If I Told You (13 page)

Rhys chuckles. “I’d like to see those pictures.”

“I’ll show you. I was hot.”

“Are still hot.”

“Thanks.”

“You ever been in a serious relationship?”

“Nope. Not interested.”

“Why?”

“Why should I pick just one when there are thousands, millions of people in the world. I think staying with one person is boring.”

“So you never want to get married or have kids. Nothing like that?”

“No. God, no.” I sip my wine in disgust. “My career is everything I need, with the occasional penis thrown in for good measure.”

“So, that’s all I am to you? A minor distraction.”

“Basically, yes.”

Rhys nods. “I have to say you’re very different. I’m so used to women trying to get a ring. They like to attach themselves to me. I assume for money, prestige, or privilege.”

“And your face. You’re fucking hot, Rhys.”

He chuckles. “I appreciate that.”

“I don’t need any of that stuff. I have it.” I laugh. “Well, except the privilege part. I can’t get into any restaurant in New York that I want like you can.”

“True, but you can eat without being stared at. You can enter a room without scaring the shit out of people. You can enjoy a meal without expectation.”

“Good point.” I rub his hand. “You seem sad.”

“No.” He shakes his head. “I love my life. It’s perfect actually. I can do what I want, date who I want, eat where I want. I have a beautiful apartment and the sexiest woman in the city eating dinner with me. I’m good.”

“But you want that other stuff? Marriage and kids?”

He gazes down at the bread basket, then picks up a breadstick. “Honestly, I can’t imagine it. I guess on some level, someday, I’d like a kid. I’d like to believe there’s a woman out there that would make me want to be with just her forever.” He smiles. “But I don’t think there is. Not when I can have any one I want.”

“I’m sure you get a lot of offers.”

“Yeah. Even married women.” He sips his wine. “It’s good to be me.”

I nod, sipping my wine. I don’t believe his stories of being satisfied. There’s too much underlying sadness. I don’t believe him at all. I don’t care though. As long as it’s not me he plans to tie down. I learned from my mother’s disastrous love life that placing all your hopes and needs in one man is the dumbest thing you can do. Once he knows he has control, you don’t matter anymore. Letting a man dictate how I live my life? No way.

Looking across the table at Rhys, I smile and sip my wine. Never gonna happen.

Grabbing her arm, I drag Melissa to my office and shut the door, locking it behind us. Quickly, I unbutton my pants and pull my dick out. Without a word, Melissa drops to her knees and starts working on me. Leaning back against my desk, I close my eyes and imagine Brooklyn’s mouth instead as I bury my hands in Melissa’s hair. It feels good, and I only feel slightly guilty using her like this, but this is what I do.

“Oh fuck, yeah,” I grunt a few minutes later as I release my load in Mel’s mouth. I watch as she milks every drop, swallowing it all. She looks up at me, smiling and wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She plants a kiss on the head of my dick then stands up. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” she says. “Truly. I’ve wanted to do that since the minute I met you.”

I nod. “I can’t give you more than that.”

“I know. I don’t expect more.” She pats my chest. “But if you ever want me to do it again, just say the word. I’m yours to use however you want.”

“You deserve better than that, Mel. You’re a sweet girl.”

“Obviously, Chef, I’m not that sweet.” She turns and walks out of my office, leaving me alone to reflect on what I just allowed to happen. I shake my head to snap out of it. I have a job to do.

Back in the kitchen, I inspect the grilled salmon Tim prepared, making sure it meets my standards. “Where’s the gratin?”

“Coming, Chef,” Louise says, carrying a sauté pan over to me. I watch as she carefully arranges the mushroom and potato mixture around the fish.

“Beautiful. Sauce?” Tim returns, drizzling the glaze around the entire meal. “Perfect.”

Tony, their server for the night, waits while I inspect the plates. I nod, and he lifts both plates, carrying them out to Rhys and Brooklyn. From my vantage point, I can see him nuzzling her neck and it makes my blood boil, even though I have no fucking right to be jealous after what I just did. When Brooklyn looks up at Tony, her cheeks are flushed and I’m dying to know why, but I know I can’t stand to hear the details. I saw what he did to her last time. I walk out to describe the dish.

“Ah, Chef,” Rhys says when he sees me. “What is this delightful sauce on the fish?”

“It’s a lemon prosecco glaze,” I say. “You also have a potato and porcini mushroom gratin. The earthiness of the mushrooms balances the rich fattiness of the fish. Enjoy.”

Rhys leans forward inhaling the aroma of his dish. “Smells incredible. Doesn’t it, Brooklyn?”

“It does,” she says. “Everything Flynn makes does though.”

“What a treat to be able to eat his food on a regular basis,” Rhys says, and I believe he’s being genuine. “I wouldn’t mind being your roommate either.”

I laugh. “I appreciate that.”

After excusing myself, I walk back to the kitchen where I chug a large glass of ice water. The sooner he’s out of my restaurant the better.

After Flynn leaves, Rhys reaches out and plays with a lock of my hair.

“Maybe that’s why you excite me.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re different. Because you don’t want me for all that other stuff. Because you’re honest. You just tell it like it is.”

“That’s how I like things.”

“I appreciate it. I feel like I know exactly where I stand.”

“I don’t like games. I’m clear about what I want and what I’ll give.”

“What will you give me, Brooklyn? Tell me.”

I pierce a piece of potato with my fork. “My body.”

“That’s it?”

“Yep.” I smile. “That’s all you want anyway.”

“I enjoy you though.”

“I know, but it’s just because you want to be with me.”

“I do want to be with you.” He brushes his fingers across my cheek. “So much so that I’d push everything off this table and invade your body in front of everyone. Do you know why?”

“Because you’re an animal?”

“No, because I want everyone to know that I had you. I’m the lucky son of bitch that got to feel you, taste you, be inside of you. I want everyone to know.”

“You want Flynn to know.”

He chuckles, laughing softly. “On some level.”

“He doesn’t care. You’re not the only son of bitch that’s had me. I tell him about all of it. Every detail.”

“Really? Why?”

“Because that’s what friends do.”

“Does he tell you about his women?”

“Yep.”

“Does it turn you on?”

“Yep.”

“Are you turned on right now?”

Putting my fork down, I smile, lowering my voice. “I sure am, Rhys. What do you think I should do about it?”

“Let me help you.”

I nod. “Let’s go.”

Rhys motions for our server. After paying our tab, I wait behind Rhys as he congratulates Flynn on another successful meal, even though we barely ate. Flynn’s eyes question me and I wink, letting him know my plans. As we walk up front, Melissa passes me and strangely averts her eyes. She’s always so friendly I wonder what’s gotten into her.

Once inside the limo, Rhys and I go at it, making out like teenagers. He gropes my breasts through my dress, and I grab his crotch. God, I can’t wait to get it out. I need it.

We kiss all the way there, all the way inside, up the elevator, and into my apartment, falling on the couch. I know we should go to my room, but Flynn won’t be home for hours.

“I love how you don’t wear panties,” Rhys whispers against my mouth.

“I hate them.”

“Mmm,” he murmurs as he pulls my dress up. Running his fingers over my bare pussy, he grins. “Now, dessert time.”

I sigh as he buries his face between my legs, sucking and swirling his tongue around my clit. He slides in a finger, then another, then one more, causing me to moan loudly. Oooh, I needed this so much.

Throwing my head back, I massage my breasts, lost in the pure pleasure of his mouth. “Ooh, baby, so good.”

“Yes,” he murmurs in between licks. “So good. You taste amazing.”

I nod as he continues. “Mmm, oooh, I’m gonna come.”

“Yeah, baby, give it to me.”

As my orgasm hits, I buck against his tongue, muttering nonsense while pure ecstasy washes over me. “Oooh, yes, oh, Flynn.”

“What did you fucking say?”

I open my eyes to see a pissed off Rhys hovering over me. “What?”

“You said Flynn.”

“No I didn’t.” I shake my head. I didn’t, right?

“You did, Brooklyn. Jesus.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. If I said it, it was just an accident. I wasn’t thinking about him.”

“Really?”

“I swear. I wasn’t thinking about anything except how good that felt.” I sit up, putting my arms around Rhys’s neck. “I swear, Rhys.” Leaning forward, I kiss his mouth trying to distract him. “It’s your turn now.”