Consume Me (A Burning Desire Novel) (20 page)

"Are you sleeping baby?"

Landon whispered to my ear. I straightened
myself next to him.

"Are you going to tell me where
you're taking me?"

He smirked at my curiosity, it was getting
late, and I didn't want to waste our night in the car. We’d been driving for
more than twenty minutes. I would’ve preferred the hotel. It was closer.

"We're almost there."

He said stroking my hair.

"And where that might be Mr.
Davis?"

I insisted.

"So eager Miss Dane, always so
eager."

He bit a smirk.

"Just trust that it's somewhere I
think you'll enjoy"

"Well then, I'm looking forward to
it."

I smiled and started biting nervously at
my lips.

"What is it Clea? I can see that
something is eating at you."

I hated that he could do that. It freaked
me out.

"I'm just thinking about my things, I
brought an overnight bag but left it at the penthouse."

I explained.

“I told you, I took care of everything,
trust that you'll find everything you need."

He said pressing a reassuring kiss on my
nose. I wrinkled at the tickling feeling and he laughed.

"We're here Mr. Davis.”

 Calvin's voice came from the
speakers.

I grabbed my things and got out of the car
taking Landon's hand. Once I stood on the driveway, my eyes fell a beautiful
townhouse; not a hair out of place, flawless and authentic architecture,
bricks, windows, roof tiles and beautiful fences. I stood there admiring the
building and the scenery around it.

There were no other houses around it and
the breeze told me that there must’ve been a lake somewhere close. I hadn’t
been able to see anything with the tinted car windows.

Landon brought his hand to the small of my
back, and walked us through a driveway; it was illuminated by smooth covered
light bulbs crossing a well-maintained, resplendent garden. We walked through
the door and Landon switched on the light for me to lose my breath again.

I
looked around; total open space, all brick walls, and sublime. To the right,
the living space wide and captivating, a U shaped couch with throws over it.
Facing a beautiful fireplace, there were two tufted leather ottomans and a
bigger one holding a shelf centering the shape of the sofa. I admired a
delightful rustic square table next to the couch holding photo frames and
carved chandeliers.

Landon walked towards the left corner, to
the A-framed fireplace and switched on an antic uttermost wooden lamp. It
illuminated the space in a smoother, more subtle way than the beautiful ceiling
chandelier. In the middle of the open space, a staircase that splits the two
sides with two mahogany doors on each side below it.

On the left side, I saw a kitchen, one
state-of-the-art kitchen that merged perfectly with the spirit of the house,
mahogany counter top in a long U. It was shaped along the left side of the
house; a bar with four stools in front of it looked perfect to have a meal
around, gleam traditional cabinets with all the necessary appliances that
blended perfectly into the space.

I was
so caught up admiring the house, and thinking about being in it with Landon
Davis, that I didn't notice that he was held by a seemingly exasperating
conversation on the phone.

I walked back to him, and he was watching
me, undressing me. He let out a breath and rolled his eyes at the person on the
other end of the line; it didn't take much to figure out who the caller was.

"Yes well I'll keep you updated with
my plans... No, don't do that... No, I'm still taking that case Evelyn... Yes
well he'll be in Arizona campaigning for the whole week... So get June on it...
Oh stop it Eve I don't answer to you or to anyone for that matter... Yes well,
that's the way it is... Do as you see fit... Goodbye."

He let out another exasperated blow. He
closed the distance between us.

"I'm sorry for that."

He said nuzzling my hair.

"Is everything okay?"

I asked arching my neck and staring into
his eyes.

I will irrevocably get lost in a dark,
gray sea.

"Everything is fine, just Eve being
Eve."

He chuckled.

"I swear sometimes it feels like she
provokes me just for the hell of it."

I raised my shoulders.

"That's a natural dynamic for friends
who are also business partners."

I said.

"But I'm sure she's more challenging
than others."

He snorted.

"That's putting it mildly, trust
me."

Landon pulled from me. "Now tell me;
what do you think?"

I looked at him puzzled and he motioned to
the general direction of the house.

"Oh, it's breathtaking, really. It’s so
genuine and beautiful. Why don't you stay here instead of the penthouse?"

I asked, because really, as beautiful as
his hotel house was; it didn’t even compare. The townhouse had a soul and a
peaceful vibe.

"Well, it's more practical to live in
there; everything is in close proximity, my parent’s, the office, the
courthouse and the hotel.”

He walked to the sofa and shrugged out of
his jacket.

“This was my mother's house; she’d chosen
to leave it to me because ever since I could remember I loved coming here.”

He smiled nostalgically.

“So it became some kind of a safe
haven."

He admitted his voice somehow melancholic.

"I'm sorry Landon, I could tell from
the way you and your dad were talking that she meant the world to you."

It was true and it was perfectly normal.
Who wouldn't be sad to lose a cherished person, especially a parent?

God knew I still had nightmares about that
dreadful morning when I heard about my dad.

"Let's not think about sad memories
and make happy ones instead."

He clasped my hand.

"Wait here, I need to talk with
Calvin, and then I have something to show you."

I did too…

I nodded my excitement and he walked to
the kitchen where Calvin was standing. They exchanged some words and went
outside. I stood there admiring the space, I wanted to go explore upstairs but
thought I would wait for Landon to return.

I stood facing a window adjacent to the
door that showed a magnificent garden, gracefully illuminated and revealing
beautiful flowers circling a marbled fountain, one of the shapeliest refined
pieces of art; it reminded me of the ones you would see around Rome.

I glanced outside the porch and saw a
steaming hot tub covered with tiled awnings, and the best thing about it, was
the view of the lake.

The place was perfect.

Landon walked
in holding some grocery bags followed by Calvin carrying my overnight bag in
one hand and some kind of a picnic basket in the other. I’d thought it cocky
that he’d assume I would spend the night. Even though, I knew I was going to,
it seemed like I was obviously a bit of a foregone conclusion for him.

I joined to help them, Landon started
emptying the groceries; he had really thought of everything.

We put the contents of the bags in the
fridge, and the cabinets.

He took the basket from Calvin and allowed
him to excuse himself.

I carried my bag upstairs with Landon. The
house was composed of three floors. We stopped on the second where  the
master bedroom was; it was a gorgeous space, wallpapered in gold shades, with a
king size bed, quilted in the most soft and bright material.

Two unmistakable Louis XVI nightstands
carved in wood. Four separate floors to ceiling windows on each side of the bed
covered with Dover white drapes and two matching rugs with golden splashes over
the floor.

Facing the bed, a floor to ceiling sliding
door that revealed a walk in closet, the biggest I’d ever seen. I walked to the
storage ottoman at the end of the bed and put my bag on it.

"This house is just incredible
Landon."

I let out a breath, amazed once again by the
space.

"I can understand why you’d think of
it as a safe haven, it's cozy and warm, just out-of-space and far away from
mainstream."

"I'm glad you like it, you haven't
seen the best of it yet."

He gave me a swift kiss.

"Now let's head downstairs, what do
you say we relax in the hot-tub?"

He asked wickedly, his voice low, and hot.

“Sounds like anything you like?"

I looked down at my feet.

"I don't have a swimsuit."

I admitted, unable to hide my
disappointment.

"We both know you won't need
one." He murmured.

His tone was all devilish and sinful.

I stared at him dumbfounded, my insides
clenched.

"But as it happens, I got you
one."

He prompted.

"You did?"

I suppressed my disappointment.

"I most definitely did, it's in your
bag. Alison took the liberty to put it in there."

Oh?

"Alison is my household executive
manager; you'll meet her in the morning. She was taking care of this house when
you were in my apartment this afternoon."

He explained.

"I can’t wait to meet her; Calvin
told me about her."

"Now you go get changed, I'll wait
for you downstairs."

Landon
walked to the door and I took my bag and walked to the bathroom, which frankly,
seemed to be as big as the bedroom, a glass shower, a big bathtub and a long
marble counter with two stainless steel sinks. I emptied my bag on the counter;
there was a nice little bikini and a toilet case that didn't belong to me.

I looked at it then decided to open it;
everything was new, toothbrush, toothpaste, my shampoo and conditioner brand,
moisturizing lotions. The man got everything right, down to the tiniest detail.
I was astonished.

I let out a frustrated breath, and
resigned myself not to bother discussing it with him.

I started the difficult chore of getting rid
of the dress. By the time I’d managed to shuffle out of it, I looked like one
of those out-of-breath MMA fighters.

I studied my reflection; I was wearing
beautiful lacy undergarments, silk stockings, and garter belt. Except for the
bra, the set was complete. It was a first for me and I’d intended for him to
see all of it, but I had to wear a swimsuit.

What a waste!

"Come on Clea Dane, let's be
creative!"

My reflection encouraged me, relishing an
idea.

I reached for my back and applied some
ointment on Dara. It had been more than three months, since I’d gotten her; but
I couldn’t help it. I kept worrying that it might still get infected.

It was so unlike me to get a tattoo; but I
did it anyway. It represented the angel of rain and rivers Dara. The tattoo
represented her rebellion against the gods in Persian mythology. The artist had
told me her story. According to him, Dara had made water freeze for three
weeks; she wanted to abolish its misuse by the gods. They weren’t aware that an
angel would have that much power, and even if it had led to her demise, she had
proved that we all had power within us, no matter how small or weak people
thought we were.

When I’d seen it in the catalog; I’d thought
it suitable for me. I found her to represent a powerful image for women; at
least in my opinion and in the Persian mythology, the work the artist had done
on it was amazing; he was truly talented. Not to mention patient with my loud
squeaks. I giggled remembering that afternoon in Andalusia, and Jude’s reaction
to the tattoo in the midst of my back.

I freshened up, washed off my make-up, and
applied some lip balm. I slipped on a silk robe, took one last look, a harsh
breath, and headed downstairs.

Landon
wasn't inside, so I figured he was already in the tub.

Good for him, since he won't stay there
much longer.

I walked through the sliding doors to the
porch. He was a glorious sight; his skin glowing with steam, the water covering
his waist. He had a bottle of champagne, and a plate of chocolate dipped fruits
placed next to him, it looked yummy!

"Hello gorgeous."

He said; his voice all raspy and sexual. I
blinked at his sight, growing aroused by it. My knees were got shaky.

"Fuck Clea!"

He muttered.

"Stop biting those lips or I might
just come and devour you."