Intimate Kiss (Bend To My Will #3) (2 page)

“All the time?”

“It’s more than that,” Vivienne said, seeing that Lana wasn’t going to buy the weekend plan without more of an explanation. Yet it was difficult to clarify a situation that she didn’t fully understand. “Jacob has preferences, and that’s one thing he’s firm on. He just prefers to confine it to the weekends. It’s not that he doesn’t want to be with me.” At least, she hoped that was the case.

“That’s very eccentric, I must say.” Lana picked up the other half of her sandwich. “And a little weird.”

Vivienne wasn’t sure how to respond; she certainly couldn’t argue. “We’re going to try it.”

“It’s up to you,” Lana said. “But I can tell you really like the guy.”

“I do, a lot.” Vivienne couldn’t hide that, and sharing with her friend helped her deal with the relationship. “He’s different than any man I’ve known.”

“Maybe it comes with the territory,” Lana said. “Being incredibly handsome…and wealthy too…that’s gotta be a challenge.”

Vivienne giggled. “Now you’re teasing me.” She sipped her drink. “And what about you and Trace?”

Lana became animated. “Oh, you have no idea. I think I’m really falling for him.” She put her hand over her heart. “He’s so romantic and gentlemanly.” She beamed. “But
hot
too.”

Romantic, just what Jacob wouldn’t admit to. Instead, he didn’t seem to mind being viewed as tactless, or rude. Which he often was.

“I’m so happy for you, Lana. It sounds like he’s the right guy.”

“Between you and me, I think so.” Lana wrinkled her nose. “But don’t say anything. I’m staying cool. I don’t want to seem clingy or anything.”

“You? Never.”

They both laughed. But Vivienne knew her friend well, and it was clear she had it bad for Trace Farrington. The guy was slender and handsome, with killer blue eyes. Women would swoon for him, which made Vivienne hope that he wasn’t leading her friend on.

Vivienne couldn’t help but wonder about Jacob too. The arrangement he’d set up was convenient for him. He had the playroom, ready and waiting, with the woman of his choice ready to do his bidding. Was she really blind? Had her infatuation clouded her judgment?

But then Vivienne recalled how it felt to be with Jacob, the way he treated her, and the excitement that flooded her in his presence. He was the man for her. She was sure about that. The relationship was challenging, but that didn’t stop her from wanting Jacob as much as she wanted her next breath.

It had been a relief to confide in Lana, to have a friend to share things with. Vivienne didn’t feel so alone. The conversation had bolstered her strength, and she looked forward to seeing Jacob. Although it was disheartening that it was a nearly a week away.

Chapter 2

The flight home had been agonizing for Jacob. He’d held back, not wanting to give Vivienne the wrong impression. Disabusing her of the idea that romance wasn’t part of the deal was difficult. Holding his ground was a bit like standing in quicksand.

Jacob intended to maintain control, stick to the principles that had served him well, and with another woman it would have gone smoothly. But not with Vivienne. She did something to him, which he found unsettling.

The night before they left Provence, Jacob had held her in his arms. He had been awake for hours, smelling the scent of perfume in her hair and listening to her steady breathing. Vivienne felt good in his bed, and in his arms, so much so that he couldn’t get her out of his mind.

On the plane, Jacob directed his attention to business. Since he’d spent a couple of days with Vivienne, emails and business tasks had piled up. He would have gladly turned off his computer, blocked out the rest of the world, and taken the woman he craved to his bed.

The long flight would have been much better spent with Vivienne naked in his arms, but he forced himself to resist. She needed to acclimate to the playroom, and a sensual interlude would have encouraged her in the wrong direction. To teach her that he was in charge, Jacob had to restrict when and where sex play took place.

Vivienne would only learn that their activities were confined to the playroom if Jacob held to those terms. He couldn’t expect to train her if he wavered on the rules. Yet that didn’t stop him from wanting her, which he had for every torturous minute of the flight. Confined on a private jet with Vivienne near, feeling her warmth and smelling her feminine scent, Jacob nearly gave in.

It had been even worse when Jacob dropped her off. He’d walked Vivienne to her door, tempted to go in with her. Or better yet, cave to his powerful urges and take her home with him. But he steeled his heart and maintained what composure he could. At the last moment he’d spoken her name, nearly giving in.

Vivienne had sensed it, and fallen into his arms one more time. There in the hallway, Jacob had almost scooped her up and carried her back to the car. Now he wondered if that wouldn’t have been the best thing to do.

Jacob got in late, and when he entered the penthouse it was too quiet. Emptiness greeted him, allowing gloom to settle in. A shot of whiskey did little to improve his mood. Alone in his bed, darkness consumed him from the inside, and he was unable to block it out.

During a fitful sleep, the horrific dreams he often experienced returned. Jacob tossed and turned, waking in a sweat. Fleeting images, a kaleidoscope of memories from the past, lingered. And a familiar bark of a voice sounded, as if from inside his head:
Come here right now, Jacob
.

With his heart pounding, Jacob reached for the light. Yet even in the brightness, the feelings refused to go. After pacing the floor, clawing his way back to reality, Jacob attempted sleep once again. Alone, and in the dark, he thought of Vivienne.

The night he’d held her, Jacob had slept, dreamless and peaceful. Vivienne was a comfort, yet he dared not allow himself that luxury. He had to be strong, guide her, and teach her. And keep her away from the darkness.

After a few more hours of sleep, Jacob woke to the sun on his window, and immediately got out of bed. A cup of espresso got his blood pumping, then he dressed for jogging. A long run would invigorate him, and give him a chance to refocus on business.

Outdoors, the sun was warm and the sky exceptionally blue. Jacob took a deep breath and started on one of his usual routes. As he ran, his muscles came to life, and within several blocks he was breathing hard. It was a day for a challenging run, not a light jog.

The path through Central Park was populated with walkers, joggers, and sightseers. Jacob stayed near the edge of the grass, not slowing his pace until he was ready to turn and go back. While catching his breath, he looked at the vibrant green of the trees around him.

All year round, when the weather allowed, Jacob found the park a welcome respite from urban life. But in springtime, it really sparkled. By mid-March, flowers poked up between the leaves and tree roots, and not long after, the area erupted in a fragrant display of flowering pastels. By mid-April, the landscape was painted with cherry blossoms and magnolia flowers, signaling springtime.

Jacob had jogged to Lilac Walk, one of the lesser-known pathways in the park. It was filled with purple, pink, and white lilac blossoms, the intense fragrance intoxicating. The scent enveloped Jacob, reminding him of Vivienne, and the first time she’d walked past him at the party.

It seemed like such a long time before Jacob would see her again, the days feeling more like months. And it was his fault. But with the playroom out of reach until late in the week, Jacob needed to get his mind off Vivienne and back on business. It wasn’t smart to let his sexual urges distract him.

On the way back, Jacob grabbed an iced coffee at a place he frequented. The establishment was in a brick building with a nice view of the park. He’d eat later, after showering, but the caffeine provided an energy boost.

Standing at the edge of the patio, sipping his coffee, Jacob spotted a guy he knew. But he wasn’t too keen on striking up a conversation. Daniel Kenyon was the general manager at Williamson Imports. As far as Jacob could tell, he had no fondness for Rinaldi Imports, even though they were in the same business.

Glancing his way, Jacob noticed that his competitor was already dressed for work. His short, dark hair, thick eyebrows, and facial scruff gave him a rough look. He could have been a handsome fellow, but his lips were overly large for his face. Although dressed in a suit, Daniel didn’t exude class. Jacob had the sense that he was trying to measure up, always trying to best the other guy, which grew irritating.

Daniel noticed him and, without a smile, held up his hand in greeting. He walked over, yet he might not have. Daniel Kenyon didn’t have much concern for politeness unless he was wooing a new account. “Jacob,” he said, with no friendliness in his tone.

“Hi, Dan. I didn’t expect to run into you here.”

After looking Jacob over, disdain evident in his expression, Dan said, “I’m meeting someone.”

Sweaty and still jet-lagged, Jacob was in no mood to get into it with the guy. Daniel’s sharp gaze and angry countenance did not encourage friendly discourse. Although Jacob didn’t know him well, he had heard the guy had issues. He was a college dropout, which wouldn’t have mattered, but he had been in some kind of trouble.

Jacob hadn’t been interested enough to learn the details, and wasn’t one to gossip. But he couldn’t avoid hearing the rumor that Daniel’s family had disowned him after some scandal. The guy struck him as untrustworthy, and he gave the impression of trying to prove something.

Looking away from Daniel’s cold blue eyes, Jacob took another sip of his coffee. “Hope your meeting goes well,” he said, and started walking away. “I have to get back and get showered up.” Without further acknowledgement, Dan went into the coffee shop, so Jacob headed home.

*****

From his office on the thirtieth floor, Jacob had a view of Park Avenue, but he rarely had the opportunity to gaze out the window. The office design was upscale and modern. He’d had it designed to look comfortable as opposed to stark.

The entry had wood flooring, and the main room was done in light gray tile. Jacob’s desk was teak, and the wall behind it was tastefully wallpapered. It wasn’t exactly like home, but it didn’t have the pristine look that some offices had.

While Jacob was going over some paperwork, Megan Giroux knocked then entered. His assistant was efficient, and that was what he liked about her. It was important to be able to depend on his staff. She had auburn hair and pale gray eyes. Although she was young and attractive, she wasn’t Jacob’s type, which was just as well. It wasn’t prudent to sleep with your secretary, despite what the movies portrayed.

“I have the report you asked for,” Meg said.

“Oh, good. Set it here.” Jacob patted the desk, barely looking up. He had a meeting in a few minutes and needed to get up to speed. A situation that concerned him had come up while he was away.

Jacob took a few more minutes reviewing the information available, then went to the conference room to join the meeting. The room had plenty of windows offering a view of the city, and was decorated in a similar style to his office.

Two of his staff sat at the long table, riffling through papers and making some notes. Zach Martel, the company president who answered directly to Jacob, had been with Rinaldi since shortly after Jacob had taken the reins. He was a native New Yorker who began his career in wine right out of college.

Zach knew the industry from top to bottom, having been employed in upscale restaurants, then managing a wine shop on the Lower East Side before working his way up. The graying hair at his temples was evidence that he’d been around for a while. But the fact that Jacob was younger than he was did not affect their mutual respect.

The other man was Grayson Landon, the general manager. He was originally from Canada, and had worked for another wine importer before Jacob recruited him. The sharp associate had a talent for developing brands, and Jacob was grateful for his loyalty. He was twenty-five, the same age as Jacob. Their birthdays fell in the same month, which contributed to the rapport they had for each other. But beyond that was their shared passion for the wine industry.

Jacob nodded at his staff, then, taking his position as CEO, sat at the head of the table. He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the polished surface. “Zach…Grayson. Let’s get started.” He poured a glass of water from a pitcher on the tray in front of him.

“Shall I fill you in?” Zach said.

“I’ve read the reports,” Jacob said. “But detail it for me. I prefer to hear your take on it.”

Zach sat up a little straighter, his tone now all business. “While you were away, some issues arose.”

Jacob looked at his president. “Yes, and you were right to call me immediately.”

“Although there is no shortage of good wine available worldwide, the importing business has become more challenging. That’s not new,” Zach said. “But since retailers can now have wine shipped directly, it puts the importer or middleman in jeopardy.”

“Importers are being squeezed in all sorts of ways, but I believe we have proven our worth by adding value to the supply chain,” Jacob said, proud of his company’s achievement in that regard.

Grayson jumped in. “We are one of the best at ferreting out less well-known vintners. Without us, there would be fewer new discoveries for wine lovers to enjoy. They wouldn’t be even aware of them, or have access to those wines.”

“True,” Zach said, “and we have a good reputation for delivering such gems. But we are facing a new challenge.” Looking at Jacob, he said, “It seems that the competition is actively working to undermine our efforts.”

Jacob frowned. “And this is the first you knew of it?”

“In this way…yes.” Grayson rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ve been told by a number of our distributors that there is an active campaign for them to buy direct. The industry has been going that way. But to have so many of the companies we’ve dealt with for years swaying that way is…well…alarming.”

Jacob tensed. “So you think one of our competitors intends to turn our distributors away from us?”

“Yes, I think it’s deliberate, which you saw in my notes.” Zach glanced over at Grayson, who didn’t offer anything additional.

“Have you given all of this data to Walsh?”

“I have, and he has his team investigating it,” Grayson said. “But I don’t have anything yet.”

Jacob relied on Stephen Walsh. The guy was a pro. If anyone could uncover who was behind the sabotage of their profits, he could. “That’s all for now. I’ll meet with Walsh later and see what he’s got so far. This situation takes priority. We can’t allow the competition to ruin our relationship with distributors.”

Zach nodded. “Agreed.”

“I’ll keep a tight rein on the daily operations, and inform you of anything out of the ordinary,” Grayson said.

That concluded the meeting, but the fight with the enemy had just begun. In wine circles, importing was considered a glamorous pursuit, nearly as exalted as winemaking. That was because importers had played a central role in the growth of the American wine culture, which was important to Jacob.

He had taken over Rinaldi Imports from his father, and Vico had inherited the company from his father. Jacob wasn’t about to let some dishonest competitor ruin what his grandfather had built. Plus, when situations arose, Jacob had learned it was often due to one bad seed.

He was pretty sure one of his competitors wouldn’t resort to underhanded tricks. It was more likely
one man
, someone with grievances who intended to bring others down, or had some other vendetta. But he wouldn’t succeed, because Jacob would find out who he was. And then Jacob would bring
him
down.