“I just didn’t want you to, I guess, feel threatened. I’m not going to go after him, or try to take him or make him relive the past. It’s over and done with and I would never do anything to jeopardize this job. So that’s all I wanted to say.” She got up and tried to flee, but I told her to wait.
“It’s okay. I never thought you were going to do that. I mean, I’d really like it if we could maybe be friends, since we’re sort of in the same boat here.” She paused with her hand on the doorknob.
“I’d like that, too. Thanks, Miss Clarke.”
“Call me Rory. Everyone else does.”
“Rory. Thanks.” I got another smile, and I gave her one back. I collapsed back in my chair as soon as the door clicked shut. That went as well as I could have expected. Now I just had to figure out how to work with her, and maybe be friends with her. I wasn’t going to fool myself into thinking that the Lucah thing wouldn’t come between us, or be an issue. It would. He would come up eventually, and then we’d have to deal with it. I just didn’t want to deal with it.
So I picked up the phone and called Lucah.
“Lucah Blythe, how can I help you?”
“It’s me,” I said.
His tone instantly changed. “What’s wrong?”
“I just, um, I just had a chat with Violet. She told me that she’s not going to try and break us up, or come between us, and that the past was in the past. So. I just wanted to let you know. That. And now I’m thinking this was a dumb idea to call you about this because it really isn’t anything and I’m just making something out of nothing, as usual. I’m sorry. You’re busy. We’ll talk at home.” I hung up before I could say anything else stupid.
He called back immediately.
“I’m never too busy for you, Sunshine. And I’m shocked that you were worried about Violet. Because in order for her to try and come between us, I would have to let her. And I would never let anyone come between us, do you understand me? I want to make this very clear, just in case it wasn’t.” His voice got low and insistent. “I love you, and nothing is going to change that. Not Violet, not any other woman. Because none of those other women is you. I. Love. You. You’re in every corner of my mind. I couldn’t let anyone else in, even if I wanted to. Okay? And if you don’t believe me, then I will show you tonight at the hotel where I intended to f**k you every which way you can be f**ked, just to drive the point home. And then I’m going to f**k you again for good measure.”
Was it possible to orgasm just from words? Because I was pretty sure I just did. He hung up and I sat there, gaping at the phone.
When my brain finally started functioning again, I wanted to tell Lilia that I needed to not do anything for the rest of the day, because I just couldn’t. Not with the prospect of the coming night.
Instead, I got up and poured myself a glass of water that wasn’t cold enough and drank it down, hoping it would stem the fire that Lucah had ignited in my body. I’d JUST had sex with him a few hours ago, and here I was, ready to be f**ked senseless again. Could you die from too much sex? Would your body just . . . give up? Decide it was done? Well, I guessed I was going to find out.
Somehow I managed to get through the rest of the day, and I had no more Violet sightings, but Dad did stop by my office to say that he was going out golfing, which I was pleased about.
“Are you feeling well? Your cheeks are flushed,” he said, and I put both hands on my face to hide it.
“I’m fine. Just a little warm.” He dismissed it and headed off and I drank another glass of cold water. It was the best substitute for a cold shower that I had on hand.
When it was finally time to leave, I wasn’t sure if my legs were going to be able to carry me to the elevator, but they did, and there he was. Waiting.
Keeping my distance from him was like fighting gravity.
“Miss Clarke.” He gave me a polite nod, but his eyes had a wicked twinkle in them. I hated how affected I must look while he was completely composed. But then I noticed he had his briefcase held in a strategic place. That almost made me laugh as we waited for the doors to open.
“Why don’t you let me take the briefcase for you?” I said, reaching for it.
“No! Thank you. I think I can manage it.” He moved away from me, and I was also rewarded by his face turning red, including his ears. So I wasn’t the only one who was excited about our evening of f**kery.
We didn’t get to touch each other because several people got on the elevator a few floors down. Lucah kept his briefcase held in front of him the entire ride, and he was breathing through his nose when we got off.
I waited for him, but he seemed to be fighting with something.
“Everything okay, Mr. Blythe?”
“Yes, Miss Clarke. Everything is fine.” He got off and shifted his briefcase and his pants were smooth. He seemed very pleased with himself.
“What did you think about?” I asked as we walked toward the front doors.
“Maggots. The Declaration of Independence. Nazis.” He winked at me and we finally exited the building. But instead of taking my hand like he always did, he just kept walking.
“You coming, Miss Clarke?” Well not right at the moment . . .
I walked to catch up with him.
“I think you will be. Very soon.”
We walked the rest of the way to the hotel with the space between us, and with every step my body screamed out for his, for a touch, a kiss, anything. I hoped he was having just as hard a time.
He wouldn’t touch me even when we got into the lobby of the hotel, or in the elevator. I tried to go for him, but he just kept moving away, and I wasn’t going to chase him.
“Not yet,” he said, putting up his hands as if I was holding a gun to his head. “Not yet.”
I glared, but kept my distance until the elevator dinged, and we were at the penthouse. My phone went off with a text from Sloane. I’d told her that Lucah and I had rented a room and she kept sending me lewd messages about it. I turned the ringer off and put it back in my purse as Lucah and I walked to the door and he unlocked it with the key card. FINALLY.
He jerked his head for me to enter the room and then he shut the door behind us. I expected him to attack me, but he didn’t. He just stood there, staring at me.
“Take off your clothes.” What? I waited a second. “Take. Off. Your. Clothes.” He set the briefcase down and took one step for every word. He wasn’t messing around. Lucah was commanding. And it was f**king HOT.