Chapter Eight
Maya
“You’re such a jerk.” After replying to Derek, I slip my phone back into my pocket and glare at my brother. I took him down the hall to the conference room so we could argue privately.
“I’m your brother.”
“So, let me get this straight. It was fine for you to date and marry Stella, who just happens to be significantly younger than you, but it’s not okay for me to be with Derek?”
“That’s different.”
I laugh at that, and Gray shuffles his feet, a scowl on his handsome face. “We both know it’s not different.”
“I’m not a complete prick, Maya.”
“Oh, sometimes you are. Listen to me. I’m almost done with this job, and Derek hasn’t done or said anything to me that you need to worry about. I want to get to know him better, and that’s just what I’m going to do. If it fizzles out, then it does. No harm, no foul. But, Gray? I’m thirty. I’m not a teenager. Do you think I spent six months in Europe and never had sex even once?”
His scowl grows. “I don’t want to fucking know that.”
“Then stop acting like an overprotective brother.”
He sighs, pulls me to him, hugs me close, and kisses my head. “I can’t. I am an overprotective brother.”
That makes me smile, and I pull away from him. “You know, if it doesn’t fizzle, you have to apologize to Derek.”
“Fuck that.”
* * * *
I’ve never been so nervous about a date in my life.
I have one dress left from my shopping spree that Derek hasn’t seen yet. It’s black with a shape-hugging bodice and a flowy skirt. With my black Louboutins, I don’t think I can go wrong.
I twisted my hair up off my neck and decided to wear the diamond solitaire necklace my parents got me for my thirtieth birthday.
My lips are red, my eyes smoky, and I think I’m ready.
As ready as I’ll ever be.
The doorbell rings just as I finish putting a few essentials into a clutch. When I open the door, my breath hitches.
“Wow,” I breathe, taking him in. He’s in slacks, a green shirt, and a sport coat that fits him perfectly, showing off broad shoulders and muscular arms. “You—”
Suddenly, his hands are on my face, and his mouth is on mine, kissing me greedily, as if he’s starving for me.
I hear the clutch hit the floor as I cling to him, wanting so much more than this kiss.
But he stops, rests his forehead against mine, and takes a long, deep breath.
“We have reservations,” he whispers, his voice rough. “And then I’m taking you to my house for the weekend.”
“You are?”
He lifts an eyebrow, and I grin.
“Should I pack a bag?”
“Yes. Yes, you should.”
“I’ll be right back.”
I saunter away from him, knowing my ass looks great in this dress and heels, and hear him growl, “For fuck’s sake.”
That is damn satisfying.
It takes me about ten minutes to fill an overnight bag, fix my lipstick, and join him in the living room.
“Okay, I think I’m ready.”
“I like this condo,” he says, looking around.
“Thanks. My sister actually owns it. I’m leasing it from her.” Derek takes the overnighter from me, and we walk out of the condo and down to the elevator.
When it opens, Gray and Stella are inside.
“Well.” I glance nervously up at Derek and then at Gray, who immediately frowns. “Should we wait for the next one?”
“Hell, no,” Stella says, pulling me inside. “You’re hot with a capital H. Holy smokes, I love this dress on you. Hi, Derek.”
“Stella,” Derek replies with a half-smile that sends butterflies swarming in my belly. God, I love his smile. “Grayson.”
Gray grunts in reply, and Stella and I both roll our eyes.
“Are you going somewhere delicious?” Stella asks.
“Steak and seafood,” Derek replies. “What are you up to this evening?”
“Party at the cousins’ compound,” Stella replies. “Our parents own two properties side by side near Alki Beach, and some of my cousins live there. We call it the compound.”
“Is that where you were going to be tonight?” Derek asks, turning to me.
I nod as Gray says, “ Should be tonight.”
“No way. Seafood and steak sounds like more fun to me,” Stella says with a wink as the doors open, and we all walk out into the garage. “Call me later. Love you.”
“I love you, too,” I reply as she hugs me, and then they’re off toward Stella’s sexy new Porsche, and Derek points to his Mercedes.
“We’re headed to Mercer Island,” he says as he puts the car in reverse and pulls out of the parking space. “I should have asked if you have any food allergies.”
“Nope. None. I’ve never been to Mercer Island.”
He glances my way before taking my hand and kissing my knuckles. All my insides turn to goo.
“I live there, so you’ll be spending all weekend there.”
I grin and look out the window, watching the city go by as he drives us onto the freeway.
It only takes about twenty minutes to get to the restaurant, and we’re shown to our table right away.
A woman walks over. “I’m Jessica, and I’ll be your server.” She smiles and hands us our menus. “Can I start you with anything to drink besides water?”
Derek orders a bottle of wine for the table, and we’re quiet as we read the menu, but it’s a comfortable silence.
I don’t feel awkward at all.
When I set my menu aside, Derek reaches for my hand and rubs his thumb over my knuckles. Suddenly, the man can’t stop touching me, and it’s doing things to my lady parts that will make this dinner feel like it drags.
But that’s okay.
This is a fancy restaurant, so the wine is brought out, opened, and offered to Derek for sniffing and tasting. Upon his approval, the sommelier pours it for us. We both order the lobster, which makes us grin at each other. Finally, when we’re all alone and waiting for our meals, he looks me in the eyes and says, “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Well, there is a list of things,” he says with that half-smile again. “It goes without saying that you’ve done an excellent job at the office despite our…rocky beginning.”
“I rather liked the rocky beginning.” His eyes narrow, and I can’t help but laugh. “Go on.”
“Just thank you. For being you. I feel like it should be noted that you’re a remarkable woman.”
I sip my wine, watching him over the rim of the glass.
“You’re welcome.”
He smirks and drinks his wine. For the rest of the dinner, we talk about actual personal things that have me hanging on every word he says, like how his relationship with his parents has never been tight and he finds it hard to trust women. So much from the past month starts to make sense, and I am even more attracted to him than I was before now that I know so much more. I can’t wait to dive even deeper.
“Would you like dessert?” Jessica asks when she comes by, but we’re both already shaking our heads . The look in Derek’s eyes tells me he has something else planned for dessert tonight.
And I can’t wait .
Jessica closes out the tab at the table, and within minutes, we’re back in Derek’s car. The tone has changed from easy, friendly flirtation to thick lust.
“So, you live not far from the restaurant then?”
His knuckles are white on the steering wheel. “About ten minutes,” he says.
“Do you have a lake view?”
“Yes. The house is on a cliff that looks out to the lake.”
“That’s great.” I clear my throat and press my fingers to my collarbone. We’ve had sex, but that was a while ago and before I really knew him at all. Now, I’m nervous.
“Are you okay?”
I look his way and offer him a smile. “I’m great. Thanks for dinner.”
“If you’d rather I took you home, I can do that.”
“No.” I blow out a breath. “I’m just nervous. You don’t happen to have any Twizzlers on hand, do you?”
That makes him laugh, and just like that, the tension is gone.
“Don’t be nervous, love.” He lifts my hand to his lips. “I want you here.”
He hits a button that opens a gate and he pulls through, driving down a winding driveway that leads to a house hidden in the trees. It’s a modern shape, with lots of windows facing the lake.
“Wow, this is beautiful, Der.”
His eyebrow lifts, and I grin.
“Can I call you Der?”
“You can call me whatever the fuck you want, love.”
He parks in the garage, cuts the engine, and I don’t wait for him to open my door for me. I push out of the car and meet him at the entry to the house.
He pushes inside and turns on lights as he walks into the kitchen.
The house is open-concept, with a gorgeous kitchen boasting an island the size of my condo and views that make my water-loving soul happy.
But before I can tell him how amazing his house is, he spins and kisses me, bracketing my face in his hands. Then, all I can think is: finally.
His mouth teases and takes as he pushes me against the island. I’m sure he’s going to bend me over it and fuck me into next week, but he suddenly pulls away and simply lifts me into his arms hero-style.
“I want you in my fucking bed,” he growls and stalks through the house as if I weigh nothing at all, past closed doors and up a flight of stairs.
Finally, he turns into what I assume is his bedroom, and I get a quick impression of modern furniture and clean lines before he gently lays me on the bed and stretches out over me, kissing me once more.
“So fucking beautiful,” he murmurs as his lips travel down my neck. “I’ve imagined you here, just like this, more times than I can count.”
He has? My God. I set the boundaries weeks ago, and all this time, I could have been experiencing this ?
If I wasn’t so busy being thoroughly ravished, I’d be seriously pissed at myself.
“I’ll take my time later,” he says, reaching for the zipper on the side of my dress. “But I need you. I need to be inside you.”
“Yes.” Hell, I’m close to begging him at this point, so I help him get the dress over my head and tossed to the floor.
I reach behind me for my bra clasp, but he stills my hands.
“Bloody hell,” he whispers, taking me in. I’m in lacy, black underwear, and this time, I added garters with stockings. I can see it had the desired effect. “Just like this. Christ, you’re every shagging dream I’ve ever had.”
“Literally?” I grin at him just before he presses more kisses down my body. “I need you naked, Derek. I still haven’t seen you naked, and it’s not fair.”
“Not fair.” He quirks an eyebrow as he kisses my navel. “I didn’t say I was fair.”
“Even you aren’t that cruel.”
His lips twitch, and he levers himself off the bed to remove his clothes. It seems to take forever because there are so many of them.
“You really didn’t think this through. So many layers.”
“I’ll know for next time.”
I love that he plans on there being a next time. When he finally shucks all his clothes, I let my gaze roam.
Those muscles. When does he find the time to work out?
“Do you have a home gym?”
He narrows his eyes. “Yes.”
“It shows.”
“That’s it. That’s all you get.”
He covers me again, and I can’t help but laugh. It turns into a moan when his mouth covers my breast, suckling the tip hard. His hand journeys between my thighs, and I gasp when he circles my clit with his finger.
“So wet,” he whispers before kissing my lips once more. “You’re so bloody wet, Maya.”
The frenzy has calmed, and Derek protects us both. Lying on his side and facing me, he lifts my leg over his hip and slides inside me, making me gasp again.
“Look at me,” he growls when I close my eyes. “I want you to look at me when I make you come.”
My gaze finds his, and he starts to move. Slow and steady at first, and then faster, until we’re both panting and writhing. I can feel myself clench around him as the orgasm moves through me, and I cling to him as I fall over into absolute bliss .
As we catch our breath, Derek brushes some hair off my cheek.
“We’re going to have sex in here about six more times before I take you in front of the windows that look out at the lake.”
“Won’t someone see us?”
His lips twitch into a grin. “No, love. No one will see you but me.”