Dark Kiss (The Two sides of me Book 1) (17 page)

“There, all clean, even though I love you dirty,” he says, kissing the back of my head. I try so hard not to react to the L word, but I stop giggling and look up into the mirror. Locking eyes with him, I freeze … we continue until I break the silence nervously, announcing that I need conditioner or we’ll be cutting my hair into a bob. I’ve never had a man tell me that he loved me, other than my dad of course, and that’s a totally different kind of love. The L-word is going on the
Shit to worry about later
shelf in my brain. That shelf is getting heavy; I need some time to sort through all of that soon. The water surrounding us, cools and it occurs to me that he is still extremely hard behind me and this bath has pretty much been all about me.

Wiggling my ass against him I ask, “What about this, should we figure out a way to take care of you in the tub too?” I offer.

“I’m fine Mia, the bath was for you.” Uh yea right, I’m not seasoned in sex but I know how things work and I’m not comfortable leaving him this way…. again.

“No Evan, let me take care of you too, I want to.”

“Mia, I’m good, we can work on it later, I have a lot to do today, hop up so we can go rinse off in my shower and get your hair conditioned.” I turn around in his lap, facing him, essentially trapping him with my legs over his., he’s twice my size and could flip me if he really wanted to, but I have the feeling he’s not really
that
opposed to the idea of me taking care of business before he goes to work. Taking him in my hands, I stare him down, reaching under the water I cup his balls and run my finger across the space between them and his glorious cock as he moans from deep in his chest. “Mia...” he says, with warning in his voice and tilting his head to the side slightly in a ‘you know you’re in trouble now’ kind of way.

“What?” I answer innocently, raising my eyebrows with an, ‘I have no idea why I could be in trouble’ look.

“You…don’t…need, oh fuck it that feels so fucking good, yea just like that.” It’s his turn to grip the sides of the tub now, and I love that’s it’s me that makes him lose control,
I
did this to him,
me
, Mia Galloway; inexperienced, innocent, previously-terrified-of-sex Mia. I work him with both hands now, up and down, over the top, just the way he showed me in his shower until he comes spurting hot and slick into my hands. Kneeling forward, I chastely kiss him on the nose and say, “
Now
you are ready for work.”

I smile at him, he smiles at me, and we laugh. Standing up and helping him out of the tub, which is incidentally a little more difficult than getting him in, we manage. Wrapped in warm, thick, towels from a heated rack, we make our way back to his ensuite. I’m sure the house staff is awake and around at this time of morning, so no streaking back to his room this time. We shower, and I sit on the vanity naked and shave his face for him, with my legs wrapped around his waist while he leans on his crutches, and we brush our teeth, I help him with his clothes and go to work on my hair while he starts out to the dining room for breakfast.

“Don’t be too long.” 

“Why?” I ask.

“We have a full day, I have to go to Dominus and we are going shopping.”

“Shopping, what for?”

“You’ll see.”

“Uh oh,, no way, if you’re thinking about shopping for me forget it, you spent a gazillion dollars on flowers yesterday, I can’t accept anything more.” I emphasize my statement by shaking my hands back and forth in front of me and taking a step away from him. “Really Mia, I thought you’d finally learned my number one rule in life; I always get what I want, and I want to take you shopping, so we are going shopping, period. Dry your hair,” he bosses, and leaves my mouth hanging open and frankly a little pissed. “Close that beautiful mouth Mia!” he calls over his shoulder, as he goes click clacking away. I turn to the mirror where I see myself, mouth agape and snap it shut, stomping my foot once in frustration. I love my flowers and I really don’t need anything else,
and
I have no way of ever reciprocating his generosity. What could you possibly give to a man who has absolutely everything?

Chapter 26

“Fix You” by Coldplay

“I want you to drive.” I’m surprised that he lets anyone drive him other than Mr. Saint. “What about Mr. Saint?” I ask.

“I’m sick of riding in the back, I really want to drive myself, but since I can’t that leaves you.”

“Oh well thanks for considering me as a last resort.” I snort, silently pointing at a plate of bacon Cecelia has prepared that’s out of my reach. He hands it over, but when I reach to take it he doesn’t let go causing me to look at him

“You are never a last resort Mia. Never,” he says seriously, and lets go of the plate. Ok, geesh, I was kidding around; this guy needs to relax, even though it’s one of the sweetest things anybody has ever said to me. “And I love your smart mouth,” he adds with a wink. Oh god the wink, he simply can’t do that at the breakfast table.

“Cecelia is everything lined up for this evening?” he asks, turning his attention to her. “Yes sir, everything will be ready.”

“What’s this evening?” I’m really hoping it includes me, I really need to talk to him about going back to work at the hospital.

“We’re having dinner in the formal dining room tonight.” Bingo, perfect, I can bring it up from across the table, sensibly where he can’t touch me and change my mind. I need a clear head for this, he’s not going to take it easily, and I know he’ll do everything he can to manipulate me into continuing on as his private nurse. But I just can’t keep on taking money for doing nothing. I’ll stay here with him, as his girlfriend or whatever I’ve become but
not
as a nurse.

I’ll keep my apartment, my family would
freak
if they knew I was living with a man I was supposed to be working for. And after only knowing him for a few weeks! “What’s the occasion?” I ask.

“No occasion, I just want to dress up nice and have dinner with you. It’s still awkward going out, so I’m bringing Dominus to you.”

“Why thank you, Mr. Lawson.”

“You are most welcome Ms. Galloway.”  After breakfast we bundle up to go to Dominus, it’s been a really cold fall and I hate the cold.

“You’re pouting baby, I love it, if you add that little foot stomp thing I may have to take you back to bed.” Biting one side of his lip and stifling a laugh, he’s watching me put on my coat and scarf. I look back at him irritated.

“I
hate
the cold!” I hadn’t meant him to see my foot stomp, it’s childish but a natural instinct, I can’t help it.

“Let me take you someplace warm then.”

“Oh no, you spoil me every single day, I will not accept anything else, especially a trip, uh uh.” I shake my head and he lets out a very exaggerated sigh while rolling his eyes. “You’re very stubborn lady, but I’ll break you, you’ll learn.” I
am
very stubborn; maybe
he
needs to learn
that!
 

“There’s nothing about me that needs breaking Mr. Lawson, I
am
stubborn and I will learn
whatever
I want,
whenever
I want to,” I say, jutting my chin out and crossing my arms over my chest. Laughing, he rises from the chair by the door, adjusts his crutches and moves past me to leave but stopping to kiss me on the forehead chastely first. Ahhggg, he’s infuriating sometimes and I have to really, really strain against the urge to stomp my foot! “Come on, you need to cool off before you drive me anywhere, I’m afraid to let you behind the wheel when you’re all worked up,” he calls over his shoulder as he makes his way through the double doors. And I can’t help it, I stomp- it’s just a tiny one, and he doesn’t see.

“I saw that,” he says with his back to me, fucking hell he does know everything!

The car waiting for us is
not
the Maybach, far from it; this thing screams I GO FAST. It’s a Black two-door, that ought to be interesting with a cast, and I have no idea what kind of car it is until he hands me the keys. Ferrari, shit!

“Uh…first off are you
sure
you want me driving this, and second how are you going to get in that little thing?”

“Yes I’m sure Mia, I trust you with my life. And it’s bigger than you think, I’ll just push the seat back.” Staring at the little monster of a car, I hesitate at the doors of the house. “Mmm I dunno Evan, if I mess it up or anything happens I could never replace it.”

“Oh for shit’s sake Mia, get in the damn car! I told you I trust you, let’s go.” Shit, he really wants me to drive that thing. I’m sure it’s insured, and I’ve never had an accident; I can just be really careful. Ok, I’ve talked myself into it.

I help Evan move the seat back and get inside, and he props his crutches between his legs as I go around and get in. The interior is black, the car is black, and if it were night we would be invisible. I melt into the seat and look to Evan for instruction, I’ve never seen a steering wheel like this one and I have no idea how to start this thing.

“Put the key in the ignition, press the red start button for a second,” he informs me. I do and nearly jump out of my skin.

“Shit!!” The growl of the engine vibrates through my entire body; I really think I should change my mind, now!

“You’re good, it’s ok- that’s how it sounds, baby,” he says, attempting to sooth me. “Now before anything else, seatbelt.” Ok check, fucking seatbelt. I don’t wanna do this. “Now look at the steering wheel Mia, all of the controls are on it, everything you need is at your fingertips. Adjust the seat, it’s set for me and you’re too far away. Ok now most importantly be very gentle on the gas pedal;  it’s extremely sensitive.” No, no, no, no…. this isn’t good! Why, why did I wear heels today? Death gripping the wheel, I ever so gently put my toes on the gas and thankfully we move out of the driveway without dying. “See, you’re a natural.” He smiles broadly at me and strokes the arm closest to him. “Don’t touch me, I’m totally freaked out right now, this car is a monster!!” I yell at him. “Ok, ok baby, I’m over here, you’re over there, do your thing. You know the way to Dominus don’t you?”

“Yes,” I answer.

“Ok then let’s go to work,” he says, way too comfortably, like I was driving a minivan or something. I’m a mess of nerves, checking mirrors incessantly, and my leg aches from the effort of keeping my toes on the pedal so gently, I really, really just want to get there.

I pull into the parking lot at Dominus and realize that after getting used to it, I actually enjoyed driving the monster Ferrari. It’s still too much power for my taste; I can’t wait for Evan to get that damned cast off his leg so he can drive. He directs me to his spot and we go in through the back again, to his office. It’s quiet this morning, I’m not even sure anyone is here yet.

“Anybody else come in this early?”

“I think it’s just us, cook will be here shortly though, he likes to get things going and organized before anyone else arrives and gets in his way.”

“Cook, as in the chef?”

“Yes, I’m the only one that calls him that anymore I guess. He’s been with me since the beginning, he demands respect in the kitchen. He’s the executive chef, everyone else calls him Mr. Benassi.”

“How long are we going to be here?”

“A couple of hours, you brought your iPad didn’t you?” Duh, yea I did. I don’t leave home without it, but I’m not really in the mood to sit around and read all morning, I really need to go to the gym. I wish I had thought to bring a change of clothes; I could take myself to go burn off some steam and come back when he was done. No way am I driving that car alone though, so reading it is.

“Yea, I can read, or buy shoes.” Now that sounds much better, shoes are my weakness. I think I’ll look up lingerie while I’m at it, that’s something I can surprise him with, maybe a little payback for the flowers…and that teddy bear. I’m still not sure about that thing; it’s on that weighted down
Shit I’ll think about later
shelf too. Maybe I’ll go through some of those today while I wait-  no never mind, I’d rather online shop.

“We’re going shopping later, don’t forget,” He says, entering his office and arranging himself behind the mammoth desk. After helping him I retire to my couch.

“So are you saying I shouldn’t buy shoes?” I tease.

“No, you can buy all the shoes you want, you have excellent taste in shoes. I love those.” He nods toward my feet.  Hmm, he likes my shoes, I wonder how much he knows about women’s shoes, I’m not going to ask, I might not like the answer. I have to leave him alone; he needs to get his work done so we can get out of here.

“Thank you.” I smile, pull out my iPad and commence shopping. A couple of pairs of shoes and some extremely hot lingerie purchases later, I’ve only killed an hour and I’m bored. I could read a book but I have the urge to talk to Lily, maybe I could go outside in the car and sit to talk to her so I don’t bother Evan. I look up to ask him for the keys to the car and he’s leaning back in his chair one elbow bent on the arm rest chin on his hand head back regarding me with those uniquely green eyes. Sex radiates from every pore on his body and a quiver runs up my spine.

“You’re not getting any work done.”

“Mmm, no I am not. I underestimated the power of your presence, I thought I could work with you by my side.”

“Oh I’m distracting you am I?” I sass and he nods his head in affirmation.

“You’re so damned beautiful. I’ve done nothing in my life, ever, to be worthy of you.” Oh, I thought we were messing around again and he’s serious, and wrong.

“Don’t say that,” I say, almost inaudibly. He frowns at me.

“Why, it’s true?”

“Because I’m damaged Evan, unfixable.”

“Come here.” I cross the room and curl up in his lap, tucking my head under his chin like a child, as he wraps his arms around me and strokes my arm up and down. “You. Are. Not. Damaged. Do you understand me? Seriously, I cannot believe you just said that, if anyone is damaged in this relationship it’s me. And you aren’t unfixable, because you’re not broken. Sound familiar?” His arms tighten and he kisses the top of my head.

“Yea,” I murmur.

“Ok then, and I’m always right, and I always get what I want, I say you’re not damaged and I say I want you, so there you have it.” Ending his pep talk with a gentle slap to my still-tender butt, he thrusts his hips up, encouraging me to stand.

“Can I have the keys to the car? I want to call Lily but I don’t want to disturb you.”

“On the desk.” He juts his chin in the direction of the keys. “Don’t drive it without me though,” he warns.

“Duh, no way, you don’t ever have to worry about that.” He chuckles and I grab my coat to go outside. It’s so damn cold; I’ll start the car and get the heat going. Ok, key in the ignition, press the red button, the car roars to life! Fuck! I almost wet myself! Now how to run the radio, yea that only takes five  minutes to figure out! Fix you by Coldplay drifts from the speakers and I think of Evan, and I think of myself; we could both use some fixing.  After a few minutes of carefully looking at the controls I figure out the heat and take out my phone to call Lilly.

“Hey! Damn woman, bout time you decided to call me back!” Lilly yells when she answers and I pull the phone away from my ear slightly.

“Sorry, I’ve been busy.”

“Uh yea…I’ll bet you have been. Busy getting it on with that hunk of a man you’re working for!” God, she always just says what she thinks, zero filtering, but she’s right, that’s what I’ve been up to.

“About that, I’m going to tell him tonight I can’t work for him anymore, I have to go back to the hospital.”

“What for girl? He’s paying you three times your salary and the set up sounds pretty sweet to me, why would you wanna go and ruin a great gig?”

“It’s just wrong, it
feels
wrong to be there not doing anything I’m getting paid for. I pass him the occasional sleeping pill and prop his leg up here and there but I’m just not
doing
anything,” I answer with frustration before adding. “And…. we’re sleeping together…taking money from him feels like I’m a whore.” “

Ah shit, you’re sleeping together, I knew it!” Leave it to Lily to pick that part of the conversation to concentrate on. “So how’s the sex? Is he a machine like I said? I know he is, with a body like that he has to be. And you have to explain how you maneuver that cast, I so
knew
you were up to something!”

“Lilly, I need help here, listen to me, you’re not listening to me!”

“Sorry, sorry, I am to listening to you, listening to you talk stupid. What’s the difference between being married and him paying you to give him pills and prop pillows, it’s all, relationship shit, give and take woman, you know?” “Married? How about a marriage certificate?” What the hell is she talking about? “You’re not a whore Mia, shit you’re the furthest thing from a whore I’ve ever known. He
wants
you there, so he’s using the nurse thing as an excuse to keep you for himself, like
all
for himself. And ya know… whatever…. if you get along and he’s treating you nice why go work somewhere else?”

It’s then that I realize that Lilly advise isn’t exactly what I needed, she’s all about money and the sex. I need to work, take care of someone in a fulfilling way, so that I know I’m making a difference, helping someone recover. It’s what pulled me through the hardest time of my life, helping others healed me.