20. Wilder
20
WILDER
What the…
Sloane? In my bed? I lifted the covers and looked down at myself.
Still dressed.
So was she. I wasn’t sure if I should be disappointed or grateful that I didn’t remember what the hell had happened last night. But I really liked the way it felt waking up wrapped around her. Though I had to pee pretty bad. And I had no idea how the heck I was going to extract myself from the tangle of limbs without waking her. Also, damn… my dick was right up against her ass. I was a guy, so I often woke with an erection. But right now, I was hard as a rock. It was probably a good thing she was still sleeping, or I might get my ass kicked.
I inched back, trying to slip my arm from beneath her when Sloane’s head suddenly turned.
“You’re awake?” she said.
“Sorry. I was trying to get up to go to the bathroom without waking you.”
“I’ve been awake for a while.”
She pushed up to her elbow, releasing my arm, and I slipped from the bed and headed to the bathroom. But as soon as I was upright, my head started pounding. Fuck. What the hell did I drink last night?
Standing in front of the toilet bowl, I unzipped and attempted to pull my rigid cock down enough to hit the water, but that wasn’t happening. Not even close. I was too damn hard. So I had to lean forward, palms against the wall behind the toilet and angle in. I cursed under my breath as the stream started, trying to remember something about last night—any little bits and pieces.
I remembered the moment Sloane had walked into the mansion. She’d looked so freaking gorgeous in that green dress. I’d been standing at the top of the stairs, watching the people down below. She’d entered looking straight ahead, so it gave me the chance to take a long look without getting caught.
I remembered snapping a picture of her talking to Elijah and laughing, when she wasn’t looking.
I remembered us dancing.
I remembered how good she smelled, how goose bumps had prickled along her arms when I touched her, but she tried to act like she wasn’t affected.
I remembered telling her that every time I picked something out for her to wear, I imagined myself peeling it off of her.
I remembered her gasping when she felt my hard-on up against her belly on the dance floor.
But then… it got fuzzy.
Until it didn’t.
I shut my eyes.
Natasha.
Fucking Natasha cut in.
Great. Just great.
I finished peeing, washed my hands, splashed some water on my face, and looked in the mirror. I looked like shit. About the way I felt at the moment, I supposed. A shower was in order. But I needed to get clothes from the bedroom and let Sloane know first. So I took a deep breath and attempted to look like I didn’t feel like I’d been run over by a Mack truck. I opened the bathroom door.
Sloane was sitting up in bed now, wearing one of my T-shirts and a pair of my sweats rolled at the waist. Her eyes dropped to my crotch and widened.
“Sorry,” I said. “It has a mind of its own.”
She smiled. “I know. I thought your leg was poking me in the ass when I woke up. Yet you were still snoring like a baby.”
I frowned. “Sorry.”
She waved me off. “It’s fine. I could’ve slept somewhere else if it bothered me. I didn’t help myself to a tour of the place, but I noticed a lot of doors, so I assume there are other alternatives somewhere.”
I took a seat on the edge of the bed next to her and ran a hand through my hair. “What happened last night? Some of the evening is… foggy.”
“What do you remember?”
“Not enough…”
“Well, let me summarize for you. I acted like a jealous asshole, and you got upset and drank too much.”
My brows lifted. “ You acted like the asshole, not me? Are you just trying to make me feel better?”
Sloane shook her head. “No. I was definitely the asshole.”
“Did it have something to do with a woman who cut in while we were dancing?”
She nodded. “The lovely Natasha also cornered me in the bathroom to make sure I knew you’d slept together and that I shouldn’t expect anything more than a good lay.”
I dropped my head and closed my eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Maybe not last night. But the life I’ve been leading has come back to bite me in the ass, and that’s my fault.” I shook my head. “Not just last night, but in general. You have doubts about my intentions, and I really can’t blame you. You do the same thing over and over enough times, people start to be able to predict the future. Even I question if I’m capable of being the man you deserve. I don’t want to hurt you, Sloane.”
She bumped her shoulder with mine. “I think both of our pasts are getting in the way of our future. I won’t lie and say your dating history doesn’t give me some concern, but it’s not the biggest reason I’ve been keeping you at a distance.”
“It’s not?”
She shook her head. “My own past has left me with a lot of insecurities and self-esteem issues, if I’m being honest. I was afraid to believe you actually liked me, and this wasn’t just about the chase.”
“Was? Does that mean you believe me now?”
She smiled. “Well, it’s either that or you’re a serial killer.”
I laughed. “I’m not sure I’m following.”
“I saw the screen saver on your laptop, with all the pictures of me. It made me understand how you see me, instead of how I’ve been seeing me.”
I brushed a piece of hair from Sloane’s cheek and looked into her eyes. “I see you as beautiful, inside and out.”
Her face went soft. “I believe you do. I’m not sure you’re right, but I finally understand that’s really what you see.”
“Good.” I kissed her forehead. “Because this is one thick skull to get things through.”
She smiled. “That’s not the first time I’ve heard that.”
I took her hands. “Will you let me take you out now? On a date?”
“When?”
“Tonight.”
“I can’t. I’m leaving. My flight is at nine. I have to be at work on Tuesday.”
“But you would go out with me if your flight wasn’t today?”
She nodded. “Maybe we can do it next time you’re in New York?”
No way in hell was I waiting another day, much less until I got back to New York, now that she’d said she’d give me a chance. I looked around and found my phone on the end table. The little battery symbol at the top was red, but at least it was working. I called up my contacts and scrolled down to D. Finding the name I wanted, I hit the call button and brought the phone to my ear.
Sloane’s cute little nose wrinkled. “Who are you calling?”
I held up a finger and waited. One ring. Two rings. Three. I started to think he wasn’t going to answer, but then a deep voice came on.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Dad.”
Sloane’s eyes bulged.
“What’s up, kiddo?” my father said.
“Do you remember that park I had you take Mom to years ago, when you came to stay with her at the end?”
“The church ruins she loved so much?”
“That’s the one.”
“Beautiful place. What about it?”
“They sometimes do weddings. I was thinking… since your team is here anyway, maybe they could stay an extra day or two and cover it for the magazine for a future spread.”
“It’s funny you should say that. Because when I was there with your mom, I asked her to marry me again.”
“Weren’t you still married to wife number three?”
Dad sighed. “That’s why she said no.”
I laughed. “And probably why you’re on marriage number four.”
“You make a good point.” Dad chuckled. “But sure, if the team doesn’t mind staying, I think it would make a great story.”
I grinned and met Sloane’s eyes. “I don’t think they’ll mind an extra night or two.”
“You run it past them and tell them to let Bill Winkler know what they decide. He runs the magazine division.”
I wiggled my eyebrows. “I’ll definitely run it past them. Thanks, Dad. Talk to you soon.” I hung up and tossed my phone over my shoulder with a shit-eating grin.
Sloane shook her head. “I’m terrified by how quickly you came up with that story.”
I weaved my fingers with hers. “Will you stay and have dinner with me? We can go back to the park tomorrow or the next day and do a shoot.”
She bit her lip. “What about Elijah?”
“Obviously he’ll have to stay, too. But I’m not taking him to dinner. I want you all to myself.”
Sloane rolled her eyes, but I saw a smile. “I’ll talk to him.”
“Thank you.”
“But first, you need to make me some coffee. I’ve been up for hours and I’m dying.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I stood, tugging her up with me. “Come on. I’ll start it brewing and then take a quick shower, if you don’t mind.”
“Okay.”
I led Sloane out to the kitchen and lifted her onto the counter next to the coffee maker. “I’m going to make it. But I’m also going to show you how.” I winked. “So you can make it if you’re up before me on our next sleepover.”
A little while later, I was in the shower. I wasn’t sure if it was the hot water pelting my shoulders or the fact that Sloane was most likely going to be staying that cured my hangover. But I came out feeling like a new man. I started to get dressed, but then thought better of it and kept just the towel wrapped around my waist. (And I might’ve done a few dozen push-ups in the bathroom, because you can never look too good.)
Sloane was sitting in the living room with her coffee when I walked out. Her eyes followed the drops of water still running down my chest. She swallowed, and my dick twitched in response—it really did have a mind of its own. Sloane noticed.
I didn’t have to look down to know there was an outline now—a nice, thick one. I fucking loved seeing her eyes all over me, seeing how I affected her. But there was a fine line between showing off and being a giant asshole, so I poured a coffee and excused myself to get dressed. When I came back, Sloane was standing at the windows, looking out at London. I walked up behind her.
“This view is incredible,” she said.
“I can’t complain.”
“How long have you lived here?”
“About five years. My first place was a one-bedroom. I needed somewhere bigger since Lucas stays over a lot. And this is closer to his school. I’m going to guess I didn’t offer you a tour last night?”
She smiled. “You passed out on the drive home. You’re lucky you made it to the bedroom.”
I nodded. “Come on. I’ll show you around.”
Down the hall, I opened the door to my office first. It was filled with team pictures, a shitload of trophies and plaques, and the usual equipment—laptop, printer, scanner. Next, I showed her Lucas’s room. It was a mess, but at least the bed was sort of made.
“He’s not the cleanest or the most organized kid.”
She looked around at the walls. “My niece would love the artwork in here.”
“You’ll have to come back and bring her.”
The tour continued on to two bathrooms, a small room filled with weights and exercise equipment, and then we headed to the last door at the end of the hall, the spare bedroom. I opened the door, but quickly pulled it shut.
“What?” she asked. “Is someone in there?”
“No… I, uh…”
“What’s in there that you don’t want me to see?”
“Nothing.”
She frowned. “You’re not a very good liar, Wilder.”
I didn’t want her to think the worst, like I was hiding a bed with chains and a torn pair of panties my sex slave had forgotten the other night. So I decided to come clean. I rubbed the back of my neck. “It just arrived yesterday morning.”
“What arrived?”
I pushed the door open and held my hand out for her to enter first.
Sloane hesitated before walking in. “Oh my God. You have my suitcase! Why didn’t you tell me it came?”
“I was going to. Just not until today. I was afraid if I told you yesterday, you’d wear the dress you brought and make me return the one I got you.”
“So?”
“I really wanted you to have it. Plus, I couldn’t wait to see you wear that green dress.”
She laughed, covering her mouth. “Oh my God. You are insane.”
I slung my arm around her shoulder. “I blame you. You won’t let me see you naked, so I have to get off on shopping for you.”
“You better be careful. You have really good taste, and you buy things I could never afford. I might not let you see me naked just to keep you shopping.”
“What if I promise the shopping will get better after I see you naked? I could end the tour with another visit to my bedroom?”
She smiled and shook her head. “I should get back to my hotel and talk to Elijah.”
“Can I make you breakfast first?”
“Shopping for me, cooking for me… a girl could get used to this.”
I winked. “That’s what I’m counting on, Cupcake.”