Chapter 7
Chapter seven
Caitlyn
Istare out the window of my office, unable to focus on the hustle and bustle of the strip going on below. My heart is broken in a million pieces, and I'm never going to recover. I sigh loudly and spin around to my desk.
"What happened?" Monica's voice startles me. I forgot I wasn't alone.
What is wrong with me acting like this over a man?
"Nothing." And then I sigh again when she gives me a look. "I don't want to talk about it."
She looks like she's about to argue with me, but then I motion toward the clock. "Why don't you head out. You can pick up Tyler from your mom's house early today."
Monica glances at the clock and jumps up quickly. Any extra time she can get with her little boy is always welcome. "Okay, thank you. I'm here if you need to talk."
I nod, although she works for me, and Alistair is a client, so I would never be able to talk about any of this with her. It's still nice that she offered.
Monica takes my nod as confirmation and smiles at me before rushing out of my office. I'm left alone with my brooding thoughts and broken heart. My phone pings and I pull it out, a part of me secretly hoping it's from Alistair.
PAIGE
Hi, hon! Just a heads-up that Anderson and I are coming out the beginning of January.
I bite my lip, not sure how I want to respond to Paige.
Will I still be here in January? For the first time since I started my job, I consider the possibility of leaving Vegas.
I love the White Sands Spa, and the pay is better than anything I've ever been able to make on my own.
The hotel owner, Mr. Johnson, has even discussed expanding with a second spa and putting me in charge of both.
But the thought of Alistair getting his hair cut by anyone else makes me want to break down and sob.
Good lord, Caitlyn. Get a freakin' grip.
Am I really going to lose my heart and my career in the same week? No. I'll get over the man and throw myself into my job.
Keep me posted on your plans!
For the next few hours, I busy myself with inventory and paperwork.
"Knock, knock." Trisha walks in holding a white cup from Sweetie Pies, the hotel's main bakery and coffee shop.
"Hot chocolate with your name on it, Caitlyn."
"Uh, I didn't order—oh, thank you." All day long I've been getting deliveries that I know are from Alistair.
Lemonade from the hotel bakery. The Asian chicken wrap from the pool for lunch.
A heated wrap for my shoulders and a gift basket filled with fancy chocolates this afternoon.
And now, hot chocolate to cap off my workday.
All I want to do is call him up and thank him, but I won't be able to tell him no again if he asks me to come to his suite. Even a few weeks with Alistair should be a dream, but I'm not a casual dater by nature.
And I definitely cannot handle being paid for my time.
It probably seems ridiculous to him, and to be fair, I know my response to the pile of money is a bit foolish. I mean, I was with him last night because I lost a bet for crying out loud. But I can't help how the cash made me feel.
Other than all the gifts, Alistair hasn't contacted me, and I'm glad. I need to sort through the muck clouding my brain.
Ultimately, I've come to the conclusion that I am probably reading into the money in a way that has everything to do with me and my baggage.
I also know that if I see him again, I may never recover when he moves on and every gift will be a reminder of what I couldn't have.
I tried to get in to see my therapist, but she's on vacation this week.
Frankly, she's been a little judgmental about the whole situation with Alistair, so maybe it's best I figure it out myself.
I don't entirely blame her. He's a high-roller, obsessed with gambling, and he won me in a bet that I had no business making.
Not exactly the ingredients for a sustainable relationship.
And yet, the thought of being won by that man for the rest of my life is enough to soak my panties through within seconds.
I told her, and myself, I was doing it for the sex. How was I supposed to know I was betting with my heart?
Trisha clears her throat, and I wonder if this is the first time she's tried to get my attention.
"Sorry." I shake my head, trying to clear it of anything but the present.
Trisha eyes me for a long moment and then finally speaks. "Stations are picked up, and we're heading out. Debbie checked in with the spa, and everything's set-up for the cleaning crew to come in tonight. We moved all the smaller furniture up so they can do the floors."
"Sounds good, thank you." I give her a small smile.
"Do you need me to stay? I can help with whatever's weighing you down."
I smile, knowing that there is no way I will leave this job. I work with a group of lovely people. "No, go home. Get Christopher to take you out to dinner tonight. Your hair looks amazing today."
"I know, right?" Trisha snorts. "I think I'll text my girls first."
"Aww, you and Christopher fizzling out?"
She shrugs. "My grandma always said you should find a man who's going to jump fences to be with you. Christopher isn't just sitting on the fence; he's building them higher for no reason."
"I'm sorry, Trisha. I want to hear more about it tomorrow. Tonight, go out and dance with your friends."
"Yeah. Screw him." She laughs. "See you tomorrow, Caitlyn." She closes the door to my office, and I stand up, taking a long drink of my hot chocolate and trying to decide how to approach my situation with Alistair.
On the one hand, I most certainly overreacted, but on the other, I can't continue this if it makes me feel cheap.
I walk out front to print out the daily receipt report and lock up, but I stop in my tracks. If I was a cartoon, the screechy sound would be followed by a boing noise, and my panties bursting into flames.
Alistair stands at the front desk, looking like a snack in a dark blue suit. He's surrounded by an entourage of men and women all holding packages, and my mouth falls open at the sheer number of people at the front of the spa. When he spots me, the intensity of his eyes flips my stomach and I gasp.
"Ah, you're still here." He lets out a relieved breath and then comes over to me with a serious expression on his face.
"I realize now I should have let you pick your own necklace.
I know some women are particular with that, and I don't have the best eye for jewelry.
The necklace reminded me of you, but you should pick something that makes you happy. "
My breath catches as his scent washes over me, and I want to wrap this gentle giant into my arms and never let him go.
"Alistair, the necklace was beautiful. If I could have chosen any necklace in the entire world, it probably would have been that one, or maybe not, because I couldn't even fathom buying myself something that incredible. "
Alistair nods, his brows knitted in confusion. "Well, I thought maybe you might prefer a bracelet or some earrings." He gestures behind him and two people step forward, opening the boxes in their hands.
I stare at the gold bangles, glittering with diamonds, and the massive teardrop earrings that perfectly match the necklace he bought me. He looks at me with such hope in his eyes that I want to cry.
"Alistair, I don't need you to buy me things." I cup his face, and the raw emotion on his face squeezes my heart. "I just need you."
"I'm in love with you, Caitlyn. I have been since the first time you cut my hair. You were wearing that black dress, and your hair brushed against my arm. You smiled at me, and I knew. You are the one for me. And I want to be the one for you."
I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. The first haircut was months before the bet.
He's in love with me?
Alistair watches me carefully, and I lean forward, planting my lips to his. He grabs me, deepening the kiss, our tongues tangling in an erotic dance, until we pull away panting. I grin at him, deciding then and there to trust him with my whole heart.
His eyes are fixed on my mouth. He doesn't look away even as he addresses the woman standing closest to the front of the large group. "Ms. Holmes. Please have everything sent to my suite with an invoice."
"Yes, sir." Ms. Holmes dismisses the entire crew behind him, ushering everyone out quickly.
Alistair eyes the keys in my hand. "Were you about to lock up?"
"Yes," I say, wanting to run my hands over his thick muscles.
Alistair steps aside, gesturing for me to go to the door, and I quickly lock us in. I flip the front lights off to indicate that we're closed for the day.
"Ms. Collins, I'd like to speak to you about something private. Do you have an office?"
"Yes." My voice is breathy with excitement. He's looking at me like he did last night right before he devoured me and stole my heart.
I lead him to the back, the soft glow of the setting sun casting a sexy mood in my office.
Alistair locks the door and stalks me back against my desk. My butt hits the edge, but he continues forward, pressing his body against mine, as he rips my panties from my body. I gasp in surprise.
Alistair buries his face in my chest as I reach behind me and lower the zipper on my dress quickly. I can't bare to let him destroy this gorgeous material. He pulls my skirt up around my hips, and his thick finger glides through my release.
"Oh God, yes," I call out with pleasure as he strokes my clit.
"I am going to buy you gifts, and give you stacks of money, Caitlyn, because you are a goddess, and you deserve beautiful things.
" Alistair gazes deeply into my eyes as he strokes my clit, and I moan as much from the friction, as his words.
"I will do it whether or not you continue to have sex with me because I can't live without you. "
I grip the back of his arms and pull him closer as I undo the zipper on his pants. I reach my hand inside to stroke his huge cock.
Alistair groans, using his foot to spread my legs farther apart, and I whimper as my release builds like a fire being stoked higher and higher.
"To be clear," Alistair grits out, "I want to have sex with you. Lots of it."
"Yes!" I breathe out in agreement, pumping his cock enthusiastically as I try to bring him as much pleasure as he's wringing from my body.
Alistair grunts, like he's trying to hold back. "I know you're worried about your job, so I think the best way to handle the situation is to get married as quickly as possible."
My eyes fly open in surprise, but he chooses that moment to thrust a finger inside me, and I arch into him, sobbing out his name as he grinds the heel of his palm against my clit with his fingers buried inside me.
"Oh God, yes! Alistair!" I jerk and writhe, trying to get friction.
"Yes, you'll marry me?" he asks, and I thrust my hips against his hand, desperately trying to ride the wave that is cresting inside me.
"I love you!" I call out.
"Oh fuck," Alistair growls, laying me back against the desk to use both hands to bring me to release.
"Oh God, yes, yes, yes!" I cry out, and then still, sobbing out his name as I come all over his fingers.
Alistair smiles down at me, his eyes narrowed as if my pleasure is his. And with the way he owns my body, he's not wrong.
He licks his fingers one by one as I stare up at him, and then he leans down on top of me.
"I love you," he says, kissing me sweetly, even as he rubs his hard cock through my release. He notches at my entrance, and my core throbs in anticipation. I wrap my legs around him and pull him in closer.
"I love you, Alistair. With all my heart," I tell him, placing my palm on his cheek and gazing into his eyes, trying to communicate all the emotions I see reflected on his face. "Today was miserable."
"Caitlyn, I'm going to fuck you on this desk so that every day you come to work, you can't help but wish I was here buried deeply inside you. You're going to need me so badly, I'm going to have to visit your perfect cunt for lunch."
I moan from his dirty words, knowing that is exactly what will happen.
This man is jumping fences left and right.
"And then, we are going back up to my suite, and you are going to pick a ring from the hundreds of options I have waiting for you, because I'm going to make you Mrs. Evans. Tonight."
My eyes fly open, and then he thrusts inside me, and I call out my answer.
"Yes. Oh, yes!"