“Maddie – you’re here!” Hailey says excitedly as Madison enters the kitchen.
“Sorry I’m late,” Madison apologizes as she walks over to Hailey’s chair and gives her a hug. “Ohmygod – are you okay? I would be so spooked if I’d been mugged.”
Hailey just shrugs. “It is what it is. I’ll be fine. My purse is in critical condition but expected to make a full recovery.”
We laugh. I’m glad she’s able to joke around after everything.
“I got vegan falafels from that restaurant we went to the last time,” Madison says pulling a plastic container from the paper bag and setting it down on the table.
“Oooh – I love falafels,” Jasmine says gleefully.
Madison grins as she takes her seat at the table. “Okay. Okay. Let me tell you why I’m late.” I see Nadia’s ears perk up as Madison digs into her purse and pulls out a handful of small pink dispensers.
“What is that?” Hailey asks naively as Nadia grabs one from Madison’s hands.
“Oh, that’s so smart,” Nadia says as she runs her finger along the edge of the shiny container. “Look – it says ‘Esquire Girls’ on the side.” Nadia hands the dispenser to Amber.
“So cute,” Amber says as she examines it before passing it to Jasmine.
“Yeah – this is pretty badass, Madison,” Jasmine says to a beaming Madison who is busy handing a dispenser to each of us.
“What is it?” Hailey asks holding the bottle up and aiming it at her neck. “Is it perfume?”
I pounce on her and grab it from her hands before she presses the lever. “It’s pepper spray, silly girl,” Amber laughs.
“Spray that thing in here and you won’t be able to sleep in your apartment for a week,” Nadia says looking alarmed.
Hailey blushes turning deep red. “Oh, I didn’t know it was pepper spray,” she says in a small voice.
“This really is a good idea, Madison. Thanks,” Jasmine says as she clips the dispenser onto her keychain. “I live on the shady side of town. This might actually come in handy.”
“Yeah – I mean – this will make me feel much safer when the baby comes and I take him or her to the park or for a walk,” Amber says.
“Well, after what happened to Hailey right in the middle of Manhattan in broad daylight, we can’t be too careful,” Madison says warily.
“Very thoughtful of you, Madison.” I offer her a small smile.
Hailey clears her throat. “Okay, okay. Enough talk about mugging and pepper spray. I’m starving! Let’s eat!”
Chapter 8
I pull the sheets up to my neck to ward off the stinging cold wafting through my bedroom. “I had the craziest day,” I say into the phone, my eyes closing under the weight of my fatigue.
“Oh yeah? What happened?” I can hear the concern in Michael’s voice.
I sigh heavily. “Hailey was mugged on her way to work this morning.”
Michael gasps. “Whoa – is she okay?”
“She’s fine. Thank god. A few scratches on her knee but other than that, she’s fine.”
“Poor girl. She must be traumatized.”
“She’s brave. She’ll get over it in time.”
“New York is a dangerous city. I wish I was there to protect you,” he says in a voice full of tenderness.
Still, I can’t help but laugh. I think it’s really sweet and noble that Michael is concerned about Hailey and what happened to her. But wanting to protect me? My safety is not in danger. Besides, what happened to Hailey was an isolated incident. “Babe – you’re really, really sweet. But I’m fine. We’re fine. Really.”
He doesn’t sound convinced. “You girls should sign up for a self-defense class. You all like workout, don’t you? It’d be fun.”
“Michael…”
He interrupts my protest. “Ruth – sorry for being overbearing, but honestly, I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you. I’d go crazy.”
Hearing that makes me smile. “You’re the most honorable man I know Michaelo Moretti, Junior,” I say softly.
“You’ve made an honorable man out of me, Ruth Salvador.”
“Fuck – I wish you were here right now so you could show me just how ‘honorable’ you are,” I purr as my body begins to heat up.
“Exactly what kind of proof are you looking for?” Michael whispers playing right along without missing a beat.
I giggle. “Proof that involves lots of tongue action and your naked body on top of mine.”
His breathing hitches. “How about you take your panties off and I can tell you exactly how I’d prove my devotion to you if I was in your bed right now?”
A throaty laugh escapes my lips. “Who said I’m wearing any panties?”
Chapter 9
“I don’t get why Michael is doing this,” I pout, irritated as I slam the locker door shut. “He’s really taking this whole thing too far.”
Madison glances over at me as she ties the laces of her sneakers. “You can never be too cautious,” she says in her brother’s defense. “I’ve been walking around on eggshells ever since Hailey was attacked. I think that taking a basic self-defense class is a good idea.”
I sigh. I’m busy enough as it is. The last thing I need is to commit to muay thai class twice a week. “C’mon, Madison. He’s overreacting and you know it.”
She just shrugs her shoulders as she adjusts her ponytail in the mirror. “Better safe than sorry, right?”
“Hey ladies!” We both look up and see Hailey saunter into the locker room with an enormous bouquet of flowers in hand.
“Whoa, Hailey,” Madison says whistling under her breath. “You didn’t tell me there was a special somebody in your life.”
“Yes, Hails,” I say fisting my hand at my cocked hip. “Time to spill the beans about your secret boyfriend.”
Hailey turns beet red as she pushes past me and sets the flowers down on the bench to open the locker to my right. “Well actually, these flowers are from your boyfriend, Ruthie.”
“From my boyfriend?” I echo her words in disbelief. “Michael sent you flowers?”
“Yeah – you told him I got mugged yesterday, didn’t you?”
I nod, my eyes still wide like saucers.
“Well, he sent me flowers. He’s really sweet.” Hailey’s beaming as she slips out of her work attire and into her exercise gear.
“Sounds like this one’s a keeper, huh Ruth?” Madison says, throwing me a playful wink.
“Tell me about it,” Hailey says wistfully. “I wish I could find me one of those.”
Madison smiles brightly at her. “Hang in there, Hailey. I bet your Prince Charming is right around the corner.”
“I wouldn’t hold my breath,” Hailey mutters with a deep frown.
“C’mon, Hails! Where’s that bright optimism you’re so famous for? I mean – he could literally be right around the corner. Look at me. I’ve known Domenic my whole life and I would have never guessed that he would be so perfect for me.” Madison’s grinning from ear-to-ear as she talks about her fiancé.
“Well, you know about me,” I say twisting my lips. “Michael was supposed to be a one-night stand, and now, he is, without a doubt, the most amazing man who’s ever been in my life.”
“I think I’ve given up on men,” Hailey says, pushing an exasperated sigh past her lips as she grabs her water bottle and heads towards the martial arts studio.
Madison follows close on her heels. “Well, maybe the woman of you dreams is around the corner.” She laughs poking Hailey lightly in the shoulder.
Hailey rolls her eyes. “Whatever.” I laugh.
Just then, I hear my phone ringing in my locker. I scramble to open the locker before the call goes to voicemail. “Hello,” I pant into the receiver.
“Ruthie, it’s Sergei. Please – don’t hang up.” His voice is weak. Fragile.
I feel a pang of guilt as my finger hovers over the ‘end’ button. “What do you want, Sergei?”
I drop my voice to a low tone. “I told you – I don’t want that fucking club.”
Sergei growls and it’s as though he’s been hit by a surge of angry energy. “That club is my life’s work, Ruthie! I poured my life into that place! I want to give it to you – the only woman I’ve ever cared about.”
“And it can burn to the ground, for all I care.” With that, I end the call and toss the phone into my locker.
Sergei just won’t take ‘no’ for an answer and leave me the fuck alone. Maybe taking this self-defense class isn’t such a bad idea after all.
Chapter 10
“You sent flowers to my roommate. That was really nice of you.” I place my phone on my lap as I slip the small buds of my headphone into my ear. Today is the nicest weather we’ve seen in a while. The sun is shining, the birds are out and it’s actually warm enough that I left my scarf at my cubicle when I came to sit out here in Union Square during my lunch break.
“You weren’t jealous?” Michael asks playfully. I see him smile on the tiny screen. Gosh – I miss him and those beautiful dimples.
I snicker. “C’mon – stop playing. You made Hailey really happy. You should have seen the smile on her face.”
“Good. She’s a nice girl. What happened to her was awful. If anything like that happened to you, I would track down the fucker and snap his neck.”
My blood runs cold at his threat. I’d never imagined before what Michael would do if he ever found out that Sergei has been harassing me. Yes – Michael is fiercely protective but Sergei is in bed with the mob. My well-meaning boyfriend is no match for that sleazebag, Sergei. “I don’t want you worrying about me, babe. I’m fine. I’m safe. All I wish is that you could be here with me. In the flesh. Instead of all this videoconferencing and texting and phone calls. I miss you.”
He takes a deep breath as he rakes his fingers through his hair. It’s a bit longer now. Perfect for pulling on in the throes of passion. “I feel exactly the same way, Ruth.” He shifts in his chair and behind him, I can see mountains of paperwork spread out on his desk. “I need to see you.”
I sigh wishing that he were right next to me in this moment.
“I’ll be in Vancouver on business on Thanksgiving Day. I’m flying you out to be with me.” He makes the announcement so matter-of-factly that there doesn’t appear to be any room for argument. I cringe, though, when I think of how I was kidnapped the last time I tried to board a plane at LaGuardia. “I’ll send you the itinerary tonight.”
“Okay…” I hear myself say.
There’s a slight pause on his end as his attention drifts from his phone to his computer screen. “Babe, I’ve got a few emails to respond to,” he says apologetically.
“Yeah, yeah. Go. I understand. We’ll talk tonight.” I blow him a kiss and he smiles broadly just before the screen goes blank.
Chapter 11
I take another bite of fancy-ass cheese as Michael’s client goes over the list of celebrities he wants to contact as potential spokespersons for his new line of luxury watches. Michael offers feedback here and there, but mostly, the client – who is middle-aged and over-weight with a fake tan and a horrid comb-over doing a terrible job of hiding his massive bald spot – rambles on and on about the celebrities he’s trying to enlist as part of his advertising campaign.
His date is a pretty but desperate-looking redhead with cat-like emerald eyes. She’s gorgeous – almost ethereal-looking. Her eyes slide lustfully over Michael’s profile as she knocks back yet another glass of white wine. When her gaze meets mine, she glares at me. She wants my man and there’s obviously no way she’d be here with this fat guy right now if he wasn’t beyond loaded. Poor thing – she’s probably some struggling actress trying to make it big. Well, whatever the case, she’s not sinking her claws into my man.
Not tonight. Not ever.
I drape my arm around his shoulders, my chair inching closer to his. He glances over at me with a smile. Under the table, his fingers dance along my thigh running dangerously close to my panty line. I whimper ever so softly and move my hand into Michael’s lap. He’s already semi-erect. I give him a light squeeze and within seconds, he’s grown rock-hard in my hand.
He clears his throat. “Bob – have your secretary email that list of potential spokespeople to my office first thing tomorrow morning. In the meantime, I’ll start working on an endorsement contract.”
Bob looks up from his plate, a stunned look in his beady eyes. “Wait – you’re leaving so soon?” he asks through a mouthful of pasta.
Michael shrugs his shoulders. “It’s getting late. I’ve gotta take the lady home so she can get her beauty rest.”
I take that as my cue to grab my purse and my shawl. Michael eases my chair away from the table and I say my goodbyes quickly. Bob’s date gives Michael one final longing glance as we head towards the door.
I’m so ready to get the fuck out of here.
Chapter 12
We didn’t make it to the bed.
Michael had swiped the contents off of the console table near the door the minute we walked into the hotel suite. He had laid me out and yanked off my panties.
He’s already made me come twice and now his tongue is on my flesh yet again pulling moans from the depths of me. His breath is hot on my core. He’s torturing me with sporadic licks and sucks, prolonging my agony. I want him to make me come again.
“Michael,” I groan breathlessly. “Give it to me. Please.” My pride has flown out the door. I need him and I’m not ashamed to show it.
“Patience, baby. I want to make you feel good.” He’s completely in control as he whispers against my skin.
“I need your cock.” I writhe beneath him, feeling desperate for his body.
He growls directly on my clit, which causes me to shriek. “I love it when you beg for my cock.”
I grasp desperately for his crotch but it is out of reach. “I need it, Michael,” I hiss nearly out of breath. I thrust my hips up towards his mouth. He grabs hold of my ass and buries his face into my folds, his tongue lapping greedily at my flesh. “Yes. Yes, Michael. Right there.” He’s found the spot, that sensitive spot that makes me see stars.
I scream his name as an earthquake of pleasure rocks my body. I feel like I’m about to shatter into a million pieces. I grip the edge of the table so hard that blood stops flowing to my knuckles.
He whispers my name against my flesh as he kisses up my torso, his lips warm and moist. His body presses into mine, the fabric of the oxford shirt he wore to dinner clinging to my damp skin. “You’re adorable, Ruth.”
I can’t help but giggle. I can’t remember the last time I was called that.
He pulls back and looks into my face. “I’m serious. You’re adorable. Among other things. I’ve never met a woman like you.”
I see the sincerity in his eyes and it puts an immediate end to my laughing. This man is quickly becoming everything to me…
What am I supposed to do?
Chapter 13
Flying out to Vancouver to spend Thanksgiving with Michael really took a toll on me. By Friday evening, I’m exhausted and more than happy to climb into bed almost as soon as I get home from work.
I snuggle up with my computer, looking for a movie to watch knowing full well that I’ll probably only last a few minutes before sleep drags me under. I hear my phone ringing somewhere beneath the covers. I pull frantically at my sheets until I finally find it and hit ‘Answer’. I’m greeted by the nerve-grating sound of static and other loud noises in the background.
I stick my finger in my ear hoping to hear better. “Hello?”
“Ruthie? Ruthie, is that you?” The voice on the other line is high-pitched and full of panic, but I’d recognize it anywhere.
“Teresa, what is it?”
More background noise
.
“Teresa?”
“Ruthie – you’re a lawyer, right?”
Ruthie's Desire - The Esquire Girls Series - Ruthie's Story (Books 1, 2, 3 & 4) - Box Set Page 14