Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Carley
This might be the best girls’ day Saylor and I have ever had. Made perfect mostly by D, and it has nothing to do with the fact that he’s footing the bill. The confidence I have when I am with him hasn’t wavered once since I left him this morning to pick up Saylor. Even she can sense the difference.
“If you don’t get that dress, I’m going to smack you.”
I smile at Saylor’s threat as I twirl around in front of the large mirror outside of the dressing rooms of Alexander McQueen on Madison Avenue. I found a very short, very tight, red cocktail dress adorned with intricate beadwork.
It’s sexy, it’s not something I would normally wear, and D is going to die when he sees me in it.
“Oh, I’m totally getting this dress. I think I’ll wear it tonight, too.”
“Who are you, and what have you done with my conservative, stick-in-the-mud best friend?”
I stop staring at myself and turn to face her.
“I have no idea. I thought I left her back in Greece. Being with D again, I feel like he has awoken this primal seductress inside of me. I’m telling you, Say. I think he’s good for me.”
“I’ll say,” she smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
“What?” I urge her to tell me what she’s not saying.
“I don’t know,” she shrugs. “Don’t get me wrong, I like this version of you. She doesn’t have a stick up her ass, but I don’t want you to change everything for this guy. You’ve known of each other for over a month, yes, but you still don’t know him.”
“No, you’re right. I don’t want to change who I am because of D, and I’m not. I promise. Not fully anyway. I do like that I feel more relaxed around him. It’s nice giving someone else control for once.”
“You’re right about that. Ren is quiet on the surface, but he’s completely take-charge in the bedroom, and let me just say, c’est manifique.”
She finishes her thought by kissing her fingertips, like a chef might do when they nail the flavor of their dish.
“Really? I never would have thought that. I know I’ve only spoken to him a handful of times, but he seems so … introverted.”
“It threw me for a loop at first, too. But yeah, he’s surprisingly domineering, telling me which position he wants me in, talking dirty with me … damn. I need to stop or else I’ll have to cut our day short to go fuck his brains out.”
I smile at her and realize I wouldn’t be upset about that. It would allow me to go do the same.
“I’m starving,” I tell her, as I unzip the dress I have on. “Where do you want to go eat?”
“What about Delray? I’m kind of in the mood for seafood, and I don’t want to eat anything too heavy.”
“Okay, I’ll text D and let him know.”
D asked that I give him a heads up of our whereabouts so he can contact each place and give them his credit card information so Saylor and I don’t have to pay for anything.
When I pull out my phone, I see I have another text waiting from him.
He’s had my number since Ez gave it to him, but he finally gave me his in return this morning.
We’ve been texting back and forth all morning, sending crude messages and talking about how much we miss one another.
Dimos
Feel free to send me a picture or two of the outfits you’re buying. Or one while you’re undressed … in front of the mirror … hand between your legs …
My cheeks heat, and my clit starts throbbing again.
Me
You’re making it harder and harder to continue girls’ day. I’d rather have your hand between my legs.
Dimos
That can be arranged …
Me
It’ll have to wait until tonight, but I wouldn’t mind going round two in the bathroom with you.
Dimos
Don’t tempt me. This time, there will be no stopping it, no matter how much you’ve had to drink.
Me
Promise?
Dimos
Stin timi mu.
Me
I’m assuming that means yes?
Dimos
On my honor.
Me
I’m holding you to it. In the meantime, Saylor and I are almost finished at Alexander McQueen, and we’re heading to Delray for lunch.
Dimos
Did you find something you like there?
Me
Yes, actually. A sexy little number I’m planning on wearing tonight.
Dimos
Can I have a sneak peek?
A sly smile stretches across my face as I consider his request.
“I’m going to go change so we can pay and get out of here,” I inform Saylor.
Not waiting for her response, I walk back into the dressing room and take another look at myself in the mirror.
Pulling the dress up a little, I let a sliver of my baby blue thong—courtesy of D’s clothing delivery—show.
I flip my phone around and point it at the fabric between my legs, making sure to get just a hint of the dress fabric in, too.
I pull the pic up from my library and make sure it looks okay. You can see a lot of the dress from the angle I took it at, so I crop most of it out, making sure D will still be able to identify what he’s looking at. Then I send it off to him in another text message.
Me
Until tonight …
I don’t wait for him to respond before tossing my phone back into my purse and slipping out of the dress. Once I’m fully clothed again, I walk out into the store.
“All set?” Saylor asks.
“Yes, let’s go eat. I’m starving.”
* * *
Dimos
I’m pulling up out front now.
Me
I can’t wait to see you.
Dimos
You too, théa.
“Is he here?” Saylor questions as I slip my phone back into my clutch and place it on the table in front of us.
“Yes!” I squeal. “I can’t wait for him to see me in this dress.”
“You’ll be lucky if you make it out of here without him tearing it off of you.”
“Seriously, though. What’s up with that? I’m not going to say I don’t like it, but at the rate he’s going, I’m going to run out of clothing.”
I take a sip of my drink and watch as Ren places his arm around Saylor. I’m really happy for them. Saylor deserves a nice guy for once.
“Ren, do you like to do that?” I ask him to get a guy’s perspective.
“Do what?”
“Rip Saylor’s clothes off in the heat of passion?” I giggle.
His eyes dilate slightly, and I can tell he’s thinking about it. He turns away to hide his reaction but re-enters the conversation pretty smoothly.
“There’s never any time. You know how quickly she can strip out of her clothing.”
“Touché, Ren,” I laugh. “Touché.”
“Hey, don’t hate. You’ve never complained about the rate at which I get naked for you.”
Suddenly, my eyes catch sight of someone across the room. He looks vaguely familiar, and a feeling of unease settles over me. As he turns toward me a little more, the light cascades over him, and I see his full face.
Oh, fuck.
My hand flies to Saylor’s, and I squeeze it hard from freight the moment his eyes lock on mine.
“Oh my god, Saylor. We need to get out of here right now.”
“Why? What—”
“Théa.”
D’s husky, lustful voice breaks my concentration on the man across the room. When I look at him, he catches the fear in my eyes, and his bewitched stare turns lucid.
“What’s the matter?”
He squats in front of me and cups my cheek in his hand. I want to feel the immediate relief he usually brings me, but I can’t.
“She’s white as a ghost,” I hear D tell Saylor. “Did she drink something?”
Unable to concentrate on D, I gaze out into the crowd of people so I can get another look at the man. Maybe it was my eyes playing tricks on me. Maybe it wasn’t him at all.
“Carley? What is it?” Saylor asks, everyone now looking in the direction that I was.
But he isn’t there anymore.
“I could have sworn …”
“What’s the matter, théa? Excuse me.” D gets the attention of a nearby cocktail waitress. “Can you please bring her some water immediately?”
“Yes, sir,” she complies.
“I’m sorry, I thought I saw him.”
“Who?” Saylor and D inquire at the same time.
“Blaine.” My eyes find Saylor’s as I answer, and her face turns to shock.
“Who the fuck is Blaine?” D demands.
“The psycho who stalked her for two years.”
At that, D looks around the bar for him, even though he has no idea who he’s looking for.
“I’m sorry, I thought it was him, but—”
Then I see him again, walking through the crowd and heading straight for me. My eyes widen in fear as Blaine gets closer. Saylor, Ren, and D all follow my gaze. D stands up and puts his arm out, stopping Blaine’s forward movement.
“Get the fuck away from her,” D orders him, his fists clenched and ready to strike if necessary.
Blaine puts both of his arms up and takes a step back.
“I’m not here to cause you harm. I didn’t even know you were going to be here tonight. I happened to see you from across the room when you walked in, and it’s taken me the past twenty minutes to gather up the courage to tell you what I need to tell you.”
“Get out of here before I pound your fucking face in,” D threatens.
“I’m in therapy, Carley,” Blaine says, ignoring D.
I knew he wasn’t bright, but he’s downright stupid to ignore D, looking as furious as he does right now.
“I’ve learned a lot about why I was the way I was, and I just wanted to come and say I’m sorry.
I—it’s part of the twelve step program. To make amends. That’s all I’m trying to do.”
“You’ve said it, now go.” D commands him.
“I’m leaving,” he backs away some more. “I’m sorry, Carley. For everything.”
I don’t look at him as he walks away. I’m fighting to keep the tears at bay. I don’t want to make any more of a scene than Blaine just did. But I need to get out of here. Once he’s gone, D squats down in front of me again.
“Are you okay?” he questions.
“No. Get me out of here,” I mutter, trembling.
D takes his sport coat off and lays it over my shoulders as he speaks to Saylor.
“You’re welcome to leave with us, and Izaak can take you home after he drops us off.”
“Let’s do that, Say. I don’t really feel like hanging out anymore,” Ren chimes in.
“Yeah, of course. Let’s get out of here,” Saylor agrees.
The four of us ride to D’s penthouse in complete silence. When Izaak stops the limo outside of the building, Saylor grabs me in a hug and gives me a big kiss on the cheek.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, I’m feeling a little better already. I just needed to get out of there. I’ll be okay.”
“Okay, but call me if you need anything,” Saylor insists.
“Will do. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
D grabs my hand as Izaak closes the car door behind me. Silently, we walk across the lobby and get into an awaiting elevator. D scans his access card, and we begin the climb to his penthouse.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m sure. Like I told you, he never hurt me before. He just gives me the creeps, and seeing him brought up some unpleasant history, that’s all.”
“I’m really sorry I wasn’t there sooner.” He runs the backs of his strong fingers across my cheek, soothing me.
“You’re fine. You were there, you kept him away from me. You were perfect.”
“I’m far from perfect. Do you know how badly I wanted to punch that motherfucker in the face?”
“You’re so good to me. Thank you for everything today. Saylor and I had a great time.”
“You have no idea how much it means to me to hear you say that.”
He leans in for a kiss, which I return with a little less passion than normal.
“How about this? When we get inside, I’ll run you a bath. Then we can pop some popcorn and watch a movie. Just take it easy. Does that sound good to you?”
“That sounds wonderful,” I admit, completely enamored at the fact that D knows exactly what I need right now.
D wraps his arms around me and holds me tight the rest of the ride to his floor. When we get inside, we do everything he said we were going to do.
After that we went to bed.
Where he held me, safely in his arms, all night long.