Chapter 20
We worked all day, and by the time we took a break for dinner, my head was spinning with information. We had skipped lunch but munched on the complimentary fruit and snack basket provided by the hotel.
“I need to take a shower,” I announced, feeling the grime of the day.
“Now? I thought we would eat dinner first,” Oliver said, looking a bit surprised.
“I feel yucky,” I admitted.
Oliver smirked. “What exactly does yucky feel like?”
“If you must know, I got my period this morning,” I replied bluntly.
“Oh,” he responded, caught off guard.
“Is that all you can say?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“No, this isn’t my first time dealing with your period,” he said with a reassuring smile.
“So, I want to take a shower,” I insisted.
“Pick something for dinner and I’ll call it in while you’re taking one. We can eat when you come out,” he offered, handing me the tablet with the menu.
I searched through it, craving everything salty, fatty, and sugary thanks to my period. “I’ll have a cheeseburger, fries, and chocolate-covered strawberries,” I decided.
“Is that it?” he asked.
“And a chocolate milkshake,” I added.
“Wow, you really are piling on the chocolate,” Oliver noted, amused.
“I have my period. Just wait until I’m pregnant,” I joked.
“Go shower, I’ll call it in,” he said, laughing.
I went to the bathroom, which was pristine and full of glass and white tiles. The shower stall was as big as a small bedroom, with three shower heads and two large, tiled benches. Complimentary bath products were provided. I turned on the water, examining the shampoo while I waited for it to warm up.
Just as I began lathering my hair, Oliver came in. He came up behind me and cupped my breasts. They were slightly sore from my hormones, but I loved when he rubbed them at this time of the month.
“What about dinner?” I asked huskily.
“Already ordered. It won’t be here for forty-five minutes,” Oliver replied with a sly smile.
“And you thought you would come in here to cause some trouble?” I teased.
“I can’t have you in our bed, so I want you here,” he said, his voice deep with desire.
Oliver helped me rinse the shampoo out of my hair, then pushed my back against the wall, pressing his body against mine as he claimed my mouth. I felt his hardness and reached down to stroke him.
“I want to fuck you,” he whispered, his voice full of urgency.
“Yes,” I murmured, my body already responding to his touch.
Oliver easily lifted me against the wall, positioning his cock at my entrance before letting gravity do the work. I let out a soft moan as he entered me. This was my most sensitive time of the month, and I loved getting fucked. He hammered at me, tucking his head into the crook of my neck. A scream was poised at my throat as he drove me to a quick orgasm.
Once he felt me squeeze him, he sped up his pace until he spilled into me with several grunts of my name. When we finished, he held me in his arms, planting kisses on my neck and face.
“You’re incredible,” he whispered, his breath warm against my skin.
“Are you just saying that because we just had sex?” I asked, smiling.
“I’ll say it anytime you want,” he replied, his eyes full of genuine affection.
A half-hour later, we were sitting at the rectangular dining table. Oliver”s folders and laptop were neatly stacked at one end while we ate at the other. We were both dressed in the complimentary white terry robes provided by the hotel, with ”Hotel SW Los Angeles” embroidered in black script over the left breast.
I dipped a French fry in my chocolate shake and stuck it into my mouth. It was a habit I picked up as a child and never grew out of.
“You’re really enjoying that shake, aren’t you?” Oliver asked, amused.
“I am. Let me enjoy all the fat, salt, and sugar I want for the next few days,” I replied, savoring the indulgence.
“I wish you would work out with me,” he said, eyeing my fry-shake combo.
“You said you didn’t want me near Bronson,” I reminded him.
“Not with Bronson. We can work out in my building’s gym. Have you thought about moving in with me?” he asked casually.
“I’m considering it. Sadie has been spending so much time with Finley, I think we should end our lease. No one is there,” I admitted.
“Do you think it’s for real between them?” Oliver asked, sounding genuinely curious.
“Maybe,” I replied thoughtfully.
“You haven’t mentioned Ty for a couple of weeks. How is he?” he inquired, his tone gentle.
“I called him, but he never got back to me. Frankly, I’m afraid of what he has to say about my father’s case,” I confessed, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten.
“Do you want me to talk to him?” Oliver offered.
I shrugged. “And what would you say?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I’d tell him to leave you alone,” he said, a protective edge in his voice.
“That won’t help solve my father’s murder,” I pointed out.
“I know, but every time you talk to him, you have nightmares,” he said softly.
“Ty is my friend,” I reminded him.
“I’m only looking out for your best interest,” Oliver said, reaching across the table to take my hand.
“I know,” I replied, squeezing his hand gently.
I took a big bite of my burger, and juice dribbled down my chin. Oliver reached over with his napkin to wipe it off.
“Thank you,” I said, smiling.
“I like you messy. Maybe we can play with some body paints when we get home,” he suggested with a mischievous grin.
“Body paints?” I asked, intrigued.
“Edible paints. We can draw and lick them off each other,” he explained.
“Sounds like fun,” I admitted, laughing.
“Anything I lick off you would be fun,” he said with a wink.
“Is sex all you think about?” I teased.
“That’s not sex, it’s art,” Oliver defended with a smirk.
“Painting me is art?” I asked, rolling my eyes.
“You’re already a work of art. Paint would just enhance your beauty,” he said, his eyes full of admiration.
I rolled my eyes again and took another bite of my burger while Oliver finished his grilled cheese and onion rings. We spent the rest of the night going over more reports, watching television, and snuggling. I fell asleep in my bathrobe and felt Oliver lift me to slip me under the covers.
It was still dark when I woke, the bedside clock illuminating the time of 1:08 am in soft blue numerals. I heard Oliver talking in another room. When I tried to concentrate on what he was saying, I fell back asleep.
Oliver
“I don’t care about your bullshit. If you threaten my fiancée again, I’ll kill you with my bare hands,” I seethed into the phone.
“I’m trying to help you, Oliver. I have no control over this situation,” Jonah insisted.
“You’re trying to extort money from me,” I accused him.
“I’m trying to protect you,” he pleaded.
“Who is this man?” I demanded.
“Someone from Ryleigh’s past,” Jonah admitted reluctantly.
“Who?” I pressed.
“I can’t tell you that. If I reveal who it is, we’re all dead,” he warned.
“Does this have anything to do with her father’s death?” I questioned, my voice trembling with anger and fear.
“Yes, and that’s as much as I can say. I just need enough money to hide. You have security and can protect her, but me they’ll kill,” Jonah explained urgently.
“Why should I believe anything you have to say?” I spat out.
“Because I’m your brother,” he reminded me.
I ran a hand through my hair, nauseated by the fact that someone was after my fiancée.
“You’re a fuck up. I tried to help you, tried to tear you away from the illegal life you lead. Now you want to come and destroy my happiness?” I accused him bitterly.
“Without me around, he won’t have a link to you,” Jonah reasoned.
“I want to know who it is,” I demanded.
“I can’t tell you, and it’s better you don’t know,” he insisted.
“She’s all I care about,” I confessed, feeling helpless.
“Oliver, I wish things were different,” Jonah said sadly.
“But they’re not. Where can I reach you?” I asked, resigned.
“I’ll call you soon. How much time do you need?” Jonah inquired.
“Give me a few days to consider your request,” I replied before hanging up.
I sank onto the sofa, the weight of Jonah’s revelation settling heavily on my shoulders. Ryleigh’s past was coming back to haunt her, and I couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. I grabbed a pad and pen from the dining table, preferring the comfort of the written word over electronic devices.
As I scribbled out a plan to protect Ryleigh and apprehend her father’s killer, my stomach churned with anxiety. Keeping the truth from her would be difficult, but I had to do whatever it took to keep her safe. I didn’t know if my plan would work, but I had to try. The alternative was too terrifying to contemplate—losing the love of my life.
To Be Continued – Check out an excerpt from When He Was Mine – Book 2 of The Sly Fox Series and click here to purchase
I was involved in our act of love but movement by the now slightly opened door caught my eye. I looked and saw Lara watching us, her face was stoic and I smiled just before I closed my eyes as I came. When I looked again, she was gone and the door was once again closed.
After I came, Oliver moved me onto my knees and pounded me until he came with a loud grunt. He gently moved for a couple of minutes until he grew semi hard and pulled out, joining me on the bed where I collapsed. He stroked my hair as we heard horns blowing and people cheering. I checked his watch to see it was a few seconds after midnight.
“Happy New Year,” I said.
“Happy New Year,” Oliver echoed before he placed a firm kiss on my lips.
We went downstairs fifteen minutes later and the party was still in full swing. Oliver kept his arm around me as we floated from one group of people to the next. Everyone was polite and even engaged me in conversation. I was in a great mood, my body full of champagne and endorphins. I didn’t think anything could ruin my high, until I once again encountered Lara on the way to the bathroom. There were few people in the hallway since Wilmer had the caterers place out trays of hot food.
“That’s the only way you might keep him.”
I whirled around with my hand poised on the door handle.
“Excuse me?”
“To fuck him. Oliver likes sex and as long as you give it to him, he’ll keep sniffing around. Once you cut him off, it’s over.”
“What the hell do you know about our relationship?”
“I’ve known Oliver for years. He’s like a dog in heat. You should think about what will happen when you get pregnant. He’ll lose interest. I know.”
My stomach started to roil, “How do you know?”
“Why don’t you ask him?”
“Why don’t you tell me yourself?”
“I’m not helping you.”
She turned and walked away. I watched her round the corner and sagged against the door. I no longer wanted to spend any more time here. I forgot the bathroom and went to find Oliver. When I did, he was engaged in a conversation with Ivan and another man with a shaved head and long platinum dyed goatee.
“I’d like to go home, I’m tired.”
“Sure. Give me a few minutes.”
“Now Oliver.”
I turned before he could answer and walked toward the foyer where our coats were. Oliver followed and gently grabbed my elbow.
“What happened in the last fifteen minutes?”
“I don’t want to discuss this here,” I hissed.
“Ryleigh, talk to me.”
I looked around for a room to duck into, noticing a pair of French doors. I grabbed Oliver’s hand and pulled him inside. I felt around for a light switch and found one near the door. The room was furnished with dark leather couches and walls of bookcases, some of them empty.
“What happened?”
“Lara.”
He gritted his teeth, “What did that vapid bitch say to you?”
“She said as long as we kept having sex, you would stay interested in me. And that once I got pregnant, it was over. Why would she say that?”
Oliver’s face tightened and he began chewing on the corner of his lip, “I have no idea.”
“What occurred between you two?”
“We had sex and that was it. Even with it I lost interest. We weren’t dating, just fucking. I told you this before.”
“Then how would she know you would lose interest if I got pregnant? Did you get her pregnant?”
“No, of course not. You know how careful I am.”
“Then why?”
“I have no idea why she would say that. She’s trying to get under your skin and it’s working.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes. It was the start of a new year and I was already fucking up. But Lara had me curious. What did she know about my soon to be husband that I did not?
“I’m sorry. Can we just go home?”
“Yes. I’d like to spend some time alone with you.”
Oliver led me to get our coats, handing the attendant the ticket he was given at the beginning of the night.
“Aren’t you saying goodbye to your friends?”
“It’s not necessary. Wilmer is surrounded by a few ladies and I’m sure he won’t miss us.”
Vlad came to pick up a few minutes later which made me wonder where he was. It seemed that he never had time off.