by Krista Lakes
AJ looked out the window for the fourth time in as many minutes. Kat would be at his home any moment, yet he didn’t want to wait that long. He wanted to have her in his arms this second. She was the bright spot to his entire day, his entire week even. Between the lawyers and the media, his days were hell. Even swimming, his usual stress-reliever, wasn’t helping.
But Kat did. When she was around, his tension melted and the constant ache between his shoulder blades faded. Being in the water wore him out so that he was too tired to think of the consequences of Paul’s actions, whereas Kat energized him.
The alarm chimed, indicating that a car was approaching the house. The grin spreading across his face threatened to break it in half. She was here and it was the best he’d felt all day.
He ran to the door, excited as a kid on Christmas. Of course he had seen her at work, but he hadn’t had any time alone with her since he brought her soup four days ago. He hoped she was feeling better. At the office, she said she was feeling okay, but they were both so busy that he didn’t really have a chance to follow up. Tonight, they had the evening to themselves. An entire Friday night all to themselves. He couldn’t have thought of a better way to spend it than with Kat.
The driver he had sent to get her let her out in the large driveway, and he watched as she walked up to the door. He threw open the door before she even had time to knock, making her jump. The surprise put color in her cheeks that accented her beauty. Somehow, she was even more beautiful every time he saw her.
“Kat,” he greeted her, holding the door open for her to enter his home.
“That’s some security you have out there,” she commented.
“I try to have minimal staff here, but security is something I won’t skimp on,” he told her. He felt like babbling that he just had a weekly cleaning staff and personal chef who came once a day, which was nothing compared to many billionaires he knew, but he stayed quiet.
“Well, they certainly know how to do their jobs.” She sounded tired and slightly annoyed.
“Did they treat you badly?” he asked. As much as he wanted to have his home secure, the idea of them hassling her made him angry. He had specifically asked for them to allow her in without issue.
“No, no,” she assured him with a smile. “They were just very thorough. I’m glad I was on their list or I never would have gotten in.”
“You were on the list from the moment I found out your name,” he told her. She blushed and grinned, telling him it was exactly the right thing to say. “You look beautiful, by the way.”
“Thank you,” she replied, kissing him on the cheek. Just the brush of her lips against his skin had his hormones firing into overdrive. It took more self-restraint than he was expecting not to just pull her into the bedroom and show her how he felt right then.
“Are you feeling better?” he asked, closing the door behind her. She leaned over and started to remove her shoes before officially entering the house.
“Kind of,” she said after a pause. “I’m still a little queasy, but it comes and goes.”
“Hopefully not for much longer, though,” he said, holding out his hand to help her with her balance. She took his hand almost gingerly and he wondered if he had said something strange. “Everyone else at the office seems to be getting over it pretty quickly.”
“Oh, right. Of course.” She smiled and relaxed slightly. “So, do I get a tour or what?”
He grinned. He brought very few people here. She was one of them and he was excited to show his home to her. He hoped she enjoyed it enough to stay. “You got it.”
The house was big, but not overly huge. He enjoyed his wealth, but he didn’t need fourteen empty rooms. He simply had a gourmet kitchen, a fancy dining room, a comfortable living room, two guest rooms, his office, a basement with the entertainment system and bar, and of course an amazing master bedroom.
“So, this is where you work when you’re at home?” she asked as they entered his office. “Wow, that desk is amazing.”
He imagined her stretched out across it, naked and willing and nearly lost his entire train of thought. It was taking a fair amount of energy to remain a gentleman with her this close after the past few days apart. She was becoming his drug of choice and he wanted more.
“How are the lawsuits going?” she asked, looking up at him with those beautiful green eyes. “I haven’t heard anything recently. ”
The weight of the world crashed back down on him again. He had managed to forget the disaster that was his work life for a few moments. “Not great. Paul really screwed the pooch,” he admitted. “Actually, screwing the pooch might have been better.”
She laughed appropriately and put her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry.” There was a heartfelt sadness to her voice that broke his heart.
He shrugged. “It has been a media nightmare this past week,” he told her. “But at least it seems like there’s an end in sight. The scandal seems to be losing steam. I’ll make it.”
Kat gave his arm a squeeze. He picked up her hand in his and brought it to his lips. “As long as things stay quiet, I think the company will weather this storm. We hit our lowest stock price yesterday, but as long as nothing else hits the fan, we’ll be fine.”
“Fine?”
“Better than fine,” he promised. He actually believed that things would work out when she was around. It wasn’t just her most recent business idea to rent their unsold merchandise, but how she made him feel. When she was with him, things felt possible.
“There’s still more I want to show you,” he said after a moment. “This isn’t the best room in the house by far.”
She laughed. “I have a feeling I know which room you’re taking me to.”
“Oh, you think so, do you?” He took her hand in his and led her from his work desk and out into the hallway to continue the tour and give her the surprise he had waiting.
23
AJ
AJ led Kat down the hallway, past the living room, to the back of the house. He wanted to show her the bathroom, which was one of the most impressive rooms in the entire home. He had gone the extra mile with it and spent thousands to make it perfect. He told his interior designer that he wanted to create an oasis that he could relax in so that, after a rough day at work, he could shut the entire world out and find peace.
He knew she’d love it.
“Okay, you ready?” AJ asked, as they approached the end of the hall.
Kat nodded eagerly. “Yes, I can’t wait. What is it?”
“It’s the bathroom,” he responded.
Kat cocked her head to the side and laughed. “Really? The bathroom is the best room in the house?”
“Just wait,” he said.
He opened the double glass doors and they walked in. At first glance, it would appear that they had walked into a regular bathroom. It was bigger than most, but nothing too out of the ordinary. Kat looked impressed despite the fact that she hadn’t even seen the best part yet.
“This shower is awesome,” Kat said, smiling and trying to look impressed.
She opened the glass door and stepped inside, gazing up at the three giant showerheads. AJ popped his head in.
“It’s a pretty big shower,” he commented. “Probably too big for just one person.”
Kat giggled and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, probably. What’s this?” She pointed at a digital display that was located at the back of the shower. Kat’s eyes lit up as he explained.
“You can control everything from there. The music in the house, the thermostat, the temperature of the water and even the steam function in the shower.” He pressed a button and the light in the shower turned on. “Every single room in the house has one, and they all control certain things for each room.”
Kat reached toward the digital screen and then pulled away. “I don’t want to mess something up. Show me the rest of the bathroom.”
The best part was a few steps away, just around the corner.
“Come on, follow me,” AJ said,
trying his best to control his excitement at showing her his prized possession.
Kat hopped out of the shower and followed AJ to the other side of the bathroom, which revealed what he considered to be the best part of the entire house. She did a double take and then looked to AJ. Her jaw dropped as she stared in disbelief.
“You have a pool in your bathroom?” she asked, though it was more of a statement than a question.
AJ smiled proudly. “I do.”
The expression on her face was priceless and AJ savored it. Her jaw was on the ground and her eyes wide as she scanned the room, shaking her head in shock. She looked exactly like he did the first time he saw it after it was complete. He loved getting to see it for the first time through her eyes.
“This is beautiful,” she whispered. “I can’t even believe this.”
AJ knew she would love it. The swimming pool was two lanes of crystal blue water and the temperature was perfect. He could jump in at any time and not even get the initial shiver like in most pools. On the bottom, AJ had requested a fish mosaic scene to be installed, making the entire thing resemble a river filled with fish.
“You think this is nice? Come check this out,” AJ said, as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
They walked down the tiled floor along the length of the pool until they got to the back wall. There, they looked out of a giant floor to ceiling window. Beyond it was a spectacular view of the real river that was in his back yard. In the distance behind it was the city, its lights sparkling in the darkness. It looked like something out of a painting. It was just another reason that AJ loved this room.
Kat was silent for a moment then turned to face him once more. Once again, she asked, “You seriously have a swimming pool in your bathroom?”
AJ chuckled. She was so cute and still one of the only people that could make him genuinely laugh.
“I felt like having a pool in the bathroom made sense. You know, because it makes it so much easier to take a shower after you’ve gone for a swim,” he explained.
Kat spun around, bringing her attention to the opposite corner of the room. Her hand lifted as she pointed.
“And a hot tub?” she asked.
“Oh yeah, that’s the other part of this room that I absolutely love,” he said, as they walked toward the tub. “I had this skylight installed above it so that you can see the stars at night while you’re relaxing.”
Sure enough, above the hot tub was a skylight that was as big as the tub itself. They both gazed up at the clear night sky, and the blanket of stars that covered it. Kat looked so amazed that AJ thought for sure he was going to have to help her get her jaw off of the floor. Suddenly, she turned her attention away from the skylight and brought her eyes to him.
“So I don’t know how to tell you this, but I don’t think I’m ever going to leave this room,” she mused. “Seriously. Keep the rest of the house, but you’re just going to have to accept the fact that I’ll be living in the bathroom. I hope that’s going to work out for you.”
AJ shrugged and then responded casually, “I’m okay with that.”
Kat blushed immediately, realizing the implications of what was just said. AJ watched as she began playing with her hair, quickly twirling it in her fingers. Her nerves were showing for some reason. Apparently the suggestion of them living together was a little too much, too soon. In an effort to change the subject and to kill the awkward silence, AJ spoke up. “Want to go for a swim?”
Kat’s hands dropped to her stomach, where she held them there for a moment before pulling it away. “I’d love to, but I didn’t bring a suit.”
AJ grinned. Her words were like music to his ears. “You don’t need a suit here. This is a private pool. I promise we’re the only ones allowed in here.”
Kat looked at the pool and then to AJ. She gazed into his eyes. Her expression reminded him of when they had met at the wedding reception. It was like she was seeing him again for the first time. But there was something else too. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but there was something on her mind.
“Everything okay?” AJ asked.
She nodded slowly in response. “Yeah, I guess I’m just a little in awe of it all, you know? All of this.”
Her hands motioned around the room, from the hot tub, to the pool and to the view of the city.
“I’m just not used to dating a billionaire,” she continued.
AJ stood silent as he listened. He was proud of all he had accomplished and worked for, but he never wanted it to be something that would scare Kat off. In fact, he had hoped for just the opposite. He wanted to share it with her, if she would ever let him.
“Come to think of it,” Kat said. “I’m not even used to dating a guy who can afford his own house, let alone a pool in his bathroom.”
AJ watched her speak, just falling in love with her more and more by the second. Finally, he spoke. “Well, all of this stuff is nice. But it’s just stuff, you know? I certainly don’t define my life by it, but I do try to enjoy it. That’s what it’s here for.”
There was a pause as AJ found the right words.
“Will you enjoy it with me while you’re here?” he asked. “How about that swim?”
Kat’s lips finally curled up into a smile. The initial shock of the mansion seemed to be fading a bit and it seemed like she was ready to relax and enjoy herself.
“Okay,” she said. “But close your eyes.”
AJ looked at her like she was crazy. “I’ve seen you naked before, you know?”
“I know!” Kat squealed. “Still, just close your eyes. And you better be getting naked, because I’m not going to be the only one going in there without a swimsuit.”
AJ lifted his hands to his face to cover up his eyes. Of course, he couldn’t help but to take a peek through his fingers. He watched as Kat slipped off her clothes. She stood there, perfect and beautiful, wearing only her bra and panties. He soaked in the sight of her, unable to break his gaze. His heart thumped behind his rib cage. Sure, she turned him on, but there was something else that was increasing his heart rate. It felt like she belonged there with him. It was as though the entire universe had conspired to create that moment, where she’d be in his home and he’d be falling head over heels for her.
“You better not be peeking, mister,” Kat said, as she approached the edge of the pool.
“Peeking? No way. I’d never do something like that. Unless, of course, there was some kind of situation where you and I were both about to go swimming and you had forgotten your swimsuit. Then I might just have to take a peek.”
Kat smiled flirtatiously as she took off her bra and tossed it at AJ. It landed over his shoulder and he finally dropped his hands. His eyes went straight to her body and he shook his head in admiration. “You are so gorgeous.”
She smirked and then crossed her arms. “Take your clothes off, AJ. I refuse to be the only naked one here.”
AJ did as she asked and got undressed. He was standing in just his boxer briefs, which Kat pointed to immediately. “Those too.”
AJ slipped them off and Kat did the same with her panties. As soon as her panties were on the ground, she jumped into the water. AJ followed suit and dove in after her. When their heads surfaced, Kat was giggling.
“I don’t think I’ve ever skinny dipped before,” she said, as she pushed her hair from her forehead.
“I have, but only when I’m here by myself,” AJ joked. “It’s a lot more fun with you, though.”
“I’ll bet it is,” Kat responded, as she splashed some water onto AJ’s face.
AJ splashed back and it wasn’t long before there was an all-out water splashing war. The room echoed with their laughter. In the back of AJ’s mind, he realized that it was the first time there had been anything but silence in that room. But he liked it. He liked the sound of her laughter much more than the usual silence. He thought for sure that it was something he could get used to.
As the commotion settled down, Kat approached
AJ in the water. She placed her hands onto his shoulders. AJ reached forward and touched the outside of her hips. Her skin was so soft and smooth, and his fingers slid easily along her curves. She was beauty incarnate in every way. They stood in the warm water, just enjoying each other’s embrace. It was perfect, really. The starry night outside, the warm water and dim lights inside, the soft classical music coming from the living room. AJ wondered what he had done in a past life to deserve a moment as pristine as this. And it only got better when Kat leaned in and brought her lips to his.
The two kissed and it was like time stood still. Their naked bodies became entangled. AJ was turned on instantly and found his hands moving down Kat’s back, grazing her behind. She didn’t seem to mind and in fact, his touch was encouraged as she lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist. He held her up with ease. She weighed nearly nothing in the water, which left his hands free to move all over as they wished.
Within seconds, AJ was fully erect between her legs. There was nothing standing between the satisfaction that only Kat could give him. He gently pressed forward and his tip slid in, causing her to gasp.
“AJ,” she whispered, as she pulled away from their kiss. “Not here.”
His body ached as Kat slowly dropped her legs and stepped back.
“Come on,” she said, as she used the small ladder to crawl out of the pool.
He stood and watched her leave the water. Her body shined with droplets that slid all the way down her back. Her hair was wet, which for some reason turned him on even more. Up until that moment, AJ was sure that there was nothing in this world that could make Kat look any sexier. He was wrong.
“I really like the view from here, though,” he said sadly, as he pouted out his lower lip like a puppy dog.
She playfully grabbed a white towel from a nearby rack and covered herself up with it. “Well, then get out of there and get a closer look. I’m freezing.”
Kat exaggerated a shiver and then scurried along the edge of the pool. AJ followed her out, grabbing a towel for himself as he went. She looked over her shoulder at him and flashed a flirtatious smile before disappearing around the corner. AJ followed her like an obedient servant. He would have happily followed her anywhere.