EIGHT
H is rough hands were wrapped around my throat while he pounded into me. One leg over his shoulder and the other hooked across his bicep, spreading me wide open.
"You feel so fucking good," Nicolas groaned in my ear, the sounds of his pleasure only heightening my own. I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. He pulled out and slammed back into me making me cry out. "Look at me."
"Nico," I breathed, moaning nonstop. "I can't—I'm trying, but I can't." Desperate. Needy. Submissive. That's what I sounded like right now. Willing to do anything to ensure this feeling lasted longer.
He pulled out again, only to slam back into me, making the pressure in the pit of my stomach feel more overwhelming. "When you come all over my cock, I want those pretty fucking eyes on me."
"You're so deep. Too deep."
"Good," he groaned, thrusting into me viciously. He angled his dick upward and I gasped, digging my nails into his biceps. "You won't forget me, will you?"
"No," I whimpered. How could I when he was practically inside of my soul at this point?
"Now come all over my cock. Give me every single ounce of that orgasm and give it me to really fucking good—"
“—Gabriella," my assistant called out to me. I looked up from my laptop, feeling the blood rapidly rushing to my face.
One month passed by and I still couldn't rid myself of the memories that plagued my mind. The night I shared with Nicolas was intimate, passionate, and addictive.
One month since I left without even saying goodbye. After our rather eventful night, I ended up falling asleep alongside him. Initially, he had his muscular arms wrapped tightly around my waist, as if to ensure I didn't go anywhere.
However, as the night progressed, he changed positions. I wasn't going to leave so abruptly, but in the middle of the night my phone rang and I found out there was a family emergency. Hence, the reason I needed to return home.
I didn't even think twice, I packed my bags, booked the next flight, and left the hotel without a second thought. I didn't even leave my number because I knew I wouldn't see him again, but I'd be lying if I said I stopped thinking about him.
Many nights I found myself tossing and turning, trying to get at least an inkling of sleep. He really meant what he said. He ruined me. I couldn't even look in another man's direction without making comparisons.
I always wondered what his thoughts were when he woke up. Was he upset or was he relieved that he didn't have to deal with any awkward post sex conversations?
"Yes?" I cleared my throat, shutting my laptop and focusing my attention on Melissa. I smiled at her apologetically. "I'm sorry, my mind isn't here today."
"Don't worry about it," she said reassuringly. "Are you okay?" Having an assistant was definitely something I never thought I'd agree with, but seeing as most of my time was spent out of office, I needed someone to help me manage my schedule.
I didn't easily forget important tasks, but as humans, we tended to have a slip up here and there, so I wanted to avoid that. "I'm okay, Mel." She raised an eyebrow, making me chuckle. "I promise. Now tell me, what's on the agenda for today?"
"Very well then." I was grateful she didn't press me on the matter, because God knows I would've cracked like an egg. "You have two important meetings today. One virtual and one in person."
I nodded and tapped on my smart watch. "What time?"
"Virtual meeting is at 12:00 p.m. via Skype with William Bennett. In person meeting is at 2:00 p.m. with Naomi Stone." My eyes widened slightly.
I completely forgot about that. Naomi was extremely influential, wealthy, and held a large amount of power in New York City. Her parents owned an oil company and automatically guaranteed her a spot at the table when they retired.
They'd be stepping down from their place as CEO and COO soon, which meant Naomi would be taking over. The woman had multiple degrees and could easily close billion dollar deals with her negotiation skills.
I could only imagine what event she planned this time, and having encountered her a few times, I knew she loved the finer things in life and was an advocate for extravagance. She was also a perfectionist and wanted things done in a meticulous way.
I needed to mentally prepare myself for both meetings, because William wasn't the easiest person to get along with, either .
"Seems like I have my hands full today."
Melissa laughed and nodded. "You don't have anything to worry about, though. You're a natural during these meetings."
"It still never ceases to make me anxious, though." She entered my office and smiled warmly. Melissa had a calming aura about her, hence the reason I chose to work with her.
"Everything's going to be fine. You're the professional, you've got years of experience."
I got up from my chair and walked over to her. "Despite my professionalism, most of our clients can be quite difficult, so I constantly have to choose my words wisely. Let's get some breakfast before we begin our day."
"That would be lovely actually, I'm starving."
"Same. I don't think I'll make it throughout the day if I don't eat something right now." Melissa chuckled and hooked her arm in mine as we exited the office.
"I've got so much work to complete, I don't think clubbing is the best activity for me to participate in right now." Kehlani sighed on the other end of the line.
"I know your week has been stressful, though, think of it as unwinding."
"Your persuasive skills require some work, babe." I laughed. "I'd much rather unwind in my house, in the comfort of my bed."
"I'm not above begging," she said.
"Then by all means, go ahead and do that. I'm still not changing my mind."
"Please, Gabriella." I could practically see her pouting. "Please, I'll do anything. We haven't been out in so long. Kayden's working all weekend so I'm going to be by myself."
"For the love of God. If I say yes, will you stop nagging?" I asked playfully. I could hear her squealing on the other line. I just knew she was probably jumping up and down.
"Yes! I'll pick you up in thirty minutes."
"You're coming to pick me up? So I take it you plan on staying sober tonight?" I made my way towards my closet, searching for something to wear.
"No, silly, I have a driver for occasions just like this. If I ever went to a club and stayed sober, then you should take it as a warning sign." I laughed again, shaking my head.
"Why does that not surprise me?" With the phone tucked between my ear and shoulder, I skimmed through the rack of clothing. "Also, if you really want me to join, I'll need more than thirty minutes to get ready."
"Don't make me knock it down to twenty-five."
"You're pure evil." She chuckled as I grabbed a red dress off the hanger and held it up in front of me. "See you in thirty."
"Gabriella, this is Amala." I smiled at the woman and shook her hand. "Amala, this is my best friend, Gabriella."
"It's so nice to finally meet you," Amala said politely. The front sections of her hair were dyed grey, which was a drastic contrast to her long, pitch black hair.
"Likewise." We were seated at the bar of the club which turned out to be more pristine than I expected. It seemed like the kind of place elitist people would spend their days. "What are you drinking? "
"Gin and tonic," Amala replied.
"I'm assuming you're having a strawberry daiquiri?" I gazed at Kehlani who was subtly dancing to the music. She nodded frantically and smiled.
"Is the friendship even real if you don't know my drink of choice?" Amala and I chuckled at Kehlani's response as we fell into conversation, though the last three words reminded me of the moment Nicolas and I shared at the wedding reception.
God, I was down bad.
Turns out Amala was a federal agent. Kehlani and her met three years ago at a lifestyle event and have been friends ever since. She's been trying to introduce us to each other, but our schedules kept clashing.
Kayden works as an intelligence analyst for the Federal Bureau and Amala was the one who introduced him to Kehlani. Talk about a top tier matchmaker.
I ordered a pina colada because the last thing I wanted was to get drunk out of my damn mind. We sipped on our drinks until Kehlani decided it was time for shots.
"This isn't going to end well," I muttered to Amala who placed her face in her hands before looking up at me.
"Trust me, I'm well aware. We should probably get her out of here before we all end up drunk on the bathroom floor."
"The two of you are overthinking. Just let loose," Kehlani chimed in. I sighed at the laid back response. Kehlani was the complete opposite of me. She was carefree, easy going, a wildcard. But at the same time, she was the nurturer, extremely soft natured, and went out of her way for the people she loved.
We were at completely different ends of the spectrum. "That's just another way of saying that we shouldn't worry about anything else and we should get smashed." I grimaced. "I can foresee the hangover already."
"I have work tomorrow," Amala groaned. "In fact, said work could even call me right now, so this is risky business."
"Are you even living if you don't take any risks?" Kehlani questioned, pushing one shot toward each of us. I blinked rapidly and prepared myself for the onslaught.
We raised our tiny glasses, clinked them together, and tossed it back without hesitation. "Jesus." I released a heavy breath. "Is this tequila?"
"Of course, it's tequila." Kehlani grinned.
"Says the woman who complained when I offered her a vodka shot at her reception."
"I've evolved." Amala and I chuckled at her response.
Loud, obnoxious music blared through the speakers in the overcrowded— overrated —club. Ares patted me on the back, inevitably pushing me forward and leaning in so he could talk into my ear.
"Lighten up, man." I slowly turned my head in his direction, glaring at him. "Ever since you came back from vacation, you've been moping around."
"I have my reasons," I muttered nonchalantly, even though the reason for my pissy mood was a woman who sank her nails so deep into my skin and left her mark on me. Literally and figuratively.
I had the scratch marks on my back for a week after our encounter to prove it.
A woman with curly, brown hair and hazel coloured eyes. Mesmerising fucking eyes that were burnt into my memory. It was ingrained, for that matter. Imprinted .
"Reasons that you won't disclose, which is highly unlike you, might I add." We weaved our way through the sea of folks who had drank way too much than they could bear to handle.
"People change." I shrugged. We approached the bar and Ares immediately signalled the bartender, ordering a round of shots while we waited for the rest of our friend group.
"Hm, so they say." He slid the shot of tequila across the wooden countertop until it was directly in front of me. "Drink up."
"Tequila?" I questioned. "So you're willingly trying to forget your evening?" He chuckled, pushing his hair backward before downing the alcoholic liquid.
He hissed and slammed the empty shot glass down. "I'm here for a good time, not a long time."
I couldn't contain my smile and followed suit, slowly bringing the small glass to my lips and then threw the liquid back. The stinging sensation did little to nothing to suppress the fire burning inside of me.
One month. It had been one fucking month since I last saw her face to face. I didn't want to go down this route. I told myself I wouldn't gather intel on her, but that was before I woke up in the middle of the night after our escapade and found the side she slept on fucking empty.
Those sweet, innocent eyes were nothing more than an illusion. If she really was sweet, she would've said something before leaving, but she just disappeared.
That same day, I found out where she worked, lived, what university she attended, what degree she had, her family history, and everything else about her. I even had her fucking social security number.
I drove past her work building on multiple occasions, but never made her aware of my presence. Sometimes, I'd see her walking down the street to grab lunch, which always included some kind of iced coffee. Don't ask me how I knew that.
I wanted to get to know her in a more ethical manner, but she pushed my hand.
One month and I could still smell that floral-fruity combination of her perfume. Chanel Chance Eau Tendre. The top notes being quince and grapefruit; middle notes hyacinth and jasmine; base notes musk, iris, Virginia cedar and amber.
How did I know this? By doing the damn research. The scent was imprinted on me at this point. It didn't help that she lived in the same city as me. Of course she did.
Going about her days as if nothing happened between us. I wrapped my hand around the empty shot glass, clenching it tightly in my fist.
"Change of plans," Ares said, making me release my hold and turn to look at him. "Marcus wants us to meet him at Sarepta."
I frowned and gave Ares a puzzled look. "That club isn't really our…scene." He nodded, pursing his lips into a straight line.
"Tell me something I don't know." He grabbed his wallet out the back pocket of his jeans, took out a hundred dollar bill, and slid it towards the bartender.
"This is why I don't do shit like this anymore," I grumbled. Sarepta was only a few minutes away, so we opted to walk. The establishment was on the more high-class side of the city.
I suppose it was better than staying at the shit show we were just at. Drunk people stumbled on the sidewalk and pissed me off even further.
When we reached the club, we showed them our identification and they let us through without any hassles. Marcus, Elliot, and Damien were in the VIP section. They were already surrounded by women and it fucking irked me .
Sometimes I wondered why I was friends with them. "Ares and Nicolas." Marcus stood up, grabbing us by the shoulders. I glanced in Ares' direction with a scowl on my face and he shook his head subtly.
He knew me better than anyone, so he could sense when my patience was wearing thin. "I'm glad you could finally join us." I shrugged my shoulder, making him instantly release his hold on me. "Ah, my bad. Someone's pissy."
"Marcus," Ares warned him. "Is there a reason why we're here in the first place? You've never been one for exclusivity."
"I figured Nicolas would appreciate it. I know how much he hates overly crowded spaces. Besides, now that Elliot is in a relationship with Naomi Stone, he has a certain image to uphold."
"How thoughtful." My tone was nonchalant, making them laugh. They always found my stoic facial expressions and unenthusiastic responses hilarious.
I sat down on the leather couch, throwing one arm over the backrest. My eyes scanned the crowd. It definitely seemed more opulent. However, there was still a sea of drunk people on the dance floor.
Then my heart skipped a beat. Someone caught my eye. I leaned forward, drowning out the chatter amongst the group.
Could it be?
It had to be. I'd never forget that figure, that bouncy, voluminous, curly hair—that soft, round ass. Fuck. Fate was on my side after all. I debated whether or not to show up at her apartment, but this was fucking perfect.
Of course, she was the centre of attention. Every man in this place had their eyes on her, and if she were mine, I'd kill every single one of them.
She swayed her hips to the rhythm of the beat, effortlessly dancing along to the song. Maybe I was hallucinating and seeing things that I truly desired, but wasn't really there. A figment of my imagination.
Her movements made my blood sizzle. Sensual, seductive. I shifted in my seat, loosening my tie. The red dress captivated me, highlighting every curve and contour of her figure.
My eyes drifted from her for a moment and I noticed my friends ogling her, everyone except Ares, who was too busy focusing on his cell phone. I couldn't help but look at them in disdain.
They looked at her like they were undressing her with their eyes and it made me fucking furious. My eyes flicked back to her, and in that moment, she turned around. Slowly, her gaze met mine and the colour drained from her face.
Her lips parted slightly and she stared at me with wide eyes. My jaw ticked, every memory of our night together swarming my mind. I narrowed my eyes at her and she hastily turned around, walking towards the bar area.
Oh ? Did she really think that would help her case? I stood up abruptly and clenched my fists. "I'll be right back," I said to Ares and he nodded, too oblivious to notice my reaction.
I walked the long way around, avoiding the crowd of people, and moved closer to her without her even noticing me. She fanned her face with her right hand, chatting animatedly with her friends.
Kehlani and Amala spotted me first, waving at me, and I could visibly see Gabriella stiffening. "Ladies," I greeted. Amala took my hand and we did our simple yet classic handshake then Kehlani gave me a hug.
Amala was rough around the edges, extremely opinionated, and had a sharp tongue. Kehlani was extremely nurturing, kind, and empathetic. Gabriella, however, was a mixture of both. Though, I had yet to see more of her soft side .
"Gabriella," I greeted and she slowly turned to me, giving me a half-hearted smile.
"Nicolas." She pursed her lips and nodded. I could hear the nervousness in her voice. She made eye contact with me for a second before looking away, focusing on the drink in her hand.
"You two ladies wouldn't mind if Gabriella and I took a walk, would you?" Kehlani was the first to agree, her response extremely eager.
"Of course not." She smiled. "Amala and I will be here." They give each other knowing looks and I smirked at the scene unfold. Gabriella, on the other hand, glared at her friends before turning to me with a smile.
I held my hand out for her to take, to which she obliged and I whisked her away effortlessly. Once we were out of earshot of her friends, I lowered my head next to her ear.
I breathed in the scent of her Chanel perfume, squeezing her hand gently. "Did you really think you could run away from me?"