Chapter 7

James

I was hoping she wouldn’t realize who I was, but at least it had eased her a bit. We spent the rest of the morning quiet and then she got busy working on the house and I’d called down to one of my friend’s boutiques and had her send up a few things for Maya to wear. Once the package arrived in her name, she scolded me.

“You shouldn’t have done this. I told you, once I think he’s gone out to the bar, we’ll run over and grab my things. I still have my key to the apartment, and he’s too cheap to change the locks.” She opened the box and pulled out the dresses, one by one. There was even a pair of heels, a pair of flats, a string bikini, and three coordinating sets of undergarments.

“I wanted you to have clean clothes to wear over. You need to show him you can take care of yourself. And I’m still considering sending you with a security team. That’d make him shit his pants.”

“It would, but I’m not looking for a confrontation.”

“I understand, but I don’t like you going over at night anyway. It’s not safe.”

She put the clothes back in the bags as I stretched out on the couch. “He’s a photographer, and I know he has a shoot tomorrow. How about we go then? That way we can spend the night in. I’m kind of tired anyway. Your house was filthier than I’d thought.”

“Yeah, I’m a pig, at least you will feel like you’re earning your keep. The Avalon is the nicest building in the city.”

“I believe it. I heard this place has an infinity pool. Is that true?” She came over and sat on the couch with me.

“Yes, it’s on the fiftieth floor. You’re welcome to use it anytime you want as my guest. Just don’t tell anyone your working for me. It’s best if they think you’re a guest instead of staff, which you are.”

“I’m staff as well. But I’ll keep that in mind.”

“And watch who you talk to here, there are some real assholes living in this building.”

She lay her head back. “Then will you take me down for a swim? I noticed a suit in the box. I bet it would be nice.”

I hadn’t used the pool since moving in, but I wasn’t going to pass up a chance to see her in that bikini. “Fine, I’ll take you. Go get ready, and I’ll meet you back out here in a few minutes.”

She didn’t waste any time picking up her box and carrying it to the room, and after I’d gone to my room and changed, I came out to find her wearing that long shirt over her suit.

“Didn’t it fit?”

The flare of her cheeks was so red; she matched the suit as she lifted the shirt and showed me the tiny strip barely covering her front. “It’s barely covering anything.”

“Nice. I mean, it looks nice on you. You’ll be fine. Besides, if we’re lucky, there won’t be anyone there this time of the evening.”

“Interesting. Do you have friend in the building?”

“No, I don’t get out much.” I walked her to the door, and we went into my elevator. I couldn’t help looking at her long legs and wondering how they’d feel wrapped around my waist and shoulders.

“Why don’t you get out much? You should enjoy having such an awesome place to live.”

“You sound like my lawyer. He tells me the same thing.”

“Your lawyer?” She narrowed her eyes.

“Yeah, since the trial we’ve become great friends, in fact, if it weren’t for him and my accountant and a few people at the lab, I wouldn’t have any friends at all.”

“That’s terrible; you sound like me, but worse.” She held her towel tight to her like she was embarrassed to be wearing so little. “You’ve got to learn to live a little, get out more. I can’t believe you’re not even in a relationship. When was the last time you dated anyone?”

“I don’t date.”

“What do you do for sex? Surely you have women interested in you. You were going out last night, where to?”

“To a club. Where I meet plenty of women without having to date them. And speaking of living a little. You look hot in that suit. Why don’t you take off the shirt?”

“No way. Not until I get to the water.” She rolled her eyes to the ceiling and took a deep breath when the door opened to the fiftieth floor.

The pool was empty as I thought it would be and I eased down into the water as she slipped off her shirt and held it against her until she stepped down into the water, then she threw it up near her towel so it wouldn’t get wet.

“This feels like heaven. It’s the perfect temperature.”

“Everything is perfect at The Avalon. Including you in that suit.” I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her and my cock hardened in my shorts thinking about being close to her.

She walked to the edge of the pool and held onto the side as she inched closer to where I stood in neck-deep water.

“I’ve never worn anything so skimpy in all my life. I may as well be naked.”

“Don’t let me stop you. This pool is clothing optional, for the ladies of course.” Water splashed in my face, hitting me in the mouth.

I splashed her back, and she let go of the side and darted toward me. I grabbed hold of her arms as she tried to splash me again, and she grabbed hold of me when she realized she couldn’t stand.

“It’s over my head!”

“I’ve got you.” She stopped struggling, and I held her around her waist as she kicked her feet. “Come here.” I pulled her closer, and she wrapped her legs around my waist, and I knew she had to feel the thick, rigid length rubbing up against her thigh and hip.

“I didn’t realize how deep it was there; I thought you were hunched down a bit.” I was a good head taller, and the pool dropped off much faster than most.

“You’re okay. This feels nice, actually. I like that there’s no one here.”

“You can bring me back to the shallow end if you want.” She met my eyes and spoke in a soft voice.

“Okay.” I didn’t budge.

She let loose a giggle as I slipped my hands down and held her ass as I walked her to where she started from along the side. “Thanks.”

She didn’t let go. She looked into my eyes and leaned forward, bringing her lips to mine. I brought my arms around her and stepped closer to deepen the kiss. The kiss grew more passionate and soon her legs wrapped around me, her barely-there strip of fabric pressed against my cock, grinding it hard.

I pulled away knowing it was much too soon to go as far as I wanted to go. “I’m sorry, Maya.”

“No, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—I just got caught up in the moment.” She tucked her chin, and soon she was on the other side of the pool.

“It’s fine, Maya. It’s not that I didn’t want to kiss you. It’s just a bit too soon for us, and I’m trying to prove I’m not that guy, when—fuck, maybe I am.” I shrugged, and she smiled and got out to dry off.

Five minutes later, she was ready to go back. We stood on opposite sides of the elevator, and when we got to my floor, she went straight to the bar to pour a drink.

I walked up behind her and did the same as she picked up a small postcard sized invitation from the table.

“This is for a party next weekend. Are you going?” She looked up, and I hated that things had been awkward.

“No, I never go to any of them.” I opened a drawer on the cabinet beneath the bar and showed her the collection of invites I’d snubbed since moving in two years ago.

“Why not? It sounds like fun.” She stared at it again and then looked up at me with her big blue eyes. “Please, will you take me?”

“No, I’m not going. I don’t want to rub elbows with anyone in this building and some I don’t even want to live above.” I was thinking that horrible Darek Dillon who would definitely be there. She looked so disappointed that I didn’t want her to miss out. “You take the invite and go. There’s nothing saying you can’t go alone.” I didn’t think she would in a million years, and that’s when she surprised me.

She lifted her chin defiantly. “I just might do that!”