Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
Sienna
I slumped into my chair, pushing off my high heels with a groan. My feet were killing me, but at least I’d finally caught up on all the work I’d missed. Who knew picking up someone from the airport would throw my whole day off?
Glancing at the mirror, I saw the toll of the long day etched on my face. My perfectly applied eyeliner had smudged, giving me a slightly raccoon-like appearance. Great. Just great.
As I cleaned my face, my mind drifted to the cause of my chaotic day - Fury Gracen.
I snorted. Fury? That's a ridiculous name, but damn if he didn’t wear it well.
“Stop it,” I scolded my reflection. “He’s just another suit. Nothing special.”
But even as I said it, I knew it wasn’t true. There was something about him that got under my skin. The way his eyes crinkled when he smiled.
I shook my head, trying to dislodge the image of his broad shoulders and warm brown eyes. “It’s just been too long since you got laid,” I told myself firmly. “That’s all this is.”
A knock at the door saved me from my spiraling thoughts. “Come in!” I called, grateful for the distraction.
The door swung open, and Gavin strode in, looking as impeccable as ever in his tailored suit.
“Sienna, darling,” he greeted, flashing that million-dollar smile. “How are you holding up?”
I quirked an eyebrow. “I’m fine, Gavin. What’s up? You don’t usually come checking on me this late.”
He settled into the chair across from me, crossing one leg over the other. “Can’t a boss check on his favorite employee?”
“Sure, when hell freezes over,” I retorted, earning a chuckle from him. “Spill it, Manning. What do you want?”
His eyes twinkled with amusement. “Always so direct. I like that about you, Sienna.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I wanted to get your thoughts on our new friend, Mr. Gracen.”
I fought to keep my expression neutral, even as my heart did a little flip at the mention of Fury’s name. “What about him?”
“Oh, come now. You spent quite a bit of time with him today. What’s your read on him?”
I shrugged, aiming for nonchalance. “He seems... competent enough. Why the sudden interest in a money manager, Gavin? Is everything okay with the club?”
His smile faltered for a split second before sliding back into place. If I hadn’t been watching closely, I might have missed it. “Everything’s fine, Sienna. Just looking to diversify our investments a bit. You know, stay ahead of the curve.”
I narrowed my eyes, not buying it for a second. “Uh-huh. But you’ve never needed outside financial help before. Why now?”
He stood up, straightening his jacket. “Sometimes it’s good to get a fresh perspective, that’s all. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a few calls to make before heading home.”
As he reached the door, he paused and looked back at me. “You know you can always come to me if something’s bothering you, right? About anything... or anyone.”
I nodded, forcing a smile. “Of course, Gavin. Goodnight.”
As the door closed behind him, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more going on than he was letting on. And why did he seem so interested in my opinion of Fury?
Squaring my shoulders, I stepped out of the dressing room and into the controlled chaos of the club.
I weaved through the crowd, nodding at the security guards and ignoring the drunken come-ons from patrons. Just as I made it to the exit unscathed, I locked eyes with Venus. She was perched on the lap of some Wall Street type, her golden skin glowing under the lights. She gave me a wink and a little wave, and I smiled back. For all her faults, Venus was a sweetheart.
I was so distracted by Venus that I didn’t see the man until I practically ran into him.
“Well, hello there, beautiful,” he slurred, his meaty hand landing on my arm. “Where are you running off to? The party’s just getting started!”
I plastered on my best fake smile, the one that showed too many teeth to be friendly. “I’m afraid the party’s over for me, sir. Perhaps you’d like to order another drink?”
He leered at me, his breath reeking of expensive scotch. “Only if you’ll join me, sweetheart. Come on, let me buy you a nightcap.”
I opened my mouth to deliver a scathing retort when Dana appeared at my side like an avenging angel.
“Mr. Carmichael!” she exclaimed, all bubbly enthusiasm. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you! Your wife’s waiting for you in the VIP lounge.”
The man’s face paled, and he released my arm like it had burned him. “Ah, yes, of course. Thank you, my dear.”
As Dana led him away, she threw a wink over her shoulder at me. I mouthed a silent ‘thank you’ and made my escape.
The blast of cold air as I stepped outside was a shock to the system, but a welcome one. I took a deep breath, letting the icy air clear my head. The streets were relatively quiet at this hour, but I kept my guard up as I made my way to the subway station. New York might never sleep, but it got a hell of a lot more dangerous after midnight.
I carefully picked my way across the sidewalk, cursing myself for not splurging on a cab. But old habits die hard, and the memory of scraping by on tips and cheap noodles was still too fresh.
The subway platform was mercifully empty, save for a group of teenagers huddled in the corner. They eyed me warily, and I returned the favor, keeping one hand on the pepper spray in my pocket. The tension didn’t leave my body until I was safely on the train, the doors closing behind me with a hiss.
As the subway car rattled through the tunnels, I let my mind wander. It drifted, annoyingly, back to Fury. What was his deal? Why was Gavin so interested in him? And why couldn’t I shake the feeling that his arrival was going to change everything?
The walk from the subway to my apartment was blessedly uneventful, and by the time I reached my building, my feet were screaming in protest. I dragged myself up the three flights of stairs, cursing the broken elevator for the millionth time.
As I fumbled with my keys, Mrs. Goldstein from 3B poked her head out. “Late night, dear?” she asked, concern etched on her wrinkled face.
I mustered up a smile. “You know how it is, Mrs. G. The glamorous life of a talent coordinator never sleeps.”
She tutted disapprovingly before smiling and retreating back into her apartment. I finally got my door open and tiptoed into my place, praying that the click of the lock wouldn’t wake Vanessa. My roommate had a sleep schedule opposite of me, working early mornings at the hospital while I was busy wrangling drunk VIPs and entitled dancers afternoons and evenings. It was a miracle we ever saw each other.
My cat, Whiskers (shut up, I was going through a literal phase when I named him), meowed a greeting from his perch on the windowsill.
“Hey, buddy,” I murmured, scratching him behind the ears. “At least someone’s happy to see me.”
I kicked off my heels, wincing at the blisters that had formed. Note to self: break in new shoes before wearing them for a 16-hour workday.
I contemplated a long, hot bath, but the thought of falling asleep and drowning in my own tub wasn’t exactly appealing. Shower it was.
The hot water cascaded over me, washing away the stench of overpriced cologne. I closed my eyes, letting the steam envelop me, but instead of relaxing, my mind drifted to Fury. Those dark eyes, that crooked smile. The way his hand felt in mine as we ran through the rain.
It was stupid, but I couldn’t help it.
I palmed my breasts, squeezing gently as I tweaked my nipples. My breath caught as I imagined it was his hands on me. That stupid grin of his as he teased my peaks to tight buds.
I tilted my head back, letting the water pour over my face. My hands roamed lower, caressing my thighs and hips. In my mind, it was Fury’s tongue exploring every inch. I toyed with one nipple while my other hand ventured south, delving into slick heat.
It felt so real. Fury’s mouth on me, his fingers plunging inside as I arched into his touch. I bit my lip, craving more.
I grabbed the showerhead, angling it to blast my clit. My legs trembled as the hot jets pummeled my sweet spot. I pumped my fingers in and out, wishing it was Fury’s cock instead - thick and hard, buried to the hilt. I pictured how he’d move, starting slow then building to a frenzied pace as he lost control. The thought made me clench, and I surrendered to the rising wave of pleasure.
My inner walls pulsed around my fingers as I cried out, panting heavily. The shower rained down on my flushed skin, but all I saw was Fury’s face, all I heard was his name on my lips.
“Fuck,” I muttered, cranking the cold water to snap out of it. What was wrong with me? I barely knew the guy, yet here I was getting off to fantasies about him in the shower.
I was a mess, and it was all his fault. Sienna Marquez did not get attached. Sienna Marquez did not fantasize about stupid grins and handsome faces.
Sucking in a deep breath, I vowed to get my shit together. Fury Gracen might be good-looking and charming, but he wasn’t for me. And I wasn’t about to let him mess with my head, no matter how good he made me feel.
I turned off the water with a decisive twist and stepped out of the shower with a renewed sense of determination. Fury Gracen might be sexy as sin, but I was done thinking about him.
Clean and marginally more relaxed, I had thrown on an oversized t-shirt and settled into bed with my latest guilty pleasure—a reverse harem romance featuring a human girl who somehow ended up mated to an entire pack of werewolves. It was ridiculous, it was over-the-top, and it was exactly the kind of mindless entertainment I needed right now.
Except I couldn’t seem to focus on the words. I’d read the same sentence about Alpha Brock’s “smoldering amber eyes” at least five times now. Every time I tried to picture the brooding werewolf, he morphed into Fury, with those warm brown eyes that seemed to see right through me.
I tossed the book aside with a frustrated groan. This was getting downright pathetic.
I padded to the kitchen for a much-needed glass of wine, and I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sound of Vanessa’s voice. She was leaning against the doorframe, already dressed in her yoga gear, a knowing smirk on her face.
“Jesus, Vanessa. Wear a bell or something, would you?” I clutched my chest, willing my heart rate to return to normal.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you. You’re usually passed out by now. Everything okay?”
I waved a hand dismissively. “Yeah, yeah. Just a long night at the club. New VIP in town, had to play tour guide.”
Vanessa’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh? Anyone interesting?”
I tried to keep my face neutral, but I could feel the heat creeping up my neck. “Just some finance guy Gavin’s bringing on board. No big deal.”
“Uh-huh,” Vanessa said, clearly not buying it. “And does this ‘no big deal’ finance guy have a name?”
I sighed, knowing I wasn’t getting out of this. “Fury. Fury Gracen.”
“Fury?” Vanessa repeated, a grin spreading across her face. “Well, that’s certainly a name. What’s he like? Handsome? Charming? A total asshole?”
“He’s...” I trailed off, searching for the right words. “He’s different. Not like the usual guys we get at the club. He’s smart, funny in a dry sort of way. And yeah, I guess he’s not bad to look at.”
Vanessa’s grin widened. “Not bad to look at, huh? Coming from you, that’s practically a marriage proposal.”
I grabbed an oven mitt and chucked it at her head. “Shut up. It’s not like that.”
She dodged it with practiced ease. “Oh, come on, Sienna. I haven’t seen you this worked up over a guy since... well, ever. Spill.”
I groaned. “There’s nothing to spill. He’s Gavin’s new money manager, end of story.”
Vanessa snorted. “Yeah, right. Come on, give me details. What does he look like? What did you guys talk about?”
I closed my eyes, knowing resistance was futile. When Vanessa got like this, she was like a dog with a bone. “Fine. He’s tall, built, but not in that gross steroid way. Dark hair, brown eyes. And he’s got this... I don’t know, this intensity about him. Like he’s really listening when you talk.”
“Mmhmm,” Vanessa hummed encouragingly. “And? What else?”
“And nothing,” I insisted, but even I could hear the lack of conviction in my voice. “We just talked about work stuff. And... okay, we got caught in the rain and had to duck into this little café. It was... nice.”
Vanessa squealed, actually squealed, like we were teenagers at a slumber party. “Oh my God, Sienna! This is huge! When was the last time you actually enjoyed spending time with a guy?”
I sat up, suddenly defensive. “It’s not a big deal, V. So what if he’s kind of attractive and not a complete asshole? It doesn’t change anything. He’s still a client, and I’m still... me.”
Vanessa’s face softened. She reached out, squeezing my hand. “Hey, I know you've got your past. But not every guy is like Ralf, you know?”
I pulled my hand away, a familiar knot forming in my stomach at the mention of Ralf’s name. “It doesn’t matter if he’s not some asshole. I can’t... How would I ever be able to open up to a guy after…? I just can’t.”
“Sienna,” Vanessa said gently, “I know you’re scared. But you can’t let one total scumbag ruin your chance at happiness forever. And hey, if Gavin trusts this Fury guy enough to bring him on board, he can’t be all bad, right?”
I chewed my lip, considering her words. She wasn’t wrong. Gavin was a lot of things, but he was an excellent judge of character. He wouldn’t bring someone into the fold if he didn’t trust them implicitly.
“Maybe,” I conceded. “But it doesn’t change the fact that he’s part of the club. And I have a strict ‘no mixing business with pleasure’ policy.”
Vanessa rolled her eyes. “Yeah, because that’s worked out so well for you so far. When was the last time you even went on a date?”
I opened my mouth to argue, then closed it again. She had me there.
“Look,” Vanessa said, her tone softening. “I’m not saying you need to jump his bones or anything. Just... don’t close yourself off completely, okay? It’s okay to be interested in someone. It’s okay to let yourself feel things.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Vanessa pulled me into a hug, and I let myself relax into her embrace. Sometimes I forgot how much I needed this – this unconditional support, this gentle push out of my comfort zone.
“Thanks, V,” I mumbled into her shoulder.
She pulled back, grinning. “Anytime. Now, get some sleep. You look like you need it.”
I stuck my tongue out at her, but I could feel exhaustion creeping in. “Yeah, yeah. Go do your pretzel poses or whatever.”
Vanessa laughed as she headed for the door. “It’s called yoga, you heathen. Sweet dreams. Maybe about a certain tall, dark, and handsome finance guy?”
I threw another oven mitt at her retreating form, but a smile was tugging at my lips.
As I settled into my bed, I could feel my defenses crumbling just a little. Maybe Vanessa was right. Maybe it was okay to let myself feel something . Maybe I could let go of the past for once.