Club Prive Complete Series Box Set: Alpha Billionaire Romance by Parker, M. S. (3)

Club Privé Book 3

By M.S. Parker

 

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2014 M.S. Parker

Published by M.S. Parker Romance.

 

Chapter 1

 

Skylar Camille. A name prompted by a question about a pair of initials tattooed on the back of the man I’d been dating – if that was even the right word to describe our relationship. I was trying very hard to process what Gavin had just told me without completely freaking out. How did I not know the man I was involved with had a daughter? It wasn’t like we’d spent all of our time having sex. We’d talked too. It just seemed that he hadn’t thought a child was something he should’ve mentioned.

Another thought crept in and an icy hand closed around my heart. “Gavin, are you married?” I hoped the question sounded as flat as I’d intended it to be. I wanted an honest answer. If I sounded angry, I didn’t know if he’d lie to try to placate me.

“No.” The word was firm.

He pushed himself up into a sitting position and I did the same. The sexual tension between us was gone. It didn’t matter what we’d been doing just minutes ago or the fact that we were both still naked.

“I told you before that I grew up in Connecticut, about thirty miles from Manhattan.”

I remembered that coming up during the lunch we’d shared, so I nodded.

“Well, growing up in Stamford, there was a girl who lived next door. She was just a few months younger than me, so we were in the same grade in school and even ended up being in the same class all through elementary. We played together some, but it wasn’t until junior high that we really became friends.” Gavin stared down at his hands as he told the story. “She was the first girl I had a crush on.”

The wistful smile that crossed his face made my stomach churn. Whoever this girl was, she still had a hold on him all these years later, and I didn’t know what that meant for him and me.

“When we started high school, she made the cheerleading squad and was really popular. It took me two more years before I got up enough courage to ask her out. We went to junior prom together and, when we kissed for the first time, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.”

I swallowed hard, trying to keep from throwing up. I didn’t know where this story was going, but I knew there was no way it had a happy ending. Not for Gavin, and probably not for me either.

“After we graduated, she went away to college, while I stayed in Stamford. It was tough making it work long-distance, but we did. The day she graduated, I proposed.” He paused for a moment, and when he continued, his voice was thick with emotion. “We got an apartment a few streets away from where we'd grown up and started looking towards our future together. We were going to get married two years later, but then she got pregnant and we decided that we didn't want to wait that long. What we did want, though, was our child to be a part of the wedding.” He ran his hand through his hair, his gaze far away. “It wasn't normal, we knew, but we both felt like it was important. We wanted to make our lifelong commitment to each other in front of the evidence of our love. It just made sense for us.”

I shivered. All of the heat that I'd gathered had leached away and the fan in my room was blowing cold air across my skin. I reached behind me and pulled the edge of the bedspread around my shoulders. He didn't even notice.

“A week before her due date, we were walking to the corner store when a car struck her from behind.”

The hand around my heart tightened.

“There was nothing they could do to save her, but an emergency C-section saved our daughter.” He reached over his shoulder and I knew his fingers were touching the numbers on his back. “June thirteenth. The day the love of my life died, and our daughter’s birthday. I named her Skylar because that was the name her mother wanted, and Camille because that was her mother’s name.”

“Oh, Gavin.” All of my selfish thoughts about what this meant for me vanished. All I could think about was how much my heart was breaking for him. I reached for him and he let me put my arms around him. “I’m so sorry.”

He didn’t say anything as he leaned into me, pressing his face against my neck. His skin was cold against mine. When he shivered, I broke the silence. “Let’s get under the covers.”

He nodded and we climbed under the sheet and bedspread without another word. I took him in my arms again and our bodies pressed together. He rested his head on my chest, the silky strands of his hair soft against my skin. His arm went around my waist, and I could feel the difference between this gesture and ones before. This was for comfort, not for sex. I stroked his hair, letting him take the time he needed. I’d never experienced a loss like that, but I imagined it wasn’t something that someone just got over.

When he started speaking again, he did it without any prompting from me. “The police never found him, the guy who hit her. I spent six months calling every repair shop in a hundred miles, following up on every single one that had a dark, expensive car come in with a dent in the front. I was obsessed and it nearly killed me. That’s when I met Howard. He convinced me that if I was going to be any good to my daughter, I had to let it go.”

I let a few more minutes of silence pass before asking one of the many questions I had. “Your daughter, she’s okay?”

I felt him smile.

“She’s amazing.” He shifted, moving so that we were face-to-face, our arms still around each other, but enough space between our bodies that we weren’t flush together.

“How old is she?” I’d been doing the math in my head based on average ages, but I wasn’t sure.

“Five.” Pride shone in Gavin’s eyes. “She’s starting kindergarten this fall.”

I wasn’t sure how to ask my next question without it sounding like I had some ulterior motive, but I ended up not having to ask. Gavin brought it up first.

“After Camille died, I wasn’t in any state to take care of a baby.” He reached out and brushed some of my curls back from my face. “Her parents stepped in and, when I’d healed enough to be able to think clearly, we talked. I wasn’t sure I could be everything Skylar needed, and she’d already been with them for over half a year, so I allowed them to adopt her.”

I fought to keep my surprise off my face. “Do you keep in touch with her?”

He nodded. “I see her as often as I can, at least every other weekend, and she knows who I am. Camille’s parents and I decided that we wanted Skylar to know who her mother was, and it only seemed right to do the same for me. She calls them Mama and Papa, and she knows that they’re her parents, but she calls me Daddy, and refers to Camille as Mommy. There are so many other kids she knows who have multiple sets of parents, she hasn’t really had a hard time accepting that this is just the way it is for us.”

“Would–” I hesitated, then continued, “Would you ever want to get custody back?”

“No.” His voice was soft. “But not because I don’t miss her and wouldn’t love to have her with me all the time. Her happiness and what’s in her best interest are more important than what I want. It would be cruel of me to tear her away from the only life she’s ever known.”

I leaned forward and brushed my lips against his. I returned to my previous position of a safe distance before it could become anything more. I wasn’t about to take advantage of his vulnerable state.

“She’s beautiful,” he said with a smile. “She has my eyes, but the rest of her is all Camille. Blond hair, about a shade or two lighter than yours, and this smile that can light up a room.” He reached out and pulled me towards him. “I can’t wait for you to meet her.”

My heart skipped a beat at that, breaking free of the last of the ice that had held it. He wanted me to meet his daughter.

“You know…” He began to run his fingers up and down my spine as I rested my head on his chest. “You’re the only person besides Howard who I’ve told this story to, and I was drunk when I told him, so I don’t think that counts.”

The faint tinge of humor in his voice warmed me more than the blankets. If he could smile, then his heart was mending.

“Thank you,” I whispered. I let my fingers wander across his chest. “Trusting me with that really means a lot.”

He didn’t say anything, only squeezed me tight for a moment. Minutes ticked by in silence. I didn’t feel the need to speak. He’d opened up, told me something so personal about himself that he’d never shared it before. And he wanted me to meet the most important person in his life. I would’ve thought that the idea of meeting a lover’s child would terrify me, but I found myself excited. I wanted to meet her, wanted to get to know someone who knew a different side of Gavin than the one that I knew. I wanted to become a part of her life.

It was that realization that made me finally admit to myself what I’d already known. I was falling for Gavin. It wasn’t just about the sex, and it wasn’t just us “being together.” I was falling in love with him.

That thought kept me awake even as Gavin fell asleep next to me, and it was still circling in my mind nearly an hour later when I finally slipped under.

Chapter 2

 

When I woke up, it took me a moment to realize why my room looked so odd. The light coming in from the curtain was at the wrong angle. It was later than I usually got up. I glanced at my alarm clock and saw that it was eleven-thirty. I was surprised. I must’ve been more tired than I’d thought. Then again, heat spread through me; I had been quite... active yesterday.

That thought reminded me of the person who shared my bed, and I rolled over. Empty. Before I could freak out about my lover’s having taken off while I was still sleeping, I saw a piece of paper on the pillow he’d used. It was folded in half with no name on it. I opened it and read.

 

Even as I’m writing this, I keep getting distracted by you. How peaceful your face looks when you sleep. The curve of your hip and ass beneath the blanket. The hint of your breasts peeking out from under the covers. I don’t want to leave you. Believe me, I would much rather wake you up by kissing every inch of your body, showing you just how thankful I am for your presence last night. I don’t think I could have handled talking about that if your arms hadn’t been around me. Unfortunately, I do have to go. Just know that I’d rather be in bed with you than working at the club, but some things have to be done on time. I’ll call you later. Know that I’ll be thinking about you and all of the things I want to do you. – G

 

My entire body was flushing by the time I finished his note. I rolled onto my back and read the note again. I couldn’t believe how eloquent he was. There were a lot of men who could charm the pants off a woman with what they said, but very few were equally articulate in the written form.

A knock at the door startled me from my third reading.

“Wake up, Carrie. Time to eat.” The door opened and Krissy stuck her head in.

I glared at her, holding the sheet against my breasts. I hated when she did that. She might not care about wandering around the apartment in the nude, but I wasn’t quite so free.

“I saw Gavin sneaking out when I got up.” She grinned at me. “I’m guessing your date went well.”

“Look, Krissy, it’s not–”

She held up a hand. “Talk while we eat. I’m starving.”

“All right,” I said. I waited and when she didn’t leave, I scowled at her. “I’d like to put some clothes on first.”

Krissy rolled her eyes. “Prude,” she said as she shut the door behind her.

“You’re going to have to take that back after I tell you about my night,” I called out as I climbed out of bed. I pulled on a pair of shorts and a camisole, then headed for the bathroom. I wasn’t going to take the time to shower, but I at least needed to clean up a bit. Like I’d said before, I’d had a busy night.

By the time I came out into the kitchen, Krissy was already at the table. She really had made breakfast. Well, I guess, more accurately, it was brunch. There were pancakes, cut-up strawberries, syrup, blueberries, butter, and even whipped cream. She’d also made a small plate of bacon and was currently eyeing it.

“This is amazing,” I said as I took my usual seat.

“Well, I figured if you’d had a bad date, this would be comfort food, and if it went well, it could be a celebration.” Krissy grinned at me as she popped a blueberry into her mouth. “Besides, you know how bored I get if I wake up before you.”

That was true. It was rare, but when it did happen, I generally woke up to Krissy doing something like trying to make new curtains for the apartment or buffing all of her shoes. Unfortunately, her boredom-induced energy rarely channeled itself into cleaning the apartment. I didn’t even want to see how much of a mess she’d made cooking. Still, I appreciated the gesture.

“Now that you’re here,” she continued, “let’s dig in.” She grabbed half of the bacon before I could even respond.

I laughed and started to fill my own plate.

“Spill,” she demanded as she munched on her bacon.

“Where to start?” I mused as I helped myself to a piece of bacon. It was perfect, crunchy without being burnt. I was feeling a bit mischievous as I teased her. “Making out in his town car? Groping him under the table during the gala dinner?”

Krissy’s eyes were practically bugging out of her head, and it was all I could do to keep going without breaking out into laughter.

“Almost having sex in the bathroom or actually having sex in an empty conference room? Or should I just skip to when we got back here?”

“I think I heard enough of that.” Krissy grinned. “The walls are thin.”

“About time you figured that out,” I countered. I could feel heat rising to my face.

“Oh, I definitely understand now,” she said. She began to gasp and moan. “‘Gavin! Oh, Gavin! Yes! Yes!’”

“Shut up!” I threw a strawberry at her.

She laughed as she deflected it away from her face. “Oh, honey, if he’s that good, I want serious details.” She winked. “I think it’s only fair, since I was treated to the soundtrack.”

I rolled my eyes, but I wasn’t actually annoyed with her. I wanted to tell her. Krissy had always been the one who’d had the wild sex and the smoking hot boyfriends. Even when I’d had boyfriends before, our sex hadn’t really been that exciting. It had been nice, but never anything like what I’d heard coming from Krissy’s room. Not until Gavin.

“All right,” I said. “Then I guess I really should start from the beginning.”

I began at the point where she’d last seen us and gave her a complete play-by-play, including Howard’s flirting with me, and the big-breasted women hitting on Gavin. She made all of the appropriate comments and sounds in all the right places, laughing when we burst in on the old woman in the bathroom stall, and fanning herself when I described how Gavin had stopped me from touching myself, declaring that he wanted to be the one to make me come. When I finally got to our encounter in my bedroom, she’d quit trying to eat. The only thing I didn’t tell her was about Gavin’s daughter and fiancée. If he’d told only Howard and me, I couldn’t break his trust to tell Krissy, even if she was my best friend. It wasn’t my place. I’d wait until he told me it was okay before I told her any of that.

When I finished with a vague summary of his note, she let out a low whistle. “Shit, Carrie, where the hell did this guy come from and are there any more of him?”

I shrugged and took a bite of my pancake. It had cooled during my storytelling, but it was still delicious. Krissy and I spent a few minutes eating in silence before I brought up something that had been hovering in the back of my mind since last night.

“I’m thinking about going on the pill.”

Krissy nearly spit out her mouthful of pancake.

I could feel my face burning, but I remembered what Krissy and Gavin had both told me. I was an adult. There was nothing wrong with what I was doing or what I wanted. And I wanted to know what it would feel like to have him inside me without anything between us. Skin against skin. How it would feel when he finished inside me, filling me up.

I shook my head and cleared my throat. I wasn’t going to tell Krissy any of that, of course. I had another explanation, which was part of my reasoning, though not the main part. “When we were going into the bathroom, I remember thinking that I hoped he had a condom because I was going to be pissed if he didn’t. Then, when we came back here, I realized that the ‘emergency’ ones I have wouldn’t fit him.”

I didn’t realize what I’d said until Krissy began coughing and had to take a gulp of her iced tea. I crossed my arms over my chest and tried to look like I hadn’t just said something a little more detailed than I’d planned.

“Okay, spill.” Krissy’s voice was hoarse but demanding. “Are we talking you have mediums and he’s a large, or...”

I sighed. I knew she’d never let this go, and if I didn’t tell her, she might even consider saying something in front of Gavin, just to satisfy her curiosity. “You know those ones that we always joke about in the store? The ones we say have to be there for false advertising?”

Krissy shook her head. “You’re fucking with me, right?”

I gave her a slightly embarrassed smile. “Nope.”

“Wow.” She gave me a once-over. “How are you even walking straight?”

“Krissy!” I practically shrieked her name, completely mortified.

Tears streamed down her face as she laughed, doubling over. I leaned back in my chair and glowered at her as she cackled. I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of any other type of response. Instead, I decided to call my OB first thing Monday morning and try to get in that same day. The idea of being able to tell Gavin that he didn’t have to be prepared, that he could just slide inside me whenever... I shivered.

Finally, Krissy calmed down and wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said. Her voice was sincere. “I just never... I mean...”

I held up my hand and shook my head. “Just stop there. I don’t want to talk about it. Let’s change the subject.”

“Agreed.” Krissy took a drink of her tea. “Did you find out anything more about the club?”

I shrugged. “Not much.” I sipped on my coffee. Ah, caffeine. “I didn’t actually get around to asking him about it, so I just know what he’d said before. Twice a week, the club is closed to the public and only members have access on those days. The same members who can use the room upstairs.” I flushed as I remembered my encounter in that room. “I have no idea how many members there are. I didn’t ask.”

Krissy laughed. “Oh, you mean you were too busy actually having sex to learn more about it.”

I rolled my eyes, but I wasn’t actually that annoyed. Krissy always teased me about sex. It was just nice that, for once, it wasn’t about my lack of it.

“So,” she leaned forward, an eager expression on her face. “We got a little distracted before when we were talking about that room. You never did get to tell me much about it.”

I picked at a piece of bacon as I answered. “What do you want to know? How there are restraints attached to the orgy-sized bed? Or about the absolutely massive dildo I found in one of the chests?”

Krissy’s eyes widened. “So this isn’t just a vanilla sex kinda place.” It was a statement rather than a question.

I shook my head. “Oh, no. Not even close.” I smirked at the look of surprise on Krissy’s face. I knew she wasn’t exactly vanilla herself, but hearing me talk about a sex club in general was something new. Adding something spicier into the mix made this even more fun. “I opened one of the chests and there were ball-gags and nipple clamps.” I fought to keep myself from blushing as I listed off the things I’d looked up on the Internet over the past week, just so I could have names to go with what else I’d seen. “There were also cock cages, clamps for... other body parts, and chains to connect the different clamps. All that was on one side of the chest. On the other side were dildos, strap-ons and vibrators in more sizes, shapes, and colors than I knew existed.”

“Uh-huh.” Krissy was staring at me. “What about in the other chests?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know, but if the research I did was any indication, I found the tame stuff.”

“Research?” She started shaking her head, like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Are you telling me that you...?” Her voice trailed off.

I nodded. “You know me. When I don’t know about something, I research it.”

“So, what did you think?” She pulled one leg up so that her foot was on the chair and her knee was against her chest.

“I don’t know,” I answered honestly.

“What – what if Gavin’s into the whole S&M stuff?”

I met her eyes. That was one of the things that had been hovering in the back of my thoughts since finding those toys.

“You did say he held your hands above your head,” Krissy pointed out. “What if he wants to tie you up? Or something even kinkier?” She munched on the last piece of bacon. “I mean, are you going to go all leather and whips on me?”

I laughed, brushing aside the question as I reached for my coffee. I was going to drink my hot beverage and hope to avoid the question. It wasn’t that I had a problem sharing with Krissy, but rather than I didn’t know the answer. If someone had asked me a few weeks ago if I’d ever considered anything remotely kinky, I would’ve laughed at them, but now, I wasn’t so sure. Gavin had already made me move beyond anything I’d thought I’d ever do. With the way I felt about him, the way my body responded to him, I wasn’t sure how far he could coax me to go.

Chapter 3

 

I spent all of Sunday working on my paper for school. I hadn’t been lying to Howard when I’d said that I needed to get it done. Normally, I could just put on headphones and apply laser focus, wading through case law and applying it to my thesis, but I’d been distracted lately. Well, okay, distracted since noon when I started thinking about when Gavin would call. Now it was evening and he still hadn’t called.

I told myself to focus on my schoolwork, and, for a good deal of the time, I managed to do just that. Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite stop the thoughts from popping into my head every now and then, wondering what Gavin was doing, why he hadn’t called. I stopped them as soon as they came. I’d never been one of those women who craved attention twenty-four/seven. It had everything to do with me just wanting to be with him, and nothing to do with me thinking that my boyfriend had to be in constant contact.

That gave me pause. Boyfriend? Where had that come from? Granted, Gavin had referred to us as being together, but he hadn’t said anything about any type of commitment. And though he’d mentioned me meeting his daughter, there was always a chance that he’d just said that because he’d been caught up in the emotion of the moment. For all I knew, his definition of “together” could mean a fling for a couple of weeks or maybe even a couple of months. It didn’t necessarily mean the same thing to him that it meant to me. Not that I really even knew what it meant to me.

I glanced at my phone for what seemed like the hundredth time. Even though I’d barely been away from it and had checked every time I’d returned, I still tapped the button to take off the energy saver. No calls. No texts.

I frowned. Should I call?

Absolutely no way in hell. I could hear Krissy’s voice in my head.

I sighed. Of course not. I stood and picked up my empty glass. I needed more iced tea. I headed into the kitchen, moving through the darkness with ease. When Krissy wasn’t here, I rarely turned on lights as I moved around the apartment. As long as I’d cleaned and knew there wasn’t anything on the floor to trip me, I could make my way through the entire space without a problem. The refrigerator light was more than enough for me to refill my cup by.

The silence was almost deafening. The people next door had left early that morning and Krissy had gone to the movies with Leslie, so the only sounds I could hear were the noises of traffic below and the muffled voices of those who were above and below. The walls might have been thin, but the ceiling and floor had good insulation. All of this was in the background, the kind of white noise that people get so used to that they barely even think about it.

Then, a sound cut through the air. A clip of music. A ring tone.

Shit.

My phone was ringing. I almost dropped my glass in my haste to get back to my room. As it was, I splashed ice tea all down my front and across my arm, soaking my t-shirt. When I saw his name on the screen, I forgot about being wet.

“Hi.” I sounded out of breath and hoped he wouldn’t realize that I’d been racing to get to the phone.

“Hello, there.” He sounded amused. “I’m truly sorry I didn’t call you earlier. I’ve been swamped with work.”

I sat down and eyed my laptop screen. “That’s okay. I really did have to work on my paper.” I didn’t mention that I hadn’t gotten as much done as I’d planned.

“I have to go out of town for a couple of days on business,” he said.

A stab of disappointment went through me. If I said I hadn’t been hoping he was going to ask me to come over tonight, I’d be lying.

“I was hoping I could see you Wednesday.”

I smiled. “That would be great.” My voice came out a lot more nonchalant than I felt.

“Can you come by the club after work, say around five? I’d like to give you the official tour of the club.”

“Oh.” I suddenly didn’t know what to say. I wanted to see him very much. My entire body was thrumming at just the idea. But, I wasn’t sure how I felt about going back to the club. Images flashed rapid-fire through my mind.

Gavin showing up pretending to be my boyfriend.

The way he looked at me when I was dancing with Krissy.

Kissing him for the first time.

Walking into that room and knowing we would be having sex.

One mind-blowing orgasm after another.

“Carrie?” His voice cut through the memories. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” I answered automatically. Before I could talk myself out of it, I spoke again. “And, yes, I’ll come by after work.”

“Great!”

I could almost hear him smiling and I knew how his eyes would be lighting up. Heat unfurled in my stomach.

“Go to the side door and press the buzzer so I can let you in. And I’ll have something for you.”

I frowned. “No more gifts, please.” He hadn’t asked for the necklace back yet, and I was still trying to figure out a way to ask about it tactfully. There was no way he could’ve meant for me to keep it. Was there?

“It’s not a gift. Not exactly,” he assured me. “But it will please you.”

Heat turned into flames and I shifted in my seat. The way he said the word “please” made me think that he wasn’t talking about some little gesture. His tone rather hinted at something deeper and perhaps darker, something that spoke to a primal nature I hadn’t realized I’d had until I’d met him. Then again, that could’ve just been wishful thinking on my part.

“I have to go, but I’ll be thinking about you and our next meeting.”

He hung up before I could answer.

“Oh, fuck.” I put my head down on my desk. “What did I just get myself into?”

I tried working on my paper after that, but I couldn’t think about anything other than what Gavin could possibly have in store for me. Finally, at ten o’clock, I gave up. I took a shower and headed for bed, intending to read until I fell asleep. Instead, I stared at the same page for half an hour, my imagination running wild.

Gavin slowly stripping off my clothes, then his own, before jumping into the pool.

Laying me back on the bar and burying his head between my legs until I screamed.

Another trip to the upstairs room where he tied me to the bed and teased me mercilessly.

Exploring the various chests and toys as he taught me the uses for each one.

I was still fantasizing about all of the things he could do to me when I fell asleep, and my desires followed me into my dreams.

Chapter 4

 

Was it sad that the most exciting part of my week prior to Wednesday was when I was able to get an appointment with my OB on my Monday lunch hour? Not that the appointment itself was exciting, just what it promised. I was able to get my prescription filled that day and start taking the pill right away. Even though the timing meant I was probably covered right away, I was going to wait a week just in case. Still, knowing that I’d be able to tell Gavin that he didn’t have to use anything was heady. I thought about calling him, but that seemed a bit too forward. Then I thought I’d tell him on Wednesday, but decided against it. First, I’d hint around about getting tested so I’d know that there wasn’t a reason other than pregnancy that meant we needed to keep using condoms. Then, I’d schedule a night next week for us to meet and tell him that I wanted him to come inside me, bare. I could just imagine the look on his face. In fact, I did imagine it through the entire examination and then on the way home from work that night. The only reason I didn’t keep thinking about it between those times was that I’d had work to do.

It took a while, but I finally learned how to concentrate when amorous thoughts wanted to take over. Every hour, I’d allow myself five minutes for my fantasies. I’d think about Gavin and how his body felt against mine. Sometimes they’d be memories; other times, I’d think of something new. Once those five minutes were up, I got back to the task at hand.

That task, for the past two days, had been doing more research on Howard. Mimi had instructed me to find out as much as I could about the women Howard had been seen with the most during the last year before his separation. If any of them were able to testify that they’d had sex with Howard while he’d still been living with his wife, his case would be seriously damaged.

I’d been able to tell when she’d called me into her office first thing Monday morning that things weren’t going the way she’d wanted. As soon as she’d told me what she’d discovered, I understood why. She’d gotten the prenuptial agreement finally and had spent the weekend reading it. It looked very bad for Howard.

Just before the couple married, Howard had been near bankruptcy. His business had been failing and no one would give him a loan to bail him out. Then, a big investor had come along and given him what he needed to get through that rough patch. The investor had been Howard’s wife’s family. The day after the wedding, Howard’s company had been saved, but to protect the family’s investment, the lawyer had written into the prenup that fifty percent of the company would belong to the family. The other fifty percent would be split between Howard and his wife – except in the case of infidelity. If Howard had been unfaithful, his wife would get everything and Howard would lose his company. My mission was to find out if Howard had actually had an affair. That meant I would be spending who knew how long finding out as much as I could about the women who had been seen with Howard prior to six months ago.

The celebrities were easy. If I didn’t know them, a quick reverse image search gave me their names. Once I’d searched for articles linking Howard with each of those women and found nothing, I was satisfied that I didn’t need to go any deeper with them. If there’d been any dirt there, the gossip magazines would’ve found it. No, the ones I had to worry about were the women who weren’t celebrities.

They were all pretty – I doubted Howard would ever deign to be seen with anyone less than attractive – but they weren’t actresses, models, musicians, or even those celebrities who are famous for nothing but being famous.

By Wednesday morning, I’d exhausted every resource at my disposal. All but two, and I really didn’t want to do the last one. After I’d settled in for the morning, I placed the first – and what I hoped would be the last – call. Howard’s personal assistant, Annie, answered on the second ring.

“Hello, this is Carrie Summers from Webster and Steinberg.” I kept my voice light and professional. It sounded fake to me, but I was working on making it better. “My boss, Ms. Styles, has me working on background information on the women who have attended various events with Mr. Weiss.”

I didn’t know if Annie understood the implication of what I was asking, but I hoped she didn’t. Knowing someone was checking up on your boss’s sex life could make things very awkward.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Summers, but I don’t have access to that information.” Annie sounded almost bored. “Mr. Weiss doesn’t provide me with the names of his dates, only instructs me to RSVP either for just him or with a plus one.”

“Okay.” I was disappointed. “Thank you anyway.”

“Have a good day.”

I frowned as I hung up. It seemed like the only way I was going to get these women’s names would be to ask Howard himself. I didn’t want to have that conversation. Aside from the fact that it would be uncomfortable to ask him about his dates when I knew he’d understand exactly why I was asking, it would probably make all future interactions just as awkward, and since I was with Gavin, I had a feeling I’d be seeing plenty of Howard.

Then there was the whole flirting thing. I wasn’t sure how he’d take me asking about those women. What if he thought I was asking because I wanted to know for personal reasons? I could see him thinking I was trying to find out about any competition. Gavin might believe that Howard was only a charmer who behaved that way towards all women, but that wasn’t the vibe I got off of Howard. I couldn’t put my finger on it or provide any type of proof or evidence, which was why I hadn’t said anything to Gavin, but something about Howard just didn’t sit right with me. I kept getting the feeling that there was something below that veneer surface that was far less attractive.

I decided to put off calling Howard. There were a handful of other places I could look for information. They weren’t exactly reliable, but they did give me an excuse not to make that phone call. Besides, who knew what I could find? If nothing else, maybe they could lead me to another trail.

About two hours later, I was starting to go cross-eyed from all of the tiny print I was reading on my computer, and so I almost missed it: an article that mentioned Howard Weiss. It wasn’t until I pulled it up and began to read that I realized it wasn’t an entertainment piece. Instead, it was a biographical article, one where Howard’s family history had been traced. Even though it didn’t have anything to do with what I was looking for, I kept reading. If I had to call him, at least I would have a bit more background information.

The more I read, the bigger my eyes got. Howard’s New York City roots were deeper than I’d realized. His family had been in the city since before the turn of the century, and I wasn’t referring to the recent one. Things were fairly unremarkable until the nineteen twenties, when Howard’s great-grandfather, Josiah, rose to power in the Jewish mafia. There were links to Josiah Weiss, so I followed them. He had been ruthless, cold, and calculating. A dozen murders were attributed to him directly, but none were ever brought to trial because witnesses kept disappearing. Some places had the body count as high as fifty or sixty for hits he’d ordered. Three were judges and more than a dozen were cops. Then there were all of the shady industries. Of course, it being Prohibition and all, he’d made a fortune running booze, but he hadn’t stopped there. Josiah had his fingers in everything. Police corruption. Blackmail. Shaking down business owners. Prostitution. Gambling. It seemed like the only thing he didn’t do was sell drugs.

When I’d finished, I sat back in my seat, trying to absorb everything I’d just read. It shouldn’t have made a difference, I knew. The Jewish mafia was all but extinct, and just because Josiah Weiss had been a part of it didn’t mean Howard had anything to do with that part of his family history. Then again, a lot of those mafia types had an “it’s a family business and blood is thicker than water” mentality. If the business practices had been passed down from generation to generation, there was no telling what Howard had done to acquire his fortune. Or to what lengths he would be willing to go to keep it.

Chapter 5

 

When I came back from lunch, a package was sitting on my desk, and on top of it, a single red rose. I smiled as I picked up the flower. I wasn’t going to throw this one away. I held it up to my nose and breathed in the unique scent. No matter how close chemistry got to duplicating the smell of roses, there would always be something different about the real thing.

“Is that from Gavin?”

I looked over to see Leslie grinning at me. Flirtatious and drop-dead gorgeous, Leslie had taken Gavin’s number when I’d tried to throw it away. She never had told me if she’d tried to call him.

“I’m seeing him tonight.” I set aside the flower and picked up the card.

Leslie grinned at me, her bright green eyes sparkling. I knew she wouldn’t begrudge me Gavin even though I’d originally said I didn’t want him. Leslie never lacked for male attention. Between the lustrous red curls and curvy body, she and Krissy rivaled each other in how many men they’d been with over the years.

“What’s in the box?” she asked.

I didn’t know, but I had a good idea. The last time I’d gotten a box like this, it had contained the most beautiful Prada dress I’d ever seen. I opened the card and read it silently.

Please wear this when I see you today, and no, this is not your gift. - G

Curiosity piqued, I set the card aside and opened the box. As I peeled back the tissue paper, my jaw dropped. There was clothing in the box all right, but nothing even close to what I’d expected. It was lingerie.

Leslie whistled. “Damn. He’s got good taste.”

I couldn’t nod. My cheeks were burning. It was absolutely beautiful. I’d never worn anything like it, and not just because it had probably cost more than I spent on my entire wardrobe in a month. I like pretty underwear, but I’d always kept it simple. My fanciest pieces were black lace. Nothing sheer or with peek-a-boo panels or anything like that. I’d never thought I was ugly, but I’d also never had the guts to try wearing anything like what was in that box. Tonight, however, I would. For him.

“You’ve been pretty tight-lipped about the whole Gavin thing,” Leslie observed. “Krissy told me last night that you really seem to like this guy. That true?”

Leave it to Leslie to be that direct.

I took a slow, deep breath and raised my head to meet her gaze. “I do.”

Leslie grinned. “Good for you.” She started back towards her desk, then paused and looked over her shoulder at me. “I hope he’s as good in the sack as he looks.”

“He’s better.” The words popped out of my mouth before I could think about them and I almost clapped a hand over my mouth.

I wasn’t sure who looked more shocked, me or Leslie. Whichever one it was, she recovered first.

“Looks like he’s really loosening you up.” She winked at me. “Careful. You’ll end up like me if you don’t watch out.”

She didn’t wait for a response, which was good. I wasn’t sure how long it was going to take me to get over my mortification enough to speak. As it was, it took me nearly a full minute to be able to move again. I carefully folded the tissue paper back down and put the lid back on the box before setting it aside.

I sank into my chair. I needed to focus. I couldn’t think about that or about why Gavin would want me to wear it. I still had half a day’s worth of work to do. That turned out to be easier said than done.

It was difficult to sort through all of Howard’s women to make a list of all the ones who were known and cleared, then compile pictures of the ones who were, as of yet, still unidentified. Not the work itself, mind you, more like trying to pay attention to the details while my eyes kept being drawn back to that box sitting on the edge of my desk. I kept imagining what it would be like to feel that soft silk on my skin, how it was going to feel riding in a cab knowing what I was wearing beneath my skirt and blouse. Most of all, I tried to picture what Gavin’s reaction would be when he saw me in it.

Somehow, despite my distractions, I managed to get my list made with fifteen minutes to spare. I was smiling as I printed out the papers. I was putting them into a folder when I heard my name.

“Carrie.”

I looked up to see Mimi standing in front of my desk. She held out a stack of papers. I took them automatically.

“These notes need to be sorted and put into chronological order by first thing tomorrow morning. They’re essential to a meeting, so they’re your top priority.”

She turned and walked away. It was no surprise that she didn’t bother to ask if I had plans for the night. No partner would ask a paralegal that, especially not a paralegal who was working her way through law school. We did the scut work because that was how everyone paid their dues. Being Mimi’s assistant just meant that it was her scut work I did rather than that of random associates. That also meant that when she needed me to stay late, I stayed late.

I spread the notes out on my desk and sighed in frustration. Every one of them had Mimi’s barely legible handwriting and not a single one contained a date. The only way I was going to be able to tell chronological order would be to read them and put them together like a puzzle. It was going to take an hour at the very least.

I began to work, using a highlighter to mark relevant portions that I could connect to other pieces. At least, that’s what I was trying to do. More than once, however, I found myself reading the same sentence over and over again.

“See you tomorrow,” Leslie said as she passed. She grinned at me. “Unless you’re too worn out.”

I rolled my eyes and managed not to blush. I tried to refocus, hoping I could quickly finish. Instead, my gaze kept sliding over to my phone, wondering if I should just call Gavin and tell him I was going to be late. But what if he decided it’d be too much of a hassle to wait? I had given him my word that I’d be there shortly after five. I was obliged to keep it. Besides, it wasn’t like I was getting much work done anyway.

I knew I was trying to talk myself into leaving without finishing the work, but I didn’t care. I wanted to see Gavin, and my mind wasn’t in the work anyway.

I picked up the stack of papers and put them into my desk drawer so they wouldn’t get lost. I’d come in early tomorrow and finish before Mimi even got in. She hadn’t specifically told me to stay after, so as long as I had everything done by the time she needed it, there wouldn’t be any problem.

The office was mostly empty by the time I picked up the box and headed into the restroom. A couple associates and paralegals were scattered around, and I spotted at least one partner, but none of them paid me any attention as I carried the box into the bathroom. I went into the big stall at the end, a smile playing around my lips as I thought about what had happened the last time I’d entered the large stall in a restroom. Fortunately, this time, it was empty. I quickly undressed and folded the bra and panties I’d worn, putting them in the box. I pulled on the lingerie, my heart pounding as I did so. The color was the same rich red of the dress Gavin had given me for the gala, and as it had done then, it looked amazing against my skin. I wanted to see myself in it before I revealed it to Gavin.

“Hello?” I called softly. My voice echoed off the tile walls, but no one answered. I opened the door a crack and peered out. It was empty. I didn’t need to actually walk out. I was across from the mirrors so all I had to do was open the door all the way and I’d be able to see what I looked like.

I took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the door. My eyes widened. Wow. I hadn’t known I could look like that in something like this. The entire thing was sheer crimson lace and silk. It was strapless, and the bra hugged my breasts, the low cut showing off quite a bit of creamy flesh. The most startling thing, however, was that I could see the slightly darker circles of my nipples through it, but the effect wasn’t trashy. From the center of the bra, a thin strip of silk ran down my belly, breaking into two halfway down so that it went on either side of my bellybutton before connecting to the top of my panties. They, too, were see-through. Not completely transparent, they hinted at what was beneath without being crass. They were also tinier than anything I’d ever owned. They sat low on my hips, the waistband just above the thin layer of hair that covered my more intimate parts. The back was barely there, a strip of material that was only a fraction wider than a thong. Add to that the black thigh-high stockings I always wore and the heels I hadn’t bothered to take off and, for a moment, I saw myself as sexy. Not cute, not pretty, not even hot, but honest-to-goodness sexy.

I closed the door and put my skirt and blouse back on. As I buttoned up my shirt, I was thankful that I’d worn the dark gray one rather than my usual white. I’d done it because I’d wanted to wear my black underwear to see Gavin, but now it meant that I could wear crimson without exposing myself to everyone.

I carried the box back to my desk and discreetly transferred my panties and bra into my purse before throwing the box away. I didn’t want to have to carry it around. Then, overly conscious of what I was wearing beneath my business clothes, I left the building and headed for the club.

No one even gave me a second glance as I flagged a cab, but I felt like everyone who even glanced at me knew what I was wearing, what I was doing. I kept my eyes focused straight ahead as I climbed into the car. I smiled politely as I gave the cab driver the address and tried not to think about if he knew what the club was. Krissy and Gavin were both right about not being ashamed, but it was often easier said than done.

I paid the driver without making eye contact and started up the sidewalk. Gavin had said to use the side entrance, so I walked down the alley rather than going to the front door. As alleys in the city went, this one was better than most. It was relatively clean, with just a few cigarette butts and condoms scattered in with the usual dust and debris that blew around the streets. It didn’t smell pleasant, but there was none of that cat-pee, garbage, and vomit scent that hung around most alleys.

A few feet down, I spotted a bright red door. Next to it was a buzzer. I pressed the button and heard the faint sound of its signaling behind the door. A minute later, the door opened, filled with the massive bouncer who’d been at the door that first night. I doubted he’d have recognized me even if I hadn’t been dressed completely differently.

“Yes?” He looked puzzled as he gave me a once-over.

“I’m here to see Mr. Manning,” I said. I really hoped I sounded like someone on a professional call rather than the kind of girl who frequented sex clubs. I immediately scolded myself for the thought. It was no wonder I had a hard time not feeling ashamed, thinking things like that.

“Who?” The bouncer crossed his arms over his broad chest. He didn’t exactly look friendly, but he also didn’t look like someone who was going kill me if I answered his question.

“Mr. Manning. The owner.” I supposed it wasn’t too strange that a bouncer didn’t know the owner.

“You’re in the wrong place.” He reached for the door. “There’s no one here by that name.” He gave me another full-body look. “If you’re here about the job, auditions are tomorrow.”

I didn’t need anyone to explain to me what the audition was probably for. He started to close the door and I reached out and grabbed it. I wasn’t sure who was more surprised by my action, me or him. I wasn’t exactly tiny, but I was far from being close to his size. I doubted most men would’ve tried to push the issue.

“Miss...” There was a warning in the word.

“Wait, please.” I kept my voice calm. “This is Club Privé, right?” He nodded. “And you’re saying that no one named Gavin Manning is here?”

“It’s okay, Lenny. I asked her to come.”

Gavin’s voice came from behind the bouncer, his tone saying that he knew the mountain of a man currently looking down at me. My heart started to pound and my mouth went dry, but none of it was from arousal. What was going on here? Why didn’t Lenny know who Gavin was if Gavin knew Lenny?

The bouncer stepped out of the way and Gavin was suddenly there. He smiled at me as Lenny walked away, shaking his head and muttering something I couldn’t hear. All of my instincts said that something was wrong, that I should leave, but before I could, Gavin reached out and took my hand, pulling me through the doorway into a small corridor.

“I was starting to worry that you’d changed your mind,” he said.

I yanked my hand out of his and took a step back. He looked startled, but made no move to touch me again.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Who are you?”

“What?”

I wasn’t going to fall for that innocent look. Something weird was going on here, and I was going to find out what. If he wasn’t Gavin Manning, I was going to find out who he really was.

“Who the hell are you?”

Chapter 6

 

He stared at me, as if he didn’t understand my question. Fine, I’d explain it.

“The bouncer said there wasn’t anyone named Gavin Manning here, but there you are, and obviously, he knows who you are, which means he was either lying to me, or you’re not who you said you were. And since you’ve lied to me before, I think I’ll err on the side of caution with this one. So, I repeat, who the hell are you?”

Gavin held up a hand, as if sensing that it wouldn’t be a good idea to try to touch me at that moment. When he spoke, his voice was calm, not defensive.

“Lenny was just being careful. He’s been my driver and bodyguard for over a year. A few months back, this crazy woman came after me with a gun. Lenny wrestled it away from her, but was shot in his hand. He’s been a bit more cautious than usual since then.”

I gave Gavin a skeptical look. “A woman with a gun?”

He gave me a half-grin. “Her husband was one of my consulting clients. The day before she came after me, she found lipstick on his shirt. She confronted him and he admitted that he’d been having an affair, then told her that I’d set him up with the woman. She got pissed and decided to come after me.”

“Did you set her husband up with a woman?” I couldn’t believe I had to ask the question, but something about this just wasn’t sitting right with me.

“No. I’d never do something like that. I may own a sex club, but I do have certain standards. If married men come here and hook up with someone, that’s one thing, but I’d never purposefully set a married man up with a woman for a sexual encounter.”

He sounded like he was being honest, but I wasn’t so sure I could believe him. I’d never heard him talk about other clients, and that last line had come across almost like he’d rehearsed it.

“Are you ever going to trust me?” His voice was soft.

I looked at him then and saw the hurt in his eyes. I wished I could tell him that I didn’t have any doubts, but that would be a lie.

“Look.” The corners of his mouth twitched up as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his ID. He held it out to me and I took it. “My license says Gavin Manning. I would show you my birth certificate, but I left it at home.”

I handed his ID back and his fingers brushed against mine when he took it. I supposed I was being sort of silly. He’d given me an explanation that had made sense and he hadn’t been on the defensive. Why did I still doubt him? From the moment he’d promised me no more lies, he’d kept that promise. I needed to decide if I was going to trust him or if this was going to be a constant thing, me always questioning, him always having to explain. It was no way to have a relationship.

I held out my hand. He smiled and took it, leading me down the short hallway and into the main club area. Aside from the lack of people, something was different. It was still beautiful and opulent, but something was missing. It was so large and obvious that it took me a couple minutes to realize what it was.

“Where’s the pool?”

In the space in the center of the room where there’d been a large pool on opening night, there was only floor.

Gavin smiled at me and pointed towards a panel on the wall just a couple feet away from us. He reached into his pocket, took out a key, and inserted it into the slot next to the panel. He twisted the key and pushed one of the buttons.

With a faint hum, the floor began to split. I watched as it parted, slowly revealing the water beneath. I had to admit, I was impressed. I knew there were schools that had pools under their gym floors but I’d never heard of a club doing it. Then again, I’d never heard of a club with an indoor pool next to their dance floor.

“Why was it hidden?” I asked as he returns the floor to its original place.

“We only use it for special events,” he said. “Do you have any idea how much it costs to maintain a pool with the health department? This way, we don’t have to worry about weekly inspections; only every month, since it’s only going to be used for specific events.”

“Like what?” I asked as he began to lead me further along the wall.

“Well,” he said, thinking. “Like our members-only nights. We open the pool and hire... entertainment.”

His hesitation told me that the entertainment consisted of only one gender. I scowled. He was bringing in hookers for his clients.

I started to pull my hand away, but he tightened his fingers around mine.

“Dancers, Carrie.” The look on his face said that he knew exactly what I’d been thinking. “Exotic dancers. Strippers, if you like that word better, but all they do is dance. They’re paid for the event, not by the men, and it’s all high-class stuff.” He paused, then added, “Though in the spirit of total honesty, as I’ve promised, if any of them decide to accept a man’s offer to go upstairs, I won’t stop them. Consenting adults, and all. I’m not their parent.”

I wasn’t sure how I felt about that aspect of the business, but I didn’t say anything. I followed along in silence, smiling and nodding as Gavin showed me all of the intricate details of the club. It was really quite beautiful and, after a few minutes, it pushed thoughts of members’ night to the back of my mind.

Chapter 7

 

“So, I heard that you were having trouble getting the information you needed about some of the women in Howard’s life.”

I looked up at him, startled. He appeared to be faintly amused by my reaction and, when I thought about it, I supposed it should have been obvious. It did seem to be part of his job to know everything to do with Howard.

“Let me show you my office.”

I thought the change in subject seemed a bit abrupt, but I didn’t say anything about it. Obviously, he had something on his mind and I had an idea that it’d be better to just let it play out rather than try to figure it out on my own.

As we stepped onto the elevator, my heart gave a little skip and I rubbed my palms on my skirt. The last time I’d been in this elevator, Gavin’s hands had been on me the moment the doors had closed. I watched the door panels slide into place and kept staring straight ahead as we rode up. I wanted to look over at Gavin, to see if he was remembering that night too, but I was afraid that if I did, either I’d see he was staring at me with lust in his eyes or, worse, was completely unaffected. The first would be bad because I didn’t have much self-control when it came to the man standing next to me. None, actually. The second would be bad because it would mean that our encounter wasn’t enough to spark the memories. So, I stayed a chicken and kept looking directly in front of me.

The elevator dinged and the doors opened. Gavin stepped out first and I followed. We walked side-by-side, not joining hands again. I knew why I didn’t reach for him, and I hoped he had the same reasoning for not doing the same. One touch and I wasn’t sure what I’d do. We stopped in front of one of the doors marked for employees only, but my gaze kept traveling down to the door at the end of the hall. The door that lead to the room for members only.

The door looked innocuous enough, but I knew what was behind it. The memories of everything Gavin and I had done that night in that room came rushing into my mind. How we’d laughed at the vibrating bed. The first time I’d seen him naked. The expression on his face when he’d seen me...

“Carrie?”

Gavin’s voice brought me back and I realized that he’d opened the office door and was waiting for me to go through.

“Sorry,” I said, heat rising to my cheeks.

“It’s okay.” He lowered his voice as I stepped past. “I think about that night every time I see the door too. Makes coming to my office... hard.”

I shivered, the double meaning not lost on me. Now I was wondering if that was why he’d brought me here. Did he want us to have sex in his office? Maybe some sort of role-play thing? Immediately, the images popped into my head, one after the other.

Gavin as the boss, me on my knees, working hard for a good review.

Him bending me over his desk.

Me riding him in his chair.

Desire unfurled low inside me. It was just a tendril of heat, but I knew it wouldn’t take much to get it stoked to a full flame.

“Here.”

It took me a moment to realize that Gavin was holding out a file. I was puzzled, but I took it.

“Have a seat.” He motioned around him.

A couch sat against one wall, two plush chairs against the other. A large desk was in front of a window, the chair behind it looking like it cost more than some cars. The entire office was tastefully decorated, the subtlety saying that it cost a lot to look this simple. Nothing was cheap, but nothing was outlandish either. I liked it.

I could have taken one of the two high-backed chairs that sat across from the desk, but I still didn’t know why we were there, so I decided to go halfway. Rather than sitting on the couch like I wanted to, I chose the closest chair. Gavin perched on the arm as I opened the file.

“That should have everything you need on the women you couldn’t find.”

I stared at the papers and pictures in front of me. Where had he gotten these? I began to flip through the files and saw head shots, personality tests, questionnaires. A suspicion started to form. The only types of places I’d ever seen use this kind of information were dating services. I remembered what he’d said earlier this evening about a client’s wife thinking he’d set her husband up with a woman. Then I remembered the women from the gala. Were they his doing too?

“I know what you’re thinking.”

I looked up. I seriously doubted that.

“After Camille died…” His face tightened briefly. “I was lost, but I found my way back by finding something that I was good at. Writing software.”

Okay, not what I’d been expecting.

“Howard saw my potential and gave me a loan for my start-up money. The first thing I developed was dating software. That’s where all of this,” he gestured around him, “came from.”

“Dating software.” I’d thought that was what the information looked like.

“Yes. It scans the Internet for information about potential dates. It’s more thorough than any dating site out there, and I use it to find matches for millionaires, men who have to worry about women’s only wanting them for their money.”

“Or married bastards who want to cheat on their wives?” The question came out more harshly than I’d intended, but I didn’t apologize. I could put up with kinks, or even people who wanted to invite other people into their relationship. That might not have been my thing, but who was I to say anything against consenting adults? What I did have a problem with, however, was adultery. I’d seen what infidelity could do to a marriage. My brother’s ex had cheated on him, and it had nearly destroyed him. It was bad enough to have to have people like that as clients, but I could never be with a man who assisted in that deception.

Gavin was studying me intently, as if those deep blue eyes could read my everything, my very soul. “No.” He shook his head. “I have two types of matches. Possible romantic dates for single or separated men, and companions for men whose wives don’t want to attend events.”

“Really?” The word dripped my disbelief.

“You’d be surprised at the women who want to rub elbows with the rich and famous. Being on the arm of someone like Howard can get women into places that they could never get to on their own.”

I closed the file and folded my hands. This was sounding more and more like one of those escort services who said they only provided companionship so they wouldn’t get in trouble with the law.

“It’s not a call girl service, Carrie,” he said. “The women aren’t paid and every single client, male and female, agrees to our terms of service, which specifically state that no money is to be exchanged for sex.”

“Sure,” I said. “I wasn’t thinking anything like that.”

Gavin laughed and shook his head. “We said no more lies.”

I grinned, the mood lightening. “You said that. Not me.”

He laughed again, the deep sound rumbling through me and making parts of me throb.

“Thank you,” I said. I wasn’t sure what I’d find when I looked more deeply into his business, but I appreciated that he was helping me.

“Here.” He took the file. “I’ll have someone deliver that to your desk tomorrow morning. You shouldn’t have to carry it all night.”

He stood and held out his hand. I took it and stood.

“Now, for your surprise.”

“This wasn’t it?” I asked.

He smiled, that slow, sensual smile that made me quiver inside. “That wouldn’t be very romantic, would it?” He started towards the door. “Come, let’s go eat.”

Chapter 8

 

As we headed back downstairs, I kept trying to think about what my surprise could possibly be. Dinner couldn’t be it. We’d eaten meals together before.

“Are you cooking for me?” I asked.

He laughed and reached over to take my hand. He threaded his fingers between mine as we walked across the club floor towards the side door I’d used to enter.

I was going to ask for a reason behind his laughter but as soon as we stepped outside, something else caught my attention. A limo was waiting. I suddenly felt very underdressed, even with my sexy lingerie.

A thought occurred to me. This was the second time he’d had a car appear without having called. “Do you have some sort of telepathic connection with the driver?” I joked.

“Better than that.” He held up his phone. “It’s an app.” He grinned and my stomach did a flip. “Whenever I need a limo or town car, I just press this button. The company at the other end uses the GPS in my phone to locate me and then they contact the closest available driver. I called for it when we were on our way up to my office.”

“Well, that is a fancy little app,” I said as the driver opened the door for me.

“Thank you,” he replied as he followed me into the limo. “And it’s quite the time saver. I haven’t waited for a ride since I helped develop it a few months ago.”

My eyes widened. Okay, now I was impressed. I’d thought he’d just been bragging about his ability to have limos and town cars at his beck and call. “Just how much software have you developed?”

He chuckled and shrugged, his eyes flicking away from mine for a moment before coming back again. The thought immediately popped into my head that he was hiding something, but I pushed it away. I’d already decided that I was going to trust him. I wasn’t going to let myself go back down that path over something that was probably just an embarrassed little tic.

“Is there anything you don’t do?” I made it into a tease.

He laughed again, this time louder. “Actually, yes, and that would be why I laughed when you asked if I was cooking for you. I’m an awful cook.”

“Come on, you can’t be that bad.” I let him veer away from talk of work. He seemed like one of those rare guys who actually didn’t want to make everything all about how wonderful he was.

“Trust me,” he said. “I am.” He raised our linked hands and pressed his lips against the back of mine. “I’ve screwed up boiled eggs.”

“How in the world do you do that?” I laughed.

“The water boiled away and the eggs exploded.”

We laughed over that for several minutes before I finally asked, “Where are you taking me, then?”

“Wait and see,” he replied cryptically.

I tried to scowl at him, but couldn’t manage it. He was giving me that sideways look that made his hair fall across his forehead and made me think about what he must’ve looked like in high school. I had a feeling he’d been one of those kids who’d never gotten in real trouble in school because he’d just give his teachers that same look and they’d let him off easy. Girls would’ve fallen all over themselves to get that smile, and guys would’ve followed him anywhere.

The limo pulled up in front of a magnificent high-rise. I’d seen this building, of course, and knew that it housed some very rich people.

“Does Howard have a place here too?” I asked as he helped me out of the limo. I hadn’t seen this listed on his assets. Maybe he was trying to keep it from his wife.

“No.” He slid his arm around my waist and kissed my temple. “I do.”

Of course Gavin lived here. Why hadn’t I thought that? I tried not to look like a gawking schoolgirl as I followed him inside. By the time we reached his top-floor suite, I was feeling overwhelmed. I waited for him to open the door so we could go inside, but instead, he turned towards a different door.

“Let’s go up the stairs.”

“Okay.” Now I really had no clue what was going on. I’d thought he’d brought me to his place to show it to me. We’d order in, and after we’d eaten, we’d head to his bedroom. The roof hadn’t factored into my thoughts at all.

A warm breeze caressed my skin as I stepped out onto the roof. I caught my breath. At first, all I could see was the view. The sun was just sinking below the horizon, casting pinks and purples across the Manhattan skyline. I couldn’t hear the noises of the city, and the silence took me out of that space, making me feel more like I was looking at a vast painting. It looked almost too beautiful to be real.

“Just wait until it gets dark. It’s even more amazing.” Gavin pressed his lips against my ear.

I nodded mutely. I could only imagine what that would be like.

Gavin’s hand on the small of my back nudged me forward, and that’s when I saw the rest. Just a few feet away was a small, intimate table. Surrounding it were candles, some on the ground, some in tall holders. Once the sun was gone completely, they and the lights of the city would be the only things to see by.

“Welcome.” A tall, thin man in a sharp black tux gave a little bow, and it was all I could do not to laugh. Not because it was funny, but because I was suddenly nervous.

Gavin pulled out my chair and I sat. Once he settled across from me, he leaned across the table and took my hand. “I hope you don’t mind eating here instead of in a restaurant.”

“Are you kidding me?” I gestured around us. “This is perfect.”

The waiter returned with wine and poured us both a glass. I took a sip and made a sound of approval. I was far from a wine snob, but I could tell this was quality stuff.

“I wanted to take you to Le Petit,” Gavin said.

I almost choked on my wine. Le Petit was one of the priciest and most elegant restaurants in the city. That was where the old money of the city liked to dine because it cost far too much for even high-paid lawyers to afford.

The waiter came back with two small bowls of soup, placing one in front of each of us before vanishing into the rapidly falling shadows.

“Did you know that the waiting list for a table is six months?” he asked as he took a taste of the soup. “And that was with me using some of my biggest connections.”

I wasn’t sure where he was going with this, but I had no problem listening while I ate. The soup was amazing.

“But they do have some of the best food in the world,” he continued. “So I figured out a way to get what I wanted.”

I remembered how he’d told me that when he wanted something, he obsessed over it until he got it.

“I talked to the chef and convinced him to make us a three-course dinner of his speciality entrée.”

Wow. I set my spoon down in my bowl. That was impressive. I didn’t know of anyone else who would dare ask a top chef at a world-famous restaurant to make a three-course meal for a date. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach. I was starting to be a bit overwhelmed by the lengths to which Gavin was going for me.

“What’s next?” I joked. “Three guys with violins to serenade us while we eat?”

A combination of horror and astonishment came over Gavin’s face. “You don’t want that?”

I laughed as he played along with my joke. The amusement only lasted a few seconds as I realized he wasn’t joking.

He called over his shoulder. “Hold the trio.” His cheeks were red and he couldn’t meet my gaze.

Now I felt awful. He’d gone to all this trouble and I’d made it into a joke. “No,” I said. I reached out and put my hand over his. He looked at me then. I smiled. “Music would be nice. Thank you.”

He gave me that shy smile, the one that didn’t have any of his charm or swagger, the one that I hoped was only for me. He waved a hand back towards the door we’d come through. A moment later, three men in tuxedos appeared, carrying violins. They began to play a soft piece of classical music. It was vaguely familiar but I didn’t know the name.

“I know it’s tacky,” he said. He still looked a bit sheepish and I knew that was my fault. “But I just thought, what if you expected it and I didn’t have it? I didn’t want to disappoint you.”

I swallowed hard. I released his hand and leaned forward enough so that I could place my hand on his cheek. I made sure he could see how serious I was before I spoke. I needed him to believe me, because I needed that insecure look to leave his face. I hated that I put it there, and I wanted my words to take it away.

“You can never disappoint me.”

He smiled then, all shadows gone.

Chapter 9

 

I’d never eaten anything quite like that meal. For the most part, I found fancy restaurants to be overpriced and the food not worth the effort. This, however, would’ve been worth a six-month wait and whatever exorbitant price La Petit charged. I didn’t consider myself a foodie, but I did appreciate a good meal. The soup was just enough to whet the appetite, and then came the chicken in some fancy sauce I didn’t even have a name for. It was spiced just right, flavored but not overwhelming. The portions were perfect, enough to be filling, but still leaving room for dessert. And what a dessert it was. A thin slice of the richest chocolate cheesecake I’d ever eaten. Gavin and I split it, and even though half was barely three bites, it was perfect. Any more would’ve been too much.

“I need to remember to send a thank you to the chef,” Gavin said as he set his fork down on the empty plate. “That was magnificent.”

I nodded in agreement.

He turned to the trio of musicians. “Thank you, gentlemen. You have truly been wonderful.” He reached into his jacket and pulled out several folded-up bills. Judging by the way the lead musician’s eyes widened, I was willing to bet Gavin hadn’t handed over twenties. The men each gave a little bow and disappeared into the shadows.

“I’d like to show you my place, if you’re interested.” Gavin stood and held out a hand to me.

Was he kidding? Of course I wanted to see his place. I had so many questions about him, who he was, what he did. Any opportunity to see behind the man, I’d take. I slid my hand into his, shivering as his fingers closed around mine.

There was that too.

I didn’t doubt for a moment that part of seeing Gavin’s apartment would involve sex, and I wanted that almost as much as I wanted to know more about him.

He led me back downstairs, leaving our table for the waiter to clean up, or at least that’s what I assumed would happen. I wasn’t going to dwell on that, though. He’d arranged the date. It wasn’t my responsibility.

“I bought this place a year ago,” he said as he pressed his palm against the electronic pad next to the door. “But it took me a couple of months to get everything just the way I liked it.”

The red light next to the door turned green and I heard the lock click.

“Biometric locks.” He threw a grin over his shoulder. “The most secure ones in the business.” He opened the door and we stepped inside. “Lights.”

The room was immediately illuminated with the soft, warm glow of lights made to resemble candlelight. Finding out that Gavin had made his money developing software, and then seeing his security system, I fully expected the apartment to reflect an electronic, technological type of style, very much metal, and cold colors. Instead, I found a modern but cozy place decorated in warm earth tones. It was all very open, the main area containing the kitchen, dining room, and living room without walls to separate them. The main area alone was as big as my entire apartment, all rooms included, and I knew this wasn’t all there was. I saw one hallway to the right and one to the left, but couldn’t tell what either one led to.

Something about the uniformity of the colors and furnishings told me that he hadn’t done the designing himself, but I could see where his personality had influenced the choices. Whoever had done the decorating had done well in reflecting the type of person Gavin was.

“Do you like it?” Gavin’s question was almost shy, as if my opinion of his home truly mattered to him.

I suddenly wondered how many women he’d brought here. It seemed like something more intimate than he’d show to someone he was just fucking. I smiled. “It’s beautiful.”

He beamed as he kicked off his shoes. I followed suit, letting my stockinged feet sink into the plush carpet. The feel was sensual, and I suddenly remembered what I was wearing beneath my work clothes.

“Shall we enjoy an after-dinner drink?” He led me over to the couch. “If it was cooler, I’d light a fire, but I think it’s too warm for that.” He looked down at me as I sat. “Unless you’re cold?”

I shook my head. I had heat running all over my skin. I was far from cold, but it had little to do with the weather. I looked around as Gavin headed for the kitchen. It wasn’t until I’d studied three of the pictures on top of the mantel above the fireplace that I realized something strange. There weren’t any personal pictures. None of him, of his daughter, or his fiancée. All the pictures were impersonal photographs or portraits. Still lifes, landscapes, that sort of thing. I could tell they were of things that he liked, but they still weren’t of people who meant anything to him. At least not as far as I’d looked. Not that I intended to go snooping. Maybe it was too painful for him to have the pictures always there, staring him in the face.

“Champagne?” Gavin held out a glass of bubbly golden liquid.

I took it and sipped. It was light and delicious, very similar to what we’d had at the club that first night together.

Gavin set down his drink on the glass coffee table in front of the couch, and slipped off his jacket. He draped it over the back of a nearby chair. When he untied his tie, I shifted in my seat, wondering how far he was going to go. He left the tie hanging, undone, and pulled his shirt from his pants.

“That’s better,” he said with a smile. He sat down next to me, not quite close enough for us to be touching, but at little enough distance that I could feel the heat from his skin. Though that might have just been my imagination.

I took a drink of champagne, letting it join the wine I’d already consumed. I was far from drunk, or even close to as tipsy as I’d been the first night Gavin and I had spent together, but the alcohol had taken enough of the edge off that my bold side felt like it could come out and play.

“I never did say thank you for your gift, did I?” My voice was low.

Gavin looked surprised. “You did.”

I set down my half-finished drink and stood. “Not the files.” I put my fingers on the top button of my blouse, and Gavin’s eyes followed. “Your other present.” I smiled. “Though I think it was just as much for you as it was for me.”

Gavin’s breathing quickened as I began to slowly unbutton my blouse. I made my movements deliberate, taking my time with each and every one. I didn’t pull the material aside, instead letting it hang open, exposing just a thin strip of pale flesh and crimson lace. When I reached the last button above my skirt, I untucked my blouse, enjoying the way Gavin’s eyes darkened at the quick flash of lingerie.

When I finished unbuttoning my shirt, I turned, then shrugged off the garment, letting it drop to the floor. I glanced over my shoulder at Gavin as I reached up and pulled out the clip that had been holding my hair up. The curls tumbled, hot and soft, over my shoulders. I shook them out, letting them fan across my bare skin until they hid most of my back from Gavin.

“Carrie,” he breathed my name.

I didn’t respond other than unsnapping my skirt and slowly lowering the zipper. I heard him make a sound as I let the skirt fall to the floor as well. The air was cool against my ass, reminding me that this was far skimpier than any panties I owned. I refused to be embarrassed. I’d seen what I looked like in this, and I let that image give me the courage to turn.

“Fuck.” The word came out strained.

I smiled. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Gavin nodded. “You should.” He leaned forward. “I knew it would look good on you, but this is more than I’d imagined.”

I walked towards him, letting the lust in his eyes fuel the fire in my belly. When I was directly in front of his knees, he reached for me, but I shook my head. He looked puzzled, but dropped his hands. The moment I’d started undressing, I’d known what I wanted and I was going to have it.

I put my hands on his thighs, pushing them apart as I lowered myself to my knees. I could practically hear his pulse racing. I slid my hands up and down his thighs, loving the feel of his solid muscles beneath my palms.

There were two things I needed to know before I started, because they would determine just how far I got to go. I really hoped his answers would allow me to finish the way I wanted. I rarely had the guts to get this bold, and I wasn’t sure if I would again.

“Were you planning on this being a long night?” I asked as my fingers flexed on the upper part of his leg. “Or once you’ve gone, are we done?”

He blinked, surprised by my question. I didn’t think he’d quite figured out why I was asking, but that was okay. “Are you asking if I can go more than once tonight?”

I nodded.

He grinned. “I may need a little time to recover, but I plan on us spending a very long night together before we pass out.”

That was good. I reached for the waist of his pants. Here was the awkward question. There really wasn’t a good way to ask it, but I’d thought of something that would be at least tactful. It would also let me know if my fantasy about next week would be feasible.

I looked up at Gavin as I lowered his zipper. His eyes locked with mine as I tugged his pants lower on his hips, but I broke it to drop my gaze to the tight, black boxer-briefs he was wearing. The bulge told me that he’d been enjoying the show I’d put on, and that made me smile. I hooked my fingers under the elastic of the waistband and slowly pulled down his underwear.

My stomach and things even lower tightened as I revealed him. Black curls that were softer than they had any right to be. A base so thick that when he was fully aroused, I wouldn’t be able to wrap my hand around it completely. The impossible combination of hard and soft, like silk-covered iron.

He was only half-hard now, his shaft resting against his hip, and already he was nearly as big as my largest previous lover had been. When he was fully erect, he rode the border between holy-fuck-that’s-huge and there’s-no-way-that’ll-fit. Even after preparation, he was a tight fit. Without foreplay, he was too much, but I knew from experience just how good he could make even too much feel.

I ran my fingers over the hot flesh, smiling as it twitched beneath my touch. I wrapped my hand around him, and he was still soft enough that my fingers touched my thumb. My other hand moved between his legs to cup his balls, and he moaned. I worked him with my hands for a minute, feeling him swell and grow. Before he could get too big for me to be able to take much, I lowered my head.

He swore as my mouth engulfed him, taking almost all of him in that wet heat. My tongue swirled around him, the flavor of him bursting across my taste buds, mingling with the leftover chocolate and the more recent champagne. Gavin’s hand rested on my head, not pushing or even guiding, just brushing over my curls, his fingers twisting in them.

He was heavy on my tongue as I raised my head. My hand continued to stroke him, the motion nice and slow, keeping him at his full, impressive size. I looked up at Gavin and found his face flushed, his pupils blown wide. Now it was time to ask.

“Are there any reasons,” I started, “that I can’t finish this,” I flicked out my tongue across the tip of him, “bare?”

He stared at me, as if he wasn’t sure he understood what I was asking.

Okay, I was going to have to be blunt. “I want you to go in my mouth.”

“Shit.”

I continued, making my voice rhythmic, almost matching the pace my hand was using. “I want to feel you spurt across my tongue. Taste you. Swallow every last drop.”

Gavin shuddered, as if my words were working him up.

“Is there any reason why I can’t?” I hoped he was thinking clearly enough to understand that question at least.

He shook his head. “I’m clean.” His voice was hoarse. “Carrie, you’d don’t have to–”

“I know.” I smiled. “I want to.”

I lowered my head again, determined not to come up again until he was done. I released his balls and put my hand on his hip, a reminder for him not to thrust. My other hand remained wrapped around his base, working in a circular motion. I bobbed my head, hollowing out my cheeks every time I went up, the suction making Gavin writhe beneath me. His fingers twisted in my curls, sending little pinpricks of pain through my scalp, but I didn’t care. I wanted to feel him come apart beneath me, wanted to know that I’d done this to him with just my mouth and hands.

The muscles beneath my palm twitched and his hips jerked, telling me he was close. I inhaled slowly through my nose and lowered my head further than before. The tip of him bumped against the back of my throat, and I fought my gag reflex. A moment later, the end of him slipped down my throat and my nose brushed against his curls. I swallowed once, twice, then began to raise my head, knowing I couldn’t stay long. I didn’t need to. Even as the head of his cock began to slide over my tongue, Gavin came. The thick muscle pulsed in my mouth, spilling his seed, and I swallowed. I could hear Gavin swearing and calling my name as I used my mouth and tongue to draw out every last drop, but it all seemed so far away. I was focusing everything in me on the taste and feel of him.

Finally, when I allowed him to slip from between my lips, spent and soft once more, I looked up at him. We were both breathing heavily, our skin flushed. Gavin reached for my face and brushed his thumb across my bottom lip. I smiled at him and he cupped my chin, drawing me towards him. His lips brushed against mine, and I assumed that would be it, but he surprised me. His tongue pushed for entrance and I opened my mouth to him. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me against him as his tongue plundered my mouth, exploring every crevice as if it were new. He didn’t release me until my lungs were burning, and even then, he kept his arms around me, turning me so that he was cradling me on his lap.

“Wow,” he said, his voice shaky. “That was... wow.”

I smiled. “Glad you liked it.”

“‘Liked it’?” He echoed my words. He tipped my chin so that I was looking up at him. “Give me a minute to get the strength back in my legs and I’ll show you just how much I liked it.”

“So the night’s not over?” I asked.

“Hell, no,” he answered. The heat in his eyes felt like it could burn me if I wasn’t careful. “We’re just getting started.”

Chapter 10

 

When Gavin had taken me back to his room with the promise of reciprocation for what I’d done, this hadn’t been what I’d had in mind. Not that I was complaining, just surprised.

The bed in Gavin’s room wasn’t nearly as big as the one at the club, but it was still king-sized, so that made it big enough for us both to be on it comfortably. The only light came from a lamp next to the bed. I had a feeling there was an overhead light that would be used for more mundane things like changing clothes and reading, but the lamp was perfect for sex. Just enough light to see by without being harsh and unforgiving.

Not that I’d know, because right now I couldn’t see anything other than a faint red glow.

When we’d gotten to the room, Gavin had stripped out of his clothes while I watched – all right, while I’d ogled – but he’d shaken his head when I’d moved to take off what little I was still wearing. Instead, he’d had me climb to the center of the bed, stretch out on my back, and put my hands above my head.

He’d leaned over me with two red scarves in his hands. While he was tying my wrists with the first one, he’d spoken in a low, gentle voice. “I promise you that this will be amazing, but you have to trust me.”

I’d nodded mutely. I was starting to get there with my heart, but I’d already decided that it was well worth the sexual trust. He’d never done anything that I hadn’t loved, even when I’d been reluctant to admit it to myself.

“If you want me to stop, just say so,” he’d continued. “I will, and I won’t start again until you ask me to. I won’t do anything that you don’t want.”

I’d nodded again, and that had been when he’d tied the other scarf over my eyes. It was thin enough that I wasn’t in complete darkness, but I also couldn’t truly see either.

When Gavin began to speak, his voice was like warm water caressing my skin. “One of the easiest ways to heighten sensation when having sex is by denying one or more of the other senses. Taking away sight makes your other senses sharper. Taking sound too would make it even more intense.” I felt the heat from his body as he leaned closer to me. “But I wanted you to be able to hear me.”

I shivered. I was glad I could hear him. I loved listening to him talk. He had one of those voices that I could listen to all day, the kind that could make me wet even if he was reading a grocery list.

“I’m going to teach you some of the ways you can react to touch,” Gavin said. “And you’re going to come harder than you’ve ever imagined possible. Only then will I fuck you.”

I swore, my voice trembling almost as much as my body was. If this was going to be as intense as it sounded, I wasn’t sure I was going to survive.

Something light and airy, just this side of tickling, made its way over the undersides of my arms. I giggled as it reached my armpits and then danced over the tops of my breasts. When it moved down my stomach and over my ribcage, I started to squirm. I wasn’t very ticklish, but whatever Gavin was using was light enough to do it. Then he nudged my legs apart and I caught my breath. Whatever he had trailed over my inner thighs and I caught my breath. Little tendrils of pleasure crept up my legs straight to my core. I felt Gavin’s finger brush against my leg as it hooked under the elastic of my panties, then there was cool air as he pulled the crotch of the panties aside.

“Dammit.” My body twitched as those light tendrils brushed against my wet lower lips. It was too light for any real friction, but my skin was sensitive enough that it garnered a reaction. It played over me for a moment longer, then disappeared. I felt my underwear put back into place. The bed moved and I knew that Gavin had gotten up for something. A minute later, I felt it dip again under his weight.

“Have you ever heard of ice play?” Gavin asked, his tone almost conversational.

I shook my head. I hadn’t heard of it, but I wasn’t naïve enough to not be able to figure out the gist of it.

A moment later, I gasped as something hard and cold ran over the bare flesh of my breast. Gavin chuckled, that deep, purely male sound. My fingers curled into fists as I fought to keep my hands above my head. It wasn’t easy. Gavin slid the ice cube over every exposed inch of my chest before dropping to circle one of my nipples. It hardened instantly, the combination of the cold and the friction from the now-wet material making my sensitive flesh into a hard little bullet point. I whimpered as he moved to the other one.

“Fuck!” I shouted as something wet and hot covered my nipple.

Gavin began to suck on the wrinkled flesh, sending jolts of pleasure straight through me. He worried at my nipple through the bra even as he circled the other one with the ice cube. A moment later, I was thankful that he’d thought to buy strapless lingerie. He pulled down the top of the bra, spilling my breasts from the confining material.

When the ice touched me again, I shivered, but it was more from anticipation than the cold. Every cell in my body felt the intensity of the cold moving through me, and when Gavin’s tongue began to lick up the water, burning across my skin, I cried out. He alternated ice and mouth until I wasn’t sure if I was hot or cold. My body was freezing and burning at the same time, ready to combust only to be brought back from the edge by the chill. I writhed against him, wondering what I looked like, my skin shining with liquid, my nipples hard and distended. Had he marked me with his mouth? Not being able to see him was more erotic than I’d imagined.

I gasped as the ice ventured into new territory. It slid over my belly, moving across the thin strip of silk that connected the top to the bottom. Droplets of water slid down my sides and were absorbed by the bedspread. I laughed as the ice circled my belly button, the sound catching in my throat when Gavin’s tongue dipped into the water.

Gavin’s fingers brushed over the places where the silk attached to the panties. I felt him do something, then there was give. Apparently, there’d been a hook connecting them. I didn’t dwell on the thought, however, because Gavin was slowly peeling my panties off. When they were gone, he slid his hands up my legs, moving from my stockings to my bare thighs.

“I’m going to leave these on this time,” he said. “I’ve been dreaming about feeling them against my skin when your legs are wrapped around me.”

I swallowed hard as the now-exposed space between my legs throbbed. I wanted very much to wrap my legs around him now, draw him into me, but I knew it wasn’t time yet.

Nearly painful cold shot through me and I cried out, my back arching, my hips twisting in an attempt to get away. Gavin’s hands held me firm as he ran the ice cube up and down my slit. When he slipped it between my folds and it brushed against the top of my clit, my body convulsed. It was sharp and just this side of painful, almost like a bite, but with an edge of pleasure to it that took my breath away.

My hands tugged at their restraints as Gavin’s mouth chased the ice, shocking my body with the sudden change in temperature. I couldn’t take it. It was too much. I was just about to tell him that, to beg him to stop, when his lips wrapped around my clit and he pushed the rapidly melting ice cube inside me.

I wailed as an orgasm smashed into me. It wasn’t the roll of a wave or even the sudden crescendo after a build. This was hard and fast, and I couldn’t process it. Heat melted away the cold, but left in its wake a molten lava that coated every inch of my skin, leaving me raw. I could feel everything touching me. The fine hairs on Gavin’s arms. The dips and whorls of his fingerprints where his hands held me down. Every fiber of the bra just under my breasts. The soft silk beneath me. Even the air had weight.

Gavin pressed his lips almost chastely against the top of my sex and that one extra sensation was enough to send me outside myself, rocketing towards that white-light bliss that would hold me until I could function again.

I was still shuddering when I came back to myself. The blindfold was still on, but my hands were untied. Gavin’s arms were around me and I could feel him hard and ready against my hip. I reached down with one shaking hand and ran my fingertips over him.

“Carrie?” He made it a question.

I nodded. There was no way I’d be able to speak any time soon. I heard a rip, then latex moving over flesh. I rolled onto my back, spreading my legs as I went. He slid inside me slowly, the heat of his body burning away the last of the chill. I knew I could take off the blindfold now and see him as he moved above me, but I didn’t. Instead, I gave myself over to it, letting my body absorb the sensations in a new way.

His breath puffed against my ear for a moment, then his lips were there, tugging at my earlobe. His stomach slapped against mine as I raised my hips to meet him, finding our rhythm. I hooked my legs on either side of his waist, rubbing my calves against his ass. The movement rocked me against him in a different way and little sounds began to fall from my lips.

My hands explored his body, my fingers seeing what my eyes didn’t. The ridges of his muscles. The flat, wrinkled flesh of his nipples. The soft, fine hairs at the base of his neck. The way the muscles in his back and shoulders rippled beneath his skin as he thrust into me.

And then there was that. The in and out motion that pushed against parts of me never reached by anyone else. The way my body adapted to accept him, molded around him. I could feel places inside me I’d never felt before reacting to his touch. It wasn’t just the friction, either; there was something else I couldn’t name. All I knew was that it was greater than the nerves connected to the surfaces of that sensitive flesh. It ran somewhere deep, somewhere I’d never known existed until this moment.

Even as I thought it, Gavin was groaning against my neck and his hand was sliding between us to touch that place that would bring me with him. I clung to him as I joined him, and felt our bodies merge into one as we rode our pleasure together, each wave taking us higher than the last until I couldn’t take any more. I let myself go even as I heard him saying my name.

Chapter 11

 

At some point during the night, Gavin and I had moved under the covers and the blindfold had come off. I wasn’t sure when it had happened, but it didn’t matter. I was waking, warm and content.

And I could smell cinnamon and coffee.

I rolled over onto my back, my hand automatically sliding across the sheets next to me. I was alone in bed. I frowned even as I opened my eyes, and that’s when I saw why Gavin wasn’t in bed with me. He was standing next to the bed, wearing blue and green plaid boxers and nothing else. In his hands was a tray with food that I couldn’t recognize from this angle.

When he set it down in front of me, I saw a plate with two of the gooiest, stickiest cinnamon rolls I’d ever seen. They were both lathered in thick, buttercream frosting and still steaming. A small bowl of fresh fruit, neatly sliced, sat to one side of the plate, and next to it was a small plate with two eggs, sunny side up. My stomach growled loud enough for me to blush, but Gavin didn’t say a word. I shifted my gaze across the tray to the mug of coffee, and right next to it was a single rose. It was the most exquisite flower I’d ever seen. Pure, snow white with just the tips a deep, crimson red.

“Thank you.” The words came out in a whisper. I reached out and brushed my fingers over the rose petals. They were as soft as they looked.

“You’re very welcome.” Gavin sat on the bed next to me. “Shall we share this amazing-looking food?”

“I thought you said you couldn’t cook?” I teased.

“I can’t.” He grinned at me as he picked up one of the two forks. “It’s room service.”

“Room service?” I asked. “This isn’t a hotel.”

His grin widened. “No, but next door is.”

I gave him a puzzled look, but didn’t waste any more time asking questions. The food smelled far too good. The first bite of the cinnamon roll was just as good as I’d imagined.

“I send my out-of-town clients to the hotel and they give me... perks.” Gavin took a bite of the roll, chewing as slowly as I was to savor the flavor. After he’d swallowed, he clarified, “I order their room service from time to time.”

I leaned forward to take another bite and Gavin’s gaze dropped. It was only then that I realized the sheet had fallen, exposing my breasts. I flushed and pulled it back up to cover myself.

Gavin reached for me, his eyes blazing in that way that made my mouth go dry. He slid a finger between the sheet and my skin.

“You have nothing to be embarrassed about.” His voice was a soft caress. With a gentle tug, he pulled the sheet from beneath my hand, baring my flesh to the cool air. “I could stare at you for hours.”

I shivered as he lightly traced across the top of my breast and down to my rapidly hardening nipple. He circled the dusky rose-colored flesh with his fingertip, then pulled his hand back. Without another word, he resumed eating. After a moment, I did the same, not bothering to cover myself again. I was still feeling a bit self-conscious, but the admiration I saw on Gavin’s face was enough to keep it at bay.

We were halfway through our meal when Gavin broke the silence. “We should go away next weekend.”

I stopped with my fork halfway in my mouth. I had to have misheard him. There was no way he’d just asked me to go on a trip with him.

Gavin either didn’t seem to notice my silence or he was intentionally ignoring it. “A nice, romantic weekend in the Hamptons. What do you think?”

I was grateful that I had a mouth full of food. It gave me the opportunity to think as I chewed and swallowed. I loved the idea of spending an entire weekend with Gavin, and the fact that he wanted it to be someplace romantic made it all the more special. If he’d just wanted sex, all he would’ve have to do would be to ask me to come here. Taking me to the Hamptons, that meant something more. That was the kind of thing couples did.

“I’d love to,” I said as soon as I could manage the words.

Gavin beamed. He leaned over and brushed his lips across my forehead. It was a chaste gesture, almost out of place, but I loved that he’d done it. While I enjoyed the passion and the sex, it was nice to know that he would do something nearly platonic. It made me feel like there was more to our relationship than just fucking.

“It’s getting late,” Gavin said. I could hear the reluctance in his voice. “I need to get ready for work.”

I sighed. He was right. Our little bubble was nice, but it couldn’t last. The real world was out there and we’d both have to face it sooner or later. “Me too.” I didn’t even want to think about the work I was going to have to do when I got in to the office. It had been worth it to put off doing those files last night, but that didn’t mean I was looking forward to having to do them this morning.

Gavin stood and started towards the bathroom. I watched him go, my eyes drawn to his trim waist and firm ass. It may have been covered now, but I knew what lay beneath.

“You know.” He paused in the doorway. “We could save some time if we showered together.”

I froze for a moment, images of naked, wet Gavin dancing across my vision, and then I was moving. I tried not to look too eager, but the grin on Gavin’s face told me that I might not have succeeded. When his hand closed around mine, I no longer cared if I’d looked like I was desperate for him. The truth of the matter was that I did want him, and the feeling was so intense that desperation was a fairly accurate description.

The bathroom was bigger than my bedroom. It followed the same warm tones that decorated the rest of the condo, and the brass fixtures matched that style. The shower itself was encased in glass, a separate entity from the tub that sat just a few feet away. For a moment, I wished Gavin and I had the time to indulge in a long, slow bubble bath. I could see it in my mind’s eye, the soapsuds sliding across our skin...

The sound of water being turned on brought my attention back to the present. Gavin left the door open a crack as he removed his boxers. I wasn’t sure when the rest of the lingerie Gavin had bought me had come off, but it had. The only thing I was wearing were my stockings and I had a feeling those weren’t going to be good for much after this, not after having slept in them all night.

“Allow me,” Gavin said as he knelt in front of me. He lifted one of my feet and I put my hand on his bare shoulder to balance. As he rolled the stocking down my leg, I realized that his position put him very close to other things, and my pussy throbbed. Two of my previous four lovers had gone down on me, but none of them had been even close to as skilled with their mouths as Gavin was.

Almost as if he could read my mind, Gavin turned his face as he put one leg down and lifted the other. His breath was hot against my inner thigh, but he didn’t close the distance. By the time he returned my foot to the cool tile floor, my skin was humming with anticipation.

“I think the water’s warm enough.” Gavin stood.

I let my gaze wander down his body as he turned. He wasn’t fully erect, but knowing that just being near me had brought him to half-mast was enough to make me smile. I don’t think it would matter how often we made love, I would always love that his body responded to me like that.

Gavin stepped into the shower and held his hand out. I followed him under the warm spray, letting the water rinse away the sweat and sex of the night before. I closed my eyes as the water soaked into my hair, keeping them closed when I heard the snap of a plastic lid and the fresh, clean scent of shampoo filled the steamy air.

A moment later, I felt Gavin’s hands in my hair. I made a sound in the back of my throat as he began to massage the shampoo into my thick curls. I’d always loved having my hair washed, but I’d never had it done like this. As his fingers worked against my scalp, my hands began to slide across my skin. From one side of my stomach to the other. Over my belly button and just above the pale curls between my legs. Up to my breasts, cupping them, feeling their weight on my palms.

“All rinsed,” Gavin spoke low in my ear, his voice merging with the sound of the water falling.

I turned towards him, opening my eyes at last. Every drop of water was a new sensation on my skin. I blinked through wet eyelashes and tilted my head to look up at him.

“My turn.”

I held out my hand and he squirted some shampoo into it. I pressed gently on his shoulder and he went to his knees. His eyes closed as I began to work the shampoo into his hair. The strands were silky soft as they slipped between my fingers. I worked it into a lather and then began to rinse his hair clean. I smiled as I realized that we would smell alike today, and I was glad that he hadn’t used something spicy. That would be a bit too obvious.

As the last of the suds swirled down the drain, Gavin’s hands began to move up and down my legs, running from knees to hips. His head tilted back and he opened his eyes. With our gazes locked, he lifted my left leg and hooked it over his shoulder. Still looking at me, he leaned forward, opening his mouth so that I had no doubt about what was coming.

“Ah...” I sighed as he licked me. One long stripe, before settling to tease around my opening. All the while, his eyes were open and fixed on me. His hands held my hips as he kissed me, his tongue exploring my pussy as thoroughly as it ever had my mouth. It danced up to circle that little bundle of nerves and I cried out.

I fell back against the wall, barely registering the cool tile against my back. All I could feel was Gavin’s mouth, his tongue and lips passing over sensitive flesh until I was a quivering mess, held in place only by the man between my legs. He sucked and licked until I was calling his name, begging him for release. The moment he slid a finger inside me, I began to come. Then he crooked it, brushing against that spot that made the world go white.

I wailed, not caring if anyone could hear me. My nails dug into his shoulders, deeper and deeper, until I knew he’d be bruised, but I couldn’t let go. It was too much pleasure, too much sensation. I needed to get it out somehow.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, Gavin’s hand and mouth were gone, my body empty and craving to be filled by something larger and thicker. My eyelids fluttered open as Gavin reached for the door.

“Where are you going?” I managed to ask the question. I didn’t care how late we’d be, I wasn’t about to let him leave just yet.

He grinned at me. “I don’t actually store condoms in the shower.”

My body gave a long, low pulse. “Is that all?” I turned so that my back was to Gavin. “Don’t.”

I could almost hear him going completely still. This would be my choice, I knew. It hadn’t been a full week, but I didn’t want to wait anymore. I turned my head so I was looking over my shoulder at his startled face.

“I went on the pill.”

His eyes widened and his breath caught in his throat. He wanted this too, but I could tell he was torn. He wouldn’t want me to feel like I’d been forced into anything, so I had to make him believe that this was all me.

“I want you inside me, Gavin,” I said. I slid my feet further apart. “I want to feel you, nothing else, nothing between us.”

“Fuck,” he groaned.

The door slid shut behind him and he crossed to me in two long strides. He pressed his body against the length of mine, his cock hot and heavy against the swell of my ass. His hands ran along the front of me, cupping my breasts, fingers tugging at my nipples until I was pushing back against him.

“Take me.” The words came out almost involuntarily and I felt his body shudder against mine. I repeated them, “Take me.”

His lips found the soft skin of my throat and began to work it even as I felt him nudge against my entrance. My fingers curled against the tiles as he buried himself inside me with one swift thrust.

I cried out at the sudden fullness, my body going rigid as it made room for the intrusion. He didn’t pause, but rather began to withdraw right away, his thick shaft rubbing against me, the sensation new and welcomed. Skin against skin, our cells calling to each other, searching for the perfect match that existed only in another’s body. His thrusts were hard and deep, each one nearly lifting me off of my feet.

I squeezed my eyes closed, wanting this memory forever imprinted in my brain. The way the water felt against my skin. How the heat wrapped us in a cocoon. The feeling of him sliding back and forth between my legs. His mouth on my neck, sucking on the skin there until I knew I’d have a mark. His arms holding me in place as he thrust up into me. The way the pressure was building inside me until tears streamed down my face, mingling with the rest of the water.

“Please, please,” I begged without knowing what I was begging for. I could barely hear my own voice as I drowned in pleasure.

“Do you want me to come inside you?” Gavin whispered in my ear.

He pressed my body flat against the wall, trapping me between the heat of him and the cool of ceramic. He laid his arms across mine, his hands covering mine. I could feel the flex of his stomach against my back, the powerful thrusts of his hips.

“Do you?” he asked the question again and only then did I realize he wanted an answer. “Do you want me to come inside you?”

“Yes,” I gasped out the word. My body tried to shudder, to shiver, but I couldn’t move.

“Tell me.” Gavin’s voice was fierce, the kind of harshness that made me wet. “Tell me what you want.”

I whimpered as his teeth scraped over the shell of my ear. I knew I should be embarrassed to say the words aloud, but I wasn’t. I just knew what my body was craving and I couldn’t lie about it.

“I want to feel you come inside me.”

The words brought a primal near-growl from Gavin and my eyes rolled back in my head as the vibration traveled through me.

“I want to feel you pulse inside me, filling me.” I was barely able to breath, but I forced the words out. I needed him to know the truth. “I want my thighs wet with your cum.”

“Fuck.” Gavin’s fingers tightened around mine as his hips jerked against my ass.

I felt it then, what I’d been waiting for. The warmth of his seed spilling inside me. His cock emptying, not into some impersonal latex, but into me. It was amazing, everything I’d imagined, but it wasn’t enough. I made a sound of pure frustration, desperate for that last little bit of friction I needed to finish. I started to drop my hand, to slide it between us. It wouldn’t take much, I knew. One or two little touches to bring it to a head.

“No.” Gavin’s fingers closed around my wrist, shoving my hand back where it had been before. “I told you before.”

Then his hand was there, right where I needed it, his fingers rubbing just right so that my climax finally arrived, ripping through me with hurricane force. As wave after wave of pleasure crashed over me, I heard Gavin’s voice again.

“Mine.”

He lowered us until we were sitting directly under the spray, my body cradled against his. I put my cheek against his chest, listening to his heart pounding in my ear. I could feel his cum trickling out of me, mingled with my own juices. As I finally caught my breath, I asked the question I’d meant to ask before when the subject had come up.

“You said ‘mine.’” Okay, that wasn’t a question, but I was pretty sure he’d know what I wanted to know.

I was right.

Gavin pushed wet hair back from my face. “When I’m with you, I want every part of you.” His expression was somber, serious. “I don’t mean it in some macho, caveman kind of way, but I want you to be mine. Every inch of your body to belong to me in that moment. To know that I’m the only one you’re thinking of, that you’re not fantasizing about some other man’s hands on you.”

I shook my head. “Never.”

He smiled, but there was still a darkness in his eyes. “I want to possess you, but not control you, or make you into something you’re not.” He shook his head. “I’m not explaining it right.”

I reached up and put my finger against his lips. “It’s okay. I know what you mean.”

And I did. I understood what he was trying to say, even if he couldn’t express it himself. Saying “mine” and claiming me as his had nothing to do with bossing me around or degrading me. It wasn’t about me belonging to him. It was about us belonging together. If I was his, then he was mine, and I liked that.

I put my hand around the back of his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. Just before our lips met, I whispered, “Mine.” His eyes lit up and his mouth covered mine.

Chapter 12

 

It was tempting to stay in the shower until Gavin was ready for round two and then spend the rest of the day in bed, talking and making love. Neither one of us had used the “l” word or even truly made a declaration of what we were to each other, but I was feeling more on solid ground now than I had before. That feeling of trust grew when Gavin finished dressing first and told me to lock up when I left.

I stood, wrapped in a large brown towel, drying my hair and trying to wrap my head around what had happened. Not only had Gavin brought me back to his place, but he’d also felt comfortable enough to leave me here while he went to work. I think the quickest I’d ever left a boyfriend alone in my apartment had been after five months together. It wasn’t like I’d thought they’d go through my journal or something, but there was something too personal about leaving someone in my space. And I’d never liked it when they’d left me at theirs. Until now.

When my hair was finally dry enough to manage, I wrapped it up, pinning it behind my head. I wished I’d brought clothes with me, but I hadn’t thought I’d be spending the night. My stockings were a total wash, but at least my bra and panties were cleaner than the rest of my clothes. Before I put them on, however, I was going to work on the other essential. Make-up. Fortunately, I had brought some of that with me. Not much, but enough cover-up to mask the pair of hickeys Gavin had left on my neck. The one on my left breast was low enough that nothing I owned would reveal it.

“Next time,” I muttered to myself. “We’ll see how he likes having to wear make-up on his neck.”

I wasn’t really angry though. I liked the reminder of what we’d done, though the throbbing ache between my legs wasn’t going to let me forget any time soon. He hadn’t hurt me, but I was definitely going to be tender for a day or two. I’d had vigorous sex with a more than well-endowed partner too often over the past few weeks. Krissy was right. It was amazing I could walk right.

I laughed at that, then clamped a hand over my mouth at the sound. It was strange, knowing Gavin wouldn’t be coming in to ask what was so funny.

I checked the mirror one last time and tossed my lip balm into my purse. Now to find my clothes. The search didn’t take long, but what happened when I picked up my skirt from under the end table distracted me.

Last night, I hadn’t been paying much attention to what was around the couch. I remembered thinking that he hadn’t had anything personal around. Apparently I’d been preoccupied enough to miss these. Two simple silver frames. One held a picture of a much younger Gavin, dressed in a tux, standing with his arms around a beautiful blond girl. Judging by her dress and the corsage on her wrist, it was their senior prom. They were smiling and very much in love.

I smiled sadly as I put the picture back on the table. I wasn’t jealous. How could I be? I knew what happened after that picture was taken, how many years they had together, the life they’d never have. Being jealous of a memory was petty and foolish.

I picked up the second frame. I didn’t need anyone to tell me who this was either. She may have had her mother’s fine, model-like features and straight pale blond hair, but those dark blue eyes were all Gavin.

I gently set the frame back down. My finger traced along the top of it. “You have a beautiful family.” I whispered the words, unsure if I was speaking to Camille or to Gavin until I added, “I promise, I’ll take care of them.”

Chapter 13

 

Have I mentioned before how much I hate being late? Today was even worse because, not only was I late, I was wearing the same thing I’d been wearing the day before, sans stockings. Fortunately, I kept a fresh change of clothes at the office – most interns, associates, and paralegals did – but that didn’t mean I wasn’t feeling the walk of shame on my way to my desk.

Leslie, Krissy, and Dena all stared at me as I hurried past them, and I refused to make eye contact. I could feel my cheeks burning as I grabbed my back-up pack from my bottom desk drawer and started towards the bathroom.

“Carrie!”

I froze. Shit. It was Mimi. I slowly turned, hoping she wouldn’t be able to read my recent activities on my face.

“You’re late.”

“Yes, I am.” I knew lying would just make things worse. “I’m so sorry–”

She waved a hand. “I don’t want excuses. I want those reports.”

“Right. The reports.” Something very close to panic was threatening to take over.

“Where are they?” Mimi put her hands on her hips, the expression on her face more unfriendly than anything I’d ever had her direct at me.

I didn’t know what to say. How could I tell her that I didn’t do my work because I was too busy fucking her client’s consultant? I stammered, “I–”

“Delivery for Carrie Summers.”

I nearly squeaked in surprise, but managed to keep it to myself. “I’m Carrie Summers.”

I turned towards the voice as I answered. A middle-aged delivery man walked towards me, two thick envelopes in his hands. I quickly signed for them, peeking at the sender information. Gavin. Praying that these were the files he’d shown me yesterday, I turned back to Mimi.

“I had to send for some files about some of the women Howard had been seen with,” I said. “Express delivery of course.”

“And the information I asked you to note chronologically for the meeting?” she asked.

“I’ll have that for you in less than an hour,” I promised. I wasn’t sure how feasible that really was, but I was going to try.

“Since you were working late on the case, I’ll cut you some slack this one time.” Mimi pursed her lips and gave me a once-over. “Please tell me you at least have a change of clothes so you’re not looking all rumpled in the meeting.”

I held up the little black bag in my hand. “I was just heading to the bathroom to change.”

Mimi nodded. “Good. The meeting’s in ninety minutes. Have those notes with you when you come to the big conference room. And I’ll expect the reports on Howard’s women by the end of business today.”

I nodded, eager to get started. When she turned, I hurried away.

New clothes and a little over an hour later, I was on my way to the conference room with the information Mimi had wanted in my hand. It had been crazy to get it together that quickly, but it was surprising sometimes just how much a person can do when they’re motivated enough.

The meeting ended up running all the way to lunch, thanks to the opposing counsel, who appeared to be older than the law profession. He moved more slowly than anyone I’d ever seen before and before we were halfway done, I found myself wondering if he’d taken the fable of the tortoise and the hare to heart as a child. By the time everyone left and I finished tidying up the documents we’d spread across the table, I was starving. I’d eaten a good breakfast, but I’d also been very... active.

A small smile played across my lips as I allowed myself to remember what a great morning I’d had. It had been difficult not to let my mind wander during the meeting, so it was a little reward to myself to give in and enjoy a few moments before joining my friends for lunch. We made small talk as we ate, but it was clear that my relationship with Gavin was the real point of interest. I answered what I could without giving away what I thought Gavin wouldn’t be comfortable sharing. Fortunately, they were more than willing to be distracted by me talking about my sex life.

It wasn’t until we were riding the elevator back up to our floor that Dena asked the question I knew they’d all been wanting to ask. I had to admit, I was a bit surprised that she was the one who said it. She was the quiet one of my friends, the one who most easily faded into the background. Not because she wasn’t beautiful enough to be noticed, but because she didn’t have Leslie’s or Krissy’s flash. She never drew attention to herself and seemed to enjoy it that way.

“I have to ask, is this all about sex or is this something more?” Her pale eyes were serious, her expression one of concern. “I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

I smiled down at her. I wasn’t tall, but Dena was the definition of petite. “Gavin and I haven’t really had ‘the talk,’ but it’s definitely more than sex.” I gave her a sideways hug. “There’s a connection between him and me that I’ve never had with anyone else.”

“Just be careful,” she cautioned.

“I will,” I promised.

The doors opened and the moment was broken. It was time to get back to work. I headed back to my desk, working on refocusing on what I had to do next. I’d glanced at the files Gavin had given me, but hadn’t really examined them. It was time to do that now.

It took me about five minutes to realize a similarity that had escaped me yesterday. All of the pictures in the files were professional. The poses, the quality, the lighting, it all spoke of someone who knew what they were doing. All of these women were taking model shots.

And that was the second thing I noticed. Even though every document I found stated that the women were at least eighteen years of age, a good third of them looked younger. Not just maybe a couple of months shy of being legal, but some looked like they were barely fifteen or sixteen.

Now, I knew there were some women who looked younger than their actual age. Dena was a perfect example. She was actually the oldest out of the four of us, having turned twenty-five nearly six months ago, but she still got carded when she tried to buy alcohol. If she’d dressed younger, I could’ve seen her passing for eighteen, maybe even sixteen.

That was when it hit me why the pictures of those younger women were making me so uncomfortable. If they were, in fact, eighteen or older, they’d intentionally been dressed to look younger. They didn’t look like children, but whoever’d taken the photos hadn’t done anything to give them the appearance of an adult. They looked like girls, not women.

It seemed as if the more I found out about Howard, the less I liked him. I wasn’t sure what that was going to mean for me and Gavin, but I did know that it didn’t bode well for Mimi’s case. I needed to talk to some of these girls and find out how much damage control we needed to do.

I began to scour the documents for contact information, but there were no phone numbers, no addresses, no emergency contacts. No Social Security numbers were listed, and the birth dates alone would never give me what I needed, especially not if half of them were false, as I was beginning to suspect they would be. The names weren’t going to be any help either. I’d done enough Internet research over the years to know how many hits would come up with a name that was anything less than unique. These girls were Jessica and Jennifer, Sarah and Allison. Even the ones with the more original names of Monique, Callie, and Tricia had last names that would give me hundreds of hits, and that was if they were from New York. If any of these girls had come in from another state, I’d never find them.

I’d just about given up when a name caught my eye. Patricia Vinarisky. The first name wasn’t completely unique, but with that last name, it just might be enough.

I pulled up my web browser and typed in the name. Over three hundred results nationwide. Okay, that wasn’t too bad. I just needed to narrow the search. It was possible that she wasn’t from New York, but I was going to start here anyway. A moment later, three matches popped up. Much better. One link led me to a Patty Vinarisky who most definitely not the girl in the picture, since she’d been born closer to the turn of the last century rather than this current one. The second took me to a phone number listed for a Frank Vinarisky. The third hit a dead end. Since I couldn’t do anything about the last one, the second one was the only chance I had.

I picked up my phone and dialed the number. After two rings, an automated message told met that Frank Vinarisky wasn’t available and that I should leave my name, number, and a brief message.

“Mr. Vinarisky.” I kept my voice brisk and business-like. “My name is Carrie Summers and I’m trying to reach a Patricia Vinarisky. If you know Ms. Vinarisky, could you please call me?” I left my number, saying it slow enough that I didn’t need to repeat it.

I sighed as I hung up. Now all I could do was wait.

Chapter 14

 

While I was waiting, I began compiling the other information Gavin had given me. Mimi was going to pitch a fit about this. Aside from the personal ramifications, she was going to be pissed when she saw what these were going to do to our case. If Howard’s wife’s attorney had even a fraction of this, we were through.

Before I could get too immersed in my work, my cell phone vibrated. I glanced at the screen, and my stomach did a flip when I saw Gavin’s name. I figured the call was personal in nature, but since he did consult for a client, I felt only the slightest twinge of guilt when I answered.

“Hi.”

That single word shouldn’t have been able to thrill me as much as it did. “Hello.” It was difficult not to lower my voice and make the conversation more intimate.

“I’m so sorry, Carrie,” he began. “Howard just called me and told me that I have to go to Miami next weekend. There’s a business meeting of some kind at his mansion on Star Island.”

“Oh.” I tried not to let my disappointment color the word too much, but he heard it anyway.

“I am so sorry,” he repeated. “I really wanted to go away with you.”

“Me, too.” I hoped he didn’t think I was pouting. There was no way I could tell him the truth, not here, and if I got up, I’d attract attention.

There was a moment of silence, then he asked, “You’re at your desk, aren’t you?”

“Yes.” I glanced around, but no one was looking at me.

“So you can’t really react or respond to anything I say, can you?”

I made a noncommittal noise. He chuckled, and the sound made me forget that I’d be spending next weekend alone rather than snuggled up with him in some romantic getaway.

“Then I guess you can’t react when I say that I can’t stand the thought of being away from you for that long, and I want you to come with me.”

My heart did a funny little skipping dance.

“And you can’t respond when I tell you that I’ll only be working for a couple of hours and I want to spend the rest of our time split between the private beach and a very lavish guest room.”

I searched for something innocent I could say. “That, uh, sounds good.”

He laughed again. “Trust me, Carrie, what I want to do with you, to you, is so far beyond good.”

My breath caught and it was all I could do not to make an embarrassing sound.

“I can’t wait to stretch you out on the beach, rub lotion over every inch of that creamy skin of yours.”

I closed my eyes, pressing my lips together.

“Maybe I’ll even slide my hands underneath your top, make sure those beautiful breasts of yours don’t get burned.”

Okay, closing my eyes was making it worse because now I could visualize what he was saying.

“Would you let me kiss you, cover your body with mine?” His voice had taken on that husky sound that it got when we were in bed together. “What if I pushed aside that thin strip of fabric that covered you, slid my finger into that tight, wet heat?”

Fuck. What was he doing? What was I doing? I could feel my entire body heating up.

“Would you let me take you, right then, right there on the beach? Fuck you out in the open–”

I jumped when my office phone rang. A wave of relief mingled with disappointment washed over me. “I have to go, Gavin. I need to take that call.”

“Okay.” He sounded amused. “But I’ll want answers to those questions.”

I grabbed for the receiver even as I ended the call. My mind was so muddled that I completely forgot to say the business line in greeting.

“Hello?”

“Carrie Summers?”

It was an unfamiliar man’s voice.

“Yes?” I desperately tried to clear the hormone-induced fog in my brain.

“This is Frank Vinarisky.”

“Oh, hello, Mr. Vinarisky.”

Before I could say anything else, he cut in. It was only then that I recognized the tension in his voice.

“How do you know Patricia? Have you seen her?”

“Seen her?” I echoed his words, not understanding.

“I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, Ms. Summers, but I don’t have the time or patience for it. What do you know about Patricia?”

“I’m not following, Mr. Vinarisky. I’m sorry. I was calling to speak with her.”

He gave a laugh so bitter than I winced. “That might be difficult, Ms. Summers, since Patricia’s been missing for more than two years.”

 

End of Book 3