Chapter 12
My other friend was also a douchebag . . . I needed new friends.
Jan entered my office and read off a litany of meetings and calls that needed my attention. She handed me the legal-sized sheet of yellow paper off her notepad and then clicked the top of her pen. I stared at her dumfounded. “You know, all you need to do is add these appointments to my calendar and I’ll get a notification. That’s why you have a computer and iPad.” Even to my own ears I sounded cranky. Jan quirked that all-knowing brow at me. I sighed. “Sorry.”
“Well, I like my way better. It’s more efficient. Don’t forget you have the Bauman Charity Gala tomorrow night.”
“What gala?” Son of a bitch.
She leaned over and pointed to the second item on the paper she gave me. “Right there. It should also be in your computer, since this is the third reminder I’ve given you.” I dropped my head. I hated these things. Before I could ask if I had to attend, she said, “Yes, you need to be there. Your tux is back from the cleaners, and I had it delivered to your apartment.”
Not wanting to argue, I just nodded. It’d be futile, since she was set in her ways. She walked out the door, and I transferred her appointments to my calendar.
I groaned as I looked at everything I had on my calendar. The only thing that brought joy to me was the fact that I had scheduled a delivery for Margo. God, what was wrong with me? My phone rang and displayed Adam’s name.
“Hey, Adam.”
“Did I catch you at a bad time?” Adam sounded just as stressed as I felt.
Although, I had a meeting to get to, and then a date with his sister, I made time. “No, I have a minute. How are you?”
“Good, but I need a favor.” Generally speaking, any time he needed a favor it didn’t bode well for me. “You can say no, but I’d prefer if you didn’t.”
“What’s up?”
“You’re going to the Bauman Gala, right?”
I let out a frustrated breath, remembering he was supposed to be there, too. “Yes. How lucky for you that you’re out of town.” We both hated these fucking things.
“Not really. Anyway, I was supposed to go with Louisa, and since I’m not in town, I was hoping you’d take her.”
“What? No way. You know I’m trying to acquire her father’s company, right?” I rubbed my temple with the fingers on my free hand. I would have loved to add, I’m dating your sister so I can’t take someone else, but I refrained. “You told me I could decline.”
“I lied. Noah, help a brother out. I swear I’ll owe you one. She doesn’t want to go alone, and who cares about her father’s business? You’re not taking him; you’re taking his daughter.” Fuck me. When I remained silent, he said, “Thanks, man. I’ll text you her address.” Before I could stop him, he hung up.
Owed me one? That was a complete understatement. This had “blow up in my face” written all over it in epic proportions. Not only with Louisa’s father, but with Margo. I wanted to prove to her I was into her and only her, and now I needed to tell her because of her brother, I had a date tomorrow night. Yeah, yeah, technically it wasn’t a date, but to all the gala goers it would appear that way.
I was sure as shit going to collect on his debt to me when he found out I was dating his sister. Let’s hope after I told her about the gala, dating would still be an option.
Margo’s eyes met mine as I walked into the small tavern. During the car ride over there, I’d rehearsed over and over again how I would tell her that because of her brother, I was taking another woman to a major social event. However, the thought of her not giving a shit was almost worse than her being mad at me. Would she even care if I went with someone else? She had played hard to get for so long, I couldn’t even remember if we actually were dating.
“Hello, gorgeous.” I leaned over and kissed her cheek before taking the seat across from her.
“Hi.” The pink hue on her face made me grin like a fool. Why she still blushed when she was around me, or when I paid her a compliment, baffled me, but I didn’t mind.
The waiter came over and took our drink orders before leaving us some menus. “How was your day?”
She shrugged. “It was okay, I guess. Work is a little slow, but that’s the way the business world works, right?”
Stress lines formed on her forehead. I didn’t like seeing her this way. “Is there anything I can do?”
The waiter returned with our drinks. “I don’t think so. Well, maybe.” She studied me for a moment. Her bottom lip rolled between her teeth. She was nervous, which was one emotion I didn’t want her to have when she was around me.
“You can ask me anything, you know that, right?”
After a quick nod and another sip of her drink she exhaled. “I’m thinking of branching out in menswear. Not that I don’t know about that market, or that I don’t have male clients, but I mean gearing my upcoming advertising toward them. I just don’t have the analytics done yet. Do you shop for yourself?”
“I do, but Jan also will pick something up for me if I need it.” She nodded with a slight look of defeat on her face. “That being said, if I had someone doing it for me, I wouldn’t cry over not going to a store.”
Margo let out the sweetest laugh. “You in a store must be a sight to see. Do you even look at price tags?”
In an over-exaggerated move, I brought my hand to my chest. “There are price tags?”
She crumpled her napkin and threw it at me. “You’re a jerk.”
“Speaking of jerks, I talked to your brother today.”
Her eyebrows shot up, mouth turned into the shape of an O, and she stared at me. Then, as if she realized who we were talking about, she quirked her lips to the side. “What did he do now?”
If I could have let out a sigh of relief, I would have, but I still needed to tell her. In my defense, going to the gala—let alone with a woman I had no interest in—wasn’t my idea. The only reason I didn’t ask Margo to go with me was because I forgot, and I only planned on being there for an hour or so.
“There’s a charity gala tomorrow that I need to attend. Your brother was supposed to go as well, but as you know, he’s out of town.” She wordlessly bobbed her head in acknowledgment. “Well, he had intended on escorting someone, and since he’s not going, he asked me to take her.” I rushed the last part as if the words were on fire coming out of my mouth. “I couldn’t very well tell him that I was dating his sister, and he said he would owe me one.”
“Okay.” She picked up her cocktail and sipped it through the tiny black stirrer that doubled as a straw. “That’s it?”
Wait. What? “Yes, that’s it.” The back of my neck heated up at the thought that she didn’t think anything of this. If the tables were turned, I would have demanded to go as well. “You know I’d rather be there with you, but Jan just reminded me I needed to attend, and shortly thereafter your brother called.”
“No worries.” Her face lit up. “I thought you were going to tell me he knocked someone up or something.”
“So, you’re okay with this?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be? We never said we were exclusive.”
The fuck we’re not. Images of Margo with other men filled my head. Their lips on the same skin mine had been on. Their hands touching places mine had—yeah, no. Wait, was she seeing other people? I raked my hand through my hair. “You’re wrong, we discussed it at Geoffrey’s.” Maybe I didn’t make myself clear enough. But I sure as hell was going to now. “Are you dating other guys? Because you’re the only woman I’m seeing.”
Her face flamed red then paled. “No.”
“Do you want to?” If I could have taken a moment to get on my knees and pray that she’d say “no,” I would have.
“Noah, you know I’m not dating anyone, but I really don’t think you want the stress of a relationship.”
Why in the hell wasn’t this bothering her? And what made her think I didn’t want a relationship? Usually the jealous type was a complete turn off and irritated me, but her unemotional reaction was worse . . . way worse. Maybe if it was anyone else but Margo, it wouldn’t bother me, but it did. A lot.
“Let’s go.” I stood, took her hand, dropped a fifty on the table, and walked with her out of the bar.
“Where are we going?” Her heels clicked behind me on the wood floor. Maybe I was walking faster than normal, but I needed out of there. “Noah?”
“My bed. That’s where we’re going.”
Of all the nights to get a cab driver who obeyed traffic laws. My body hummed with anticipation of wanting to be buried balls deep in Margo, stake my claim, and never make her say the word “casual” again.
Once we arrived at my place, I couldn’t get her in my apartment fast enough. As soon as we crossed the threshold and the door closed behind us, I had her pinned against it.
“Make no mistake, Margo. I want you.” Her eyes sparkled. Not giving her time to answer, I speared my fingers in her hair, pulled her toward me, and crushed my mouth to hers, swallowing all her moans and sighs. Yeah, fuck this casual bullshit. Our tongues pushed and twirled together.
Her hands didn’t waste time. Before I knew it, my jacket was lying at my feet and my shirt unbuttoned. To my delight, with one tug of a string, her dress separated, exposing a white lace bra and matching panties.
“Jesus Christ, Margo.” The curves of her body felt like heaven under my hands. I took a step back and watched her nipples harden under the thin fabric. With my index finger, I slid the cup of her bra under her full breast, exposing the round bud I needed to taste, lick and nibble on, and I did . . . with reverence.
“Noah, I need . . .”
“I know. Me, too. Be patient with me for a minute.” I knew I started this frenzy, but now that I had her where I wanted her, my pace slowed. She needed to be savored . . . and not in haste.
I lowered to my knees, eye level with her pussy. I leaned forward and kissed her. She pushed her hips forward, the lace tickling my tongue as I licked her through the fabric.
Just a bit of applied pressure with my thumbs on the inside of her thighs and she spread her legs for me. “You smell delicious . . . and taste better.” I ran my tongue around her pussy and stopped to nip her clit. Her hand went to my head, holding me there. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”
She let out a sigh that sounded something like, “Oh, God.” Or maybe it was, “Oh, Noah.” Either one worked for me. I yanked down her thong and cast it aside. She was bare except for the thin strip of hair—the perfect guide, if it had been shaped like an arrow, it couldn’t have been sexier. After helping her step out of them, I licked her leg from her ankle up to her wet heat, where I continued to savor her.
“I could eat you all day.” I spread her lips with my fingers, giving my tongue the access it craved. I plunged it into her. Her head gently knocked on the door. “Don’t hurt yourself.”
Margo tugged at my hair, and my dick twitched, wanting out of the confines of my pants. We needed to move this to the bedroom. In a swift move, I stood. She sighed. When I looked at her, the eyes that sparkled just a few minutes ago were now dark with desire.
I picked her up, causing those legs I loved to wrap around my waist. Her hands pulled my shirt out of my pants as I carried her to my bedroom.
“Your body is perfect.” She licked my now bare shoulder. “I want you inside me.”
Fuck. With a whoosh and a tug, my belt was undone and the sight of her removing her bra and dress was my complete undoing. I reached into my nightstand to grab a condom.
Margo licked her lips when I ripped the foil packet open with my teeth. Just as I was about to roll it on, her hand stopped mine.
“Let me.” She went to her knees and rolled the rubber down my hard-as-a rock shaft. “Every part of you is perfection.” I thought I was going to finish before we started. Then she kissed the tip. Fuck.
A man could only take so much. In one move, I had her on her back, legs spread, and my cock teasing her entrance. Before I slid in, my finger plunged inside of her. First one, then two. When I added a third and twisted a bit, her hips lifted off the bed.
Wetness coated my fingers. “Taste.” Her eyes went wide, but she opened her mouth. I put one in her mouth, and she sucked it off as if she was sucking my dick, something we still needed to do. And after the way her tongue swirled and cheeks hollowed with my index finger in her mouth, I was sure when she blew me she’d also blow my mind. “Like the way you taste?” She nodded, and my balls tightened at her admission.
“You’re sexy as fuck, did you know that?” With a pop, she released my finger and I slid the other two, still coated with her wetness, in my mouth. “Delicious.”
I couldn’t wait much longer, so I didn’t. In one fluid thrust, I was inside of her. We rolled our hips in unison as if we’d done this a dozen times before rather than just once. Our bodies knew what the other needed. I’d roll my hips; she’d meet my thrusts. It was the perfect dance—and we were perfect partners.
Her fingernails scraped down my back just as my mouth found her tits. First one side, then the other. It was when we kissed that I knew I was close—and so was she. I could taste her on her tongue; she could taste herself on mine. It was an intoxicating, overwhelming moment. Our breaths mingled, her body pulsed, and I came . . . hard.
I didn’t stop moving, not until I was sure she was fully sated. Her legs wrapped around my waist; she tightened around my dick, throbbing, trembling, and coming apart around me. She said my name. It wasn’t a scream, or very loud; it was Margo—a woman who blew my mind by saying my name after the best fucking sex I ever had.