Amelia
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My phone beeps. “Yes?”
“Mr. Baldwin is on his way up. In case you want to take a moment to brush out your hair and fix your makeup.”
Shit. “Tell him I’m out of the office. I’m too busy.”
“Can’t. I already him told you’re free and you haven’t eaten.”
“You’re fired.”
“Two minutes.”
She is so fired. I run a hand through my hair then check my face in the mirror. No, stop it, I scream internally even as I pull out the translucent powder to soak up my oily t-zone and give me a hint of glow. There is no warning before my door opens. One minute I’m chewing on my pen, the next my body comes alive as his eyes run over me. The suit is gone today, he’s in jeans and another black sweater, this one a cable knit.
After the way he left me standing on the street yesterday, a part of me was sure he was done with me. Which was good. I’d done what I set out to do, made him go away. Yet, as I watched the cab pull away from the curb, I was oddly hurt he didn’t even say goodbye.
Lying awake last night, I told myself it was a good thing. I needed a guy like Christopher Baldwin in my life like I needed a class-action lawsuit. Only, my bed felt big, empty, cold. I fell asleep around three in the morning, and now I look and feel like hell.
“Hey sugar, I got a table waiting for us at Giorgio’s. Let’s go.”
The way my whole body jumps to do his bidding is so scary it slams me back to earth. There is no way I’m leaving with him. “I’m busy, Mr. Baldwin. Another time.”
The smile disappears, he’s deadly serious. Sky blue is gone, and his eyes are the color of a storm. Instead of the fear any normal person would be experiencing, heat bubbles up inside me. “That’s three: you lied the first day we met, yesterday, now a lie today. When the time comes, don’t say you weren’t warned.”
My mouth is completely dry. I croak out the words, “Warned about what?”
“Naughty girls get spanked, Amelia.” No, I am not wet. Oh god, I am. “Lying is very naughty, indeed. I was going to let the first lie go; however, this one shows a pattern I believe needs to be nipped in the bud from the beginning. Three, Amelia, remember it for when it comes time for you to count them off.
“You get five minutes to wrap up whatever you’re working on. Every minute after that is another spank.” He looks down at the slim gold watch on his wrist. “Your time starts now.” Then he walks out of my office as quietly as he walked in.
When I close my eyes, they burn. I realize I haven’t blinked since he said the word spanked. Holy fuck. I do not want to be spanked. My nipples harden at the thought, calling me a liar. I don’t even bother saving my work; I grab my bag and my coat, but I stop with my hand on the door, thanking god for the frosted glass. Am I really doing this? Am I really getting involved with Christopher Baldwin, bad boy, manwhore, asshole? No, this is lunch, just lunch. Liar.
I open the door to find him talking with Mary. His eyes go down to his watch, and he lifts a dark eyebrow before he smiles. “With a minute to spare, what a good girl you are.”
“Have a good lunch.” Mary chuckles.
“You’re fired,” I toss at Mary as I walk away.
“What?” We’re in the cab when I break. I can’t take the silence anymore.
A dimple appears. “I’m simply doing the math on how many more hours I have to wait. When is Ethan due back in town?”
I blush, shaking my head. “He’ll be back at work on the fifteenth.”
“That’s four.” My eyes widen as I shake my head, no. “Yes, Amelia. I didn’t ask you when Ethan was due back at work. I asked you when he is back in town. Shake your head all you want, sugar. When your breath catches in anticipation you aren’t fooling anyone. When is he due back?”
“The thirteenth,” I gasp out. Oh god. My face is so red I’m lightheaded when the cab comes to a hard stop. The sidewalk is on my side. I open the door with every intention of escaping, only my legs are so weak I don’t get far before he’s out of the car, at my back. Chris wraps a hand around my arm, bringing me back up against him. The strength of him seeps into me; I don’t want to get away from him.
Once we’re in the restaurant, Chris finally lets me go to take off my coat. I’m annoyed I miss his touch. At least I don’t have long to think about it before Shelly steps toward me to take my coat. “Amelia, how have you been? Julie passed the bar.”
“That’s awesome. I’m happy for her. Is she working today?”
“No, she isn’t back from vacation yet. She’s in Iowa for another few days. Follow me, we have somewhere quiet like you requested, Mr. Baldwin.”
I’m blushing at the wink she gives me. Then I tremble when Chris slides his hand down to the base of my spine as we follow her. In the back of the restaurant, an area I never come to, the seating is round booths and low lighting. Of course, there isn’t a single person back here, this area is usually only used in the evening.
Now that Chris is no longer touching me, my head clears and sanity screams at me to stop being such a wimp around him. “I want it clear I’m here under duress. If you are going to insist on this lunch meeting, I’m not going to argue with you, if I did I would have to charge you for it. However, as this is merely a short-term issue until Ethan gets back, I’m not going to risk him losing you as a client. And I’m hungry and this is one of my favorite places.”
He shakes his head as he chuckles. “You are so going to be a pain in the ass. Duress, sugar? The only duress you’re under is knowing you’ll have to wait to get your ass spanked. Your pussy creamed at the thought and that’s why you’re here. You’re hungry all right, only your appetite isn’t for food.”
Oh my god, he did not just say that. I am not wet at his dirty, naughty, hot as fuck words. Yes, yes, I am. “I cannot believe you. Do you talk like this to every woman? Is this a part of your witty enticements to get a woman into bed?”
His smile is slow, and the heat is building down there. Seriously, how does he do that? “You believe me, what you can’t believe is how wet I make you. Honesty is not your biggest strength, I’m learning. I don’t need to talk a woman onto my cock; women crawl over me because they want to come long and hard, using my cock to scratch that itch deep inside them. You have an itch, you’ve just never had it scratched before, have you? So it aches a little, you don’t know why, you don’t even know where it is. I do.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it all. And a bed is boring, sugar. I’ll take you up against a wall, bent over your desk, in so many places you’ll be ready for me to take you when I want you, wherever I want you, without you ever missing a bed.”
I’m drowning in his words, the images flashing through my mind, my whole body tight, aching, melting at what he promises. Then Mike is at the table, yanking me out of the storm so fast, it’s almost painful. “Mr. Baldwin, sir. Hello, Amelia. Are you ready to order, sir?”
Chris smiles as he looks to me. “Since you know this place so well, what’s good here?”
Fighting for composure, the words are tight and stilted. “Everything, it depends on what you want.
“Heavy on protein, easy on the carbs, delivers on flavor.”
“Then the chicken marsala, they use the most amazing wine that takes it to the next level. It comes with your choice of pasta or vegetable, they have asparagus, broccoli, and carrots in a honey glaze. They also have sausage and peppers.”
Chris nods to Mike. “I’ll have the chicken marsala, with the broccoli steamed.”
“Yes, sir. Amelia, what will it be today? In the mood for some calamari?”
“Not today, thank you. I’d like the sausage and peppers calzone.”
“Okay, wrap up half before I bring it out?”
“Yes, please, thank you. I’m sorry you had to stay in Chicago for the holidays. How was your Christmas? Did you get to see Miranda?”
He blushes. “No, she went home to see her family and isn’t back yet. My holiday wasn’t bad. Me and a bunch of guys got together and hung out. We did Chinese and we got into the show you recommended. Thanks for making me look cool.”
Mike finishes what he’s writing before taking the menu from Chris. “I will have those right out for you both.”
Chris runs his fingers over the back of my hand, fracturing my breath. “I don’t like seeing you smile at other men while you tease them. Even if you don’t mean anything by it.”
Excuse me? “Tough.” I spit the word out. “I didn’t ask for your interest. If you have a problem with me chatting with someone even though you know I don’t mean anything by it, then fuck you.”
His breath is a slow release, then he smiles. I’m hit in the chest by the heat in his eyes. “Amelia.” It’s that slow drawl again, wrapping around every letter. “I love the way your eyes go from hazel to a glittering green with anger. They do that when you’re aroused, too. All I can think of is what color they’ll be when I’m inside you. And it’s exactly why I want you so badly. You appear sweet and soft, only you hide a core of steel. It makes me wonder what else you’re hiding under your sweet, good girl façade.”
Exasperation with him, with what he’s doing to me has me rolling my eyes. “You want me because I didn’t fall at your feet the moment you said you wanted me. I’m a glitch in your Matrix, so you’re fascinated by it. Once I fold you’ll find something else shiny and new to play with.”
Tilting his head, he laughs. “Damn, you have a mouth on you. A glitch in my Matrix? I like that, I’m going to steal it. Yeah, you’re right, a huge part of your appeal is that a woman hasn’t made me wait longer than a few days in so long I can’t remember. I’m also not looking for anything more than fun for maybe a few weeks. But while I’m in it, I don’t fuck around with anyone else.” He pulls out a piece of paper from his back pocket. I open it and damn it, I’m blushing again. It’s the results from a panel of STI tests taken this morning, all negative. “I haven’t been with someone since before Christmas.” He laughs when my eyebrows go up in surprise. “Why is it hard to believe?”
“Because you said sex is like food, as important an appetite that should be fed with as much variety. I’m having a hard time believing you really went hungry for long.”
“It’s only been about two weeks. I was also twenty-five when I said that. The last few years I’ve been more into a nice sit-down meal, with a view toward quality over fast-food quantity.”
Right. “Pregnancy scare or STI scare?”
He laughs as he leans back. “Pregnancy scare. I’ve had a few rubbers break over the years, but this one was a total setup. The weeks waiting to see if she was pregnant were not good ones. I would have liked to think I was selective before then; I was wrong. Ever since, it’s only my condom every time. I also make sure she has more to lose than gain by getting pregnant.”
“So you think I have more to lose than gain by getting pregnant?”
“Hell, sugar, I don’t care if you have every intention of me knocking you up, if that’s what you want then I’m down. I think we’d make adorable baby girls.”
We both freeze as he says it, then he smiles as if the idea truly appeals to him. My stomach flips a dozen times before it stops. “I want boys, with dimples like yours. Girls are a pain in the ass.”
“Since they’ll be yours, I wouldn’t expect anything less than them taking after their mama. I figure by the time they get here I’ll be used to putting up with you and able to take them on. They can have my dimples as long as they have your smile and pretty brown hair.”
Asshole. “You are insane. Have you been checked out by a qualified mental professional?”
“What? Because I was honest? So this issue you have with honesty is giving as well as receiving...interesting. It looks like I’ll need the next few weeks to figure out your pretty little ass before Ethan gets here.” He shrugs. “Something to take my mind off not getting any when what I want is right in front of me.”
My tart reply disappears. “You aren’t going to be with anyone else to, you know, ease your hunger pains?”
His half smile flashes a dimple. “I’m well-aware you’d use it as a reason to cut and run no matter how much you want me. I’ll deal. It’s been a while since I went so long not getting it when I want it, but it will also give me time to make a list of all the things I want to do to you when I finally get my hands on you.”
“You’re going to have a long wish list and an even longer dry spell. How many times do I have to say you and I aren’t going to happen?” No matter how much I might want it. The promise in his eyes dries my throat.
Mike returns and sets our plates down, asking if we need anything else before he leaves us alone with a smile at my blush. I’m relieved at Chris’s promise he won’t be with someone else until after me. Even though I don’t know him as well as I should, I believe him. Everything I’ve read about him praised him for being honest and forthright. There was also a ton of admiration for his monk-like status during the season despite his manwhore ways during his downtime.
“Maybe when you say it with more feeling, I’ll actually believe you.” A dark eyebrow goes up, daring me to make him believe.
Jerk. “Do you never meet women you want to be with during the season, then need to wait until the season is over?”
“I’ll meet women during the season except I’m usually so focused, they don’t register on my radar. If they do manage to catch my attention I usually forget about them pretty quickly.” Chris cuts into his chicken. His sigh of pleasure glides down my spine. “This is amazing.”
“Told you, it’s the wine. You should try it with this amazing Pinot Noir they have here.”
“I don’t drink, except champagne for celebrations because it would be rude not to.” He shrugs as he sips his water.
“You don’t drink? What do you do in the clubs?”
He shrugs again. “Drink club soda, chill with the guys, talk to the women, get to know them while I decide what I want. I also don’t go out to the clubs as often as people think I do. Considering I only go out during the off-season once or twice a month for three months, I’m not nearly as wild as the press wants to push. I haven’t been to the clubs on a weekly basis for the last two, almost three years now.
“When I was in New York they would reuse pictures, implying I was at the club when I wasn’t. I threatened to sue, but it didn’t stop them. Management had to step in to get them to stop. Sure, when I was younger it was maybe once a week, sometimes even twice, but it was never as often as the press made it seem.
“I’m not going to sit here and say I didn’t earn my reputation for hooking up with strippers and going out to have fun. I’ve done it all and I did it with pleasure. However, I was never a club rat, hooking up with random women without even knowing their names like the gossip columns claimed.”
Doing the math, it’s not nearly as often as even the younger lawyers and paralegals go out. “I can’t imagine being under the kind of scrutiny where people are putting things about your private life out there to make a buck off you.”
“It isn’t easy, but you get used to it after a while. You’re more selective about the places you go as well as the people you let into your life.” He nods as he focuses on his food. For a while we’re both quiet as we eat. It’s a comfortable quiet though, surprising me a little, as though we’ve done this before.
“So, what about you? Any vices I should know about, wine at night, gambling addiction?”
I shrug. “Not really, I don’t do wine except when I hang out with Holly. It’s mainly just coffee, reading, and it used to be shopping but not really for the last few years.” Ever since I was sized out of the best designers, shopping became a chore instead of fun. Wow, saying it out loud, it’s glaring how boring I am.
“Damn, Mary wasn’t exaggerating, you are in need of a shake-up, someone to help you remember what having fun is like.”
Even though I know Mary’s thoughts on my boring life, she urged me to make my New Year’s resolution to get a life, it still stings. “Just because I don’t spend my evening in clubs and fuck random people doesn’t mean I don’t have a fulfilling life. I’m content. I’m happy with my life.”
“I would make that five, except you actually believe what you said. Happy? No, Amelia, you are bored out of your mind. Deep down you’re dying to run screaming just to hear your voice, to make sure you didn’t lose it somewhere along the way. Tell me, Amelia, has any man ever made you scream as you came?” I freeze, eyes wide at the question. He shakes his head. “Well that answers my question. I’ll make you scream as you come. I’ll make your whole body shake. I’ll keep you screaming until there’s no air in your lungs. Then I’ll do it all over again.”
My whole body is tense, tight, aching for the promise in his words, in his eyes. Then my phone goes off, tearing me out of the haze of desire. Relief fills me, it’s a text from Mary about a client demanding to see me, upset because Ethan was out of town. “I have to get back to work. There’s a client waiting.”
He holds out his hand for my phone, and I roll my eyes as I hand it to him. The idea of arguing doesn’t even cross my mind. Reading the text, he nods. “Work it is. Are you done?” I nod, reaching for my bag to pull out my wallet. “Don’t even think about it.”
Abashed, I put my wallet back. Mike comes over. “Sorry, sir, your check.”
Chris nods, looks it over, pulls out a wad of cash and peels off a hundred-dollar bill. “Keep the change.”
Mike smiles. “Thank you, sir. I hope you both have a good day. See you soon, Amelia. Tell Ethan that I said hi.”
As we walk out of the restaurant his phone rings. “I have to take this.”
“It’s fine. I’ll see you tomorrow, if you could come in maybe ten minutes early we’ll discuss strategy.”
He nods as he answers the phone. “One moment,” he says to the caller, then opens the door to a cab that stopped at his hail. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”