Chapter Two.
Tris.
The strangely sexy man watched me smoke for a while, like I was some piece of art. Unable to continue standing there in total silence, I cleared my throat and turned to fully face him.
"Is it a woman?" i threw a question at him to get the attention off me. "Did she break your heart?"
He looked at me, like really looked at me. Something in his eyes sparkled, and I could almost see a grin. His eyes meet mine, and he just stared at me. I have never seen eyes as intimidating as his, maybe i have, but his seemed darker attached to his beautiful face and intimidating presence. He didn't answer my question right away, he took a sip of his beer, then laughed a little.
Even his laugh was sexy, the kind of laughter that seemed genuine and echoed.
"What makes you think my heart is broken and by a woman?" He leaned onto the wall so that he could now face me.
"Oh, oh am sorry, I don't judge whichever gender you are into. But if am being honest, you don't seem like the type of guy who will be drinking alone on a Friday night."I answered him still holding his gaze trying to be as intimidating as he was," You also seem sad, a little too sad if am being honest." i added.
He regardes me again, with a straight face now. "If only my issues we as trivial as matters of the heart."now his elbow was on the ledge. He said and for a moment his mind seemed to wander off
"Why are you drinking alone?" His question somehow caught me off guard, as he sleekly changed the subject of discussion to me.
"I needed to clear my mind, I needed the distraction." i lied taking another hit of my cigarette.
He just stood there in silence, not robbing any further and took another sip of his beer before he caught my gaze again.
We stared at each other for a little bit longer. I felt like i should say something else, but no words come out. So i just took another hit of my joint.
He was now staring at the sky, my eyes follow the line of his jaw, the curve of his cheeks, the outline of his lips. His eyebrows were drawn together together in contemplation. I didn’t understand why, but i looked away from him and back up at the sky and blurt out.
We stood there in silence and I thought he would not speak to me again. I was about to turn around and walk back to the bar when he suddenly pulled his hand up behind his head and turned and looked me straight in the eye, "I want to fuck you, i have been thinking about it since i saw you walk through those doors two hours ago."
My mouth fell open. Then i clamped it shut. I hadn’t expected him to say that. Sure he was an attractive man and I found him sexy as hell but I didn’t really think he would be interested in me. But what do I really know about guys anyway?! For the first time, the man rendered me speechless.
He shot me a look of innocence, "You look shocked." he said it as a statement more than a question. "You are a beautiful woman and I find you extremely attractive, maybe I could help you get the clarity you are seeking."
I couldn’t even look at him anymore, my face is flushing pink now. His statement made me feel a multitude of things all at once.
"Does that line ever work for you? As anyone ever actually fallen for it?" I asked cheekily.
"Well, we are about to find out, aren't we?" he said as his fingers started slowly trailing up my neck. "You seem like you have had a really crappy day, so have I. So why don't we make each other feel better. I promise you, I will make it worth your while." he whispe9in my ear and I got goosebumps all over my body.
He was so nonchalant, he acted as if he hadn’t just stunned me into silence.
"I need a minute to regroup after that one." i say with a laugh. "I don't even know your name yet and you want to get me into your bed."
"But that's the beauty of it don't you think? The mystery and excitement will make it more fun." he said with a chuckle as he put his beer bottle on the table next to him.
He dragged in a long, slow breath, and then his eyes meet mine. We were now standing next to each other our bodies touching. He came up behind me and sandwiched me between the rails and his huge body. His fingers began to crawl towards the hem of my dress. I was in a black dress with a thigh slit. A fuckable dress. The kind of dress a man can easily bypass when he wants to fuck you. And in that moment I was happy my best friend had made me wear it tonight.
"oh ." i whisper at his touch, feeling the warmth from his hand as he slided it up my inner thighs.
Against my better Judgment, I turned around to face him, our faces inches apart, and the look in his eyes completely captivated me. He looked hopeful and hungry and completely confident. He sinked his teeth into his bottom lip. And it was the sexiest thing I had ever seen a man do. I knew he could feel my heart thrashing around in my chest. Hell, he could probably hear it.
"We should probably go somewhere more comfortable." he whispered in my ear. His voice sounded like his throat was coated in honey. The bartender appeared with impeccable timing, we had totally lost track of time.
He took care of the bills including mine. I couldn’t tell why I was so drawn to this man, i liked the sound of his voice, i liked his confidence, i liked his teeth, they were perfect and white. I liked the stubble of his jaw, it was the perfect length to scratch my thighs. I like that he wasn't afraid to touch me, when we talked and every time he did, the graze of his fingers made my skin tingle.
He held my hand as we walked out of the bar, he had a limo waiting for him. That threw me off for a moment, who the hell has a limo on speed dial? I thought to myself. He held the door open for me as i climbed inside. I didn’t know where I was getting all this confidence and courage but I was liking it. He took the seat across from me, rather than next to me. The inside of the limo smelled like flowers mixed with champagne.
We sat in total silence for a few minutes, just staring at each other with anticipation. I think he knew he had me in that moment. I think that's why he felt confident enough to reach forward and lift my leg, draping it across the seat next to him. He left his hand on my ankle, caressing it, watching as my chest began to rise and fall in response to his touch. I wanted his hand higher up my thigh, i wanted it between my legs, exploring me from the inside. I wanted him, but i wasn't sure i really could have him, and i was not ready for this feeling to end yet.
His hand slid behind my knee and he pulled me towards him. I slid across the seat onto his lap because that's what dresses like mine were meant for. I could feel him growing hard between my legs as he pressed his thumb against my bottom lip. I swiped my tongue against his thumb and it made him sigh. Not groan or moan, he sighed like it was the sexiest thing he had ever experienced.
His hands were sliding over my bare back and i moaned, feeling the prod of his erection against my hip. With my knees on either side of his hips, i wrapped my arms around his shoulders and kissed him. I licked into his mouth, nibbled on his lower lip, stroked my tongue along his.
He gripped my waist and pushed me away. He leaned into the seat back his neck arched to look at me, "Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked in a raspy voice.
I ran my hands down his chest through his shirt, feeling the unforgiving hardness of his chest muscles. My fingers traced the ridges of his abdomen, my mind forming a picture of how he might look naked. "I am actually a virgin."
He caught my wrists, stilling my movements, he seemed shocked . "You are a virgin?"
I was more surprised at the fact that me being a virgin shocked him.
"Yeah, so let's work on me not being one anymore." i said as I started kissing him again.
“Not here, we are almost at my place.” He said calmly, but I could tell something had changed, his demeanor was different.
Looking away without answering i saw the traffic and pedestrians surging around us. It was torture sitting next to this man. I was burning inside for him, i had this feelings i have never experienced before. He had lit a fire in me, and i was determined to make sure it didn't go out.
When his hand slid up my thigh again it caught me by surprise. It was like i had been standing on the edge of a cliff my whole life, and finally after meeting him, i felt confident enough to jump. Because for the first time i wanted this.
Chapter Three. Tris. I shouldn’t have been so nervous riding a private elevator up to a penthouse apartment on Fifth Avenue. The sight of high ceilings and prewar architecture wasn’t new to me, and really, it was all to be expected from a man who seemed to own damn near everything. And the coveted his anxiety as he watched for my reaction.His home was as beautiful as the man himself. It was sleek, modern, and cool. His private space was warm and sumptuous, filled with antiques and art anchored by gorgeous Aubusson rugs laid over gleaming hardwood floors.“It’s…amazing,” I said softly, feeling privileged to see it. But again he brings all his women back here so it was no priviledge really. “Come in.” He tugged me deeper into the apartment. He led me through the living room and down a hall to his bedroom.“Wow,” I breathed when he flicked on the light. A massive sleigh bed dominated the space, the wood dark which he seemed to prefer and the linens a soft cream. The rest of the furni
Pregnant. Despite the warmth of the summer day, an uncomfortable chill settled over my skin as i settled on the bench just a few blocks from the apartment I shared with my best friend Chloe. I shivered even as the sun’s rays found my tightly clenched fingers, the heat not yet chasing away the goose bumps. A bright blush chased the chill from my cheeks as i remembered the night in question, the night we met and how hard he had fucked me before we were interrupted by his wife. He had a wife, the thought came back to me again, I was pregnant for a married man. After the fateful night, we never exchanged contacts or names, I had no idea who he was and neither did he. But now I was carrying his child. He had made love to me countless times, murmuring to me in Greek warm, soft words that had made my heart twist during that fateful night. I remembered as I clenched my legs together remembering how my body responded to his touch. I had no money, I could barely take care of myself ho
Tris. Tris tilted the margarita glass to her lips and took a long swallow. Tartness collided with the salt, exploded on her tongue, and burned through her blood. Unfortunately, not fast enough. She still had a shred of sanity left to question her actions.The violet fabric covered book beckoned and mocked. She picked it up again, leafed through the pages, and threw it back on the contemporary glass table.Ridiculous. Love spells, for God’s sake. She refused to stoop to such a low. Ofcourse, when her best friend, chloe, cast her own spell, she had been supportivea nd cheered her actions to find her soul mate.But this was completely different. Tris cursed under her breath and stared out the window. A sliver of moonlight leaked through the cracks of the organic bamboo blinds. Another evening gone. Another disastrous date. The demons threatened, and there was no one here to fight them back until dawn.Why did she never feel a connection? This last one had been charming, intelligent, and
Tris. It had been a few days since I tried the ritual Chloe convinced me to do, but maybe it really didn't work, because nothing had happened. I had no real prospects yet. But tonight I was not going to think about it, tonight I was going to have fun, cut loose and enjoy myself. The neon lights of the club pulsed in rhythm with the bass, casting vibrant hues across the packed dance floor.I stood at the entrance, adjusting my dress a deep red number that hugged my curves just right. Chloe called it the money maker, and she had let me borrow it tonight. “Tonight is going to be epic!” Chloe exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with anticipation next to me as she let her hair fall freely all the way to her waist. I wished I could be more like her, she knew how to live in the moment, enjoy herself unlike me who was always second guessing every choice I made. I had promised myself a night of fun, a temporary escape from my responsibilities. Work had been draining lately, and I needed this n
Tris. It was quite a long way from the kitchen to the office, especially when one was carrying a tray holding two tea cups, a pot of tea, milk and sugar, but Tris was used to it. Her small, slight frame belied her strength just as her soft, feminine features belied her nature. She pushed open the door of the outer office, which was hers, noticing with a frown the heavy masculine topcoat flung carelessly over the spare chair. Nick , her boss, often had visitors, but very few of them wore coats like that. It was wool, and expensive, meticulously tailored and lined in silk. Tris put down the tray, wondering about whether to give up her own cup for the visitor, when she realised that the inner door was not quite closed. "Well, you will have no problems with the job, of course," Nick was saying. "Not after working on the last project." "Which, I take it, means I could have in other areas."Although the man"s voice was faintly muffled, there was no mistaking its hard inflexibility, and
Tris.The two men emerged from the office, and Tris darted a quick look at Tony's shuttered face. It told her nothing. When they had gone she stared unseeingly at her typewriter, ignoring the over flowing "in" tray, her mind racing frantically in circles as she tried to think of a way of ensuring that she need never set eyes on Tony Blake again. There wasn't one, of course. Not unless she gave up her job, and that was impossible. In a more buoyant economic climate she might have done so, even if it meant taking a drop in salary, but to take the risk in the middle of a depression would be extremely foolhardy. She needed her salary. Every penny of it. She closed her eyes, shivering suddenly with cold. The office door opened and she jerked upright, her face paper-white, but it was only Matt Dyson, one of the sub editors. It was the joke of the Globe that while Tris gave every other male the cold shoulder, Matt Dyson, the original worm who never turned, was her only male escort. "Is so
Tris. It was after seven when Tris stepped wearily off the bus at the end of her road. There had been a last-minute panic necessitating recall of an article and she had worked late to help Nick get the crisis sorted out. The adrenalin flow which had helped her through the day had abated, leaving her feeling drained and exhausted. Her feet dragged as she walked up the tree lined avenue. It had been a perfect spring day, and now as long golden shadows fell across the pavement the last liquid notes of birdsong filtered sweetly through the air. She had a long way to commute, but she had particularly wanted a house with at least some pretensions towards being rural. She knew North London wasn't fashionable and people raised their eyebrows when they discovered how far out of town she was, but the house had a long back garden, which was enclosed with hedges and boasted half dozen wizened apple trees, and in the spring when they were in blossom and the cherry trees flowered along the suburb
Tris Later, when she was tucking him up in bed, she inspected his features carefully. He showed his fathering, this child born out of what she had thought a night of perfect love and which instead had been an act of ruthless and deliberate expediency. He had nothing of her in him, unless it was his temperament. In looks he was all Tony; his father in exact miniature from his dark blue eyes to his thick glossy hair. When she first discovered she was pregnant she had been out of work and depressed. She had fainted twice in one week and put it down to nervous strain until, despite the fact that she had barely been eating, she discovered that her skirt wouldn't fasten round her waist. She had known the truth then, but refused to accept it, confirmation finally coming in the shabby, impersonal interview room of a pregnancy advice bureau. They had been kind and helpful, offering to arrange for a termination of her pregnancy, despite its advanced state.They had probably considered that sh
Tony.Tony glanced at the poised woman by his side as he wound his way through the curvy hills toward his home. The top was down, and her gold red hair blew in the wind in a tangled mass, but she didn’t seem concerned. Her pursed lips told him she was thinking hard, probably getting into character to meet his family. During the last twenty-four hours, he’d learned a lot about Tris .Unfortunately, the tiny glimpse only made him crave more.The vivid green of trees and brown earth flashed by and welcomed him in a way that soothed his soul. His family owned land from generations back, which had all been passed to him. But he had always known from his first visit to New york City that he longed to make his mark there. Papa took him to visit his uncle, and the bustle of Manhattan fascinated his sense of challenge.Unfortunately, the crowds and chaos did not call to his need for privacy and land. When he decided to expand La Dolce Famiglia in the States, he sought the excitement of Manhatt
Tris.Tris glanced at her fake husband and tried hard not to panic. The familiar shortening of breath and hammering heart alerted her to trouble.She swallowed, hid her face behind Italian Vogue, and prayed she’d keep it together. She hated the idea of anyone knowing about such a weakness, especially Tony. The whole crazy plan hit her full force as soon as his private plane shot into the air. Her finger itched with the snug band of platinum gold, and the two carat round diamond sparkled like icicles catching the glint of the sun. The ruse seemed doable in Nadia’s house. A day later, though, with a ring, fake husband, and family to con, she realized she was a complete idiot.What the hell had she agreed to?Tris couldn’t live with herself if she didn’t use the available weapon to keep Tony away from her family.But at what price? Meeting his sisters and mother. Sleeping in his bedroom. Pretending to be someone she wasn’t?Her fingers tightened around the glossy pages, and she breathed
Tony. I quickly followed her to the door and held her by her arm. “I have a proposition for you.” She threw her head back and laughed. The smoky sound beckoned like a witch casting a spell. “Well, then, you have come to the right girl.” She licked her lips with deliberate precision. The faint sheen of wetness gleamed in the light.“Proposition away.”He smothered a curse and decided to go for the blunt approach. “I need a pretend wife.”She blinked. “Huh?”“Yes.” He despised the slight flush his ridiculous admission caused and forged on. “I am having some family difficulties and I’m required to marry. I need someone to go to Italy with me for a week, pretend to be my wife, spend some time with my family, then leave.”“Why do I suddenly feel like I dropped into the Lifetime movie of the week?”“What is Lifetime?”She waved his question off. “Never mind, a girl thing. Um, let me think about this for a moment. You need me to pretend to be married to you, hang with your familly, stay in
Tony. Tony sipped his cognac and watched as the party winded down. Luscious chocolate chip cannoli cake and pots of strong coffee were served, and a relaxed atmosphere rippled through the rooms as family and friends began making their good byes.Tension swirled in his gut and fought with the lovely fire of the alcohol. This time he was in trouble. Big trouble. After the phone call with Valarie and Dominick, he decided to confront his mother with a well placed battle plan.Tony knew sticking with the family tradition was impossible. He also realized his mother believed strongly in rules and rarely broke them. He had decided on an alternate plan that seemed brilliant. He would throw her a story about a steady girlfriend, with a wedding in the firm future, and even promise a visit.Then he would calmly insist Valarie marry first because of her history with Dominick, and he would cite Papa’s heavenly blessing. Maybe he would tell her he saw it in a dream, something to soothe her doubts.
TrisTris had worked through her lunch-hour and expecting that Tony would be detained by Gail had not thought to close her office door when she made her call. The result was that he walked in when she was right in the middle of it, and Chloe was describing Ethan"s newest trick. "Personal call?" Tony said sardonically when she had finished. "First time I have seen a spark of life in you since I got here. Does Matt know about him?" "My private affairs are my own," Tris retorted, colour scorching her skin as she realised the inference he had drawn from her words. Of course he would think she meant love affairs. She turned her back on him, searching through the files for an article she needed. When she straightened up Tony was standing right behind her. She could smell the faint tang of his" aftershave. His skin was firm and tanned, the blue eyes framed with ridiculously thick dark lashes. Just like Ethan's. Her heart pounded, and she bent down to close the cupboard drawer, trying to
TrisEthan was being unusually fractious this morning, and she wondered if he had caught her own tense mood. He had played naughtily with his breakfast, something he never normally did, his mouth sulky and pouting when she scolded him. "Don't go to work, Mummy," he pleaded tearfully. "Stay with me!" "You know I have to go, Ethan," she reminded him gently, "but tomorrow is Friday, and then after that Mummy will be at home with you for two whole days. Perhaps we will go somewhere nice, if you are a good boy for Chloe." "Where nice?" he breathed, tears forgotten. "To the Zoo to see the bears?" "Maybe. Finish your egg, there is a good boy." His recalcitrance had made her late, and although she ran all the way down the bottom of the avenue, she was just in time to see her bus go sailing past. Groaning, she pressed a hand to her side to stifle the aching stitch. She was going to be late, and there was nothing she could do about it, so she might as well make up her mind to accept the fa
Tris Later, when she was tucking him up in bed, she inspected his features carefully. He showed his fathering, this child born out of what she had thought a night of perfect love and which instead had been an act of ruthless and deliberate expediency. He had nothing of her in him, unless it was his temperament. In looks he was all Tony; his father in exact miniature from his dark blue eyes to his thick glossy hair. When she first discovered she was pregnant she had been out of work and depressed. She had fainted twice in one week and put it down to nervous strain until, despite the fact that she had barely been eating, she discovered that her skirt wouldn't fasten round her waist. She had known the truth then, but refused to accept it, confirmation finally coming in the shabby, impersonal interview room of a pregnancy advice bureau. They had been kind and helpful, offering to arrange for a termination of her pregnancy, despite its advanced state.They had probably considered that sh
Tris. It was after seven when Tris stepped wearily off the bus at the end of her road. There had been a last-minute panic necessitating recall of an article and she had worked late to help Nick get the crisis sorted out. The adrenalin flow which had helped her through the day had abated, leaving her feeling drained and exhausted. Her feet dragged as she walked up the tree lined avenue. It had been a perfect spring day, and now as long golden shadows fell across the pavement the last liquid notes of birdsong filtered sweetly through the air. She had a long way to commute, but she had particularly wanted a house with at least some pretensions towards being rural. She knew North London wasn't fashionable and people raised their eyebrows when they discovered how far out of town she was, but the house had a long back garden, which was enclosed with hedges and boasted half dozen wizened apple trees, and in the spring when they were in blossom and the cherry trees flowered along the suburb
Tris.The two men emerged from the office, and Tris darted a quick look at Tony's shuttered face. It told her nothing. When they had gone she stared unseeingly at her typewriter, ignoring the over flowing "in" tray, her mind racing frantically in circles as she tried to think of a way of ensuring that she need never set eyes on Tony Blake again. There wasn't one, of course. Not unless she gave up her job, and that was impossible. In a more buoyant economic climate she might have done so, even if it meant taking a drop in salary, but to take the risk in the middle of a depression would be extremely foolhardy. She needed her salary. Every penny of it. She closed her eyes, shivering suddenly with cold. The office door opened and she jerked upright, her face paper-white, but it was only Matt Dyson, one of the sub editors. It was the joke of the Globe that while Tris gave every other male the cold shoulder, Matt Dyson, the original worm who never turned, was her only male escort. "Is so