Tackled by the King: A Bad Boy Sports Romance (52 page)

I ambled over to the staircase and decided to go up to my old room. As I walked up the stairs, I started to remember all the times I would sit by the banister and listen to my dad yell at his assistant and secretary over the phone, or listen to him fight with his latest girlfriend. Some of them were really nice, and they took pity on my eight-year-old self, but my dad always drove the nice ones away quickly. Some of them were awful, and they were usually after my dad’s money and trying to send me away to boarding school. I sighed and walked up the stairs. I passed by the bathroom where I would hide and smoke as a teenager, usually with Jackson. I reached into my pocket and felt the cigarette pack there. I smiled- why not have another one in there for old times’ sake? I pushed open the door and walked into the bathroom, and found myself staring at Paige- completely nude. I quickly registered her lithe frame, her small perky breasts, her pale skin glistening with water, and her soaking black hair. I turned around quickly and said, “Oh my God, I’m so sorry-” but to my surprise, she laughed and then walked on ahead of me, bending so I could see her tight little ass as she picked up a towel and wrapped it loosely around herself. “That’s alright; I’m done anyway.” I started to apologize again, and she said, “Shh, don’t worry about it.” She then sashayed out of the bathroom, leaving me standing there feeling incredibly stupid and very embarrassed.

I went straight down the stairs again and parked myself on the living room couch again, promising myself I wouldn’t move again until Paige asked me to leave the house for her fitting. I sat right where I was and waited for ten minutes, after which Paige came down the stairs- fully dressed this time in a pale pink tunic and sandals, smiling as though nothing had happened in the bathroom upstairs. “Are you here to take me to Madison Avenue?” I nodded, and she shook her head exasperatedly, “I don’t know why Mother thinks I need a chaperone to go to the boutique. I’m not a kid,” I smiled awkwardly. She was a kid; she was just twenty years old, but you can never convince a young person they’re young if they refuse to admit it. “I don’t mind- your mother asked me and I wasn’t doing anything.” She smiled widely at me, and as she twirled a strand of her damp hair around her finger, she said, “Well, we should go.” I nodded and followed her out the door towards my parked car. Barry was talking to the gatekeeper when I called him, and he ran over to start the car as Paige and I got in. “Are we picking Miss Rachel, sir?” He asked me, and I said, “No, today we’re taking Miss Paige shopping for her dress.” I smiled at Paige, but I noticed that her expression had turned sour suddenly. I frowned, not understanding what I had done or said, and assumed that she was thinking about how I had walked in on her. She was keeping remarkably calm about it, however, and I had to admire her level of maturity.

She smiled suddenly and said, “I really love New York. I haven’t been here for years, but every time I’m here, it just makes me feel so alive. I know everyone glamorizes New York, but it deserves to be glamorized.” I smiled and said, “But isn’t LA glamorous?” She shook her head and said, “In LA, everyone’s trying to become something big- in New York, they already are.” I chewed on that for a bit, and she leaned over and looked out of my window, pressing her upper body against my thighs as she did. “It’s so beautiful,” she sighed. I gulped uncomfortably. I could feel her firm little breasts against me, and I couldn’t help but picture them again in my mind. I cleared my throat and gently put a hand on her shoulder and pushed her away. “You should sit up properly; we don’t want an accident. The traffic here is very unpredictable.” She pouted playfully and then sat up straight and looked out of her window. “It’s just so romantic here. Don’t you think it’s romantic?” I smirked and said, “I’m not one for romance.” She leaned close again and said, “Just sex then?” I furrowed my brows. Was she trying to hit on me? That wasn’t possible- she was fifteen years younger than me, and she was going to legally be my sister in two days. I pushed the thought out of my mind and said, “Oh look, we’re here.” Barry looked at me in the rearview mirror, and I motioned for him to stop, and he left the car idling as he hurried to open our doors. I waved him towards Paige’s door as I let myself out, and he obliged.

I walked fast on the pavement and headed towards the boutique as Paige hurried to keep up with me. I knew it was rude to leave her lagging behind, but I wanted to distance myself from her, if even for a moment. I had liked her at the dinner party when we had smoked together outside my dad’s house, but she now made me feel very uncomfortable. I was used to women throwing themselves at me, but she was a child, and she was my soon-to-be step-sister. It was just wrong, and it made me feel cheap and dirty. I still thought that maybe it was all in my head and that she was just being friendly, and I was the one reading too much into innocent interactions. I was the adult here; I should act like it. I slowed down so that she could walk next to me as I pushed open the door and we stepped inside. As we walked in, the salespeople all looked up immediately, and they seemed to recognize me. A woman came rushing over and said, “Mr. Garrett- Welcome, how may I help you?” I was startled by all the attention I seemed to be generating, as I looked around and saw shoppers talk amongst themselves and whisper behind their hands. I heard my name in carrying whispers echoing from all over the boutique. I cleared my throat, “Yes, my step-sister has an appointment for a dress fitting I believe,” I said pointing at Paige, who nodded at the saleswoman and said, “Paige Cooper.” The woman nodded immediately, and said, “Of course, for your mother’s wedding. Please come with me.”

I sat down on a small pouf near the dressing rooms as the saleswoman led Paige inside. I picked up a magazine and absently leafed through it. I saw a number of models I knew (and had fucked) over the years. Bored, I kept flipping through the pages until a familiar name jumped out at me- Felix Bouchard. I frowned; I couldn’t remember why that name had caught my attention. Who was Felix Bouchard, and why did that name bring up such unpleasantness? I tried to rack my brain, but I couldn’t remember. I tossed the magazine aside and looked around, and I caught sight of a dress hanging towards the back. I stood up, and walked over to it, thinking about Rachel and what she would look like at the wedding. I was still looking at it when I heard Paige clear her throat, and I turned around to see her standing there in a long teal gown with a plunging neckline. She twirled around, and I smiled and said, “You look beautiful,” as she beamed at me. She gave the saleswoman a few instructions about the fitting, and then hurried back into the dressing room. I turned my thoughts back to Rachel and ambled over to the counter. Soon, Paige was back in her pale pink tunic, and we got ready to leave the shop. “Paige, why don’t you head to the car, I’ve called Barry, and he’ll bring it around. I have something to take care of; I’ll join you in a minute.” Paige looked at me curiously, but she walked out of the boutique nevertheless, as I turned my attention to the man standing behind the counter.

Chapter Sixteen: Rachel

It was the day before the wedding, and I knew I had a long day of planning and working ahead, and the stress of it was getting to me. I hadn’t seen Lucas in a few days because the wedding plans were getting hectic, with Sophia calling in every day and changing her mind about everything. She wanted pink peonies at first, and now that everything was done, she decided she wanted a wall of roses like Kim Kardashian had at her wedding. I was going crazy trying to put everything together, and I couldn’t sleep. I checked the clock on my bedside table and groaned. It was 6 a.m., and I didn’t have to be in at work until 9. I sat up anyway, knowing there was no way I could sleep now. I decided I’d go for a run. I loved running, but I hadn’t been doing it recently, and I could feel the emotional effects of having left it already. I needed that little endorphin kick in the morning, and I got out of bed and walked into the bathroom, and as I brushed my teeth and washed my face, I felt better already. Somehow I felt like I was in control of my own body, which is something I hadn’t felt in a long time. With Lucas, while I was in the throes of an orgasm, I felt like he was dictating the way I moved and moaned and touched- which I loved, but I also felt like he was definitely the dom and I was the sub. I pushed the thought out of my head and pulled on my tracksuit; I was gathering my hair on top my head and walking out the door when I stumbled and tripped over something. “What the fuck?” I yelled out loud as I massaged my shin, and whipped around on the floor to see what had caused me to fall.

It was a large flat box with Roberto Cavalli stamped on it in bold lettering. I sighed; another package for Alison, probably one of her ten thousand admirers. I picked it up and carried it inside, as a piece of paper fluttered to the ground. I put the box down and went back to retrieve the piece of paper, and as I picked it up, I caught sight of my own name delicately hand lettered on one side. “What?” I said out loud, confused, and I turned the flimsy little card over. It said:
Rachel,

I saw this dress and couldn’t stop thinking of how breathtaking you would look in it. Please wear it to the wedding- for me.

Love,
Lucas.

With trembling hands, I closed the door to my apartment and walked over to the package I had hastily placed on Alison’s bed, and I carried it outside. I reached out to open it, but couldn’t get myself to lift the lid. I reached out and let my hands drop again. I had never been the object of admiration before. I thought back to Will and how he would never even bring me chocolates or flowers while men would shower Alison with Tiffany’s and Cartier. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and quickly dialed Alison. She blithely answered the phone and squealed, “Rachey, darling. How are you?” She sounded bright and happy, and I could hear people shouting in Spanish behind her. “Ally, where are you?” I said in a voice that must have raised some concern in Alison because she moved to a quieter place and said, “I landed in Barcelona yesterday love, is everything okay?” I laughed shakily, and said, “Yeah I’m good. I just had a fashion question.” Alison laughed too and said, “Why is your wedding client doing ridiculous things again?” I looked at the piece of paper in my hands and said, “Well- you could say that.” I could hear Felix in the background as Alison said, “Okay, shoot. What do you wanna ask?” I looked back at the label on the box and said, “So how big of a deal is Roberto Cavalli?”

She laughed and when I didn’t respond she said, “Oh my God, Rachel are you serious? The biggest deal. He’s huge- Kurkova and Natasha Poly have represented him, oh my God is he coming to the wedding?” I sighed. I had expected she might say that, and I said, “Well, remember how I mentioned that Lucas Garrett is the son of my client?” There was a brief pause, and she said, “Ahan?” I went on, “Well, so I’ve kind of been sleeping with him.” Alison almost shrieked, “Rachel!” I quickly said, “I know- I know- just don’t say anything about that, please. It’s just- I kind of like him, but it’s nothing serious.” Alison sighed and said, “Okay- so?” I looked back at the box and said, “Well, this morning, I received a package. It says
Roberto Cavalli
on it, and I assumed it was for you, but it’s for me. And he wants me to wear it to the wedding.” Alison gasped and said, “Oh my God! What does it look like?” I sighed and said, “I don’t know- I haven’t opened it yet. Should I?” Alison shrieked again, “Rachel! I’m going to kill you- you get a fucking dress from fucking Roberto Cavalli, and you don’t even fucking open it?” I held the phone a few inches away from my ear so she wouldn’t deafen me, and I said, “Ally, I know you’re busy but will you Skype me so we can open it together? I’m just worried because what does this mean? It can’t be cheap, right?” Alison laughed and said, “Do you think ten thousand dollars or more for a dress is cheap? It’s couture, darling.”

Ten minutes later, I was looking at my best friend through a grainy webcam in Barcelona while I propped up my phone on the sofa as I sat on the floor with the box. “Are you ready?” I asked her, and she excitedly clapped her hands together. I lifted the lid and found myself looking at the most stunning black lace dress. It had intricate beige beading on it, and a silk lining that gave it the illusion of sheerness. I gasped, and Alison leaned in close and said, “What- what? Show it to me, Oh my God.” Wordlessly, I lifted the dress out of its box and stood up, so the fabric cascaded all the way down the floor. I held it up to me, and the plunging neckline and swirling appliques unfolded themselves before Alison who clutched her heart and whispered, “Fuck.” I looked down at it and said, “I know.” For the next five minutes, Alison and I just stared at it in awe and then Felix stuck his head in front of the camera and said, “Hey, Rachel- ooh, pretty dress.” I smiled at him and waved as he turned to Alison and said, “Babe, we gotta go- the lights and everything are all set up.” I bid them both goodbye and turned back to the dress- it was so beautiful I couldn’t bear it. Almost as if on cue, my phone rang, and I saw Lucas’s name on the screen. I answered hesitantly, “Hello?” I could almost hear the smirk in his voice as he said, “Did you get the package?” I looked at the dress, and sadly said, “Lucas, I’m afraid I can’t accept this.” He sounded crestfallen as he said, “Did you not like it?”

I touched the stunning beaded details again and said, “NO, it’s absolutely gorgeous. It’s just that I can’t accept such a lavish present.” Lucas paused for a few seconds before he said, “Is that your only objection?” I frowned and said, “Well, yes-” and before I finished Lucas laughed. “Rachel, you don’t understand. This isn’t a present for you, it’s a present for me.” I raised an eyebrow as I waited for him to continue, and he said, “Rachel, I get to see you in that dress and later, if you let me, I get to take it off you.” I blushed furiously, desperately glad that he couldn’t see me just then, and I sputtered, “Wh- what?” He chuckled again and said, “So please, don’t deny me this simple request, Miss Benson.” My voice faltered as I said, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Lucas.” I hung up the phone and thought back to what he had said, and a little shiver ran down my body. I felt so restless, and I couldn’t wait till I saw him again. I walked out the door, knowing I had to find another way to release all my pent-up energy, and that run sounded like a really good idea right now.