Chapter 2
Gabriel
The evening before...
A man needs luck.
And my luck tonight landed right in my lap.
Total chance that I ended up in the Midnight Lounge when I’d actually planned on going to the Millionaires and Gentlemen’s Club.
After all, Cornelius Grey himself had invited me there.
But in the end, I wasn’t feeling it and figured I’d try my luck here instead.
Jackpot.
Girls as pretty and natural-looking as her don’t show up often in London.
She’s got something delicate, tender and fragile about her that hooked me right away.
But she’s also let slip once or twice that there’s more going on behind that sweet facade than she wants me to see.
Maybe she’ll show me when we get to my place.
What was her name again? Oh yeah—Kimberley.
“You smell so good,” she purrs against my neck while my lips trail along her throat. She presses her hips into mine, eager as hell. Looks like someone can’t wait.
“We’re almost at my place,” I tell her with a big grin. A few nice words, some good cologne, and she’s all mine. That’s all it takes to pull a woman into my arms.
I keep her in check, slow Kim down when she gets too wild. A car isn’t the spot to give her a few hours of fun.
When we pull up to my apartment—the one I use for undisturbed nights like this—I help her out of the limo. Her steps wobble, her cheeks are hot and flushed. Look like someone can’t hold her liquor...
Then again, she had two whiskeys. And with that tiny frame...
“You alright?” I ask as we step into the lobby. The doorman nods to me respectfully.
“Good evening, Sir,” he says. I nod back and hit the elevator button while Kim clings to my arm. She giggles and looks up at me. Without heels, she’s probably tiny next to me.
“Of course. And you?” Cute that she asks.
“You sure you want this? Otherwise, I can grab you a taxi.” Just covering my bases.
“You really are a gentleman, Gabriel. Think I’m drunk and don’t know what I’m doing?
” The elevator doors slide open, and she steps inside.
She drops my arm, spins gracefully, and leans against the mirrored wall, one hand on the gold rail, her eyes daring me.
“Come here...” she whispers. Well, no need to tell me twice.
I walk over, hit 14, and wait for the doors to shut. Not yet. Not in the elevator. I want her to wait just a little longer before the real fun.
“What are you waiting for?” she teases, eyes hungry. But as the elevator lurches, she stumbles, lands on the floor, and starts laughing. There she is, cracking herself up. Honestly, one glass would’ve been enough.
“I’m just making sure you’re not totally wasted, Kim.” At the bar she’d seemed to hold it together way better.
“I’m not drunk. Relax,” she says, trying to stand. I take her hand, pull her up. At my place, I’ll get her coffee and a snack. She’ll need the boost—I’ve got plenty planned for her.
“How about some salmon and veggies? Got leftovers from last night.”
“I’m not hungry. Except for you,” she flirts, a little shy, which makes me grin. She digs through her purse and waves me off. “Just a sec. I need to set my alarm. Absolutely can’t be late tomorrow.”
“I’ve gotta be up early too. What time you setting it for?” The elevator dings and I watch her stride out, steady this time, phone in hand. That stumble earlier must’ve just been a fluke.
“Around eight. That gives me time to eat, shower, and drive home without rushing. I can’t stand being late.”
“Same here. Works with my schedule.” And the idea of showering together after a hot night? Right up my alley.
“It’s right here.” Only four apartments are on this floor.
Celebs and foreign guests usually rent them when they’re in London for a while.
I keep this one just for this specific use.
That way, I don’t risk some one-night stand showing up at my actual house, all lovesick and looking for more.
She won’t find me here—if she even makes it into the building at all.
I punch in the code, and flip on the lights.
Kim’s wide-eyed look doesn’t surprise me.
In London, every square foot of space costs a fortune, and this place isn’t exactly tiny.
The main area’s a mix of kitchen, dining, and bedroom.
Only the bathroom and a small storage room for clothes and other things are separate.
The bed’s partitioned behind a half wall, hip-high.
“Wow, you really have a gorgeous place,” Kim says, slipping her phone away.
She hangs onto my arm with one hand and slips off her heels with the other.
Just like I thought—without them she barely reaches my chest. “A man with taste,” she adds, then drifts straight toward the bedroom with her stuff.
Right before she gets there, she glances back.
“Why are you still standing there? I didn’t come here to chat. ”
“Pretty bold,” I say, following her. “That the booze talking, or are you always this demanding?”
“The whiskey. Really. Otherwise, I’m way too shy. That’s why I wanted a drink,” she admits, flopping back onto the mattress.
“You’re honest, I’ll give you that,” I say, unbuckling my belt. I slide it out of the loops and toss it on the bed. Might come in handy soon—I’m in the mood for that, and maybe she is too.
“Mm, this is so soft…” she sighs while I pull off my shirt and kneel over her. Kim stretches her arms out seductively, arches her back a little, those light brown doe eyes sparkling up at me. She’s got a certain innocent vibe, that’s dulled a bit thanks to the alcohol.
“Not everything here is soft. Hope you like it a little harder too?” I murmur, brushing my fingertips across her cheek while bracing myself with the other hand on the mattress.
“Hard muscles?” She grins.
“That too.”
“What else could be hard?” She giggles nervously.
“This… or that.” My hand trails down her neck, stopping at the first button of her blouse. I undo them one by one.
“Skilled fingers. Are you that good with everything you touch?” she teases, letting me keep going.
“I love working with my hands.”
“Even in your free time?”
“I’d rather show you than explain,” I say, leaning in for a kiss.
Finally, alone. Just her and me. This night’s ours, and my whole body’s already burning for her.
I want to kiss her. Touch her. Make her shake and moan.
Give her one climax after another, peel off every scrap of pesky fabric, and make this a night she’ll never forget, and—
She’s not moving anymore.
The second I toss her blouse aside; her body just goes limp. Confused, I look up—she’s lying there, eyes shut, lips parted.
“Kim?” Nothing. I clear my throat, pause, because there’s no way this is happening. “Kim?” I nudge her gently. She’s out cold. She actually fell asleep.
I let out a long breath and move back. Fantastic. My night’s definitely over.
Whatever. I lift her legs onto the bed and pull a blanket over her. Set my phone alarm for eight sharp. Maybe tomorrow morning she’ll be rested and ready, and we can make up for what I actually wanted to do with her now.
Quick detour to the kitchen—I down some water, kill the lights, and crawl back into bed. First time for everything, I guess. A woman in my place and not even had sex. Not happening again. Next time, I’ll order my next conquest tea or juice. Definitely no drinks.
I lie there, trying to sleep. Not so easy to think of anything else now with such a gorgeous woman right next to me and…
“Chrrr…” She’s snoring. I take it all back.
I close my eyes, breathe in deep, and try to think about anything else while it sounds like a forest’s getting leveled beside me. Unreal…
I chuckle to myself and roll onto my side. With luck, she’ll quiet down and I’ll get some rest.
When my phone alarm drags me up the next morning, I feel anything but rested.
Kim eventually stopped sawing logs, but lying there next to her, breathing in her perfume, hearing those soft little noises she made while mumbling—it kept me wired.
More than once I almost pulled her into my arms just to hold her. Just to enjoy the moment.
I sit up and glance at her, rubbing sleep from her face. Even groggy and half-dead from sleep, she looks damn cute. Messy hair and cranky expressions work for her.
“God, it’s so early…” she groans.
“Want to join me in the shower?” I shoot my shot. But what does she do? Yanks the blanket over her head and rolls away. “Don’t fall back asleep.”
“I won’t. I’m awake…” she mumbles under the covers.
“You sure you don’t want to come shower with me?” There goes my shot at hot morning sex in the bathroom.
“Just five more minutes…” Nope. Completely useless right now. Fine. I’ll get her out the door, then head to the office.
“Alright. I’m going ahead. If you change your mind, come join me.” I stand by the bed for a moment. “Don’t fall back asleep, okay?”
“I’m awake. I’m awake…” she grumbles. She was sweeter last night. Funny how appearances fool you.
“Great.” I sigh, annoyed, and head to the bathroom. Cold shower. Very cold.
What a miserable start to the day.