19. Lily
Lily
M y eyes are glued to the window, pretending to be mesmerized by Los Angeles’s busy streets. In reality, I’m utterly engulfed by the man sitting next to me. Not only because his masculine scent surrounds me, but because I’m a mess of nerves and desire.
All that brooding force…
I’m scared shitless of what I’ve agreed to.
Changing my mind now would be embarrassing for both of us. And I’d be punishing myself by cutting my time short with this gorgeous beast of a man.
I chance a glance in his direction.
His eyes are riveted on the road in front of him.
Without an ounce of shame, I admire his profile. It has the same grace as a beautiful sculpture a master sculptor would carve from fine Italian marble. The sharpness of his cheekbones plays off the pale green of his eyes.
His jaw works.
I felt the light scruff of his chin against my cheek.
That would feel wicked between my thighs .
The ride to the hotel is quiet, the lounge music seeping from the speakers of his sports car fills the charged silence between us.
My gaze drops to his strong hand.
Watching him maneuver his speeding bullet is such a turn on.
Gage Hollingsworth drives like he kisses. With purpose.
He controls the vehicle with as much dexterity as he controlled my body.
God, for as long as I live, I’ll never forget that naughty encounter.
And to think, it’s the tip of the iceberg for tonight.
My stomach clenches.
As I was waiting for Gage to arrive with my clutch, I cursed the fact my phone was in it. Alone in his car, I was unable to call or text my best friend for support.
Now that he’s retrieved my bag, I can’t make the call.
I have to deal with this one on my own.
My fingers fidget with the clasp of the clutch on my lap.
“You’re having second thoughts?”
I flinch. “No, I’m not.”
He shoots me a side-gaze. “You’re sure about that, angel?”
I love the nickname he has for me. “Are you having second thoughts?”
“One thing you should know about me, when I make up my mind about something, shy of a catastrophe that’s out of my control, it’s game on.”
“Noted.”
“I meant what I said earlier. I want more of you, Lily. Nothing could change my mind about that.”
An eruption that could rival any Fourth of July firework explodes inside me.
He’s not promising to pick the moon for me, but that declaration does something to me. Maybe I’m a silly girl, but I sense he’s not the type to bullshit. No political verbal prowess to get me to bed.
He’s not using me as leverage to get something out of my father.
What a change.
He wants me for me.
Me.
A cloud of sexual tension floats inside the car, so palpable, I could reach out and hug it.
Until yesterday, I didn’t know what it meant to have chemistry with someone.
As it stands, Gage Hollingsworth is the sun, and I’m a planet floating around his orbit.
I’m wet again.
I’ve never been this aware of my body’s reaction to a man in my life.
I want this man beyond reason.
His car pulls up in front of the Pompadour Hotel.
We’re here.
My stomach bounces with nerves.
“Wait for me. I’ll come around.”
I shift in my seat. “Okay.”
He climbs out of the car, hands his keys to the valet, and rounds the front of the vehicle. He opens the door and extends a hand.
The man is unfairly hot, smoldering with swagger, style, and sexiness.
A beast and a gentleman.
He helps me out.
Gage places a hand on the small of my back and guides me towards the entrance. It’s a struggle to keep up with him. His gait is so much longer and faster than mine, I have to run on my tippytoes to keep up.
“Sorry,” he says. “I’m walking too fast.”
“Short legs and all,” I say. “And skyscraper heels.”
His eyes lower to my legs.
When they meet mine, the same hunger I saw earlier in the storage room returns in full force.
Oh boy.
“I can carry you,” he says.
“We are not making another scene.” My tone is firm.
He regards me for a beat.
Gage has that sullen, yet oh-so-scorching-hot je ne sais quoi thing going on right now.
He nods. “Okay.”
That’s all it took for the beast to back down?
I give myself an internal high five.
He sweeps me off my feet, bride-style. “You said not to make a scene. I’m not making a scene. This way, you can keep up with me… short legs, sky-high heels, and all.”
I roll my eyes.
I lace my arms around his neck for stability.
I love being this close to him.
“I’m eager to get you behind closed doors.”
My hormones ricochet through my body like the balls in a pinball machine.
I don’t understand this magnetic pull between us.
Gage drops me to my feet when we reach the door. He does it with so much care. It’s not what I would expect from this gruff, grumpy giant.
I adjust my outfit that’s gone askew.
“I wouldn’t worry too much about that if I were you,” he says. “As sexy as it is, you won’t be wearing that outfit for much longer. The sooner I have my mouth on your pussy, the happier I’ll be.”
Blink.
Blink.
Blink.
He’s a serious as a heart attack.
My heart is pounding against my chest way too hard for me to respond, so I stare at him.
“I’m not one to pussyfoot, Lily.”
I guess not.
He grabs me by the hand, and pulls me inside the hotel, forcing me out of my stupor.
The lobby is animated with travelers coming and going.
I don’t know why, but I search the crowd, expecting to see Michaela’s friendly face. It’s stupid, since we left her at the party.
God knows, I could use some sisterly advice right now.
A set of doors opens as we approach the elevator hall.
Gage extends a hand, inviting me in.
I enter and position myself against the wall.
He presses the button to my floor and comes to stand next to me.
The doors close.
We’re alone.
My eyes are glued on the dashboard as if it’s the most fascinating thing in the world.
Am I going to let him have his wicked way with me?
The higher the elevator rises, the more I’m a jumble of nerves.
Breathe.
“I know I can be a little intimidating, but do I make you that nervous?”
A little intimidating ?
More like a lot.
“I’m not nervous.” My voice croaks, stressing the obvious lie.
He pushes off the wall and comes to stand in front of me.
He cups my face in between his large hands and leans into me.
I breathe him in. The expensive scent of his cologne. The warmth of his skin. The mesmerizing green eyes studying me from behind those long lashes.
A slow roll of heat eases its way through me like the warmth of a summer breeze. Goosebumps prickle along my arms.
Will my body ever stop reacting to this man’s touch or proximity?
“Liar, liar,” he says. “Your nervous energy is going to screw up the electrical wiring and cause this elevator to stop.”
“Okay, I’m a little nervous.” My heart is beating in my throat.
He brushes his lips along the underside of my jaw. “Let me help.”
His mouth comes down on mine, hard and hungry. The contact is potent. When my hand travels along his arm and grips the hair at his nape, he lets out a string of curses.
If I thought he was kissing me before, now he’s ravishing my mouth.
The scorching hot kiss sends shockwaves coursing through my system.
We’re fused together so close, I’m certain he can hear the erratic beating of my heart.
My nipples scratch against the inside of my bra, wishing they were pressed against his bare chest. My pussy pulsates so hard, I swear I’m doing Kegel exercises .
This man is turning me into someone I don’t even recognize.
He pulls away from me for a shuddering breath.
His enchanting wintergreen eyes darken to inky black orbs, his wide chest rising and falling, his nostrils flaring.
He’s the Big Bad Wolf staring at Little Red Riding Hood.
“Fuck, I love your mouth.” His voice is as delightful as buttered toast sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon. “I can’t stop kissing you.”
I’m fifty shades of turned on right now, so much so, I don’t know what to do with myself. “Then, don’t stop kissing me.”
Fire ignites in his eyes, making me wetter.
He picks me up in his arms, and I wrap my legs around his waist, climbing him like a tree. Gage takes a step until my back is pressed against the wall. I moan when he pushes against me. A sharp ache pulses between my thighs.
I’m desperate for relief.
I use the hardness pressing against my damp shorts and grind.
“You dirty girl.” His hands sneak underneath my shorts, groping my bare ass.
I gasp.
“Let me help with that,” he says.
I don’t have time to figure out what he means.
The hands groping my ass knead relentlessly, keeping me moving against his erection with intensifying friction.
All my nerve endings are lit up like fire torches.
This is so inappropriate.
So lewd.
So debauched.
Knowing I affect him in this way is such an aphrodisiac.
One large hand leaves my ass cheek to travel up, over my hip and rib cage, stopping under my breast. The back of his fingers brush over my nipples and my eyes roll into the back of my head.
“Fuck, these are so nice,” he says.
“I don’t have huge breasts.” The words fly out of my mouth.
Crap.
Great timing for my insecurities to rear their ugly head.
There are so many women in LA walking around with DDs.
“Your tits are perfect,” he says before devouring my mouth. When his palm cups over my breast before squeezing hard, my eyelids flutter closed at the onslaught of blissful sensations.
He breaks our kiss, meeting my heavy-lidded eyes. “Fuck, you’re so wet.” When his mouth finds mine, he bites my lower lip.
A whimper escapes me.
Good God, this man needs to come with a warning.
He devours my mouth on a loud grunt, sucking my tongue until I writhe against him, his hips pressing upward, hitting me right where I desperately need it.
I’m going to come.
The elevator jerks to a stop.
Shit.
Panic slams through me.
We abruptly cease our naughty play, and Gage lowers me to my feet. With trembling hands, I struggle to adjust my clothing to hide what was happening between us.
The doors open and a wave of animated and chatty Italians crowd the elevator.