Chapter 10
Logan
After another long day of endless meetings, I’m eager to get into bed, and want nothing more than some time to myself. It’s our last night in Istanbul, and it hasn’t been all that I expected.
Ava and I have barely spent any time together, and this morning she mentioned the possibility of a session tonight. For a minute I was completely confused, forgetting that she thinks she is here to coach me through my life. The idea makes me chuckle as the elevator ascends to the top floor.
What would make her think she would be versed enough to handle a life – both professionally and socially – as grand as mine? Sometimes, I think she knows what I really want, but she’s just playing hard to get. Other times, I’m convinced she’s taking this gig seriously, despite my ability to understand how or why she would do that.
“Mr. Draper, we’ve narrowed down the suspects from the night at your house. It seems that only a handful of people could have had access to the east wing of the house, so we should be closing in soon,” Rodrick says.
“Keep me in the loop.” I grumble as the elevator doors open.
A reminder of the thieves who stole from me, well from my grandmother, is the last thing I want to think of, but I did ask for regular updates, so I can’t be upset with Rodrick.
Heading to the common area, I drop my suitcase on the dining room table before going to the bar, desperate for a strong drink. Pouring three fingers of whiskey, I turn to see Ava standing across the table, her nose scrunched in that adorable way she does whenever she’s confused.
“Is everything okay?” Her sweet voice is like music to my ears with her calming tone.
“Just a long day,” I say with a shake my head, trying to rid myself of the thoughts.
“You look tired. Come here,” she pulls out a chair from the table, gesturing for me to sit when I hesitate for a long moment.
After gulping the whiskey, I sit before her as the strong liquid burns in my chest. I can smell Ava, and her lavender aroma, before I feel her hands rubbing my neck.
She begins to massage the base of my neck, her small hands gripping me tightly as I lean into her soft touch.
“You’re tense,” she whispers, and I instantly want her mouth on me. I want to feel her whispers, and sink inside her until she moans my name. This little cat and mouse game is frustrating. I can see she’s attracted to me. Hell, I can feel it in her hands as she kneads the tension in my neck.
“Better?” She finally asks after massaging my neck and shoulders for what feels like an hour, although I’m sure it was much shorter.
“Yes,” I take her hand in mine and bring it my lips, kissing her petite fingers before rising to my feet to look her into her eyes.
“Thank you,” I say into her beautiful hazel eyes as she glances down at my lips before refocusing on my eyes.
I know women enough to know she wants me to kiss her. Despite all she’s told me, I can feel what she wants, and I know I want to give it to her. Without breaking the connection of our eyes, my hand drifts up her back, cradling the nape of her neck as her chest slowly rises and falls, her eyelids growing heavy just before she leans in closing her eyes. Leaning down, so close that I can smell cinnamon on her breath, I get one last glimpse of her before I make her mine.
“Mr. Draper,” Rodrick calls from the opposite side of the room, causing Ava’s eyes to shoot open. I glare at him over my shoulder, and before I can turn back around, Ava has wiggled out of our embrace, rushing from the room.
“I’m sorry, uhh…” Rodrick stutters. If he weren’t so damn good at his job, I swear, I would fire him immediately. That was the perfect moment to finally taste Ava’s sweet tongue and he all but ruined it.
“What is it?” I ask after following him to the other presidential suite, where his team is unwaveringly working.
“We were going over the film and background checks from the guests at the party and wanted to show you what we’ve come up with,” Rodrick explains, pointing to a dozen or so photographs lining the dining room table.
Watching him and his team gather around the images, all I can think about is Ava, and how intimate we were. I’ve never been so open with a woman, but what’s even more strange is how much I enjoyed it. I can barely focus on Rodrick’s explanation, as my mind and body both want to get back to Ava instead of handling this.
“Not now, Rodrick. We’ll discuss this later,” is all I say before storming back to the suite I’m sharing with Ava, crossing the living room swiftly to make it to her bedroom, where I knock softly twice before she answers.
Regret is written all over her face, and my stomach falls knowing I won’t be able to pick up right where we left off. It’s a roller coaster chasing her, but never boring or dull, so in some ways I have to admit that I enjoy it.
“You didn’t have to leave,” I say softly, leaning my head against her door frame.
“Yes, I did,” she says, looking everywhere but in my eyes.
She must know as well as me how easily it is to get locked in a spell when our vision connects.
While I was referencing her not needing to leave when Rodrick enters the room, I know her answer is more about her ethical obligation, and how determined she is to keep our relationship professional.
Watching her shift her weight from one foot to the other, she’s struggling with something, trying to find the words to express her feelings. She’s adorable, the way she’s fighting this, but I know I’m wearing her down. I can see her resolve melting away.
“What are you thinking about?” I ask her, and her eyes focus on me as her brows scrunch together in shock.
“Are you reading my mind now?” she asks sarcastically.
“I wish,” I sigh, biting my bottom lip to stop a grin from spreading across my face.
But it’s the truth. If only I could know what’s running through that mind of hers, I would know just what to say and do to make her open up to me the way I want. I know a lot about her and her upbringing, but nothing about how she cares for me. I can only pick up on those feelings from her actions, and I’m second guessing my readings, leading to one big mind fuck.
“Can I show you something?” she finally asks with a shadow of a smirk.
“Yes.”
“Okay, go take this off,” she grips the collar of my shirt, and I feel my manhood come alive from her touch.
“You want me to undress?”
“I want you to undress, and then dress into something more casual. Then meet me in the living room, so I can take you somewhere.” She clarifies, shaking her head as if she can read my dirty thoughts before closing her bedroom door.
Walking across the living room to change clothes in my bedroom, I try to think of what she could want to show me, but the truth is, I don’t really care.
It’s our last night here together, and I’ll go anywhere and do anything she wants.