“I had the team,” I quickly interjected. “They did a lot of the heavy lifting.”
“There you go again,” he said with another charming smile.
“Sorry,” I said, my hand shooting to my mouth. “Um, thank you.”
He nodded and took another slow sip of his wine.
“And the little accents you added, the arrangement of the fake fur—it was all so…intriguing. You're new to the game and you've already got a signature style. Plenty of designers take decades to find their voice like that, and here you are with it already developed. It was very, very impressive.”
“Thank you,” I said.
He smiled again. I was beginning to feel like if he smiled at me like that one more time I might explode.
“When this competition idea was proposed, I was a little uncertain,” he admitted. “Getting saddled with a newbie wasn't something that I was looking forward to. However, I knew that it might provide me with the opportunity to work with a yet-undiscovered talent, and it appears that this is going to be the case.”
“Thank you, Rhys,” I said, his first name feeling strange coming out of my mouth.
“It's good that things ended up this way, since you and I are going to be working very, very closely over the next few months or so.”
I didn't know if it was just my imagination or what, but I could've sworn that he put a little bit of an emphasis on that second “very.” I shook my head, chalking it up to wishful thinking. After all, Rhys could have any woman in this town that he wanted. Would he really be all that interested in someone like me?
I shook my head and brought myself back to the present moment.
“Now, it's my turn to ask you a question or two,” he said.
“Go ahead.”
“So, you moved to San Bravado from small-town Oregon, you graduated with a distinction from the San Bravado Institute of Design, and you've got innate talent that plenty of designers would kill for. Why are you not one of the biggest names in the city?”
I didn't know how to answer that.
“I'm…not sure. When I graduated school, I needed a job right away, and one of your retail stores was hiring. So, I got a job there, and then, bam, five years went by.”
“That's how it goes,” Rhys said. “You put your head down to work, and by the time you lift it up again, you're five years older.”
He spoke with such confidence and poise that he almost seemed decades beyond his thirty-three years. I felt a strange blend of emotions while talking to him, as though I were being inspired and led to soul-searching all the same time. And this was all topped off with a heavy serving of intense attraction, of course.
“You're right,” I said. “I guess I've just wasted a lot of time.”
“Well, that period of your life is over,” he said. “I'm going to make it my personal mission to coax what's been lying dormant out of you. And I'm not going to give you a moment's rest until you've made up for lost time.”
I could only smile at this.
“And another question,” he said. “Do you have anything else in mind that you'd like to get started on? Any other designs?”
“Um,” I started. “I have something kind of weird.”
“I like weird,” he said, his mouth twisting into a playful smile.
“It's a take on a jumpsuit. It's a little more sleek and functional than my dress, but it's still a cruelty-free affair.”
“Sounds perfect. I can't wait to see it.”
We both took another sip, this time, our eyes locked onto one another's. I could've sworn a crackle of electricity arced through the air.
“And I can't help but notice how passionate you are about the cruelty-free focus of this project,” he added.
“Really?” I asked, a little surprised. “I mean, I am, but how did you know? I haven't really said anything about it.”
“I like to think of myself as fairly good at reading people,” he said. “And when you mention the subject, a little bit of a flash comes over your face. Your eyes light up.”
“They do?”
“You have a very expressive face, Cassidy” he said. “It's a pleasure just to watch you talk.”
I blushed again, covering my mouth once more with my hand.
“And,” he went on, “you blush at the drop of a hat. Very charming.”
I was almost positive he was flirting with me by this point. But I tried to not react as best I could.
“Well,” I said. “I love animals. I suppose that's the long and short of it. When I'm not at work or designing, I'm at a local shelter where I volunteer.”
“Really?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “Which one?”
“The Candace Wilkins Center, on Washington Boulevard. Why do you ask?”
“Because I'm also a volunteer,” he said.
“Are you serious?” I asked.
“You sound surprised.”
“I mean, I am a little. It's hard to picture you at an animal shelter doing grunt work along with the rest of us.”
“‘Grunt work’ is what I did for years before making my name,” he said, raising an eyebrow.
I felt silly right away. I'd basically accused him of being too good for hands-on work.
“That's, um, not what I meant. Sorry.”
He flashed me another one of his gorgeous smiles and I knew that offense hadn't been taken.
“I understand what you mean,” he said. “But I'm an animal-lover, through and through. And I'm far too busy to have a pet of my own, so volunteering is as close as I get. I'm over at the San Bravado Shelter, however. Every other Tuesday and Thursday.”
I couldn't help but smile at this. The mental image of Rhys in a volunteer T-shirt, holding a little puppy, was almost too much to bear.
“We're both animal lovers, it seems,” I said.
“You're right. Looks like we have more in common than we might have thought.”
We locked eyes again as we finished our glasses. However intense the eye contact was before, this time, it was almost unbearable.
“A little more?” I asked, reaching for the bottle.
But Rhys appeared to have the same thought that I did, and our hands touched the bottle—and each other's—at the same time.
A wave of pure anticipation and pleasure rushed through my body. The air rushed out of my lungs, and I felt a little woozy. Though, that last part might have just been the booze.
“Allow me,” he said.
I was too struck to even think about protesting. He poured us each another glass and I quickly brought mine to my lips.
“So, you're from Oregon,” he said, steering the conversation a bit away from the tension that was building by the moment.
“Yeah,” I said, swallowing and speaking. “Middle-class family, nothing special. What about you?”
“Far below middle-class,” he said.
“Really?” I asked.
“That a surprise?”
“I mean, for some reason, I imagined you growing up in a chalet in France or something. I have this mental image of your mother carrying baby you through some lavender fields. Totally idyllic stuff.”
Rhys let out a chuckle.
“You couldn't be any further from the truth. I grew up in a small town in rural Missouri. My parents did their best, but they were always the types to be permanently a paycheck behind. As much as I appreciated their raising me, I knew that I needed to be on my own, making my own money and being independent. I left home as soon as I could.”
I could sense that there was more to it than that, but I wasn't about to pry.
“Wow,” I said. “I had no idea.”
“It's fine,” he said. “There were rough patches here and there, but overall, having to grow up fast helped make me who I am today. Design was my escape, and I built my skills quickly. So, it all worked out in the end, it would seem.”
Another moment hung in the air.
“Quite a surprise to hear.”
“You'll find
that I'm full of surprises,” he said, flashing me another smile, this one so charged with lust that I would've blind to miss it.
The feeling of his eyes on me at that moment was so intense that all I could do was take another sip of wine and look away. As soon as the wine went down my throat and settled in my stomach, I spoke, mostly without thinking.
“Do you, um, want—”
“—to get out of here?”
We'd spoken at the same time, talking over one another, both of us thinking the exact same thing.
“Let's,” I said.
Now, it was my turn to flash a sexy little smile.
Chapter 10
Cassidy
For the second time that day, I stood before a tall, imposing building, my heart thudding in my chest. This time, however, my heart rate was due to something else entirely.
“Nice place,” I said, as casually as I could manage while craning my neck to look up at the ultra-modern luxury tower that Rhys called home, the last sunlight of the day glittering off the glass form.
But Rhys didn't seem to be in the mood for talking—he had something else on his mind. He walked quickly towards the front doors, swiping his fob in front of the reader and stepping into the lobby. I hurried my pace to keep up with him, my blood pumping through my veins so hard that I was starting to feel light-headed. And that wasn't the only thing I felt—the anticipation and tension from the car ride over had gotten me more than a little aroused.
“Evening, Mr. Cole,” one of the security guards said.
Rhys gave him a friendly little nod as we hurried towards the elevators. I could tell that he wasn't in the mood for small talk.
As soon as the elevator doors slid shut, it was on.
Rhys turned to me with a wild, animal-like intensity in his eyes. He stepped forward, cutting the distance between us down to inches as I looked up at him, his form towering over me, making me feel small and helpless in a way that I couldn't help but enjoy.
Then, he kissed me.
It was sudden and intense, just like everything else that day. His lips pressed hard onto mine, and I fell into the kiss instantly. Rhys took hold of me by the hips, and I couldn't help but love the feeling of his strong hands on my body.
“I've barely been able to restrain myself,” he said, taking his lips away for just a moment. “You're just…irresistible.”
“Same to you, Mr. Cole,” I said, my voice breathy.
We kissed more as the elevator rose, our tongues entangling and our hands moving all over one another's bodies. A slight gasp slipped past my lips as I felt his hand move under my shirt and over my stomach, his fingertips stopping just at the bottom of my bra. I wanted him to go further, but it looked like he was going to make me wait.
We kissed and kissed, his lips moving from mine for just long enough to sweep over the curve of my neck and collarbone. My skin broke out into shivers, and I felt myself become wetter by the moment. I'd never had a man have this effect on me before, and the longer it went on, the more I felt as though I might just burst at the seams from the anticipation.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, the elevator doors opened with a ding.
“I thought we might never arrive,” said Rhys, his voice low and sensual.
“Good things come to those who wait, I hear.”
He pulled me into his apartment and I couldn't help but gasp at what I saw. It was a massive penthouse, decorated in contemporary style with modern paintings and sculptures. The view from the floor-to-ceiling windows looked out over the sweep of the city, which was now beginning to twinkle alight with the oncoming evening.
“Very swanky,” I said, turning my eyes back to his.
He said nothing, however—instead just looking down at me with those striking blue eyes, which now seemed to burn with passion, despite seeming to be made from solid ice.
“Maybe we can start with a tour?” I asked, totally entranced by his stare. “Perhaps the bedroom?”
“I think the dining table might be even better,” he said. “After all, it's just over there.”
“Sold.”
Rhys moved back in for another deep kiss. This time, however, he lifted me up, effortlessly bringing my body off of the ground. I wrapped my legs around him as he held me up, and we were soon making our way to the table.
Once he placed me on the edge, I felt myself begin to lose what little control I had. Rhys seemed to have the same sentiments; once I was seated, he yanked my shirt off over my head, exposing my lacy white bra.
“Mr. Cole,” I mock-scolded. “So bold.”
“Well, it is my shirt,” he said with another grin.
“Fair enough,” I giggled.
My fingers moved to his shirt buttons, undoing them one after the other, exposing more and more of the rock-hard physique that I'd suspected was just beneath the expensive fabric of his shirt. Once I reached the bottom, Rhys slipped the shirt off of his shoulders, and I took in a sharp gasp as I stared—mouth agape—at his sculpted body. His stomach was all abs, and his pecs were like hard, smooth-edged rocks that I just wanted to drag my tongue across.
“And now, the rest,” he said, looking down at my pants.
I assumed it was a request, but as he worked the button of my jeans and slipped them down, over my hips, I realized it was more a statement of intent. Soon, I was in nothing but my bra and panties, secretly thanking myself for wearing cute ones that almost matched today.
Rhys quickly undid the clasp of my bra, my breasts tumbling free. Ducking his head down, he took my now-hard nipples into my mouth, one after the other, sucking and licking them.
“Oh, God,” I said, running my hands through his hair. “Don't stop.”
“Wasn't planning on it,” he said, grinning wickedly before turning his attention back to my nipples.
After more sucking and licking, I was ready for what I really wanted. I glanced down and saw that this hard-on was already tenting the fabric of his slacks. My mouth watered at the mere hint of what was there. Without thinking, I reached down and touched it, closing my eyes with delight at the sensation.
My hands went to work, and soon, his belt was unfastened and his zipper down. One quick pull exposed the top of his black boxer briefs, and the next caused his length to spring out.
“Holy shit,” I said, my eyes going wide as I took in the sight of just how perfect it was. I shouldn’t have been surprised, considering how perfect the rest of him was, but…damn.
“You okay?” he asked, his voice low and gruff.
“I'll be way better once that's inside of me.”
At that, Rhys slipped his fingers under the waistband of my panties, pulling them down to my feet. I kicked them off and was totally bare. I glanced down and saw that Rhys's cock was rock-hard and mere inches away from my very wet pussy.
“Let me hear you say it,” he growled. “Tell me how much you want it.”
I closed my eyes and swallowed. I wanted it so goddamn badly that it was going to be hard to even speak the words.
“I want it,” I moaned. “I need it. Please, give it to me.”
Right answer.
He reached down and took his cock by the base. Then, with a slow step towards me, he guided it inside me.
“Oh, oh!” I moaned as his head moved through my wet lips, the feeling already beyond compare.
Slowly, he entered me, inch by inch. I took in air in sharp breaths as he filled me, burying his cock deep into me. Finally, Rhys was buried to the hilt, his hips pressed against mine. I closed my eyes and savored that feeling of wonderful fullness.
His pace was slow at first as he slid his length in and out of me. I got the impression that he was aware of just how much effort it was for a girl to take a cock like his, and he gave me time to accustom myself to it. I dug my fingertips into the muscles of his upper arms as he entered me over and over. Rhys was hard all over; his muscles were gorgeous and sculpted, his manhood like warm steel.
“Tell me how it feels,”
he said as he rocked his hips, plunging into me again and again.
“Oh, God. It feels…it feels incredible,” I breathed, pleasure gripping me so completely that it felt as though my voice were coming from somewhere else.
Rhys leaned in and kissed me along my neck again, those same shivers and goosebumps breaking out across my body.
“Faster,” I moaned, needing more. “Harder.”
He flashed me another one of his sly smirks, his eyes piercing and sexual. Then, he did just as I asked. His pace quickened, and soon he was penetrating me at a thundering pace. My breasts shook with each collision of his hips into mine. A trickle of sweat darted down the contours of his muscular torso as his abs flexed and tightened with each plunge.
I leaned forward, resting my head on his shoulder and holding onto him for support as he drove into me. His grunts were gruff and masculine as his cock moved into me time and time again, and as the pace of his thrusting increased, the beginnings of an orgasm grew deep inside of me. After a few moments, I knew I was going to come, and come hard.
“Oh, God!” I screamed out, the intensity almost too much to bear.
Rhys responded to this by pounding me harder still, the legs of the table creaking and groaning with each deep thrust into my soaking wetness. I dug my nails into him as my orgasm drew nearer and nearer.
“I want you to come for me,” he grunted, not missing a beat with his thrusting as he pressed his thumb against my clit.
“I'm…I'm gonna…” I moaned. “I'm so close!”
More of my moans and pleasured shrieks filled the air as his pace stayed steady and deep.
Then, it happened. The welling orgasm burst free, sending hot waves of pleasure radiating out from my core to the tips of my fingers and toes. My body twitched and my muscles contracted, my eyes shut tight as Rhys's cock coaxed more pulses of delight out of me with each thrust.
“Rhys!” I screamed, throwing my head back in orgasmic delight.
Then, Rhys grunted hard. Something exploded inside of me, and I knew right away that it was Rhys coming deep into me. The sensation was just what I needed to give me that added boost of pleasure.
Accidental Triplets - A Secret Babies for the Billionaire Romance Page 6