by Lexi Wilson
“Sounds exciting,” she said. “And what do you want me to do?”
“Take notes, be ready with whatever information I need. We’re going to be a team, after all. And I don’t have any doubt you’ll do a great job.”
She smiled, and the plane lurched a bit, letting us know we were well into our descent.
Amber closed her laptop and we both buckled up. Through the window I could see the endless sprawl of London, the city spreading out into the distance, the sunlight glittering off the Thames.
About twenty minutes later we were on the ground and parked, the airport staff opening the door and positioning the stairs. A sleek, black Rolls Royce awaited us, and Amber beamed as she took in the sight of it.
“Wow,” she said, the driver opening the door for us as we approached. “No waiting in lines, a car right there on the runway. I could get used to flying in a private jet.”
“One of the perks of the job,” I said. “Come on.”
Once we were seated inside, our luggage loaded in the back, the driver pulled away from the plane and we were on our way.
The private airfield was on the west end of the city, so the drive downtown didn’t take long at all. After twenty minutes we were in the City of London, the area directly in the center of the city, the core of it all, where the oldest, grandest buildings were situated.
“Wow,” said Amber, her eyes moving from one sight to another. “This is...amazing.”
We arrived at the hotel, a building –built before the 19th century, if I recalled correctly- just as spectacular as all the others. Black-clad bellhops held the massive front doors opened for us, more staff carrying our bags.
The lobby was huge, the floors covered in ornate rugs, the ceilings vaulted, glitz and glamor all around us.
The room was on the top floor, looking out onto the Thames. It was a massive suite, one that made our room back in LA seem like a closet.
“I don’t even know what to say to all of this,” she said.
“It’s two bedrooms, by the way,” I said. “If you need your privacy.”
She flashed me a coy smile, one that suggested we were only going to need one bed tonight.
“But don’t get too comfortable,” I said. “We need to get going right now. Freshen up and let’s get moving.”
She nodded, hurrying to her bedroom and changing into some fresh clothes. I did the same, putting on a newly-pressed suit before messaging the driver to let him know I was ready to go.
The two of us rode to the Carlyle offices, one of the many modern buildings in the downtown area of the city. Twenty minutes later, we were in the main lobby, greeted by about a dozen serious-looking men and women all waiting for us. The sun was beginning to set, and when we reached the conference room on the top floor the space was filled with warm orange light that reflected off the city below.
And I watched with an amused smile as nearly every man there coyly ogled Amber. No doubt they were wondering just who this gorgeous American woman was, and if they might have a chance with her.
They wouldn’t.
When I was ready, I took my place at the head of the conference table, everyone seated before me, Amber just to my right.
She was ready, and so I was I.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” I said, leaning forward and placing my hands on the table. “Tonight, our lives are about to change.”
Chapter 19
AMBER
It was…something else watching Nick do his thing.
I had no doubt he was the kind of man who had no problem taking control, total comfort in front of a crowd, no fear in the slightest.
And I knew from experience how comfortable he was taking control in the bedroom.
But it was a whole other experience to watch him stand in front of a room of some of the most powerful men and women in the city of London and have them hanging on his every word.
In room full of cutthroat alphas, he was the one on top of them all.
When he was done, a small smile on his face and his words hanging in the air, everyone was sold.
“We’ll…take your plan under advisement,” said one of the men on the board, a silver-haired guy who looked to be dripping wealth and influence.
“You’ll do better than that,” said Nick, stepping over and shaking his hand. “How about you sign with me before I leave back to the states?”
The man glanced down at the rest of the members of the board, the eager expressions on all of their faces suggesting they agreed with Nick.
But the man in charge, who I guessed was the president of the company, gave the impression he wanted to play it a little cooler than that.
However, Nick’s presentation had made it certain that if they were to work with him, they’d all stand to make some serious, serious money.
“How about this,” said the man in charge. “Allow me the evening to discuss the matter with the rest of the board. We’ll have an answer for you tomorrow before noon.”
Nick grinned, pleased with the answer. “Sounds perfect. Thank you all for your time and…I look forward to working with all of you.”
He gave me a quick nod, letting me know it was time to leave.
“That…was impressive,” I said.
“Thanks. But I couldn’t have done it without you.” One of the members of the board came out of the room, leading us to the elevator. Once we bid the employee farewell and were inside, he went on. “You were on the spot the entire time. Had every bit of information I needed, when I needed it.”
I was glad to hear, it, happy that he was happy.
“Just figured I’d spent my time on the plane wisely.”
“And you did,” he said. “In fact, I think we’re both due for a little celebration tonight.”
The elevator doors opened to the lobby and we stepped out, on our way to the busy street outside.
“A celebration?” I asked. “Isn’t that a little premature?”
“Not at all,” he said. “Did you see the board when I asked them to sign? They would’ve done it right then and there if it weren’t for the chairman. He’s a sharp guy, knew that if he were to sign at that moment it would’ve signaled just how eager they were. But he’s sold. He’s going to give me the evening to let me sweat a little, let me think it’s not a totally sure thing. But come tomorrow, he’ll sign on the dotted line and we’ll go international.”
“You sound pretty confident.”
“Trust me – you don’t get to be one of the youngest CEOs in the country by not having good instincts.”
I liked hearing Nick talk like that, showing no fear. It was a contrast to how sweet he could be – especially hearing him talk about his sister.
“But I don’t want to jinx it too badly,” he said. “Let’s save the real celebration for when they sign on the dotted line. For now, I think we’re do for a little fun regardless of what happens tomorrow.”
“Is that right?” I asked with a smile. “What kind of fun are you thinking about?”
There was most definitely a kind of fun I had in mind. And judging by the smirk on his face, I was sure he was thinking the same thing.
“How about we spend a little time in the city? And from there we can see where the night takes us.”
“I like that idea.”
“Maybe a little something to eat first?”
“Let’s do it. But I should make sure to chck in with the kiddo, first.”
We went back to the hotel and changed, and I called Jamie and Nan to see how things were going back on the homefront.
After the call, I put on a simple black cocktail dress with matching shoes, my hair in a stylish bun. When I stepped out, Nick was still in the process of putting on his shirt, upper body on full display.
He turned as I came out, his jaw nearly hitting the floor.
“Wow,” he said, shaking his head.
I glanced down at my body, as if there were something he was seeing that I hadn’t.
“What?” I as
ked, feeling a touch self-conscious.
He stepped over to me and put his hands on my hips.
“You look…fucking incredible.”
I blushed – couldn’t help it. But he didn’t take things any further than just those two words. It was a shame, because if he wanted to take me right at that moment, I would’ve let him.
He smiled at me once last time before taking his hands from my hips and finishing up with his shirt. And it occurred to me that he might’ve been pulling the same trick as he had back in the conference room, letting the idea of me getting what I wanted play in my head before moving in for the kill.
Whatever he was doing, it was working. I already wanted him, but now I wanted his so badly it hurt.
“Come on,” he said, rolling up his sleeves and exposing his gorgeous, toned forearms. “There’s a whole city out there to explore.”
We headed out, the gray sky a contrast to the clear California skies I’d gotten used to over the years. But the London weather had its charm, for sure.
Food was first on the agenda, Nick treating me to dinner at a wonderful steakhouse in the Kensington area. When that was done, the two of us washing our meals down with some cocktails afterward, we went on a lovely walk through the city, taking in the sights of London.
He played it cool at first, not even so much as holding my hand as we walked down the boulevards. And he certainly didn’t kiss me.
It got to the point where I began to wonder if he was putting that part of our relationship behind us. Had he thought about the two of us on during the plane ride over, decided that we needed to be nothing more than friends?
It was enough to put me ill at ease. But when we were up in the Eye of London, the fabulous Ferris wheel that provided an incredible view of the entirely of the city, his hand found its way back onto my hip.
It was behavior that was most certainly not appropriate for just a couple of friends or employees.
“It’s been a good day,” he said. “And work…I’m hardly even thinking of that.”
“Are you really?” I asked. “Then what is on your mind?”
He put his hand on my hip and turned me toward him.
“Hell, I’m not even thinking of the city. I’m thinking of how much I want you.”
A shiver of anticipation and pleasure ran through my body. Something about the way he looked at me, something about the way he touched me…I was totally powerless.
And his kiss was a whole other matter.
So when he finally put his lips on mine, when he finally gave me exactly what I wanted as we stood there in front of the city, I was putty in his hands.
The kiss went on, his mouth opening, his tongue searching, his taste washing over my palate. Goosebumps broke out across my body, my nipples going hard, my pussy clenching.
He was irresistible.
But right when I was at the point of giving myself over to him, the car lurched and the wheel began its downward descent.
“I think we’ll have to continue this back in the hotel room,” he said as he took his hands from my hips.
“I think you’re right.”
That’s not exactly what happened. What did happen is that the two of us were all over each other as soon as we were in the back of the taxi he’d flagged down. Luckily, the partition between the driver’s section and the back was tinted, which meant we didn’t have to worry about putting on a show for the driver.
He reached his hand up my dress, rubbing my clit as the taxi made its way through the city. I moaned, grinding my hips against his touch, closing my eyes and focusing on the pleasure. Nick kept his other hand on the small of my back, holding me in place and making sure his touch was exactly where I wanted it.
I came hard, the orgasm fading right about the moment we pulled up to the hotel.
When we were there, he gave the driver a very generous tip as we climbed out and, hand-in-hand, hurried through the lobby to our elevator. There was more kissing, more touching once we were inside.
The doors opened and moments later we were in the suite, me and Nick kissing each other like crazy as we peeled one another out of our clothes. Once we were down to just our underwear, Nick grabbed me by the hips and brought me over to the window, my hands shooting out and my palms going against the glass.
From where I stood I could see nearly the entirety of the city, the view just about perfect for lovemaking.
He ripped off my thong and tossed it aside, then dragged his cock against my clit before shoving it deep into me. Where we stood I knew there was a good chance we might be seen, but more than anything it turned me on like crazy.
Nick grabbed my ass with one hand, the other arm wrapping around my body and holding me in place as he drove into me again and against, his thick cock filling me, my breasts shaking with each thrust.
It didn’t take me much time at all to arrive at the brink of an orgasm, and when it finally ripped through my body I would’ve dropped to the ground if he hadn’t been holding me.
God, there was nothing like the way he filled me, the way his cock felt inside.
Nick grunted hard right at the peak of my orgasm, his prick shooting into me, draining deep within. The sensation of him coming pushed my pleasure to the next level, and at that moment there was nothing the world other than the sensation of him exploding deep into me, his thick cock pulsing as he gripped me hard.
He carried me over to the bed when we were done, and between the flight and the meeting and the lovemaking afterward, I was spent. I curled up into him closing my eyes, a big smile on my face as I drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 20
NICK
“So, Mr. McQuiad,” she said, her eyes still heavy with sleep as she stretched, her slender limbs looking especially gorgeous in the morning light. “What’s on the agenda for today?”
We’d made love again the first moment we were both up. But it had been so sudden and so passionate that we were still halfway asleep when we were done.
“That’s a damn good question,” I said, reaching over and taking my phone from the bedside table, giving the screen a look. “It’s early still – a little after seven.”
“Are you nervous?” she asked. “About the decision?”
I shook my head. “I’ve never seen any sense in getting nervous about things like this. Either they agree and we celebrate the victor, or they say ‘no’ and we’re back to where they were. Sure, I prefer one way over the other, but I’ve got a plan in either case.”
It was how I felt, but I still wanted to hear back from Mr. Bigsby, the chairman of the board, sooner than later. I was fine with rejection, but still preferred to have answers sooner than later. I hoped he wasn’t planning on jerking me around with an answer.
“That’s a pretty damn healthy way of looking at things, have to admit.”
“It’s the only sensible way to do it. When you’re in a position like mine, you have to deal with things not always going your way. It’s easy to obsess over every little thing, but I’ve found that if you step back and take a look at the bigger picture, you find that things always work out for the better.”
She grinned. “I’m taking mental notes. Not often you get to peek into a CEO’s brain like this.”
I laughed. “Don’t let me get started – I’ll talk about work all damn day if someone doesn’t put the brakes on me.”
I sat up, throwing my legs out of bed and planting my feet on the floor. Then I strolled over to the curtains and pulled them open, even more brilliant light flooding the suite. London looked as majestic as ever, and I couldn’t wait for Mr. Bigsby to finally give the go-ahead on the plan so I could make my mark on this city.
“How about this,” I said. “We do a little room service, and this time we eat all of the food ourselves.”
“I’m liking this so far.”
“And then we go for a nice stroll through the town, get some fresh air. I’ve got somewhere in mind I want to take you.”
“That sounds
perfect,” she said with a smile.
I handed her the menu and let her go nuts on ordering. After a little more lovemaking the food arrived, and I quickly threw on a robe in order to greet the staff.
It was a pleasant say outside, so we took out food on the patio, sipping our coffee and enjoying some breakfast pastries as we waited for the caffeine to kick in. The balcony was over a particularly busy part of the city, and the contractor in me had a chance to appreciate all of the incredible architecture around us. And Amber was more than eager to hear about it.
Once we were done, our bellies good and full, Amber turned to me and spoke. “So – what’s the place you have in mind?”
I grinned. “A little behind-the-scenes tour of some work we’re doing. But trust me, it’s more exciting than it sounds.”
“I’ll take your word for it. And I can’t wait.”
We took a few more bites of our meals before heading inside and getting in the shower. In the interests of, ah, water conservation we took a shower together. But once we were in we didn’t exactly do much conserving, going nice and slow getting one another good and clean.
After that we dressed and headed out.
The day was still beautiful, and we walked hand-in-hand through the city streets.
It was…nice. I hadn’t been with a woman in that way in a long, long while. Part of me had been certain I never would, having long been bored and a little jaded with dating.
But there was something about Amber, something that made me…actually want all of that.
To be honest, it was more than a little unsettling. I’d gone to such great lengths to carve out a life for me and Natalie, my own wants and needs fading into the background. But there I was with a woman who I couldn’t stop looking at, couldn’t stop staring at.
“OK,” she said with a smile as we made our way through town. “How long are you going to keep me in suspense.”