CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
AIDAN
In a bid to settle my racing heart, I leaned against a wall in the darkest corner I could find. My reaction surprised me. Seeing that blond dude’s arm around Clarissa made me lose control. My fists were ready to punch his fucking smarmy face. I wanted to kill the jerk. How the fuck could Clarissa have moved on so quickly?
As I remained there, indecisive and swamped by emotion, I suddenly caught sight of Clarissa standing in the parking lot. My body released its tension. Seeing her in that tight little floral dress, her tits spilling out, and shapely, slender legs that I wanted to part and run my tongue over, made my anger evaporate in an instant.
Her luscious lips were open, and she was almost panting, a reminder of how she looked when I first entered her. My cock twitched. Even from a distance, she had that power over me.
My anger resurfaced. While this irrational, greedy need for her gripped my cock, my mind roared, Who’s that guy?
“Lost something?” I asked, doing my utmost to remain cool—a technique I’d learnt from the army. Never show emotion. In love, I wasn’t sure if that was the right tactical approach. But then, I’d never been in love. I was out of my depth. And was I in love, or just desperately in lust with this addictive girl?
Her wide brown stare had that bone-melting, lost look. “I… I wanted to say hello away from everyone.” Clarissa’s breathy and uncertain tone only added to her charm. I so wanted to hold her in my arms. She shook her head. “What are you doing here? I thought you were in New York.”
You didn’t answer my fucking texts. I remained enigmatic. It would make me seem a control-freak if she knew that I’d flown in just to see her.
“I had to come back for a last-minute meeting,” I responded.
“Gee… that’s a coincidence. You were in there all the time?” Her brow lifted sharply.
It felt horrible lying to her. I shook my head.
“Is that your man in there?” I snapped.
Her forehead puckered. “Cameron? Oh God, no… I only just met him. He’s a friend of Tabitha’s boyfriend. And against all my knowledge, they set up this date.”
“He seemed close,” I said, recalling the douche-bag’s arm around her.
“Yeah, I know. He’s super keen. But…” Clarissa smiled, and her pretty face lit up. I wanted to hold her so much. Instead, I settled for her soft little hand.
“Listen…” My eyes did a quick survey of the parking area and instantly caught a few people watching us. “Why don’t we go somewhere, away from this? I’d love to hang out with you,” I said, touching her warm, soft cheek.
“I’d love to. Only…” Clarissa glanced over to the entrance of the bar. “I have to tell my friend. Do you mind if I run in, and say goodbye?”
“Tell you what”—I pointed to the back of the venue—“I’ll wait for you there. That’s where my car’s parked.”
Clarissa didn’t walk—she glided. I could have watched her all night, especially in that little dress, even if it was a bit too revealing for my liking. For my eyes only.
“Were your friends okay?” I asked when she came back, opening the door to my SUV.
“There were questions. But I managed to make something up,” she said with a little smile.
I put my hand around her tiny waist to help her up. And her dress lifted. When I saw her red panties, my cock hardened.
Clarissa turned and gave me one of those girly, half-innocent, half-seductive smiles. Phew. I wanted this girl badly.
“Where would you like to go?” I asked.
Clarissa shrugged her shoulders.
“Are you hungry?”
“No. But if you want to go somewhere to eat, I’m good with that.”
I reversed the car. “Why don’t we go back to the coast? I’m dying for some sea air.” I glanced at her. “Are you into that?”
“Sure, why not?” Clarissa sat back, looking uneasy. “You mean Malibu?”
“Is there a problem with that?” I asked, driving towards the Pacific Coast Highway.
“No. Only that I drove the electric car to my apartment. I was planning to visit my dad tomorrow.”
“Easily solved.” I smiled. “I’m flying out again in the morning. I’ll drop you off.”
“Okay, as long as it doesn’t put you out. At least I’ll be able to retrieve my phone charger.”
“So that’s why you didn’t return my texts?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry about that. I left it back at the cottage.” Clarissa crossed her legs. Every little move Clarissa made was erotic. I placed my hand on her naked thigh. The electricity ran up through my arm and all the way down to my aching cock. Boy, did I have it bad.
It was a perfect night. I was so glad to be back. New York was too hectic for me. I loved the coast, and the starry sky was magical.
As soon as I stepped out of the car, the salty air smacked my face, and in an instant, I was refreshed, my spirit and soul replenished.
While inhaling the energizing night air, I caught sight of an anxious Clarissa perched against the car. “What’s up?” I asked, taking her hand.
“I’m worried that Greta will see us and Melanie and…”
I placed my finger on her soft lips. “Hey, no-one’s around in the main house. After hours, it’s my private space.”
“What about Greta, Linus, Melanie, all the people I’m used to seeing about?”
“For starters, there’s no security inside the house. I can look after myself.” I nodded, giving her a reassuring grin. “Greta lives separately at the back. Melanie doesn’t work here anymore. We do have a new servant. She’s around. But she’s signed a privacy clause. This time, any gossip will lead to legal action. I take my privacy seriously.”
Her eyebrows drew in sharply. “You got rid of Melanie?”
“She was caught stealing and talking too much. Worst of all, she gossiped to the media. Melanie knew the rules.”
I went to plug in the SUV for the morning commute. When I returned, Clarissa hadn’t moved. She still seemed worried about something. I took her hand. “Come on, then. I won’t bite. Or do you want me to?” I said playfully. She tilted her head and smiled. Holding onto Clarissa’s waist, I wanted to draw her in and kiss her badly, especially after I caught a whiff of her jasmine-infused hair. But there was still some tightness in her frame.
After I opened the front door, Clarissa took a step back. She was really on edge by then.
“Are we going in this way?” she asked in a whisper.
I took her into my arms and kissed her. She was so warm, soft, and moist that my mouth wanted to plow right in. But her moody state directed me otherwise. “What other way is there?” I said, brushing her cheek.
“My contract… I thought I’m not meant to be here.” She looked freaked out.
“Hey, Clarissa… this is my home. I make the rules.”
She was somewhere else and didn’t seem to hear me. “I really love my job, the cottage, the estate, the beach, everything.” Clarissa sighed. “And I signed a clause that stated under no circumstance should I enter the house after working hours. I will lose my job if I do.”
“Consider that void as of now,” I said, kissing her hand. “You can enter this way anytime you like. I’ll even tear up the contract and write a new one. This time, I’ll put in a few extra clauses.”
“And what might they be?” Clarissa asked, arching an eyebrow.
I held my chin and contorted my face pensively. “Let’s see, now. Whenever she’s around her boss, she must wear low-cut blouses with buttons and sexy underwear, though preferably none.”
She tapped my arm playfully. “You’re a shameless reprobate.”
Ah… that was better. Feeling lighter at last, I opened the door and bowed. “After you.”
With an air of unselfconscious sensuality, Clarissa stroked the marble sculpture of Venus.
“Don’t you look the natural here. Soon as I saw you, I knew you would be an excellent fit.”
“You make me sound as if I’m a fixture,” said Clarissa with a note of scorn. Instead of a joking grin, she had an earnest mien.
Shaking my head, I said, “Clarissa, that wasn’t what I meant.”
She didn’t respond. Talking about emotions was not my strong point. If anything, it tangled me up.
I walked up the stairs and turned on the lights while Clarissa remained below, watching. She appeared to be waiting for something.
“Come on. No ghosts—the coast is clear,” I said, attempting to lighten her mood.
“Did you really watch us that day?” Clarissa asked, joining me on the landing.
“Yes,” I replied, ill at ease. “As soon as you appeared, I knew you were the one for the job.” I smiled gently while playing with one of her plaits.
“Why me?”
I placed my arm around her waist and drew her into me. “Call it instinct.” Clarissa needed more. I could see it in her face. “I wasn’t looking for a girlfriend if that’s what you’re asking. God knows that was the furthest thing from my mind, Clarissa. I was looking for someone down to earth, who didn’t pout every time she was around me. Not that I mind you pouting.” I brushed her plump cherry lips with my thumb.
A subtle smile touched her lips. Clarissa lowered her eyes. “Why were you there tonight?”
Because of you. Because I can’t get you out of my mind.
Even though I had this coming, it was becoming intense. “I’d dropped in to see someone.” My neck muscles tightened. I hated lying.
“What— at the Escape? You know someone there?” Her eyes widened.
“No…” I stopped and turned to face her. I took her hand. “I came looking for you.
“What?” Her face contorted in shock. “How did you find me?”
“I tracked your phone.”
She took a moment to answer. “You stalked me?”
“Look, I know it sounds bad, but…” I needed a drink. “Let’s go up.”
She remained glued to the spot. Her spooked expression was harrowing.
“Clarissa… I got worried. We’d been communicating every day, and then suddenly, nothing.”
“Did you come all this way from New York just to see me?”
I froze. It did seem extreme. Where was my inner strength? “No, Clarissa, I had a meeting, and while here, I thought I’d look for you. I just wanted to see that you were all right, that’s all.” I pushed hair away from my face. “I’m a tad overprotective.” I kissed her hand, and her face softened. Her body relaxed, and she let me hold her hand. My stomach unknotted. One thing was for certain: Clarissa had knocked me out of my comfort zone.