by Penelope Sky
His eyes immediately went to Muse, and a grin stretched across his face. “Conway’s muse. I don’t think we’ve met.” He stepped toward her and extended his hand.
She pulled her arm from my grasp and placed it in his. “Nice to meet you. You must be Carter.”
He leaned in to kiss her on the cheek.
“Carter.” My tone was enough to warn him to rethink his actions.
He stepped back, still grinning. “Alright. We’ll do this the American way.” He shook her hand. “A pleasure to meet you, Sapphire. Conway talks about you often.”
“I hope he says good things,” she said.
His eyes shifted to me. “Only good things.”
I wanted to smack him upside the head. “Did you need something, Carter?”
“I was in this neck of the woods and wanted to see if you wanted to get lunch. Nicole told me you were in today.”
“I’ve got a lot of work to do today, Carter. How about tomorrow?”
“My parents told me we’ll be having dinner at your folks’ place on Friday. We’ll catch up on the drive.”
No one had told me about this dinner. “Didn’t realize that was happening.”
“I’m sure you’ll get the call soon enough. And bring your woman along. I’d love to get to know her on the drive down.” He winked at me before he headed to the door. “See you soon.” He walked out and left us alone.
“I’m glad I can put a face to the name now,” Muse said. “You look alike.”
“People think we’re brothers, unfortunately.”
“He seems friendly.”
“He’s only friendly with you because it pisses me off.”
She smiled. “It only pisses you off because you get so jealous.” She grinned then walked to the table, her confidence growing because she knew she put me in my place. “So dinner on Friday?”
“Apparently.”
“This will be at the house where you grew up?”
“Yes.”
“I’m excited to see it.”
I hadn’t invited her, but I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. My parents would expect me to bring her, and Vanessa would pester me until Muse was sitting beside her in the back seat.
I approached the table and opened my notebook.
“What ideas are you working on?”
“A good one came to me last night.”
“Yeah?”
I flipped to the right page.
She examined my drawing as she tucked her hair behind her ear. “I like it. Simple and elegant. Most of your pieces cover more skin, but this one doesn’t.”
“I think the color and fabric will look perfect against your skin.” I grabbed the piece of fabric from the table and returned to her. I held the soft material against her arm and admired the way it suited her skin tone. “Perfect.” I set the piece of fabric on the table.
“Can I help?”
“No.” I grabbed a bolt of the fabric and set it in my space on the table.
“Then what can I do?”
“Wear it when I’m finished.”
“Alright.” She sat on the stool by my side and stared at my hands as I worked.
Nicole walked in a few moments later. “Conway, I’m glad you’re here. I need to speak to you in private.”
I didn’t stop what I was doing. “You can speak in front of Sapphire.” She was an essential part of my life now. She knew about my work, about my routine, and she shared my bed with me. No point in keeping secrets from her.
“Conway, I must insist.” Nicole stood on my right, her hand resting on the table.
Nicole wouldn’t override me like that unless it was important, so I turned to Muse. “Could you step outside for a moment?”
“Of course.” She stepped out and shut the door behind her.
I set down my tools then turned my full focus on Nicole. “What is it?”
“Andrew Lexington of Lady Lingerie is downstairs in the conference room.”
Andrew Lexington was my biggest lingerie competitor in the world. He was based in America, and while he did great work, his designs weren’t as original as mine. But he had a great grasp of marketing to the American people, and he didn’t refrain from doing his production overseas to make his lingerie affordable. I was in the luxury business, so our approaches were innately different. I’d only met him once, and we didn’t have much to say to each other. The fact that he flew across the world to my doorstep meant he had serious business to discuss. “What does he want?”
“This is the thing…” She kept her voice low, like someone could overhear us even though it was just the two of us in the room. “He actually came here looking for Sapphire. He said he’s been trying to get a hold of her, but he says she has no known address, phone number, or family. So he came here asking to speak with her.”
Instantly, my body tightened, and I felt the rage spike inside me. Another designer flew across the world because he was trying to hunt down my woman. Whatever he wanted with her, it wasn’t good. He wanted her for his own gain—that was clear.
“I didn’t know what to do, so I thought I would tell you first.”
“You made the right decision, Nicole.” I could barely keep my voice steady because I was so angry. “Show him to my office. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
“And should I tell Sapphire?”
I didn’t want her to know anything until I knew what he wanted first. “No.”
* * *
I left Muse in my studio and walked to my office on the other side of the building. Andrew was waiting for me, and I purposely made him wait an extra twenty minutes just to be an asshole.
Muse was mine. Not only was she my model, but she was my woman. She was the one sleeping in my bed every night, and I was the man who slept beside her. She was my property—end of story.
If Andrew thought he could have her, he was mistaken.
I stepped inside the office and saw the back of Andrew’s head. His broad shoulders extended past the sides of the chair, and he continued to stare straight ahead at the windows that overlooked the city. The glass was so clean he could see his reflection—and mine.
I slowly walked past him to my desk, not stopping to greet him with a handshake.
Why should I?
I sat behind my desk and brought my hands together on the wood. I hardly used this office since my studio was my creative space. This room was for calculations and bookkeeping. Nicole did her work in here sometimes, leaving her documents out so I could see them when I had time.
I stared at him coldly, looking at a man ten years older than I was. He was in his early forties, and even though I wasn’t even thirty yet, I had more success than he did. My name was much more respected. My lingerie was considered a luxury. Mistresses of powerful men wore my stuff. Only nobodies wore his shit. “How can I help you, Andrew?”
He retained his composure as well as I did. “I’m sure Nicole told you I’m looking for Sapphire.”
“She mentioned it.”
“And since I’m meeting with you, I guess I won’t be speaking to her.”
Fuck no. “You’re bright.”
The corner of his mouth rose in a smile. “She’s one of the most difficult people to track down. I can only assume she has a fascinating story.”
A story he would never know. “What do you want, Andrew?”
“We both know Sapphire stole the hearts of men and women everywhere at that show a few months ago. But I haven’t seen her since—and neither has anyone else. Does that mean she’s decided to retire?”
No. She just has a new job—fucking me. “She still works for me.”
“Then why aren’t you using your greatest weapon?”
“Trust me, I use her.” I leaned forward over the desk, staring him down harder.
“Maybe she’d like to be used in other ways. I’m going to make her an offer to come work for me.”
Like that would ever happen. “She’s not available.”
/> “Even if she’s under contract, I can break the chains of her legal imprisonment.”
Any problem could be fixed with enough money. Considering I was his biggest competitor, he needed to have leverage over me. By taking the most gorgeous model that ever stepped foot on the runway, he would definitely have serious power. I couldn’t let that happen—and not just because of my business.
But because Muse was mine. “She’s not going anywhere, Andrew.”
“That’s for her to decide.”
No, it’s not. “She’s not available. I won’t repeat myself a second time.”
His eyes narrowed. “You think you can stop me from speaking to her? I know she lives here. It’s only a matter of time before I corner her. And the fact that you’re sabotaging a potential deal for this woman is sickening.”
I owned her. It wasn’t sickening at all. “She’s mine, Andrew. Let it go.”
“And what do you think your little star will say when I tell her that you refused to let me talk with her?”
I wasn’t letting this man anywhere near her. She was stuck to me like glue every minute of the day. He couldn’t get to her without going through me first. And no man could get through me. “I wouldn’t waste your time, Andrew. I’m sure you have more important things to do.”
9
Sapphire
Conway had been in a ticked mood ever since he’d stepped away from the studio. He returned with a clenched jaw and a furrowed brow, and he was short with me anytime I tried to talk to him. He was so angry that I stopped trying.
On the ride home, he was exactly the same. He gripped the steering wheel with one hand and kept his eyes on the road. He didn’t make conversation with me, and it was obvious he was thinking about whatever had pissed him off.
“You know what I do when I’m mad?”
He sighed but didn’t make a comment.
“I turn on music.” The radio was never on when we were in the car. I wasn’t even sure what he liked to listen to.
“I don’t want to listen to music right now.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“I want to do that even less.”
I faced forward and looked out the window. “Alright then…” The day started off great then turned to shit. I was certain his mood had nothing to do with me, so I let it be. I hadn’t done anything wrong, so there was no reason for him to be upset with me.
After five minutes of silence, his phone started to ring through the Bluetooth system. On the screen, the name of the person appeared.
Mama.
I couldn’t help but smile when I saw the way he stored her name on his phone.
He sighed again then took the call. “Hey, Mom. How are you?” He hid his foul mood and spoke like everything was perfectly fine. If anyone else had called, he probably would have ignored the call.
“I’m great, Con. Your father and I just got home, and Lars is making dinner.”
“I’m on my way home too.”
“Then I won’t keep you on the phone long. I just wanted to invite you to dinner this Friday. Your aunt and uncle will be there, along with Carter and Vanessa. I hope you can make it. Your father and I miss you.”
My eyes softened.
“Of course, I’ll be there.”
“Great,” she said. “Sapphire will be joining us as well?” The eagerness was obvious in her voice.
“Yes.”
“Good. You guys can stay in your old bedroom.”
We’d be spending the night. I hadn’t expected that, but I guess it made sense since it was a five-hour drive.
“Sounds great,” Conway said. “I’ll talk to you then.”
“Love you.”
Conway acted like a macho man all the time, but I knew there was a softer version of himself underneath that bravado. He showed that side to me after I spent months yanking it out of him. And he showed it to his family much more easily. “Love you too, Mama.”
The call ended.
Conway kept driving like the phone call never happened.
I wanted to tease him about it, but I decided to go easy on him. “Your old bedroom, huh? What’s that like?”
“It’s on the second story. My old furniture is still there. I have a private bath and a small living room.”
I guess they lived in a mansion too. “Is that the room where you brought all the girls?”
“Yes.” He finally looked at me. “Jealous?”
“No. But I’m prepared to wipe away their memory…”
He smiled for the first time since he fell into his sour mood. “I like the sound of that.”
* * *
I carried my stuff across the hall and hung up the clothes Dante had bought for me. A section of Conway’s closet had been cleared so I could hang up my things. I didn’t have nearly as much stuff as he did. He had more suits than I could even comprehend.
One of his top drawers had been cleared out, so I put my underwear inside along with the lingerie he’d placed in my dresser. His room was much more masculine than mine, decorated in dark tones and sharp furniture. My room was much prettier, with splashes of gold and champagne. But I still preferred his room to mine…since he was included.
Ever since he told me there hadn’t been anyone else, my mood had drastically improved. Now the jealousy was gone, along with the stomach pains and the sorrow. He offered me everything I wanted, everything that could make me happy.
I finally had someone I could trust.
In a world so cruel, it was a blessing to have a friend like Conway. He was honest with me, took care of me, and he was loyal to me. He’d given me so much without asking for much in return. Without him, I would have nothing.
And I knew it.
He said he would never love me, and romance wasn’t on the table, but that was okay. The connection and foundation we had were enough. It gave my life meaning, filled it with affection.
I didn’t know how long this would last. Maybe one day he would get tired of me, and it would end.
But I wasn’t going to think about that right now.
I finished moving my stuff over and then finally left my old bedroom for the last time. Now, this new space was mine, a space that smelled like a powerful man. Just when I’d sat on the couch, Conway walked inside with two hangers in his hand.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“I had Dante pick up a few things for you to wear tomorrow.” He set them over the back of the armchair then loosened his tie around his neck.
“That was nice.” I picked up the first one and found a high-waisted skirt with splashes of black, red, and green. It immediately reminded me of Italian culture, of the infusion of the various colors. I looked at the next outfit, a navy blue sundress. “These are beautiful…”
“I’m glad you like them.”
“Did you pick them out?”
“No. Nicole did. But I gave your measurements so they should fit you nicely.”
I never pictured myself as a woman who had a man to buy her pretty things, but that was exactly what had happened. Conway supported me completely, paying a fortune to keep me safe and still lavishing me with expensive gifts. “Thank you, but you don’t have to buy me anything, Conway. I have a lot of beautiful things already…” I suddenly felt guilty for taking a single penny from him.
He arched his eyebrow in confusion, but he somehow made it look sexy. “I’m aware of all the things I don’t have to do. I do them because I want to. Don’t ever say that to me again.” He pulled his tie out of his collar and unbuttoned his shirt. “Vanessa and Conway will be here tomorrow at one. So be packed and ready by then.”
“Alright.”
He stripped off his clothes and dropped them on the floor as he made his way to the bathroom. Like breadcrumbs, they followed him all the way to the other side of the bedroom.
Instead of leaving them on the floor to be wrinkled, I picked them up and hung them on a hanger so Dante could collect them with the laundry. I could onl
y guess how expensive Conway’s clothes were, so I didn’t want them to get ruined on the hardwood floor.
In his bedroom, his boxers had made it to the hamper. He stood naked with a towel over his shoulder. Perfectly chiseled with nothing but muscle, he was a walking fantasy. He constantly told me I was his greatest desire, but I was certain he was the desire of every woman on the planet. His appeal had nothing to do with his money or his success. It was all in his appearance—perfection.
He watched me hang up his old suit. “What are you doing?”
“I don’t want your clothes to get ruined.”
He gave me another look before he opened the door to the bathroom. “Shower with me.”
“I already showered after the stables.”
He leaned against the wall, his green eyes throbbing with annoyance. “I wasn’t asking, Muse. I was telling.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I thought we were partners now?”
“Doesn’t mean I’ll stop bossing you around. That’s here to stay. Now get your ass inside.”
“I hear shower sex is dangerous.”
He grinned. “Any kind of sex with me is dangerous.”
* * *
He folded me underneath him and thrust into me hard, his body working up a sweat because he’d fucked me deep right from the beginning. His ass clenched and relaxed as he rocked his hips into me, giving me his entire length over and over. The headboard tapped against the wall, and my tits shook with his movements.
My nails dug into his back as I held on, and my orgasm gripped his dick so tightly I didn’t think I would ever let go. I sheathed him with my come, my screams hitting him right in the face. Missionary was my favorite position, and it seemed to be his favorite too because it was how we did it most of the time. I loved watching the intensity of his expression, the way he concentrated as his large dick rammed me over and over.
He came a moment later, his cock twitching inside me as he released. He groaned in my face, dumping all of his seed within me. I could feel him fill me, feel the weight of his come along with his warmth. Now I was used to sleeping with it between my legs every single night. I was used to seeing it drip down my legs when I got in the shower in the morning. It was a part of my life now. Conway was a part of my life.