“So, what is your next move?” he asked, settling back into his seat.
I sighed, tapping my finger against the wood. “Maybe it’s just not the right time.”
Saying the words left me feeling defeated. The actual thought was depressing. I’d been here a month now and nothing seemed to be coming together. My father was able to pull together half a dozen more listings after the first ten were a firm no, and Ronan was the one who found out about the space here at the hotel.
“Or maybe Manhattan isn’t your location.”
“If not the city then where do you recommend?”
“I’m glad you asked.” He waved to our server for the check and changed our order to go.
“Where are we going?”
“First, back to the hotel, you’re packing a bag and we are getting out of here for the weekend. It will be a nice break and, if we hurry, we will miss all the traffic on our way out to The Harbour.”
The thought of spending an entire weekend with Alex at his beach house thrilled me. I needed it, too; a small break to clear my head . . . that sounded perfect. As I walked back to my room, I decided to text my brother. Not that I needed to check in with him, but the last time we had spoken, he seemed a bit out of sorts, on edge even, because my brother was always mild-mannered. Even during his very public divorce to Emma and the cheating scandal.
Me: Hey, just wanted to let you know that I’m going out to The Harbour for a while.
Ronan: Oh, okay. Staying with friends?
No, I’m staying with my hot as hell bodyguard, the guy you hired, and we will probably shag like bunnies all weekend. Shit. Think, Ella, think. You need something to tell him that wouldn’t arouse suspicion.
Me: Yeah, and I’m considering location scouting for the boutique. Maybe Dad was right about the Hamptons. I’ll let you know when I buy a summer place.
Not a complete fabrication. From our earlier conversation, Alex had me thinking about places other than Manhattan. Technically this answer would work for now.
Ronan: Maybe I’ll buy a place and you can stay there.
Me: That’s a bit extreme, even for you.
Ronan: Have a wonderful weekend. Chat soon.
An hour later, we were on the road driving towards the Hamptons. Nabila called me while I was packing my bags demanding I download the Snapchat app so that I could enjoy her art show in real time. I was able to create an account and not more than five minutes later, she’d sent twenty snaps. It took me a little while to figure out how to use the silly app, but it managed to keep us entertained.
“I thought we’d stop off at the market and pick up a few things before heading to the house.” Alex took my hand in his, threading his long fingers with mine. “Before we left, I called my housekeeper, Mrs. Curtis, and I asked her deliver some essentials. However, I wanted to get a few special items for dinner.”
“Oh, you’re cooking dinner? What a treat for me.”
“I’ll have you know, I happen to be an excellent cook.” He winked and brought our intertwined hands to his perfect mouth, kissing the back of my hand. He looked at me with that fucking sweet smile, the one that went all the way up to his eyes, and I melted. I couldn’t help but stare at him—he was undeniably handsome, he was smart, charming and funny. On top of that, he could cook. This must be a dream. It was all too good to be true.
“What’s that look for?”
“You’re taking me to your house again. We’ve been with each other practically twenty-four seven over the last several weeks. This feels a lot like dating, rather than whatever relationship people are supposed to have with their bodyguards.”
He laughed. “And your point is what exactly?”
“Nothing at all,” I replied, squeezing his hand a little tighter. “Just making an observation.”
“If you want, I’ll quit tomorrow, sweetheart. I do feel a little guilty taking your brother’s money.”
“Why?”
“Well, for starters, I’m currently sleeping with his beautiful, smart as hell sister.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Breaking the rules and all.”
I felt my cheeks heat at this compliment. “I should tell him to give you a raise, since you’ve taken such excellent care of me and my body.” I slipped my hand from his grasp and slowly caressed his muscular thigh, teasing him.
“Here’s an idea, what if we told him about us? Then I would be absolved of my guilt.”
“About us? When did we become us?” I joked, feeling nervous knots form in my belly. “We’ve not even been on a proper date. I think it’s far too soon to discuss us.”
“Too soon, huh?” He cocked an eyebrow in my direction. “Didn’t your brother move his girlfriend into his house after a few weeks of dating? I bet they’d be our biggest supporters.”
Smiling, I shrugged it off, and pretended to busy myself with my phone. I knew he was saying something heartfelt, but where relationships were concerned, I tended to jump in head, heart, and feet first. Case in point—David. I’ve been known to also lose myself with guys and forget about everything else. Which is why I didn’t see what was truly happening around me when David and I were together. On the other hand, I should just forget about him and realize no two relationships are ever the same. It should also be noted that Alex isn’t David in any capacity.
My phone alerted me to another snap from Nabila. The pictures showed her putting sold tags on several of her photographs and paintings from her featured artists. And the final one was a picture of her with Finn Carter. I smiled, and sent her a quick congratulations message and told her I’d call her soon to get the full re-cap. That conversation would be rather lengthy as I had a few things to chat about myself, one such subject being Alex.
We turned to cross the bridge over to the village as storm clouds fell over the bay, shading the sky light pink and dark grey. I shoved my phone back into my bag as Alex pulled up to the market in the middle of town. We got out of the Range Rover and he took my hand in his, sending heat fizzling over my skin. Once inside, he grabbed a basket and pulled out his phone, which meant he let go of me. Immediately, a chill washed over me at the loss.
“I even made a list,” he said proudly. “You’re in for a treat.”
I smiled as he led me down the produce aisle. He picked up fresh blueberries, oranges, lemons, broccoli and some chicken from the deli. Speaking of treats, I managed to persuade him into getting four pints of Häagen-Dazs ice cream. Before I knew it, he had a basket filled with the oddest mixture of foods.
“Grab anything you want—wine, vodka, tequila.” He nodded towards the shelves of alcohol.
“Trying to get me drunk?” I teased.
“I just want to make this weekend special for you.”
“Are you sure I can’t help pay for any of this?”
“Nope, it’s my treat.”
He set the basket on the checkout counter and pulled me into his tall frame, kissing the top of my head. While Alex paid, I flipped through a real estate magazine, curious at the value of the homes here. My eyes landed up on a listing for a commercial property on the main drag. I read the description and, on paper, it seemed perfect. The price was a little out of my budget, but that could always be negotiated, as Ronan would say.
“Ready to go?”
I nodded and dropped the magazine into my handbag. It seemed almost too good to be true. What if all this time, this was the place I was meant to be? There were so many factors to consider. My mind was reeling, especially since I’d just told Ronan I was actually considering space here.
Lies imitating life. Is that a thing?
I’d think about work, and the boutique space, later. Right now, I was more interested in exploring what the possibility of “us” might look like for me and Alex. It’s all about finding balance, right?
After we unpacked the groceries, I pulled up the recipe for dinner on my tablet and began my prep work for our meal. I was cooking her dinner. This was one of my specialties and it was something I loved
doing for the woman I was dating. Sometimes, if a one-night stand was lucky enough, I’d make her breakfast. That ended well for me most times, because it meant sex after pancakes, waffles, or even bacon and eggs. Now, I’m here with Ella again and it feels right. More right than anything I’ve felt in a long time.
Ella stood at the window, gazing at the ocean. God, she’s beautiful. Ella’s sweater fell off her shoulder, exposing her black lace bra strap and all I could think about was rolling my tongue around her pretty pink nipples. And now, I was staring at her legs, those killer stems, long, lean and attached to her perfect ass.
“You want some wine or a cocktail?”
I placed the thin slices of chicken into a bowl, adding in the onions, garlic, and soy sauce, giving it time to marinate, while I chopped the broccoli and mushrooms.
“Sure, wine sounds nice, since we’re having some kind of chicken dish.” Ella leaned against the island and propped herself up on her elbows.
“Yep, I found this awesome gluten-free website with tons of recipes. And for dessert, espresso drizzled ice-cream.”
Her eyes popped wide. “Espresso, huh? I’ll be wired all night.”
“Good, I don’t know that we’ll be doing much sleeping.”
She rounded the corner of the island and stood behind me, slipping her arms around my waist. “I thought you brought me out here to relax and now you’re going to deny me rest?” Her hands found their way underneath my shirt, gently stroking my abs.
After I washed my hands, I wiped them on the dishtowel and turned to face Ella. “You’ll get plenty of rest, trust me, you’ll need it.” My nose grazed hers, as I tangled my hands in her hair. Everything else faded into the background except the sound of her breathing, a low unsteady rhythm. I tilted her head towards mine. My thumbs brushed against her cheeks that were flushed pink; the same shade that currently painted the sky. If that sounded corny I couldn’t give a shit, I’m observant and it’s always served me well.
“Has anyone ever told you just how sexy you are?”
“As far as I’m concerned, you’re the only man who’s ever told me,” she breathed.
Good fucking answer.
Ella took me by surprise when she pushed me up against the island, thrusting her tongue inside my mouth. Her hands moved to the button on my jeans, dipping her fingers inside my waistband, popping the button open. I kissed her harder, groaning into her mouth when her hand slipped down my boxers, gripping my cock.
As much as I knew I would enjoy where this was going, I turned the tables on her. Sucking her bottom lip into my mouth, I cupped her ass, lifting her off the floor. Suddenly, I wasn’t hungry for food, only her.
She didn’t seem to mind the new plan. Her fingernails dug into my biceps and a predatory smile crossed her lips.
Fuck, those lips, they will undoubtedly be the death of me.
I crushed my mouth to hers, and my hands gripped her hair holding her in place. Pressing her against me, wetness seeped through her leggings and onto my jeans. Fuck yes.
I pushed her back against the kitchen wall. My hands caressed every inch of her body. Her nipples hardened beneath the delicate fabric of her sweater. Goosebumps splashed across her flawless, creamy skin. She was like a livewire, everywhere I touched her it prompted a reaction.
I lifted her sweater over her head, tossing it over the chair. My lips traveled over her collarbone, across her shoulder, kissing my way up her neck.
“Alex,” she moaned. Hearing my name was like a prayer, so I got down on my knees.
Teasing her, I trailed my tongue up her stomach, grazing my fingertips up her thighs. My hands gripped the waistband of her leggings, tugging them off. I nipped her skin, alternating kisses between her thighs. Prying her legs apart, my breath fanned over her skin. Her arousal filled my senses.
“I can’t wait to taste you.”
Yeah, Ella and I have had sex, but I’ve not had the pleasure of tasting her, until now. I pulled her lace panties aside and uncovered her glistening pussy. Christ.
I licked her slowly, smoothing my tongue over her heated flesh. She writhed above me, her fingers dug into my hair, tugging hard at the roots. Wrapping my lips around her clit, I sucked hard, as I eased my finger inside her.
Our eyes met with a blistering heat. “You’re soaking wet for me, sweetheart.”
Her panties needed to go; I wanted her bare. I tugged at the fabric and removed them, then draped her left leg over my shoulder. My tongue lashed over her sensitive skin, as I massaged her clit with my thumb, driving her wild.
“Oh God, your mouth,” she moaned, rubbing her pussy against my face. I pinned her hips against the wall and slid my tongue over her clit then dipped back inside for more of her sweetness. Nobody knows exactly what Ambrosia tastes like, but if I had to guess, this was it.
My cock throbbed, straining against my jeans. But this wasn’t about me, it was all about Ella. Tiny moans and whimpers spilled from her lips, fueling my craving to tongue fuck her to an epic orgasm. I rimmed her harder, driving us both mad.
“Oh Alex, please . . . I . . .”
She arched against my mouth, my tongue circled her swollen nub, and I was rewarded with a soft wail. I wanted her at my mercy, panting and begging for more, begging me to let her come.
I wanted to see her lose it.
Her nails dug into my scalp pulling and tugging painfully at the root. Pleas and whispers slipped from her lips, as her hips undulated against my face. Searing pleasure wound through me, as I worked my tongue, finding a rhythm that would bring her release.
“Please, Alex,” she moaned.
I felt her muscles tighten when I dipped two fingers inside, stroking and licking her in perfect unison. Once more, my tongue circled her clit and I felt her pulsing against me. I twisted my wrist and increased the rhythm. Her hips jerked and Ella screamed my name as she came all over my fingers. Next time, it will be my tongue she comes all over.
I lapped up every last wave of her pleasure, cooling her down with long, slow strokes of my fingers, before releasing my hold on her. I stood and adjusted my jeans. Ella clung to the wall, her skin flushed and a lazy smile crossed her face. I grabbed her panties and helped her put them back on, along with her leggings.
“Alex, my God, that was . . . I have no words, I guess.”
“I’ve left you speechless and that works well for me.”
In response, she reached for my jeans again, and I took her hands in mine. “We’ll get to that later. Right now, I have our dinner to prepare.”
She pressed her lips to mine, kissing me softly. I motioned for Ella to take a seat and then pulled a bottle of wine from the fridge and poured her a glass. I met her eyes and she gave me a flirtatious smile.
“Who taught you how to cook?”
“My mother.” I turned on the stove and heated two tablespoons of coconut oil in a large skillet. “Despite having a full-time staff, my mom enjoys cooking. She helps in the kitchen as often as she can. I missed home cooked meals when I was in the military, especially during the holidays.”
“I can certainly understand that, my whole family loves to cook and eat. If this is any good, remind me to send your mother a thank you note.”
“Oh, sweetheart, there will be no if. I can guarantee this will be the one meal you’ll refer to as the best you’ve ever had,” I boasted, feeling quite confident in my culinary skills.
“Oh yeah and what’s the best meal you’ve ever had?”
“You.”
ON MONDAY MORNING I’D woken up alone in Alex’s bed. He’d left a note on the pillow saying he had an urgent matter to take care of and he wouldn’t be long. I slid out from beneath the covers that smelled like sex and Alex and stumbled towards the walk-in closet. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror, my cheeks were rosy and I seemed to have a permanent grin attached to my lips. The weekend had been absolutely perfect and I didn’t want to leave.
I rummaged through the drawers, pulling out a pair of running shor
ts and a t-shirt. After I threw my hair up and into a ponytail and slipped on my gym shoes, I ripped the page for the retail space out of the real estate magazine. I folded the paper and shoved it into my pocket on my way downstairs to grab a bottle of water.
“Oh, hello, dear.”
Startled, I jumped and nearly fell on my ass. The floors in the kitchen were slippery and now I knew the reason—they’d just been mopped. A tall woman, wearing a floral print shirt and black pants, approached me as I rounded the island.
“Sorry, dear, I didn’t mean to scare you,” she said, pushing her dark brown hair off her face.
“Oh, that’s okay. I’m Ella by the way,” I said, outstretching my hand to hers.
“Nice to meet you, Ella. I’m Rita, Mr. Robertsen’s housekeeper. Can I make you some breakfast?”
“Oh no, but thank you,” I replied, opening the door to the refrigerator. “I was just going to pop out for a run. I should be back in an hour. Will you still be here?”
“Yes, I still have few more things to do. Go on and enjoy your run. I’ll put some coffee on and it will be ready for you when you return.”
I smiled, placing my earbuds in. After stretching my legs on the front porch, I swiped the screen on my phone until I came to my cardio playlist. It was a gorgeous spring morning and the chilly air had a bite of salt and fresh grass.
I started at a light pace as I jogged down the dirt road. Once I made it to the main road, I hit my stride when the restaurants and shops of The Harbour came into view and Selena Gomez’s “Hands to Myself” blasted in my ears. Decadent memories of Alex swirled in my mind, him hovering over me, his biceps flexing, and our skin slick with sweat as we made love. Made love? No, we had sex.
Time to get serious. You can think about the two of you later.
The heat washed over me, as I ran across the hot pavement. Once I hit the sidewalk the canopy of trees provided some much-needed shade. Outside the North Harbour Coffee Shop the smell of rich vanilla and caramel wrapped around me. I stopped to catch my breath, using my t-shirt to wipe away the beads of sweat that rolled down the sides of my face. After taking a few sips of water, I pulled the paper from my pocket, and then glanced at the coffee shop address. The listing said 1204 North Harbour Drive, and the coffee shop was 1600 North Harbour Drive.
Bound to Me (The Harbour Series Book 1) Page 10