beautiful." "How clever. A young woman today would appreciate this duality." It sounded like Mr. Harvey had been won over to her side.
"Do you think they would make it available for the show?"
She felt surprised and quickly reminded herself they hadn't offered her a place, merely queried the availability of the tiara.
"Yes, Ms. Wu, I contacted all of my clients, private and public, who have jewelry that fell within the flora and fauna category. A few have special requests if their item was to be included, but they were all so thrilled to have something of theirs in the V&A to say no." "Enough, Cindy, tell her." "Today's meeting was merely a formality. We asked you to bring your portfolio so we could start working out what we'dlike to show."
"I'm sorry?" Was the other woman actually saying what she thought she was? Was her jewelry really going to be in an exhibition at the famous Victoria & Albert museum?
"Be assured I will follow this up in writing, and we will work out all the contractual details, but obviously we're eager to get started. So please, accept this as our invitation for you and your work to be included in our Bejeweled Flora and Fauna Through the Ages exhibition." "Wow, I don't know what to say." "Yes, would be a good place to start." Ms. Wu held out
her hand, a big smile on her face. "Oh, of course. I mean yes, I accept." The excitement was filling her up and Gabby knew there was no hiding exactly how pleased she was with this news.
"Fantastic! There'll be two cases for your work, as well as three mannequins wearing your creations. We're also looking to include some of the drawings beside the jewelry. We want the viewers to be able to see some of the process that goes in to making the objects. The show will have an accompanying book, postcards, and other items we haven't completely settled on. Anyway, we'll go over the details later, I think right now we're all anxious to see what you have here."
The rest of the morning, lunch in the café downstairs, and a tour through the reserved space went by in a haze, a pleasant blurry haze. By four she was walking in her front door, dashing for the phone to call Max and fill him in. She knew they were going out this evening, but she was still eager to tell him what happened. "Hello?" "Hey there, it's Gabby." "Hey, how'd it go?" He sounded so pleased to hear
from her it just added to her excitement. "Great! They offered me a position in the show." "Congratulations! I didn't doubt they'd see how good you are." Her smile grew exponentially with his own excitement over her good news. She'd had a feeling he'd be pleased for her, but it felt even better than she'd ever thought possible. "Oh stop, you've never seen any of my work." "You're wrong. This morning I went online to see what you had out there. Personally, I like the lion in the Astrolgique series. Oh, and the silver conch shell is incredible." "I'm speechless." "Why?" "You're busy preparing for your meeting with the new prime minister and yet you took the time to look for my work."
"When I woke up this morning, you were on my mind. When I showered, dressed, ate breakfast, drank a second cup of tea, you were still on my mind. I didn't bother to try and work, it was obvious I had to do something to appease my curiosity before I could settle in to making water reclamation recommendations an easy sell." "Well, I'm flattered." "And I'm impressed." "Okay, stop, you're making me blush." She raised a hand and pressed it against her heated face. This man had the ability to turn her inside out with a few well-placed compliments.
"I bet right now your cheeks are a lovely shade of pink, just like your ass when I spanked it." "That isn't fair." "What?" Gabby almost laughed when she heard the wicked humor trickling through his voice, he was teasing her and she loved it. With her naughty side taking control of her brain, she gave him and his libido a nudge.
"Ooo, Sir, your big hands slapping my backside makes me so hot." She started panting, with theatrical moans and groans mixed in. "Mmmm, hard, with a sharp slap accompanying it, makes me open my mouth and beg. Did you know I like sucking on your, oh Max, will you please—"
"What, baby, what do you need?" His voice made it clear he was eager to hear what was coming next.
"Mmmm, remind me again, what time are we meeting tonight?"
"Shit, Gabby, you are one wicked woman! My cock is now hard as a rock and—" There was a little lightness in his tone, as well as a note of tension running beside it.
"We're keeping sex out of this right now, remember?" Hopes and concerns had her voice coming out on a whisper.
"I remember, and am already regretting putting it on the table."
"Well, we can discuss the arrangement over dinner." She wanted to revisit their agreement, because right now it wasn't an easy fit. They were both sexual people, and to deny themselves this avenue of expression wouldn't help them figure out how they fit together.
"Yes, we can." Sounding emphatic, his simple answer made her feel more confident in their finding a solution that better suited them. "See you later, Max." "I'm looking forward to it, Gabby." By the time they hung up she'd lost her teasing smile and he'd sounded as serious as she felt. Their date tonight couldn't come soon enough.
Later, while she was soaking in a hot bath thinking about what she'd wear tonight, her mind hovered over where their conversation had moved. It was in a good place. She liked knowing he was straining under the no sex pact like she was. They'd have to rethink it tonight. For her, she was still concerned about losing all she'd found with him and the promise of discovering more. At the same time, she didn't want to miss anything, including giving a chance to the feeling whatever it was between them was important and special.
After the bath, she wrapped the towel around her and stood in front of her closet looking for the perfect outfit. She wanted to find something that said subtle seduction and still comfortable. Pulling a few pieces out, she finally settled on what to wear.
Checking her appearance in the full-length mirror on her bathroom door, she turned around and looked at herself from all angles. They weren't playing sex games anymore. It had become something more serious. If she had to put her finger on the moment it had been altered, it would be when they took what they had outside the club. However, this change didn't mean she couldn't tease his senses, encourage him to break down and come to her bed.
Tonight, she chose to highlight one asset in particular, her breasts, because she liked how much attention he paid them when they were completely bare. Her outfit was nothing fancy—black trousers and a white blouse, topped off with a pair of heels. Basic, except her cleavage was on show due to the wrap shirt instead of the traditional buttons. Beneath she wore an all lace bra. When her nipples were hard, they pointed through the cutwork and poked against the thin material.
Rubbing her hands up and over each mound, she accepted she wanted him. Pinching the two tips, rolling them until she needed to squeeze her legs together to ease the throbbing, she smiled and set out on her seductive path.
Yes, she had no doubt he'd be panting to get his mouth on her breasts within a few minutes of having them pointing at him. Picking up her lightweight shawl, Gabby put it on and tossed an end over her shoulder, covering her chest until she chose the moment to retain his undivided sexual attention.
A toot from the black cab sounded as she picked up her purse. Heading for the door, she set the alarm and closed the door behind her. Hopefully she'd have some company coming back with her later. Or maybe they'd go to his place.
By the time the taxi pulled up to the edge of Chinatown, she was determined to come, and come soon. Max was waiting for her beneath the red ornamental entrance gate, looking handsome and in control. With a smile they walked down and entered one of many small restaurants that lined the pedestrian only street.
"Yum, I love crispy duck." The road was covered with tourists wandering aimlessly, trying to figure out where to eat. She didn't care, as long as they had her favorite dish on the menu.
"We'll have to order it then, as long as you share." His lips lifted but the resulting smile wasn't carefree. Apparently her lover was under strain, most likely the same she was exp
eriencing.
"I try, really I try my hardest, but then I take a bite of the plum sauce and little strips of cucumber piled on top of the shredded duck, all rolled up in a steamed pancake, and my sanity flies out the window." "Well, I can't fault your honesty." Their easy conversation kept going, lightening the mood, until they'd ordered and she finally pulled her shawl off. The silence was second only to the passion filling his eyes as his gaze fell and stayed on her breasts.
"You're not being fair, Gabby. Those hard nipples make it difficult to concentrate. They make me think about reaching out for everything I want. In my defense, I suggested a few things to help you feel more comfortable with our trying to get to know each other better outside of what we already had. This was so no matter what happened out here, what we had at the club wasn't changed. Now, it's all been turned upside down because those sweet candied tips are poking out at me."
Pausing when their waiter brought their drinks to the table, she thought he looked tense and ready to leap across the table to have her, others be damned. She liked having that kind of power over him, but also didn't want to have him walk away because she was playing mind games. That wasn't her and was ready to apologize when they were once again alone.
"No more circling the truth, you and I want each other, for more than just sex. Tonight, you'll come home with me. No longer will we deny our pleasure. But, and this is a big one, for now we keep it vanilla—no games."
"Why?" She was curious why he'd make this one condition.
"I think if we take this slow, then we can have what we want from each other. I want it all with you and then some I haven't even imagined."
Sitting there, looking at him and taking in everything about him, she knew exactly what he meant. Gabby remembered showing up at Succulent two nights in a row, wanting to be with him. Then today, attending the meeting, hearing incredible news, and he was the first person who she thought of sharing it with. She enjoyed how her heart raced, body thrummed, and lit up just thinking about him.
"Yes, you're right. If we're careful we could have an incredible time together."
"To us." Lifting his glass of chilled beer, Max tilted it toward hers, clinking the rims and gave a simple and perfect toast. "To us."
Chapter Six
After crispy duck and chow mien, then walking through Leicester Square while holdings hands, they shared a black cab to his place in Westminster. The narrow road was filled with mismatched row houses. They pulled to a stop in front of a red brick building with a black door and multi-paned bowed front window. While he paid the driver, she stepped out onto the cobbled street and looked up at his place in the low street light. There were, in total, three rows of windows, and she remembered at some point him telling her how he lived above his offices. At least, that's how it was here in London. He'd also mentioned a house in York that sounded like a real treasure.
With his hand on the small of her back, he led her forward, opened the front door, and let her step in first. She felt him reach around her and the lights came on in time for her to see him turn off the alarm. Max stepped closer to her and closed the door behind them, latching it closed. Without saying a word, he hung her shawl and purse up on the coat rack before easily slipping his hands around to cup her breasts.
His big thumbs strummed her hard nipples while he laid gentle kisses along her neck up to her ear. Thank goodness she'd decided to wear her hair up tonight, the man was working his special brand of magic on her body already. The hard cock pressing against her said he wasn't entirely immune to her either, which she liked knowing.
"These two have been taunting me all night. Letting me know exactly how turned on you were when I couldn't do a thing about it." "Like your hard-on." "Hmmm, maybe." He slid his hands down, over her belly to her hips, and then one went straight down to cup her pussy. He pulled her close against his hard body, and she felt cherished and dropped her head on his shoulder, pressing her lips against his neck. Before she could catch her breath, he leaned over and kissed her softly.
Sighing, Gabby turned around in his arms and threaded the fingers through his hair, bringing him down as she stretched up to meet his lips for more. His tongue traced the line between the folds as they opened for him. Without rushing, he touched every surface, shared his breath with her, until she managed to make her way into his mouth and learn every inch of him.
"Please." It took no time for her to want more. She needed to feel his naked body against hers, his heart beat with pleasure, his breath to pant with need, to want her as much as she did him. She shifted and wrapped her leg around his hip, pulling him into her. Right as her tiptoe stance was about to collapse, he lifted her up. On instinct and trust he'd keep her from falling. She climbed his body and was rewarded with his stiff cock nudging her pussy.
He pulled back from their kiss and, with a groan of unhappiness, she let her displeasure be known and tried to find his lips again. "Are you sure, baby girl?" She shifted her attention to his ear and answered by
tugging on the lobe. Apparently he wanted the words. "Come on, let me see your golden brown eyes and
hear your answer, otherwise we stop." "Yes, yes Max, I want you to take me upstairs and make love with me." His threat got through the morass their pleasure created. She understood he wanted assurance this next step was one she wanted, but in her mind she'd given him the okay back when they had their first date.
With his hands under her ass, he walked them through the dark, pausing only once to use his elbow to turn on a light. He easily carried her up to the top floor, set her down at the foot of his bed, and kneeled before a fireplace.
Slipping out of her shoes, she took off her pants and blouse before he'd finished. When he turned around, she stood there in her white lace bra and panties. Under his attention, she went to her knees at his side and started to unbutton his shirt.
"I want you naked in front of this fire, looking wild and hungry."
After the shirt came off, she started working on his belt and pants, but ditched them when she remembered the shoes and socks had to come off first. "Riding between my thighs." "Oh, shit!" Moving quickly, she never had a chance to push him down on the floor. He stood and stripped while she leaned back and took in all of him. The new position managed to put her mouth within breathing distance of his cock. The hard rod bounced each time she exhaled over its silken surface. Her gaze was drawn to the four shining balls decorating his rod just beneath the crown.
As she was leaning forward, eager to take him in her mouth, he lifted and wrapped his arms around her. Not tightly so she was pressed against him, but close enough to feel his heat and strength. With his eyes on hers, he unhooked her bra, slid it down her arms, and dropped it. Then he used his finger to shift her panties until they landed on the floor as well. She stepped out of them and closer to him, but he had other plans.
Once he laid her out on a soft rug and settled himself between her spread legs, he teased his own breath over her bare mound. "Are you okay?" "Fine, but I'll be much better when you're inside me." She moved so her feet were on the ground, giving her a chance to lift her hips and bring herself closer to his mouth.
"Soon, baby girl. Let me feast on your sweet cunt, get you nice and juicy before I have you." To punctuate his claim, the man looked at her while licking her pussy and circling her clit before slipping the tip of his tongue inside her. "I'm wet now." "You are, but I want you dripping with lust." He didn't stop until she was a begging mass of need. With two fingers thrusting in and out of her clenching slit, and his mouth attached like a limpet on her nub, she came screaming his name. "Max!" "Easy, easy, I have you." He moved up her body and held her close, pressing kisses across her face. She loved how he held her quivering body, carefully but with enough strength to give her the comfort. She missed not getting to experience this side of him when they played their games at Succulent. When she stopped panting for air, she shifted so she could kiss him on the lips, give him her thanks for the incredible orgasm. There was a new flavor and
scent on him now, and it was her.
She wasn't turned on by this discovery, but was by him. He moved his hips, pressing her further down onto the floor and her need to be taken had her body rushing back up the pleasure ladder for more. His dick was hard, twitching with need against her pussy, and she wanted it. "Please, lover, please come inside and let me love
you." Catching her gaze and holding it, she could tell he was weighing something in his mind. Then he was there, slowly filling her slit with his large rod. She couldn't stop her eyes from rolling back in her head and her breath catching in the back of her throat as the silver studs of his piercings traced along her slick walls. The feeling was so completely divine she didn't dare move in case he stopped. With each inch he moved inside her, four silken tracks were drawn through her pussy until there was no more space, then they reversed direction and again caught her up in their trap.
Before returning, he circled his cock, knocking the silver balls all around her silken stretched pussy, then slowly retraced his way until he bottomed out. This time she felt the studs scrub again her uterus and press for more space. "Max! Max!" "You like my magic cross, baby girl?" "Yes! Oh yes!" "I love the way your pussy tightly grips me as I slide
through your wet heat." "Please lover, please." "You eager for more?" "Please, give it all to me." "Like this?" The pace was slightly faster, which drove her nuts. Opening her eyes, she locked gazes with him and saw the strain of trying to hold off his climax, but didn't know what to do to shake his control. With his third stroke she shivered and pussy pulsated around his cock again. He owned her pleasure and she wanted it no other way.
Relaxing back into his care brought her orgasm to the surface with his sixth solid thrust. She felt each inch that passed through her pussy and screamed when he pushed for that little bit more. For a moment she thought the strength of her orgasm might be hurting him. With each squeeze from her slit, he groaned. Like her, his emotions were riding close to the surface.
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