20. Kate
Chapter Twenty
KATE
The brilliant morning sun nudges me awake. But it’s the pounding in my head that jolts me to consciousness. I squint in the light. Where am I?
The chorus from “We Didn’t Start The Fire” plays on repeat in my mind. Oh, yeah . . . I look over. Drew’s fast asleep on his back, his broad chest rising and falling steadily. What time is it?
I sit up slowly, looking for a clue. There’s no clock on the nightstand. Where’s my phone? My purse? My panties? The memory from last night flashes in my mind. The scorching hot ecstasy. I can practically taste Drew’s lips, feel his tongue on my . . . A shiver runs up my spine, and I glance back at a sleeping Drew, so sweet and peaceful. By looking at him now, you’d never know that he’s an animal in the sack.
I don’t want to wake him, but I need a glass of water and an aspirin. Fast. I slip out of the sheets, touching only the tips of my toes to the cool, dark wood floor. Treading lightly, I grab my things near the bedroom door, then scurry into the bathroom. I check my phone first. It’s nine o’clock. There’s an alert reminding me of my investor meeting at one o’clock. Crap. I really need to get back to my hotel and prepare.
My head throbs in pain. I should’ve had more water last night. What was I thinking? And why do I still have this song in my head? Then another flashback—me, martini, Drew, Billy Joel. Oh, my God. I didn’t.
No. I definitely did.
I smack my forehead with my palm, and a sharp pain ripples over my head. Ouch! That’s not the only thing that hurts. The muscles in my back, hips, and legs are all sore. Pilates doesn’t even get me this achy. Who knew sex could be such an amazing workout?
I splash cold water over my face and look in the mirror. My eyes are pink with smudged mascara shadowed beneath them. I dig out my in case of emergency aspirins from my mini clutch and scoop sips of water into my mouth. Using the few resources I have at my disposal, I fashion myself as presentable as possible. But I could really use a brush. Wild sex and sleek hair don’t mix.
Back in the bedroom, I take in the view through the floor-to-ceiling windows. London is awake but Drew’s still asleep. I set his white button-down on the bed, even though I’m tempted to take it with me as a souvenir. Snatching my stilettos from the floor, I tiptoe toward the door.
“Good morning,” Drew utters in a sexy, groggy voice just before I cross over into the hall. “You sneaking out on me?”
My stance stiffens. Yes. I slowly turn back. “No, I just didn’t want to wake you.”
He’s lying on his side, propped up with his arm. White linens cover his lower half. His cut six-pack looks even more defined in the morning sun. And those tattoos. Damn, why is he so freaking sexy? Sexy for me.
Drew pats the mattress. “Why don’t you come back to bed for a while?” That intense, hungered look reflects in his eyes. It’s so tempting. How can I say no to that ? Besides, who needs an investor when I can be naked with him again instead?
But I can’t skip out on the meeting. That would be like breaking twenty million rules at once. For the first time, I’m actually torn between business and business .
Drew slides the sheet over, revealing he’s stiff as a board. I wet my bottom lip.
Screw it. I need his hands on my body.
I drop my snakeskin heels and lunge into his arms. We embrace in a warm, morning-mouth kiss. His cologne has faded, but his natural smell is even more intoxicating. He yanks the belt strap and pushes my trench coat off my shoulders. It’s early. I’m tired. Hungover. And still, heat radiates beneath my ruby lace thong.
My body’s ripe and ready for him now. He throws me back on the mattress, kissing my neck. I tilt my head back, looking out onto the view of a busy metropolitan city. It’s Monday morning. All of London is working.
Drew is about to work me, but I can’t shake the warning thought. I’m here in England for a reason. A very important reason, and it’s not to have crazy amazing sex with a man I just met. Though it’s been an unexpected perk. I’m here to save my brand and my store. If I skip or reschedule this meeting, I can pretty much kiss the Kate Golden Lingerie London store goodbye.
“Dammit,” I mutter under my breath.
Drew stops nibbling my neck and gives me a perplexed look. “What’s wrong?”
“I have to go,” I grumble with an exaggerated frown.
“Why? I’m just getting started,” he says with that smile I can’t resist. And I would love for him to finish. I want to finish. Again. And again. And again. He’s already proven he can make that happen.
I let out a sigh. “I have a really important meeting with a potential investor in a few hours. I spent all day yesterday sewing so I need time to prepare.”
“Oh.” He sits up, looking like I just snatched away his favorite plaything. “Why are you meeting with an investor?”
I find my coat dangling off the edge of the bed and cover myself again. “My company’s revenue has been falling since I took a break, and the London store isn’t performing the way it should. I have a plan to save the brand, but I need more capital to do it.”
“How much do you need?” he asks.
“Twenty million is ideal.” Why am I telling him this? Only a handful of people even know I’m scrambling for more cash, and none of them are strangers. Okay, Drew’s not exactly a stranger, but we hardly know each other. We just met.
Drew narrows his eyes in thought, then lets out a stiff breath through his nose with a serious look. “How about I give you the money? You can cancel your meeting and stay here with me today.” He takes my hand and pecks a kiss near my ring.
“Oh sure, you’re going to give me twenty mil just so I can stay in bed with you,” I say with a slight eye roll.
“I’m serious,” he says.
Holy crap. I think he is serious.
“Hold on,” I say, raising a hand. “You really have that kind of money?”
He shrugs. “Yeah.”
“And you would just give it to me?” Who is this guy? Aside from being the orgasm-whisperer?
“Yes.” His eyes bulge like he doesn’t see what the big deal is.
Geez. He’s wealthier than I thought. “So you’re saying that me staying in bed with you is worth twenty million big ones?”
The millionaire, or billionaire, smirks. “Baby, you in my bed . . . priceless.” Drew pulls me in for a soft, sensual kiss, sealing the deal. “So, what do you say?”
The only other man who has ever made me feel like a precious jewel was my father. And this guy is literally offering me the one thing I’ve been fighting to get, with a multiple orgasm bonus.
“That is a very, very, very tempting offer,” I say, gazing over his naked body with every very . Getting that money today would be incredible. And it will be when the investor agrees later on at our meeting. “I could never take your money like that.”
I want to believe that his offer comes from a generous place, but who knows what kind of strings it would come with? I like this feeling—feeling sexy, desired, alive. I only have Drew to thank for it.
However, taking the money doesn’t feel as sexy. Drew doesn’t need to buy me to stay in his bed. Besides, I have no interest in blurring the lines of business and sex.
“I know you wouldn’t. You’re not that type of girl. That’s what I love about you.” He reaches for my face and sweeps my wild strands behind my ear.
Love about me? Did he say love?
“I mean . . .” Drew clears his throat and lowers his gaze. “You know what I mean.”
I know this ridiculously gorgeous, rich bachelor with a modelizing reputation just offered me millions and Freudian-slipped the word love .
What is happening? Is this how he is with all other women? Ugh, I hate the idea that I’m just another lass in his rotating harem. I should go before he lures me back in.
“Call me later?” I ask, and for the first time since we kissed, I wonder if that’s a good idea.