Chapter 15
Vanessa
Christian’s house was unexpected, the exterior appointed with lavish details from a long stone walkway surrounded by well-lit Japanese gardens to a massive front door with glass transom windows flanking and above. The color of the door? Crimson, my favorite color.
How could I have guessed?
Nestled on several acres, there were no neighbors in sight, although during the drive, I’d seen beautiful estates built of grandeur.
As I walked down the path, I heard running water like there was a waterfall somewhere on the property.
I stood gazing at the incredible floral display after ringing the bell, my stomach still in knots.
I rubbed my hands down my dress as I heard footsteps.
I also heard music, the choice of classical a surprise.
This was very much an indecent proposal, but as I’d done during the drive over, I reminded myself once again that it was one I’d agreed to.
When the door was opened, I expected to see someone he employed allowing me entrance.
A bright smile and starched uniform. Seeing Christian standing in bare feet wearing light-colored drawstring pants and an ice blue shirt that matched his eyes unbuttoned halfway down his chest, I was immediately taken aback.
Even his hair was slightly disheveled, evidence he hadn’t shaved in at least two days drawing and keeping my attention.
His smile was knowing, my appearance expected, yet that didn’t stop him from allowing his gaze to fall ever so slowly to my heels.
“Vanessa. Welcome.” He quickly noticed the bags I’d struggled to drag from the car, stepping outside to retrieve them.
“I can do that. I don’t need your help with anything.”
“Nonsense. You’re the lady of the house,” he countered, pushing my hand away and snagging them before I had a chance to ignore his polite gesture.
“Feeling chivalrous tonight?” The sun had finally set, twinkling stars and the slight remaining golden glow highlighting the distance from the city limits.
His laugh was more genuine than I was used to. “Hardly. I’m certain you’ll remind me of that every chance you get. Come in. I’ll turn down the music.”
I stepped just inside, immediately taken by the simplistic yet stunning designs. They were also of a Japanese origin in simplicity yet beautifully decorated. I finally closed the door behind me, feeling completely out of place.
Vulnerable.
In truth, scared to death.
He placed the bags by a set of curved stairs.
I allowed my eyes to follow the ornate railing, the combination of dark wood and metal rails exquisite.
Within seconds, the volume of music diminished, allowing me to hear more trickling water.
I took a few more steps until I was able to see the source of the sound.
I hugged my purse close, fighting nerves and the continued anger from dwelling over the conversation with my father. With my nerves on edge, I knew I could fly off the handle easily even though I’d reminded myself for the last time I’d made this choice.
There was a waterfall neighboring a huge ficus tree, enclosed by rocks and other foliage, the tall branches and bright green leaves fully surrounded by panels of glass.
The atrium was complete with a bridge crossing the water, colorful flowers creating a peaceful respite.
I was immediately drawn to the room, the artistry of the furniture and artistic sculptures and paintings nothing I would have expected seeing in Christian’s home.
I stood in front of the fountain, uncertain what to think or how to react.
“You seem surprised.” His deep voice reverberated in the oversized room, the husky tone creating far too many tingles.
“Perhaps a little bit.”
He laughed as he walked closer, the live wire crackles of electricity when he did more annoying than anything.
Yet I took a deep breath, which was a mistake.
His fragrance mixed with the beautiful scent of the colorful flowers and I was on sensory overload.
As he moved beside me, he handed me a glass of wine.
“I’m curious how you believed I lived?”
“I don’t know. Maybe everything gilded in gold.”
“Hmmm… That would be my mother and father. My father has a throne in his office made entirely of twenty-four carat gold.”
I tilted my head toward. “Are you serious?”
“Do you really think I’m serious? My mother and father are card-carrying deadheads. You should see the photographs from when they met. At Woodstock and they toured the country following the Grateful Dead for months. When they returned to Miami, they married.”
“What? That’s not possible. How did he go from that to being…”
“A ruthless, hardnosed son of a bitch?”
I almost choked on the single sip of wine. “Well, yes.”
He turned, leaning against the railing, allowing me a much better view of his marvelously sculpted chest. “Don’t worry.
I used to wonder that all the time. That’s because my grandfather was a carbon copy.
He allowed my dad to sow his wild oats, but the day after he and my mother were married, my father was issued a warning.
Either buck up and come to work for him or lose his trust fund and any concept of an inheritance. ”
While he appeared amused, I could see more than just a hint of irritation in him. “Is that what your father did to you?”
The question wasn’t well received, his smile immediately fading. “The difference is that I don’t have a trust fund, nor do I need an inheritance.”
“Then why kowtow to both your father and to other businesses?”
“Because assuaging clients is what we do in business every day. I’m certain you’ve done so yourself.”
“If you mean accommodating their preferences at the expense of my personal time and more than once at considerable expense, yes. But I would never fall victim to personal acts of extortion, which is what they’re doing to you and to your corporation. That’s something you should think about.”
He studied me with such intensity I felt uncomfortable. “Do you like what you do, Vanessa?”
“Very much so.”
“Well, so do I. I realize you think of me as some brutal, intolerant egomaniacal asshole who enjoys stepping on people.”
“And you’re not?”
He glanced toward the fountain. “Even I was taught looks can be and are usually deceiving. My father is a hard man. There is no denying that. If I could venture a guess, I’d say your father is as well as evidenced by your bitterness toward him. I admit that surprised me.”
When he locked eyes with me again, I felt the weight of his world briefly. He was also in unchartered territory.
“My father is a complete asshole.”
His laugh seemed hollow. “Then we do have something in common. I’m good at what I do. I enjoy the work and the time spent.”
“Yes, destroying companies for profit.”
He inched closer and I resisted taking a step away from him. “That was before. Things have changed. I didn’t lie to you about how Elliot Enterprises grew to our level of profit by taking failing companies and tearing them apart.”
“No, you didn’t. What you left out is how much you enjoyed doing so.”
“What I didn’t share with you is that in doing so, we offered each and every owner more than what their company was worth.
In addition, we did offer severance pay to every single employee.
However, they were all required to sign NDAs given they were privy to sensitive proprietary information or trades secrets about our company. ”
If he was telling the truth, that’s why there hadn’t been any positive details in the various articles written about Elliot Enterprises over the years. “I wish I could believe you.”
“I wish you could as well. I assure you they were treated very well even if a few disgruntled former employees suggested otherwise. As I said. Don’t believe everything you see or read. If that were true, I’d suggest your father was guilty of merciless activities as well.”
He was practically gloating.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He was right and I hated him for it.
“Why don’t you come into the kitchen with me.” He was obviously agitated I’d figured out that he was trying to please his father. I could only imagine what threat had been issued. Maybe Christian’s job was on the line.
Why did he drive me so crazy I couldn’t breathe around him?
As he studied me, I felt even more uncomfortable.
“You really don’t trust me. Do you?” he asked, more with amusement in his voice than anything else.
“Why should I?”
“Because instinctively you know you can.” As he moved closer, the look in his eyes changed, becoming more possessive than he’d been the night I’d lost my mind.
With every inch, my body tingled where I’d been hoping for my skin to crawl. Around him, my body’s reactions were involuntary.
The man was dominating and rugged.
Completely powerful.
This was his element, his domain and now, I belonged to him.
Suddenly six months seemed like a lifetime.
“Sadly, that’s not true,” I managed as his scent filtered into my system. A deep throb in my core was difficult to ignore.
“Isn’t it? Then why is your lower lip trembling? Why are your nipples so hard?” The deep husk of his voice was seductive.
Inviting.
Infuriating.
He didn’t flinch, wasn’t uncomfortable.
Just a mountainous man who knew he was in full control.
“I’m just nervous.” I wasn’t lying, but I could tell he sensed my desire.
With a slight cock of his head, he curled the fingers on his free hand, brushing his knuckles ever so gently from one side of my jaw to the other. The touch was enigmatic.
A fireball of need rushed through me.
I teetered on my heels, breathless from the tender touch.
“You’re so damn beautiful, Vanessa.” He was so close I was overwhelmed by his presence.
His prowess.
Breathless and needing space, I pressed my hand against his chest, but there was no denying the man.
His fingers shifted until he was able to grip my chin as he lowered his head. “And all mine.”
Even though I wanted nothing more than to push him away, creating boundaries from the beginning, I couldn’t react, the need all consuming. When his lips touched mine, I wrapped my fingers around his shirt, realizing I’d arched my back.
A physical admittance of desire.
A mental relapse into enticing his hunger.
Push away. Don’t do this.
Yet even as my inner voice tried to unlock the chains he’d already wrapped around me, the rush of desire was too great.
He captured my mouth, holding our lips together for several seconds. The warmth he emitted, the crackle of electricity was disarming.
I darted my tongue into his mouth, the single mewl giving away my deepest and darkest cravings. His hold remained possessive, his lips taking what he wanted.
The kiss was as powerful as the man, my pulse increasing as he thrust his tongue inside. There was no controlling him, no ability to do anything but fall victim to the heated intimacy.
Everything about him reeked of wealth, entirely too masculine.
And dangerous.
The wave of excitement was real.
Just by the way I was clinging to him was an admittance. I was not only okay with the indecency.
I craved it.
Christian slipped his hand around to the back of my neck, pulling me closer and onto my toes. I was forced to lean into him.
The man was unshaken. Unapologetic.
As he dominated both my mouth and my tongue, the same haze I’d experienced before washed over me.
The heat was blistering.
My pussy throbbing.
There was no rhyme or reason that I couldn’t control myself around him, yet here I was.
When he finally broke the moment of raw, unadulterated intimacy, a deep and low growl floated between us.
“I will enjoy spending days and nights with my little wildcat.”
I almost stumbled as he backed away, the wineglass teetering in my hand as I watched him walk from the room. My hand was shaking as I pressed my fingers against my lips.
The man had staked his claim and there was nothing I could do about it any more than I could ignore him or the raging desire burning deep within.
Yet in my mind, we were only compatible on one level.
Sex.
Hot. Rough. Toe-curling. Sex.