Chapter 18
Holly
I was feeling just a little bit nervous when I walked into Benny’s Bar and Grill and saw my bestie sitting at the main bar. It had been a long drive back up to New York and I was actually ready to have a few drinks by the time I got there.
I entered through the front door and Jo started waving her arm. She was dressed in a black and red short set that really brought out her hair color, and a pair of black high-heeled boots—basically the perfect ensemble for a night out at the club.
Her fervent, exuberant-looking smile made me want to grin right along with her as I made my way over to where she was seated. She already had a drink in her hand and I was almost certain that she’d ordered me one or two, as well.
“Hey, girl!” I said with a grin as I hugged her tightly.
“I missed you, bitch!” Jo replied, hugging me back. “Don’t ever run off like that again without telling me!” She gave me playful swat on the ass as she spoke.
She handed me a shot, just as I’d suspected she would.
“You’re gonna need this,” she said with a grin.
“Why?” I asked, immediately suspicious.
“Just drink it,” she commanded, and we downed our shots together.
We did another round of shots before she finally said, “Don’t be mad, but there’s a reason I called you out here tonight. Turn around.”
With a puzzled look on my face, I turned around to see Alex standing directly behind me. My smile quickly faded and was immediately replaced with a frown.
“Just hear him out, Holly, seriously! You know I’ve heard every excuse in the book from men, but you need to at least let him talk before you make a decision you might regret.”
I folded my arms across my chest and looked at him with an annoyed expression. “Fine,” I snapped.
Alex sighed before he started to speak. He pulled a small box out of his suit jacket pocket and held it out to me.
“Holly, I’m sorry about what happened at my penthouse that night but it honestly was not anything like what it seemed. If you give me a chance, I can explain everything.”
He opened the box and the most exquisite diamond necklace I had ever seen was lying inside of it. I felt my eyes brighten in spite of myself.
“Joana picked it out for you,” he explained.
I allowed him to take it out and put it around my neck.
“Now, please, Holly, can we go somewhere and talk?” he asked with a look of sincerity in his eyes.
“Okay,” I agreed.
* * * * *
“Look, Holly, I know that situation at my condo with my assistant Alicia looked bad, but please, you need to realize that it really was just a misunderstanding,” he said, looking deep into my eyes. We were in his penthouse condo. “I had been so excited about my date with you that I had completely forgotten that she was supposed to be stopping by to drop of a file for my father.”
I listened in silence as I watched him explain the situation to me. He looked convincing and his tone sounded very authentic as he spoke.
“Okay,” I replied, allowing him to continue.
“Well, she mistakenly assumed that the romantic night I had set up for you was for her. I guess I hadn’t been as clear about you and I as I should have been with her, and I was unexpectedly thrown into a situation that I was unprepared to properly handle—especially since it all happened so fast.”
I had to admit that he was right about one thing, at least—everything had happened pretty quickly. I mean, I had immediately run out of his condo and hadn’t exactly given him the time or the opportunity to even try and explain what had actually gone down that night.
After hearing his detailed explanation about what had actually played out that night, even though it sounded like one of the craziest stories I’d ever heard, the authenticity in his tone and in his demeanor eventually won me over. And when he said those three words I never thought I’d ever hear from him, I just about lost my fucking mind. Before I’d even realized it, I had thrown myself into his arms and started kissing him fervently, passionately.
“I love you, Holly,” he said breathily.
“I love you, too,” I confessed as tears of joy threatened to spill over my eyelids and slide down my face.
“Oh, Holly, I’ve missed you so much,” he said as he wrapped his arms around me, eagerly pulling me into him.
The intoxicating scent of his expensive cologne filled my nostrils and something about being in his arms and feeling his lips against mine set my body on fire. I wanted him. I wanted him like I had never wanted him before. Perhaps it was a combination of relief that he really hadn’t betrayed me and withdrawal from not having been around him in an entire week but whatever it was, it made me lose all control of my senses and lose myself in his touch.
I pushed him backward onto the sofa and climbed on top of him, kissing him with fervor, as a feeling of overwhelming urgency to feel him inside me took over.
I pulled his suit jacket open and forced it off his arms as I slid my tongue into his sweet, delicious mouth.
“Mmm, I’ve missed you too, Alex,” I said between kisses.
I nearly ripped his button-down shirt off his chest and tossed it carelessly onto the floor. His hands found the zipper on the back of my dress and he pulled it down around my shoulders. I began to kiss my way down his chest and his abs until my mouth found the sensitive spot below his waist.
“Holly,” he said in a breathy whisper as I unbuttoned his pants and yanked his zipper down, freeing his already-erect manhood.
I slid my hand down his belly until it reached his erection, and I wrapped it around his shaft. He moaned as I began to stroke him, running my fingertips around the tip as I started to move my body downward. I knelt between his legs and took him into my mouth, like I hadn’t tasted him in months. He groaned with delight as I sucked eagerly, attempting to make a statement with my actions.
I ran the tip of my tongue around the head of his manhood and moaned softly as I slid my tongue around his girth, causing him to jerk upward and suck in his breath with a hiss of pleasure. I felt his hands in my hair as his fingers massaged my thick strands, gripping onto my locks. I glanced upward, watching his appreciative expression as he looked down at me and watched his length disappear between my lips.
“Oh, Holly, I want you,” he suddenly groaned in a raspy voice, reaching down to pull me up off my knees.
I climbed on top of his lap as he tore my dress from my body and yanked my panties down my legs. I stepped out of them and straddled him, positioning my body on top of him, feeling his erection pressing against the slick, warm slit of my opening. I was hot, wet, and ready for him, moaning as I guided him inside of me, sliding down onto him, slowly.
He sighed long and deep, raising his hips up off the couch as he penetrated me, sliding deeper into me, inch by inch, until I couldn’t take it anymore. I put my arms around his neck and pressed my breasts against his chest, letting out a cry of pleasure as I came down on his length, driving him even deeper inside me.
Our bodies writhed and rocked as he lifted his hips, thrusting into me over and over again, harder and faster, causing moans and cries of passion to escape my lips again and again. Gripping my waist and cupping my buttocks, he brought me down onto him, grunting and groaning as he plunged into me ardently. I let out a loud, long cry as I reached my orgasm, shaking and trembling in his arms as the feeling completely took over, sending me into an orgasmic frenzy of earth-shattering pleasure.
He was right behind me, squeezing my breasts in his hands as he reached his own powerful climax. His body tensed up and shook and I felt the warm sensation of his essence as it filled me. Completely surrendering to the moment, we both panted in each other’s ears, wrapped tightly in one another’s arms, lost in the afterglow of our lovemaking.
Later that same night, as I lay in Alex’s strong, muscular arms, I placed my head against his chest and kissed him softly. I always felt so safe and comfortable whenever I with him, but tonight was different. Tonight, I had felt that all too familiar feeling—the one I’d been so scared of feeling, the one I’d feared I’d never feel again after Danny and I had parted ways.
Being loved by a man like Alex was like a dream come true. Yes, it was a little bit scary not knowing if our love was actually going to last forever but, at the same time, it was an amazing feeling and an experience that I knew I didn’t want to chance missing out on.
He leaned down and kissed my forehead, running his hand along the small of my back. His fingers toyed with the chain of the exquisite diamond necklace he’d given me.
“This looks incredible on you,” he said softly.
I smiled up at him sweetly and kissed his cheek.
“What are you thinking about?” I asked him, peering up at his face curiously.
“About how much I want you to stay,” he replied lovingly.
My smile disappeared for a moment as I pondered the gravity of his statement. What would I do, though? I had already quit my job and my position had already been filled by someone else. When I explained this Alex, he didn’t even flinch. He just kissed me again and told me not to worry about any of it.
“You are no longer on your own, Holly. You don’t have to worry about any of that. Now, relax and get some rest. I have another surprise for you tomorrow.”
Goddamn, this man was full of surprises! I could only imagine what he was going to surprise me with next as I closed my eyes and drifted off into a satisfying, restful slumber.