Opulence (8 page)

"Yeah, I have to get home," I said, refusing to look at him. The truth was, I had absolutely nothing to do, but he didn’t need to know that. When I felt strong enough to see him naked without dropping to my knees and thanking him for the weekend with my tongue, I kissed him goodbye. He insisted I wait until he dressed so he could walk me to the door.

"I had fun," I said, kissing him slowly and pulling away with a smile.

"Me too," he smiled. "Talk soon, naughty girl."

"Bye," I rasped out, finding my trusted driver right where he should be. I smiled at Carson and turned back to smile at Aiden, who was looking at me from the door. I sat back in the limo, laughing at my clothes.

"I was getting worried," Carson said. I was touched at his concern.

"Sorry, Carson, I should have texted."

"It’s alright if you’re alright, Miss."

I smiled broadly at him in the rearview mirror. "Never better."

"G
ood Morning," Taylor chimed on the phone.

"Sure is," I replied happily. Her sudden pause on the phone made me giggle.

"Well, someone had a good weekend," she said, not hiding her surprise. Had I really been that dreadful lately?

"I did," I agreed, stretching in my bed as I put her on speaker and walked to my closet.

"I have a few things to discuss with you. Do you have a few minutes?"

"I’m coming in today," I said, feeling guilty for having been so absent. "I’ll be there in an hour. Can it wait until then?"

"Sure. The most pressing is an offer on one of your properties. The Garrison firm said they have been pushing for a quick sale."

"Really?" I asked, intrigued. "Send me the outline and I’ll see you shortly."

"Sure thing," she said then hung up. I stood in my closet in a daze, still deliciously sore from the exertion of this weekend. Aiden and I had spent hours familiarizing ourselves with each other’s bodies. He hadn’t pressed me further about anything personal, and I realized I hadn’t asked much about him at all. I didn’t even know the man’s last name.

I stood, surrounded by the world’s most accomplished designers, as I thought of how he’d kissed me, roamed my body with his touch, and promised to worship it as long as I let him.

My phone vibrated as I settled on a Donna Karen sheath dress and smart shoes. I looked to see the object of my intrigue was thinking about me too.

Aiden:
Before you go rule the world today, just know I meant what I said. I want to rule your body.

Nina:
Well I have to admit your résumé is impressive.

I carried out the quick task of a shower and couldn’t help but to glance at my phone after I dressed. He was already getting under my skin. His hands and mouth lingered on me deliciously.

Aiden:
I’ll see you soon, naughty girl.

He was both a sensitive and extremely dominant lover. I marveled at that thought alone. I spent the entirety of my time at my vanity, makeup in hand, thinking about his perfect cock and how amazing it felt to be completely full of him.

I wanted more.

On the way to my office downtown, I opened the email listing the properties Scott Solutions held. I scrolled through them, familiar with most of the addresses. I opened a new email and saw the address I had an offer on was in Savannah. Puzzled, I looked at the list Taylor had originally sent me. All of the addresses were in or around the Charleston area. I walked into work and greeted Taylor, who followed me into my office. She looked flawless in a pinstriped pencil skirt and white blouse, her hair perfectly combed into a sleek ponytail.

"This property has an offer?" I said, pulling it up to get a better look on my monitor.

"Two now, actually. I researched it some and it looks like it’s never been developed." She looked at me just as puzzled. I scrutinized the picture and saw it was basically a riverfront patch of grass with a small shed that sat under an old Spanish moss covered tree.

The office phone rang and Taylor answered as she sat across from me by pressing her headset. She looked at me and rolled her eyes, and I knew instantly it was Devin. I was in far too good of a mood to have him ruin it, but Devin rarely called without a purpose.

"Good morning, Mr. McIntyre," I said as Taylor took her leave and shut the door behind her.

"Regretting your decision yet?"

"Sure am, I knew better than to pick up the phone," I said dryly.

"I need to speak with you privately," he said, as if he wasn’t alone. I could picture him now, staring out his office window in a perfectly tailored suit, ignoring some client vying for his attention.

"Sorry, I’m on my way to Savannah," I said, texting Carson to bring the car around.

There was an extremely long pause before he replied. "Oh, what’s the reason?"

"Well, apparently I own some land there and have very interested buyers. You should know all about it, right? It was your purchase?"

"It was," he replied sharply.

"Devin, what can I do for you?"

"Meet me right now. I can be at your office in twenty minutes."

I sighed into the phone before replying, "No."

"Listen to me, Nina. I need to talk to you, just wait there." His tone was urgent and demanding.

"I don’t take orders from you anymore, Devin." I hung up, not giving his silver tongue a chance to work its magic. I’d already been that fool.

There was no way in hell I was waiting for him. I gathered Taylor and minutes later we were on our way to Savannah.

"I called the realtor. She is meeting us there," Taylor said, obviously miffed at having to waste a workday accompanying me.

"Perfect," I said, pulling out my phone to answer my emails. Savannah was an hour and a half away from Charleston, and I was quite fond of the city. They were similar in origin and build, but very different in atmosphere. Savannah had always seemed a bit more mysterious to me.

Taylor and I spent the time in the car being productive. We poured over an endless list of things I had neglected in my last week. Feeling accomplished with what we’d done in the short amount of time, I let my gaze drift out the window. I saw nothing but the golden haired, amber-eyed, wet dream that was now consuming all my imagination.

A short time later, Carson announced we had arrived. When we exited the car, I was shocked at the complete understatement of the picture. We seemed to be on the outskirts of the city and the deserted plot was absolutely gorgeous. Taylor’s audible "wow" confirmed what I was thinking. The view of the Savannah River was remarkable and the land was completely untouched. The only likeness between the picture and what we were seeing was the small shed sitting underneath a live oak tree dripping with Spanish moss.

I was absolutely taken with it.

This is not for sale.

"Hello, ladies," a pretty blonde greeted as she walked toward us, hand outstretched. "Mrs. Scott?" She questioned.

"Ms.," I answered, my hand grasping hers in reply. She nodded and turned to Taylor, extending the same courtesy as Taylor addressed her. "You must be Mrs. Volz."

She nodded and shook Taylor’s hand. "Please call me Violet."

"Well, I have to say, I have been curious about this place for a while now," Violet said, surveying the land with us.

"Why is that?" I asked, intrigued.

"I have brokered the sale of this property six times in the last two years," she answered, looking directly at me. "It always sells quickly and for a decent percentage more than the previous sale. No one has ever taken residence. I’ve always been a bit curious as to why, though the commission never hurt." She winked.

"See that for sale sign?" She continued nodding over at a rusty, old and barely visible sign. "That never comes down. I see so much potential here. I’m glad to finally see someone interested in more than flipping the property for a profit."

"That’s funny you mention that," I said, turning to Taylor whose wheels were spinning. "I’ve gotten a few offers on this land in the last few days."

"Oh, well maybe I spoke out of turn," Violet said quickly.

"No, no, I think you’re absolutely right. There is something great about his place." She smiled as we walked around briefly. She technically had no property to show aside from the shed no one was interested in.

I asked Violet to lunch with the two of us in a gesture of thank you for rescheduling her day around our impromptu visit. She insisted it wasn’t a problem, but agreed to join us. I liked her instantly. Like Taylor, she seemed to have thick skin and a tell-it-like-it-is air about her.

A lunch with the two of them might have been exactly what I needed.

Four hours later, we were laughing hysterically as we emptied our fifth bottle of wine. We sat, relaxed on couches on the patio at Opal, a Greek restaurant I frequented when I visited Savannah. A glass chandelier hung between us as we sampled the wine list, filling up on rich dishes. Even Taylor’s demeanor had completely relaxed as we wasted the day away.

"Excuse me, ladies, it’s my husband." Violet excused herself, lifting her finger up, indicated she would only be a moment.

"Well, this was fun," I said, beaming as I turned to Taylor who sipped her wine while nodding in agreement.

"I like her," Taylor said. "She’s real."

I nodded as she made her way back to the table. "I’ve misbehaved. My husband is coming to pick me up," she said with a wicked smile and a wink.

"We could’ve dropped you off," I offered, noting it was time to head back to Charleston.

"Oh, I’ll be fine," she said with a smirk. I looked over at Taylor who had a brow raised at Violet. I excused myself to the restroom and checked my phone after washing my hands, finding several missed calls from Devin.

Not a chance.

He never called me this often. Maybe this time I had actually convinced him I was done. Because, for the first time, it was the truth.

When I got back to the table, Taylor and Violet were talking in whispers and stopped abruptly when I approached. I was about to inquire as to what was being withheld from me when a drop dead gorgeous man approached our table.

"Ladies," he said, his eyes fixed on Violet. She beamed up at him as Taylor caught her gaping mouth.