Chapter 58
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Milly—please make yourself comfortable while I’m away. And yes, you may borrow my clothes if you wish. Yours, Neil. x.
T he note was stuck to Neil’s fridge with a magnet. It made me smile every time I looked at it, easing the sting of his departure, the secrecy, and my powerlessness.
Without the privilege of accompanying him on his trip, the most I could do to help was look after his pets to the best of my ability—a role I was more than willing to fulfil.
“Who wants treats?”
I shook the bag, and Bowey and Chichi materialised at my feet, tails swaying in anticipation. I sprinkled their favourite snacks into their bowls. They tucked in while Archie watched on. He gave a breathy whine.
“Not for you, bud.”
Jowls drooping, Archie whimpered again, looking at me with those mournful eyes.
“Okay, okay. How about walkies instead?”
I located his leash and clipped it to his collar. A quick ride down, then we emerged into the Viaduct. Archie stopped every few paces to sniff each pole and rubbish bin as we ambled along the waterfront promenade towards Silo Park. I tilted my face up to catch the breeze off the sparkling blue water, squinting against the glare of sunlight on gentle swells. White sails and clumsy seagulls dotted the scene. My thoughts circled to Neil, wondering how he was getting on in Singapore. Contact from him had been sparse over the last few days and provided little insight. Whatever his mysterious dealings entailed, I still nurtured a shred of unease. I sighed, dropping onto a bench facing the marina, watching luxury yachts bob at their moorings. My life had been flipped upside-down in the past year. And it was about to flip again. Soon, I’d be heading off to backpack around Europe while Neil carried on without me…
The ding of a new text message snapped me from my pensiveness. I peered at the screen. What was Hannah doing texting me at some ungodly hour in her time zone?
Do you know what’s happening with Nicole?
I shot her a reply.
About her wedding postponement?
It’s all called off now.
I gawped at the message. Nicole’s perfect romance had seemed like something out of a magazine spread—well, up until the postponement. I recalled the last conversation I had with her, and how hard she must have been trying to keep it together.
Nicole’s been quiet, but I’ve heard rumours she cheated.
Any sympathy I had for her dried up in an instant.
Damn. Poor Paul if it’s true.
Maybe this makes me a bad friend, but I think it’s true.
You know her better than me, so I have to agree.
Archie lumbered over and flopped at my feet with a groan of protest that echoed my own sigh. I gave his belly a sympathetic rub. “Getting tired, bud?”
He grunted.
“Let’s head back.”
I had no reason to dwell on the news about Nicole. To think I used to envy her life. How times had changed.
After returning to Neil’s apartment, Archie made a beeline straight for his dog bed, snuffling and turning a few times before he settled with a snore. Now that I had taken care of the pets’ needs, I had time to kill before making dinner.
Maybe I’ll read something.
I wandered over to the packed bookcase. As my fingers trailed along a row of battered paperbacks, I noticed the fine layer of dust coating the topmost shelf. I clucked my tongue, my inner neat freak waking from dormancy. Neil’s new cleaner obviously didn’t share my meticulous approach. But that was easily remedied. I rolled up my sleeves. Neil kept most of his limited cleaning supplies stowed under the kitchen sink. I gathered everything into a bucket along with a few microfibre cloths, then set to work dusting and wiping every surface.
Once I had eliminated every trace of grime, I changed the cats’ litter boxes and refreshed their water bowls. After one last survey to ensure everything was immaculate, I shucked my rubber gloves and sank onto the couch. Chichi leapt up to drape herself across my legs while Bowey hopped onto the back cushion, peering down at me with lamp-like eyes. Archie continued to snore nearby, curled up with his favourite squeaky pizza toy.
I leaned back and admired the view through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Boats drifted across the harbour, and daydreams floated in my head. I pictured Neil hovering above me, his eyes burning with lust, my fingers tangled in his hair as our mouths met again and again. I shivered, recalling his hands roving my body, his breath hot against my neck…
A noise coming from the door startled me out of my daydream. I glanced up just as the door clattered open. Neil’s dark frame filled the entryway, his carry-on luggage bumping over the threshold behind him. He was dressed in business casual, his hard jaw peppered with stubble. My heart launched into my throat at the sight of him. I swung forward and off the couch. “You’re back! I thought you were coming tomorrow?”
“Change of plans.” Neil kicked off his shoes. “My flight got cancelled, so I made a split decision to take an earlier one. I wanted to surprise you.”
“Mission accomplished!”
Archie stirred, lifting his grizzled head. At the sight of Neil, he lumbered over to greet him with a flurry of sniffs and grumbling woofs.
“Have you been a good boy while I was away?” Neil asked, stooping closer to Archie’s level.
“He’s been very well-behaved.”
“Thank you for looking after him. And the cats.”
“No problem at all.”
Once man and man’s best friend had been properly reacquainted, Neil steered me back to the couch. We sat down beside each other with his arm slung behind my shoulders. He drew me close and kissed my forehead. “I’ve missed you,” he said.
“I missed you too.” I tucked my head in the crook of his neck, his chest beneath my cheek. “How was your trip?”
“Everything went smoothly.” Neil nuzzled me. “What about you? How did you manage without me?”
As much as I’d missed having him near, a part of me still smarted from being left out of the loop about his clandestine dealings in Singapore. “I managed just fine. But tell me more about your trip. I want to know the details.” I levelled my gaze at him. I wasn’t going to let him deflect my question again.
For a beat, his expression went carefully neutral. Then his shoulders sagged. “Yes. I suppose I owe you that much.” He reached over and took my hand, his thumb tracing patterns across my knuckles. “Veronica recently gave birth to her son, Benjamin. My trip to Singapore was to facilitate a secret visit between Veronica, the chairman, and Ben.”
“Why secret? Can’t the chairman just meet his grandson normally? They’re family, after all.”
“Because Daniel doesn’t know Ben exists. Not yet. If he did, Ben could be in danger. You see, Daniel only has two legitimate children—both daughters. And his son from a past relationship has special needs that make him ill-suited to take over the reins of the company someday. With the arrival of Ben, the chairman has a new viable successor, one that could sway succession talks in Veronica’s favour.”
As the full extent of Neil’s intricate gambit became clear, my scepticism and hurt faded. “You could have told me all of this before you left.”
“Yes, I could have—but if someone were to get their hands on you because they think you have information…” Neil shook his head. “It’s over now, so I can tell you. But not a word of this to anyone.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“I’m sorry I can’t be more forthcoming with you.”
“It’s okay. I know you have your reasons. I’m just glad you’re back.” I glanced at his luggage. “How about I help you unpack?”
“It can wait. This is more important.” He traced the curve of my jaw to cup my face and kissed me.
I peered over the top of my book, admiring the view as Neil emerged from the ensuite in a plume of steam. His hair was damp, and his bathrobe gaped, clinging to the sharp lines of his collarbone and offering a tantalising peek of toned chest and stomach. An errant water droplet trickled down his forearm, catching the light as it traced a prominent vein before disappearing beneath his sleeve. I bit my lip, suppressing a smile. “Good shower?” I asked, trying to keep my voice even.
“Yes,” Neil said. “Much needed.”
With a satisfied exhale, he crossed the room to his side of the bed while towelling off his hair. He dropped onto the mattress, then immediately sprang up with a wince. He reached under the duvet and extracted a bubblegum-pink silicone object.
My vibrator.
“Well, well, well…” Gripping his discovery between thumb and forefinger, he lifted his eyebrows at me. “What do we have here? Don’t think this belongs to me.” He dangled the toy in front of me. I made a hapless grab for it, but he whisked it out of reach, chortling.
“I can explain,” I stammered.
“No need. The evidence speaks for itself.” He switched the toy on and off for an experimental buzz, eyebrows leaping even higher.
I covered my face behind my book. “I can’t believe I left that there.”
“Now, now.” Neil leaned in close enough for his warm breath to graze my earlobe. “Don’t be ashamed. I’m just glad you were able to take care of your needs in my absence.”
A fresh wave of heat suffused my body.
Neil trailed his hand down my side. “How many times did you use it?”
“I don’t know.”
“You must have some idea.”
“Maybe once a day. I can’t remember.”
The mattress dipped, and I uncovered my eyes to see Neil above me, an arm braced either side, caging me in. He plucked the book from my hands and set it aside. All my nerve endings sparked to attention.
I crossed my arms and shot him a venomous glare. “You’re loving this, aren’t you?”
“I can’t help it.” He grinned. “You’re just so fun to tease.”
“Enough.” I grasped the back of his neck and pulled him down. Our mouths met in a blistering kiss that obliterated conscious thought. Neil gathered me against his body, his skin still flushed and damp from the shower. I sank deeper into the kiss, feeling the wet-hot sensation of his lips and tongue exploring my mouth. Neil groaned as I squeezed my legs tighter around him. He pulled away to murmur, “Show me,” pressing the vibrator into my hand. “Show me how you pleasure yourself.”
I hesitated, startled by the request. “I’m not sure?—”
“Trust me, Melia, nothing in the world would be sexier to me.”
I let the idea sink in, taking a moment to get comfortable with it.
“You don’t have to,” Neil said.
But I had already made up my mind. “I’ll do it.”
If it would drive him wild, it would be worth any potential embarrassment. He gave my shoulders a squeeze, then backed away from me.
“What are you doing?” I asked, watching him get up from the bed.
“Getting into position.” He pulled up the chair from the corner of the room to sit at the foot of the bed.
“I didn’t think I’d be putting on a show.”
“I want to put some distance between us so I’m not tempted to interfere.” He placed his elbows on the armrests and intertwined his fingers under his chin. “Go on.”
I sat on the bed in front of him, unsure where to begin.
“Open your legs,” he said.
I complied, exposing the crotch of my underwear beneath the oversized t-shirt I was wearing as a nightgown. Neil’s gaze followed the movement. I could sense his anticipation, and it gave me a surge of confidence. I brought the vibrator between my thighs and began to trace it over myself in slow patterns.
Neil watched with rapt attention. Emboldened, I turned it on, its hum filling the room. Neil’s breath hitched, and he adjusted his position in the chair. I moved in circles, hips rocking in time with the motion.
“That’s it,” Neil said. “Just like that.”
I opened my legs even wider, giving him a better view. I moved faster, more erratically. Neil was fixated, his hands clamping the arm rests. I pressed hard, moving side to side, up, down. Faster. Harder.
“Take off your underwear,” Neil begged, voice ragged. “Please. I want to see all of you.”
I obeyed, tugging them down my legs and kicking them onto the floor.
“F-fuck,” Neil whimpered.
The vibrations felt even more intense this way. Pressure built up as I stroked myself into a frenzy. “I’m… I’m… Ah!” I gasped, my body convulsing.
“Good,” Neil said. “That’s so good.”
As I ground through each crashing wave, the vibrator sputtered, then died. “It’s had it,” I said, breathless. “Piece of junk.”
Neil undid the tie of his robe as he stood up, revealing just how hard he was for me. He dragged my discarded underwear closer with his foot. A few frenetic pumps, then he came with a groan, spilling himself on my underwear. He stood there until he caught his breath. Then he was on the bed, arms around me, pressing a kiss to my forehead. We lay in silence for a moment, recovering. Neil reached down and fished the busted vibrator from the blankets. “Well, it served its purpose,” he said.
“It certainly did.”
“I’ll buy you a new one. A decent one.”
“I’m going to hold you to that. I’ll need one while I’m away.”
While I’m away.
A shadow flickered across Neil’s face at my words, there and gone. He drew me closer to him. “We should make the most of the time we have left together before you leave.”
“And how do you plan on achieving that?”
“I know all this secrecy has been hard on you. It’s been hard on me too. I want to take you out on a proper date.”
I blinked at him. As much as I had daydreamed about going out and showing him off as my boyfriend, I had already resigned myself to our covert meetups being the closest he could offer me for the foreseeable future. “But how? People would see us.”
“So we go out of town. Far away enough we won’t run into anyone who could recognise us.”
“Like where?”
“Somewhere quaint, quiet… We could have dinner, stay at a bed-and-breakfast, make love all night, sleep in all morning.”
“Sounds perfect. When are we going?”
“Soon. As soon as possible.”
I couldn’t tell if he was being serious, or if this was just a flight of fancy, but I let myself believe it could be a reality.