Those last few words stuck in my mind for the rest of the day, He is absolutely and undoubtedly in love with you. What the hell was I going to do? I knew without a shadow of a doubt that we had very strong feelings for each other and the more time we spent together the stronger they became. I also believed him when he said that if I spend one week with him I would discover that I could possibly be falling in love with him too. The issue was, what the fuck do I do with all these revelations? My head started spinning, I really need to get away, I grabbed my phone and texted Tash.
Hey Hun, Are we on for the weekend? -Alexis
Yep, just waiting on Jade but it’s definitely a goer! - Tash
Yay, I’m counting down the minutes, thanks lovely you’re an angel xo - Alexis
xoxo ☺ xoxo - Tash
Just the thought of sitting in ‘our barrel’ with a glass of bubbles sent waves of relief right through me. That moment soon faded, when Gareth stepped into the foyer.
“Good afternoon Gareth, Bryce is not in, he’s out with Dale going over some security checks.”
“Oh bugger, I needed to have a quick word to him about a new proposal, never mind.” He came over to my desk and sat on the corner. Ok, you’re encroaching on my personal space, this is slightly awkward. I rolled my chair in the opposite direction just enough to give me some distance, he swivelled around and closed the newly created gap.
“So how are you feeling Alexis? That was some bump you took this morning by the looks of your car and the fact Bryce had to carry you off the road.” Shit, has everyone seen it? What is this prick insinuating?
“I’m fine thanks, it looked worse than it actually was, Bryce was good enough to come down and see if I was ok, it was very kind of him.”
“Oh come on Mrs Summers, you and I both know he didn’t just come down to see how you were, that’s going just a bit far and beyond the expectations of an employer.” I stood up to get the higher ground and suggest that he did not intimidate me.
“What are you getting at Gareth?”
“Feisty, I can see why he likes you. Are you feisty between the sheets too?” I slapped him across the face as hard as humanly possible.
“How dare you?” I went to leave and he grabbed the back of my head.
“Listen here you little whore, you just keep spreading your legs for Bryce, because you are doing me a favour, you want to know why?” I didn’t answer.
“The board won’t be too impressed that he is fucking a married woman, it doesn’t look good for the company.” He licked his lips and placed his free hand on my breast.
“You are a sexy whore, I’ll give him that.” I swung my right arm as hard as I could hitting him in the elbow and releasing his hold of my head. I jammed my thumb into his eye socket and kneed him in the balls, he doubled over in pain. I must thank Bryce for those moves.
“You Bitch, you’ll fucking pay for that.” He started to straighten up and that’s when Bryce grabbed him from behind, he must’ve come up in his private elevator and through his office. He flung Gareth into the wall, then picked him up by his collar and punched him in the ribs, he then swung an upper-cut into Gareth’s jaw. Gareth fell to the ground and Bryce kicked him in the stomach.
“Bryce stop.” He looked up at me and the fury in his eyes was immense, he looked back down at Gareth and stepped away.
“Get the fuck out of my building, now you piece of shit.” Gareth slowly got up, he laughed sarcastically and spat the blood in his mouth at Bryce’s feet, the look they exchanged was terrifying.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Bryce’s burning gaze towards Gareth remained even after the doors slid shut, for a brief moment I thought he was going to turn green and rip his shirt apart. I walked in between him and the elevator blocking his view of the doors and forcing his focus to turn to me.
“Bryce, are you alright?” I spoke softly, he definitely seemed fragile.
“Bryce, show me your hand.” The rage he was harbouring began to subside, bowing his head without making eye contact he raised his hand.
“Did he hurt you Alexis?” I tilted his head up with my finger and looked deep into his eyes.
“No, this guy I know taught me some pretty handy Self-Defence.” He smiled wearily.
“This guy I know, he’s incredibly hot and infuriating but he knows his shit. Did you see the eye gouge he taught me? He managed a mild laugh.
“Infuriating hey?”
“And incredibly hot!” I grabbed his hand, his knuckles were bleeding.
“Come on Mr Clark, you need some assistance from Nurse Summers.” His eyebrows lifted.
“I’m liking the sound of that.”
“Settle down tiger, it’s not what you think.” I led him to the sofa in his office and sat him down, I grabbed some ice from the mini bar and wrapped it in a napkin, then took a seat on the coffee table opposite him, remembering to keep my legs closed, as from memory I was without underwear.
“Here, give me your hand.” Taking his hand in mine, I rested the ice on his knuckles.
“So where’s the Nurse costume?”
“Nurse Summers doesn’t wear a costume, she sings.” He seemed intrigued.
“Well, let’s hear it!” I giggled to myself and began the ‘Ouchie Song’.
“Ouchie Ouchie Ouchie A, make the boo boo go away.
Ouchie Ouchie Ouchie I, kiss the baby wipe the eye.
But as long as flowers grow, bumps and bruises come and go.
That is what my Mummy’d say, when she kissed the hurt away.”
As I sang the final words I picked up his hand and kissed it. He grabbed my other hand and pulled me forward; standing above him he began to move my skirt up my legs. Stop him Alexis, before it’s too late. I was about to stop his hands from moving any higher and exposing the very part of me that wanted him the most when he stopped himself, he had hiked up my skirt just enough for me to open my legs and climb onto his lap. He wrapped his arms around me and placed his head on my chest.
“You have a nice voice, Nurse Summers.”
“It’s the best medicine Mr Clark.”
“Alexis, if he had hurt you, I, I would’ve killed him.” He buried his face in my breasts.
“He didn’t Bryce but what are you going to do about him?” I pulled his head away from my breasts.
“Let him calm down for a few days and remind him whose boss.”
“You’re not going to fire his arse? He’s trying to have you disgraced by the board.” He sat back and put both hands through his hair. Fuck I wish I was riding him right now, I really should get off.
“It’s not that simple, I can’t fire him. It’s a long story but the short of it is, he is a minor stake holder and by binding agreement he cannot be fired by me per se. What he did to you today though, will not go unpunished I fucking promise you that.” He dropped his hands and put them on my arse.
“I like this position very much; I think from now on we will have all our discussions like this.” He squeezed, which sent excitement through my core.
“Bryce, behave or I’ll get off.” He put his hands up in surrender.
“You realise he is trying to take your company and I’m his ammunition.” I went to get off and he held me there.
“He can’t take my company and you are not ammunition. He thinks he can have me disgraced but he has no fucking idea what he’s dealing with. Don’t worry about Gareth, I will make sure he doesn’t hurt you, ok?” I wasn’t convinced but I knew I’d better let it go for now.
“I have to go Bryce.” He stood up whilst holding me on his lap, this time my skirt did in fact go up around my waist. His hands clenched my bare arse and he groaned wildly, putting his forehead to mine he walked me over to the conference table and sat me there.
“Say it.” He growled through gritted teeth. Oh Shit.
“Yes.” I whimpered, he invaded my mouth so passionately. I had never been kissed like this before, the raw emotion in the way he owned every part of my mouth was beyon
d intense, the way he kissed me felt so right, it felt like our mouths were meant to be together. He broke off and we caught our breath.
“Alexis reach into my left pocket.” Alright, bit weird, but I’ll do it. I removed my hand and in my grasp was a set of keys.
“Now go, take it, or I’ll retract my offer and hold you hostage.”
I pulled into our driveway, Nate came bounding out and opened the driver’s door before I had even switched off the ignition.
“Awesome, can we keep it?” He impatiently waited for me to get out so that he could take my place.
“Be careful, you break it, you buy it.” Rick was standing at the front door with his hands in his pockets, he smiled slightly and approached the Porsche.
“Nice Taxi!”
“Yeah, same colour though.”
“Let me guess, Bryce?”
“Don’t worry, he isn’t going to miss it!” I walked up to give him a kiss on the cheek, he wasn’t cold towards me but he was a bit withdrawn, I met his gaze.
“You saw?” He nodded and told Nate to get out of the car. I’m going to have to spill my guts, shit I’m not ready for this. I need booze, lots of booze.
We sat down to a dinner of slow cooked corned beef and mash, Nate wanted to know about the other cars Bryce had in his basement which only added to Rick’s irritation. After Charlotte and Nate went to bed, I poured myself and Rick a drink and found him under the Pergola.
“So, he flew to the accident?” There was a trace of sarcasm in his voice.
“Yes, he did, he panicked due to his horrible past with car accidents and I guess, went overboard.” I took a drink and swallowed heavily.
“So, what was with the ‘Officer and a Gentleman’ scene then?” I let out a breath, I must’ve been holding it subconsciously.
“I don’t know, as I said, he panicked, he’s a very excessive and stubborn man, I guess it goes with the territory?”
“Lexi, is everything alright?” Tell him, you wimp.
“I’m just tired Babe, I’ve had a really big day.” I sculled the last of my drink and got up.
“I’m going to bed, you coming?” He had barely even begun his drink.
“Not yet, you go, I won’t be too far away.”
The next morning when I got to work, Bryce was not there, he’d left me a note telling me to go to his office and open the brief on his desk, I did as instructed, in the brief was a sticky note.
Nurse Summers,
When you left me last night my hand was not the only thing aching. My mouth aches for yours to join it, my erection aches for you to sit upon it. My entire body aches for yours but what aches the most is my heart, my heart aches for yours to make it one.
I will be out for most of the day but am due back just after lunch, I need you to go to my room and collect another brief.
Your Mr Clark
My Mr Clark? I think my heart just broke. He’s killing me, he’s really freakin killing me. I took the note put it in my pocket and made my way to his apartment heading directly to his bedroom. Entering I remembered the tingling I felt between my legs the last time I was here, this time there was no change. In the middle of the bed was a box and on the box was another sticky note.
Nurse Summers,
In this box is a promise, when I get my week with you, you will wear this and kiss my boo boo away again!
Monday night I will need you to accompany me to the Tel V Awards, please go and see Clarissa she has a dress for you.
Your Mr Clark
This man is something else, I had a sneaking suspicion of what to expect when I opened the box, so it didn’t come as a surprise when I lifted the rather erotic Nurse Costume from beneath the wrapping. Cheeky bastard. I read the note again, he wants me to accompany him to the Tel V Awards, shit how exciting.
I placed that note with the other and made my way down to Versace, as I passed through the lobby, I stopped at the Concierge Office in the hope I would see Samantha to remind her about lunch. She was at the computer showing Chelsea something, I cleared my throat.
“Uh um, excuse me Sam.” She looked up.
“Are we still on for lunch?” Chelsea looked up too and flashed me her unpleasant, smugness.
“Yes, can’t wait, where do you want to go?”
“Somewhere private, we need to talk, I’ll pick a spot and meet you here at noon.”
“Oooh sounds serious.” I smiled reassuringly at her.
“Don’t worry, I’ll explain later, anyway I’ve got to go to Versace and pick up my dress for the Tel V’s.” Both hers and Chelsea’s jaws dropped. Take that Chelsea you bitch. I walked off and if it wasn’t so obvious, I would’ve fist punched the air.
When I walked into the store, Clarissa was elated and extremely attentive as usual.
“Ms Summers, the dress Mr Clark ordered for you has arrived please come with me and I’ll assess the fit, you are going to love it, it’s incredible.”
She closed the store and led me to the circular change room. Hanging in the very room I experienced my spine tingling encounter with Bryce, was a magnificent red dress.
“Wow! Is that for me?” She nodded and ushered me into the room.
“Ms Summers, I will need to help you but if you are not comfortable with undressing in front of me then…..”
“No, no, that’s fine, I’m just scared to even touch it let alone put it on, it’s simply stunning.” I turned around and she helped unzip my dress.
“That’s a beautiful Corset Ms Summers but it will have to go, the dress comes with matching lingerie, I’ll leave you to put it on and be back in a moment.”
I began the frustrating task of unclipping the Corset’s hooks one by one, as frustrating as it was, I did enjoy luxurious underwear, I had always worn beautiful lingerie, even before I started wearing beautiful labels, labels that I had only ever seen in magazines like Vogue and Cosmopolitan. The Versace dress dipped at the front and back therefore you could not wear a bra, so the matching lingerie that accompanied the dress wasn’t really a set, it was a teeny tiny little lace G-string and it was something special, if I closed my eyes, I swear I wasn’t wearing anything at all. I gotta get me some more of these babies, but only if they come with matching bras!
“Alexis, are you ready for the dress?” Standing in next to nothing, literally, I answered.
“Yes Clarissa, come in.” She helped me into the dress.
“If you have not already realised the bra support is built into the gown, I know it plunges at the front but you should feel secure.” I did feel secure, it was extremely elegant but also daring, much more daring than anything I would have chosen for myself, I’m guessing that’s why Bryce picked it. It plunged down the front stopping half way in between the bottom of my breasts and the top of my navel, the long skirt fell in a drape with a split to my mid-thigh. The strap on my left shoulder was covered in small red leather scales that went over the shoulder and down the back following the dip, then across like a belt which in turn went around the waist. The scales then continued up around the outside of my right breast and to the right shoulder strap, then across the back of the neck connecting with the left shoulder strap. You could say the detailing looked a bit like large shiny leather sequins, it really was unique and very sophisticated, it also had an edge of sex kitten to it. I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman and I dared to think of how much this dress actually cost.
“Ms Summers, you look simply beautiful, such a great choice for you. Are you happy with how it sits?”
“I am but the plunge at the front, is a bit revealing.” I really didn’t know if I could pull it off.
“We can raise it just slightly if it makes you uncomfortable but Ms Summers you are a beautiful, sexy young woman who should not be ashamed to show off a bit of skin.” A bit of skin, try a lot of skin. I understood what she was saying though.
“You know what? You’re right, I do look great and I’m going to wear the shit out of this dress on Monday night.” Classy
Alexis, you are in Versace, not K-Mart. Clarissa laughed.
“I have no doubt Ms Summers.” I reluctantly took the dress off, Clarissa explained she would have it delivered to the Penthouse Monday morning and in leaving she handed me an envelope and smiled deviously.
I met Samantha in the lobby, I figured we’d have lunch in the Penthouse conference room, it was the most private place I could think of.
“Hey, do you mind having lunch in the penthouse?”
“Sure, is everything ok?” We headed for the elevator.
“No, not really but I can’t tell you here.” We stepped in and she turned to me.
“Spill, now, I’m not waiting any longer.” Here goes.
“I saw you and Gareth in the car park a couple of weeks ago.” She was clearly surprised but she also looked somewhat embarrassed.
“We are just having a bit of fun.” She was lying, it was obvious she was lying; being a mother of two I have developed a talent for lie detecting.
“There’s more Sam.” As I was about to fill her in on the confrontation I had had with Gareth, the elevator stopped and he got in, my stomach dropped and I froze on the spot.
“Miss Taylor, just the lady I am looking for.” Sam tried to hide her embarrassment and giggled. It was hard not to look at him, the elevator was covered in mirrors. Why are they all bloody covered in mirrors?
“Miss Taylor, would you mind helping me with something?”
“Now?”
“Yes, if it’s not too much trouble.” She looked at me apologetically and shrugged her shoulders.
“No, it’s no trouble.” The doors opened to level 8 and he guided her out. Looking back he shot me a terrifying, yet triumphant look, he knew I was about to spill the beans, I don’t know how but he did and for some reason he did not want her to know, the look he just shot me, was a clear warning to keep my mouth shut.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Stepping out of the elevator I tried to shake that last encounter, there was more to Gareth Clark and I was determined to find out what. I pulled out the envelope that Clarissa handed me, it was sealed and inside another sticky note from Bryce.
Temptation (The Temptation Series) Page 13