by Colet Abedi
“If you’re asking if you’re in danger of experiencing more carnal pleasure”—he moves in closer to me— “the answer is yes.”
He places a soft kiss on my neck that sends electricity shooting down my body. Then his hand slips under my skirt, his fingers skimming the tops of my thighs before pushing aside my lace thong. He rubs me softly. I close my eyes and fall back into the seat when he inserts two fingers. A soft gasp escapes my lips.
“But you like this kind of danger, don’t you, Kerri?” His voice is rough as he kisses me hard. He ravages my mouth, working me until I’m moaning in longing.
“If you’re asking if you’re in the kind of danger where your life is at risk,” he whispers against my mouth as he brings me to the brink. “Then I’m going to have to withhold your pleasure because I find that insinuation infuriating and highly insulting.”
He withdraws his hand just like that.
He pushes away from my body and sits back and gets comfortable in his seat. I open my eyes and look at him in shock. I think I might die. I want to scream at him in fury. I need my release. But he keeps his gaze away from mine and I know there’s no way he’ll to give me what I want because he seems pretty pissed off.
Then the old, outrageous Kerri rears her head. I’ll just take care of myself. He can watch for all I care. I slip my hand between my legs and try my best to pick up where Ian left off, but before I can get into a groove, the man who’s hell-bent on punishing me rips my hand away.
“No pleasure unless I give it you.” His eyes are bright with desire, his voice husky. I know watching me turned him on. “And if you think you’re suffering now, you won’t like the consequence if you disobey me.”
I look at him as if he’s crazy. “You have got to be kidding me.” Who is this guy?
“Try me.” The way he says it, so silky smooth, makes the hairs on my neck stand up. I believe him. One hundred percent.
“You must be some kind of a sadist,” I mutter childishly as I cross my legs.
He laughs. “Oh, baby, you really do say the funniest things.”
“I’m glad you find me so amusing.” I give him a fake smile.
He nods. “I do. You are definitely entertaining me.”
“What a compliment.” I can’t believe his audacity.
“I’m hard to keep entertained.”
“I don’t doubt it,” I say, annoyed. “What’s the longest relationship you’ve ever had?”
“Four months. But that was only because she was gone on some humanitarian trip for three months of that time.”
For whatever reason, I find myself irritatingly jealous of the humanitarian he dumped God knows when.
“So if you really think about it, you are my longest relationship.” He says it as if I should be honored. “I’ve never seen the same woman who wasn’t related to me, working for me, or a friend’s wife so many times.”
My jaw drops. Of all the… “Am I supposed to be flattered?”
He gives me that perfect smile that tells me everything I need to know.
Before I can pursue that, we turn into Jamie’s driveway along PCH. Ian’s driver gives our names to security and we are quickly allowed inside. His property is impressive, and though it’s a mega mansion on the cliff of the Pacific Ocean, it has a warm Cape Cod feel to it.
“Let me guess”—Ian sounds irritated. I’m sure he can see the appreciation on my face— “this is your style.”
Even though I don’t want to hurt his feelings, he did just leave me horny and suffering, so I give him a wide smile. “Yes.”
We pull around the circular drive to the front door and get out of the car. Ian takes the gifts. I grudgingly admire how good he looks in his jeans and light blue V-neck sweater with the white T-shirt underneath. He looks as if he stepped out of a J. Crew catalogue.
Before I can ring the doorbell, Wylder throws it open with the most embarrassing smile. She looks from Ian to me like a proud mother hen even though she’s younger than me. I can feel the burn from my blush.
“That look on your face is just all sorts of wrong,” I tell her in an accusatory tone, not caring that Ian is standing there. I mean, he’s not blind.
“I can’t help myself,” she says as she pulls me into her arms. “I was beginning to think you were artificial intelligence like Tony says.”
That makes me laugh and lightens my mood. I’m grateful for her. When she lets go of me, she pins poor Ian with her gaze.
“You’re Trouble,” she says.
“Literally and figuratively,” I mutter.
“I’m Wyld.” She takes the cake box from his hands. “Kerri must have a thing for unusual names.”
“Nice to meet you,” Trouble-Ian says to her. “But you can call me Ian.”
“I prefer Trouble,” she returns mischievously.
“I think I prefer Ian.” Jamie takes that moment to appear at the door. He promptly takes the box out of Wyld’s hands. “Are you going to let our guests inside or is this where we’re entertaining?”
His voice is sweet as he jokes with my friend. Wyld looks at him as though he’s the freaking world. I wonder if that’s how I look at Ian. “I was getting to that. I’m just so excited to have them at our place.”
Jamie gives her a soft, tender kiss. Wow. It’s really their place now. Things must be really serious between these two. And so fast.
“I’m Jamie.” Jamie reaches out to shake Ian’s hand. “And you’re Ian.”
As usually happens with alpha males, the two size each other up and my fingers cross in the hope they like each other. Jamie gives me a quick hug, then we walk inside. The home is warm and traditional, not at all what I would have expected from one of the most famous sci-fi horror directors. There are pictures everywhere. Surprisingly, nothing from the industry—just friends, family, or childhood moments.
If you can tell who a man is by the way he decorates his home, then my best friend scored. I frown at Ian when I think about his original décor. Cold and unapproachable. He looks at me as though he can tell what I’m thinking. The annoying guy actually smiles in amusement.
“We have a table set with appetizers and the heaters on to have some cocktails outside,” Wyld says. “If it’s too cold, we can come right in.”
“Ian likes it cold.” I can’t help myself.
“You get hot easily?” Wylder asks him, having no clue that I’m throwing shade.
“Depends on my mood,” he says with a wide, knowing smile. “And object of interest.”
I can’t even look at her. I stare at Ian in shock. He so did not just… The thing is I use to be someone who never got embarrassed about anything—and this man just messes me up…
Ian gives me a wicked smile and I have to look away because goddammit, I find his audacity hot! Wyld looks as embarrassed as I feel. Surprisingly, Jamie is smiling.
“How about Ian and I grab us some drinks and meet you ladies back out here?” Jamie offers.
“Sounds perfect,” Wyld says.
To my relief, the guys leave, chatting it up.
“He is h-o-t hot,” Wyld whispers. She grabs my hand and pulls me outside to the covered patio overlooking the Pacific.
The sun is about to set, and though it’s gloomy, it’s still gorgeous. I love it out here. We throw ourselves onto one of the oversized sofas, and Wylder grabs me a blanket.
“Why are you so formal?” she asks, looking at my dress.
I know she’s annoyed because she’s wearing jeans and a sweatshirt, and I shrug. “I just think it’s nice to dress up sometimes.”
She looks down at her outfit. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
“You’d look gorgeous in a paper bag.” It’s the truth.
“As long as Jamie is happy with me,” she says happily.
“You both look nauseatingly happy.”
“That’s what love does to you.” She gives me a wink. “Now, back to Trouble-Ian. Holy shit, you must be in love—oh my God, that look on your face…Ke
rri, holy shit! You are so in love with him!”
I cover my face with my hands. “Am I that obvious?”
Silence greets me.
I drop my hands and let Wyld see my truth. Her eyes fill with tears, and all of a sudden, I feel pretty emotional as well—especially because of the fight I just had with Ian.
She clasps my hands, her smile wobbly and all sorts of sappy. “You don’t know how happy I am for you. It’s all I’ve been praying for you since we met. You are such a special woman, Kerri Harrington. I hope he deserves you. He’ll have to prove it to me forever.”
Before the real dam of tears bursts and I spill all the beans to Wyld, Jamie and Ian return with what looks to be whiskeys for themselves and martinis for Wyld and me. Just what the doctor ordered.
“To new friends,” Jamie says as we clink glasses.
“I’m so glad you guys are here,” Wyld says to us.
There’s an awkward moment of uncomfortable silence and then—
“Now that we’re done with the toast, who’s in for a round of Monopoly?” Jamie asks.
“As long as we’re playing with real money,” Ian says quickly.
“It’s the only way,” Jamie agrees as if it’s a given.
“You’re walking around with twenty thousand dollars cash to float the bank?” I can’t keep the sarcasm out of my voice when I look at Ian.
“I have at least eleven.” He looks at me as if that should be so obvious. He nods at Jamie. “And I know you have a safe here.”
Jamie lights up like a Christmas tree.
“Small talk first—get to know each other with some bites,” Jamie asks Ian, “or just get right to the game?”
I can’t help but laugh. I forgot how great Jamie’s sense of humor is.
“You can learn a lot about a man by the way he plays Monopoly,” Ian says good-naturedly.
“I’ve got a game table in my man cave.” Jamie motions toward another area of the house. “Ladies, if you can bring all these appetizers to the room—”
“Are you serious?” Wyld sounds horrified. “You don’t want to sit out here for a bit and eat something first? Maybe have a normal conversation? Then go in and play a board game?”
“Not particularly.” Jamie’s answer makes me laugh out loud. My poor friend looks mortified. “And trust me, neither does he.”
“He’s right,” Ian confirms and grabs the wooden platter with all of the delicate meats. He’s probably been eyeing that plate since he set eyes on it. There’s a good chance no one else will get to try any. “This isn’t a play date in the sandbox between two children you’re trying to introduce.”
Jamie picks up a bread plate and some cheese. “Let’s go.”
“This is going to be fun,” I say to Wyld, and I really do mean it. I just want to put the tension from earlier with Ian behind me—at least for now.
“If it was just you, I wouldn’t care,” she says in horror. “But I don’t know Ian and I don’t want him to think—”
I cut her off right there. “He owns the sex club. What’s he going to think?”
“You have a point.”
“I always do.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Kerri
My period is officially two weeks late.
I’m not in full panic mode yet because I haven’t been careless and I am on birth control. Well, the natural kind with no hormones that I’ve now read online can sometimes fail you. But not that often, according to all online reviews. Shit.
And I did take a pregnancy test at Ian’s house—in one of the guest bathrooms that Ian never uses—this morning. It didn’t come up with anything. Like, there was no result. So I’m not positive or negative—I’m just blank. I wonder if that’s symbolic of anything, if it means anything deeper…am I going mad? Who knows? But I can’t lie, these past few days have not been easy. Any time I dwelled on my lack of period, I felt telltale signs of queasiness and fear. So I couldn’t wait until I got to work on Monday like I originally planned and took a test in one of the guest bathrooms that I know Ian never uses to be safe.
Crap. Where is my period?
Don’t panic, I tell myself. Don’t panic. Not just yet.
And there isn’t just this possible pesky pregnancy to worry about. There’s all the other stuff I haven’t been able to face too. I’ve allowed almost another month to go by without asking Ian about my dad. It’s pathetic, I know, like I’m living some sort of lie, but it never felt like the right time because we’ve been so damn happy. We live in our magical bubble together. I haven’t even seen my family since the holidays because I haven’t wanted to ruin anything. Ian and I have been playing house and “adulting,” and it’s perfect.
Tony is sure a lucky S.O.B. With Wylder always at Jamie’s and me always with Ian, Tony’s basically had the Hollywood place to himself. Even though he’d never admit it, I’d bet anything he’s living it up there with Mrs. Cougar-City. I miss Tony, but I’m happy that Wyld and I got to see each other more this past month. Ever since our fateful night of real-money Monopoly—which continued on until three in the morning with Wyld and I passed out on couches and Jamie and Ian refusing to back down.
True story.
Of course, Wylder didn’t have to worry about getting up for work in the morning because she had just let me in on her big decision, which was to quit and go work for Jamie on his next film in Australia. So now she’s out of the country for three months. I’m hoping we’ll be able to sneak in a visit, or at least meet up somewhere.
“You’re calling in sick to work tomorrow.” Ian sounded so concerned that night as he held me in the car on the way home from their house.
I was too sleepy to argue with him. Much to his annoyance, I did wake up early in the morning and go into work—and even pulled one of the latest nights I’ve ever had. When I got back to his place that night, he didn’t say a word even though I knew he was dying to. Instead he gave me a foot massage, made sweet love to me, and made sure I was well fed.
God, Ian makes me feel good. More than that, he makes me feel really loved. I know he has to feel something strong for me. It isn’t just a physical connection. It’s deeper than that. We fit each other. We click in every way, kind of like we’ve been together forever.
I feel those god-awful tears brim and I want to gag over my own cheesiness…but it’s true! There’s something about us that I know is more than just a fling or a passing romance. And I know he feels it too.
But…
If it is something more, if we really are two magnets, then there can be no secrets between us. And there is something there. I can’t put my finger on it, but I feel it sometimes. Those times he doesn’t think I’m really paying attention or when his guard is down, something comes over him. Something heavy and sad, and somehow I know I’m connected to it. And I get so frightened because I love him so much and I don’t want to lose this place we’re in.
Sometimes I wonder about his sister.
I wonder why he never talks about her or shares her story with me. It’s really the only topic now that Ian’s not open about. Well, that and Trevor. There’s definitely weirdness going on there. Ian doesn’t talk about him. At all. And if I ever bring Trevor up, Ian changes the topic abruptly or kisses me into forgetting. I’m hoping he’ll open up to me about it, but I want to respect his privacy even though I damn well know if the tables were turned, he would make me tell.
Now we’re almost to Valentine’s Day and I know Ian has planned something special for us, so my plan is to broach the subject after—because why ruin a national holiday about love? I know. I’m neck deep in trouble—no pun intended.
I’m driving downtown to visit my brother for lunch. Colt got into town a couple of weeks ago. He usually works from Singapore, but he moved his base here, then surprised everyone and got a place downtown. I never thought he’d come back.
Colt has that broken-heart-and-had-to-run-away story. The bitch—and I can call her that because he’s my bro
ther and she hurt him bad—humiliated him by cheating on him when they were engaged. Colt actually caught her. He became a different man overnight, but he’s still the most loyal, incredible brother a girl could ask for.
He’s been ringing me off the hook to catch up, but because of work and Ian, I’ve pushed him off. I feel bad, but I’ll make him forgive me when I see him. My parents, on the other hand, will be more difficult. According to my mom, I’ve put myself in the terrible sister and daughter category. I guess you can’t win them all.
Ian interrupts my thoughts when he calls.
“Hi, baby,” I answer quickly, already longing to see him.
“When are you coming home?” Ian sounds gruff. I love that he calls his place my home.
“After lunch with my brother,” I remind him with a laugh. “I’m not even there yet.”
“Weekends are mine,” he says as though it’s the law.
I roll my eyes. “I don’t even know how to respond to that.”
“You don’t have to because you can’t.” He sounds arrogant as hell and I kind of love it. “It’s a fact.”
I don’t mind Ian owning my weekends, but I don’t think I’ll tell him that, so I change the topic. “Where are you taking me for dinner?”
“What are you in the mood for?”
“Besides you?”
There’s silence on the other end, and I know my comment affected him.
“I’ll remember that later tonight.” There’s a warning in his voice.
Goose bumps run down my spine and I sigh in anticipation. I should be ashamed. “You skipped telling me what we’re having for the main course.”
I know he’s smiling into the phone, but he’ll never tell me. “What do you want?”
“Ramen.”
He actually laughs, and I know I killed the mood. But I also know he’s happy about my choice. Ian introduced me to ramen, but now I’m slightly obsessed. Like, I want to go to Japan and gorge myself on ramen obsessed.
“Done.”