Chapter 4: Nine Inches Deep

That kiss had my knees trembling. He still has that effect on me, and I curse it to hell!

I have no idea if my stomach had butterflies or if my central nervous system was frying because I've been shaking since I woke up this morning.

Memories flooded my head. Those quirky, adventurous nights—damn! He taught me things I never thought I'd learn about intimacy. He washed away my innocence, and now I'm dirty-minded as fuck.

Cuffs, chains, and blindfolds. They were just ordinary things until I realized how to use those unholy tools to satisfy his fetishes.

I almost forgot everything about some of the dirtier kinks I developed back then, but the man who woke up the woman in me came back and decided to knock down the wall I built.

"If he thinks I'm going to welcome him with my legs wide open—I mean, with my arms wide open—he's wrong. Absolutely wrong!" I exclaimed, slamming the car door behind me.

Still in the depths of frustration, my morning couldn't be fixed by a cup of hot coffee.

Last night was either a blessing or a nightmare. 'Nothing happened.' I should celebrate because I didn't voluntarily strip down and let his gigantic sword stab me repeatedly.

But as much as I wanted to rejoice, I was confused when I actually felt disappointed that nothing happened between Valerian and me.

The worst part wasn't even the unspoken words. I walked out on him in my broken heels, got lost in his resort, and he didn't even try to help me.

"Jerk," I groaned as I ascended onto the veranda of the villa.

The usual beauty of my resort greeted me. Everything looked luxurious and elegant. It's the perfect place for someone having a bad day, but in my situation, I don't think anything could ease me—unless I could choke Valerian to death and rub it in his face that I'm over him.

But am I?

"Finally realized how ugly you are?" My sister's voice immediately greeted me.

This person. I should probably give her an uppercut and send her to another dimension.

"What's with that face?" She asked, trying her best to keep things casual. "You know, I was waiting for you here yesterday. My hair lost its curls, you didn't show up. Not even a text, a voicemail, or a letter. What happened?"

"You want some tea to spill?" I asked, and she bobbed her head rapidly. "First of all, Mr. Blackwood is already willing to sign the contract even before we dined together. Second, he's still a menace, cheeky, and—and an absolute jerk the whole meeting! And last but not least, if you don't want to see me digging up your grave, you should start apologizing to me."

"May I remind you that I'm more than a decade older than you?" She crossed her arms and pouted her lips, which looked like she'd eaten some greasy food and forgot to wipe her mouth.

"Are you reminding us that you're that old?" I retorted and continued to march to the pool area, where things were a bit off, according to the report I received this morning.

The resort is still getting ready to open, and we only have less than twenty days to prepare the whole thing, but there are parts where the quality failed about two percent compared to last year. We also have to plan strategies to advertise the events for the opening since the collaboration between my resort and Valerian's started late—it's going to be a bit of a rush.

"I'm certainly aware of that," she chuckled, following from behind. "And what's with 'Mr. Blackwood'? I thought you were just going to address him by his name when he's not around."

"I don't want to talk about him," I dismissed it before she could say more. But I know my sister—she's a pain in the ass.

"And I heard from Hernandez that he saw you with an entire 'wet look' going home last night. Did you decide to take a dip in the sea in your dress? I wonder if you hit your head." She pointed her finger at the side of her head and widened her eyes.

"I had a rough night because of that guy. I fell into his pool and..." My frustration eats me because I let him kiss me, and I kissed him back.

"And?"

"Nevermind that," I moaned, wincing as I reached the pool area and found a disaster. "What the hell is this?" I motioned my hands towards the largest pool—there's a freaking palm tree in it!

"An idiotic worker cut that palm tree the wrong way, that's what that is, E," she replied, walking towards the edge of the pool. "Is the water being drained?!" She yelled at the manager, standing there with both hands on her hips.

Groaning, I facepalmed. This is another problem.

Some of the sun loungers were damaged, along with the glass door we just walked through.

"Shit..." I muttered.

"I know."

I jumped in place, hand on my chest. Not out of surprise, but out of fear of having an evil suddenly summoned behind me when I can't quite recall casting a spell.

As far as I'm aware, the devil should wear black or red, never anticipated a pink shirt, a beach hat, and a pair of green and white Hawaiian shorts. His toes are showing. Is he that proud to show the world his toes?"

"Jumpy," he chuckled, showing me his rows of white teeth and grumbling his manly laughter. "Bet you drank a liter of caffeine this morning."

It's no other than the last man I ever want to breathe the same air with. What the hell is he doing here?

"Good morning." With that panty-dropper smile, he lowered his sunglasses to give me a wink and blew me a kiss.

I shivered.

"In business, I have a saying, 'Frown, and your business will go down.' Catchy, right? It's effective though." He shrugged. "If you want our business to strive, iron your forehead, baby."

"In which hell hole did you come out, huh?" I crossed my arms and glared at him. "Just how dare you show up here and ruin my morning even more?"

"Believe it or not, I came through the door," he answered, closing the little gap between us. He reached for my face and straightened my forehead.

Swatting his hand away, I took a step back. "Don't touch me."

"So sensitive," he teased. "No wonder why your business is riding on a rough road. You should always be smiling all the time. My father used to say that showing teeth is the best way to attract luck."

"Keep your wisdom to yourself, I don't need it," I spat, heaving a deep sigh. "And I don't need you here, so if you don't mind, get the hell out of my resort."

"Grumpy, jumpy, scaredy cat Ellie," he sang. "Never changed a bit. Good riddance."

"How about I throw you in my pool this time?"

"The morning looks bright and great, why so gloomy? Is it your time of the month?"

I gasped when he suddenly poked what's below my stomach. "You—"

"Keep ranting and I'll kiss you."

"Is that a threat, Mr. Blackwood?"

"More like a blessing. I know how you like it whenever I kiss you."

God, please give me strength not to erase his face.

"E, stop glaring at our partner," Bree chided, pulling me beside her and wrapping her arm around me. I shrugged her off. "Valerian actually volunteered to pay for all the expenses and the damage before we could even announce the partnership. He saved your idiot worker's job and our wallets from going bankrupt."

I shot Bree a look. "Wait, I thought you weren't on his side?"

"Come on, E. You know me. If someone's got the dough, I'm on their team. And in this case, Valerian's got the whole bakery," she replied, biting her lip as she looked at my ex-husband like he was the most delicious steak on the menu.

"You greedy monster," I whispered, earning a giggle from her.

"Just being practical and confident," she replied.

I couldn't tell if she was all about capitalism or if she was plotting something I'd hate.

"I've called an expert, and I estimate everything will be fixed in about three days, before the resort opens," Valerian butted in. "And I think I forgot to mention last night that we still need to discuss the events we're planning."

I narrowed my eyes at him. I could see a pattern of deceit in his pretty face. I didn't trust him.

"Don't worry about that, Valerian. My sister won't miss the chance to perfect the plan," Bree told him, turning to me with those warning eyes. "Right, E?"

Why did I feel like I was being forced into this?

She turned back to Valerian and said, "The contract is ready. All that's left is to sign it." Bree giggled like a tipsy fox before turning to me. "You can't back out. This is the moment where the profit will be sealed with a handshake. Don't chicken out," she lectured, faking a laugh at Valerian.

This bitch.

I rolled my eyes and whispered, "How about I think about it?"

I heard my sister grumbling something under her breath before getting distracted by a machine that sounded like it was farting. She started coaching the workers about their jobs as if she was an expert in labor.

"Always knew your sister had a mouth, but I'm still surprised every time I hear her machine-gun blah-blah," Valerian commented, making a talking mouth gesture with his hand.

He withdrew his grin when he saw my glare. "Since my 'reliable' sister already prepped the contract, I can call our lawyer, and maybe we can meet at my office. When are you free to sign the contract?" I asked, noticing the sparkle in his eyes. He thought I was making the first move. Hah! Jokes on him.

He cocked his head to the side and pouted his lips.

Is he fucking blushing?

"Even if I have a million things to do, you know I'd cancel everything if you asked."

Sighing heavily, I gave him my deadpan stare. "So, when are you free?"

"Why? Eager to work me, baby?" He wiggled his eyebrows.

Jeez, I just couldn't with him. "No, thank you. And concerning the plans for the events, I can write something up. If you need someone to discuss it with, I'll send you my representative."

"Cold," he muttered. "How about tonight, at my place?"

Sucking my cheek, I stepped closer to him. The jerk thought I was going to kiss him. "Are you thinking I'm that easy, Mr. Blackwood?"

He protruded his lower lip and leaned in close. "Should I remind you how you kissed me back last night?" he retorted. "I know you want me."

I froze.

That kiss has been bugging me ever since it happened. I slapped him before I walked out, yeah, but the warmth of it is still on my lips, and the taste hasn't gone away, even after brushing my teeth three times!

"You're biting that delicious lip of yours right now, I'm taking a wild guess. You're soaking wet for me now."

The confidence!

I pushed his face away with my forefinger. "Keep dreaming," I spat, rolling my eyes. "And keep your distance from me, Mr. Blackwood. Hate to see you with a black eye."

Wearing his signature smile that makes me want to squeeze my legs, he hummed and looked at his hands, which seemed like they were made of candles. My eyes lingered on his popping veins peeking from the cuffs of his shirt, and oh lala... how I missed those fingers inside me—no!

I had to erase those creepy memories! They haunted me!

"Then stop looking at me like you want me nine inches deep inside you, baby." He stole a kiss from my lips and wore a triumphant smile as he caught me off guard. "See you later tonight, hmm?"

Valerian started walking toward the lobby with his hands in his pockets, whistling a happy tune.

I watched his delicious figure walk away until he was gone. Then I realized... my sister was grinning at me, pointing at her phone.

"Don't worry, sis! I've got it all on camera!"

Fuck...