Relentless Pursuit

by Lulu Pratt

  Just then I hear a door close out in the common area followed by deep voices. It never occurred to me that his staff would be out there this morning.

  “Did they hear us, Logan?” I ask, mortified.

  “No,” Logan chuckles, drying his hair with a hand towel.

  “How do you know?”

  “Because I went to sleep knowing how I was going to wake you up so I told them not to come over until I called,” he raises his eyebrows mischievously.

  “You’re trouble. You know that?” I say, shaking my head.

  “Only the best kind,” he leans down, pressing his lips to mine as his minty breath permeates my airways.

  Watching him dress is strangely erotic, and from the peculiar glares he shoots my way, I know he can tell how much I’m enjoying the show.

  “See something you like?” he asks jokingly.

  “Mmm-hmm. A whole lot I like, actually.”

  Between our laughs and staredowns, Logan dresses in a tailored black suit that fits him like a glove. He’s handsome in anything he wears, but seeing him in a suit is mind blowing.

  “Which one?” he asks, holding a black tie in one hand and a red and black tie in the other.

  “All black. Classic,” I say.

  “That’s what I thought too,” he agrees, hanging the other option back in the closet before tying the black one so fast it’s crooked.

  “Come here,” I call him over to the bed, rising on my knees to meet him.

  “What’s up?” he asks as he walks to me.

  “Your tie is crooked,” I explain, loosening the knot before retightening it correctly while Logan pinches my nipples, teasing me with his fingertips.

  “You’re so fucking sexy,” he whispers before kissing my cheek as I flatten out his collar, blushing from his attention.

  “You couldn’t resist, could you?” I say, rolling my eyes.

  “I can’t control myself when you’re naked.” He shakes his head, looking down at his bulging crotch.

  “You’re an animal.”

  “Only for you.” He kisses my neck and then returns to his closet, selecting a watch before grabbing his wallet and sliding it into his suit jacket.

  “What time should I be expecting you?”

  “Let’s shoot for seven. I’ll try to be early, but I’ll call if I’m going to be late. Cool?” He looks over at me.

  “Cool.”

  “Okay, here’s this,” he holds up another envelope and I pretend to pass out on the bed.

  “Don’t start,” he says softly, leaning over the bed to kiss me.

  “We never did talk about it like we said we would.”

  “I thought I settled everything this morning,” he slides his palm down my belly as he speaks, and my legs fall apart for him to barely graze my sex.

  “You did.”

  “Then have fun with it since I can’t have fun with you,” he kisses me once more.

  “Miss me,” I bite my lip, completely smitten with him.

  “Always,” is the last thing he says before winking at me on his way out the door.

  The happiness I feel is debilitating. My body is numb, yet over stimulated all at the same time. I’m sad to see him leave, but excited to be able to surprise him when he gets back.

  Everything is moving so fast, but I’d be lying if I said I wanted it to slow the least bit. Things are perfect, and I feel completely encompassed in a cocoon of unadulterated bliss.

  Chapter 28

  Ava

  As I step out of the shower, the bell to our suite sounds throughout our room. It’s so much like an apartment that they’ve decided to include a doorbell. The thought makes me shake my head as I hurry to answer.

  “Good morning, Ava,” Joey, our concierge, greets me correctly this time. As much as I enjoyed being referred to as Logan’s wife, I prefer my first name.

  “Good morning,” I smile, stepping aside to welcome Joey and the young bellboy behind him into the suite.

  The younger man rolls a small table covered with a white tablecloth, topped with a covered dish that is sure to be my breakfast.

  “I’ve set appointments for everything you requested,” Joey says as he grips his notebook tightly, excited to share his plans.

  After Logan left, I called back to include shopping for a dress to my itinerary, and Joey recommended a full-on makeover. Never shying away from a day of pampering, I agreed.

  “After breakfast, you’ll head to your spa and beauty treatment. From there, you’ll be transported to the Intersection at Paddington, which is one of the best shopping districts in the city.” He is reading from his list as I pour maple syrup over my French toast, nodding along.

  “Your personal shopper will have everything lined up so you don’t have to spend time hopping from store to store, but upon Mr. Draper’s request, I’ve given her an unlimited budget,” he nervously glances up at me as I freeze with the fork full of sugary goodness on the way to my mouth.

  “Joey! I told you this was a secret!”

  “No, no, Ava. Mr. Draper told me this before you even arrived – no expense is to be spared for you. I think he knew you’d be into some good trouble like this,” he says.

  Logan told me the Four Seasons is known for their high-end restaurants, but I really wasn’t expecting everything to be so delicious. Between dinner last night and this thick French toast, which Joey was sure to inform me was made from freshly baked bread, I could live here forever just for the food.

  “It won’t be a lot of moving around, as you requested, but the first half of your beauty portion will take up the bulk of the day,” he says.

  “What’d you tell Rodrick?” I ask, after using him as a cover to ditch my tail for the day.

  “I’ve told him about your plans for the most part, but I don’t think it made much sense to him. In his book, you’re taking a girl day. So, he’ll always know where you are, but I’ve made it so he has no idea any of it is specifically for tonight,” Joey beams. I can tell he loves what he does, and I honestly can’t blame him – planning for the rich and famous must be a fun job.

  My spa day begins with an hour-long massage, as I groan and stretch out all the kinks from Logan bending and twisting me all morning.

  I can sense the confusion on my young massage therapist’s face when she registers the bright pink mark on my ass, but thankfully she doesn’t mention it.

  Afterwards, another woman walks in, applying a thick paste-like substance to my face, which smells of peppermint. With her hand extended, she offers to help me off the bed, but I’m full naked, under my towel, so I freeze with insecurity.

  “We’ll just go into your exfoliation. You can bring your towel,” she smiles kindly, probably having to deal with people’s apprehensions daily.

  Carefully wrapping myself in the thick brown towel, I follow her to the next room, which includes a large white tub that appears to float above a bed of rocks. It’s so beautiful that I pause as the woman readies all her accessories on a side table.

  “You’ll just need to step into the tub,” she says with a smile.

  I smile at her professionalism while giving such basic instructions. I’m quite confident she scrubs every cell of dead flesh from my body, and it feels incredible to be pampered. The spa is completely top of the line, fancier than anywhere I’ve ever been for sure. Once I’m finished, she takes me to a salon area, where a bubbling blonde greets me at the door.

  “You must be Ava, I’m Sherry, it’s so nice to meet you.” She grins so wide it almost makes me uncomfortable.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” I extend my hand, but she wraps me in a bear hug instead.

  “Your hair is gorgeous, but I think we should add some highlights to give it a bit of volume,” she talks more to my hair than me as her hands ruffle through my waves.

  “Whatever you think is best,” I shrug, never one to care too much about my hair.

  “Okay, so we’ll do some layers, and undertones, you’ll love it!” She
smiles and I nod, giving her free rein on the decisions.

  “Should I just take a seat?” I look to the salon behind her as she continues to study my hair. There are three other women having their hair dyed or blow dried, so I figure that’s where I’ll be heading. Sherry looks behind her before returning to me with an odd look.

  She leans in and says quietly, “Oh no, they’re just typical clients. You’re in the VIP room, just pick your polish, and let me know when you’re ready,” she says, gesturing to a wall of colors.

  There are so many options, it’s difficult to choose, but I decide on a pale pink before returning to Sherry, who then walks me to a small room in the back of the salon.

  Unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, the salon chair sits on a circular-shaped pedestal that appears to move as one unit, with a foot spa attached, as well as small vibrating bowls of warm water at the end of the armrests.

  Two other women quickly join the room, one kneeling to give me a pedicure, while the other tends to my nails as Sherry runs her fingers through my hair.

  Sherry begins by applying a strong-smelling dye to sections of my hair as she rambles on about Sydney between her questions regarding my stay.

  “So, you’ve never been here before?” she asks.

  “No, it’s a first for me,” I reveal as she tugs on a piece of my hair before coating it in the concoction and wrapping it in aluminum foil.

  “One day I have to come and visit Los Angeles. It’s the city of angels!”

  “Oh, you have to. I’ll happily show you around,” I boast as if I know more about the city than I do.

  It makes me think of Petra, my tour guide and confidant throughout my years in the city people dream about visiting just as I had as a child. Although I’ve checked my email daily, I haven’t heard a peep from her, and I’ve stayed mum on my side as well. There’s so much to be said, but each time I attempt to write her a message, I get lost and find myself speechless. Perhaps it’s just something that must be discussed in person, and so I decide to put it off until I get home.

  Spinning the chair around, Sherry lowers the backrest until my head relaxes on the dip of a porcelain sink, warm water washing over my hair as she massages my scalp while the other women continue to work.

  Throughout blow drying and styling, we continue to discuss parts of our lives while comparing travel stories about the common places we’ve visited.

  My nails and feet dry well before Sherry finally spins me to see what she calls her masterpiece, and my mouth drops as I see the new me.

  My hair is soft and fluffy, falling in beautiful layers like never before. I feel like a supermodel, so intrigued that I stand from my seat for a better look before turning to thank Sherry.

  “It’s beautiful!” I compliment her and she blushes a bit before introducing the last of my beauty assistants for the day.

  Alicia is here to do my make-up, and she looks a bit disappointed when I tell her I’m going for the no make-up look. Most likely, she was hoping for full-on glam for a movie premiere or something, but nevertheless, she does an amazing job hiding my flaws while adding a bit of highlight and a small pop of color at the edges of my eyelids.

  Walking out to the waiting Bentley, I feel like a million bucks, and from my reflection, I’d have to say I look the part as well.

  Arriving at the shopping center, I’m revitalized as I meet with Trish, a trendy girl who looks fresh out of college, fully engulfed in a life of fashion.

  “Joey said you had curves, but you’re tiny.” She shakes her head before walking back to the rack of clothes standing behind her. Looking upon my figure, I try to decide which argument I agree with more.

  “I have some looks that are going to work perfectly for you,” she returns, pinching at my waist as I stand as still as a tree watching her in awe. Moving between the clothes, plucking hangers off the rack and throwing them over her shoulder, she whirls around me like a tornado, selecting options.

  “Let’s go for the first look,” she grabs my wrist, leading me to a dressing room with a draped curtain, before hanging three items on a wooden post. “Put those on and come out,” she says before pulling the curtain closed behind her.

  Running my fingers across the fabrics, I see that the first piece of is a white lace bodysuit, intended to go underneath the red dress that also hangs from the wooden post.

  After trying it on, I see her vision. The lace barely shows beneath the dip in the dress, but it’s incredibly sexy in its peek-a-boo nature.

  A metallic Chanel wristlet is the other item hanging and I wrap it around my wrist, stepping back to see my reflection in the full-length mirror when the curtain flies open.

  With roaming eyes, Trish looks me up and down before mumbling something about shades and pulling the curtain closed just after hanging a few more items.

  From one outfit to the next, I try on so many clothes I eventually stop Trish, glancing at my phone to see it’s almost time to meet Logan at the suite.

  Finally, she dresses me in a fitted black dress that hugs my body perfectly. My cleavage looks so tempting that I raise my own brows in appreciation while admiring my reflection.

  My legs look endless, thanks to the open-toe sandals she’s selected to display my fresh pedicure. A clutch purse and stud earrings complete my look, as I thank Trish for all her help before making my way back to the Four Seasons to meet Logan.

  Chapter 29

  Logan

  “Where is she?” I yell at Rodrick, upset that I’ve returned and no one can give me an exact location for Ava after I’ve given strict instructions to keep a close eye on her.

  “Sir, she just went out shopping like you wanted. I made sure every store knew she was to get whatever she wanted, and I’ve checked to make sure she arrived and departed from every stop on her itinerary,” he answers in the calm nature that he embodies whenever I’m overreacting.

  All day I’ve counted down to this moment, dying to smell and hug her after a draining day of meetings. I don’t mind her going out, and I love the fact that she’s spending money along the way, but I want to know where she is.

  “Mr. Draper, maybe it’s best that you prepare for the evening, because I think she may arrive ready to depart,” Rodrick says.

  While I know he’s right, it only infuriates me further.

  “Rodrick, find her,” I growl before stomping into my bathroom, undressing quickly.

  The hot water washes over my body, stinging pleasurably as I struggle to block the thoughts. Ava agreed to be here, and I’ve even made it home early, but she’s nowhere in sight, and my body is racked with worry and frustration.

  Ava in danger is my biggest fear, especially when I’ve brought her across the world just to be near my side. Who knows where she’s wandered off to. I just need her to make it back safely.

  By the time I get dressed in a black suit, opting for the black button-down shirt for a shift from the workday, there’s still no word from Ava.

  “Where is she, Rodrick?”

  “Sir, the concierge has assured me she’s not far.”

  “Let me talk to him,” I say out through clenched teeth and Rodrick looks pleased to pass the buck, quickly dialing a few numbers before handing me the phone.

  “This is Joey. How can I help?” he answers too excited for my liking.

  “Where’s Ava?”

  “Mr. Draper? I’m sorry, I wasn’t expecting to hear from you. I’ve just been speaking with Rod–” he tries to deflect before I cut him off.

  “I don’t care about that. I want to know where Ava is,” I interrupt him.

  “I’m so sorry, sir. There was massive traffic, but I’ve just sent her upstairs, she should be…” his words over the phone fade as Ava walks through the door.

  Her hair is bouncing and it seems lighter as she looks from side to side with a carefree manner as she greets Rodrick and his men, all of whom look nothing more than gloom after being chewed out.

  She’s wearing a tight black dr
ess, just long enough to be appropriate, and her neckline creates a pedestal for her breasts, leading to her defined collarbone and gorgeous face.

  Turning in my direction, her hazel eyes light up when they land on my face as she walks across the room in almost a skip to me.

  “Logan!” she says joyfully, throwing her arms in the air before draping them over my shoulders.

  I release a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding in.

  “I called you,” I whisper in her ear, the frustration and anger already melted away.

  “I’m sorry, my phone died at the salon. We got stuck in traffic, and I didn’t have your number memorized,” she shakes her head, rolling her eyes as she recalls her trials to get to me.

  “I don’t care. I’m just glad you’re here,” I pull her to me, kissing her softly as I inhale her mint and floral perfume.

  “Where should we put these?” Two bellhops ask from behind her as they each carry a handful of bags.

  Ava points to our bedroom with a smile and a cheerful thanks, and turning back to face me.

  “I had a little fun today,” she smiles, blushing while looking up to me.

  “You look incredible,” I rest my hand in the nape of her neck, pulling her closer to me to feel her soft lips pressed against mine.

  “Thank you,” she smiles, rising on her toes to kiss me before adding, “you look pretty good yourself.”

  “I have half a mind to cancel this whole night and take you to the bedroom,” I whisper in her ear as my cock throbs, desperate to feel her.

  “Well, if that’s what you want,” she says, blinking slowly as her eyes fill with lust.

  Hungrily biting my lip, I glance over her body, realizing how much time she must have spent preparing for this date, and I know I can’t keep her in, despite how much I want to. She’s done up to perfection, beaming with confidence as I look her over.

  “No, I have to take you out,” I decide, and while she tries to hide her excitement, I can sense she’s happy to go out together.