Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Imogene
I blinked my eyes open and slowly roused myself from sleep, my body deliciously sore after last night’s calisthenics.
When I agreed to go out for a few drinks with my mom, the last thing I expected was for Gideon to show up at the same bar. And I certainly never expected for him to apologize.
I thought I was the one in the wrong. Not him.
Still, he wouldn’t let me shoulder the full blame for our falling out.
It was something Samuel always did, too.
But instead of resorting to my old ways, I pushed the notion aside. I almost lost Gideon because I was stuck in the past.
No more.
Now, I would only live in the present.
Like I should have done years ago.
I rolled over in bed, expecting to find Gideon sleeping beside me, but he wasn’t there, the sheets cool. Instead, a folded piece of stationary was in his place.
I picked it up and smiled at his masculine handwriting.
Which looked nothing like Samuel’s.
Because he wasn’t Samuel.
Imogene,
You looked so peaceful that I didn’t want to wake you. I’ve taken the liberty of having some clothes delivered for you. They’re in the top drawer of the dresser. Of course, if you’d prefer to stay naked, you won’t hear any complaints from me.
Yours,
G
It was probably nothing for a man with his resources, but it meant a lot that he made sure I had daytime attire so I didn’t have to do the walk of shame wearing my dress from last night in such a luxurious hotel. This was just the type of person Gideon Saint was. He may have tried to convince me he wasn’t a good person on countless occasions, but I saw past his tough exterior to the compassionate man hidden beneath the layers of scars. I would never take that man for granted again.
Climbing out of bed, I headed toward the dresser and opened the top drawer, finding yoga pants, jeans, some fresh underwear, as well as a few t-shirts, all the correct size and the same style I typically wore.
As thoughtful as the gesture was, I had another idea.
Biting my lower lip to reel in my smile, I opened the closet door and examined Gideon's crisp suits, opting for one of his oversized dress shirts instead. I fastened only a few of the bottom buttons, leaving quite a bit of my cleavage exposed. Then I slipped out of the bedroom and into the living room.
Gideon sat at the dining room table and sipped on a coffee, a feast spread out before him —eggs benedict, fresh fruit, a stack of pancakes dripping with syrup, even bagels and smoked salmon. I couldn’t help but admire him as his gaze skimmed the pages of a newspaper.
It reminded me of what the barista said the other morning. How he was one of the few people who wasn’t constantly glued to his cell phone.
Until we exchanged numbers, I’d never even seen him look at a cell phone. Instead, whenever we were together, I had his full attention, a rarity these days. Even I was guilty of mindlessly scrolling through my phone. Not Gideon, though.
Sensing my presence, he looked up from the newspaper and paused mid-sip, his eyes flaming as he drank me in.
“Goddamn,” he hissed, folding his newspaper and returning his coffee to the table as I sauntered toward him.
With a seductive smile, I hoisted myself onto the surface mere inches in front of him. Plucking a strawberry off one of the many plates covering the table, I brought it up to my lips and took a slow, tantalizing bite. Gideon’s jaw clenched, his nostrils flaring as his gaze zeroed in on my mouth.
“What’s for breakfast?” I asked nonchalantly, as if it were completely normal for me to sit on the dining room table, dressed only in one of his suit shirts, my breasts barely covered.
“I believe my appetite has changed since placing my room service order,” he said in a low voice.
“Is that right?”
As I uncrossed and recrossed my legs, his pupils flamed, his stare dipping to my waist.
“Most definitely.” He slid his hands up my thighs, his touch rough yet gentle at the same time.
Just as he was about to reach my center, a chiming cut through. Cursing under his breath, he reached into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out his phone.
“I fucking hate these things,” he growled.
“Something wrong?” I purred.
“Yes,” he replied through gritted teeth. “I have a beautiful woman wearing only my shirt sitting on the table with what I can only assume to be a dripping wet pussy begging to be devoured, and this thing has the audacity to remind me of a meeting I have this morning.”
“A meeting?” I tilted my head as he typed feverishly on his phone.
“Sadly, this isn’t strictly a trip for pleasure.” He clicked off his phone and returned it to his jacket, his attention fully devoted to me once more. “Although I enjoyed quite a bit of pleasure last night.” He waggled his brows.
“Is that right?” I cooed, slowly unbuttoning my shirt.
His shirt.
“That’s right.” He swallowed hard, his breathing increasing with every inch of skin I exposed to him.
It didn’t matter that we spent all night tangled up in each other without a single scrap of fabric between us. He still admired me as if this were the first time he ever saw me.
As if I were the most beautiful woman in the world.
“Well, if you have important business to attend to, I don’t want to interfere.” I smirked as I slid his shirt off my shoulders.
I shouldn’t have felt as empowered as I did, considering I was completely naked while he was fully dressed. But the way his hungry gaze drank me in made me feel desired and wanted.
“You know what they say, don’t you?”
“What’s that?” I chewed on my bottom lip.
“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”
With a firm touch, he pressed a hand to my shoulder, forcing me to lie on my back. Moving his chair closer, he spread my legs as wide as they would go.
“And I really shouldn’t start my morning without a balanced breakfast,” he rasped before burying his face between my thighs and devouring me like it was his last meal.
“Do you think I can steal you again tonight?” Gideon asked as he walked me to the door after I showered and dressed. “I have some prior commitments throughout the day, but I should be free by seven or eight. I don’t want to take you away from your parents,” he added quickly. “I can’t seem to get enough of you.” He dipped his head toward me, his lips feathering against mine in an achingly tender kiss.
How could I say no when he kissed me like this? So soft and sweet.
“My mom will understand. Hell, based on last night, she may demand I spend the night with you again.”
“Then it’s a date. I’ll pick you up once I’m free.”
“Or I can meet you here. That way, when you get back after a long day of…whatever it is you do, I’ll be waiting for you in the bar.” Grinning mischievously, I lifted myself onto my toes, my breath kissing his neck. “I’ll be the one in a short dress and no panties.”
A low groan fell from his throat and his grip on my hip tightened. “Knowing that will make it impossible for me to think about anything else.”
“Then you’d better hurry home to me,” I teased as I touched my lips to his in a ghost of a kiss.
Then I spun on my heels and slipped into the hallway. When I felt the tiny hairs all over my body stand on end, I glanced behind me to find Gideon watching my every move.
And the look he gave me was pure sin and danger wrapped together in an intoxicating combination.
“Tonight,” he said, the word a cross between a promise and a threat.
“Tonight,” I repeated before continuing toward the elevator.
When the doors opened, I stood back to allow another guest to step out. But who that guest was froze me in my tracks.
It was like being sent back in time.
Which was the last thing I needed, considering I just vowed to stop thinking about the past.
To stop thinking about Samuel.
But that was easier said than done when Henry Fontaine, Samuel’s foster brother and best friend, currently slid past me, his attention focused on his cell phone as he feverishly typed at it.
“Henry?” I called out.
The instant he heard my voice, he came to an abrupt stop, darting his head up.
As his green eyes locked with mine, they widened with a mixture of confusion and panic before his expression softened, as if snapping out of whatever stupor he was in.
“Imogene.” He dropped his phone into the pocket of his jeans and wrapped me in a hug, kissing my cheek. “How are you?”
“Good. Really good, actually.” I tried to hide my blush, considering the reason I was doing so good was because Gideon just fucked me so hard I saw stars.
“I’m glad to hear that.” He released me, stepping back. “What are you doing here?”
“Just visiting a friend. I came home for the weekend to see my parents and he’s staying here,” I rambled nervously, not sure I should have been talking to Samuel’s best friend about my current dating life. “Are you still in cyber security?” I asked in an effort to change the subject.
“More or less.”
“Still have an office downtown?”
He nodded. “As well as locations in Boston, New York, Chicago, and LA.”
“No shit? I just moved to San Diego. And Melanie lives in Santa Monica. Next time I visit her, I’d love to get together if you’re in the area.”
“I’ll let you know,” he responded, running his fingers through his dark hair. “I never know where I’ll be one day to the next. Some of my clients can be demanding.” He flashed me a smile.
Despite the fact that he was a couple of years older than Samuel, he still had a boyish appearance, making him look no older than thirty. Especially when he smiled and his dimples popped.
It didn’t help matters that, despite his success these past few years, he still dressed in faded jeans and vintage band t-shirts. Then again, so did Samuel, refusing to wear suits, even during investor meetings, which annoyed Liam to no end.
Yet another reason I was crazy to think Gideon was Samuel.
It was rare to see Gideon in anything other than a suit.
Samuel avoided wearing suits at all costs.
“I hate to cut this short, but I need to get going,” he said, anxiously shifting from foot to foot.
“Right. Of course. It was good seeing you.”
“You, too.” He left me with another hug before continuing down the hallway.
In the direction of Gideon’s suite.
I told myself it didn’t mean anything. It was merely a coincidence I ran into Henry in this hotel, on this floor. He was probably here to see a client. Or maybe a woman.
But just before getting on the elevator, I stole one last glance down the hallway, if for no other reason than to erase any remaining suspicion.
In my life, there have been many moments I wish I could get a do-over. Could go back to and choose a different path. Go down a different road.
This was one of those moments.
Because when I peeked around the corner and saw Henry pull out a keycard and let himself into Gideon’s suite, there were now just too many coincidences for me to ignore.