Chapter Five

Chastity

Six Weeks Later

“Patrick, sweetie, can you do me a favor?”

My assistant was on speakerphone, even though he was standing just outside my office holding his cell phone to his ear.

“Of course, darlin’,” he said. “What do you need?”

“Could you call around and get me some quotes for my renovation? I’ve been swamped with the fall catalog, and haven’t had a chance.”

It was a really shameful admission since I’d bought the condo two weeks ago and was still living in a hotel. My fault for buying a place that needed some work, but I’d fallen in love with spacious, open floor plan and all the potential it had.

I’m a creative. So, of course I wanted to put my own spin on my home, but this had been going on for far too long. It was time to get things settled.

As much as I liked the Barclay, I needed my own space once more. I needed to be able to do my own thing to it. Needed my own energy. The hotel had such an air of the temporary about it. I need something with a little more permanence.

Ever since my last condo sold two months ago, I’d been spending way too much on luxury penthouses. It probably wasn’t the wisest move, financially speaking, but work needed me. Owning your own business meant working more than a traditional eight hour day. A hell of a lot more.

“Got it,” Patrick said. “I’ll call around, but you’ll have to meet with them, I’m sure.”

“I can do that,” I said.

I wasn’t really sure how I’d manage to fit it in, but I’d find a way. I had no choice. When my back was against the wall, I always pulled a rabbit out of the proverbial hat.

There was another reason I had trouble saying goodbye to the Barclay. One I didn’t like to think about. One I didn’t like to admit – not even to myself.

It was that night six weeks ago. The night I’d hooked up with Jordan and had the best sex of my life. I knew I shouldn’t still think about him, it was nothing more than a one-night stand after all. But, my mind always went back to the way he made me feel. I guess, part of me hoped he might come back to the hotel looking for me. Not that he should. That would be a very bad idea. But, there was still that hope, no matter how small or faint, that he’d come back to see me again.

It couldn’t happen, I knew.

“Speaking of the fall line,” Patrick said, “the fabric swatches came in for the jackets, and they’re adorable, Chastity. You’re going to die when you see them.”

“I’m sure I will,” I said.

“These jackets are going to be huge, I can see it now,” Patrick said. “Oh, and have you talked to Charlotte Bloom since your meeting a few weeks ago?”

The mere mention of Charlotte Bloom took me back to that fateful day in the alley. After nearly being robbed outside of her boutique, I honestly hadn’t given a second thought to contact her again. She hadn’t contacted me either though. It was likely because we both knew it wasn’t a good fit for either of us and there was no reason to waste each other’s time.

“Uh no,” I said. “It’s not been on the top of my to-do list, I’m afraid. Could you do me a huge favor and send her a thank you gift for me, pretty please?”

“Will do,” he said. “I’m guessing that’s a no-go then?”

“Yeah,” I laughed. “Not the clientele we’re looking for, I’m afraid.”

Patrick continued on about the fall line and the new jackets for a little bit. Honestly, it was something I was excited about as well. Since starting this company, I’d had most of the creative control. At least, until recently.

Lately, I spent most of my time focusing on the business-side of things, leaving the creativity to my staff, but these jackets were all mine. Denim was coming back in a big way, and I took advantage of that while still maintaining a high-end edge which other jeans jackets on the market didn’t have – a silk liner with a hint of color to them for starters. All designed by me, not my in-house designers.

Even though Patrick was talking about something I was passionate about, my mind was elsewhere. I remembered the night after my meeting with Charlotte Bloom. Recalled everything that had happened. I remembered how I’d been stunned by fear and then taken to incredible highs by passion. It had been, without a doubt, one of the strangest nights of my life.

That man though – he knew how to fuck a woman. Knew how to make her toes curl, and to make her feel absolutely fantastic.

I didn’t even know his last name, so there was no way I could find him again even if I wanted to. I supposed that if I really did want to find him again, I could always walk by the construction site again. That seemed really needy and desperate.

Besides, I needed to stay away. I wasn’t ready for something serious. Especially with someone like Jordan who struck me as a man who made it his life’s work to never be seriously involved with someone.

My insides grew warm at the mere thought of the roguish construction worker. I shuddered a bit as I remembered the way his hands ripped my dress from my body. I remembered the way he looked at me, with eyes I could drown in. And of course, I very fondly remembered the way his cock felt inside me. Those thoughts would come and go at the most inconvenient times. Like right this moment.

I squirmed in my seat, feeling a tightness below, and a wetness spreading out from the center of me. I switched positions and slipped off my shoe, placing my foot underneath me. I pressed against my most intimate parts, hoping to alleviate the pressure growing inside, but that only seemed to make it worse.

“Chastity?” Patrick’s voice cut through my fantasy.

“Mmm Hmm,” I muttered.

If there was one thing that could rip me from my dreams and bring me back to reality, it was Patrick’s voice. As friendly as we were, there was nothing sexual there. No attraction whatsoever. He was almost like a brother to me, as cliché as that sounded. But it was entirely true.

“You okay, darling?”

“Yeah, just have a lot on my mind,” I said. “Sorry, not feeling really talkative this morning.”

“It’s alright, I’ll forgive you this time,” he said with a snicker. “In the meantime, I better start calling some contractors.”

“Thanks, Patrick. You’re a lifesaver,” I said.

I was eager to get off the phone and not just because of the aching in my pussy, or the need I couldn’t control. But, because thinking about Jordan brought to mind other worries.

Like how I hadn’t had my period yet.

“It’s just stress,” I muttered to myself, diving back into work.

It wasn’t like it was the first time I’d been late. Especially during a new catalog rollout. Probably wouldn’t be the last either. Besides, we’d used a condom, and I hadn’t slept with anyone else since.

I was sure that I was being paranoid and that everything was fine.