"Okay," I replied tartly. "I'm on my way right now."
"Good." Then he ended the call.
I growled in frustration. I met this nameless man's eyes with a deep frown. "I have to go," I said regretfully. "My sis-" I ended my sentence realized my personal business wasn't his concern. "It's a family emergency," I said instead. "I'm sorry."
"I understand," he said with obvious disappointment.
"Thank you," I blurted out clumsily, not knowing what else to say. Good Lord, this was awkward. Was it like this for everyone in this kind of situation? What was I supposed to say? Gee, sir, thanks for the mind-blowing orgasm, but I have to run. I felt like an idiot.
He grinned in roguish amusement as he reached up to cup my chin and rub his thumb over my lower lip. "It was my pleasure," he growled out in a deep sexy voice.
I sucked in a breath, and all I could smell was sandalwood cologne and my arousal. Fuck me, why couldn't Andy have called after we finished our tryst?
I shoved my phone back into my clutch and moved toward the door. I needed to get out of here before I threw myself at him like a sex-starved nymphomaniac, and I missed the birth of my niece.
"I'm sorry," I blurted out again uncomfortably as I unlocked the door and pushed it open.
"It's okay, beautiful," he said as his eyes softened with understanding. "And by the way," he added with a wry smirk. "You're welcome." His gorgeous eyes danced in amusement.
I blushed furiously and fled down the hall, still horny and frustrated as hell. I felt like I'd been gypped out of something amazing as I walked away from this sex god come to life.
Yeah, my sex life still sucked.
5
GARETH
My first mistake was kissing her full soft lips. I'd never tasted or felt anything like it. She tasted like sunlight and fresh air, like a perfect spring day. It was intoxicating and rejuvenating. I'd never felt so alive and turned on in my life. My lips still tingled from her touch.
My second mistake was watching her come apart in my arms. Her hazel eyes bore into mine as they turned jade green and lit up like fire. Her entire body ignited and sang with her release. Damn, I swear nothing ever looked so beautiful. I always insisted a woman look me in the eyes the first time I gave her an orgasm. I loved seeing a woman give in to their pleasure and fall apart, and I always studied their faces closely that first time. I always found beauty in a woman orgasming, but this woman was something else entirely. It had affected me so profoundly that it left me breathless with my heart pounding out of my chest. It was inexplicable.
My final mistake? That was sucking the finger that had just been inside her sweet little cunt into my mouth. Fuck, she tasted like heaven, like sweet fruit and cream. I sucked every last trace of it off my digit, wishing I'd been able to taste it from the source. My low guttural groan echoed in the tiny AV storage room I was still standing in as I slid my finger out of my mouth. My dick was hard as a damn rock, my balls throbbing from being blue-balled. I really needed to calm myself down so I could return to the wedding, and tasting her on myself certainly hadn't helped.
I don't think I'd ever reacted to a woman this way before. When she walked out, it was all I could do to keep from grabbing her and making her stay. The overwhelming need to be inside her had been astronomical, and frankly, terrifying. It was probably a good thing we didn't see this through. I was half afraid if I'd fucked her, she would've owned me. That wasn't going to happen. I wasn't going to lose myself to another person again. I already did that with my ex-wife for the seven long years of our relationship, five spent married. Even eight years after we separated and seven years since the divorce was final, I still sometimes felt like I was pulling pieces of myself back together. I wouldn't risk it again.
Thinking about my failed marriage did the trick, and my erection finally began to wane. I straightened my tie and jacket, and left the room. I was going to pretend this little incident never happened. I ignored the niggling little voice in the back of my head that told me I was deluding myself into thinking I could forget about what just happened anytime soon. I headed back to the reception.
As I approached the ballroom doors, I saw Ford and Jenny hurrying across the lobby in their coats. They both looked harried, and instant worry hit me. The two of them had been through enough this last year. I changed direction and headed toward them.
"Hey!" I called out as I approached them. "Is everything alright?" I asked in concern.
They stopped and turned toward me. "Andy's wife just went into labor," Jenny said, her body thrumming with tension.
"Oh," I blurted out. I guess I remembered something about Jenny's brother expecting a baby. I'd forgotten, but I'd never met his wife anyway.
"We're heading to the hospital," Ford added as he put a comforting arm around Jenny. She leaned into him immediately and wrapped her arms around his waist. A sudden image of a beautiful redhead doing the same to me popped into my head. Well, that was ridiculous and annoying. I banished it immediately.
"I hope everything goes smoothly," I replied. "I won't hold you up. Tell Andy congratulations."
"We will," Ford said with a tense smile, and then the two of them took off out into the cold night.
I stared after them with a sigh. Great, now the only person left that I knew well, was my father. Regardless of my job and my more than adequate social skills, I was still more of a loner than anything. It probably had a lot to do with being an only child. I decided to congratulate David and Natalie, and then quietly disappear. I was over being around people today. I was in much need of a bourbon and some solitude.
I went back into the ballroom and made my way over to where my father was sitting at his table. He was flanked by Victoria and Natalie. David was standing nearby chatting with the best man, his son cradled against his chest sound asleep. I slipped into the chair beside Natalie.
"Hey," she said as she turned a smile toward me. "Where were you? You missed all the excitement."
"What excitement?" I asked, deflecting her first question. I never really stopped being a lawyer.
"Lydia's water broke while I was throwing the bouquet," she explained with an incredulous expression. "I'm glad mine broke at home."
"Who?" I asked curiously, feeling a little uneasy with the subject matter. The whole pregnancy thing was a horrifying mystery to me.
"Really Gareth?" she asked with a smirk. "You don't remember Andy's wife's name."
"I've never even met her," I replied with an exasperated glare.
"You're a lawyer. You're supposed to remember things," she said wryly.
"Well, we're not in court are we?" I asked with a wide grin.
More than likely, I'd tuned out when she talked about it. I wasn't proud of it, but I got uncomfortable hearing about other people's marriages and kids, especially the successful ones. It was always a stark reminder of my failed marriage and my lack of children at the age of thirty-five.
"It was quite the spectacle," Dad added with a warm smile.
"Yeah," Natalie added. "Andy was in full freak out mode."
"David had to step in to calm him down," Victoria said. "Poor baby, it was like every thought in his head just disappeared."
"Jensen had to remind him that he needed to take her to the hospital too." Natalie smiled in amusement.
I looked at her questioningly.
She rolled her eyes. "You know, Andy's best friend, Jensen. His wife's name is Sydney. They were both in the wedding." Now she looked irritated. "I've talked about them before. Do you listen to anything I say?"
"What?" I asked with a wry twist of my lips, deflecting yet again, this time with humor.
Natalie shook her head with another eye roll. Thankfully, she moved on to another subject, and didn't point out the fact that I was an asshole. Even I could admit it.
I sat and tried to participate in the conversation, but my mind had other ideas. I started thinking about that redhead again, and the feel of her silky ivory skin, the warm tight velvet b
etween her legs, and the decadent feel of her lips on mine. Damn, there went my libido again. Thank the Lord I was sitting at a table. I really needed to get out of here, so I could take care of it myself. Maybe then I could let it go. Getting blue-balled was unpleasant, and that had to be why I couldn't get her out of my head.
I began mentally going through the Bill of Rights to settle myself down. Ah, the benefits of an eidetic memory. Once I read something, it was pretty much always there.
David came up to the table and handed Daniel to Victoria. Her eyes lit up in delight, and so did my father's, as the two of them began fussing over the still sleeping baby. That was my cue to leave. I silently stood and drifted away unnoticed. I didn't think they would note my absence.
A short time later, I was walking through my penthouse door to be greeted enthusiastically by my dog, Reggie. The massive black German Shepherd danced at my feet with a wide doggie grin, whining for my attention. I got him a few years ago for protection, but ended up loving him more for his companionship. He adored me, and I liked being needed by somebody, even if it was just a dog. At least, he didn't expect me to be anyone but myself.
"Hey, Reg," I murmured as I ruffled the soft fur on his head. I sighed in relief. It was good to be home without any people around.
I crossed between my high-end kitchen and formal sitting area to the stairs on the far side of the room. Reggie followed me up the stairs and over to my bar. I grabbed a glass and my best bottle of bourbon then headed to another set of steps that led up to my bedroom that overlooked the second level.
I set my glass and bottle on the nightstand and sat on the edge of my four-poster king-size bed. I poured myself a drink and took a healthy swallow, enjoying the smooth liquor. Immediately, my mind went right back to the redhead, the smell of her perfume, and the feel of her in my arms. Once again, I was rock hard and ready.
I set my glass back down on the nightstand with a dull thump. "Fuck," I growled under my breath. Reggie whined as he sat nearby watching me. "I'm okay, buddy," I reassured him. He came closer and pushed his head under my hand. I obliged him with a few good scratches, before rising with a long beleaguered sigh. I stripped out of my clothes and headed into my bathroom. I turned on the shower and stepped under the water.
The warmth felt good as the water cascaded down my body. I gripped my cock in a firm hand and jacked myself off as visions of big hazel eyes and sweet plush lips filled my head. Within moments, I was steadying myself with a hand on the tile wall as I came. Cum spurted out of me in long powerful jets as my body quaked and tingled with my orgasm. I couldn't remember masturbation ever working this quickly or feeling this good. I blamed it on being worked up for so long without a release. It couldn't possibly have anything to do with a certain beautiful vivacious redhead I'd never set eyes on again.
**********
"I see Mr. Grumpy-pants is visiting today," Derek said from behind me in amusement. We'd been friends forever, and he could instantly tell when I was in a foul mood, like right now.
I paused from pummeling the shit out the heavy punching bag that dangled from the ceiling in front of me. "Fuck off," I snarled at him without even turning. I continued throwing more combinations at my inanimate target, imagining it was Derek now. I attacked the bag in another flurry of fists, elbows, knees, and shins as I tried to purge the irritation I'd been feeling since I woke this morning.
I'd been practicing Muay Thai, a Thai martial art that was centuries old, since I was in middle school. It was known as The Art of Eight Limbs because a fighter used their hands, shins, elbows, and knees extensively. I'd spent years toughening up my shins and forearms on heavy bags. I'd hardened up my bones through a process called cortical remodeling, where repeated blows caused tiny fractures that healed and actually hardened the bone. It made it painless for me use my elbows and shins as weapons now.
I ended my combination with a round of furious leg kicks, my right shin slamming into the sand-filled heavy bag repeatedly until I had to stop to catch my breath. Sweat poured off of me as I stood there panting. I pulled back a fist and punched the thing one more time for good measure before turning to face my best friend.
He was sitting on my couch in the nearby sitting area on the second floor of my penthouse. He watched me with undisguised amusement in his dark-green eyes with his feet propped up on my coffee table. Reggie sat on the floor next to Derek with his big head in the man's lap, wiggling and wagging his tail happily. Derek absently stroked the dog's thick black fur. The damn dog adored him.
"Are you about done?" he asked with a smirk. "I thought we were going out for breakfast."
"Yes." I glared at him as I pulled off my boxing gloves. "I just lost track of time."
Honestly, I'd forgotten about our plans to have breakfast together today. I'd been up half the night frustratingly turned on and the other half dreaming about that damn redhead. It was a long goddamn night, and I woke up angry and tense. Beating the shit out of the heavy bag for the last hour was my attempt to get a grip.
"Then hurry up," he replied as he eyed me sharply. "I'm fucking starving, man."
I paused from unwrapping the boxer's tape from my hands and flipped him off. Maybe it was a bad idea when I'd given him a key to my place and free rein to let himself in. Otherwise, I could have ignored him and not let him in this morning. He was annoying the shit out of me already. I stalked away without another word before I really turned into an asshole, and went upstairs to shower.
Being naked again was a bad idea, and the next thing I knew I was jerking myself off in the shower again to thoughts of long flaming hair and big hazel eyes. What was wrong with me? Derek was right downstairs for Christ's sake, but I couldn't seem to help myself. Maybe this time it would be enough to help me get over this ridiculous obsession. I moaned and trembled as I orgasmed in long waves of hot scorching pleasure. It felt like my knees might buckle, and I decided to blame it on my strenuous workout.
I washed myself hurriedly, not wanting Derek to question why I was taking so long. I dressed in a gray sweater and jeans, pulled on some shoes, then headed back downstairs to find Derek in the middle of playing tug of war with Reggie. The two of them were struggling enthusiastically over my dog's latest rope toy, both growling. I frowned in disapproval at them, then walked away and headed downstairs without a word.
Once in the kitchen, I went to the fridge to pull out a bottle of water. I opened it and chugged down half of it. By the time I lowered the bottle, Derek was in the kitchen shaking his head at me in annoyance.
"Remind me again why I'm friends with your moody ass," he said irritably as he crossed his arms.
"Give me a break," I growled out. "I got blue-balled last night, and I slept like shit."
"Blue-balled?" he asked incredulously with wide eyes and a huge grin. "Someone turned down the irresistible charms of Gareth Caxton?" He gasped as he covered his cheeks with his hands. "Has the world come to an end?"
"Fuck. Off," I said in a low malicious voice as I considered dumping the rest of my water on his damn head.
"Whoa, someone really got under your skin, didn't they?" His face turned serious.
That struck a nerve, and I didn't like it. I hardened my glare at him.
"Ah, so someone did turn you down," he cocked his head curiously.
"No," I snapped out. "Just a case of coitus interruptus."
"Oh." He stretched the word out annoyingly.
"It doesn't matter anyway. I'll never see her again."
"So you really liked her then," he continued.
"It wasn't like that," I denied. "I don't do relationships, remember?"
Lord knows, I'd tried a few times since my divorce, but whenever a woman began expecting me to change or started making demands on me that I wasn't willing to meet, I ended it immediately. Was it too much to ask to be my own man in a relationship? Apparently, it was, and if that was the case, then I'd rather be alone.
"You mean you won't," he replied more soberly.
I waved a dismissive hand in the air. "Same thing," I grumbled out. I ignored his skeptical expression and finished my water.
We'd been over this so many times before, but he couldn't possibly understand. He'd been in a marriage that worked with the same woman for thirteen years. He hadn't been held hostage in a doomed relationship as he gave away piece after piece of himself trying to make someone else happy. I learned the hard way that it was an impossible task, and it nearly cost me my soul.
He sighed deeply as I put the empty bottle in the trash. "Come on," he said in resignation, thankfully changing the subject. "Let's go."
I grabbed my coat and we left, taking the elevator down to my private garage in silence. We climbed into my Range Rover and made it a block down the street before he opened his damn mouth again.
"So," he began in a casual tone that was utter bullshit, "what's the name of this astounding woman who's gotten you all worked up?"
"I'm not worked up, just sexually frustrated," I forced out between clenched teeth.
"Whatever."
I could feel him staring at me, waiting for an answer.
"Fine," I blurted out. "I don't know her damn name. Are you happy now?"
"Are you hangry?" He was needling me. It was exceedingly easy today. I knew he wouldn't let it go until I told him everything.
I growled under my breath as I decided to give him what he wanted. "We agreed not to exchange names, have a good time, then part ways. She got a call about a family emergency in the middle of it and took off. Now I'm frustrated as fuck. Now are you happy?"
"That was last night," he said matter-of-factly. "Why are you still frustrated if it was a one-time thing?"
"I wish I knew," I murmured under my breath as I stared out at the snow-covered road.
"It's because you liked her, you dumbfuck," he said in exasperation. "It's not rocket science, man. You should have gotten her damn name and her phone number."
"Why?" I asked in a snide bitter tone. "So I can pay palimony for three fucking years again?" I snorted in disgust. "No thanks. I'm good."
Dark Dominion: Dangerous Desire Book 1 Page 5