Текст книги "Weak for Him"

Автор книги: Lyra Parish

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Текущая страница: 7 (всего у книги 12 страниц)

Fourteen

Lowering my dress, I picked up everything from the floor and tried to rearrange it exactly how it was before.

As I walked to the kitchen to grab a towel, Lori entered through the front door, and saw the spilled water across the wooden floor.

"What happened here, clumsy?"

"That's exactly what it was. Clumsy, clumsy, stupid ass me."

We laughed, and I cleaned up the mess. I couldn't tell her, but I wanted to. Some details were left better for me to deal with on my own. Together, we took the stairs two at a time, and before I made it to my room, I asked Lori if she wanted to help me pack because I would be going on vacation with Luketon. I jabbed about how excited I was, loudly because I wanted Mr. Felton to hear every fucking word I said.

As I closed the door, she gave me one of those be-quiet looks, and I explained to her that I knew already, that Mr. Felton told me when I got home.

"He did? Good. Do you know where you're going yet?"

"Nope. No clue. But I will be happy for a vacation."

She started pulling things from my closet and dresser drawers, and we had pieces of clothing for each type of weather packed. Bathing suits to sexy lingerie, even winter socks and sweaters. I would be gone for two days, so having a variety of things that all fit into a suitcase worked.

"What if he wants to have sex tomorrow?" I asked her. Worried that I wouldn't do it right.

"It doesn't work like that. When the management team thinks you're ready to give your virginity, they'll send out the inquiry letters to bidders. They must return a sealed envelope, and the one with the highest bid wins you."

"It will happen next Friday. Felton told me today."

"So quickly? What's changed?"

"Not sure. Maybe it's all the porn magazines he found in my room?"

She knew I was joking. It was something I joked about often. We laughed; she rolled her eyes, and then went about her business.

After dinner, I sat by the heated pool with my feet dangling in the steamy water. All the other girls were gone, which seemed to be the norm lately. The water dragged between my toes as I read a novel about witches and magic love potions. I laid back on the rock surface and continued to read. I only had a few more chapters left.

As I turned the next page, I saw Mr. Felton standing above me.

"You shouldn't be out here while it's this windy. You might get a cold."

"Why do you care?"

His eyes narrowed in on me. "Because it's my job."

I closed the book and tried to walk away. Mr. Felton grabbed my arm, the one without the book and pulled me toward him.

"Why are you leaving so quickly?"

"It's bedtime. I need to be rested for my trip tomorrow."

"You're a horrible liar."

"So are you."

He tugged on his bottom lip with his teeth, and then let it fall back into place. A small gesture, but one that said I had hit the nail on the head.

"I'm ready to get this over with. That's all. I feel…"

"Go on. Finish."

"I have too much sexual tension built up inside of me. You're driving me crazy. I want to experience sex and get it over with. It's a fucking burden."

He stared at me and didn't say a word.

"I've said too much. Etiquette training didn't work, did it?"

"Saying too much with clients and being truthful with me are completely different."

I sighed and tried to walk away.

"Come here." The demand in his tone made me cower.

He moved my hair over my shoulders and tucked the loose pieces behind my ears. The wind blew, causing hair to become disheveled and out of place. He stared into my eyes as if he were searching for the answer to a question. I stared back. Little pieces of his greens mixed with browns creating the perfect representation of autumn. I envied those eyes, that color, the ones that seemed to stand out in the night.

"I'm sorry about your wife," I said.

"Who told you?"

"The internet," I said making sure not to tell on Lori. His face went dark, and then he composed himself.

"Oh, yes. Must have gotten days' worth of reads from that. What else did you learn?"

"Your birthday, past girlfriends, your age, net worth, you know, everything all the rumor sites possibly could post about the hottest fucking CEO under the age of thirty, as one webpage put it. Did you know you have your own fan page? I wanted to warn them about how much of an asshole you were, and how half of those things weren't true but—"

Mr. Felton's lips were kissing my collarbone, trailing up my neck, and nibbling on my earlobe.

"Sometimes you should really learn to shut the fuck up," he whispered.

I reached down and grabbed his cock from the outside of his pants. He groaned. He was hard, ready for me.

I placed my lips on the outside of his ear, and my breath caught when his hands found their way up my shirt, pinching my nipples.

"You should learn to take your own advice," I mumbled.

And then his lips were on my mouth, and we were lost in each other's taste. His lips, so soft, nibbled on my bottom lip, and then his tongue wrestled with mine. I should have been surprised, but a part of me wasn't. My body instantly responded to his touches, sweet kisses on my neck, and fingers through my hair.

"You're still an asshole," I whispered into his mouth. His kisses deepened, and the amount of want and longing in them took my breath away. We were taking steps back until we both fell into the pool fully clothed.

I bust out laughing

He roughly undressed me, removed my shirt and bra, pants and panties. We were in the water, and he was taking off his shirt. Our bodies completely wet in the warmness. He pushed me against the side and smiled.

My body wanted him. Needed him. He put his arms on the edge of the pool, pinning me against the cement wall. The water felt so good, and his mouth was roving over mine again. My lips ached with intense kisses, and he continued to watch my body respond, listen to me moan, and allow me to grab his soaking wet hair in my fists.

"What are you doing to me?" he asked.

I wanted it. I wanted him. I couldn't answer.

His hands were on my breast, were on my sex, were running through my hair, and I was unzipping his wet pants, hoping that we would go further, wanting to go further. Lust was ablaze, and it would burn the whole world down if we let it.

"You're making me feel… fucking amazing," I whispered.

He pulled his soaking wet pants up and told me no with his eyes. But then guided his fingers between me. I pushed into him, letting my hips guide me. Letting the passion lead the way, he barely dipped his finger inside of me, continuing to pleasure until the feeling of sweet release built. He trailed himself up my body, over my breasts until his finger was in my mouth. I sucked, and his eyes lit up with lust.

"I want to taste you," he whispered.

"You're a greedy thing aren't you?" I whispered.

He pushed his erection harder onto me, and I was wrapping my legs around him and touching myself while I floated in the water.

I closed my eyes and brought my hands to his. The little bump between my legs felt swollen. I began to move two fingers on top of it until my body fully responded and begged me to give it more. The motions became more frequent, and I removed my hand before I completely let myself go.

Oh. The feeling. I panted and moaned as I arched my back.

"Moan louder. I want to hear you."

"Oh. Oh, Finn," I screamed his name.

And he was biting my neck and my shoulders, and coating me with licks and kisses as I continued to push myself closer to the edge.

"That's fucking sexy when you say my name."

I closed my eyes as the build started all over my body again, and my muscles became tenser than before. The movements became faster, deeper, harder, the same as my moans until I couldn't handle it anymore.

"I think I'm about to…" I forced out between pants, and then he dipped his finger inside of me and I touched myself more slowly. Allowing the orgasm to build until it was almost painful, until I felt like I couldn't breathe. Then I was bucking and moaning his name. I wrapped my arms around his neck while I lost myself in the water. Deep breaths and rapid heartbeats followed along with hard longing kisses. When I finally opened my eyes, Finn watched me, hungrily.

"I love it when you scream my name," he whispered.

I wanted to talk, but he placed a finger over my mouth, moved the damp hair from my forehead. This was no time to talk. No words could describe the feeling of him kissing me or being so close and intimate in the pool.

"Don't ruin this with stupid words," he said, and then kissed me like tomorrow would never come.

Fifteen

The morning came quick, almost as fast as I did the night before, and I woke with a start. As I received my itinerary and curfew, Mr. Felton couldn't stop talking about how I would make one of his clients very happy.

Stupid ass client talk.

Jesse met me at the door with my morning vitamins and mumbled something about how she was glad I was on the birth control shot and complained about how I should learn to be more punctual like her. Ignoring her bitchiness, I walked out of the door as I saw the Volvo pull into the drive.

Luke opened my car door with a smile and loaded my suitcases. I had no clue where we were going. Not an idea, no hint, nothing. Surprises, weren't they lovely?

"Do you want to know where we're going?"

"Yes, please. Pretty, please? Pretty, pretty please?"

He wouldn't tell me. He dropped hints like "it's not the beach, but it's close." Okay, so we were going somewhere warm.

Once we checked our bags, Luke handed me a ticket to Hobby Airport.

Houston. My heart dropped.

"Where are you taking me?"

"To the home of Janis Joplin," he replied.

The color on my face drained. I turned my head so he wouldn't see as he continued to talk about it.

"There's this new bed and breakfast that was voted one of the best new places to visit in the U.S. I really think you'll enjoy it, and it's country living. You said you loved that."

The brochure was tucked inside of his laptop bag, and he pulled it out and handed it to me. I thought I would be sick when the Welcome to Port Arthur sign covered the brochure.

"I've got a project, and I need to visit for research."

On the front was my childhood home, but instead of gray, the house was painted stark white, the shudders were perfectly straight, and professional landscaping had been done. A waterfall was installed in the front yard, and the shell drive was now pavement and circular.

I opened the rest of the brochure and saw a big, red barn in the backyard, and a pasture dotted with horses. Along with a man-made pond and floating deck. My parents would have been happy with what was done with the place, and the attention it was getting, but we couldn't go there. Not Luke and I. Not in a town where everyone knew everyone. I left to get away and returning would only make leaving again hard.

We made our way to the waiting area. My nerves were on edge, and I couldn't help but feel this way. If I told him why we couldn't go, he would know more than he needed, but if we went, he would find out anyway. I supposed the visit home, literally, would be an experience if nothing else.

Luke told me about his parents, his brother, and opened himself up to me while we were in the waiting area. On the plane, he interlaced his fingers with mine and whispered sweet things in my ears. I liked them. I liked the little compliments.

The plane landed in Houston, and we rented a car. Two grueling hours passed on the way to Port Arthur, and I dreaded every second. Texas living fascinated Luke. He loved the rolling hills, green grass, and even liked how I-10 stretched across the Lone Star State.

"Where are you from again? Which part?"

I turned to him and decided it was time to tell him the truth. Now or never.

"Port Arthur."

He pulled over on the side of the highway. Cars passed us going eighty miles per hour, and the wind whipped around the car.

"You should have told me at the airport. I could have changed our plans. Texas is huge. We could have gone anywhere."

"I know, but you seemed excited about going. I didn't want to ruin that for you. It's fine. Seriously, we're only thirty minutes away from Winnie. You'll have a good time. I'll show you around."

Dread should have been my first name, and Liar, my middle.

"You don't have to lie, you know. We can change our plans. I want you to be happy."

"It's perfect. I've been meaning to come back anyway."

When we entered Port Arthur, I thought I might be sick. The closer we inched toward my street, the quicker I wanted to run away. Once we turned onto the driveway, I knew there was no turning back. I was committed.

The pavement felt smooth under the tires. I took a deep breath before we walked inside. The porch was lined with rocking chairs, all the paint chips were scraped away and covered, and the rotten boards replaced. I slid my hand up the railing to the porch and opened the front door.

Inside, the living room had been arranged like a hotel. I peeked into the kitchen and saw new countertops and paint. A few walls were removed, and others added. The house wasn't the same. It wasn't the one that I grew up in and that fact alone would make the stay easier. It was only two nights, after all. I could handle a weekend.

The woman's face brightened when she caught sight of me over the counter. "Oh, Jennifer. We are so darn excited to see you here. We didn't know you were coming."

I faked a smile. "Yes, ma'am. I just had to come visit the place after hearing about all those good reviews. Congratulations, Mrs. Becky."

The people that bought the house also operated the place. How could I have been so stupid to think they wouldn't be here, or recognize me?

"I really think your parents would be proud with what we've done to the place. Mrs. Shirley told us about their plans and things, and well, we wanted to keep the spirit of what might have been, ya know?"

I wanted to melt into the floor, or wiggle my nose and disappear. Luke, as handsome as ever, stood with his hand on the small of my back.

"And who's this handsome young man?"

"Oh this is Luketon, my boyfriend," I added, just so no more questions would be asked.

Mrs. Becky Hanley, obviously thinking she was being cute, whispered loud enough for him to hear, "Oh he's miggghhtttyyyy fine. A keeper if I don't say so myself. So when y'all gettin' married? You're moving back home to raise those beautiful kids you're gonna make, right?"

I smiled at her, thinking up my next lie before Luke said, "Honey, I know you're tired, but want to help me grab the bags and bring them upstairs?"

Mrs. Hanley told us on our way out that our room was upstairs, the second on the right. What were the odds that I would be sleeping in my old bedroom?

Outside, Luke removed the bags from the car and leaned up against the trunk with his arms crossed. He waited for me to tell him what was going on, but I didn't feel like talking.

"Are you ok?" he finally asked me. "You look a little ill."

"Yes. No. I mean, yes I'm fine, and no I'm not sick."

"Are you going to tell me the truth now? You looked like you were drowning inside. I had to save you and give you mouth to mouth before that woman swallowed you whole. Who is she?"

"I don't want to lie to you. But I don't want to talk about it right now."

I grabbed my suitcase and wheeled it up the steps. Before we entered, he placed his hand on my shoulder and then opened the door. A fake smile spread across my face, and Mr. Hanley gave me a warm welcome.

Other visitors checked-in, and together Luke and I climbed the stairs. Although downstairs was unrecognizable, the layout of the top floor had barely changed. Only updated light fixtures, paint, and a new wooden floor made it different.

Every inch of my room had changed. The window was larger, the floor new, and a chandelier hung from the tall ceiling. An antique wrought iron bed sat against the long wall, and had a homemade quilt draped across it. My bathroom had been updated as well. Bright Tejas tiles lined the stand-up shower and little State of Texas decorations lined the walls, sink, and even the toilet cover. The Hanley's did an amazing job. Impressive to say the least. If I closed my eyes, I could almost imagine that I was somewhere else.

Luke dropped the suitcases on the floor and plopped down on the bed. He lifted himself up on one elbow and motioned for me to come to him, I did.

Opening his arms, I crawled into them, and we lay together. Nothing sexual, nothing out of bounds, just a simple gesture that I desperately needed. I wanted to feel safe, and he made me feel that way.

"I'm not sure what's going on with you right now. But I want you to know that I'm here for you, okay?"

I wrapped my arm around his stomach and scooted as close as I could to him.

"So I'm your boyfriend for the weekend?"

I looked into his eyes. "Yep. Just wait until tonight, when we go into to town."

"You called it town," he said. "That's so cute."

* * *

Sprinkles hit the window, causing us both to stir. Riding on the plane, and on my emotional roller coaster, seemed to have worn us both out, but it didn't stop us from taking showers and going out on the town. I laughed at the thought.

Luke wore a teal polo and a pair of vintage cut jeans. He smiled at me when I stepped out in a black, high-waist button-up dress and a red belt. Two-inch high heels, I wasn't trying to get crazy.

"You're ready? Already?"

"I'm not high maintenance."

He led me down the stairs. The boards that used to creak no longer did. Every imperfection in the house had been fixed. I never thought it would look so well preserved. We smiled at the other guests in the living room area and were out the door.

Crickets and cicadas buzzed in a harmonic symphony of sounds. They usually did that after a light rain. Luke opened the car door for me, and I shut it before climbing in, and adjusted the collar on his polo. Then I gently wrapped my arms around his neck and thanked him. His arms fit around my waist, and he lifted me slightly from the ground. Once he set me down, I leaned in and whispered in his ear, "I appreciate the gesture to drive, but really, let me."

The keys found their way to my palm. I slid into the driver's side and zoomed down the driveway, again. Watching the house fade away to nothingness reminded me of the day I left for Vegas. But the house, along with myself, had transformed into something I didn't know. If it could talk, I imagined it would say it didn't recognize me either, but changing was inevitable.

Living in an oil town meant there were several restaurants open all hours of the night. Although there was nothing high-class like in Vegas, I had the perfect place. Tuscany: where there were unlimited pastabilities.

The setting, cute and old-fashioned, would be perfect. We parked on the side of the street and walked inside. The bell above the door let everyone know we entered. Little candles decorated the checkered table clothes, and for that moment as I studied Luke perusing the menu, I thought that he possibly could fit in, in a place like this, my home. Where expensive cars, corporate offices, and Elite members-only clubs didn't exist. Only the two of us mattered here while enjoying one another's company with no interruptions or worries.

"Thank you," I said over the menu that I wasn't really looking at because I practically had it memorized.

"For?"

"Planning this. None of the things back in Vegas really matter while we're here. You know? It feels different."

Luke grabbed my hands and a girl I went to high school with took our order. I ordered my favorite spaghetti and meatballs and Luke had the same and ordered a bottle of Bruno's Cranberry Wine.

"How did you know that cranberry was my favorite?"

"Lucky guess, I suppose."

Minutes passed, and the waitress arrived with a bottle and no cork, and poured the wine into the empty glasses.

"Oh, hey, Jennifer. What have you been up to? Heard you were engaged and living in Vegas."

Typical small town rumors laced with typical small town talk.

"Oh, hey." I couldn't remember her name; how embarrassing. "I've been up to nothing, just working. And no, I'm not engaged."

Better to squash the rumor while I had a chance. The girl looked at Luke, and I knew what this meant, she expected an introduction.

"This is Luketon Brand, my boyfriend."

She took his hand willingly. "Oh a pleasure, Mr. Brand. I'm Julie Jean."

"Call me Luke, please."

She giggled nervously. "Where are you from, Luke? Not here, obviously."

I gritted my teeth. This was how rumors exploded into the abyss. The chatty women only need a little bit of information and the stories would spread like wildfire.

"I'm from a little town in the U.K. close to London."

"Oohhh. Well, welcome to Texas, honey."

She didn't take her eyes from Luke, and I didn't blame her. He looked good. The teal polo shirt accentuated his crystal blue eyes. Any woman around here would be insane to not go for a beautiful, single man like him.

"Well, if you and Jennifer ever break up, you call me, darlin'."

I placed my hand close to my mouth and whispered "I'm sorry." He gave a nod toward me and sipped his wine as she walked away.

"How embarrassing," I said.

He played along. "I may ring her if she leaves her number."

"Hardy har har. Just your type, Luke."

He leaned across the table and asked, "What is my type?"

"I'd like to think I'm your type," I whispered.

Luke bit his bottom lip. That drove me wild.

"I'd like to think you are as well," he said.

He smiled and sipped his wine. Not having anything else to do, I sipped mine as well.

"I love the way the cranberry tastes. It's like a tingle, and then an explosion in your mouth. I love that freakin' winery."

Once the spaghetti arrived, I grabbed my utensils and ate it the way I learned in etiquette training. Spinning the noodles on the spoon until they were completely twisted around the fork, and then taking small bites as not to splash the sauce on my face. Also, I didn't finish my meal, not because "a lady never finishes her plate," but rather, the hometown portions were much larger than I had remembered.

At times throughout the evening, I felt like a stranger to my own customs. As if I were a ship lost at sea, finally reaching my destination, but not recognizing it as I remembered. I had changed too much, too quickly.

Luke paid the bill, and the girl at the counter told me that Abbie was at the restaurant earlier that night. Shit, Abbie. I had completely forgotten to tell her I was home. I'd text her as soon as I got back to the house.

The headlights reflected from the stone white pavement leading up to the house. I drove slow and parked on the edge of the driveway. Luke opened his hand, and I gave him the keys.

As we walked up the steps to the porch, he followed close behind. Before I could get to the top, he pulled my hand to turn me around. My face was so close to his. His breath felt warm on my cheeks. Gently, he tucked my hair behind my ear and bit his bottom lip.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered.

I led him up the steps and lifted myself onto the railing as he stood in front of me. My breathing increased, and pulse quickened. Luke leaned in and brushed his lips against mine, making sure not to press. We couldn't break the contract, but instead mildly walked the fine line that Finn had created for us. Instinctively, not caring, I trailed my hands up his shirt and lightly brushed my fingers across his stomach muscles. As his mouth found my neck and earlobe, I swallowed.

"I wish I would have met you before you signed that ridiculous contract," he said.

"You wouldn't have given me a chance if I weren't an Elite."

I lifted my chin toward him and looked into his eyes, full of hope, want, and… lust? He lightly trailed up my neck with his lips. With my eyes closed, I wanted nothing more than to be kissed by him, to feel his lips mingling with mine, fully tasting him. With every bit of strength I could muster without losing my balance, I pulled him closer to me and stood. Returning his nibbles and kisses, but making sure to leave our lips apart from one another.

"I want to kiss you so bad right now, it's driving me mad," he said.

"We can't," I said, defeated.

"I know."

I took his hand and led him up the stairs to my old bedroom. Before turning off the light, I unbuttoned each button on the black dress until it slid from my shoulders onto the floor. Dark blue bra and panties—a set that Finn had given to me when I first joined the ranks of The Elite—hugged to my body like a glove. Luke smiled and bit that sexy lip, that juicy delicious lip that I wanted to kiss me all over.

"It's your turn," I said. With his shirt in his index finger and thumb, he did a little twirling motion as if he were giving me my own personal strip tease. I laughed.

"Shh. They might hear us," he said.

Off went his polo, and then his white undershirt—nothing but abs and chest, and tattoos.

"Whoa. Stop right there, mister. You didn't say anything about these. What does that one say?"

A tattoo under his pectoral muscle read:

Don't go around

saying the world

owes you a living.

The world owes

you nothing.

It was here first.

–Mark Twain

He ran his fingers through his thick brown hair and I caught sight of the heart on the back of his arm, and the word "Loyalty" down his side in script, and the two-inch number thirteen set below his belly button on his right abdominal.

He caught me staring, admiring, all of his beautiful tattoos. Luketon Brand wasn't who I thought he was. That man didn't exist.

"Turn off the light, and come to bed. We have an early flight tomorrow. There is a little change of plans."

"We're leaving early?"

"Unfortunately, yes. But we can come back anytime you'd like."

I crawled in bed and rubbed my cold skin against his warmth. I looped my leg over his and trailed my fingers lightly over his stomach. His breaths were ragged and slow, and I knew that with every touch he told himself no. Luke grabbed my hands and interlaced his fingers with mine, and I tucked into his arms. Before I fell asleep, he pulled his arm away and set my head carefully on the pillow. In a whisper, he said, "One day, I will have to tell you what each one means. They are all very special to me."

He kissed my forehead before rolling over. As he turned, the moonlight allowed me to see the feather tattoo on his shoulder that crumbled away into birds.