Chapter 24 #2
That bridge burned about six months before his death, however, when I refused to stop Ben from divorcing his nasty first wife. I have many regrets surrounding my family, but that, at least, isn’t one of them.
Eager to escape this conversation, I offer Blair a slight smile. “Never mind all that. Do you need help with anything?”
To my relief, she moves on, letting out a weary sigh.
“You’ll have to be more specific. Is this assistance limited to party planning, or could I get you to rub my back?
I pulled something while lifting a bag of linen napkins.
” She’s teasing, trying to lighten the mood, but even the suggestion of putting my hands on her has blood rushing south.
Fucking hell, I am a grown man getting hard at the thought of giving this woman a back rub?
What is wrong with me?
My answering chuckle is strained. “Dangerous business, party planning.”
“It is when Alba is the bride.” Shifting her weight, Blair stares at me. “I was joking, by the way. About the back rub. I’m trying not to bring up… what we aren’t bringing up. I know it makes you uncomfortable.”
There’s a hint of color high on her cheeks now, as memories of what we aren’t bringing up echo between us. Her hands planted on my bare chest, tits pressed together, as she rolls her hips over my—no. Uncomfortable isn’t the word I would use.
With difficulty, I swallow, shoving my hands into the pockets of my coat. “What makes you say that?”
Her lips twitch. “Oh, just the look on your face when you’re reminded of it. Like a deer in headlights.”
Yes, I would imagine that’s an accurate assessment. I glance toward the door, ensuring that none of the staff have wandered into earshot. Part of me is hoping to find someone there, to have some reason to cut this conversation off at the knees and not have to tell her it can happen again.
We’re quite alone.
Stepping closer to her, I lower my voice. “It isn’t something that can happen again.”
“Oh?” Blair hums, and there’s a mischievous, playful glint in her eyes which experience has taught me to be wary of.
I stop five feet away from her. “Yes.”
“Why?”
“A lot of reasons.”
Blair takes a single step closer, eyes sparkling. “Such as?”
“I’m too old for you.” My cock—regrettably—hasn’t gotten the memo on that.
The maddening creature before me actually laughs. “I’m twenty-six, not eighteen, and”—her eyes drop to my body for a fraction of a second before returning to my face—“you look good for your age.”
Her praise could make me throw out my chest and strut. Instead, I frown. “Blair. That isn’t the only reason, and you know it. I’m in a position of authority over you.”
“If I don’t want to sleep with you, are you going to tell my father I’m not following his rules and get my trust fund taken away?”
My jaw goes slack. “Of course not.”
Grinning, Blair steps closer, reducing the distance between us to less than a foot.
Too close to be considered casual if anyone walked in.
I should step back, but—of course—I don’t move.
“Well then, one could argue this authority you have over me isn’t relevant to the situation at hand,” she muses, reaching out to pick a bit of lint off the breast of my coat.
My heart stalls as her eyes lift to mine.
“Do you ever think about it? What happened between us that morning?”
I don’t need to ask what it is, and ball my hands into fists in my pockets, resisting the urge to reach out and grab her. “Blair.”
“I think about it. A lot. I’ve never had sex that good before. Have you?”
“Blair,” I snarl, trying to maintain my resolution as the scent of her invades my lungs. I could drag her against me in seconds, could be kissing her, touching her… This house is full of empty rooms. If we were fast, I could be inside her again in minutes.
Before I can act on the impulse, however, the woman before me sighs deeply.
“Don’t worry, your virtue is safe with me, Mr. Mallory.” She smiles softly. “I’m pretty tired of forcing you to admit you’re attracted to me. It gets old, you know? A girl has to have some pride. I pinky promise, I’ll let you live in denial from now on.”
My lungs are burning and—fucking hell—how does she do this to me? “I’m trying to do the right thing, Blair.”
“I know.” She draws back, putting space between us again, but doesn’t look away.
“And I respect that. Which is why I’m going to make it much easier for both of us.
My mother was kind enough to forward a very specific section of tomorrow’s guest list to me, and I told her I will put my absolute best foot forward.
After all, how often does a girl get the opportunity to meet so many single, age-appropriate men without even leaving the house? ”
Blood is rushing in my ears. I should be relieved at what she’s telling me, happy she’s moving on from whatever it was that happened between us, and that I won’t need to worry about it happening again because she’s taking it off the table.
Relief is not what I feel.
“I think this will be good for me, actually. Healthy.” Blair nods to herself, apparently satisfied by the number she’s done on me, and doesn’t wait for me to formulate a response.
Drawing over to the flowers, she scoops them up, beaming at me.
“You know, I’m betting my parents’ no guests, no leaving the house rule would be relaxed if I were dating someone they approve of. Something to look forward to, right?”