Thrill me, p.4
Thrill Me, page 4
part #3 of Billionaire's Secrets Series
“Looks like you’re ready to be tucked in,” he stated with a grin forming on his face.
I wanted to present the least sexy version of myself so that he didn’t get the idea that I wanted him to stay or that I wanted to have sex again—even though nothing would have made me happier. I couldn’t stop thinking about how explosive that orgasm had been. I could still feel my pussy throbbing and his fingers inside me.
“Well, it is late,” I said, and Owen narrowed his eyes at me while we stared at each other. A few seconds of silence passed between us, before he drew in a deep breath and started picking his clothes off the floor.
“Yeah, it’s pretty late, and it’s Saturday tomorrow. Big busy day at work,” he said as he slipped on his pants. Every move he made was sexy, lithe, and had the capacity to turn me on. I was finding it increasingly difficult to resist him, and I hoped that he left quickly, before I threw myself at him again.
“You work on Saturdays?” I asked him as he started buttoning up his shirt. If Owen was offended by the fact that I was subtly trying to get rid of him, he wasn’t showing it. He looked up at me, smiled, and shrugged.
“It’s difficult for me to stop working,” he said and picked up his tie off the floor.
“Right, okay. I hope you have a good weekend, Owen,” I said and tucked my hair behind my ears nervously.
At the same time that I wanted to be by myself, fantasizing about him, I was also upset about seeing him leave. I’d felt a connection with him, a spark that I knew was dangerous.
“I hope the same for you. I’m sure you’ll enjoy Brunswick,” he said and took a few steps toward me. His finely tailored clothes were uncreased and looked like he had stepped into a fresh set of them.
“Yeah, it’s good weather,” I replied, immediately realizing how silly I must have sounded. Owen smiled, then shook his head and turned from me. It seemed like he was going to kiss me but had changed his mind at the last minute.
“I’ll see myself out. Good night, Etta,” he said at the door, smoothly opening it.
“Good night,” I replied, with my voice choking in my throat.
I waited till he had shut the door securely behind him before I allowed my body to free-fall on to the bed.
I stared up at the dark ceiling and blinked. The sound of the clock ticking on the wall was loud in my ears, and I realized that I was wide awake. Even though I was exhausted after the traveling and exploring and the fact that I hadn’t slept well in the past eight months, I wasn’t able to even shut my eyes now and try and sleep.
I couldn’t get Owen out of my mind. He was a charming, self-confident, wealthy man who knew exactly the effect he had on women. He was the recipe for trouble, and I knew I should have kept my distance from him. Instead, I had fallen right into bed with him.
I had dated and slept with enough men like him to know exactly what they had to offer—nothing. No matter what kind of a connection I thought we had, men like Owen Rivera were nothing but heartbreaking machines. And I wasn’t stupid enough to allow myself to fall for men like him anymore.
I tried to tell myself I was strong enough as I continued staring up at the ceiling and thinking. He didn’t have to be anything more than a passing stranger in my life. But the fact that I couldn’t sleep nor stop thinking about him hinted that he had the potential of being more.
But I was fighting the idea. Besides, what were the chances of ever seeing him again? Brunswick was smaller than New York, but it wasn’t a small town either. If I got lucky, I would never have to see Owen Rivera again, and in a few days, I would hopefully have forgotten everything about him.
I tried to concentrate on the task on hand instead, the fact that I needed to impress Heidi McNeil the next day so that she would hire me. If I got the job, it could mean that when I finally went back to New York again, I would be able to rent more than a couch this time to live on.
Just maybe, I would have the option of still being independent and not having to move in with my parents after all these years.
If I got this job, then I would have a reason again to keep doing what I loved doing—organizing beautiful weddings. For that, I had to put my best foot forward and make sure that Heidi fell in love with all my ideas.
So, despite the fact that I already missed Owen, I closed my eyes with a smile pasted on my face. I was feeling confident in myself.
Chapter Six
Owen
My head wasn’t throbbing with the ache of a hangover as I sat at my desk in the office the next day. I was looking out lazily at the docks where our ships were being loaded.
It meant that I hadn’t been drunk the previous night, and I perfectly remembered everything that had happened. For the first time in I didn’t even know how many years, I remembered every detail about the woman I had slept with the previous night.
Etta Santoro’s hair, the beautiful plump lips I was ready to kiss again, and even the sound of her laughter.
I didn’t want to admit to myself that I had felt slightly wounded when she made it clear to me that she expected me to leave immediately. But that feeling still lingered inside me. What had I expected to do? Fall asleep with her in my arms? To cuddle after sex? Just the thought made my head dizzy, and I swiveled in my chair, just as my friend Rhett opened the door and stuck his head in.
“Hey, man, you free for like half an hour?” he asked, and I didn’t have the energy to explain to him that I’d been sitting like that on my chair the whole morning and I’d gotten no work done.
“Yeah, what’s up?” I said, trying to force myself to grin so that he didn’t realize that something was wrong. Something was very wrong. I was still thinking about the woman I’d fucked the night before. That never happened!
“Heidi has a meeting at the Regent Hotel, with a wedding planner I think, and I can’t drive her because I’m overseeing this shipment,” Rhett said, appearing in full view at the door now.
“Oh, right,” I said, remembering that his fiancée didn’t drive. I knew what he was about to ask even before he’d said the words, and I was ready for it.
“Do you think you can pick her up from the café and drive her there? She’ll take a cab on the way back, but she’s kind of in a rush right now and doesn’t want to be delayed for the meeting,” Rhett explained, and I stood up from the chair.
“Yeah, no problem, man. I’m on my way now, if you want to let her know,” I exclaimed, glad for the distraction. Heidi was always a fun person to be around, and I knew that the longer I sat in my office, the longer I’d have nothing to think about except Etta.
“Thanks, man, I’ll let her know,” Rhett said before disappearing, leaving me alone in the office again. I stole a few thoughts about Etta’s curves in the meantime and then left for Heidi’s café.
***
Heidi and I were laughing at the old nineties song that was playing on the radio.
“You know you have a good voice, Owen!” She laughed some more, while we were stuck in traffic on our way to the hotel.
“You mean a good shower voice?” I said and swerved to overtake the car in front of me.
“Jeez, Owen! I said I was in a hurry, but you don’t have to kill us in the process!” Heidi shrieked, and a hand flew up to her heart.
“So, tell me about this wedding planner. Is she some big shot from LA?” I asked, and Heidi sighed.
“Rhett wanted me to go all out for the wedding, but I wanted it to be right. Not over-the-top,” she said, and I nodded.
“Sounds like you,” I replied as we drove closer to the hotel.
“So, I did my research and spoke to some friends who got married recently, and I’ve found an independent wedding planner. She’s not associated with any big agencies, but she’s bursting with good ideas. I’m actually really looking forward to talking with her. I think she’ll do a good job. She’s passionate and has an eye for detail. Just the sort of thing I need,” Heidi continued as I parked my car outside the hotel.
“Sounds great, Heidi. I can’t wait to see how it all turns out,” I said, and she leaned in to give me a tight hug. I was genuinely happy for her and Rhett, because I knew how happy they made each other. Even though this falling-in love-and-getting-married business wasn’t exactly for me, I could appreciate it from a distance.
“Come on in if you like, sit in for the meeting, unless you’re busy. Rhett’s been too busy to join me, but I could do with a male perspective.” Heidi winked as she got out of the car.
“Sure, why not!” I said and got out of the car too. I was keen on doing anything that would keep me away from the office and away from thoughts about Etta.
Heidi and I chatted some more as we walked down the hotel lobby towards its restaurant, where the wedding planner was waiting for us.
I was still talking to Heidi when we walked into the room, and I did a double take when my gaze landed on Etta. She was sitting at a table near the bay windows and jumped off her chair when her eyes landed on Heidi. I felt my mouth run dry, and my temples started throbbing with excitement.
I hadn’t expected to see her ever again, let alone see her so soon. The next morning!
“You must be Etta! I’m Heidi.” Heidi was excited and gushing as she led the way toward the table. Etta smiled at her, and then it dropped from her face when her eyes fell on me behind Heidi. It was like all the color had drained from her face.
“Y—yes, I’m Etta, hi.” She extended her hand to Heidi, who brushed it away friendlily and instead pulled her in for a hug.
Etta’s eyes widened and remained stuck on me as she hugged, and I couldn’t help but smile. This was my freakin’ lucky day!
“And is this your fiancé?” Etta asked when Heidi finally pulled herself away. Etta’s eyes traveled over me, and I could see that there was a feeling of shock mixed with anger inside her. She was upset at the thought that she might have slept with a man who was engaged to be someone’s husband in two weeks.
Heidi laughed as she looked from me to Etta and then back at her again.
“I don’t have a death wish yet. No, this is Owen, he’s a friend—my fiancé’s best friend actually,” Heidi said, and I stuck my hand out toward Etta, who only glared at me with rage.
She looked different today, more professional. She was in formal gray pants with a white silk blouse tucked in, and her hair was tied up in a tight bun on the back of her head. She was wearing high gray heels as well and had more makeup on today. Clearly, Etta was in the mode to impress.
She accepted my handshake grudgingly, and I could feel my skin sizzling when we touched.
“You must be the much-talked-about wedding planner, flown all the way in from New York,” I said, and she gently pried her hand away from me.
“Oh! I don’t remember mentioning that Etta is from New York,” Heidi interjected, while Etta and I stared at each other.
“Yes, you did.” I smiled at Heidi, who was now looking curiously at Etta, no doubt surprised by her reaction towards me.
“Yes, I’m from New York,” Etta said in a droning flat voice, like she was in a daze. I was glad that I had some effect on her. At the very least she hadn’t already slapped my face!
“We are all very excited to see what you come up with for the wedding. Heidi tells me that you’re bursting with ideas.” I smirked as I spoke and tucked in a hand into the pocket of my pants. Etta appeared to be speechless, and she hadn’t been able to take her eyes off me. I couldn’t stop smiling at her either.
Heidi seemed confused, and she stepped in between us now and broke the spell.
“Yes, well, I asked Owen to sit in on the meeting, for a male perspective, but we don’t have to have him here,” she said to Etta gushingly and then turned around and threw me a look of warning.
Heidi, like everyone else in this city, seemed to be well aware of my reputation with women. She seemed to be eager to shield her newfound wedding planner from my bad behavior.
“No, I insist on sitting in, Heidi. Rhett would be grateful if I can keep you from making this wedding too girly,” I said with a laugh in my voice, and Heidi shot me another one of her warning looks.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Rivera, we have no intention of making this a girly wedding.” Etta’s voice was suddenly smooth and confident. She seemed to have gathered her senses, and now she was on the defense. She didn’t want herself to appear weak in my presence.
She just had no idea how badly I wanted to take her right there, throw her over the table, and possess her all over again.
“Yes, Etta is right, Owen. Neither you nor Rhett need to worry about that, although you seem more bothered by the idea than Rhett is!” Heidi exclaimed and then turned to Etta with a nervous laugh.
“Sorry about that. Don’t mind him Etta,” she said and ushered Etta toward the chair. While Etta and Heidi sat down on their chairs, I remained standing, my eyes focused on Etta and her curves. Her thighs were delicious, and I knew exactly how soft they were when I parted them the previous night.
“Yes, don’t mind me, Etta. All I have are my valuable suggestions to offer,” I said, grinning, and she looked up at me again, her brown eyes narrowed and fiery.
“I think we’ll be fine here, just the two of us, thank you, Mr. Rivera,” she said, and she stooped sideways to reach for the file in her big bucket bag.
“Thanks for the ride, Owen. I’ll be taking a cab back to the café when I’m done,” Heidi said, and finally I looked at her and took in a deep breath.
“I can sense when I’m not needed,” I said jokingly, and Heidi raised her eyebrows in an attempt to get me to leave as quickly as possible.
“You’re not needed, Owen,” she added through gritted teeth.
I looked over at Etta and noticed the way a few stray strands of her dark hair had escaped the bun and were now falling delicately over her eyes. She was even refusing to look at me anymore.
“All right, have fun, girls,” I said and turned on my heels and started walking away from the table.
“Sorry about that. Owen sometimes forgets his manners at home,” I heard Heidi say in a hushed tone when my back was turned.
“It’s all right. Should we start with my portfolio and move on to new ideas?” I heard Etta reply, and I kept walking.
It felt like I was walking on air, and there was a spring in my step. Even though Etta had been cold toward me and pretended like she despised my very face, the truth was that if Heidi hired her today, it would mean that Etta was going to remain in Brunswick for at least the next two weeks till the wedding. It would mean that I would at least see her at the wedding.
I had no idea why I was so excited at the prospect of seeing her again, when I knew now that she wanted to have nothing to do with me. I was just happy to know that I would have another opportunity to admire her from a distance.
Chapter Seven
Etta
Heidi and I had been talking for over an hour, but I had been feeling vulnerable the whole time. Not only had I seen and spoken to Owen so soon after our night together, but now I knew that he was closely connected with my new client.
I had been so focused on getting this job, on doing it right, that now I didn’t know how to handle the fact that Owen could be involved in it.
“So, cinnamon, yellow, and beige—I like that idea as the color scheme,” I heard Heidi say, snapping me out of my thoughts. This was supposed to be a business meeting, and I needed to be on high alert. Instead, I hadn’t been able to stop daydreaming about how handsome Owen had looked in his crisp black tailored pants and the powder-blue shirt he had on. They had matched his eyes, and I could see that the man had impeccable taste.
“Yes, I’m glad. I think that would look lovely for an outdoor wedding,” I replied, realizing that my cheeks were flushed while Heidi looked at me.
“You’re right, since it’ll be out by the docks—too much blue in the color scheme could look drab. Too predictable,” she continued, and I nodded.
I couldn’t help wondering how much Heidi knew, even though she had been nothing but friendly and encouraging throughout the meeting.
“I’m so excited, Etta! I knew I made the right decision to ask you to come here, and I’m sorry about the short notice. I’m aware that two weeks isn’t enough time to plan a wedding in a city that you aren’t familiar with,” Heidi said, and I pursed my lips together and smiled.
“Don’t worry, I’ve already done all the research regarding caterers and decorators, and I’ll take two days to finalize who we’ll hire. After that, we can all sit down and go over the details. You’ll need to pick a wedding cake as well,” I said, hoping that Heidi hadn’t noticed the flustered dreamy expression in my eyes.
I still hadn’t gotten over the shock of seeing Owen again. The shock of seeing him in daylight and being reminded of how hot he was.
“The cake will be easy. My café is taking care of it, and I’ll discuss it with my bakers,” Heidi said with a smile, and I nodded again.
Then she reached for my hand over the table and squeezed it.
“You are a godsend, Etta! I know I shouldn’t have left it till the last moment. I shouldn’t have presumed that I could plan my own wedding all by myself without any help!” she said and added a laugh, and I shook my head.
“Don’t apologize. I’m so grateful that you’re giving me a chance, and I’m going to work very hard to ensure that it all goes smoothly,” I said, and I was genuinely glad to have met her. She was the ideal client, and I knew that I couldn’t have asked for someone better to work with on a tight schedule.
Heidi had liked all my ideas, and she was giving me as much creative freedom as I needed. She was the one who was the godsend for me!
Heidi sat back in her chair then and took a sip of her orange juice. I was shuffling the pages back into my file, and I could sense her eyes on me. I could feel it in my bones that she was going to say something about Owen, which was why I didn’t want to meet her eyes. I assumed that she was going to apologize for his cocky behavior again.
“When did you meet Owen, Etta? I thought you just arrived here yesterday.” Heidi’s words had surprised me, and I looked up at her with my lips parted. She saw the look of horror in my eyes and decided to put me at ease immediately.
