Don't Forget Me (22 page)

Donn leant against the desk as his assistant waited for orders.

“Nancy, give me the NDA document,” he ordered in a cold tone.

“The standard one, sir?” asked the assistant. Donn frowned and nodded dryly. The girl immediately set about printing the document and handed it to him, and, for a brief moment, looking at him with a spark of hope.

Donn ignored her and ran his eyes ran down the sheet. He raised an eyebrow with an icy glare in his eyes.

Stella furrowed her brows, puzzled, and looked at him with an air of caution.

“What is it?” she asked anxiously.

“It’s a non-disclosure agreement,” Donn explained, turning towards her and passing the document to her.

“If you sign it, Stella, you won’t be able to disclose anything about what happens today in my office. Are you still sure you want to come in?” He pointed towards the door at the end of the hall with a slight nod.

“What is it that I mustn’t disclose?”

“Nothing you don’t want to do, angel.” He drew closer, his breath on her ear. She drank in his perfume. They looked each other in the eyes wordlessly, motionlessly. Donn was the first to react.

“Sign it, Stella, agree to be mine.” He caressed her ear with a kiss. It seemed an order, but it sounded more like a prayer and she, attracted like a moth to the flame, signed at the foot of the first page while continuing to look him in the eyes, neither hesitating nor contradicting him.

“Sign the other page, too, angel,” he whispered seductively in her ear. Stella obeyed, captivated by the warm, persuasive sound of his voice.

Nancy took back the signed document and filed it, while Donn gave Stella a reassuring smile.

“Can I take your coat now?” he asked her softly. Stella was about to remove it, but Donn slid the coat gently off her shoulders and took it from her. He handed it to Nancy, who walked around the desk to hang it in the wardrobe. Then he led Stella into his office, turning to look at her with darkening eyes and a sweetly perverse expression on his face.

Sensations in the Dark

H
e directed her
over the threshold and, once inside, pulled her to him, planting delicate kisses on her shoulder as they stood in the space between the dark shadows of the room and the light of the reception area. It was one o’clock in the afternoon, but the office was immersed in darkness. Donn closed the door behind him and pushed Stella forward a few steps before releasing his hold on her. The girl felt the darkness close in around her and she could no longer sense Donn’s presence. She stood still, hesitating, not wanting to move for fear of bumping into something. Her breath quickened and she moved back a step, and then stretched out her hands to feel him, but her fingers closed on air. It was an exciting feeling, but at the same time she was getting increasingly anxious. Silence surrounded her and she could not see Donn watching her attentively, his eyes penetrating the darkness of the room. He longed to taste her blood. He could also feel that Stella wanted him and desired nothing more than to feel his mouth on hers.

“Donn…” she called, her voice fretful and hesitant, an unbearable shyness suddenly overcoming her. Two hands loving grabbed her arms suddenly and she felt an icy breath on her lips. Donn was in front of her. She sighed, wondering which direction his hands would take.

“So you no longer trust me, angel?” Donn reprimanded her in a murmur, his voice hoarse and stern.

“Your hands would have found me had you taken a step forward instead of back.” Donn felt her come closer to him, he drew her hands to his face, to let her feel the smile on his lips. He rubbed his nose against hers.

“You smell so good.” He kissed her ear, and his hands went up to her breasts, squeezing them through her dress. He brushed one nipple with his fingers and then he moved to the other. She gasped and moved, trying to anticipate his touch. She was blushing, but she wanted his hands on her, all over her. She brushed his neck with her nose.

“Oh, please,” she begged him, and she felt his body adhere to hers. She let out a deep sigh and felt her body tremor.

“Just ask, baby.” His voice dropped to a whisper. He ran his hands down her inner thighs and back up the outside to grasp her, his fingers digging into the flesh of her behind. A groan escaped her lips and he tightened his grasp. Stella chewed her lip and tilted her head to the side to offer him her neck.

“You’re biting your lip, Stella, you know what that does to me…” He began to suck on the skin of her neck, more and more until he sank his fangs into her, while his hand held the back of her neck. Stella gasped in pleasurable pain and Donn moaned as he felt her blood flow down his throat. It was so good, so exhilarating. It was a struggle to break away from her sweet nectar.

“What are you doing to me, angel?” he whispered breathlessly in her ear. He licked the drops of blood oozing from her neck and relished the intense flavor.

“What aren’t you doing to me?” Stella gasped, panting. She could not see him, but could only feel his whisper, his breath, his touch. She was eager to feel his lips kissing hers again. She was excited and aroused to know that she had such an erotic effect on him. It made her feel powerful and desirable.

“You’re always challenging me, aren’t you, baby?” He sunk his fangs into her neck again and bit her mercilessly. Stella groaned in pain, though it excited her. Donn kissed her on the mouth, his tongue absorbing her sighs.

“It could be dangerous…” he continued, brushing her hair to one side and moving down her neck with his nose, inhaling her scent. He licked her shoulder and moved back up to her lips, kissing her again.

“I want to experience the darkness with you, but in the end I promise you light.” He picked her up gently in his arms, and walked through his office in the pitch darkness.

“You promise?” She felt him hesitate and kiss her on the lips, one hand holding her neck. She stifled a sigh of pleasure.

“Yes, little girl, trust me.” He sat her down on the cold metal shelf of a drinks cabinet. Their bodies fit into each other perfectly. He lifted her dress up over her thighs and pulled down her panties.

“Oh, Miss Whitely, do you have any idea how much I want you?” He ran his fingers through her hair without detaching his lips from her mouth. Then he reached into his pocket, unzipped his pants and slipped a condom on that he had removed from his wallet. He spread her legs with his hands and pulled her to him, causing her buttocks to rub against the hard metal surface of the cabinet.

“You don’t know how much I want you too,” Stella sighed to herself. She pulled his hair back roughly and kissed him deeply. Donn felt her excitement, and slowly penetrated her. Stella gasped as he entered her and clutched his arms; he was turned on by her muffled groan in his ear. He closed his eyes and thrust between her thighs, at the same time sucking more blood from the bite marks he had made. Stella winced and moaned as she slumped forward, leaning on his forehead.

“You’re delicious, Stella.” Donn pulled out of her, his withdrawal causing her to move her hips forward, eager for more. He kissed her again and thrust harder and deeper inside of her. Stella closed her eyes, tilted her neck back and gasped with each movement, enjoying the sensation of being filled with his hardness. At the moment of climax, Donn pushed her dress strap off her shoulder with his mouth and bit down hard on her skin. Before she was able to utter a cry of sweet pain, he accelerated his hip movements and she succumbed to an intense, lacerating orgasm, her body overcome by pulsating shudders. He sucked her blood and held her tighter, clinging to her back. He released his grip on her shoulder and called out her name, as he too began to tremble. He sank deep into her once more, burying his head in the hollow of her neck.

“My little angel,” he panted in her ear. He gently planted a kiss on her forehead, and then pulled slowly out of her. He took off the condom and threw it into the trashcan under his desk. He zipped his pants, and pulled her panties up to her mid-thigh. Then he lowered her off the cabinet and helped her adjust her clothes. He dampened a cloth and wiped it over her bites, covering them with her hair. He released his hold on her and took two steps back.

“Donn?” whimpered Stella, but he did not answer. She could not see anything and could no longer feel his hands on her. She felt lost. She took a step forward, her hands outstretched, but still could not feel him. She felt panic grip her, but then remembering what Donn had said, instead of backing away, she took another step forward and found his waiting arms.

“Good girl.” His lips bent into a slow smile, then he led her across the room, stopping in front of the black curtains that covered the windows of the office, completely shutting out every glimmer of light. With one hand, he took a small remote control out of his pocket and with the other he brought her forefinger to one of its buttons, pressed it with her and enveloped her in his arms.

The Penthouse

S
tella watched in
wonderment as the light cascaded into the darkness of the room, marveling at the breathtaking ocean view that appeared in front of her. Donn kissed her hair and inhaled deeply, his eyes fixed on her.

“Wow, Donn, it’s wonderful,” Stella sighed, turning towards him. His eyes softened. They were cold and blue as the sky. His face was half in shade and half lit up by the daylight streaming in, making him seem like the perfect amalgam of a shadowy vampire and a gentleman from yesteryear. When the curtains opened completely, the full light illuminated him in all his beauty.

“Take a look at the view?” he said softly.

“I prefer the view when I look into your eyes,” she replied after stealing a quick kiss. Donn’s gaze darkened instantly. His face became grim and impassive, his jaw clenched.

“Even now?” he murmured, stroking her back.

“Always, they’re beautiful,” she said, completely lost in him. Donn looked puzzled, and his eyes narrowed watchfully.

“My eyes change color and you don’t think there’s anything wrong with me?” He moved away from her and walked over to his desk. Stella turn away from watching his delicious physique, and looked around. The office was huge, much too big for one man.

It was a penthouse, airy and elegantly furnished in dark tones, but as cold and unwelcoming as the rest of the building. They were in a large white room. In the middle were two L-shaped sofas, made of white leather, facing each other, separated by a coffee table made of glass and ebony, the same materials as the imposing desk, in the center. A colossal black carpet stretched from the sofas to the armchairs in front of the desk. On the left was the bar for serving drinks and double doors made of impenetrable steel. Burning with curiosity, she wondered where they led. She shivered from the cold as she walked around the room, following the window, before coming to a wide doorway at the end of the room. In the next room was a large rectangular table of the same ebony surrounded by thirteen chairs. Her heels echoed on the marble floor and Donn watched her walk around his office, burning with desire for her.

“Which one is your chair?” Stella asked, turning to him. He had taken off his sports jacket and unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt.

“This is my office, Stella. My chair is at the head of the table.” Donn walked over to the bar; this time Stella was the one to admire his casual elegance. She too struggled to keep her desire for him in check, and he looked over at her sensually, sensing her feelings.

“It’s cold,” she thought. Donn took the small remote control from his pocket and turned on the hot air. Stella curled her lips into a smile and went over to him.

“Thanks, that’s better.” She leaned against his chest and hugged him, grateful for his thoughtful gesture, but he remained controlled and expressionless, not laying a finger on her.

“Don’t thank me, Stella. It’s my duty to take care of your needs.” He turned his eyes to her, his tone serious and his expression unreadable. Stella moved her lips nearer to his mouth. Donn noticed, but ignored the gesture, saying casually, “I’m having a drink, would you like one too?” Stella raised her eyebrows and looked at him, puzzled that he would offer her a drink after having seen how alcohol had affected her the night before. However, she found herself nodding.

“What would you like?” he asked politely.

“Whatever you’re having,” she replied in a low voice. Her heart was pounding.

Donn smirked at her: “I know you like risks, but it’s a real gamble to drink what I drink. I’m a vampire.”

He smiled again and then said, “Would you like a glass of good red wine?” He took a bottle from the wine cooler under the counter of the bar.

“That’d be great.” Donn opened it effortlessly and poured a little wine in a glass. As she reached him, he had already filled another with liquid of the same color. He closed his eyes and inhaled her scent. His linen shirt was imbued with her perfume.

“What a beautiful shirt…” she gasped, feeling her body heat up at the memory of the evening she had spent with him in the library and the morning he had driven her to university. On both occasions he had worn that shirt.

“It’s my favorite just lately,” Donn confessed. Stella blushed and Donn walked away toward the sofa, a glass in each hand. He put one down on the coffee table and motioned to her to sit. His eyes were clouded with desire as she perched on the armrest of the sofa. He stayed on his feet and looked down at her from above, his expression serious and attentive.

Her eyes were attracted like magnets to his mouth, and she bit her lip.

“I’d like to be the one biting those luscious lips,” he said warmly. His face softened. He noticed she was pale; he had taken quite a bit of her blood.

“Are you hungry?”

“Famished.”

“I’ll take you out to eat.”

“I don’t want to eat. I’m famished for you,” she admitted. He looked at her warningly, though not too severely.

“You’re a very demanding girl, Miss Whitely. I’m hungry for you too, but first you have to eat, keep your strength up.” His breath quickened as he looked down at her. Someone knocked at the door, and Donn turned to see who it was.

He maneuvered his way gracefully around the coffee table and the other sofa. Stella watched as he opened the door and disappeared outside, closing it behind him. She heard a low, indistinct murmur, and realized that the person talking to him was a man. She also made out the voice of Nancy.

“Yes, Mr. Brooks, I’ll go right away,” was all she heard as Donn returned to the room.

“I know you met one of my managers down in the lobby,” he said, his eyes piercing. His jaw tensed, betraying the detached expression he was trying to maintain.

Stella nodded.

“He told me you had a rather spectacular fall!” he burst out, not managing to hold back his smirk.

“Shit! He found out,” she thought, embarrassed.

“You can’t hide anything from me, Stella, especially here.” His body shook with mirth. He looked at her, and continued, “I also know that he told you about the company’s reception…”

“So why not invite me?” She watched as Donn approached her, and she trembled with how much she wanted to be touched by his hands.

“You’re a very impatient little girl, Miss Whitely.” He held back a slight, wry smile. His eyes darkened, and his voice became soft and smooth: “I guess I’ll have to invite you, otherwise someone else might do it.” He sat next to her and sipped from the glass he held in his hand.

“What is it?” she asked, looking at the red liquid, wondering half repulsed, half curious, if it was blood.

“What do you think?” He looked at her, amused, and dramatically took another sip.

“You know…” she said hesitantly.

Donn stared into her eyes, suddenly expressionless, swirling the liquid around his glass.

“Another mood swing, it’s hard to keep up,” Stella thought.

“Baby, you have no idea,” Donn said to her. He took a sip from his glass and moved his mouth slowly toward her lips. He bent to kiss her and let the liquid fall from his mouth into hers. It was just red wine. He sucked the flavor on her lips and licked the drop that slid from the corner of her mouth down her chin. Donn’s lips were cold, the wine just as cool. It was obviously a fine vintage, but the thought that it had been in his mouth made it even more sublime.

“Again,” said Stella, her lips stained red. She ran her tongue over her lower lip and then pulled it into her mouth with her teeth. Donn look at her, disapproving but slightly excited, and then took another sip, leaned over her, and made her drink it from his lips.

“More wine?” he asked her persuasively.

She nodded and Donn gave her a little more from his mouth.

“I see that you like it, angel.” He stared at her, his eyes burning with desire.

“I just like the taste of your lips,” she said. Donn reached over to the table and dipped his fingers into a glass of iced water that was sitting there. He picked up an ice cube, cold as his hand, sucked on it, then ran it over her lips. He moved it down her neck into the hollow at the base so that the feel of the ice and the texture of his fingers would drive her crazy. She gasped and her lips quivered.

Someone knocked on the door again, and his hand dropped the sliver of ice intentionally between her breasts. Stella jumped and let out a little cry, as Donn continued to stare at her with piercing eyes, downing the last drop of wine in the glass.

“I’d give anything to know what he’s thinking right now…” Stella thought to herself as Donn rested his empty wine glass on the table and gave Nancy permission to come in, never once taking his eyes from Stella’s face.

“I wonder how he knew it was her at the door?” Stella thought, and Donn gave her a small smile.

“Mr. Brooks, I brought what you requested,” Nancy called from the door.

“Bring it in here,” Donn ordered. Stella tore her eyes away from him and noticed that the assistant was holding a black tray. Nancy tried to avoid eye contact with Donn, her eyes flicking from left to right. She was attracted to him and realized that he knew it.

“She probably doesn’t like to be ignored,” Stella thought to herself. Donn read her thoughts, but gave no sign if not a brief narrowing of his eyes.

“I’ve taken the liberty of ordering you something to eat, I hope you don’t mind. You have to regain your strength, Stella. I want you in good shape.” He looked at her affectionately while Nancy put the tray, which held a plate of steamed rice and shrimp, on the table.

“Thank you, you shouldn’t have,” Stella murmured, ill at ease. Then she picked up the fork and tasted a shrimp with a little rice.

“It is to your liking?” Donn asked her, his voice soothing.

“Yes, but is it all for me?” Stella was a bit uncomfortable at being taken care of this way.

“Sure.”

“Really, I’m not very hungry,” she said with a shrug.

“You have to eat something, Stella.” His expression hardened, and Stella quickly shoveled a little more rice into her mouth.

“That’s better,” Donn said soothingly. He smiled indulgently at her and then asked Nancy, “Anything else?”

“Yes, sir. Buckley is on the line and Debra wants to see you.”

“Alright, pass me Buckley and tell Debra that I’ll be with her later in the afternoon.”

“Mayers called this morning while you were in the meeting. He’s wondering when he can speak with you about the start-up in Nigeria,” she continued, as she walked over to the desk to bring him the phone.

Stella looked at Donn, her eyes wide.

“He responded to my stupid messages this morning instead of answering a work call?”
She was stunned. Donn continued barking out orders to his assistant.

“Tell Mayer to call me tomorrow morning on my cell, and set up a meeting with Rooney for Tuesday. Move my brainstorming meeting at three to Wednesday at the same time.” Stella’s eyes widened as she heard the name of the man who was going to interview her for an internship in three weeks, but she regained her composure immediately so that Donn would not notice.

“Ok. Do you want the minutes about this morning’s meeting?” Nancy handed him the phone, leaving the call on hold, and took some notes on her tablet, which she had taken from the pocket of her impeccable blue suit.

“Put Jameson on the calendar for Monday, before the meeting with Russell and his team.”

“Sure, Mr Brooks,” reported Nancy.

“And find me a moment to speak with Graham tomorrow or Monday at the latest.” He wanted to reassure Consul Bristol and tell him that the girl would definitely be at the conference organized in honor of the election of the new Conservative member of the Council at Madison Square Garden…

“Yes, Mr. Brooks, and Brady asked to meet with you today.”

“Carve out a few minutes tomorrow, after the meeting with Lawrence at lunch. That’ll be all.”

Donn glared at her. She made as if to leave.

“Thank goodness I don’t work for him,” thought Stella, her gaze fixed on him. Donn glanced at her, his eyes almost sparkling, and then turned back to his assistant.

“Oh, Nancy, cancel all my appointments for this afternoon, and don’t put any more calls through.”

“But Stewart wanted to talk to you, and the appointment with Parkson was imperative.”

“Was there something I said that you didn’t understand?” he growled impatiently.

“No, it’s perfectly clear, Mr. Brooks,” concluded Nancy, and hurried from the office.

Donn looked at Stella, his finger indicating to her that she was to give him a minute. Then he turned away to take the call he had on hold. He got up from the sofa to walk around the room.

“Brooks. No, what’s all this about? The security measures provided for in Delaware are the best in the country. When will it arrive? How many do they want? It will cost at least twice as much. Ok, let’s proceed with that. Inform Russell. How’s the job going? Is it safe?” He stopped for a second, his face darkened, and then he continued, “I don’t care. It need to be done now. I don’t allow for time extensions!” He moved toward the bar, took another glass and poured out some more wine. He turned toward Stella and motioned to her to come closer to him.