Chapter 6 Lily
Lily
Stretching, I smile as my eyes open to a brilliantly sunny room. The birds are chirping and everything’s perfect.
My cheeks flush when I think about Mark’s words again. That man is sex personified. And he wants me.
At least I think so. He said he did and judging by what I saw going on in his jeans when he walked away from the kiss, he definitely was interested.
My head jolts and then I leap from the bed. “Oh shit! I didn’t get the video edited last night and I didn’t set it up to go out tomorrow.” Running around, I squeal when my foot tries to slip out from under me on the slippery hardwood floor.
My phone pings when I press the button on my Apple Watch and I find it hidden under the clothes I wore last night. I pick it up and immediately see that I have three unread messages.
My breath hisses out when I see that they’re all from Mark.
Pulling up the messages, my cheeks go hot and I lift a hand over one.
Are you there, princess?
I guess you’re still sleeping. I wish I was there to see how beautiful you look.
Call me when you get up. I want to see you…soon.
Oh…my. Is it just me or is that hot as hell?
My heart is pounding so hard that I sit down on the floor and stare at the messages, smiling like a loon.
I search for and find Hot Baker in my contacts and hit the button to call him.
“Hello, beautiful. It’s nice to hear your voice,” he says, the perfect gentleman.
“Hello, Mark. How are you?”
“Better since you called?”
Jeez! This guy is a smooth one. Maybe I should worry about that.
But I shove that thought aside. So far, I haven’t seen anything about Mark Thomas that raises any kind of red flags.
And that’s a problem for another day, right?
“Are you getting your editing and stuff done today?”
“I am.” I blush pink. So far, I haven’t done shit. Of course, that happens with my disease. Some days are harder than others.
“Can I see you soon? I was going to suggest that you come to the store today and watch us on a normal day but if you’re editing?”
“No, no. I can take care of that later. I’d love to see you.” So damn much.
“Good. I’ll be waiting to see you.”
“Ummm. It will take me a little while to get ready.” My tone must let him know that what I’m saying is important. He pauses and growls.
“I’ll come get you so you don’t need to drive. All you’ll need to do is sit there and look pretty.”
Oh my. “I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t ask. I offered. There’s something you should understand about me right up front, baby.
I don’t play around when I meet somebody special and you are so special.
You don’t even understand it. If you’re not feeling well, and it’s obvious you’re not, I’ll be the one taking care of you. From here on out.”
“I-I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you understand what I’m saying to you, princess,” he growls.
“I understand, but it really isn’t necessary.”
“It is. But we’ll argue about that later. You get ready and I’ll be there to pick you up in about an hour. Is that long enough?”
“Yes, but you’ll have to leave work. Is that alright? I mean, won’t the guys be mad?”
“The guys understand these things. And it will give you a chance to see how we usually run things for the podcast so it’s work-related for the company.”
Chuckling, I twist a finger in my hair. “You could talk the devil into finding his way back into heaven, you know that.”
“I don’t know anything about that but I’d do damn near anything just to see you.”
“I’ll see you soon,” I whisper and hang up the phone, flushing.
“That guy is intense,” I whisper to myself. But it’s flattering. My smile fades. I just wonder if there’s something else going on here. He’s so intense and focused on romancing me right now and lord knows I’m no present to deal with. I’m not a goddess on high.
I’ve had companies ask employees to romance me though to get a good podcast review for the company. It’s despicable but it’s happened.
Hell, my last boyfriend did that. He had a touring company and he took me around and showed me all over the place. He smiled and laughed with me. Took me out to eat and treated me like a queen.
Until the podcast came out. And then all of a sudden he was too busy to see me. Too backed up with work every night to even call me.
And that’s when I figured out that he wasn’t really interested in me. If he was he’d have made time for me.
As it is, I gave them a good podcast review but I never covered them again. I never went near the company and I never recommend them. If you are the face of the company and you’re that two-faced, I won’t bother with you again.
Scrambling up from the floor, I curse when I realize that I only have fifty minutes now to get ready.
My heart flutters and I touch my chest lightly, a smile on my face. I really can’t wait to see Mark again. Those bright, icy blue eyes dance in my mind as I drag my tired ass to the bathroom to take a shower and hopefully work some of the tired out of me.
I want to look my best for the gorgeous baker.
“You have a beautiful car,” I say.
“You rode in it yesterday,” he says, his wicked blue eyes turning my way as he shoots me a grin.
Flushing, I scowl at him. “I don’t remember that ride.”
He nods his head and sighs. “I know. I’m just teasing you.” He pauses and his big, veined, tan hand reaches out to touch my leg gently. “I’m sorry that you have that problem. Have you checked into any kind of medications?”
“There are some but they make me feel funky so I don’t want to use them. I just use timing and make sure to keep an eye on my body and how I’m feeling.”
That wicked smirk turns to me again even as he keeps one eye on the road. “I’d like to see how that body’s feeling for myself.”
Giggling, I fight the breathless, weightless feeling. His attention is too much for any poor girl to fight against.
And I’m no different than anybody else.
I never dreamed that a man like this could want me but it’s a heady thing to deal with. I’m drunk on the hunger that washes over me every time he smiles or turns those icicle eyes my way. My whole body burns with a four-alarm fire of need.
And he’s got just the equipment I want to take a turn with.
My cheeks flush bright red and he smirks, even as he lifts my hand and turns it over, tenderly kissing my palm while I breathlessly stare at him.
“I’ll stop. For now. But just know that I intend to do everything and be everything for you, princess. If you’re not on board, let me know.”
But I sit there blissfully silent just wondering how the hell I got this lucky.
I’m not crazy enough to take that luck for granted either. I’m on board with whatever he wants. And if this is just a one-time thing, well, I’ll deal with my broken heart later. For now, I want to see what it’s like to be with a god among men.