by Shell, C.
With Friday night traffic being what it is, it takes us close to an hour to arrive at our destination, the Cloverton Manor. I feel like a giddy little girl as I eye the massive colonial style Manor that I have heard so many stories about, but never have had the pleasure of experiencing myself. Whenever a high society type gets married or a well know celebrity comes to Houston, the parties and celebrations are almost always held here.
Stepping out of the limo as our driver opens the door; I take a brief moment to fix my dress while admiring how amazing my two friends look tonight. Only Sasha could get away with wearing a ridiculously tight and low cut dress that showcases every small curve she has, without looking like a floozy. If anything, she looks hot, and will no doubt turn the heads of many men tonight. Maybe, even a few females. Wouldn't be the first time.
Any girl that is able to sink her hooks into Tony tonight is a lucky bitch. I don't understand why he is not already tied down yet. He has it all. Great paying job as a sports physician, handsome in a surfer guy type way, wavy sandy blonde hair that makes you want to run your fingers through it, and yummy caramel colored eyes. If we had not been friends forever, and knew each other well enough to be brother and sister, then I would have gone after him a long time ago.
Looping our arms through Tony's, he leads us up the steep marble steps and through the grand double doors. While Sasha checks us in, Tony and I mill around the lobby. The Manor is spectacular and grand. Far more beautiful then I imagined it to be. Whoever they used to design this place deserves an award. Most of the furniture looks to from a Spanish decent with intricate details carved along the edges. The draperies all seem to be custom with glittering crystals weaved throughout the many heavy panels. It takes a special seamstress to be able handle such a feat.
"Stop eye fucking the curtains and let's go find us a drink," Sasha whispers into my ear as she rejoins our group. Ignoring her crass words, I allow her to drag us towards the main room.
Glaring at my smirking friend I begin to retort, but am cut off by the resonant sound of my cell phone ringing. Cringing at how loud it sounds against the light music being played, I pull it out of my dainty clutch and hit accept without even glancing at the caller Id. I cannot believe I forgot to put the damn thing on vibrate.
"Hello, this is Kelly Dawson," I say in my most utmost professional voice. I don't get many work calls after hours, but I have had one or two on occasion, and the last thing I need is to sound rude towards a client. I have had enough royal screw ups for one week, No need to add more to my record.
"I am glad to see you took my changes to heart and answered my call. I was afraid you wouldn't and we would have to revisit that contract of yours."
At hearing the voice on the other end of the phone my knees go weak, my mouth goes dry and all thought leaves me. I was stupid to think I would be able to work with him and keep a level head. Not wanting to alert my friends and have them find out about Mr. Sex on a Stick, I motion for them to go on inside, telling them I need to take a work phone call and promising to meet up with them when I am done.
If Sasha or Tony ever find out about Daemon, I would never hear the end of it. He is exactly the type of person they would push me to have a fling with. I have a hard enough time talking myself out of it, I don't need them playing devil's advocate and pushing me towards the dark side.
Hearing him calling out my name, I snap out of my mental thoughts. I quickly walk back into the lobby area seeking some privacy before I dare to answer him.
"Actually, Mr. Scott now is not a good time. Work is long over for the day and I am out for the night with friends. Since we have yet to start work on your plans, I cannot imagine any questions or concerns you might already have." I snap.
"Out where? And what friends are you spending your time with, Kelly?"
"Yes, out. Not that it is any of your business, but I am attending a charity function with two close friends of mine. Now what can I help you with?" I try to keep my voice light, but the irritation over him questioning me seeps through, making me sound far bitchier than I had intended.
"Is that so? Well, I would hate to keep you from your group. Have a nice night Ms. Dawson." he growls into the phone right before I am greeted with nothing, but silence.
Completely baffled I stare down at the phone. I cannot believe he just hung up on me! Not only that, but he called me Ms. Dawson again, instead of Kelly. I should be happy about that, but for some weird reason that I dare not acknowledge, I hate him not calling me anything but Kelly. I don't understand what I did to piss him off? If anything I should be mad that he is bothering me on a Friday night, when we both know damn well, there is no business that needs to be discussed yet.
Placing my phone on vibrate, I throw it back into my clutch purse and stride back to the main room in search for my friends. I came here to have fun and that is what I intend to do. Screw Daemon Scott, and his self righteous attitude. I refuse to let him ruin my night.
As I weave through the groups of beautifully dressed men and women scattered around the main room, I couldn't help but feel out of place. The whole atmosphere is radiated with wealth and power. Stopping a waiter as he passes by me, I retrieve a flute of champagne. Taking a healthy sip, I enjoy the way the bubbles tickle the back of my throat, as they go down.
Before I have a chance to restart my search I feel two hands clasp my shoulders, startling me, and almost causing me to spill the rest of my champagne. That would have been so embarrassing. Turning around, I find Tony and Sasha standing behind me, giving me the stink eye.
"Where have you been?" She asks accusingly.
"I don't remember you ever taking a client's call after hours before?" Tony says eying me up and down as though my lies are written all over my face. Judging by the curious looks on their faces, I am starting to wish they had stayed lost. I suck at lying and know as soon as I open my mouth they will call me out on it and I will have to spill my guts to them about Daemon.
Keeping to half truths and not full on lies, I shrug my shoulders nonchalantly. "It was a new big client we just signed. He was confused about some things in his contract and needed clarifying. I guess some people don't know when to call it a night and leave work alone," I giggle bumping my shoulder against Tony's.
Sasha does not look convinced. Needing to throw her off, I quickly ask," So, who is this man that you have been dying to introduce me to?"
As much as I don't want to meet anyone my friends think is swoon worthy, it is a far less evil than having to tell either of them the truth about what my phone call.
Sasha's eyes light up and just like that, all else is forgotten. "I wanted you to meet David, but he has not arrived yet, so instead I thought you might like to meet a few nice men that I work with. I also invited my new client that I told you about that. If he shows then you must meet him before the night is done."
Before I can respond she has already gripped my hand tightly and is half dragging me across the room towards a group of men huddled in the corner in deep conversation. I can hear Tony laughing behind us. I am so glad my embarrassing predicament is entertaining him! At least one of us is enjoying themselves.
"I thought you were interested in dating your new client? We are talking about the playboy one correct?" I ask confused.
"Not so loud," she hisses close to my ear so only I can hear. "I was gunning for him at first, but there wasn't any chemistry between us. He is sinfully good looking, but we don't mesh well. In fact, we have argued over every issue until he finally got tired of working with me and pushed me off onto one of his business partners to work with."
"And you are okay with this?" I ask confused once again. Sasha is not normally one who would allow anyone to push her around let alone dictate how she handles her business.
"Oh yes!" She confirms excited. "His business partner is a whole new level of yummy. If I get my way he will be my new flavor of the month." I almost feel sorry for the guy. When Sasha sets her eyes on something she does not stop until al
l her wishes and desires come true.
"You are incorrigible," I whisper back at her.
We reach the group of men and my stomach drops and my nerves take over. Pulling me against her side, Sasha makes a small noise in her throat to catch everyone's attention. And as if on cue, all eyes turn on us and I feel my stomach twist as my nervous butterflies take flight. Unlike Sasha, I hate being the center of attention.
Noticing my sudden discomfort, Tony steps up and places a protective arm around my shoulder, which I happily accept and sink into. I wish I were invisible and could just fade into the background. Sasha goes about making small talk with everyone while introducing me to her friends and co-workers. I say a quick hello to Bob, Darin, Roy and a few others whose names have already escaped me. Yep, they were that memorable.
All of the men seem very nice and a few are even handsome, but none of them excite me or make me feel a sliver of the sparks I felt when I first met Daemon. Why the hell do I keep thinking of him?
Not wanting to be rude or upset my friends I turn my attention to Roy. He is by far the best looking and nicest of the group and has actually been looking at my face when he speaks to me and not my boobs like all the others keep doing. I try and steer through the normal get to know you questions, but I don't get much in word wise. Roy loves to talk and does enough of it for the two of us.
It does not take long to learn all about, Roy. He might not be the most interesting man I have ever met, but he is really quite funny. So far I have learned that he has a dog named Brandy that he got four years ago from a pet rescue organization, he moved to Houston several years ago after graduating from a college in Austin, he cannot stomach hard liquor because he drank so much of it in college, and he is secretly scared to death of Sasha and tries to run away every time he sees her around the office. If nothing else, I should get bonus points for being one hell of a listener.
Laughing out loud while Roy tells me a story about how he once tried to learn country line dancing and ended up flat on his ass, I feel a small tug on my arm, and Sasha's excited voice whispering against my ear. "Turn around, I have come to save you and I want to introduce you that new playboy client I told you about."
Politely excusing myself from Roy and thanking the heavens for a reprieve, I turn around just as Sasha begins her introductions.
"Daemon Scott, I would like to introduce you to my best friend, Kelly Dawson."
I stop her before she has a chance to say any more. I cannot believe this is happening. My stomach clinches as I take in the sight of him. He looks like sin on a stick.
"We have met," I hesitantly admit. "Daemon is my new client that called earlier." I refuse to look at her and instead direct my attentions towards the man with the devilish grin in front of me. Did he know I was here?
Shaking my head I glare up at him and try my hardest to keep my eyes on his and not take notice on the way his charcoal grey tailored suite is hugging his body. He has some of the luckiest clothes around. I would love to be draped around his body, hugging his every curve, the way they do.
"You look lovely tonight, Kelly," he says breaking my indecent thoughts and sending a crimson heat crawling up my chest and coloring my cheeks.
I can feel Sasha staring me down and I know the minute we are alone, I am going to hear a never ending line of questions and accusations spewing from her mouth. Needing all the courage I can get, I down the rest of my champagne and prey it kicks in soon. So much for Daemon being my little secret.
"Thank you, Daemon. You don't look half bad yourself," I say finally letting my eyes have their way, drinking in every inch of his sinful hard body. He missed his calling and should have been an underwear model instead of a rich CEO. I am sure women everywhere would have bought the underwear, crammed their husbands and boyfriends in them, and prayed to God that they could look even half as yummy as Daemon does wearing them. Oh course they wouldn't.
Striving to rid my mind of thoughts of his underwear and the package filling them, I say the first thing that comes to mind. "Surely you are not alone tonight. Where is your date hiding?"
Oh. My. God! Why in the hell did I ask that? I shoot a look at Sasha and mouth 'help me!', but the crazy bitch just giggles, obviously enjoying this awkward encounter way too much to help a friend out.
"No date tonight." he smirks. "I actually thought this event would be a bit boring, so I was not planning on staying long." Raking his eyes over me, he adds," Guess I was wrong."
Oh Lord! What the hell do I say to that? His deep voice and the way he is looking at me is making everything south of my waistline wake up and beg for attention. Luckily, Tony chooses that exact moment to stride up and pull me against him into a gentle hug.
"Hey Gorgeous, already run off bachelor number one?" he laughs, completely oblivious to the uncomfortable situation, he just walked into.
I nod at him, refusing to go into any detail while Daemon is around. Stealing a glance in his direction, I am confused to find his once amused eyes now dark, menacing, and pinning me in my place. His jaw is clenched so tight I am afraid it might crack at any moment. What the hell did I do to piss him off this time?
I nervously twist my fingers around the hem of my dress while praying that a big hole will open up in the floor and swallow me whole. I can't decide what is worse... having Daemon look at me as though he wants to devour me whole or when he looks like he looks like he wants to murder me, as he is doing now.
Schooling his features to one that is less threatening, he thrusts a hand out towards Tony. "Daemon Scott, I'm a personal friend of Kelly's. Who might you be?" His tone is far from friendly, making me pissed off and embarrassed all at once.
Luckily, Tony does not seem to mind Daemon's foul mood and reaches out to shake his hand, amusement lighting his creamy caramel colored eyes. "Tony Pratt, best friend, bug killer, and protector of Kelly's heart. Nice to meet you, Daemon."
I can't help but laugh out loud that he included bug killer in his introduction. I am deathly fearful of roaches, wasps, bees, and any other insect that could cause me harm or look at me the wrong way. Since I no longer have Gary to do my de-bugging, I have resorted to calling Tony. I have actually called him several times begging him come over when one would wander into my home unwanted. He is my own personal angel that dropped whatever he was doing and came and came to my rescue. I think he likes feeling needed and adding hero to his personal resume.
The rest of Tony's introduction was complete over kill. I think if anything he has just managed to create a pissing contest between him and Daemon. There is no way this is going to end well. The air is so thick between all of us you could slice it with a knife. I will never understand men and their sensitive egos.
I want to tell Daemon what an asshat he is being, but hold my tongue, knowing Sasha and I both have too much of our careers invested in him to be rude and crass. I may not be able to say how I feel, but that does not mean I have to kiss his ass and make his ego any bigger than it already is. If that is even possible.
Before I have a chance to tell them they are both being ridiculous, Daemon grips my hand with more force than needed, and half drags me across the room towards the dance floor. Twisting in his arms, I glance back towards my friends with an apologetic look. Their wide eyes and dropped jaws are priceless.
"Dance with me," he murmurs through clenched teeth.
"Try asking nicely," I hiss back as my feet do their best to keep up with his fast paced stride.
"What is your damn problem?" His mood swings from nice guy to over-bearing prick are enough to give a girl whiplash.
"You apparently." His tone is sharp as steel, but his eyes hold a hint of amusement that helps to ease the butterflies doing the jig in my belly.
Daemon winds us through dancing couples until we near the center of the dance floor. I am pleasantly surprised to find the music is Please forgive Me by Bryan Adams, and not some old classical number. Twirling me around he pulls me into his arms and it takes everything I have not to
melt against him. His body feels hard, solid and strong against my soft one. I can't deny that I like being this close to him. The feel of his body heat mixing with mine, his lips grazing the shell of my ear, his minty breath tickling my throat, and his arms wrapped protective and unyielding around my own. Yea, I could get used to this.
We dance through several songs. For the first time since we have met we don't talk. We just lose ourselves to the music and allow our bodies to do the talking for us. My feet are killing me, but I don't want to end whatever this is going on between us. He is an amazing dancer, spinning me around, dipping me down low, and making me feel like the only woman around. I have no doubt this is all an illusion, but for this brief time together I choose to embrace it. It is not every day I get to be literally swept off my feet by a gorgeous Adonis of a man that can make my panties sopping wet with a few choice words and light kisses against my skin. The words, shameless hussy, keep creeping across my mind, but I ignore them and press my body closer to Daemon's, grinning as a groan escapes his lips when my breasts rub against his chest.
"You are playing with fire, baby," he says nipping my earlobe. I bite down a moan as a delightful shutter snakes down my spine.
"Maybe, I like a little fire," I say boldly.
I don't know what has gotten into me, but at this very moment I feel empowered and a bit sexy. I have never felt this way before and it is obviously going to my head. I am stupid for thinking I can handle a man like Daemon and yet, here I am pushing his buttons and daring him to ...what? Kiss me? Grope me? Fuck me?
I would settle for just about anything at this moment. I just need something more to help take the edge off of the needy ache blooming between my thighs. I have never wanted to have sex with someone as bad as I do right now. Not just someone. Only Daemon. Maybe I am shameless hussy... just for tonight.