael! He’s so very hot and yet so very stupid. I think his brains are in his balls. And Theresa? Mother Theresa, forgive her for soiling your good name,” Loraine muttered next to Riana, shaking her head.
Riana wasn’t sure whether to laugh or worry for her friend’s sanity. She always did and said the oddest things at the oddest times.
Riana took a good look at Michael, who had been cowering behind Theresa. Loraine was right—he was hot. He was lean and tall with crystal-clear blue eyes and tousled brown hair. He looked so much like a GQ model. But he looked like he was about to be sick from how quickly his face paled. Why was he invited to Venice anyway if it was supposed to be a romantic getaway?
“Are…are you…Am I being fired?” he stammered.
Oh hell, Riana thought, feeling sorry for the guy.
Allan’s lips parted in a sinister smile. “You are smart! If only your brain was working when you were fucking my girlfriend. Yes, I am firing you. And Theresa, if you haven’t caught on yet, it also means our relationship is over.”
Theresa’s jaw dropped open, forming a large, deep red ‘O’. Riana heard the gasp from the crowd that seemed to have grown in number.
Note number two, never cross Allan Sinclair. Riana squeezed his side, hoping he’d understand her. The embarrassment in front of all the people who mattered in society was enough punishment. If he cut them down another foot, they would never survive it.
“Is there a problem here?”
“Oh, damn!” Loraine groaned next to her. Riana couldn’t have said it any better. The dragon lady—known better as Mrs. Nicholas—had landed. Shit just got worse.
“Yes, there is a problem.” Theresa pointed a painted, red fingernail at her. “I want this thing fired!”
“What?” Loraine and Riana exclaimed at the same time.
The dragon lady gave her a cut nod. “Immediately, Miss Davenport!”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” Loraine yelled.
“Mrs. Nicholas, I did nothing wrong!” Riana protested, pulling out of Allan’s embrace.
She tipped her chin up with an air of self-importance. “That doesn’t matter. You are relieved of your job Miss Albury. You too, Miss Larson.”
“She did nothing wrong!” Riana exclaimed.
Riana felt Allan tuck his fingers in the waistband of her trousers and pull her back against his chest. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll find you other jobs.”
“But—” Riana blurted.
Loraine moved closer to Theresa. “Or you could just pay our bills. I have no qualms living off my best friend’s new boyfriend. He’s a billionaire you know.” Theresa’s face turned beetroot red, her fists clenched tightly at her sides in pure rage. With a satisfactory smile, Loraine gave her a salute and walked away. “Come on guys, let’s blow this joint.”
“Wait!” Riana barely got the word out before Allan dragged her away.
After collecting their things from the company van, they joined Allan and stood outside with the doorman, waiting for Allan’s limo, and all Riana could do was pace nervously.
“I knew this was going to happen. I mean, when a day starts with the worst finals paper that ever existed in the world, as if it had been sent straight from hell to torture me, to catching my roommate riding my boyfriend like a freaking horse into oblivion, and now I’m fired from a job that took me months to find. Here I am, with no income, no place to live…with absolutely nothing! I don’t even have my books to study for my last paper. And of course I’m going to fail that too then I’ll have to—”
“I thought you’ve never had sex?” Allan questioned, interrupting her rambling.
“Oh she has, but judging from her description it sounds more like scratching an itch than sex. Right, Riana?” Loraine piped in.
“Thank you so much, Loraine, now I’m going to think something is wrong with me because I was never satisfied. Well according to Claire, something is definitely wrong with me because I apparently only like missionary style like some damn nun on a Sunday. If I do prefer said sex position, I should have felt a lot more than pressure and impatience for the whole damn thing to be over. Steve was the experienced one, he should have taken the initiative to spice things up but nooo, he only thought of number one! When he was under Claire, he made noises he’d never made with me and he let her come first which he’s never done with me—”
Her next words were interrupted by a pair of warm lips pressing against hers. She was stunned for a moment as Allan’s arm snaked around her waist and pulled her flush against his body, and the other wide hand held the back of her head, keeping her in place, as his mouth ravished hers.
His lips tugged on hers, sucking on her lower lip and pulling it into his mouth, suckling so hard the intensity shot a volt right to her core and she opened her mouth with a gasp. He didn’t waste any time in pushing his tongue past her teeth, invading, plundering, and provoking her tongue into a duel.
He consumed her, leaving her no space to breathe but she didn’t care. Allan Sinclair tasted as refreshing as he smelled—like rain forests on a cool morning, yet tempting and dark. And with every twirl of his tongue he promised hidden pleasures piled one on top of the other, ensuring she’d never be the same after he was done setting fires not only on her lips and her tongue but every inch of her body, and she couldn’t wait for the promises he presented to be fulfilled.
And even as he pulled away, ending the flight to the heavens with feather kisses, and a swipe of his tongue over the nips of his teeth on her lips, she knew she would never be the same from that moment henceforth.
* * * *
Allan pulled away because he knew if he didn’t stop now he never would. The taste of her mouth was intoxicating. He’d never felt like this with anyone else, especially not with Theresa.
He stared down at his little drug, his breathing heavy and uncontrolled, but she seemed serene, at peace, and happy with her eyes closed and her lips spread in the loveliest smile he’d ever seen, not at all starved for breath like he was. How could she be so peaceful when she’d just fed off him, pulling out not only his breath but everything that was inside him with just her sweet lips?
But he didn’t have to take her to Venice to finally taste every inch of the hidden treasures under her waitress uniform. He could easily book a suite, carry her upstairs immediately, and relieve the rock hard erection the taste of her lips had caused.
But no. He had to take her to Venice. Just to make it special for her. He didn’t know why, but aside from the problems she’d already rambled about—he liked her rambling and this was the second time it had aroused him—he had a feeling there was something else that kept her so timid and shy.
He then glanced over at Loraine. Loraine might have introduced herself to him as a rabid bulldog ready to rip him to shreds if he hurt Riana but he was growing to not only like but appreciate her vicious nature. Riana needed a friend like Loraine who’d always have her back and not one like her asshole boyfriend and jockey roommate. And because of her vicious nature, and for the sake of his sanity, he wasn’t going to touch Riana again until they reached Venice. Then he was going to try and convince her to stay the month and each day he would endeavor to make it special for her.
Why? At the moment he had no clue, nor did he care to rationalize why he felt he must. He was going to do this for her because he wanted to.
“Riana?”
He placed his hand on her cheek and she leaned into it with a sigh. Allan drew in a deep breath. She was making it near impossible to keep from walking back into the hotel and booking a suite.
“You won’t fail your last paper. You’ll just have to go to the library to study because frankly that’s what libraries are for. You will stay with Loraine and live off her rich parents’ money for a while because I’m sure the only reason she’s working is to annoy them and exert her independence. And finally, in a week’s time, we’ll be leaving for Venice, where we’ll live on my yacht and make love every night because during the day I’ll be working. I would have preferred to spend the days with you too, but that can’t be helped since I just fired Michael. And you’ll pass the days away spending my money which I’m sure won’t be as much as Theresa usually does.”
He tucked his fingers under her chin and pushed her head up so that he could look into her eyes. “And Riana?”
“Mmm-hmm?”
“I promise I won’t be selfish when we have sex. I’ll make you come so hard until you lay shattered and spent in my arms before I take my own pleasures.” He brushed his lips against hers and Riana parted her lips in anticipation of another kiss. “Am I clear, Riana?”
Riana went on her toes to close the hair’s breadth distance between their lips. “Perfectly.”
He chuckled and pressed a lingering kiss on her lips. “Did you even hear a word I said?”
She ran the tip of her tongue over his lower lip. “I’m not sure. Do you want to tell me again?”
Loraine laughed shaking her head. “Don’t worry about it, Allan. I’ll repeat it to her when she finally sobers from your kiss, word for word.”
Chapter Three
“Are you sure that’s what I said?” Riana asked for the hundredth time that week. She couldn’t possibly believe she agreed to any of it. After that kiss—which still tied her stomach in knots every time she thought about it—she didn’t remember a word he said. She was too busy watching those lips move, wondering when he was going to kiss her again. She thought about it every moment of every day.
She sighed. Those sweet, sexy lips…
She slapped her forehead with the palm of her hand. Idiot! Aren’t you in a mess already because of those lips!
Loraine stuffed her mouth with more popcorn. “Yup. You, my dear friend, agreed to service him every single night of those two weeks. But he did promise to repay the favor tenfold.”
Riana dropped on the couch, her head in her hands. “Oh, God. I agreed to have sex with a total stranger.”
“For two weeks.”
“I know that!” she snapped.
Loraine was quiet for a moment before she leaned in and added conspiratorially. “Every. Single. Night.”
“Loraine!”
She shrugged backing away. “Hey, he hasn’t tried to track you down in over a week. Maybe he’s changed his mind. Maybe he’s found another girl to take.”
The thought of Allan taking another girl on a trip he’d promised her after the bone-melting kiss he’d planted on her made her chest ache with unfamiliar pain. He said they’d leave in a week’s time. It had been ten days. Three days past the seven that composed a week.
She chewed nervously on her lower lip. Could Loraine be right?
Oh please no! “You think so?”
Loraine sighed with exasperation. “You can’t be serious, Riana! First you were freaking out about going out of the country with a stranger and now the prospect of it not happening is making you sad? Make up your mind woman!”
Riana leaned her head back against the backrest of the couch, pulled the quilt over her head, and groaned. “I don’t know what to do or think. I’m so confused!”
The doorbell rang and Loraine stood to answer it. “Well, you better make up you mind before Mr. Allan Sinclair decides to call you.” Riana heard the door open, and then Loraine laughed. “Actually, you are going to have to make that decision now.”
“Huh?” Riana pulled the quilt off her face and turned to the door. There stood a man in a chauffer’s uniform with his cap held against his chest. He had the largest smile plastered on his face.
“Miss Albury, Mr. Sinclair is waiting for you at the airport. He has your passport and all other necessary documentation. His instructions are not to pack any clothing items, as all you require will be purchased once you reach your destination. The jet will be leaving for Italy in an hour.” He turned to the side and stretched his arm out signaling with his cap. “Shall we?”
* * * *
Allan leaned back in his comfy, leather seat, hoping to get at least one hour of sleep before Riana arrived and they could finally leave. Seven hours in the sky with a beautiful woman and no work to plow through, after working on very little sleep for the past two days, was exactly what he needed. Acquiring a hotel chain was more of a headache than he had anticipated.
His executives at Sinclair Enterprise were shocked by his sudden interest in the hotel business. Sinclair Enterprise only dealt with buying manufacturing companies, tearing them apart, and selling them off piece by piece at a two hundred percent profit.
The hotel business was only for his baby sister’s benefit. He had a soft spot for her. Now no one could accuse him of being a completely cold-hearted businessman.
Unlike others he knew, Allan helped the workers of all the companies he had torn apart find work someplace else in addition to a very large severance pay, which equaled six months of their monthly salary—twice as much as their original company severance package.
Melody had always wanted to run her very own hotel. She had a vision of making it a home away from home for her clients. Allan agreed to help her start her own hotel if she agreed to do a year’s internship with three of the best hotels he knew existed. Having done two thirds of the year at The Ritz and The Hilton, she was now at the Trump. Allan was proud of her. She’d shown dedication and hard work, and she was just twenty-three, an age where she should be living it up.
As a reward, he’d decided to acquire an international chain of hotels for her. He wouldn’t be taking it apart. He’d just weed it out, replace some of the staff, and then hand it over to Melody in a pretty, pink bow. Allan was sure she would love it. Though it may be bigger than what she’d planned, Allan had all the confidence in her to make it a success again.
Casa Italian—very o
riginal—had one hotel in every major city in Italy, as well as locations in Paris, Barcelona, London and Los Angeles. The failed one in New York was what put them in the red; if New Yorkers were one thing, it was loyal to their brands. Casa Italiano New York didn’t stand a chance of survival two years after it opened. So they currently had eight in total, and maybe once the chain was steady on its feet, he might help reopen the branch in New York. That should be a good start for Melody.
The headquarters of Casa Italiano was in Venice, which explained the business part of the trip. The pleasure part had to do with the curvaceous, hundred and twenty pound, five foot six, curly haired, brown skinned beauty who had the most amazingly hypnotizing brown eyes with green streaks. The same woman who possessed the softest, oh so soft, and most delicious, supple lips that had haunted the little sleep he’d had since the day he’d kissed her.
Allan shook his head and chuckled. He never thought a woman’s rambling could be so sexy.
He despised it when people couldn’t say what they intended in five sentences or less. He didn’t want a story or a history lesson, just the facts.
But Riana’s sweet voice going on and on about nothing in particular he found cute and very arousing.
He sighed contently. Soon, they’d finally be in Venice and he’d be able to touch her and kiss her again.
Riana…
She was so different from the women he was used to or even chased after. She wasn’t a very confident person and was naïve with a gentle soul. He was sure she’d believed in Santa Claus well into her teen years.
Allan chuckled. He could see Loraine bursting that little bubble.
Allan could tell Loraine was always trying to get Riana to stiffen her backbone more. He agreed with Loraine on that one; if she didn’t get a stronger backbone the world was going to destroy her gentle soul.
He wondered about her parents and what they’d say about her taking a two week long—hopefully an entire month long—trip to Venice with a stranger? She seemed sheltered, the type to call her mom five times a day. He knew she was in college because she was taking finals and the fact that she was permitted to serve alcohol put her above twenty-one. Hopefully she was twenty-two or twenty-three. He could live with a seven year difference, but not nine or more. He wasn’t a cradle robber.
Her Venice Affair (The Albury Affairs) Page 4