Twenty-five

LILAH

Andrew departs shortly after signing some paperwork and promising to return later to pick me up. Kissing me hard on the lips, he leaves me there in my office.

It takes me a good half hour to get myself together after that encounter. I’d never been a fan of quickies in the past, but damn it I’m sold now.

But only if they’re always that explosive. And only if they’re always with Andrew.

The friction created while he slammed in and out of me…

My goodness.

My panties and stockings are irreparably ruined in the aftermath and I barely blink an eye when I see the damage. Because the evidence of his completion is all over both items, I flush at the memory of being owned by him just moments before.

The rest of the day is full of monotonous tasks and boring email exchanges with Edward about Andrew. He’s thrilled when I send over the forms that were signed this morning.

“Great work, Ms. Tucker. I’ll send over some documents that you can peruse at your leisure for the rest of the day.”

More busy work.

I want to prove myself by working with more clients.

“Are you sure I couldn’t be useful to you in any other ways? I’m more than happy to contact some potential clients if you’d like.” My voice is just the right mix of sweet and professional.

I need for him to take me seriously.

Edward doesn’t miss a beat and shuts me down right away.

“No, that’ll be all. Enjoy the rest of your day. Please monitor your email for any urgent correspondence from me.”

Then the line clicks and I’m left staring at the phone openmouthed.

Well, he did tell me to enjoy my day.

That’s definitely a step in the right direction for him, considering his usually icy demeanor.

Maybe he’s warming up to me.

***

At five o’clock on the dot, I’m waltzing out of Castle and heading for the parking lot.

“Have a good night, dear,” Louisa tells me with a secret smile as I push open the door.

What’s she smiling about? Oh, God. Had she heard me screaming like a banshee earlier?

Heat rises up my neck as I remember just how loud I was.

“Night,” I sputter before walking out.

Andrew is just stepping out of his antique muscle car and gives me a panty-dropping smile when he sees me.

Although, I’m reminded that I’m not wearing any panties. Still, it’d be a panty-dropping situation if I had some on.

When I’m just a few steps away, he reaches out to me and pulls me flush against his chest.

“Hi Cupcake,” he murmurs against my lips. The kiss is hard and full of hunger. He nibbles and pulls at my lips as if he hasn’t seen me in months, when in reality it’s only been a few hours.

As he pulls his lips away from mine, I reach up and touch my kiss-roughened lips.

“Hi yourself,” I say, drawing in a very deep breath.

Andrew opens the door for me and walks back over to his side of the car. I watch his easy yet purposeful gait, admiring the way his shoulders shift in time with his powerful strides.

The man could be a walking billboard for sex. It makes no sense for one man to possess so much raw, masculine energy.

It really isn’t fair.

Andrew pulls into traffic and maneuvers the rumbling car expertly through the congestion littering the streets. Everything he does makes me aware of just how capable he is. In all things.

A strong pulse starts between my legs and I bite down hard on my lip. Folding my legs, my eyes land on each of the buildings we pass as I try to occupy my mind with thoughts that don’t revolve around jumping the bones of the man beside me.

“How was your day?” Andrew asks, his deep voice breaking into my thoughts.

Dragging my eyes away from the window, I give him an easy smile.

“Started out kind of rocky,” I share as my mind wanders back to my discovery in the parking lot this morning. “But things are looking up.”

Nodding, Andrew turns a corner and accelerates as the road opens before him.

“What about you?” I quiz. “How was your meeting earlier?”

When he left me panting over my desk this morning, he told me he was headed to an important business meeting regarding his art. I don’t remember the exact details considering how scatterbrained I had been at the moment.

“Productive,” he states lowly. “Thanks for asking.”

His voice holds a note of reverence as he speaks, like he’s not used to people asking about his day. And I wonder if that’s true.

The thought makes me frown.

“Where are we going?” I ask, needing to redirect my thoughts to happier pastures.

The city is falling away from us the further he drives and my interest is piqued.

“I’m taking you on a real date,” he tells me with a lazy grin.

My face is inquisitive when I turn to look at him full on. He can read the questions on my face because he drops a small hint.

“I hope you like seafood.”

***

I should have known that a typical seafood restaurant wasn’t in our future. No, we’re sitting on a yacht in the middle of the Greenwich Harbor, enjoying a spread specially prepared by a chef friend of Andrew’s named Marco.

The sun has just started its evening descent and the reflection splayed across the water is breathtaking as I look at it from the deck of the yacht.

We’re the only two occupants aside from the wait staff and I haven’t been able to wipe the contented grin off my face since we pulled up to the docks. Uncontrolled excitement ebbs through me like torrents of electricity making me feel more alive than I have in quite some time.

Leave it to Andrew to turn a simple meal into an event.

His spontaneity is beginning to spoil me. Every outing seems like a big adventure.

I devour the buttery lobster with gusto, savoring every delicious bite. It’s a lot better than the peanut butter and jelly I had waiting for me at home. After our meals, Andrew and I start chatting.

I’ve just finished a funny story about a misadventure Charli and I had last summer on a road trip gone wrong. The story is long-winded and my words are overly animated, but I have to give it to Andrew because he sits through it all with rapt interest on his face.

Sipping chilled Riesling from my wine glass, I watch him across the table. He has a heartwarming smile on his face and I get the idea that he’s up to something.

“What?”

“I want to meet her,” he shares.

Chuckling, I can only imagine how that meeting will go. Charli will probably grill him from the second I introduce them.

“Come to the Hamptons with me.”

My head spins from the rapid change in topic and I know my eyebrows nearly touch my hairline as I absorb his invitation.

“What?” I sputter, setting down my glass. “Right now?”

“No, Cupcake. Not tonight,” he laughs.

I’m glad he finds my reaction so amusing because I’m feeling frazzled. He wants to go away with me? Already?

And to the Hamptons of all places. I take another gulp of wine. I can’t help but think I’ll be a fish out of water.

“It’s somewhat of a tradition of mine to spend Independence Day there. Some of my buddies will be in town this year and I want you there, too.”

“Tell me more,” I prompt, using my hands to prop up my chin.

My interest escalates when he tells me it’s a five-day trip and that we’ll be staying at one of his properties for the duration.

“Of course Charli is welcome. We’ll have fun,” he says jovially.

Now I’m warming up to the idea. With Charli by my side, I won’t feel so out of place.

“I’d love to.”