CHAPTER 19
Rayna
I walked into the office with a happy greeting, still playing back the morning in my head. It was almost magical, and I couldn’t believe how much he turned me on at the gym. Okay, so it wasn’t the first time, but it was stronger when I was so close to him, knowing that I was going to be going home with him.
Yes, that was awesome.
I warmed up the computer and sipped the coffee I bought on the way in, setting up the cold water beside it as I glanced out of the window. It was Thursday, and I only had a couple of days left of working before we left town. I was both excited and scared, wondering what I’d do if James tried to contact me. He rarely did when he was gone unless there was something social coming up that I had to be ready for, and I was sure that was just because of our parents. I knew that there was nothing major to worry about and since my own parents were gone for a few weeks longer, I wasn’t worried.
I wasn’t sure if that was the right way to feel.
I started making the bookings on auto pilot as I listened to Pandora turned low, thinking that I should shut my phone down. I could always say that I lost it since money was no issue and could just replace it once I was home. I could even get another one before I left with a new number and even another company. Once I left him, I wouldn’t need to speak to James any longer. We didn’t have kids, and there was nothing at the house that I wanted. I’d have to deal with my parent’s reaction, but it felt like it was worth it as I thought about Declan.
I felt like I could do this, go through with it. The talk with Angela and Lana only solidified that, and I smiled absently as I glanced at the next booking. My face paled when I saw that it was James asking for Angela again, for a travel job. The way to handle that was to say that she was no longer available but this was more personal to me. I saw her arm. I sent back a generic message and moved on, trying not to think about James.
He responded, angry and demanding to see Angela. He offered a lot of money to have her join him, but I took a deep breath and sent back the same message. The intention was for it to sound like a robot would and I fought hard not to add something to it suggesting who I was.
He waited a few moments to respond, demanding another couple of girls. I fought the bile in my throat as I thought about sending anyone to him after seeing Angela. I said that I would see who was available and moved onto the next bookings, ignoring him. Surely, he’d let this go.
I could let it go to the other girls since Angela was flagged in the system as unavailable to James. They might go through with his other request, which worried me and I felt sweat pooling in my hair.
Was this job too personal for me now? James was a new name in the system, relatively speaking. I knew that he more than likely wasn’t faithful before that, but this was more invasive than anything before.
I thought of something and smiled deviously as I pulled up client information. I looked over towards the other offices and deleted his account with the push of a button as I widened my eyes. Holy shit…did I really just do that?
It didn’t happen often, but I’d seen it done with some of the rougher ones in the past. Lana did it twice to avoid certain clients, and they never showed back up, since she knew how to block them. I didn’t, but I hoped that James would just move on to something else that I wasn’t personally involved in. That thought sickened me as well, and I shivered as I longed for him to just disappear. That was extreme, but I hated him more these days.
I walked down to the cell phone store on lunch, signing up with an entirely different company and buying a new phone. I was going to turn mine off and toss it into the ocean as soon as possible, but I needed to set the new one up once it was charged. I grabbed a salad to nibble on while I worked, plugging in the newest Google phone as I smiled.
I messaged Declan from work, telling him what I did. He sounded pleased, and I grinned at his praise. I didn’t tell him about James, but it also slipped my mind to mention the talk with Angela the other day. He was just too damn distracting for me.
He told me that we’d get the new one set up when I got to the house, offering to throw the old one into the water himself. He seemed excited about that idea, and I felt secure inside as I booked another girl. He also told me that he had a great idea for the trip, but it was going to wait until I was there and in his arms.
I knew that his house was beginning to feel like home, something that scared me. I knew that it was too fast, given our situations. I also knew that it was dangerous. James had friends in high places and finding me wouldn’t be that difficult if he chose to. Finding me with another man would put Declan at risk, even though I was already doing that being with him now.
I hoped that he chose something far away, where we could be completely different people. I just wanted to escape this place and this life before reality hit hard.
I kept working through the night, happy to not see James pop back into the system. I knew that wasn’t all I’d hear from him, but for tonight, I just wanted to forget about James.
Once my shift was over, I took the new phone and put it securely in my purse before walking outside with the security guard. He was chatty, and I laughed as I unlocked my door, bidding him good night.
I looked around as I drove to Declan’s house, excited to arrive. I’d been dying to know where we were going all night but he wouldn’t cave. I tossed around the idea of getting another car along with the phone since I had some unpleasant memories of James in this one. Something new sounded nice, and I made a mental note to tell Declan about that idea as well. I was so glad that I was working and saving my own money and I could do all of this. I knew that there were women that didn’t have this luxury in the same situation; women with kids that lived in fear every single day.
I vowed to donate something to that cause, maybe a local shelter or something. I was blessed to have the money and friends supporting me in my choice, something that I would never take for granted. Being raised around wealth never made me spoiled or gave me the idea that I was above anybody else. I saw the bad thing about having too much money and felt the loneliness that came along with it. Meeting Declan made me realize that not everyone with money was like my parents or James' family, only wanting more.
He had plenty of money and a very successful job, but Declan seemed to down to Earth to me. He enjoyed life without being conceited about it. Declan was a man that made me feel so special inside and out, and I painfully admitted that I was falling for him as I pulled into his driveway. I opened the garage and pulled inside, sitting for a moment as I considered the painful truth.
I had all my stuff here, and I was falling for Declan. I knew that I should take everything and run screaming, but I wanted this trip with him. I wanted this feeling with Declan to continue.
I’d leave after that and make my way alone in a new life. I couldn’t let him save me from my collapsing marriage. I would just enjoy the time that we had. I smiled slowly before I got out of the car, walking inside to see Declan in the kitchen. “Whatcha doing?”
“Finishing some salads for dinner,” he replied as he smiled at me. “How are you?”
“I’m good,” I got lost in his eyes for a moment, and I walked forward and set my purse on the counter, brimming with excitement. I wanted to ask him where he was taking me and when we were leaving, but I kept my thoughts to myself as I took in how handsome he was. “How are you?”
“Better now.” He left the counter and came over to kiss me, pulling me close to him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back as our bodies molded together. We slowly made our way to the table with the generous Caesar salads and some wine as he asked me about the new phone. “So, you’re going to trash the old phone?”
“Yeah, initially I am. I mainly want him to not be able to call me, but I’ll go look through real friends and add them to the contacts. I hope that my parents want to call me still, but…” I shook my head. “That might not happen, and I have to be fine with it. I can’t let it hold me back anymore.”
“I hope I get to be in the contacts.” Declan smiled at me as I felt the warmth spread over my skin. “I want to be first.”
“Did I tell you that James booked a girl through the agency?” I asked him as he nodded. “He tried to book her again tonight, but she blacklisted him.”
“Blacklisted?” Declan asked as I nodded and smiled grimly.
“He got rough with her. We talked the other night, and she apologized for what happened with him, but I was honestly more worried about her than anything. The business…it is what it is. I know that married men book appointments, and I’ve learned not to judge it. I know that life isn’t pretty.” I shook my head. “Anyway, he tried to book her again, and I denied him. I ended up deleting him out of the system.”
“Is that legal?” He asked with a smirk as I shrugged. “I mean, I agree with that. Nobody should hurt a woman, no matter the circumstances.”
“She’s a nice girl, just getting through college. She can study and keep up her grades working fewer hours this way. The story is similar for most of the girls, and I see them differently than when I started the job.” He nodded as I took a sip of wine. “They are going to be the ones that stick by me through this, not my family. I never would have guessed that ten years ago.”
“I am here for you as well,” he told me as I blushed. “I mean that.” Declan smiled and scooted away from the table. “Come into the living room. I have a surprise for you.”
I grabbed my wine and looked at the plates before I followed him. His laptop was on the table, and he sat in front of it, bringing it to life. I joined him on the couch, surprised when he turned to me and kissed me firmly. “This is going to be so fucking great.”
“What is?” I pressed as he brushed his lips against mine. He turned back to the screen and brought up a gorgeous picture of a beautiful building on a cliff overlooking the ocean. “What is that?”
“It is one of my favorite little spots in The French Riviera,” Declan told me as my mouth dropped open. He clicked on another picture that showed a gorgeous room with a balcony overlooking the same ocean. “It is called Cap Estel Hotel.”
“It’s stunning but…France? I was thinking somewhere closer. That’s so…much.” I told him as he tilted his head at me.
“You have a passport, don’t you?” He asked as fear crossed his face for a moment.
I had taken a cruise with James and the families a few months ago, so I did. That wasn’t my issue. I knew that France was so far from all of this, which was great. It was also expensive and that resort…it was gorgeous. It didn’t matter that he was rich to me and I didn’t need France. I was holding onto the money that I’d saved for my future, and I didn’t want to seem like the kind of woman that was only interested in Declan’s wealth.
“Rayna?” I blinked and looked at him. “Passport?”
“Yes. I have one but that’s not the issue,” I replied as Declan frowned. “It’s a lot.”
“I don’t vacation a lot, Rayna. When I do, I prefer to go big and enjoy myself. I have no problems taking you along with me.” His eyes twinkled as I nibbled on my lip. “I know that you’re trying to save your money for your future and I want you to do that. I want to spoil you.”
“Why?” I asked as I stared at him.
“I don’t understand. You grew up in a wealthy family, and your husband is rich, but nobody seems to have spoiled you,” he told me, cupping my face. “Nobody sees your worth.” I trembled as he kissed me gently. “Let me spoil you. Let me make love to you in bed with the ocean waves beneath us, take you to dinner at fancy places and take you away from everything. Just give me that honor.” He kissed me again as I nodded, giving in to his wishes as desire washed over me.
We took our wine to the bedroom, and he undressed me quickly before I crawled onto the bed, making my way to the pillows. He grabbed my ankles, burying his face between my thighs as I groaned his name. I reached out to hold onto the sturdy oak headboard, grabbing on as his tongue stroked me just where I needed it most. His arms spread me open and wrapped around my thighs tightly, holding me in place as he continued his torture.
It was that night that he tied me to the bed for the first time before making me come against his tongue for the second time. I dropped down to my back and felt him slide inside of me slowly, knowing how tight I was after an orgasm. I tugged uselessly at the binds, wanting to pull him closer as he leaned over me and started to take me harder with every thrust.
Declan slid a hand over one nipple as he rested on the other arm, pinching me tightly as I whimpered. “You’re so fucking hot,” He told me as he thrust again. “I am going to fuck you everywhere I can in France.” Another thrust. “I am going to show you how much I want you.” He thrust again, and I dropped my head back as I screamed out his name. “Fuck. Come for me, baby. Come all over my cock.” I felt my body move forward sharply as I yelped, feeling him thicken inside of me before coming deep inside of me. “Rayna. Rayna. Rayna.”
Declan dropped beside me on the bed with his hand splayed over my chest. I let out a breath, letting my arms drop down as I stared at him.” I like your idea for the trip.”
“Good. I am going to get the tickets tonight, and the room is booked.” He chuckled as I smiled, moving closer to me. “I want you to get some sexy bikinis for the trip, and lingerie.”
“Am I even going to be dressed through most of it?” I teased as he looked thoughtfully at me.
“Not a lot of it, no. On second thought, save the sexy stuff for me. I don’t want other men ogling you,” He winked and leaned over to kiss me as I laughed.
“They won’t.” He raised an eyebrow at me as we settled in bed for the night, snuggling together. My mind raced with things that I had to do before we left and I remembered the phone in my purse. I asked him if he wanted to mess around with it and Declan asked where it was before jumping out of bed. I laughed as he walked back in with the phone and cord, dropping beside me as I curled up on the pillow.
He set up his number on the contacts list, adding a silly picture that he snapped sitting beside me. Declan and I decided what apps to put on it together, though I avoided all my former social media accounts. It was better to stay under the radar for now with the changes that I was making, appreciating that Declan felt the same way about mentioning me on his own. He told me that his accounts were mostly business and that someone was paid to update at the right times anyway.
“You don’t post about your life?” I asked as he shrugged.
“That was Claire’s thing. She wanted everything to look perfect at all times for her friends, which is bullshit. Nothing is perfect all of the time.” He shrugged.
“That’s what all of my accounts are about. False perfection, complete with happy family photos of people that I barely speak to. That I honestly talk to, if you know what I mean. I don’t want that life anymore.” He nodded as he looked at me.
We finished with the phone, and I thought of the one that was turned off in my purse. Would anyone figure out soon that I wasn’t answering it anymore? Would they care?
I pressed close to him with a yawn once it was dark and quiet, enjoying his warmth. I slept soundly, waking up as I felt him stretch in the sun beside me. “Coffee?” He asked as I nodded. Declan rose and went to the kitchen as I closed my eyes just a bit longer.
We had some breakfast, a habit that I was thoroughly enjoying. He got the plane tickets afterward, and I smiled at the idea of flying away three days from now first thing in the morning. It was going to be amazing, and I planned to buy some things online if I had time to have them shipped since I’d been keeping up with my moderate weight loss. I wasn’t the type to dress in skimpy clothes outside so it would be tasteful apart from the things that I bought for Declan to see alone.
I left for the office after a long kiss goodbye, walking inside excitedly to turn on my computer and start my day. Lana was there, and she came into my office to ask what I was so happy about. I whispered about the trip as I slid my new phone across the desk for her to put her contact info in, watching her smile. “France?” She asked as I nodded with big eyes. “Ray, you know that this is more than just a fling to him. Right?”
“Why do you say that?” I asked as she smirked.
“I saw the messages and the way that he looked at you that day he surprised you. He has feelings for you.” Lana smiled as I stared at her.
“I told him that the trip is too much, but he says that he never travels. He wants to do it in style, and he wants me there with him.” I nibbled on my lip as she nodded.
“Enjoy it. Come back and move your ass in with him,” Lana urged me as I glanced at my computer screen.
“James isn’t going to let me go that easily,” I told her as she tilted her head in disbelief.
“He doesn’t act married at all. Why would he care?” She asked, and I made an appointment as I considered my answer.
“Family money and business,” I responded as she made a gagging noise.
“Hell, no. That’s not you, Ray. You look so damn happy now, and that’s who you are. Let him find another trophy.” She stared into my face as I glanced back at her. “Stand your ground, and he’ll give up.”
“It’s my parents too. I might lose them in the process,” I grumbled as she shrugged.
“Blood is not family, Rayna. You’ll be better off if they don’t support you and you have all of us here,” Lana urged me as I thought over her words. She was right, but it was a painful thought. “Declan has loads of money, and he’ll take care of you, plus you’ve saved a bunch working here. Even if you don’t want to move in, get your own place. Just don’t leave him because he is good for you.”
She left after another half an hour to go work, and I pulled up some shopping sites on the computer. In between bookings, I bought some sun dresses and a few bathing suits. I found some tops and skirts, along with shorts. I found shoes to wear on the trip; choosing something for the beach, dinners, and another pair for anything in between.
I asked Declan if I could ship things to his house and he told me that was fine. I asked for everything to be shipped the following day before I went to a new lingerie site and placed a large order there, asking for the same fast shipping. I wanted to be ready for this and to be the sexy girl that Declan seemed to see in me.
I nibbled on a salad for dinner as I looked at pictures of our destination, marveling at the beauty. It was going to be incredible, and with a drive, we could even go to see the Eiffel Tower, if we chose to.
I found Facebook and typed in his wife’s name, finding her profile open. She had pictures of herself with a guy now that looked at least a few years younger than she was, but there were a lot of her and Declan as well. He was right. Everything looked happy and flawless in her pictures and her words, even though I knew that she lost a great man in Declan. I wondered if she knew this as I glanced at one of the pictures of her and the new guy. He looked a little arrogant and nothing like her soon to be ex-husband. I didn’t understand her, but I was thankful to her for letting him go as I went back to a beautiful shot of the blue ocean that would be my temporary home for a few weeks.
I couldn’t wait to get the fuck out of here.