Chapter Fifteen
Once again, the dynamic changed between Noelle and James. She saw James even less after the night he took care of her when she was ill. Noelle thought things would be different after what he’d done and the things he’d shared with her. But was he even more distant than before. Even the sex was not the same. While still earth-shattering, but there seemed to be a piece of him missing.
Noelle believed his interest was waning. They were coming up on a year of their arrangement and she continued to hold on because her heart wouldn’t allow her to leave.
Paul told Noelle she’d lasted longer than any of the other women who’d resided in the penthouse. At first that made her feel a little better because she thought it had to mean something. But after a while, Noelle knew she was only fooling herself. James still appeared in the papers with the redhead from the restaurant. It was obvious he wanted to keep Noelle as his dirty little secret.
Noelle didn’t visit her cousin as much as time went on because her appearance had changed. She’d lost more weight and wasn’t sleeping. She’d often go through the day with huge bags under her eyes, which she’d cover with a ton of makeup. Her migraines occurred more often and, according to her hairdresser, her hair was thinning.
One of the bright spots in the months that passed was Paul. The two of them had managed to form a friendship that Noelle could never have expected. He listened to her vent and he’d often stop by to keep her company. The other thing that gave her pleasure was her baking. She’d gotten good at decorating and sculpting cakes. Noelle discovered she had quite a talent for it.
Whenever she felt particularly low, she’d try a new recipe and call Paul to come try it as she had no appetite, which is where she found herself now. She fiddled around with one of her mother’s old recipes and made a few modifications to it. She texted Paul to come over when he got a free moment. He immediately answered back to say he’d be over right away which meant James was away and not on business. James was probably with his redhead.
She hadn’t seen James in over a week and the last time he showed up, he had been more than a little annoyed with her. Noelle typically only left the penthouse when she knew he would probably be in the office. On that day in particular she decided to get out of the penthouse for some fresh air. She ended up walking several blocks. By the time she made it back, she’d been gone a couple hours.
She’d been surprised to find James waiting for her, his eyes slightly narrowed. The reason I gave you a cell phone was so you’d answer when I called,” he said without a hello or how are you.
Noelle wished she was surprised by his tone but all he seemed to do lately was snap at her. “I’m sorry. I forgot to take it with me. How long have you been waiting?”
“It doesn’t matter if I’ve been here five minutes or five hours, I expect you to be here when I arrive. Is that understood?”
She nodded. “Yes, of course but—“ she was just about to point out she hadn’t been gone for five hours when he grabbed her and practically ripped her coat off. He pulled her against him, crushing her breasts against his chest.
His mouth was over hers in a kiss so hungry and angry she could barely breathe. James wove his hand through her hair and yanked back so hard she thought her neck would snap. This wasn’t the first time he’d been this rough with her, but she was ill- prepared for it.
She managed to tear her mouth away from him to catch her breath. “James, just give me a minute. I just need—”
“You don’t call the shots here. Don’t you ever forget it.” He bit down on the tender flesh of her neck until she cried out. She didn’t understand was happening but James didn’t give her a chance to figure it out either.
He covered her mouth again as he cupped her ass and lifted her against the thickness of his erection. She gripped his shoulders and wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her across the room. James didn’t take her upstairs as she thought he would, instead he pressed her against the living room wall.
His kiss dominated her, seeming to rob Noelle of her very essence. He roughly moved his hands between their bodies and fumbled with the buttons and zippers of their pants until she felt his cock against her wet opening.
Noelle adjusted her position just enough to allow him the entrance he sought. Once his member was aligned with her wet opening, he thrust forward so forcefully she felt it all over. James was on a mission to conquer with no plans to take prisoners. And despite the roughness of his movements, her pussy gushed for him. She loved the way he plowed into her, claiming her body for his very own in a primitive dance as old as time.
No words were exchanged. The only sounds made were ones of grunts and moans. Noelle clung to him trying to give him everything he needed, though deep down knowing it would never be enough. Whatever had gotten a hold of him she couldn’t soothe. Realizing she was simply a temporary vessel to ease whatever demon drove him, she still held on as if her life depended on it.
Her climax came hard and fast yet he continued on, not slowing down, grinding into her as intensely as he began. She wasn’t sure when he stopped but when he did, his arms tightened around her to the point where she had to gasp for air. Finally when he let her go, Noelle felt like a bowl of jelly. Her rubbery legs wouldn’t support her without his support, so she slid down the length of his body in a heap at his feet.
He stood over her for several minutes, his breathing ragged. When he finally spoke, her blood ran cold. “Next time, answer your phone.”
He walked away and headed upstairs to shower. By the time she found the strength to get to her feet and fix her clothing he was back and heading out the door.
“Aren’t you staying?” she called to him.
“No,” was his curt reply.
She collapsed to her knees.
Noelle shuddered at the thought of how he’d used her and then left without a backward glance. The only thing missing from that scene was the pile of money the john usually threw at the whore when he was finished with her. At least that’s how she’d felt afterwards.
“Earth to Noelle. Come in Noelle.”
She snapped out of her daydream when she realized Paul stood in front of her, waving his hand in her face. She shook her head of the haze she had fallen under. “Paul, when did you get here?”
“A few minutes ago. You were in your own little world. I rang the doorbell and when you didn’t answer I let myself in and found you in here spacing out. What the hell have you been doing to yourself lately? You’re a mess!” He looked her up and down with a discerning stare.
“Gee, thanks friend. I call you over to try my latest treat and you insult me.”
“I only tell you this because I am your friend. Sweetheart, have you been eating?”
“Of course,” she said defensively. “I’m just been counting calories lately.”
“You’re an awful liar Noelle, and there’s only so much make up you can use to cover up those bags. Why do you torture yourself like this? He’s not worth it.”
She raised her chin defiantly. “That’s for me to decide. If I wanted a lecture, I’d call my cousin.”
“Noelle. I hate seeing what being James’s mistress is doing to you. You’re not handling it well.”
“Can we not talk about it?”
“Fine, we won’t talk about it now, but when will we? When you’re in the hospital? I know about the migraines. I’m the one who gets your prescription refilled.”
She shrugged. “So what? I get migraines. It’s not so uncommon. Look, are you going to try this cake or not?” Noelle grabbed a plate and knife. Ignoring that pitying look on his face, she cut him a generous slice. “Here you go.” She tried to inject as much cheer in her voice as possible.
Paul looked as if he wanted to say something but decided against it. “Sure. I love to try whatever you make. I come for the company but stay for the cake.”
She relaxed now that the subject had changed. Noelle watched with anticipation as he forked a generous amount of the sweet treat into his mouth. No matter how many times he gushed over her creations she was always anxious to get the verdict when she made something new. His eyes widened for a moment before closing in what appeared to be pure ecstasy.
“What the hell did you put in this cake? Crystal Meth? Crack? This is…” He took another bite and then another until the slice was nearly gone.
She grinned at his pleasure. “Glad you liked it.”
“Liked it? That’s putting it mildly. I’ve tried just about everything you’ve made and its all be fantastic but this is a whole other level. You have a gift, woman.”
“You’re exaggerating. But I’m glad you like it.”
“I never lie about my food. Your cake is out of this world. Mind if I take some home to my sister? She’s liked everything you’ve made so far as well. She wants to know why you haven’t gone into business for yourself. And I completely agree. This is better than anything I’ve ever tasted in any bakery.”
Noelle shrugged, a little embarrassed about the praise he heaped upon her. “It’s something I enjoy doing. It makes me feel closer to my mother.”
“And I think she’d be very proud of you if she tasted this.”
She could feel a blush warm her cheeks. “Thanks Paul. It’s really sweet of you to say.”
“If you ever get serious about your passion then I could help you. Since I’ve been your guinea pig, I’ve taken all your leftovers home and shared it with my sister and her roommate. They love your baking as much as I do. And as you know my sister is getting married in about five months. She’s contracted all of her vendors except a baker. My sister is very particular about what she wants and she wanted me to ask you if you’d considered doing the cake for her wedding.”
Noelle gasped. She was honored to be entrusted with such a task but she didn’t believe she was ready to share her creations for commercial consumption. “I just bake for fun. I find it hard to believe there isn’t at least one bakery your sister likes.”
“We’ve tried over thirty bakeries and establishments in other states. We even drove two hours out-of-state to try a cake from a bakery she’d seen in a bridal magazine. Nothing is as good as what you’ve made. You’d be compensated. Name your price.”
“I’ve never made a wedding cake before.”
“But I’ve seen what you can do. With your artistic background you could make something delicious and pleasing to the eye. Would you at least think about it before you say no?”
“Well…”
“Please?”
Paul had really been a good friend to her. It was hard to say no especially since she enjoyed baking so much.
“Okay, I’ll think about it.”
He moved around the counter and gave her a big hug. “Thanks friend! You’re the best.”
Noelle laughed. “I didn’t say yes yet.”
“Maybe not but I can be very persuasive.”
Noelle had no doubt about it. She only hoped if she did agree to do this for him she wouldn’t be in over her head.
“We can duck out of this thing as soon as we finish making the rounds.” Eleanor’s left hand rested casually on his arm, the five carat diamond engagement ring he’d gifted her with the night before glistened on her finger. They’d ultimately decided to wait a few months to announce their engagement in an attempt to not make the courtship look like an arrangement of desperation on either side.
James stared at that elegant hand, so smooth and perfectly manicured. He wondered what his ring would look like on a different hand, one with shorter fingers, skin that was extra smooth and dark brown. He quickly shook that thought from his mind. What the hell was wrong with him? Was he deliberately trying to sabotage himself with these ridiculous fantasies? Maybe this was a sign that it was time to make a change.
Get rid of Noelle.
As a matter of fact, no more mistresses until after he was safely wed and Eleanor was pregnant with their first child. Noelle had become more of an irritant lately, inconveniently creeping into his thoughts at the damnedest moments. Whenever the temptation became too great for him to stay away from her, Noelle would stare at him with her big doe-like eyes. He felt guilty for even touching her. He didn’t need that shit.
He’d end it tonight.
“James?” Eleanor tapped him on the shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Eleanor. What were you saying?”
She gave him an accessing look. “You have a habit of drifting off into space when we’re together. It can’t always be about business. Is it another woman?”
Eleanor was too perceptive for her own good. Even if she was correct, there was no way he’d ever admit it. “Why would you think that, when I’m standing with the most beautiful woman in the room?” He took her hand and raised it to his lips, for a light kiss.
“Charming.” She smiled. “But we both know this isn’t some grand love affair between the two of us. I don’t mind your extracurricular activities as long as you’re discreet. Requiring your full attention when we’re together shouldn’t be too much to ask, however.”
“You’re right of course, my dear. Shall we mingle?”
She smiled at him. “Yes. I see Daddy over there. Let’s go over and say hello. He was quite pleased when I told him about the engagement. I’m sure my mother has already called the local papers. There’ll probably be an article about us in the society pages tomorrow.”
They were stopped several times before making it across the room to Eleanor’s parents. Most of the interceptors were interested in doing business with James while the others had already heard of their engagement and wished to congratulate them.
By the time they got over to the Harrington table James was ready to leave. There was nothing that bored him more than making small talk with people he wouldn’t associate with outside of these tedious functions.
“James! Good to see you here old boy,” Gregory Harrington greeted him a little more robustly than necessary, grabbing James by the hand and slapping him on the back.
James couldn’t help but be more than a little amused at the man’s warm attitude toward him. What a difference a few years and bad business deals made. “Good to see you as well, George.”
“We should have a round of champagne to celebrate the wonderful news. Champagne for the entire table,” he gestured grandly. Never mind the champagne was free, it was all about the show.
Maryanne Harrington sauntered over to them with her arms outstretched. “I was so pleased to hear the news.” She grabbed James’s hands and squeezed them. “Welcome to the family, James.” She leaned forward and brushed air kisses on each cheek. She then turned to her daughter. “You know this means we have tons to do before the wedding. We have to book caterers and find the perfect venue and go shopping for your trousseau. You two simply must consider honeymooning in Fiji. Your father and I went there when we were married. Oh, listen to me go on.” She giggled in a way that reminded him of a school girl rather than a mature matron.
“Now, dear, we’ll have plenty of time to talk arrangements.” George then led James away from the table just out of earshot of Eleanor and his wife. “So you finally did it, my boy. I couldn’t be more pleased.”
James smirked. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“I’m sure you’re aware Eleanor could have married anyone she wanted. Thad Richardson had been sniffing at her heels for ages. I was quite fond of him, you know. He and Eleanor practically grew up together. His parents were great friends of ours and he’s a fine upstanding young man, but my daughter had her heart set on you and I’m loath to stand in her way.”
In other words, Richardson had a more suitable background was what George actually meant. The Richardson family however, had fallen on even harder times than the Harringtons, and George was willing to settle for money over pedigree. The message was quite clear. Even though the man needed James way more than James needed him, the older man couldn’t let things be without getting that dig in to put James in his place. “And I aim to make Eleanor happy. She won’t regret her decision.”
Harrington nodded. “Let’s see that she doesn’t. Now that we’re practically family, perhaps we can meet up for golf this Sunday morning for a seven o’clock tee time. Afterwards we’ll brunch. I have a tip on an investment you may be interested in.”
And so it began. James was expecting this but he didn’t think it would be this soon. He glanced over his shoulder to see Eleanor speaking with her mother, probably discussing wedding arrangements. He happened to catch her eye and she smiled and winked at him.
Yes, he’d definitely picked the right partner and soon the life he worked so hard for would be his. And things would go even more smoothly once he ended things with Noelle.