“I'll think about it.”
John stepped close to her once again, reached into the pocket of his black pants. He slipped out a small, white card. She took it gently, glancing it over. On the card was his name, office number and cell. Cindy tried to keep the grin from her features, but she felt that she was losing that battle. She slipped the card into her purse before snapping it closed again. When she looked up, she had to force herself to speak.
“Thank you for showing me around, but I think I should get back to Lillian now.”
John nodded, finished his drink before offering her his arm. She could feel his muscles through the material of his shirt. All she could think about was how badly she'd love to drag her fingers across his smooth skin. Cindy had to shake her head to clear the thought away.
They headed back outside in time to see Lillian dancing with the man she'd been flirting with at the table. Cindy couldn't help but laugh as she watched them move together. Lillian was obviously drunk as she tossed her head back, laughing.
“Well, it looks like I'll be driving us home,” Cindy said with a chuckle.
“You could always stay the night here,” John said with a wink, “plenty of rooms.”
Cindy smiled, but shook her head. “No, thank you. I think I'd better get her home.”
Her hand lingered in his, their eyes connected as she slowly walked away from him. Once her fingers slipped from his, the spell seemed to dissipate. She gathered herself before she walked over to Lillian. The man she'd been talking to slipped her a business card, which she tucked inside of her bag before Cindy started pulling her away.
“Thank you for the night, it was fun,” Cindy said with a grin after she'd loaded Lillian into the car.”
“We'll do it again, soon. Don't worry.”
Cindy waved back at him as he walked away. She watched his back as he returned to the party, her mind on faraway places. Slowly, she slipped behind the wheel of the car glancing over at Lillian.
“You like him,” Lillian said with a big grin.
“Let's get you home.”
Chapter 2 – The Surprise
It had been the better part of a week before Cindy could once again focus on her work. Her mind seemed perpetually stuck on John. His blue eyes, his soft grin, his black hair... Cindy shook herself out of that thought. She was sitting at her computer at work, a white sheet of paper showing a blinking black cursor. She was supposed to be drafting her article on fall fashion trends, but she was having a hard time concentrating.
“Did you call him yet?” Lillian asked as she leaned against Cindy's desk.
The blonde shook her head. “No and I'm not going to. I have to focus on my work.”
Lillian rolled her eyes. “Oh come on, it's not like you can't do both. Call him. At least give him a chance.”
“I don't think so. Relationships never really work out for me.”
“You're going to regret it if you don't at least try.”
Cindy mulled Lillian's words over. It was true that she was afraid of relationships after everything she'd gone through with her ex, but was it really worth not even giving John a try? She wasn't sure how she felt about the situation. A man walked towards her in a maroon colored delivery uniform, in his hands he held a long, white box.
“Cindy Mason?”
Cindy nodded. “That's me.”
“Sign here, please.”
Cindy quickly scribbled out her signature before the man left her with the box. People were glancing over at her desk, a quiet mumbling running through the group. Cindy slipped her glasses from her nose, sat them on her desk. The box was tied with a wide, red ribbon. She pulled an end of it, releasing the ribbon from the box. Inside there was pastel pink wrapping paper, on top there was an envelope.
Cindy opened the envelope before she slipped out the card. Neat handwriting covered the tiny white card. The words were simple. 6:00 pm. I'll pick you up. You don't have to do anything but be here. John. Cindy couldn't contain the smile that crept onto the corners of her mouth. She pushed the tissue paper aside. Inside there was a teal dress, a thick black sash in the middle. On either side of the dress were gold heels.
“Are you going to say no, now?” Lillian asked.
Cindy laughed. “No, I suppose not.”
The rest of the day she spent her time typing away on her computer finishing her article. She didn't want to have to think about work the entire time that she was out with John. Still, she couldn't help but to throw several sidelong glances at the box neatly tucked beneath her desk.
At lunch, she forgot about eating to run to the jewelry store. There was still some money left over in her account, so she settled on gold earrings with small diamonds and a necklace that she knew would dip between her cleavage, drawing the eye.
Lillian walked over several times to give her advice. Wear her hair up, not down. Wear the nude lipstick, not the red. Cindy was both grateful for the advice and overwhelmed by it. By the end of the day, her head was swimming.
Six seemed to come around quicker than she thought it would. By the time she stepped outside, she was both nervous and excited. Her hair was pulled up from her neck, the teal dress barely brushed against her knees, the top of the dress dipped low enough to expose modest cleavage. Pulling out her phone, she checked the time. He pulled up just as she was slipping it back into her purse.
John stepped out of the sleek, black car. He wore a black suit that fit his body perfectly, a teal tie around his neck. The smile on his face made the blush sweep up to her cheeks. He walked up to her, his hands inside of his pockets. She wondered how someone could look both casual and refined, but he did it well.
“You look lovely this evening,” he said as his eyes casually roamed over her form.
“Thank you. You don't look bad yourself,” she said with a grin.
“Are you ready for an amazing evening?”
“How do I know it'll be amazing before we even go?”
“Trust me,” he said with a grin, “it will be.”
John took her hand. He led her around to the passenger door before he opened it for her. She slipped inside, the cool leather seats caressing the warm skin of her legs. He closed the door after her before he walked around the car, slipped behind the wheel. Then they were off, cruising down the Santa Barbara roads with ease.
“So, I get how you found out where I work, but how did you get my exact dress and shoe size?”
John laughed. “Lillian. She emailed me the details a few days ago.”
“She's such a sneak.”
“I'm glad she is.”
Cindy tried not to grin like an idiot. Instead, she glanced out the window as they drove. The warm, evening air was relaxing as she slipped her hand out of the open window. She couldn't help but to wonder where they were going. Cindy knew that if she asked, he would probably just keep it a surprise. He seemed like the type.
They pulled up in front of a white stone building. The lights were golden, warm. Once the valet took the car, they stepped through the front door. Soft music filled the large room. Everyone inside wore lavish clothes, jewelry. The smell of perfume mingled with the aroma of cooking food. It was a heavenly combination.
“Two for Ashton, please.”
The girl behind the podium couldn't seem to take her eyes off of John. She picked up a couple of menus before leading them to a table. As they walked, they had to stop several times as John spoke to people that he knew. He introduced them to Cindy. She couldn't help but to be impressed with the attention he was giving her.
Finally, they arrived at their table. Tucked away from everyone, it was the perfect spot that let them gaze out of the window together. They took their menus, thanked the hostess before they flipped them open. Cindy immediately saw the menu was written in French and only French. She panicked. She didn't want to feel stupid in front of John, but she also didn't want to order something that she would regret. Her eyes must have conveyed her distress.
John put a hand out,
pushing her menu down gently. “I wouldn't set you up for failure,” he said with a sweet smile. “Why don't I order something for you?”
“I would like that.”
“Nous aurons le homard thermidor , s'il vous plaît . Oh, et un verre de champagne . Merci.”
Once they waitress was gone, Cindy leaned forward in her seat. “You didn't just order me something really weird, did you?”
John laughed. “No, but I promise you'll like this.”
“Okay,” she said with a grin as she sat back.
“So, tell me about yourself Cindy,” he said as he sipped on his water.
“Wow, that's such a broad question. Well, you know I work at Azure, but I really want to be an editor. I've lived here since I graduated college. And I'm from a little town in Georgia.”
“What's Georgia like?” He asked as he leaned forward.
Cindy had never met anyone who seemed so captivated by what she was saying, but John was. She could tell by the look in his eager eyes. The way he leaned in to give her his full attention. He only barely nodded when the waitress brought the champagne to their table. Cindy, to calm her nerves, quickly sipped on hers before they began talking again.
“Georgia is really beautiful. The people, the smell of the begonias in the air, it's a very romantic place. Sometimes, it can feel like a different world. It's home for me,” she said as she gazed off with a smile.
Cindy shook her head. “Sorry, nostalgia. How about you?”
“I've lived here all of my life, but I've visited some fascinating places.”
“Where have you gone?”
As he started the talk, the food was brought out to their table. Beautiful plates were adorned with lobster, a rich sauce and an intoxicating aroma. Cindy glanced up at John.
“It's lobster thermidor, try it.”
Cindy watched as he ate a piece before she did the same. The food melted in her mouth. A barely audible moan slipped from her lips, before she smiled. He had good taste.
“I'll take that as you like it,” John said with an amused grin.
Cindy blushed. “It's very delicious. Thank you.” She took a sip of her champagne. “You were going to tell me about your travels.”
“Oh, yes. I've been to quite a few places by now. South Africa was amazing, very beautiful. I've been to China, England, let's see Brazil was amazing. Japan was unique, it gave me a chance to really learn the language.”
“How many languages do you speak?”
“Five. French, Spanish, Japanese, German and Italian. I know some fragments of other languages, but those are the only ones I can speak fluently.”
“Wow,” Cindy said. “I'm impressed. I took three years of Spanish in college and I can still barely string together a sentence.”
John laughed making her grin. They spent the rest of dinner talking so much that Cindy paid no attention to the time. She loved to hear him tell a story. Everything he said was so smooth, but exciting. They ordered dessert which they shared, the chocolate lava cake making Cindy give a little moan once more. That seemed to amuse John. When the food was gone and the meal paid for, John led her out of the restaurant.
“Where are we going now?” She asked.
“Are you afraid of heights?”
“Not really, I suppose. That's still a scary question.”
“Trust me,” he said with a smile.
They spent the entire ride laughing, talking about old memories. Despite them being from two different worlds, they had a lot in common. John had two younger siblings like Cindy. They both liked the same music, both great and terrible. They had a similar sense of humor.
Cindy couldn't help but to glance at him as they cruised along the darkened streets. He must have felt her eyes on the side of his face. His eyes met hers as he turned briefly to glance at her. She turned away quickly, embarrassed that she'd been caught staring. John didn't seem to mind.
They pulled up to his house. It still glowed warmly. Cindy vaguely wondered how much the electricity bill in a place like that would be as lit up as it always was. John walked around, opened her door and offered her his hand. She slipped her hand into his, but when she was out of the car he didn't let her hand go. Instead, his fingers curled around hers. Cindy felt fluttering in her belly. The feeling of his warm hand around hers made her feel safe.
As they walked into the house, the sound of Cindy's heels echoing as they walked, she wondered what they were doing there. John assured her they weren't staying inside long, he wasn't going to try anything. Cindy felt a smile tighten the edges of her lips. She wouldn't be completely opposed if he did want to try something. She couldn't deny the attraction she held for him, it only seemed to grow with every passing minute.
They walked up a second set of stairs she hadn't seen the first night she'd been in the house. Once they'd reached the top, John pushed a door open. Cindy realized that they were on the roof. She could see down onto the front lawn.
“What are we doing up here?” She asked.
“Look, over there. I thought we could take a look at the city, from above.”
Cindy felt excitement bubbling up inside of her as she looked at the helicopter. She'd never been inside of one, but she'd always wanted to. John was asking her if she wanted to go. She nodded enthusiastically.
John kept her hand in his as they walked over to the helicopter. There was already a man inside, waiting for them. They all greeted each other before John helped her up into her seat. When he'd climbed in, he produced a bottle of champagne and two glasses.
“I didn't want to drink too much at the restaurant, since I was driving. Would you like another drink?” He asked.
“Yes, I'd like that.”
As the helicopter lifted from the roof, Cindy clutched her drink in one hand. With the other, she gripped John's leg. He laid a hand on top of hers, gave her a reassuring smile that somehow made her anxiety start to fade away. All that was left was excited anticipation.
They were off of the ground, rising higher and higher. The world grew smaller, the lights little pinpricks of white and gold in the night. Cindy leaned forward to look through the window better. As they glided along, she could see the lit up city beneath them.
“This is really beautiful,” she said.
“It's a calming sight for me. It puts the world into perspective.”
Cindy nodded. “I know exactly how you feel.”
She felt him squeeze her hand, the gentle motion warming her heart. When she looked at him, he was gazing back. The look in his eyes was so gentle, but they held a fire too. He leaned towards her, his hand coming up to brush a strand of hair away from her face.
Cindy felt the familiar beating of her heart, but it seemed so much louder now. She leaned closer to him, reveling in the feeling of his fingers pressed against her cheek. As their lips met, her eyelids fluttered closed. The kiss was so gentle that it made Cindy shiver. The brushing of John's lips against hers made Cindy want more.
It didn't take long for them to arrive back at his estate. Once they'd told the pilot good night, they headed into the house. John took his time walking, making Cindy anxious all over again. When they had made it back to the second floor, he stopped. John's lips were on hers again, the gentle softness of his lips making her melt. What started out gentle however, quickly became passionate.
John pushed her up against the wall, his tongue darting into her eager mouth. Her moans slipped between their lips as his hands roamed her skin hungrily. A gasp slipped from her parted lips as he bit into her neck. A shiver passed through her body. She wanted him.
“My bedroom?” He asked, his breath tickling the shell of her ear.
“After you.”
It was the only words that were needed. The moment they stepped through the door, John was a different person. His sweet, gentle side was taking a back seat to his desires. Cindy felt herself growing wetter as he slipped the dress from her body, the material sliding over her skin satisfying as it slipped off to the floor
. Her thin fingers worked quickly, undoing the buttons on his shirt before she pushed it off of his shoulders.
John picked her up, her legs wrapping around his waist. He deposited her on the thick blanket. Cindy was impressed with how quickly he worked, the bra that she wore disappearing in an instant. He took that time to wrap his lips around her hardened nipples. His warm, wet mouth made her writhe her hips. As she was distracted, he slipped her panties down her legs. Her smooth mound enticed him.
John gripped her thighs, hooked his arms underneath them as he lowered his mouth to her wet pussy. His tongue ran over her wetness, savoring the taste of her. In teasing circles, his tongue ran around her clit, not touching it no matter how many times her breath hitched, waiting for it. Just when she was on the verge of begging for it, his tongue ran over her twitching clit. She moaned, her fingers tangling into his hair as he began to lick her in earnest, his greedy tongue making her back arch up from the bed.
Cindy couldn't think straight as she felt fingers slip inside of her. His tongue was lapping at her clit eagerly, his fingers thrusting inside of her quickly. She felt her thighs trembling. With toes curling, she felt her orgasm build up as her breath caught in her throat. His tongue continued licking eagerly until the orgasm had subsided, leaving her a trembling mass of nerves.
John wasn't done yet though. She watched as he shed his pants and boxers, his rigid cock popping into view. He stroked the length of his shaft, the sight making Cindy's legs clench together. She found her fingers slipping between her thighs, brushing over her already twitching clit.
He climbed onto the bed, pushed her thighs apart wide. John leaned over her, his body close to hers as the head of his cock rubbed along her slit. His eyes held hers. Cindy gasped as he slid inside of her inch by inch. Just as he'd kissed her earlier, he started out slowly, thrusting within her as his lips found hers. It wasn't long until they both became more alive.
John gripped her hips as he thrust into her, the speed of his hips picking up. The sound of their moans, the wetness of him entering her repeatedly, filled the room. His fingers dug into her thighs while hers dug into his back. With every stroke, she could feel another orgasm fast approaching. She felt John's cock twitch within, before he let out a deep moan. They rode out their orgasms together, their moaning sending each other over the edge. They lay together, tangled in the blanket and sheets. It wasn't long before Cindy drifted off.
BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE BOXED SET: Labyrinths of Passion (7 Impassioned and Fetching Romantic Stories) (New Adult Billionaire Romance, Billionaire Romance, New Adult Short Stories) Page 2