Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Simon
The server returned to our table and set our plates down.
“May I get you anything else?” he asked.
“No. I think we’re good,” I said.
“Don’t think you’re off the hook, Montclair. I want an answer to my question.”
I looked at her. “I prefer things uncomplicated.”
“That’s really not an answer.” She picked up her fork.
“It’s an answer. It’s just one you don’t like.”
“No, it’s the answer men give when they don’t want to give the real one.”
“Wow. I didn’t realize you’ve suddenly become an expert on men,” I smirked.
“Not men. You.”
I chuckled. “You’ve known me for less than a week.”
“And you made a ten-rule list within twenty-four hours. I’m a quick study.” She grinned.
“There’s nothing wrong with rules, Bella.”
“There’s nothing wrong with relationships either.”
“That is debatable.” I pointed my fork at her.
“So, you’ve never had one?”
“I’ve dated many women.”
“That wasn’t my question, Simon.”
“I know.” I winked.
“Simon.” She cocked her head.
“What do you want me to say, Bella?”
“The truth. All I want is the truth.”
The truth. That was the problem. I didn’t talk about this shit. And I sure as hell didn’t discuss my childhood over dinner.
“Fine. I’ve never wanted one.”
“Why?” Her brows furrowed.
“My life works the way it is. I like my independence. I like knowing what to expect. I don’t want someone needing to know where I am, what I’m doing, why I didn’t call, why I worked late, and why I didn’t text back fast enough.”
“Wow. That is oddly specific.”
“They’re examples, Bella.”
“So,” she wiped her mouth with her napkin, “this isn’t about relationships at all. It’s about expectations.”
“I don’t want either,” I said.
“Why?” She picked up her glass and finished her drink.
She wasn’t going to let it go, and I was getting irritated.
“You really want to know?” I cocked my head.
“Yes.” She nodded.
“My parents had a bad marriage when I was growing up. And you want to know what the sad part is?”
“What?”
“I’d never seen my father happier since my mother died.”
The server walked over and handed me the bill. I pulled out my credit card and handed it to him.
“Simon, that’s awful.”
“It’s the truth. All they did was fight.
She criticized him all the time. She criticized everyone.
She wasn’t an easy woman, Bella. She was demanding.
Nothing was ever good enough. Not the house, not the vacations, not the people my father did business with, and certainly not me.
My father spent their entire marriage trying to keep her happy.
I watched him do it for years. He’d change plans because she didn’t like them.
He’d leave dinners early because she wanted to go home.
Everything revolved around keeping the peace. ”
“I’m surprised he stayed,” she said.
“He loved her. That’s what he told me when I asked him. Her issues were deep-rooted in ways nobody could ever understand. Did I forget to mention that she liked to drink a lot?”
“She was an alcoholic?” she asked.
“Yes, she was. I’d find her passed out on the floor more times than a child should have.”
“How old were you when she passed?”
“Fifteen. I’d come home from my friend Christian’s house and found her on the living room floor, unconscious in a pool of blood. I called 911, and she passed away before they made it to the hospital. She was so drunk that she fell and hit the back of her head on the fireplace.”
“Oh my God, Simon. I’m so sorry.” She reached across the table and placed her hand on mine.
“I appreciate it, but don’t be.” I softly stroked her skin with my thumb. “So, as far as I’m concerned, relationships are like prisons. Once you’re in, life becomes unbearable, and you’re trapped.”
“You watched your father give up pieces of himself to keep your mother happy,” she said. “Of course that affects the way you see relationships.”
“This isn’t some childhood trauma we need to dissect. I am the way I am because I choose to be, and nothing or no one will ever change that.”
She slowly moved her hand away from mine. But I didn’t care. She wanted the truth, so I gave it to her.
We arrived back at the penthouse. Bella kicked off her heels while I removed my suit coat and tossed it over the living room chair.
“Thanks for dinner, Simon. The food was excellent, as was the company.” She smiled.
That fucking smile. I became undone every time I saw it.
“Good night.” She began to walk toward the hallway.
I clenched my fist as I stood in the middle of the living room.
“Bella?”
“Yeah?” She stopped and turned.
I hastily walked over to where she stood, cupped her face in my hands, and smashed my mouth against hers. Her lips were soft, just like I knew they would be. My tongue met hers, and the intoxication settled in. She didn’t pull away, nor did she stop me. She wanted me as much as I wanted her.
I picked her up and carried her to my bedroom. Just as we were about to cross the threshold. She gripped the molding of the door and stopped me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I’m not allowed in your bedroom, remember?”
“Tonight, I’m breaking that rule.” I smiled and kissed her.
I set her down in front of the bed, reached behind her, and slowly unzipped her dress, pushing the thin straps off her shoulders.
The dress fell to the ground, and she stood there wearing a black lacy thong.
I cupped her bare breasts in my hands. They were perky, the perfect size, and just enough for me to enjoy.
I pulled away and undressed while she climbed under the covers.
I noticed the look on her face when I pulled down my boxer briefs.
“Impressed?” I grinned.
“Very.” She smiled.
I climbed into bed and rolled on my side.
Our lips met as my hand traveled down her torso, making its way to her pussy.
God, she was already soaked, which turned me on even more.
I dipped a finger inside, and she gasped.
She wrapped her fingers around my hard cock, causing me to lose my breath at the sensation.
I explored her until she came. Once she did, I went down on her to taste the sweetness that erupted from her.
“God, you taste so good,” I whispered.
She moaned as her fingers gripped the sheets.
Another orgasm took over her. I reached into the nightstand, pulled out a condom, and slipped it on before I climbed on and thrust inside her.
The sensation was overwhelming. It was different than all the other women I’d been with.
I couldn’t explain it, and I didn’t want to.
I thrust in and out at a steady pace, her body moving with mine.
The feeling was incredible, as were the moans escaping her lips.
I picked up the pace. She came, and I was about to.
One more thrust did me in. I halted and held myself deep inside her while my cock exploded.
I dropped my body on her and held her until our breathing went back to normal. I. WAS. FUCKED.
I rolled off her, removed the condom, turned to my side and faced her, running the back of my hand down her cheek.
“That was amazing.” I smiled.
“It sure was. Are we calling this sex?”
“What?” My brows furrowed.
“Was this sex? You refused to call our dinner a date. I wasn’t sure if you had another name for this.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“It was sex, Bella. Pure sex.”
“Thank you.” She smiled and brought her hand up to my cheek. “Do you want me to go back to my bedroom?”
“You can stay if you want to,” I said.
“Good. I’m too tired now to get up.”
“Come here.” I rolled on my back and extended my arm. She snuggled against me as if she belonged there.
I lay there and thought about our conversation at dinner about my parents.
I’d rarely told anyone about my childhood because it was hard to talk about.
But with her, the words just fell out without me thinking about it.
I’d never met anyone like her before. She challenged me in ways women were too afraid to.
But not Bella Castle. She told it like it was.
It was annoying yet refreshing at the same time.
“Bella?”
“Yeah?” She lifted her head and looked at me.
“I have a charity event to go to on Saturday at the Waldorf. Would you like to go with me?”
“Are you asking me out on a date, Mr. Montclair?”
I stared into her beautiful blue eyes. “I do believe I am.”
“Then I’d love to go with you.” She laid her head back on my chest.