She flutters her eyes. “I have, but are you really going to deny me food?”
“Okay.” This is one battle I’m willing to let slide. “Hey, did mother say anything to you before we left today?”
It’s Sunday, so as usual she was wrapped up in bed nursing a hangover when we left this morning. I didn’t have the patience or the urge to say my hello and goodbye to her.
“Not really. She didn’t seem bothered.”
Ladies and gentleman, my mother’s motto when it comes to her children. . .
She can’t be bothered.
I shake my head. “Of course she didn’t. It’s a good thing we have each other.” I pull her in for a bear hug, grabbing my keys from my pocket.
It doesn’t matter how many headaches she gives me over her whingeing, I wouldn’t trade this in for anything.
“Okay. I’ll fill up a trolley, get us some pizza. You guys finish up here. I’ll be back soon.”
~ £ ~
“Come on in, sugar. She’ll be ready soon.”
It’s becoming a habit for Parker, Maya’s roommate, to answer the door whenever I call. Which is fine, I have no qualms with him, I just wish he’d stop looking at me like I’m about to become his next meal. I’m literally the gazelle-like meat to his lion-like eyes.
“It’s my fault she’s late, I overworked her at the gym.”
“Don’t listen to Parker, he likes to pose at the gym while the rest of us work out. I’m Cassie by the way, but everyone calls me Cas.”
I stare at the woman who offers her hand in greeting. Like a reflex I shake, but I can’t take my eyes off of her hair. It’s like she walked into the salon one day and couldn’t decide what colour to have so she chose them all. Her hair is multi-coloured like Joseph’s coat. It’s like a box of fucking crayons melted in her hair. It’s sodding mental yet oddly appealing.
“Nice to meet you, Cas. I’m Grayson.” When I finish glaring at her hair - listen to me talking about hair, what’s happened to my ogling chesticles days? Why am I not checking out her bee stings? - I notice her arm is covered with a full sleeve of tattoos and I stab a guess that she’s clearly the type of person that openly reveals her personality in arty ways.
Moving into the sizeable living room, I take a seat on one of the black leather sofas as they both come join me. Well, isn’t this cosy? “The three of you live here?” I enquire.
Parker nods. Is it me or has the room filled up with a little bit of tension? I continue on anyway. “How long have you known Maya?”
“Since Uni. We all share a common interest in creativity.”
“What do you do?”
“Well, Parker’s in fashion. And I’m a games developer.”
“Interesting. I’ve been wanting to tackle the gaming industry,” I say to Cas.
“It’s a highly competitive market right now. Guaranteed that by the time your project comes into fruition some other company sweeps it out of your hands and makes it less desirable.”
I smile. “The trick is to find something so outlandish no one else will think of it first.”
“That’s what I keep saying, and then my boss likes to remind me that we’re working on a budget.”
“Money is often the answer behind most problems. But imagine what you could accomplish if it wasn’t an issue?”
Can you hear the cogs working in my brain, too? Yes, I’m having quite an extraordinary business idea draw itself into a plan over here.
“You’re not going to start offering her a job too are you, sugar?”
Parker is dead serious despite the light tone of his voice. His perfectly-shaped brows are squished together, his cosmetically plumped lips are pursed. “No, I’m not. I like to finish one project before I start another.”
“Speaking of which, why did you give Maya this perfect job? Is there some catch-22 she doesn’t know about?”
Well, I can say one thing for sure. Maya’s friends know how to look out for her, which is nice and caring, highly predictable. Bitches like to stick together, don’t they?
“I see exceptional talent in Maya, and that’s why I offered my job. There’s no catch. Nothing I want in return besides her creative genius.”
“But you still plan on dating her?” Parker tilts his head to the side while Cas remains quiet.
“I do. I’m enraptured by her beautiful mind and body, but regardless of whatever happens between us her job will always remain. It’s not an all or nothing deal.”
“Has he passed your test now?” Maya walks into the room, and my dick salutes to attention.
She’s wearing a long pink dress with a thigh-high split to the side along with silver heels that show off her pretty toes. Her shiny hair is curled, and I can’t stop staring like a dribbling puppy. She’s utterly breath taking.
“Oh, sugar. You’re in trouble tonight.”
I nod in agreement as I stand, buttoning up the jacket to my black tux.
“Are you ready?” I ask, inhaling a lungful of her delicious scent - a mixture of flowers and sunshine.
“Yes,” she breathes heavily, looping her arm in mine. I murmur my goodbyes and lead the way to my waiting limo where Anderson - a bodyguard listed in my security detail - holds open the door.
His real name is Lucas, but everyone calls him Anderson after I graced him with the nickname. If you’ve ever watched The Matrix films you’ll understand why. Neo, the main character, always wears this long, black coat with a pair of unnecessary shades when he enters the vortex, right? Well, that’s Lucas right down to the part where he’s a phenomenal martial artist, hence the name. Plus I’ve heard he has a thing for women in leather. Kinky bastard.
Anyway, I think he’s more grateful for the pet name than Logan is of his. For some reason Boulder is struggling to catch on with the team.
I follow Maya into the limo, and as Anderson closes the door the small room instantly fills with sexual tension. Shit, how am I supposed to make it through an entire evening without touching her? I need to distract myself. Think of anything else other than the taste of her pleasure.
“How was your last week at Enhance?”
Her hands fidget on her lap. Uh, oh. That can’t be good. “Yeah, about that. . .”
Can you feel me tensing, too? “Did you change your mind?” I try not to let my disappointment sound in my voice.
“Fuck, no!” She looks up instantly, and now that I have her conviction I see the worry upsetting her beautiful face. “They won’t honour my immediate resignation. Apparently, my contract says I have to stay another three months until they fill my position.”
“Bullshit. A position like yours can be replaced with a click of a finger in the city. I bet there’s thousands of other graduates lining up. Do you have a copy of your contract?”
She nods.
“I’ll have my lawyers look over it. It sounds to me like they’re clutching on to you with scare tactics because they’ve realised how much they’ve messed up.”
“Are you my knight in shining armour now?” She moves towards me, straddling my lap.
“I just don’t appreciate people that confuse business with bullying. And if I get to be some small version of a hero for five minutes, I’ll gladly accept my reward.”
I caress my hand over her bared thigh, enjoying the feel of her silky smooth skin. She leans forward, her lips are barely a millimetre from mine. I kiss her gently, basking in the softness of her lips.
I’m taking my time, savouring the feel of her in my hands when Anderson’s voice pops over the intercom. “I hope you’re ready, Sir. The paparazzi are swarming.”
“Open the door in five minutes,” I order, seeing fear written all over Maya’s face. “Just ignore whatever they say about us and let me do any of the talking. Anderson will keep them away. Can I get a smile?” I try coaxing one out of her.
“Grayson. . .” She whines.
“Can you at least get off me for a second? The whole time you’re sitting on my lap my dick’s just ge
tting bigger. Do you want the entire world to see how big a pleasure stick you have?”
“I think half the world has seen it,” she laughs, and sits beside me.
I focus on anything but Maya’s lush tits, and the more I try not to think about them the more I do. Seconds ago they were right in my face, which is fast becoming a favourable place of mine for them to be.
Fuck me, this is one primed hose.
I look at Maya out of the corner of my eye to see she’s sniggering away to herself, clearly enjoying my torment. “I’m glad you think this is funny when it’s all your fault.”
“For God’s sake, Grayson. Control your cock so we can get to our night of fucking sooner rather than later.”
Laughter bursts out of my mouth at Maya’s stern tone. “Shit, Maya. How the hell is that supposed to help me now that you’ve embedded the picture of you naked in my mind?”
Before I know it my five minutes are up and Anderson is opening the door. My half-mast schlong is officially making its debut to all the newspapers. This time they won’t have to use Photoshop.
“Ready, sunshine?” I give her a wink, and step out. My handsome smoulder is bombarded with flashes and comments, but I don’t pay any attention as Maya joins my side.
And then it’s like being at the zoo - monkey do this, monkey do that.
“Mr. Rush! A second date with the same woman? What’s going on?”
“Are you unwell?”
“Is she family?”
“What’s her name?”
It goes on like this until we make it through to the open doors of the charity auction venue.
“Is it always like that, Grayson?”
“Sometimes, it just depends what’s going on in my life at the time. And right now that’s you.”
“I don’t think I constitute as big news.”
“Sunshine, you don’t realise how special you are.” I pull her in for a quick kiss, needing to finish what I started earlier.
“Cupcake?”
I freeze. Fucking hell, can’t a guy get a snog without an interruption? “Brace yourself,” I whisper in Maya’s ear, before turning to greet my mother. Of course she’s here. It’s a fancy evening, isn’t it?
See, she couldn’t have the decency to get her arse out of bed to help her daughter move earlier today, but she makes sure she’s okay for another night on the prowl. Sickening, isn’t it?
So here she is, dressed in another expensive-looking gown, because God forbid she wear the same dress twice. Christ, I’m sounding bitter. It must be the extreme case of blue balls I’m suffering through.
“Mother, have you spoken to Layla today?”
She touches her face, smoothing out her hair. “I haven’t had a chance yet. Is anything wrong?”
I sigh. Bad parenting is a punishable crime, right?
“No, I just thought you might like to know how her move went today.”
She pats my arm condescendingly like I’m the one in trouble. “Silly. I’ll find out on Thursday when we get together for dinner. Will I be setting the table for one more?” She stares at Maya pointedly, no doubt trying to warn her away. It’s not working though - on me or Maya.
“Let’s find out, shall we?” I say. “Maya, would you like to come to dinner with my family on Thursday?”
My mother’s shock is palpable, but she can’t back out now and I don’t want her to. Maya is becoming a part of me.
“I’d be delighted, if it’s not too much trouble.” She smiles that beautiful charmer at my mother.
“Excellent!” I squeeze my hand on Maya’s waist.
“In that case I look forward to getting to know you, Maya. I must dash, there’s a striking young man catching my attention. Have a good evening.”
My mother disappears as quick as she can, knowing her window of opportunity is limited. And I know Maya is dying to say something as she watches her walk away.
“Your mother seems. . . I don’t know. There are no words to describe what just happened.”
I laugh at the flabbergasted expression on Maya’s face. “You’ll get used to it. The only thing my mother cares about is finding another husband.”
I pick up two flutes of champagne, and hand one to Maya as we walk into the silent auction. Faces are drawn our way, and besides raising my glass in acknowledgement to those I know, my focus remains on my sunshine.
“She’s not with your father anymore?”
I shake my head. “My dad died when I was ten.”
“What happened?” she whispers.
I pause, needing a breath. It’s been seventeen years, but the wounds are still fresh. So much of my life turned out the way it has because of that catastrophic event to our family. “Workplace fire. They said he was too busy making sure everyone else got out of the building safe that he didn’t leave enough time for himself.”
“He died a hero. . .”
“And left behind a family that really needed him. He wasn’t thinking of us when he put his life in danger.”
Her hand caresses my cheek. “Do you really believe that?”
I hang my head in shame. “No. My dad made it so that all the others could return to their families, but when my mother abandoned us because she couldn’t deal with her own grief it’s not easy to see that goodness. I’m not proud of it, but several times I wished it had been someone else’s father just for a day. So I could say goodbye to him properly, tell him how much I love and miss him.”
She leans into me, wrapping her arms around me. I hug her in return. “I’m sure your father knew that, Grayson. A child’s love is unconditional.”
She’s not wrong there. After all, I haven’t disowned my mother even after all the shit she’s put me and Layla through.
“I can’t imagine losing a parent. When I asked, I thought you were going to say they were divorced, I never expected that. Thank you for telling me.”
Did I just pass another relationship test? Fuck me, I’m getting good at this, aren’t I?
“I have nothing to hide from you, Maya. If you want to know something about me, I’ll happily supply the answer. But now, I want to know more about you and your family.”
We walk by table upon table of auctioned gifts, and I keep an eye on all the bounty, knowing the sole reason for being here is to shake my money at the benefitting charity - children in poverty.
It’s terrible that we live in a world where such a thing exists. And I know the differing countries governments are to blame for that. Sure, you can point your finger at the rich, suggesting we might endorse them, but the truth is most of the wealthy are also the most generous. It might seem like we’re trying to be self-indulgent, but really we’re after making the world a better place. You can quote me on that if you like.
“My parents divorced when I was twelve, and dad remarried a year later. He has what I call a trophy wife. Thick as shit, but looks good on his arm.”
Maya’s deadpan expression has me chuckling.
“You don’t like her?”
She rolls her eyes. “She’s perfectly lovely when she’s not opening her mouth. It’s the trollop that falls out of it that has me running in the other direction.”
“Do you see them much?”
“Not really. Dad’s a director so they’re always off to some new location. Which works in my favour most of the time.” She smiles, clearly not amused with her stepmother.
“And your mother?” I steer her towards a table that’s catching my eye.
“She’s a paramedic for South East Coast Ambulance Service, and hasn’t taken the time to find a new man since the divorce. She loves her work too much.”
I smirk. “Guess I know where you get your workaholic genes from then.”
“In that case, my brother has them, too.”
“Definitely a family trait. How old is he?” I ask as I stare at the piece of paper in front of me, placing a very generous bid whilst Maya’s distracted.
“Colton’s twenty-eight.”
“What’s he do?” I keep the conversation going, making sure she really isn’t paying attention to what I’m doing. If I win this, I want it as a surprise for her. That’s romantic, right?
Fuck me, I’m rusty.
“Well, when he’s not on tour as a medic, he’s here in London as an A&E consultant.”
I raise my brows. “Your brother’s served?”
She nods. “Since he was eighteen, shaped his entire career there. They made him out to be some prodigy with medicine so he skipped over hurdles faster than usual.”
“He sounds like an impressive man.”
“Much like you,” she marvels, igniting my testosterone levels into overdrive. Yes, I’m peacocking again.
I continue our saunter along the room. “I’d like to meet your family.”
She gulps her champagne, and stares at me wide eyed. “Is our relationship there yet? Don’t you think I should be calling you my boyfriend before you meet them?”
I tilt my head to the side. “Say that again.”
“Grayson, are you my boyfriend?”
I smirk. “How can I say no when it sounds so good coming from your lips?”
Her breath catches as I pull her close, pressing my lips to hers in a room full of nosy onlookers. “If you’re my boyfriend now, do you think I could get your personal phone number maybe?”
I chuckle. “Sunshine, you can have whatever you want.”
Chapter Fifteen
~ £ ~
“What endears you to wanting to work at this publishing house?” It’s the final candidate of the two days’ worth of interviews and I’m just about done with this process. It always starts off exciting, but by the fourth person the questions become boring, the answers even more so. And this is number twenty. Cue neck rope of boredom.
The pretty redhead sitting at the table ahead of myself, Cam and the dullest Human Resources woman in existence, squares off her shoulders, raising her chest. She’s literally thrusting her silicones towards me.
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