Thomas got to his feet and warily backed away. Holding his injured arm protectively against his body, he quickly turned and rushed away down the hall, not once looking back. He couldn’t get down the hall and disappear fast enough, but not before she heard him muttering something under his breath about a “crazy-ass bitch.”
Sarona entered her suite, chuckling to herself at the sight of Thomas scurrying down the hall. It was too bad she had to rough up her date — she laughed out loud as she made a few ninja-like moves and a couple karate chops in the air at an invisible foe — but he had it coming. It looked as though those lessons in self-defense had finally paid off. It wasn’t her fault, really. It had been an automatic reaction she hadn’t even realized her training had ingrained in her. It was the first time she’d felt threatened since taking the classes.
She sighed as she continued into the bedroom. She suspected that by tomorrow, if word got out that Thomas had bombed at the door, his account would probably be that she was either a lesbian or frigid. He’d probably defend his manhood by saying she didn’t know what to do with a real man when he was standing right in front of her.
“It’s too bad he doesn’t have the first clue about how to behave like a ‘real’ man,” Sarona muttered to herself. And that was the last thought she had on the matter of Mr. Thomas Khan.
• • •
David opened his eyes to the ringing of the phone, knowing without looking at the clock it was his morning wake-up call. He’d had another sleepless night; this time it had been spent lying awake tormented with the vision of Sarona and her date as they left the bar. His vivid imagination had held him hostage most of the night, making the morning courtesy call unnecessary.
He’d tossed and turned with the knowledge of what Thomas had in mind when he’d left with Sarona. He was a man and Sarona was a beautiful and enticing woman. David knew that, given the opportunity, he would do the exact same thing.
He’d stayed at the bar long enough to see Sarona and her group leave, and over the protests of Shelia and her friends he’d said good night and left as well. As tempted as he was to do so, he didn’t follow them, but went straight to his room instead. He’d lain in tortured semi-slumber throughout the entire night, until now.
Tired and irritated from his lack of sleep, he hazarded a glance at the clock by the bedside. The illumination of the digital numbers indicated that he needed to be getting out of bed … now. It didn’t matter that he’d had a crappy night; he had a full day ahead of him. Somehow, he had to strike a balance between his obligations and responsibilities to his firm and the reason for the trip, as well as fulfilling his need to accomplish his own personal goal, to get what he’d really come for.
What he’d come for was a chance at a fantasy and to realize a dream; to dive into the taste of delicious, creamy, sweet caramel. What he’d come for was an opportunity to get Sarona alone, and to tempt fate by stepping out onto a bridge constructed of desperate hope, to turn months of fantasies and dreams into reality. He hardened instantly at the random parade of thoughts in his head that all too often preceded an inevitable and ever-present want and desire.
He pushed the sheet away from his fully nude body in frustration, and the exposure to the cool air intensified the sensations of want and need. David slowly stretched to his full length and, gazing upon his lower half, he contracted the muscle in his penis that caused it to slowly rise and pulsate at half mast, while his balls tightened and withdrew inside his body. He closed his eyes and became wrapped in the vision of her totally nude and straddling his body, poised to lower herself down upon his erection. The image was more than he could stand. The ache in his balls was so sudden and sharp he had to grab himself to ease the intense pain brought on by such a graphic visual.
Breathing and easing himself through the pain, he was again reminded, albeit cruelly so, of how quickly time was running out. He slowly released the pressure on his groin and allowed his semi-erect shaft to slowly collapse into its normal state of rest. As painful as the feeling had been, there was still some pleasure in the thought of anticipation. Sighing in resignation, David threw the sheet completely back and prepared to face the unavoidable; another day of being so close to a dream that was still so far out of reach.
Chapter 5
Wednesday
Wednesday proved to be an experience in déjà vu. Sarona had again successfully hedged and dodged her way around all his attempts to make contact or conversation.
During an afternoon break, he stood away from the crowd, indulging in a solitary moment of brooding. He was mulling over his problem when he caught a glimpse of Thomas, who appeared distant and standoffish from the rest of his colleagues. Judging by his behavior and reluctance at being near Sarona, David guessed that the evening hadn’t turned out quite the way he’d hoped. The telltale signs of his evident failure brought a sense of momentary relief from his own anguish and frustration, and a grim smile to his face. On the one hand, it was reassuring to see Sarona was still in rare form; shooting down every advance as efficiently as a military commander in battle directing his troops and covering his flank. And he was glad to know he wasn’t the only one who’d been shot down in action.
On the other hand … well, on the other hand it was annoyingly frustrating to be lumped into the same category as the likes of Thomas and Bruce. At the risk of letting pride and arrogance rule good sense, he’d like to think he’d impressed her more than the average Joe; that he stood out and had a lot more in his favor than the few who were currently passing for competition.
He was annoyed that she was being difficult. While he had surely known on some level this would be an undertaking of considerable challenge, it had never occurred to him how tough the challenge would be. Obviously he’d underestimated the woman. He’d relied too heavily on using his charm and good looks to influence her. In addition to his natural scent, they were his best assets, and he wasn’t being given the chance to employ them. As he watched her head back to her class, David’s lips tightened with abrupt resolve. He made up his mind then and there he would no longer be summarily dismissed. If she didn’t want his company, fine. But she would no longer be allowed to avoid him at every turn; she was going to have to tell him, face-to-face. He knew a thing or two about planning strategies as well. He would re-evaluate his methods and come up with an alternate plan. He was going to have to take her completely by surprise and make a full-out frontal assault when she was most vulnerable, and when she least expected it.
He looked across the crowded restaurant and saw Sarona seated alone at a table for two, and he was next in line when the hostess returned from seating the previous patron. Seeing a golden opportunity, he beamed brightly, turned on the charm, and asked to be seated with the lady at the table in the back.
David smiled in anticipation as the hostess brought him to Sarona’s table.
She sighed when she saw him and muttered, just loud enough for him to hear, “I knew I should have ordered in.”
The hostess said, “This gentleman would like to join you for dinner. Is that all right?”
“Yes, of course, I’d be delighted. Hello, David.”
Delighted, my ass, he thought with a silent smirk. He wasn’t the least bit fooled. The look of annoyance in her eyes clearly contradicted the smile pasted on her lips. Well, too damn bad. She was stuck with him for now.
“Hi, Sarona. I’m not intruding, am I?” He was merely being polite in the asking; intruding or not, he didn’t really give a damn.
“No, of course not. It’ll be nice to have company,” She answered in her most cheerful voice … and nearly choked on the lie as it crossed her lips.
David graciously thanked the hostess and pulled out his chair to seat himself. Sarona had responded a bit too cheerfully in his opinion. He put his arms on the table and, folding his hands together, gave her a long, accusing look. She hastily lowered her eyes to shield herself from his reproachful gaze, exhibiting a sudden intense interest in the menu. Realizin
g she wasn’t going to react to his accusatory posture, David took up his own menu to browse.
The waitress brought bread and butter and returned with their choice of drinks. Eventually they both chose entrees and waited for their orders to arrive. The two passed the meal in polite conversation, and though it wasn’t all bad, there was a palpable difference between the tone of tonight’s dialogue and that of only two nights ago. There was neither teasing nor joking, nor the back-and-forth bantering he’d come to crave It’s as though we’re starting all over again, he thought in frustration.
They continued through dessert in much the same manner until David, unable to endure the subdued tenor any longer, decided enough was enough.
“I’m not going to let you do it, you know,” he said, staring into her eyes with a hard, steely look, idly circling the rim of his glass with his fingers.
“Do what?” Sarona asked with eyebrows drawn and a confused look on her face.
“Ignore me.”
“Ignore you?”
“Yes, ignore me, and I think you go out of your way to do it too,” he responded with mild irritation.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you do. You’ve avoided me for the past two days. Every time you saw me headed your way, you beat feet in the opposite direction, making sure our paths never crossed. You escaped and evaded at every turn like some kind of military Special Operations expert. You were damn good at it too. Hell, Sarona, you make me feel like I’m some kind of disease you don’t want to catch. The time I’ve managed to spend with you is because I’ve pushed myself on you — forced you to acknowledge me. As a matter of fact, if I hadn’t cornered you here at dinner, I have no doubt that if you’d seen me coming you would have disappeared long before now. The only reason I’m here is because you’re too polite to say no, even though I’ve intruded and invited myself to share your dinner table. That’s what I like about you, Sarona,” David continued in a low quiet voice. “Even though you go out of your way to avoid me, you aren’t actually rude about it. Tell me, what have I done to make you dislike me so?”
• • •
Sarona was shocked. She had no idea that, one, her avoidance of him had been so obvious, and two, that it bothered him. She couldn’t believe he would take notice of such a thing in the first place. “I don’t dislike you, David. I can’t imagine why you would think that, but if I’ve given you that impression, then I’m truly sorry.”
“Then what is it, Sarona? Why do you run every time you see me coming?”
She hated to admit it but the man had her pegged. Somehow he’d seen past her attempts to elude him and had totally misinterpreted her intention in the process. Obviously she hadn’t been as successful as she’d thought, and had relayed the wrong message entirely. She didn’t dislike him. God knows he couldn’t be further from the truth. And now that she’d been confronted, his question had caught her completely off guard. As much as she didn’t want to give him a reason to continue his pursuit, she knew she couldn’t allow his misinterpretation to remain between them.
After considering her options she finally took a deep breath and, looking him straight in the eye, replied in a clear and defiant voice, “Self-preservation.”
David returned her straightforward look, and broke out into a broad grin. “Please explain.”
Not impressed by his teasing manner or wanting to waste time with pretenses, Sarona sighed in resignation. In need of fortification she took a sizeable sip of wine and answered, “David Broussard, you are one lethal and dangerous man. You’re handsome, charming, witty, and you know exactly what to say to get and hold a woman’s attention. You exude sexuality and wield the power to make women lose their minds and deliver all control into your hands. I’ll be honest and admit that I’m not unaffected by your looks and charm, but I absolutely refuse to relinquish my control to a man who has little to no regard for the aftermath or consequences of his reckless use of such power — a man who goes through women like a cold through Kleenex. Though I also find you as witty and charming as every other woman on the face of this earth does, I have no desire to be a part of your entourage, or to become a member of the David Broussard fan club.”
He leaned back in his chair, as if stunned by the magnitude of this revelation, and seemed hard pressed for an immediate response.
She was shocked at what she’d told him. She’d had no idea the things she’d said would come out of her mouth, but it was out there now, and there was no taking it back. She watched an array of expressions play across his face as he processed her uncensored response. When she saw the hard glint in his eyes and a sly smile she immediately distrusted slowly spread across his lips, she knew at once she’d made a mistake. She had unintentionally baited the tiger.
After a moment, David said, “I need to change your opinion of me, Sarona. I’m hardly the heartless destroyer of feminine virtue you accuse me of being. And not all these women I’m supposed to have deceived and misled belong inside that picture of innocence you paint. Yes, I’ll admit I browse the market, and I do sample the wares from time to time, but in my defense, I’m simply responding to the expectations of every woman and man here. I’m already prejudged for my so-called roguish good looks, and because of this there is a certain level of anticipation. Everyone, men and women alike, expect me to play the ladies’ man. If you ask me, I’m the victim here — the victim of exploitation. Basically, I’m being used to fulfill the longings and fantasies of others too inhibited or too afraid to do it for themselves.”
“You can save your little ‘woe is me’ act, David, I’m not buying it. Living up to others’ expectations is a choice, not a requirement. It looks to me like this role of martyrdom you’ve taken on is self-appointed. And I can’t help but notice that, for all your complaining, you don’t seem to be too put out by this part you play. So, why are you here, David?” she asked, aggravation clearly apparent in her voice. “Why do you persist in inviting yourself into my space and forcing me to acknowledge you? What do you want? Are you suddenly interested in sampling my wares too?” she snapped sarcastically.
David leaned forward. His face inches from hers and staring directly into her eyes, he said in an intimately suggestive voice, “No, Sarona, I know a sample would never be enough. Once I get a taste of you, I know I’m going to want it all.”
She felt the heat rise from the base of her neck, spread up her throat, and plaster itself all over her face and ears. Her face was on fire. She’d actually blushed! Finding herself once again suddenly at a loss for words and too flustered to remain, there was no other choice but to leave or be caught up and burned alive by his seductive powers.
Sarona rose from her seat, and in a voice that sounded more in control than she actually felt, she said, “I’m a firm believer in evolution’s theories of survival of the fittest and self-preservation. You trigger my fight or flight response, and I admit, though cowardly it may be, quite frankly, I choose to flee. I think this would be a good point at which to say good night. Good night, David.”
Sarona picked up her bill and left him sitting alone at the table with an unreadable expression upon his face.
• • •
He watched her walk away, watched her hips sway from side to side to a rhythm he couldn’t hear but one he surely felt, the beat of it thrumming its way through his entire body, in perfect sync with that sway. He was hard and hurting with his desire for her, and his expression was an exact reflection of his physical state, set and hard as stone. She couldn’t know it, but she’d fired his drive, fueled his resolve, and intensified his already unbearable obsession.
“I guess we’ll have to find a way to deal with that trigger, won’t we, Sarona?” David whispered to himself as he lifted his glass in a silent salute to her retreating backside. Although Sarona’s backside was enticing to watch as she disappeared from sight, the repeating scenario was becoming an irritating routine. She’d already managed to avoid him for two days, so there was n
o way he was going to let her get away from him now.
If she thought she would be allowed to just walk away and consider that the end of story then she didn’t know him as well as she thought she did. In fact, she didn’t really know him at all. It was time he introduced his real self to the lady, David thought as he turned his drink bottoms up and drained the glass. Setting the empty glass down, he stood to go after Sarona with one thought on his mind — there was no time like the present.
• • •
She knew she’d made a mistake. He’d gotten to her, had slipped past that nonchalant exterior she had perfected, projected, and wrapped around herself like a shield. He had gotten a ringside look at what really went on beneath the surface of her feigned indifference, and she knew it was only a matter of time before he’d take advantage of his discovery.
Damn! She’d slipped up and she couldn’t take it back. His showing up unexpectedly like that had taken her completely by surprise. She should have just said no; should have lied and said she was waiting for someone. Of course, the lie would have been obvious when no one showed up. And a man like David would have hung around to see if anyone did.
Sarona held her breath as she walked away, praying to God he wouldn’t follow her and push to continue their discussion. But, as she prepared to pay for her meal, a hand reached out and took her arm and the bill, and the voice attached to it said, “I wouldn’t be much of a gentleman if I didn’t take care of this and at least escort you to your room.”
As much as she wanted to protest, good sense dictated that she not argue the point. She allowed David to pay her dinner bill and reluctantly waited for him to escort her to the elevator. They rode in silence, watching the floors flash by on the wall panel, each in their own, thought-filled world. When they reached her floor, David held the doors open and allowed her to exit first. He walked her to her suite and then held out his hand for her key card, still silent.
Prelude to a Seduction Page 6