Chapter 37

Lorali

After spending the extended weekend with Ian and knowing we’ll be together at tomorrow night’s gala, nothing can bring me down. For being a billionaire he’s actually a pretty normal guy, well except for his penchant for gory, B rated movies. There’s nothing good about Swamp Thing!

His last set of texts made my heart skip a beat. It’s been utter torture not reaching out to him all week. He’s called and texted several times over the past few days, and had I known he wanted me to call or text I would’ve. Last night especially when a reminder of his voice in my ear could’ve possibly helped me with a round of self-pleasure I was attempting. When I said he’s ruined me for every other man, apparently this includes my battery operated boyfriend. I eventually gave up and went to sleep pouting like a baby. I’d thought about just showing up at his house and demanding that he fuck me so I could get a good night’s sleep, but talked myself out of it. Oh well, the wet dream I had after falling asleep was better than anything I could’ve done to myself!

I’m not going anywhere, Lorali.

I’m doing my best to try not to read too much into his text but even taken at face value it’s pretty damn powerful. You’d think by now my face would hurt from all of the smiling I’ve done the past couple of weeks. Yet, I’m still very cautious. I understand I’m not hard to look at, I find myself quite funny, and I seem to be able to get along with just about anyone; but the billionaire and the journalist? Yes I use the term lightly…I’m well aware of what my job entails. It just doesn’t mesh and I’m constantly reminding myself not to get too deep, not to invest much in him, all the while hoping the fallout won’t be as tragic as I know it will be.

I’m cautious about the whole situation. We haven’t been out in public really since the club, and a brief introduction to Garrett is the only fragile link I have to anything in his life besides him. He has no issues around Alexa and Josie, even though we honestly haven’t spent much time around them, just seen them in passing on our way in and out to grab food and grab a few things from his house, but I still can’t help feeling like his dirty little secret. I think that has a lot to do with why I’m so giddy about going to the gala with him as his date, that and, of course, it’s Ian Hale, and he’s gloriously gorgeous and sweet.

I realize that if he’s actually the person he’s showing himself to be to me then is he a great guy, one I’d be blessed to have around even if he wasn’t in his particular socioeconomic situation.

Work tonight consisted of drinks at a new bar and dinner at a five-star restaurant that everyone seems to be raving about. Tom was able to get me reservations, and I can say that the entire place was top shelf, and I can see why everyone is all over social media singing its praises.

It’s not too late when I finally make it back home, and I’m glad. I haven’t had the best of sleep the past few nights. I find it amazing how quickly I adapted to Ian being wrapped around me in bed for the three nights that he was here, and I’m even more stupefied by how much I toss and turn since he’s been gone.

Josie is at the breakfast bar when I get in; head bent over her tablet. She’s so much like me, Friday night and already in her pajamas with no intention of leaving the house.

“Alexa here?” I ask as I slide by her to grab a bottle of water from the fridge, hoping it’ll help prevent the headache I’m sure to have tomorrow from the delicious drinks at the bar earlier.

“Uh-uh,” she says around a bite of cereal. Finally swallowing she continues, “She’s out with a couple of friends, said not to wait up.”

I bet her ass is hiding in a corner at Ampere, waiting to pounce on Garrett should he walk by. I don’t understand her obsession with him. Surely she’s not as devoted to “getting him” as she said. She’d tried to mention him to Ian when he was here last weekend. She didn’t know I’d already covered the Garrett base with him before she could try to convince him to put in a good word for her. I also didn’t tell her that Ian had told him to stay away from her and Josie, a little tidbit he let slip last weekend as well. He’s quite talkative after a few drinks.

“Big date tomorrow, huh?” Josie recalls in passing. She’s much less concerned with whatever it is Ian and I have. You’d think it’s the other way around considering Alexa has loads of crazy adventures, maybe it’s because Josie is inexperienced and has no clue what she’s missing. I know she won’t be a cat lady because she’s highly allergic as well but she’s portraying some serious spinster qualities. Come to think about it, up until a few weeks ago I was the same way.

“I guess.” I shrug my shoulders even though my heart has started to beat faster in my chest and my hands just went a little clammy.

She chuckles, her grin eating up her face. She knows better. “I think it’s great. It’s not every day you get to go to such an event with one of the hottest guys, ever.”

“That’s true. I just wonder what’ll happen if Tom finds out. I didn’t mention it to him since I’m already covering it for work. I hope he doesn’t mind.” I worry my bottom lip with my teeth. I make a mental note to talk to the director of the SPCA directly for a quote and hope Ian won’t mind if I throw a few minutes of work into our date.

“You have a dress?” Her asking me about my dress makes me wonder if I should wear my press badge. I mean, had I attended dateless and in the capacity of a journalist then I would, but I’m a little unsure about this frontier outing. I’m not going to wear it; I mean it’s really not going to go with my dress.

“Yes, Alexa is letting me borrow one. I looked at pictures from the past years event, and it seems the women always wear some type of red dress. She has a beautiful sequined dress, and it’s a little long, but that just means I can go higher with my heels!” I drain the remaining water from my bottle and throw it in the trash.

She laughs, “You and your heels!”

“You didn’t have plans tonight?” She scowls at me with the same look I use to give Alexa when she’d ask that exact same thing a before the enigma that’s Ian Hale crashed into my life.

I smile at her. “No, Alexa!” She grins. “This week was life cycle week, and I can tell you I’m exhausted. If I have to hear one more bullfrog croak or one more baby chicken tweet, I’m may go insane!”

“Ah, the adventurous life of a fourth-grade science teacher!” I tease her.

She’s beaming at me, and I know she loves every minute of it. This being the one area we differ the most because there’s no way in hell I’m going to go dig in the dirt and dissect worms. UGH! The thought of it almost makes me gag.

“Well I’m gonna hit the sack. Don’t pin or post anything crazy on Facebook when I go to bed; I know how you like to live on the wild side.” She chuckles as I walk away.

Once in the room I strip down and take a quick shower, waiting until tomorrow for the full body maintenance, wanting to be in tip-top shape for the gala.

I slide under my cool covers and snuggle down. A quick run through of my own Facebook page reminds me just how pitiful my social life is. My friends list consists of work peers and friends from high school. I don’t really know anyone from outside those areas of my life. My college years were spent in the library, and I don’t mean the reputable erotic stacks area in the basement, either.

I can’t help but take another look through the texts from Ian earlier and seriously consider shooting him a text, but honestly have no clue what to say to initiate a conversation. Maybe just a quick goodnight and let him decide if he wants it to turn into a conversation? He normally texts by now, which has me wondering what he’s doing. This leads me to wonder if he’s with another woman and this being the crux of most of my issues. There’s been no declaration of exclusivity from him, and I know better than to try to pigeonhole him.

Fuck it, he asked for it right?

Me: Goodnight, lover.

I smile simple enough. His return text is almost immediate.

Ian: Dream of me?

Me: Always

Ian: That’s what I like to hear.

Me: You home?

Ian: On my way, just finished up at the office.

Me: Kind of late for work

Ian: Playing catch up. Some sultry blond kept me in bed for three days straight and wouldn’t allow me to get any work done.

Me: Sounds like she needs a spanking!

Ian: Fuck, Lorali don’t say shit like that. Talk to text is one thing, driving with a hard on is a whole other situation!

What!? He’s never mentioned or even attempted any type of kink, including smacking my ass and one mention of it gives him a hard-on? The thought of him being turned on and ready to go makes my body respond in like.

Me: How long until you get home?

Ian: Pulling in my driveway now.

Me: Good.

Ian: Where are your hands, Lorali?

What the fuck! I look around my room for hidden cameras because how else would he know where my free hand is. Maybe it’s my slow type responses; one handed texting isn’t easy at all.

Me: Ummm

Ian: If you get off without me, baby I assure you a spanking the next time I see you.

Holy hell! I think I want to disobey him just so he can follow through on his dark promises. Well, if he’s going to leave me hot and bothered and instruct me to do nothing about it, two can play at this game.

Me: Promise?

Ian: Scout’s honor.

Me: But I can get myself close right?

I’ve begrudgingly pulled my hand from my sleep shorts, but he doesn’t know that.

Ian: LORALI! Seriously, stop!

I can’t help but laugh. I wonder if he touches himself while thinking about me. I close my eyes and imagine him stroking himself in bed before going to sleep, images of me on his mind or waking in the night from a dream I was starring in and him unable to control the descent of his hand down to his cock, bringing himself to climax and my name on his lips.

Ian: Do I have to get back in the car, drive to your house, and issue that spanking tonight? You sure are taking a long time to respond, and I can only assume it’s because your hands are otherwise engaged in activity.

Yes, please!

Me: I WAS thinking about you. My hands are nowhere near an erotic zone. Do you?

Ian: Do I what?

Me: Think about me? Touch yourself?

Ian: Honestly?

Me: Of course.

Ian: More often than I should probably admit to.

Well slap my ass and call me Sally! I can’t contain the riotous feelings that are swarming my body. How in the world have I found this man? Him admitting that he spends time thinking of me, pleasuring himself to thoughts of me has me reeling. Even my wildest dreams as a young girl didn’t have a man this perfect in the lead role. Was Alexa right? Have I met my Prince Charming?

Ian: Have I scared you off?

Me: Ha! Not a chance.

Ian: Good to know. I have to grab a shower, babe. Early morning meetings tomorrow.

Me: See you tomorrow.

Ian: Can’t wait, baby. Sweet dreams.

Me: Wet dreams ;)

Ian: Fuck!

Me: And you can keep those talented hands off of the glorious cock unless you want a spanking as well.

Ian: Fuck!