CHAPTER FOUR
PENELOPE
I KNEW WARD WAS GOING to be here, but I didn’t know James would. The way he wandered over and manhandled me like we were still dating was a little infuriating. Thankfully, I turned my face, so his kiss landed on my cheek.
Suddenly, I was prompted by a powerful, invisible force to spin around.
A forced called Ward Montgomery.
The moment I did, the world vanished and all I could see was him. Like some ridiculous Hollywood movie where everything fades and the spotlight is on the main character.
Until the glass exploded in his hand.
The entire room stopped and stared.
“Why?” I ask when he apologizes for standing me up two weeks ago.
I wasn’t expecting him to do more than watch me from across the room tonight.
Perhaps I underestimated him. An apology is deserved, but the damn chemistry between us is choking me.
“Is that your date?” Ward asks, narrowing his eyes at James.
I’m tempted to say yes and slip away, but I can’t. The words won’t come out. I spent hours getting ready to catch his attention, and now that I have it, I feel as powerless as I ever do with this man.
But that doesn’t mean I’m going to be easy.
I’m not easy.
I have had two one-night stands in my entire forty-one years. One in my early twenties and the other with Ward. My family is highly respected in the Philadelphia society, and I usually conduct myself much better than this.
I’ve dated powerful and interesting men. Just never met the one to settle down and have a family with.
Ward asked me the first time we met if I had other dreams besides my career. I do. I want a baby. The clock has been ticking and possibly already run out of batteries, but the need to be a mother is palpable.
Thing is, you can’t go around talking about it. It makes people uncomfortable.
It makes men uncomfortable.
Especially if you are a single woman.
I’ve had an amazing life. I run a non-profit because it’s my passion to help animals, but I’m also a lawyer and have a master’s in political science.
Yet, love seems to have passed me by.
“I was wrong. I should have phoned you.” Ward lowers his chin, and I hear the authenticity in his apology.
Yet, that isn’t what I asked.
“Why did you...I know you’re attracted to me.” I sip my glass of Cristal.
“Of course I fucking am.” He grates out. Those broody eyes of his shoot away and he mutters thank you to the server who delivers him another glass of Macallan.
Then they slam back to mine as my heart thumps inside my chest.
I want to yell at my body for wanting this man who left me needy and wanting. Feeling rejected and humiliated.
“Perhaps you need more time to self-reflect.” I sip my champagne angrily and step back. “It was lovely seeing you again, Mr. Montgomery.”
I notice the blood on his hand as my eyes dip.
Goddamn him. I reach out and take his hand, surprising both of us.
Ward glances down as his blood coats my fingers, and I grab the napkin I’d tucked into my dress. As I wrap it around his hand, he tugs me closer with his other hand and my eyes lift to his.
“Come home with me,” Ward whispers roughly.
I swallow.
Oh, how I want his big masculine body wrapped around mine. To feel his skilled hands running over my body. The way he lifted me with such ease. I don’t know a woman alive who wouldn’t have her breath taken away by this man.
“Ward Montgomery, isn’t it?” James steps up next to me and extends his hand. Then notices our hands entwined with the napkin. “Damn. They don’t make crystal glasses like they used to, do they?”
James laughs as I move a few inches away.
“In your day?” Ward arcs a brow and I glare at him, surprised by the acid in his voice.
He’s jealous.
Oh my god.
“Do you need someone to look at that? Pen, is there a medical kit somewhere?” James asks, using a nickname I hate.
I lift my own brow. I’m not his personal assistant. Ward looks amused, clearly happy to see the tension between us.
God, I can’t believe I was about to weaken and go home with him.
“He’ll live.” I let go of Ward's hand and introduce them. “James Goldman, meet Ward Montgomery. Now, if you will both excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”
Without waiting for a response, I grab a handful of my skirt and stride away.
Come home with me.
How dare he ask that? After not showing up on the day of the Super Bowl when I was throbbing with need and expectation, how dare he!
Because the truth is, I want nothing more than to be fucked into absolute compliance and exhaustion by him again.
WARD
IT TAKES ME ALMOST seven long minutes to extract myself from James and two of his business associates.
Penelope hasn’t returned.
The good news is that James doesn’t seem bothered by that and hasn’t asked me how I know her. So, I’ve arrived at two conclusions: he’s either an idiot or they’re not seeing one another.
I lie. Three.
Penelope is coming home with me tonight.
I have no expectations she’ll invite me to her home, which leaves me with the choice of a hotel or taking her back to my place.
Fucking up once was a mistake. I’ll not do that again. A hotel feels tacky and is a privacy risk for both of us. Journalists hover around looking for gossip.
While neither of us is that exciting, it would still be a story for a slow news day.
Rubbing my jaw, I glance around the room looking for Penelope’s long, dark hair and electric eyes.
Fuck, has she gone?
I say goodbye to the hosts and get my coat, messaging Luke to collect me as I walk around the perimeter of the crowd.
I can’t see her.
Damn it.
As I step outside, I finally spot her. In the reflection of the sliding glass doors, she walks toward me, digging into the pockets of her long black faux-fur coat, and almost trips.
I spin and reach for her.
“Woah, there,” I say roughly, the feeling of her body in my arms sending rockets of desire through me.
God, I’ve missed touching her.
Her gasp, as her hands grip my arms and her mouth parts, has my cock standing up in an instant.
“Damn you, Ward.”
“I know. I feel it too.” I tug her a little closer as my heart thuds in my chest. “Now, I’ll ask you one more time. Will you come home with me?”
Penelope’s gaze lingers, dropping to my lips, then back up. I feel her body shaking, not from the cold, but from desire.
“Please.”
“Yes.”
My limo pulls up as a smirk hits my lips, thrilled I get to enjoy this gorgeous woman one more time. Before we part, I will be clear with her about future expectations. I will never hurt her again.
When we slide into the back seat of the limousine, I widen my legs and place a hand on Penelope’s thigh. She parts them without hesitation and the split in the skirt gives me full access.
Fuck me.
I hiss as I find her without panties.
“Jesus.” I moan, turning and swapping hands. “Was this for me?” She’s so wet my two fingers enter her with ease.
She arches. “God, Ward.”
“Tell me this was for me.” I growl deeply.
“Yes,” Penelope confesses as I pump my fingers in and out of her with pure intention.
Then I pull them out and circle her clit while she grips my shoulder and moans. “Oh god.”
I’ve died and gone to heaven, I’m sure of it.
How did I not know that she was craving me and wet all night, wanting my touch?
Wanting my cock.
Wanting me.
Not that it was a sure thing. A man has to work to spend a night with a woman like this and I know how lucky I am to have my hand between her legs.
Damn lucky.
“You’re a naughty girl, Penelope.” I lick my fingers and return them to her pussy. “Standing among all those people with no panties on, dripping with need for me.”
“Yes.” She moans, but I don’t think she knows what she’s saying as her body trembles.
I want to rip the Chanel dress from her body and suck her nipples, but even I know that’s sacrilege. Not to mention showing my animalistic side.
Stay in control.
“I will have to punish you for this.” I use my thumb on my other hand to work her clit as I continue fucking her with my fingers. “I’m going to take you to the edge and make you wait for your orgasm.”
What I want to do is lift her onto my hips and have her slide her wet pussy around my shaft, then ride me until she clamps down and pulls the come from my body.
“Please, Ward. Please.” Her fingers dig into my shoulder and her hips lift off the seat, eager for more.
Fuck.
I want more of her. All of her. I move both of us along the wide seat of the limo and lift her hips so I can get my mouth on her.
Then run a long sweep of my tongue over her wet pussy.
Yes.
“Jesus, god!” Penelope cries.
“I could fuck you right now.” I growl, swallowing her juices. “Lift you onto my hard cock and fill this sexy body with my come.”
Actually, I’ll come right now if I don’t get control of myself.
I clamp onto her clit and slide more fingers inside her. It takes another ten seconds before her screams are filling the private space of the limo and she’s shuddering around my mouth.
I’m like a caged tiger.
I’ve waited weeks to have her back in my arms and it feels like we have a ten-hour drive home.
Fortunately, it’s not.