Lewis left my apartment, and I remained sitting at the kitchen counter. The news had shocked me, and I was worried for a few minutes. Now a wave of excitement filled my lungs. I was still angry: my blood boiled every time I wondered which of my teammates had taken the picture that put me in this situation. Then I remembered Erica’s big bouncing breasts, her wet, sticky pussy, and how I was able to stroke her and make her come. How she had screamed my name. I wanted more of that, and I knew she was only kidding herself if she denied the fact that she was attracted to me.
I knew it was going to happen again, all I needed was to be in the same room as her. I knew I could rip her clothes off again. This news report had come as a blessing in disguise. No matter how many other women I fucked, Erica Lee had been on my mind since I first met her and I was about to have her again.
Chapter Nine - Erica
I hadn’t even thought about seeing Kyle Murphy again, let alone standing in his living room, in his plush penthouse apartment, waiting for him to join me.
But did I have any other choice? The media, to which I belonged just a few days ago, was hounding me now. I couldn’t leave my house without a dozen paparazzi following my every move. I wasn’t like every other girl Kyle Murphy was seen with. I was different than all the rest. I had slept with him for a purpose: to get ahead in my career and there was proof of that. The proof lay in my five-star interview.
My editor had fired me, I couldn’t leave my apartment, and I was hiding a pregnancy. I didn’t even want to think about what my dad was thinking of me. He had called me several times, but I never answered the phone, and he didn’t leave any messages. I could predict what he would say anyway: “I knew you’d go and get yourself knocked up. That’s what all girls do.”
So, I had no other choice but to welcome Lewis’ phone call. He said that he had a suggestion to make, for both of our sakes. And I listened to him, to his suggestion that we embark on a fake relationship for only a few weeks until everything died down. The media would be convinced that the photograph published was just a private, intimate moment between a loving couple. And then maybe I would still have a shot at a career as a journalist.
I stood at the French windows, looking at the view. Kyle had sent a chauffeur-driven Mercedes to pick me up from my apartment. His place was decorated in shades of gray and eggshell white, immaculately clean. It was obvious that he was rolling in money.
“Erica.” I heard his voice at the door and I whipped around to find him standing there. His arms were crossed, biceps bulging. He was looking at me, a smile on his face. Unlike me, it appeared that Kyle Murphy had nothing to worry about.
“Hello, Kyle,” I said as quietly as possible. I couldn’t quite understand why my heart was racing. He was gorgeous to look at, there was no denying that. His hair was short, dark and rich like velvet. His eyes were sparkling green, his face chiseled as though cut out of marble. He wore a pair of jeans and a polo shirt. He looked casual and comfortable, like he had no clothes on at all. I was afraid that I would blush and tried to control my nerves.
“I’m glad you decided to take the offer,” he said and took a few steps towards me.
“Do you know who did it? Leaked the photo, I mean?” I asked him, growing increasingly nervous with every step he took towards me. I wasn’t easily intimidated, but I was afraid of him for some reason. Or was I afraid of myself? Frightened of what he might make me do again?
“No, but it has to be somebody from the team. I’ve put Lewis on it. Hopefully we’ll find out soon,” Kyle said as he came to a stop in front of me. I looked away from him, unable to hold his gaze any longer, but I could sense that he was smiling.
“I knew you weren’t pleased,” he said.
I jerked my head back to look at him. “Why would I be? I lost my job because my editor thinks I slept with you for the interview,” I snapped back, but there was no fury in his eyes.
“Didn’t you?” he asked. I saw a smirk develop on the side of his lips.
“Nobody was supposed to find out,” I said, gritting my teeth. I was looking directly at him now, at the soft stubble on his jaw, the way his small nostrils flared, how his eyes sparkled, his sharp eyebrows framing his face. Kyle Murphy was sexy, of course, but even just his face was a treasure to look at. But didn’t I hate him?
“Yes, I know. Nobody was supposed to find out. But, clearly, somebody caught us on camera. Somebody who has something against me.” His voice changed a little and I thought I detected a slight anger. Was he as angry and upset about everything as I was? I couldn’t imagine it, I couldn’t imagine him worrying about anything. Everything came so easily to him.
“And I definitely didn’t want to get you dragged into all of this either,” he added. Our eyes met. His gaze had softened, the smile gone from his eyes. He was serious about this. I lost some of the rage I was feeling.
“It was both our faults,” I said softly, only loud enough for him to hear. I hadn’t admitted it before because I had been so mad at him, but that was the truth; it was both our faults indeed. He hadn’t forced me into anything. He had only presented himself, planted the idea, and I was eager to grab it. I was eager to feel him inside me.
“Good,” he said, suddenly clapping his hands together and surprising me out of my thoughts. “I hope you’ve packed a bag because you’re staying in my apartment for the next few weeks. It’s all settled. I’ve set up the guest bedroom for you.” Kyle’s mood was on high again. I stared back at him as he stated this, no words to add. I had to admit that it was a good plan.
Chapter Ten - Kyle
I couldn’t remember the last time I had woken up to a woman in my apartment, let alone another person in my house. I had a strict no staying over rule with all the girls I slept with. I liked to fuck, get my fill, and then see them out of the door. I liked to sleep alone in my bed and I liked to wake up early, by myself, and have my breakfast in peace.
But here she was, another person. I had woken up at six, as usual. I ate my breakfast, took the elevator down to the gym in the basement, and by the time I was back in the apartment by eight, Erica was up and pottering about the place.
It came as a shock, initially, because I’d forgotten she was even there. The previous evening, after she arrived, we had a small dinner in silence and then she had spent the rest of the night locked up in her room. I had to make do with my fantasies of imagining her naked, in the room, pinned against the wall, her long legs spread open for me. I wanted to leave her alone for that night, to let her get accustomed to this arrangement.
But now that it was morning, a new day, I was surprised to find that my heady rush of desire for Erica had suddenly disappeared. I had expected to feel turned on by her. She was in a pair of small cotton shorts and an oversized t-shirt. Her legs were on display, her hair was messy, and she had no makeup on. As she sat on the couch, sunlight streaming in through the French windows, sipping from a cup of tea, my gaze softened as I looked at her.
She looked so natural sitting there, reading the newspaper with her legs folded up in front of her. She looked fresh, like she had had a good night’s sleep… like she was comfortable being around me, in my house.
“Morning,” I said as I came up to her from behind, catching her by surprise.
“Oh, hey. Morning.” She fumbled with the newspaper and straightened her legs. She looked a little embarrassed. “Sorry, I took the liberty to make myself a cup of tea,” she added.
I shook my head and smiled. “Of course. I want you to feel at home, not like a prisoner,” I told her as I sat down in the armchair across from her.
We looked at each other in silence, and then a smile spread across her face. “So, this is what it’s going to be like for the next few weeks. We’re both going to be trapped in each other’s presence.” She said it like a joke, smiling, but I knew she wasn’t joking.
“I don’t feel trapped. Do you?” I asked her, serious.
Erica looked around the room and shrugged her shoulders. �
��To be honest, it’s more like a holiday to me. Your house is pretty nice. It’s like a fancy hotel room,” she said.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Glad to hear it. It is a business transaction, after all,” I added.
She raised an eyebrow. “Much like our previous business transaction,” she replied and I licked my lips. She really knew how to shoot me down. Repeatedly.
“That’s not what I meant,” I said, but she ignored it.
“Will we have to make public appearances?” she asked me, and I sank back in the armchair.
“Not many. Lewis is issuing an official statement from me, and then we’ll release a picture of us together. Then a few grocery shopping trips. Maybe you attend one of my games and get photographed. That sort of stuff,” I explained and she nodded.
“I hope this works,” she said, and I smiled at her. Erica Lee had been an object of desire for me, even the previous night when she walked into my apartment. But in the morning light, for some reason, she felt more like a friend.
“Even if it doesn’t, will it be so bad?” I dared to ask her.
Her face darkened as she looked at me. She seemed to have been in a good mood, but she suddenly stood up. “This is not what I wanted from my life,” she said in a low muted voice and then ran out of the room and into the bathroom at the other end of the hallway.
I sat in the armchair, feeling stupefied. I was hoping that she was slowly warming to me, to the idea, to the plan. I was hoping that if she could grow more comfortable, I could rip her clothes off her again. We had ample time for that anyway.
But her recent reaction to me told me that Erica was a little more complicated than that. She was withholding herself from me. Sex was far from her mind. But I was almost certain that it had been as good for her as it was for me. She had screamed my name, she had orgasmed all over my fingers, her body had shuddered and she had sighed after she came. She had shown all the signs that she was happy when we were together.
I had no idea why she was so against it now. I wanted to utilize all the time we had with each other in close quarters to repeat what we had done. And why not? Especially now that we were pretending to be a couple. But Erica didn’t seem to want the same things as me, and I was intrigued. If there was one thing I had learned about her by now, it was that she wasn’t like any other girl I had met before.
Chapter Eleven - Erica
I was watching him from the corner of my eye while I pretended to type away at my computer. I hadn’t seen him all day. He was out training for the upcoming game.
It still felt new to be around him, to be in his house and pretend to be his girlfriend. It had only been a week, anyway. He spent most of his time training while I spent most of my time in his apartment, getting sick in the toilet and then surfing the internet.
He made it seem so easy and natural, like he’d even forgotten why I was living in his apartment. I, on the other hand, had an additional secret to carry: I was pregnant with his child.
“I thought we might have dinner together tonight,” he said, suddenly turning to me. He was washing his hands at the kitchen sink.
“Why?” I blurted out. I hadn’t been expecting this.
“For the cameras of course. Don’t worry Erica, it’s not a date,” he said with his usual nonchalance. He wasn’t even looking at me as he spoke. I didn’t reply and he continued.
“I’ve booked us a table at Georgio’s. Be ready by eight,” he stated before disappearing into his room.
I knew Georgio’s. Everyone knew Georgio’s. It was the most exclusive fine dining experience in the city, frequented by celebrities. There were sure to be cameras there to capture us together. Lewis had already issued a statement to the effect that we were a serious couple, in love, and the photograph and article were an invasion of our privacy. No sexual favors were exchanged. A dinner date, publicly photographed by paparazzi, would only solidify that statement. I knew the truth – I knew that this was all for show, and yet I couldn’t help but feel a little excited.
My phone rang beside me, and I stared at the screen. It was my dad calling, again. I might not have been in the right state of mind. My head was swimming with conflicting emotions over how I felt about the dinner. I answered the call for the first time in several weeks.
“Erica!” My father’s gruff voice came through, and I felt my muscles freeze. I knew this was a mistake, I regretted answering the phone. Thankfully, Kyle was in his room already.
“Dad,” I said meekly. I was ashamed of myself. I didn’t want to hear what he had to say. Just his tone of voice was enough to make me feel small.
“Where are you?” he thundered.
“Where I’ve always been. In the city. Why?” I tried to sound natural and calm.
“Why?!” he thundered again. “Because I’ve been reading a lot of shit in the papers about my daughter.”
“It’s all gossip, dad,” I tried to interject, but he didn’t want to hear anything I had to say.
“There are pictures of you, half naked… in the papers!” His voice was loud and I had to hold the phone away from my ear.
“That picture was taken out of context,” I replied, but he was thundering away again.
“It’s such a disgrace. My own daughter, bartering sexual favors for an interview. How will I ever show my face to the neighbors again? How will I even leave the house without a bunch of people talking about me and my daughter behind my back? With an NFL star, Erica!”
I remained quiet, allowing his words to seep into my soul. He was right about all those things. I had embarrassed him. I had embarrassed myself too. And he didn’t even know the whole truth.
“Just when I thought that you could actually make me proud, this is what I have to read in the papers,” he added, falling quiet himself.
I could have told him that Kyle Murphy was my boyfriend, that we were pretending for the media anyway. But I chose to remain silent. I knew there was no support to be had from him. There was no point in defending myself.
“What would your mother have to say about this?” he said quietly. I hung up.
I didn’t want to hear any more. I didn’t want him to bring the memory of my mother into this. I knew what had happened. He didn’t have to remind me of how I had embarrassed him. These were all my decisions and I was trying to fix them.
I stood up from the chair I was sitting on and slammed the laptop shut. I could feel my stomach churning. I was going to be sick again. I ran into my room, slammed the door shut behind me, and locked myself in the toilet. After I got sick into the basin, I slid down to the floor. I splashed my face with water and ate a blob of toothpaste to freshen my mouth. Yet, nothing could make me feel better now.
I was carrying an even bigger secret, something that could change Kyle’s life entirely if he knew about it. I didn’t even want to imagine what the papers might say about that, what my father might say. I fought back tears, biting my lip, till I remembered our dinner plans. At least there was a distraction to look forward to.
Chapter Twelve - Kyle
She was glowing when she stepped out of the revolving glass doors and walked towards my car. I was waiting for her downstairs, and she was right on time.
She had curled her hair so that her slender, soft face was framed by golden curls in a wavy bob. She was in a beautiful black dress with a bare back. She wore black high heels and carried a small silver clutch. Her lips were a bright retro red. Erica Lee really knew how to make an impression.
As she walked towards me, I imagined her small, supple naked body underneath the dress. I had held her in my arms, and I wanted to hold her again. I held the door open for her with a smile. She smiled at me too, but I saw the sadness in her eyes. The same sadness I had heard in her voice a few hours ago when she had been on the phone with her father.
“I’m looking forward to this. Their shrimp risotto is the best I’ve ever tasted,” I announced when I slid into the car beside her.
Erica only smiled, and then turn
ed her face to look out at the city streets as we drove towards the restaurant.
“Hey,” I said softly. She turned to look at me, confusion marring her face. “Are you alright?” I asked. She looked even more surprised.
“Yes, why?” she returned.
I shrugged. “Just because you don’t have any fiery words to throw at me today,” I said.
This made her laugh a little. “And since when are you concerned about my mood?” she asked, and I stared into her deep blue eyes. I wanted to reach for her hand, but I held back. This was all pretense. That would be inappropriate.
“I’m only performing my boyfriendly duties,” I explained as the car came to a stop.
The door was held open for us and Erica stepped out. I followed, and when I reached her, I placed a hand on the small of her back. We both noticed some cameras at the entrance of the restaurant as we walked in. This plan was going to work.
“Smile, you’re on camera,” I leaned in and said in her ear. Erica smiled, her bright red lips parted, flashing teeth. I wanted to kiss her.
“At least this time, we can pose for the picture,” she said. I laughed loudly. I knew that moment would be caught by the paparazzi.
I had been to Georgio’s several times in the past, and our host led us to the intimate table by the window I had booked in advance. Lewis had picked that table specifically so that we could be photographed by the paparazzi from outside.
I held a chair out for Erica, and she sat down, as delicate as always.
“I hope you’ve been enjoying your stay at Hotel Murphy,” I said after we had ordered the wine and appetizers. There was a candle burning between us, and her eyes shone in the flame as she looked at me. That sadness which I had noticed earlier had disappeared. Or was she acting for the cameras?
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