GONE - Part Two (The GONE Series Book 2) (8 page)

"Do you think I look nice in this?" I run my hand along the skirt of the dress I've chosen to wear for the event. It's navy blue and the hem falls just below my knee. "I'm really nervous."

"Are you wearing garters?" His hands are on my hips as he whispers the words against my neck. "Tell me what you're wearing under this."

"Mr. Parker." I pull back from his embrace as I see Lance, Alec's assistant enter the room. "Are you sure it's a good idea for you to be here?"

His eyes dart to where Lance is readying the media packets that will be handed out to everyone in the audience. "Hey, Lance."

"Mr. Parker." Lance doesn't look up from the task he's assigned to do. "Does Mr. Hughes know you're here?"

"I saw Alec on my way in," he says hoarsely. "I'm here to watch Ms. Randall's presentation."

"Sure." Lance scoops up the folders in his hands as he walks back towards the door of the room I've been asked to wait in. "I'll be back to get you in a few minutes, Lilly."

"That gives me enough time to kiss you."  His soft lips float over mine before I have a chance to react. I moan into the kiss. I can't curb the desire that overtakes me when I'm this close to him. We'd made love for most of the night at his place after he'd driven me back to Manhattan. He'd held me as I told him stories about each of my siblings. We'd slept no more than an hour but I feel more energized today than I have in a very long time.

"I get hard when you call me Mr. Parker," he whispers the words into my mouth. "You need to do that when I'm inside of you. I want to hear it."

I pull back to look into his eyes. "I thought you wanted me to call you Clive."

"I thought you wanted me to tie you to my bed."

"I'm still waiting for you to do that," I say under a heavy breath. "I want you to control my pleasure."

"I need to be inside of you, Lilly." His hands grab my ass through my dress. "Christ, I need to calm down."

I feel his erection pressed against me. "You can wait here until things settle."

"Lilly, let's go." Lance pokes his head into the doorway. "Alec is getting ready to introduce you now."

"You're going to be amazing." Clive brushes his lips over mine. "I'm so proud of you. I can't tell you how much."

I nod. "You'll be waiting for me when I'm done, right?"

"I'll be in the front row." He pushes my hair from my shoulders. "I'll wait in my seat for you to come to me when you're done."

I give him one last smile before I turn quickly to rush out of the door with Lance hot on my heel.

***

"I think we can all agree that our new shopping app will change the landscape of the gently used clothing market. We've made it faster, easier and more convenient for anyone who wishes to sell last season's wardrobe pieces to make room for this year's stylish new trends," I deliver the words Alec's marketing team had written for me with effortless ease. I've rehearsed the presentation enough times to know exactly what to say and when to say it. I move through the rest of the presentation with a smile on my face and a knot in my stomach.

"The app will be available for download within the next month." I press the remote in my hand to cue up the next slide on the large screen behind me. "We'll have an introductory free trial for ninety days. You can find all the details on our website or within the media packets that are being handed to you now."

I scan the first row of the audience, settling my eyes on Clive's smiling face. This is my moment now. It's when I finally get to share my organ donation app with the world.

"Mr. Hughes has been kind enough to allow me to share an important personal project with all of you today," I hesitate only briefly as I hear a few loud, but indistinguishable voices in the crowd. "I've developed an app that will help millions of people all over the world who are dealing with a very personal and painful situation."

I click the remote in my hand to bring up the first slide in my presentation. It's a simple overview of the app from an aesthetic point of view. "This is something that I've kept close to me for years, but I feel that now is the right time to share it with the world."

An audible gasp fills the room.

I look to the right to see Alec racing across the stage towards me, his face a twisted mix of horror and anger.

My eyes catch the corner of the large screen behind me.

I fall to my knees as I turn completely.

On full and vivid display is the half-naked picture I sent to Parker.

The same picture Clive tucked into his pocket the first night I met him.

It's the picture he promised me he destroyed.

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Deborah Bladon has never read a romance hero she didn't like. Her love for romance novels began when she was old enough to board the bus, library card in hand to check out the newest Harlequin paperbacks. She's a Canadian by heart, and by passport, but you can often spot her in New York City sipping a latte and looking for inspiration for her next story. Manhattan is definitely her second home.

She cherishes her family and believes that each day is a gift for writing, for reading, and for loving.