by Tara Sue Me
When they made it back to the bed, he turned to her, all sense and all evidence of urgency gone. He took her in his arms and placed soft kisses along her jaw.
“What time do you have to get up in the morning?” he asked, pulling back and stroking her hair.
“We have our final London performance at noon, but we’re not having practice in the morning, so I don’t have to be at the theater until ten.” She lifted her head from his chest. “Do you have to be somewhere?”
“No,” he said. “I don’t have any plans in the morning. I just wanted to make sure you’d be able to sleep in.”
She wrinkled her forehead. “I never sleep in.”
“I have a feeling you will tomorrow.”
“Why is that?”
He dropped his head to her neck and nibbled the spot right under her ear that always made her moan. “Let me show you.”
Then he did so and with every touch and kiss, loved her in a way that wasn’t possible with words. Time after time, he explored new ways to bring her pleasure and though he would not give in and take his own release, he ensured she came in as many ways and as many times as possible.
It was almost dawn by the time she rested her head on his chest. He thought she’d fallen asleep until she lifted on her elbow and looked down on him.
“Lance?” she asked.
“Hmm?” He hummed, not opening his eyes.
“I need to tell you something.”
Chapter Nineteen
The look Lance gave her told Celeste she should have worded her statement better. But the thing was, she’d been trying to figure out how to tell him ever since it became clear she’d been so misguided by Alex. The need to be transparent and not to keep anything from him had been gnawing at her for hours.
Lance sat up. “What is it, Celeste?”
She looked down at the bed and picked at a loose string on the sheet.
“Celeste?”
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, making herself look at him when she opened them. “I’ve been approached by the director of a large touring orchestra. So much larger than this one. It’s a fantastic opportunity and one I wouldn’t have expected this early in my career. But it’s stationed here in London and I’d have to withdraw from Juilliard.”
His expression gave away nothing. “Has the position been offered to you?”
She shook her head. “No, I’ve auditioned and interviewed, but they said a decision would be made by the time we left…”
“And you leave tomorrow.” He glanced at the clock and winced. “Today.”
She nodded.
He reached for her, and she went willingly into his arms. “What do you want to do?”
That was what she’d been asking herself for the last twelve hours. “I don’t know. I’m so conflicted.” It was so hard to admit, but she felt better having done so. “I’ve told myself they’re both good choices, and neither one is bad, but I still feel as if one is better than the other and I’ll be making a mistake if I don’t pick that one.”
He tightened his arms around her and her body relaxed. She felt so safe in his embrace.
“Close your eyes,” he told her, and she did. “Now, strip it all away. There’s no scholarship, no Barbara, no one with any expectation as to what you should or shouldn’t do. There’s no New York or London. For a minute, pretend they’re in the same city. Which one do you want? Which one calls to you.”
When he put it like that, she saw what she wanted. “It helps, but it still feels wrong.”
“What does?”
“The one I want.”
“Open your eyes for me.”
She did and looked into his warm blue eyes. They held no judgment, no preconceived notions, only acceptance, and it wasn’t until that moment she realized how desperately she needed that acceptance.
“What feels wrong about it?” he asked.
Simple question, but no simple answer.
She tried to explain anyway. “Because it’s such an honor to get into Juilliard and to get a scholarship. I’d be an idiot to walk away. But then I think, I’m twenty-five and I know I’m good. If I can already make a living doing what I want, why shouldn’t I?”
“Then there’s your answer.”
He made it sound so easy, so simple, yet in reality, it was anything but. “What about Barbara? What about you?”
He placed a finger on her lips. “Shh. Don’t live your life trying to make everyone else happy. You’ll never succeed and you’ll only make yourself miserable. Barbara will understand, and even if she doesn’t, it’s not your place to make her happy.”
That was fine, but it didn’t address him. Now that they’d got together, were they destined to lose each other again?
“And don’t worry about me,” he said. “I’m a pretty resourceful kind of guy. What you need to do is get a few hours of sleep so you can play tomorrow. I’ve decided to spank you for each pizzicato you mess up.”
He said it with a smile, but she knew he wasn’t joking. Besides, it wasn’t like staying awake would solve anything. So she snuggled deeper into his embrace and tried to get to sleep. It didn’t take long for her to drift off.
He wasn’t in bed with her when she woke up. Curious, she rolled over to look at the clock. Eight thirty. Just enough time for a quick breakfast and to get ready for practice. And her last performance in London. She wondered if Lance had left the room completely. She would have thought he’d left a note if that was the case.
About that time, she heard footsteps coming from the bathroom and Lance appeared.
“I thought you’d left,” she said, with a yawn and a stretch.
“You aren’t getting rid me that easy.” He held something out to her. “This was placed under the door for you.”
It’s a white envelope, addressed to her, and with no return address.
“They must have made their decision,” she said. “Probably bad news if they simply slipped a letter under the door.”
“Only one way to find out.”
She opened it carefully, dreading the contents, but excited to see them as well. Lance waited by her side, patiently, not even trying to read over her shoulder. She skimmed it once and then read back over it, taking her time to ensure it said what she thought it did. When she finished, she looked up to find Lance’s questioning gaze. Her expression must have given away what it said, because as soon as he saw her, he broken into a huge grin.
“They want me,” she confirmed. “They didn’t call because they didn’t have my phone number and the hotel kept putting them through to the wrong room. I’m surprised they trusted them to put the letter under the correct door.”
“The hotel staff didn't drop it off. I was by the door when it was delivered and peeked to see who it was. I think it was Mr. Danielson.”
Her excitement was tempered by his. Why was he happy, other than being happy because he knew it was what she wanted? She didn’t want to believe he was glad they’d be an ocean apart. It didn’t line up with what he’d said last night, or the way he’d so thoroughly loved her after saying those words.
“I have something to tell you,” he said. “I stepped out into the hall while you were sleeping and had a business meeting.”
For the life of her, she couldn’t fathom where he was going, so she waited for him to continue.
“Ty’s been bringing up very regularly that he wants to move back to New York. I think he wants to give it another try with Lillian, but he won’t admit it and I’m not about to ask her. Anyway,” he said, and she didn’t think the big smile had left his face once since she told him what was in her letter. “I explained your situation, and told him and Isaac that if you took this position, Ty could have New York because I was moving to London.”
She didn’t realize she was crying until he wiped a tear away.
“I hope you’re not crying at the thought of me being in London,” he said, and though he smiled, she could sense a hint of worry.
�
�No.” She sniffled. “It’s only that I never thought I’d get both the job I wanted and the man I need, much less on the same day.”
He put his arms around her and she pulled him onto the bed. “You certainly have a way with words, little girl.”
“It’s my Sir,” she said. “He works hard to keep me in line, but I’m afraid his job’s about to get much more hands on.”
“Believe him when he says he’s looking forward to it,” he said before kissing and showing her how much.
Coming Soon
Coming June 11, 2019
Big Swinging D: Term used for the baddest badass on Wall Street. That guy. The one other men want to be and that women just want.
Maggie Warren has always been unfocused. She hops from job to job, and relationship to relationship. Most of the time, she’s not even looking where she’s going. Which is exactly what happens when she runs into Isaac Gregory, trips over her feet, and dumps a year’s worth of compost all over his hand-stitched suit and one-of-a-kind leather shoes.
Isaac’s never met anyone like Maggie. She’s nothing like the women he works with, or the submissives he typically dates. Sure, she’s got a knockout body and a wit to match, but she’s a free spirit and hopelessly scattered. He should not be attracted to her. But he is.
After hearing she’s between jobs, he offers her his recently vacated Personal Assistant position. She readily agrees, but isn’t sure why he’d hire her. He’s her exact opposite: structured, organized, and controlled.
Boy, does he like control. And it intrigues her, especially when she discovers his private life.
Isaac’s not surprised when Maggie grows more and more interested in both of the worlds she sees him in: the public boardroom badass and the private well-respected Dominant. He tells her if she’s interested, he has a plan. A plan so hedonistic it could only be proposed by the man nicknamed the Big Swinging D.
But even Wall Street isn’t prepared for the fallout when the king of control falls for the queen of chaos.
Pre-order Now!
Out Now
AMERICAN ASSHOLE
"Scorching sex, well-developed characters, occasional bursts of humor, and skillful plotting make Me’s series launch a must-read." - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
He groaned my name as he pressed deeper inside me and I fisted the white sheets so tightly my knuckles almost matched their color.
We shouldn’t be doing this, but more importantly I shouldn’t be doing this. I should have never let it get this far. I knew better.
I should have never said yes to dinner. I should have never said yes to this trip. I should have never said yes to the contract.
But damn it all I had, even knowing what it would cost us both.
His weight pressed me into the mattress and his breath was hot in my ear. “Are you still with me?” Then for good measure he shifted his hips so his next thrust hit a new spot inside me and I moaned in pleasure.
It seemed I was unable to say no to the man. Nor did I want to. My body moved with his, desperate to draw him deeper.
“Are you?” he asked again, his lips brushing my nape and sending shivers down my spine.
“Yes. Oh, God, yes.”
Buy now!
About the Author
NEW YORK TIMES/USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR
Even though she graduated with a degree in science, Tara knew she'd never be happy doing anything other than writing. Specifically, writing love stories.
She started with a racy BDSM story and found she was not quite prepared for the unforeseen impact it would have. Nonetheless, she continued and The Submissive Series novels would go on to be both New York Times and USA Today Bestsellers. One of those, THE MASTER, was a 2017 RITA finalist for Best Erotic Romance.
Now she is focusing on new contemporary romances that allow her the freedom to write and publish on her own schedule.
Also by Tara Sue Me
THE SUBMISSIVE SERIES:
The Submissive
The Dominant
The Training
The Chalet*
Seduced by Fire
The Enticement
The Collar
The Exhibitionist
The Master
The Exposure
The Claiming*
The Flirtation
Mentor’s Match
The Mentor & The Master*
RACK ACADEMY SERIES:
Master Professor
Headmaster
BACHELOR INTERNATIONAL:
American Asshole
THE DATE DUO:
The Date Dare
The Date Deal
WALL STREET ROYALS:
FOK
Big Swinging D (June 11, 2019)
OTHERS:
Her Last Hello
Altered Allies (currently unavailable)
Writing as Tara Thomas
Shattered Fear*
Hidden Fate*
Twisted End*
Darkest Night
Deadly Secret
Broken Promise
*eNovella