Promiscuous (16 page)

“It’s not funny,” I whined, a smile creeping onto my face.

“Come on. Let’s get you home. I think you’ll need to hibernate for a month after that meal.”

***

“Do you want to come in?” I asked him. We stood by my front gate, and after spending the last ten minutes making out, I wanted to move things forward.

“I have an early start tomorrow,” he said, shaking his head.

“It’s barely eight,” I replied, frowning. I knew what he was doing: he didn’t want to pressure me. But what happened when I want things to go further? Like right now?

“I have a very early start tomorrow morning.”

“Fine,” I huffed. “Well, I’m going in. Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He took my hand and placed it on his lips, kissing me softly. My anger melted away as I stared into those brown eyes.

“Don’t be angry at me because I want to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m not angry. I’m frustrated. There is a difference.”

“We don’t need to rush this, Beth. I’m not going anywhere.” He moved forward, cupping my face in his hands as he kissed me. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

I nodded and watched him leave. I stood by the gate until his car disappeared around the bend. Leaning back against the metal bars, I sighed.

How could I stay angry at the only person who’d ever had my best interests at heart?

Chapter Nineteen

Roman

"How old are you here?" I asked, smiling at the photo. The little girl was laughing, her blonde curls out of control around her round face.

She grabbed the picture from him and studied it.

"About three, I think." She smiled and leaned back against me. "The only good memories I have of Mom were when I was three or four. She used to play tea party with me. I had the cutest little plastic tea set. I loved the hell out of that thing."

We sat on the floor in the living room, going through her childhood memories. It saddened me that, good and bad, they all fit in a small shoebox. A few pictures, some childhood drawings, a small stuffed bear...that was it. A whole lifetime and that is all she had to show for it.

"Let's go out." I got to my feet and put my hands out. She laughed and took them, hoisting herself up.

"Where?" she asked.

"Ice cream."

"Why?" She laughed, shaking her head.

"Since when do you need a reason to have ice cream?"

She nodded. "Okay, let’s go then."

***

My jaw tensed when I saw the incoming number. I glanced over at Beth, who was still busy ordering ice cream.

“Hello?” I said, keeping my voice low.

“Roman. I was beginning to think you might’ve fled the country. You’re a hard man to get ahold of.”

“I’m a busy man. How can I help you?” I replied, my tone cool.

“I’m hoping you have some information for me. You do remember our deal, don’t you? If you’d rather just hand over the cash you owe me, that’s fine, too.” Yeah, right. Like I had a choice.

“I don’t know what you want me to say. I’m doing what you asked.”

“Are you? Because from what I hear, you’re doing more than what I asked of you. I hired you because I thought you were responsible enough to not hit on her, Roman. Or at least desperate enough for the cash.”

“What do you need?”

“I need information, Roman. My client is getting antsy. He is paying big bucks to know everything there is to know about this girl.”

“And how do I know this information is not going to be abused?” I retorted. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to keep my frustration under control.

“That’s really is none of your business, is it?”

“Look, I’m with her now. I have to go. I will call you later.” I hung up as Beth walked back over to me with two heavily scooped cups of ice cream.

“Everything all right?” she asked, handing me a cup.

“Yes, fine. Mint choc-chip. Good choice,” I said, changing the subject. I turned quickly, running into someone. “Sorry—” I started, looking up.
Oh, shit.

Dahlia’s mouth broke into a smile. “Roman.” Then she spotted Beth. Her eyes widened, then she turned back to me and winked. God only knows what she was thinking. Andrew stood behind Dahlia awkwardly, like he wasn’t sure whether to acknowledge me or not.

“Dahlia. Andrew.” I nodded. “This is my friend, Beth. Beth, these are some old friends of mine.”

Beth smiled and held out her hand. “Lovely to meet you,” she grinned.

“So, are you Roman’s girlfriend?” Dahlia asked, her voice curious. She looked from Beth to me. I knew exactly what she was thinking:
When are you bringing her to the club?

“Just good friends, Dahlia. We better let you two get going. You don’t want to miss your movie,” I said pointedly, praying she would take the hint.

“What…oh, yes. The movie.” She raised her eyebrows at me and led Andrew away. I sighed, my heart pounding at the close call that had been. In all my time at the club, that was the first time I had ever run into any of its members.

That had been way, way too close.

Chapter Twenty

Beth

“So, how long have you known them?”

“Not that long.”

“How did you meet?” I pressed.

Roman was quiet for a moment. “We met through other friends. We catch up once a month for dinner and a few drinks.” He hesitated. What wasn’t he telling me?

“You seem . . . I don’t know. You’re so mysterious. I feel like I never know if you’re telling me the complete truth.”

“Some things don’t need to be told, Beth.” He held my gaze and gave me a small smile.

Which only left me wondering, what wasn’t he telling me?

Chapter Twenty-One

Beth

Things were going so well. I was very slowly beginning to feel like myself again. I could almost forget what had happened if I didn’t have to see Ivan almost every day. And Roman was . . . well, Roman. What could I say? He was amazing. Things were finally going right for me.

I was expecting Roman to arrive any minute when my phone began to ring. I checked the caller ID and nearly fainted. It was Coop. Coop was calling me. My heart began to pound.

Do I answer?

I clicked answer and held the phone to my ear, frozen.

“Beth?”

I closed my eyes, his voice melting through me. God I’d missed that sound.

“Hi,” I managed. I was in shock that I’d actually answered, and I think he was too. We had been emailing for a while, and texting—but talking? This was a big step for me.

I sat down on the sofa, telling myself to breathe.

“How are you? It’s so good to hear your voice,” he said.

You too. God I’ve missed you so much.

“It’s good to hear yours too. How’s your mom?” Yes, I headed right for the safe topic. I was still paying for her treatment at the clinic. During all that had happened, it never once crossed my mind to pull the funding. I’d never do that to him.

“She’s good. Some days are better than others, but she hasn’t really gotten worse.”

“That’s great,” I said, my voice soft. I closed my eyes. My heart ached. Was I over him? No. Had I forgiven him? I was trying my damn hardest. I blinked back tears as the intercom buzzed.

Roman had arrived.

“Coop, I have to go.” I hesitated. “It was great talking to you.”

“You too, Beth. I love you.”

But not in the way I longed for you to love me.

Hanging up the phone, I buzzed Roman in and met him at the door. I nearly melted on the spot.
Does this guy get sexier every time I see him?

I took in his black pants and charcoal, pinstriped shirt, which was open at the collar. He smiled that sexy, heart-fluttering smile and I sighed. I could stare at him all day. What stuck me as surprising was how quickly Coop had escaped my thoughts.

I opened the door and walked back into the kitchen, knowing he was right behind me. This had become a pattern. He was here every night. Or I was at his place. I’d cooked extra tonight, knowing he was going to be coming over. How fucked up was that? And the fact that I was cooking? Even more fucked up, considering how bad my cooking skills were. I could burn water.

“You’re no longer surprised at me turning up. Maybe I need to switch up my game,” he joked, slipping his arms around my waist.

I turned around and reached up to kiss him. “I’m not surprised, because you do whatever you want. I don’t think anything would surprise me anymore.”

He raised an eyebrow but said nothing as he took off his jacket. Again, he was in a suit.

“What do you do, anyway?”

“Pardon?”

“For work. You’re always so nicely dressed.” Every day he was in a suit, and it had just struck me that I had no idea what he did. I suspected something boring, like tax or law.

He laughed. “There’s something wrong with a guy who always likes to look his best? You never know who’s watching, Beth.”

“I guess not.” I grimaced, thinking back on the number of times I’d dashed out of the house with no makeup and in my grungiest sweatpants. “But that didn’t answer my question.”

 “I’m a businessman.” I rolled my eyes.
Very informative
.

“Okay, but what is it you do?” Every time I broached the subject of his career, he switched the conversation into another direction. It always worked too.

He sighed, and moved toward me. Now he was making me nervous. What could be that big a deal that he couldn’t tell me?

“I own a club.”

“A club? What, like a bar?” I said, confused. That was the big deal?

He chuckled, and wiped his mouth. “Not exactly. My club is catered toward a specific clientele.” He hesitated, turning to face me. “I own an exclusive erotic establishment.”

“You mean a strip club?” I replied.

He laughed. “God no. My club is where people who are looking to fulfill a fantasy can go to meet likeminded individuals.”

“You sound like a late night TV commercial,” I muttered, stabbing at the sauce. “How long have you had this club?”

“A few years. Beth, when you’re ready, I’ll tell you everything you want to know. You want to go there? Fine, I’m more than happy to take you.” 

“Fine, dinner is ready anyway,” I announced proudly.
Although I don’t know how proud I’ll be once he tastes my cooking.

“Good, I’m ravenous. What’s on the menu?”

“We have chicken and avocado pasta, with a side of garlic bread.”

“Mmm,” he said, wrapping his arms around me. “And for dessert?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I leaned up and kissed him tenderly. “You’ll have to wait and see.”

I walked back into the kitchen, swinging my hips as I walked, well aware that he was probably checking out my ass.

“You can pour the wine this time.”

He laughed, and went to the fridge. “How is your hand?”

I held it up proudly, the wound completely healed.

“Very good,” he mumbled, reaching for my hand and kissing it. He set the bottle down and continued kissing along my arm, his dark eyes full of want. I shivered as his lips moved along my collarbone and up my neck. The way his tongue was drawing circles on my skin was making me wet.

“Dinner is going to burn,” I mumbled, his lips finding mine.

“So turn it off,” he whispered. His hands moved underneath my dress.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I kissed him, passion overtaking my hunger. The only thing I wanted right then was him.

My arm flailing behind me, I switched off the burner. He lifted me onto his hips, his mouth never breaking from mine. This was incredible. Everything about him made me feel safe…and loved. Even though we hadn’t gone there, I could feel it.

I took him by the hand to stroke the tender skin underneath my shirt, my eyes never leaving his. I gave him a small smile, because words were unnecessary. He knew.

“Are you sure?” he asked, stroking my face.

I nodded. I was ready for this, and more than that, I needed this. He knelt before me, his touch caressing the fabric of my panties; his gentle kisses to my pubic bone left a numbing sensation in their wake. Giving me a nod and blinking slowly, he eased them down over my knees, letting them fall to my feet.

Dressed in only my shirt, I watched as he undid each button, one by one, his eyes never leaving mine. I breathed in deeply as his hands slipped the shirt over my shoulders until I stood naked in front of him. I watched him take his shirt off, then his pants.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered as his fingers trailed from above my breasts down through the middle until they reached the beginning of my sex. I closed my eyes as his fingers slowly trailed up and down. I was so wet. My knees buckled as he slid a finger inside me.

With his other hand cupping my face, he brought me closer to him until our bodies pressed flush up against one another. His lips connected with mine, our mouths moving as one in such an intimate, personal way.

Tilting my head back, I sighed as he slipped a second finger inside of me. I couldn’t describe how amazing it felt. It was like he knew exactly what I needed, what my body craved.

He gently lay me down on the bed, his fingers still circling inside me. I moved my legs further apart, willing them to plunge deeper inside of me. He kissed my neck, his tongue drawing softly along my collarbone. I was in heaven. This was the single most intimate experience of my life. 

I moaned, stroking my nipples as he nibbled on my ear, his tongue curling around my lobe.

“Please, I need you,” I whispered, wanting him inside me. I reached down, wrapping my fingers around his erection, gently stroking back and forth. He reached for the condom on the beside table, rolling it on.

Poised at my entrance, he stared into my eyes as he pushed himself inside me, creating a slow and steady rhythm of rocking back and forth. I closed my eyes and sighed, the connection I felt with him unlike anything else.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

I nodded, curling my legs around his waist. His thrusts deepened and increased in speed as the climax began to build in both of us. He groaned as he released inside me, his eyes never straying from mine.