Logan Steele
‘For Christ’s sake stay calm,’ I warned myself, as my fingers trembled while I tried to do up my bowtie. My breathing was out of control, my pulse rate was spiking and my heart was on the verge of exploding, I was that excited. Excited? Bloody nervous as hell more like. Tonight was a first and I had every reason to be nervous. This was an insane idea. My cardinal rule “Never get emotionally attached to your client” had been broken, but what was worse, if anything could be, “No contact after the event, unless it’s for a new booking” applied to both parties, and I was about to blow that one out of the water too. All for her, Summer damn Beresford. My virgin for the night. The brunette with the stunning blue eyes, perfect lips, curvaceous body, with seriously full pert tits and an arse that was born to be grabbed. She’d plagued my thoughts since that one booking, nearly ten months ago. That one night, where I’d deflowered her, made love to her, held her and watched her sleeping, had been the best damn night of my life.
Did she feel the same? I had no idea, which was what made this plan even crazier. To her I was probably just the escort she paid to fuck her, to show her how to be sexual to help her with her new film role. Her premiere was tonight, the night I’d be hijacking, all because I’d told myself I was protecting her from her overzealous co-star. Daron Beck fucked anything with a hole between their legs, sometimes even the opposite sex, and he’d also managed to sweep two reports of domestic abuse under the carpet. He thought he’d covered his tracks well, but he hadn’t counted on my IT guy, Ian Smith, with his world class skills, unearthing the evidence. Thankfully Daron was clean, no sexual diseases to speak of. Though clean or not, if he’d laid one finger on Summer, let alone fucked her, I was liable to lose my cool. She may not know it, but Summer Beresford was mine. I’d be damned if anyone else was ever going near her. I flexed my neck, just the thought of it made me tense all over.
I still wasn’t sure what I was expecting from tonight. I’d bribed Daron’s chauffeur to ensure that he took him directly to Leicester Square, without picking Summer up en-route as he’d planned. I’d ensured that I had a ticket set aside for me as Summer’s plus one, I’d arranged for a dress and lingerie to be delivered to her stylist at the hotel, a single boxed cala lily, also a bouquet of lilies and roses to congratulate her and then I’d organised for another chauffeur in a limo to pick up her parents from their home. I’d been too late to reserve the suite that we’d used at The Dalton Hotel last time, the one I usually used for clients, but since her I hadn’t been able to use that particular suite anyway. I was getting bloody sentimental, trying to preserve memories of my time in there with her, so I’d reserved the one below. She was staying at a top hotel in her own suite, courtesy of the film company, so heading there was a possibility too, that was if she even spoke to me in the first place. So what was I expecting? I wasn’t sure I was ready to give up my lifestyle, but I wanted her, badly, and pretty soon it would be too late, if it wasn’t already. Her career was going to take off and she’d be inundated with offers, from guys who didn’t have my dodgy history, or rather present. Shit, what was I thinking? Was I really thinking about giving it all up for her? After one bloody night together?
I rubbed my hands over my eyes and blew out a heavy sigh. I’d never felt so confused. My best friend was nagging me to quit, to ask her out and date her. He was convinced that Summer would like me, the real me, not Logan Steele world class escort. I wasn’t sure she’d even give me the chance. I mean, if a female prostitute wanted to date me, I couldn’t see myself wanting her. I was a chauvinist in many ways. I had no problem with a guy sowing his oats, but I liked my women a bit more demure, out of my bed that was. In my bed I wanted a woman who was open to experimentation, though I definitely wasn’t into sharing. Being slightly old fashioned like that wasn’t all bad, when I had girlfriends I spoiled them, treated them like princesses, held open doors, protected them, and made sure that sexually, they were very well taken care of. I just hadn’t had a girlfriend since I started this gig all those years ago. My last girlfriend, Lucy, had left me when I told her I wanted to put my considerable sexual talents to good use, to get out of the financial jam I was in, and I wasn’t sure any woman would put up with me carrying on either. I might lie to clients, tell them they were beautiful, tight, sexy, the best I’d ever had, but in my private life I never lied. That was Logan Steele, not me. The two were very different things. In my eyes anyway.
I checked my hair again and tugged on the cuffs of my white shirt under my black tuxedo jacket sleeves. It was tailored to fit, like all of my suits and even if I said so myself, I looked damn fine in it. Summer had reacted favourably to me in jeans and a jacket last time, I hoped that this would do it for her even more. I didn’t need to check my files to see what aftershave I’d been wearing that night with her, I’d known I felt strongly about her from her photo, before I’d even met her, so I’d worn the aftershave I used every day in my personal life. Ted Lapidus. Summer Beresford had no idea how badly I’d wanted her, the way she’d affected me that night or how everything I’d said to her had actually been the truth. I mean I’d even driven her home in my own car the next morning, something I’d never done before. Neither did she know that I’d turned up at her house some time ago, trying to decide if I should knock on her door. I’d chickened out then, not sure what I’d actually say to her. I still wasn’t sure, but this was probably going to be my last chance. Once this movie launched everyone would know her. Everyone would want her too. I figured I’d just turn up in the limo and when she got inside I’d play it by ear.
The thought that, at some stage tonight, I might sink my tongue into her sweet willing mouth, or better still my cock into her warm tight folds, had me close my eyes and groan, then reach down to squeeze my erection tightly. I’d masturbated multiple times daily just thinking about her, since I’d dropped her home that morning all those months ago. Today though, I couldn’t bring myself to do it, not when there was the possibility of having her for real later. I wouldn’t force myself on her, but she’d have to come up with a damned good excuse to prevent me from seducing her again. I pocketed my wallet and iPhone, as I heard my intercom buzz and headed out to meet my driver, James.
‘So Sir, how are you feeling?’ James asked, after we’d got our day to day banter out of the way.
‘How do you think?’ I chuckled. Even James had been on my case about Summer, he’d seen a change in me since I’d spent that one perfect night with her.
‘I would hope that you’re nervous as hell, otherwise it implies that you don’t feel as strongly about her as you’d like to believe.’
‘O, I’m nervous alright,’ I confirmed.
‘So, what’s your plan to woo her? Other than springing this surprise on her and dazzling her with your handsomeness in a tuxedo?’
‘I do look good, don’t I?’ I grinned at him in the rear view mirror. ‘James Bond licenced to kill, but instead I’m Logan Steele, licenced to thrill.’
‘Mr. Bond may get to bed the ladies, but he never has much success with them in his personal life, Sir,’ James chuckled. ‘They all seem to die.’
‘Actually you’re spot on there. So, if I was going to be a movie character, who would I be?’ I enquired. A bit of mindless chat was just what I needed, to take my mind off this growing anxiety inside me.
‘I would compare you to Batman, Sir. You wear the mask of Logan Steele, swoop in to rescue damsels in sexual distress, then leave, making them swoon for you. You also have the physique and deep gravelly voice down pat.’
‘Batman,’ I mused. ‘Yes, that would be a good one. Action being my reward.’
‘And the hefty fees, I’ll warrant that you’re paid. May I ask an impertinent question?’
‘I guess,’ I replied hesitantly. I didn’t discuss my fees with anyone, that was between myself and my clients.
‘Are you going to ask Miss Beresford out on a date officially, as yourself? Nothing to do with your escorting profession?’ h
e asked. I let out a sigh. Maybe the fees question would have been easier to handle.
‘Truth be told I really don’t know. For starters even if I did, I don’t think she’d want to date me, secondly, if I did ask her out I’d probably have to give up this career.’
‘Would that be such a bad thing? You have your fitness clients and I know Mr. Davenport has mentioned more than once, that as his best friend, you’d have a job waiting for you in his firm and he’s certainly not stingy when it comes to remuneration.’
‘No he’s not,’ I chuckled. He was too generous, something I kept on at him about. ‘I just … I’m good at this. This is what I excel at, what if I’m not cut out for a regular life, with a boring nine to five job and a girlfriend?’
‘I sincerely doubt that working for Mr. Davenport would be boring, or nine to five. Look at myself and Mr. Smith. We work whenever we’re required to, in exchange for a very handsome salary. I was led to believe that you were a manager in the construction industry before you took up this occupation. Didn’t you enjoy or excel at that?’
‘I did,’ I nodded. ‘That was then though, I’ve enjoyed this more.’
‘Maybe so, but you don’t have a girlfriend and as long as you continue in this profession you aren’t likely to have one, unless she’s in the same line of work and understands. Would you be happy with that?’
‘No, I bloody wouldn’t,’ I shot back and sighed again, as I shoved a hand through my hair.
‘I think you’re lonely, Sir. I think that you’d have carried on like this for some years without realising it, if you hadn’t met her that is. Sometimes when we find the woman that we want, everything changes, for the better. But surely to know that she’s yours and to be lucky enough to be loved by her, would be worth infinitely more than whatever perks you get in your job now?’
‘Maybe,’ I frowned. ‘But I don’t handle rejection well. If I was to ask her to date me and she said no, which is a real possibility, that would crush me.’
‘If you don’t ask her and she starts seeing someone else, I think that would crush you even more, Sir. I believe that the anguish you may feel at her declining your offer would be significantly less than a lifetime of regrets, always wondering what could have been, when you see in the media that she’s happy with someone else. Look at what you’ve set up for this evening, just at the prospect of her going on a date with someone else. She’s buried deep under your skin and you’ll never be able to claw her out. To try and fail is better than to have never tried at all.’
‘I really wish I could believe that, James,’ I nodded, as my stomach started to churn again. ‘As for her being buried deep under my skin, I feel that deeply and possessively about her that I believe she’s etched into my very bones.’
‘Well either way, I believe that she’ll be expecting answers this evening. What will you tell her as to why you’ve hijacked her evening and cancelled her date?’
‘Don’t remind me how unprepared I am, thank you. I prefer to plan for everything, I like to be in control and I have no damn control when it comes to this woman, or how I feel about her. I guess I’m just going to have to think on my feet.’
‘You’re not just all looks, Sir. You’re a very smart, intelligent, personable young man. I’m sure you’ll do just fine.’
‘Thank you for saying that, I really hope that you’re right, but to have Summer think it would be even better, otherwise I’ll be heading home in a considerably black mood.’
‘Then please warn me and you can either get a taxi or walk home,’ James winked in the mirror. ‘We’re nearly there, Sir. Are you ready?’
‘As I’ll ever be,’ I nodded, as my mouth went dry and a ball of nausea started to build.
Summer Beresford
I couldn’t believe all the fuss being made. I was still an unknown actress, in a film that could either be a hit, or a serious miss and drag my career down the drain with it. Initial screenings of the film to private critics had gone well, but it was the general public who held my acting career in their hands. No one had come with any offers since production wrapped, my entire dreams hinged on how well this went tonight and the opening weekend takings. Along with my finances. I was running on fumes, my advance hadn’t been massive and I’d used most of it to pay a chunk off my parents’ mortgage and splashed out that crazy amount on one night with Logan Steele. A night I’d never forgotten, a night I’d never forget. I know I’d paid to lose my virginity, to try and give me some base reference to help me with the erotic scenes in my film, but I’d not expected to feel the way I had during the appointment, or when he dropped me home the next morning. Not about sex, or about Logan.
I put my head in my hands, as I sat at the dressing table. Mr. Logan Steele. Just thinking his name brought back full surround sound and HD quality visuals of that amazing night and made my heart beat a little faster. What the hell was wrong with me? He was an escort, I paid him to be nice to me, to make love to me, to teach me how to be sexier and to at least know how to touch a man sexually. So why did I keep imagining I’d seen something hidden deep behind his gorgeous grey eyes, something more, something that he tried to cover with his sexy mirrored shades the next morning? Ever since my neighbour Anthony tried to rape me when I was fifteen, I’d become a very astute judge of character, determined I wasn’t going to be duped again. So how had I got it so wrong with Logan? While I still had enough money, money I really hadn’t been in a position to waste, I’d tried to book him again, but I’d never heard back from him. I’d come to realise, that everything he’d said that night and the morning after, was a lie. I was so stupid. I’d actually constantly checked my phone, in a state of excitement, every time I heard an email ping in, hoping it was him. I’d physically cried, when after a month I hadn’t had a response from him. How pathetic was I? Falling for a damn man whore? I shook myself down as my phone rang.
‘Summer?’
‘I’m not so famous someone answers my phone for me, Mum,’ I smiled.
‘I thought maybe you’d be having a spray tan or something and an assistant might answer.’
‘No, no personal assistant and no spray tan, but I do have a team here wanting to do my hair and makeup and to help me get dressed.’
‘I just wanted to wish you luck, I know you’ll probably be so busy tonight you won’t have a chance to talk to us, but we’re so proud of you. Both of us. I really think this is going to be your big break.’
‘Thanks, you’re so sweet. Are you sure you can handle seeing me like this?’
‘How bad’s the dress?’ she gasped.
‘I still haven’t seen which one they went with yet,’ I laughed. ‘I meant me faking sex on screen.’
‘Well, we’ll handle it because it’s not real,’ she confirmed, with a slight waver to her voice. ‘O God, it’s not real is it?’
‘No,’ I uttered quick as a flash. ‘As if I’d sleep with Daron, let alone in front of the crew, on camera, he’s repulsive.’ I cringed as I suddenly realised the team were listening in, but they all nodded their agreement. I wondered how many of them he’d tried it on with as well.
‘Well everyone already thinks you’re a couple after that headline last week. How’s it going to look when you go with him tonight?’
‘I’m not going with him on a date, Mum. I was worried about the expense of them sending a limo just for me and he offered to let me go with him. He’s not even in this hotel, he wanted to be picked up from his own apartment. Besides it will look good for the cameras. Mum, I’m really sorry, but the hair and makeup team want to make a start on me. Promise me you’ll use the money I left you to get a taxi there? They’ll be free champagne and food at the after party. You and Dad never go out.’
‘You should keep your money, you’ve already given us too much,’ she scolded.
‘Don’t argue with me, please. I couldn’t have got here without you both, I want you to have a fun night, where you don’t have to worry about anything.’
‘W
e’ll see. Good luck, we both love you so much, Summer.’
‘I love you too, Mum. I’ll come and see you as soon as I get a chance later, ok?’
‘Ok, bye.’
‘Bye.’ I blew a kiss down the phone and smiled at the two women waiting patiently. ‘Mandy you know I’m not a fan of over the top makeup. Can you just try and make me look as natural as possible? Or better still just let me do my own?’
‘I’ll keep it as natural as I can, but you need a certain amount of coverage or you’ll look washed out under the spotlights and the camera flashes. Just sit back in the chair and relax, it won’t take long, then Rachel can do your hair and Zoe’s ready with your outfit.’
I gasped as Zoe unzipped the most stunning royal purple long dress, with silver jewelled edging on the sweet heart bust line and the halter-neck straps.
‘It’s beautiful isn’t it,’ she nodded.
‘Gorgeous, but it’s not one of the dresses I tried on, it’s not the black and silver dress I said was my first choice.’ I actually preferred this one, but it was odd they hadn’t had me try it on.
‘I was instructed that this was the dress that they wanted you to wear, just doing my job. Your shoes and underwear are over there in the boxes on the bed.’
For the Night - Complete Box Set Page 25