I took in a deep breath and ducked down into the car, asking the driver to wait until everyone went inside. I watched as Dex looked around the crowd, scratched his head and kicked at the ground beneath him. It wasn’t very ladylike for me to just run off without a word but I knew if I got anywhere near him, I would fall right into his arms. The last thing I needed in my life was to be heartbroken all over again. I told myself it was the right decision to make. I nodded to the driver who put the car in drive and pulled down the driveway.
I was making the right decision, that much I knew, but it was really hard to convince myself of that.
Chapter 5: Dex
My head was throbbing from the champagne I consumed at the wedding. I usually stayed away from the stuff, sticking to my normal whiskey and coke. But, it was there and once I got started I just kept going, especially after Casey disappeared and never returned. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. She was just as beautiful, if not more beautiful, than the day I met her and I was hoping to rekindle the flame between us. In my drunken state, I tried to find out her room number. We were in the same hotel so I thought it would be easy but the rooms had been blocked out with no names. Natalie had simply handed out keys when everyone arrived. The last thing I wanted to do was pound on every door in the hotel in the middle of the night just to find Casey. So, in my disappointment, I went up to the penthouse and passed out face down on the bed. It wasn’t until room service came knocking that I realized I had fallen asleep still in my tux and shoes.
I was glad my sister arranged everything, otherwise breakfast would have never even crossed my mind. I was more of a coffee and conference call kind of guy but Natalie knew that, which was why she sent food up. After my shower, I took note of the things the hotel needed to fix in the penthouse, which was a constant thing I did everywhere I went. I went downstairs and made sure my sister’s ride to the airport was on its way. They were going on an amazing vacation that Brandon planned. I tried to talk him into letting me pay for it but he refused, saying he saved up just for that. I liked how he did things, he was down to earth but at the same time, he understood my sister and her background. As I leaned against the side of the elevator, trying to stop the dizziness from overtaking me, Casey flashed through my mind. I could still feel her body pressed against me while we danced, the smell of her perfume had been absolutely intoxicating.
I shook the memory from my mind when I reached the proper floor and meandered down the hallway toward the honeymoon suite. I knocked on the door and smiled as I heard my sister talking and laughing loudly. Brandon opened the door and grinned, wiping his face from the brunch they were enjoying. He leaned in and hugged me warmly before stepping to the side and inviting me inside. I stepped over the door to find my sister dressed and ready to go, excitement etched in every line of her face.
“Good morning sweet brother,” she said, standing to kiss me on the cheek.
“Good morning.” I grumbled. “I came to let you know that your private jet is waiting on the tarmac and the car is downstairs. They’re scheduled and ready to get you to the South Pacific.”
“Excellent,” Brandon said, slapping me on the shoulder.
“Do you want some brunch,” my sister asked, pointing down at the mimosas and pancakes in front of her. My stomach flip flopped just looking at the bubbly.
“No, thank you. I got your breakfast this morning.” I smiled, taking a seat across from her while Brandon pulled their bags up to the door.
“So, how did things go with you and Casey last night?” She tried to sound nonchalant but I saw right through it.
“I thought they were going great,” I said, running my hands through my hair. “We were talking, laughing, dancing, just like we never missed a day. Then, poof, she was gone, nowhere to be found. I don’t know what I did but I completely struck out last night.”
Natalie sat quietly, finishing her brunch and setting her silverware down on the plate. She wiped her mouth with the anagrammed Canton Resorts cloth napkin and looked out the window. I could tell she was mulling over her next words, wanting to say the right thing. I always hated that silence, she usually came back with some lecture that was full of wisdom and truths I didn’t want to hear. She had a way of channeling our mother that I didn’t always appreciate. She turned back to me and smiled thoughtfully, reaching out to take my hand.
“Dex, I know you like Casey and I know you two hooked up before you left for Asia, but she is my very best friend,” she said with demure and class. “You know I love you but I also know that you are not the settling down type. You have this empire left by Mom and Dad and it’s your job to keep it afloat. You’ve done an amazing job but if you are just looking for another play toy, then you need to look somewhere else. Casey is not your girl if that’s all you want. She is so sweet and smart and deserves so much more than a casual lay. I could never be okay with you treating her like one of your play things, she is way too good for that.”
She patted me on the leg and took a sip of her mimosa, allowing me time to process her words of warning. Deep down, I knew this wouldn’t be as simple as waltzing back in town and picking up where we left off, at least not with a girl like Casey. She had a life, a career, and probably some sort of love interest that I couldn’t expect her to drop for another one-night stand. In all honesty, I spent the last five years completely dedicated to my work, not even thinking about any random trysts while I was away. However, the last thing I wanted to do was admit that to my sister and give her the wrong idea. My sister’s words did not skip over me. I took them to heart, knowing she had the best interest of both of Casey and me in mind when she spoke.
“I know.” I sighed, leaning back. “When she ditched, just left without a word last night, I got the message loud and clear. I don’t want to cause her any undue stress, Natalie. I may not be the relationship guy but I’m not a total asshole.”
“Oh, God, Dex, that is not what I meant,” she said, shaking her head. “I know you are a good guy at heart.”
“I don’t have any plans to pursue Casey,” I said, wanting to end the conversation. “I have a good couple of weeks in town and then, I am out again. I don’t want any complications either.”
“Good,” Natalie said, leaning over and kissing me on the cheek. “Glad we settled that.”
My sister was so cunning sometimes, it was like she knew exactly what she wanted to hear and when it was said, she lifted the burden and moved on. I watched as Brandon walked over, leaned down, and kissed Natalie on the cheek. Her cheeks blushed and she closed her eyes with a blissful smile. They were the perfect couple and it was almost nauseating. In three weeks, I was going to be on a plane to South America to finish up some new acquisitions for the company. From there, I wasn’t sure where I would go. My sister was going to spend the holidays with Brandon and his family as far as I knew, so there was no real reason for me to sit in an empty penthouse, staring enviously out at families walking through the park. I had my fill of that last year, though the end was much better than I thought it would be.
“You ready to go?” My sister looked up at Brandon and smiled brightly.
When we opened the door, the staff was standing there waiting to carry down the bags. I tipped them generously and took the elevator to the bottom floor with my sister and new brother in-law. With them leaving and me deciding against any kind of relationship, short or long-term, I felt kind of lost as to what I would do with myself in the city for the next three weeks. I figured I might as well get some extra work done while I was here. It would help me ignore all the holiday decorations the city was already putting up. We reached the bottom floor and walked through the lobby, smiling as some of the guests watched us walk outside. The staff went to work loading the trunk while I pulled my sister into a tight embrace.
“You take care of yourself in South America,” she said while I squeezed her. “Don’t drink the water and stay out of the rivers.”
“Yes mom,” I said, chuckling. She
kissed my cheek and ducked into the car. Brandon turned to me and shook my hand, thanking me for everything I did to make sure their day was perfect. I stood on the sidewalk and watched as they drove off down the street. I looked around at the beautiful trees that had already changed colors and decided that building this hotel in upstate was a good idea, though I was ready to get back to the city. It was late in the afternoon on a Sunday, so I figured traffic wouldn’t be too bad. I would still have time to work when I got back.
I went back upstairs and gathered my things, hanging my tux on the door to be returned. I owned several tuxes but having been out of the country so long, it was easier to rent one for the occasion. I carried my small bag back downstairs and hopped into the limo that was parked out front. The driver wasn’t my usual but then again, nothing was really the same after five years away. As we drove along, I stared out at the passing farms, the crops brown and withered, and the trees dancing in vibrant colors of oranges and reds. Casey immediately flew through my mind. What I told my sister, though flighty in nature, had to be the truth. I was leaving and wasn’t sure how long I would be gone this time. There was no way I could promise my time to Casey in any concrete way. That night five years ago was so amazing it kept my mind occupied through all these years but it was just that, a memory. One that had repercussions.
I knew Casey would love more than anything to settle down like Natalie and Brandon but I just knew I wasn’t ready to do that. She needed a man who was here for her completely. I was here but only in spirit most of the time, regardless of how much I would worship her sexy body and lose myself in her steaming green eyes. It wasn’t a good idea to try to repeat that night. I needed to remember that, feel good about it, and move on with life. That was what was best for both of us, regardless of what my cock tried to tell me. As I repeated the words over and over to myself, I could feel a pang in my chest, something I hadn’t felt in a very long time. I breathed deeply and pulled my briefcase into my lap, ignoring the feeling and trying to focus my mind on something else, anything that did not have to do with Casey.
As we got closer and closer to home, I started pushing myself back into my work with my usual avid determination. I promised my sister I would leave Casey alone and I needed to stick to my word. Still, as we passed through Brooklyn, I looked out at the row houses and wondered what that beautiful girl was doing right at that exact moment.
NOTE: “The Perfect Gift” is now available on Amazon store for only 99c or FREE on Kindle Unlimited!!! Simply click on the link below…
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0761VFYFG
Sneak Peak: Body Heat
Blurb
Zoe Maxwell, will you give me a second chance?
I’ll never forget the first time I saw her.
She screwed my body then screwed with my head, leaving me to wonder what the hell happened…
It’s been over ten years and I still can’t go ten minutes without her face flashing through my mind.
It’s like she's tattooed on my soul.
Zoe freakin’ Maxwell, the girl who broke my heart and literally ruined me for other women! Now, I can’t even get hard without a bit of the rough stuff and my box of toys.
And, after all these years, there she is, standing in front of me, older, hotter, s*xier.
I can smell her scent like a wolf smells its prey.
I’m a different man now; rich, famous, confident, always in control.
At least until she looks at me and I find myself melting like an ice cream cone on a hot summer day.
Prolog: Zoe Maxwell
“What are you doing in here?” I whispered loudly as Mark closed the door of the women’s bathroom and locked it behind him. He never spoke a word. Just smiled, roughly grabbed my ass and pulled me into him and pressed his lips to mine. I didn’t resist. I couldn’t resist. I had given him permission to do such things the moment I stepped into the role of mistress and first wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist.
Without a word, he hiked my sapphire blue cocktail dress up to my waist and lift me onto the edge of the counter as he proceeded to have his way with me. Sex with Mark was usually all about Mark. And quite honestly, as much as I couldn’t wait for it to be over, a part of me also enjoyed the way he used me. It reminded me of a past boyfriend, one I let get away.
I knew what Mark liked. My role was to give him everything his wife didn’t, like hot sex in a public restroom while two hundred people milled around outside the door. I bit my bottom lip as his right hand forced my shoulder strap down to my elbow. He squeezed my left breast as his thumb fiercely massaged my nipple. I held my breath as he pinched my plump nipples between his thumb and forefinger. I loved the pain and pleasure, especially when the line between the two was so thinly drawn. We’d had sex several times over the past week. I was sore, but was eager to take the sex when Mark was free.
I sucked on his tongue as he ran his hand down my stomach to the wet spot between my legs. I let out a quiet gasp as he slid his hand inside my silk panties and forcefully slid two fingers inside me. I pulled my arms from the dress, allowing it to slide down and over my tits to bunch around my waist. I laced my fingers around the back of his neck just the way he liked. Mark loved to watch my tits bounce as he fucked me. I was blessed with firm, round full breasts that Mark loved to slide his manhood through. He’d left a pearl necklace on my chest many times over the last few months. It was one of his favorite things to do. Like I said, I did the things his wife would never do. That was how our relationship worked, at least for Mark.
“I couldn’t wait to have you,” he said over gusts of breath, his finger still thrusting in and out of me up to the knuckle. “When I saw you standing there… talking to Graham… so fucking sexy…”
“I wasn’t sure you’d come,” I said. “I’m… glad... you did…” I bit my lip as he forced three fingers inside me and curled them to search for my G-spot. Little sparks of delight shot through my body when his fingertips found their target.
He playfully bit my lower lip and looked deep into my eyes. “Spread your legs for me, baby.”
“Mark, we’re… in a… public restroom… this is… insane…” I gasped as he pinched and held both my nipples firmly.
He growled in my ear. “Spread your legs… Now…”
There was an edge to his voice that made me blink. Something dangerous, something I’d never heard before. I put my hands on the edge of the counter behind me and spread my legs as Mark pushed my shoulders back toward the mirror.
“Good girl.” He smiled as he let go of my nipples, releasing them finally from the vice of his fingertips. I was so caught up in the moment I didn’t even notice when Mark had unzipped his pants to expose himself. Before I had time to take another breath, he pushed aside the crotch of my soaked panties and thrust inside me until he go inside no further. I could feel my opening spreading to accommodate his girth. His sizable cock was Mark’s best attribute. It was a pity that endurance didn’t come with size.
With an intensity that I had not seen from him before, Mark dug his fingers into my ass and started thrusting in and out with such force I thought for sure the people on the other side of the door would hear our grunts and groans. A few more forceful thrusts and he came to a dead stop as he shot his load inside me. I could feel the pulsating of his cock with each wave. And just as quickly as it had started, it was over. That was usually where things ended, but tonight Mark didn’t stop pleasuring me just because he had shot his load. To my astonishment and delight, he leaned down and kissed me hard on the lips; a good, long, deep, passionate kiss between lovers. His cock slid out of me, but was quickly replaced by his fingers.
“Mark, what are you…”
“I want you to cum, baby,” he said, his lips on my neck, his fingers working furiously between my legs. “Do you want me to make you cum, baby? Do you? Tell me, Zoe. Tell me what you want.”
“I want to cum…” I whispered, my lips at his ear, his teeth on my neck.
“Please… yes… make me… cum…”
Mark slowly fucked me with his fingers as he kissed my lips, probing with his tongue. He was bringing me closer to orgasm with every stroke. I had never seen or felt him be so attentive. My knees clasped around his arm when the orgasm hit. I wasn’t sure what was happening, but I prayed that he wouldn’t stop.
“Oh… god… yessss… I’m… oh… Mark… oh… oh…” I clenched my arms around his head and pulled him to me as his fingers took me all the way home. He kept going, plunging, until I let go of his head and grabbed his wrist, forcing him to stop.
“Let me breathe,” I said, playfully pushing him away, smiling coyly at him. He took a step back and matched my smile. His gooey right hand dangled at his side, dripping with our juices. He had just given me the best orgasm he ever had. Strange that it happened in a public restroom in the middle of a huge dinner party at a ritzy New York hotel.
“That… was… amazing,” I said, panting, smiling at him. I turned toward the mirror and adjusted my dress down over my hips and back up over my breasts. I grabbed a towel from the stack on the counter and turned to the sink to wash up, still dazed about what just happened.
“I’m glad it was amazing,” Mark said as he tucked his cock back into his suit pants and stepped over to the other sink to wash his hands. He dried his hands on a towel, dropped it in the dirty towel bin, then reached for his jacket that was hanging on the hook behind the door. He slid his arms into the jacket and stared at me in the mirror. “Since it will probably be the last time we fuck.”
Yours Forever: A Holiday Romance Page 90