Authors: Audrey Carlan
“That’s exactly what the plan was.” I looked over at Maxwell and Michele. Even their names together sounded sickeningly sweet. “He needed her.” I gestured to the couple. Tripp studied them and nodded.
“A complete redesign of the house didn’t hurt either. I love how you went with the large puffy couches with a million pillows. And the bed you chose for the master bedroom? It’s magnificent. Where did you find that?” he asked.
“He needed a place where he could be in touch with his feminine side.” I lovingly trailed my fingertips along the couch pillows and led him toward the bedroom. Once there I patted the bed and Tripp sat down next to me. We both tumbled backwards, holding hands. “The gigantic bed was designed to empower his ego, make him feel he needed a woman to share it with. Otherwise being in here alone would feel too encompassing and lonely.”
We tilted our faces to the side to look at one another. “Bridge, I meant where did you get the bed, literally? Not your psychobabble shit about his inner most desires.” His face twisted into a grimace. “I don’t want to know that about him, especially while laying on it with you.” He rolled over me and straddled my hips. He nuzzled my neck and kissed my cheek. “You did a good job,” he said softly and pulled me up into a sitting position. I gripped his outstretched hands. “Let’s go enjoy the fruits of your labor. You’re moving in with your next client in two days and I want to spend some quality time with my girl.” The smile I gave him was huge as he hurled me back into the party.
***
My stomach growled loudly as I caught sight of a stunning dark haired beauty across the room. She sashayed, practically glided, from the bedroom toward the kitchen, stopping at the drink service. I watched her laughing, dazzling crystal blue eyes alive with joy, her arm hooked in the crook of a man’s arm. Small hands slid over her hips, then adjusted the tiny straps of her barely there dress at the shoulder. She pulled her long black hair to one side and brushed her fingers through the shining locks as she waited for a drink at the bar.
She took my breath away.
Petite and lean with a perfect hourglass figure, her rounded breasts weren’t huge but large on her small frame. My hand gripped into a fist imagining squeezing the firm globes, her nipples scraping against my palms.
I shook my head. My immediate desire for this woman, a stranger, was confounding. I hadn’t felt such an attraction to a woman since my last torrential cock up with my wife, technically ex-wife of five years.
“See something you like, Collier?” My business partner and best mate gestured toward the woman I’d been watching, rather stalking with my eyes.
“Who’s the bird?”
“That’s London Kelley, she’s the reason we’re all here,” he said mockingly.
“The interior designer?”
“One and the same. I’ve had dinner with her when she was staying with Maxwell,” he finished.
“She lived here?”
He nodded.
“But I thought he was in love with
her
.” I pointed to the pretty blond attached to Maxwell’s hip.
“He is. He wasn’t in a relationship with London; she just lived here while she worked. It’s part of her agreement. She’s highly sought after,” he continued.
My eyes traced over her curves. “I’ll bet.”
He clasped me on the back. “Not like that. Blimey! She’s the most pursued interior designer in New York City. Everyone wants her to redesign their home. Her waiting list is a mile long and she charges a pretty penny. She’s going to redo my flat in six weeks’ time,” his British accent and perfect English comforted me when the entire city seemed to survive on colloquialisms and bad syntax.
Nathaniel Walker was my best mate and half-brother, sharing the same mother but different biological fathers. We left our parents and old lives back in England to open a New York office of Stone, Walker & Associates five years ago. Our law offices touted clients with recognizable names such as Trump and Gates. We handled everything from extremely public celebrity breakups, to million dollar company embezzlers down to the legalities involved in major corporate acquisitions. Our top clients graced the telly, the big screen and the leather seats of high-rise offices across the globe.
“So will she be moving in with you, then?”
Nathaniel nodded. “Part of the contract.” He took a sip of his wine.
“Is she a beggar? A drifter with no home?” My shocked voice rose.
Nathaniel laughed heartily. “No, you old sod. She’s got her own small fortune. Her fee for the four weeks she’s moving in is $100,000 pounds.” My eyes went round. “That does not include the cost of the actual redesign of the home.”
“Interesting. And of course you’re buying what she’s selling. But you are a master player of the field, dear brother. How will that work?”
He rolled his eyes and sighed. “She’s not staying in my bed. Well, maybe.” He grinned and waggled his brows.
The cringe that stole across my face could not be contained. The thought of him and the lovely London almost made me lose my appetite. Then my gaze settled on her across the room. I was once again famished, practically starved. She looked at me, our gazes held. Her grayish-blue eyes, full of light, seemed to call to me. I moved along the room navigating through other guests, eyes tethered to hers. It felt as though I was in a trance, as if my body floated along the room, defying gravity to reach her side.
A large smile split her delicate features, making her impossibly more beautiful when I held out my hand. She clasped mine and electricity sparked and crackled between us. I lifted her hand and brought it to my lips for a brief kiss. She smelled of cinnamon and I wanted to run my tongue along her wrist and taste the spicy scent for myself.
“Have we met?” she asked. Her voice filtered through the noise of the party and I could hear nothing but her soft tone. “You seem familiar.”
I shook my head. “I would remember you.” I placed another kiss on her hand. “Collier Stone. It’s good to meet you, Love.” The desire to keep a hold of her hand was strong but I didn’t want to appear creepy. Strangely, when I let go, I missed its warmth.
“You’re English?” She smiled. Her face lit up. It was adorable and made my groin stir in appreciation.
“Guilty. Though my mate and I left the Queen Mum five years ago. Can’t shake off the accent to fit in with you Yanks. ”
“You should never change yourself for another person. You’re perfect just the way you are.”
Her words pierced my heart. My ex didn’t agree. She wanted to change everything about me.
“I’m sorry, now you look sad.” Her hand came up to my cheek. Her thumb skimmed across my cheekbone as her eyes searched mine, swirling from gray to blue to gray again.
I could spend the rest of eternity looking into those eyes trying to determine their color. Her touch slipped away leaving me feeling bereft. I wanted those hands on me. When I blinked, the man she was with earlier held her tucked into his side.
“You ready to go home, Bridge?” The tall man kissed her on the temple. Jealousy flared in my gut. She patted his chest and nodded. “I’ll get your coat sweet cheeks.” He turned and left without an introduction. It irked me.
“Your husband?” The glance down at her left hand was obvious. No ring sparkled back at me. Just long, delicate fingers painted with a golden nail polish.
“No,” was her small reply.
“Boyfriend? Significant other perhaps?” My tone held a twinge of irritation but I clamped it down.
“Tripp is definitely significant,” she answered vaguely.
“Tripp is ready to take home the most beautiful woman in all of New York.” The man’s arm went around London’s shoulders pulling her closer. Her slim arms encircled his form. Made me wish I had that familiarity with her, that it was my body she was pressed against. He looked at me, his eyes assessing me from my dirty blond hair to my wing-tipped shoes. “Mmmm hmmm, unless you have plans to bed James Bond over here,” he blatantly allowed his gaze to look me up and down again.
“Thinking about it,” she answered coyly and bit her lip. She did her own assessment, head cocked to the side in thought.
The image of her face, her lips glistening and reddened from the bite of her teeth made me imagine her down on her knees, her head titled just so as I plunged my cock into her mouth over and over again. I took a deep, calming breath and stared into her eyes. She must see the desire there; I wasn’t trying to hide it. All rational thought be damned, I wanted this woman.
“I sure as hell know what I would do to that fine ass.” Tripp grinned. He was a good-looking bloke but I could hold my own. My dance card was rather full…with women. Now that I was confident she wasn’t attached, only one name had just skyrocketed to the top of the list, London Kelley.
“Thank you, I think.”
“I see you’ve met my brother,” Nathaniel’s voice broke the staring contest between London and me. He held out his hand to London’s “significant other” as it were, though I don’t know how significant he could be if he likes men over women. Maybe he does both?
“Not at all. Collier Stone.” I held my hand out to Tripp and he shook it quickly, as if in a hurry.
“Tripp Devereaux. And you are?” Tripp’s voice lowered to a gravelly timber as he openly ogled Nathaniel.
My brother grinned playing into Tripp’s suggestive tone. “Nathaniel Walker. Good to meet ya, mate. London, always a pleasure seeing you.” He pulled her into a hug.
Bastard.
“English hotties, Bridge? Tell me I’m dreaming because I feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven.” Tripp’s gaze undressed us with abandon.
All four of us laughed but my eyes stayed glued to London’s. Nathaniel and Tripp started talking about someone they both knew named Hank. I encircled London’s wrist and pulled her to the side. “It seems as though your mate and mine are hitting it off quite nicely.” I laughed then held her hand. It was warm and soft.
“Nate works for my sister. He even dated her for half a second,” she offered.
“Then your sister does work with me. I’m the ‘Stone’ in Stone, Walker & Associates,” I smiled and made a point to touch her forearm. I couldn’t not. The woman’s skin, body, and simple being called to me. Made me
need
to be near,
want
to hold her.
She gasped as I held her wrist. “Are you a couple?” I tipped my head toward Tripp and Nathaniel.
“Not exactly, but I couldn’t live without him.” She got a glazed look in her eyes.
My hopes plummeted. Her tone made me wonder if maybe they were, in fact, a couple in a twisted weird new age way. I couldn’t blame her if she was. Since my breakup with Claire, I’d bedded more women than I’d ever willingly admit to. Though bonking tens of women didn’t wash away what my ex did to me. Unfortunately.
“He’s not my lover if that’s what you meant to ask.” The spark was back. Though talking to her was like a ping pong match. Just when you thought you were about to make the winning point she whipped the ball back with a zinger. “Tripp, I’m ready.” He nodded. She smiled at me then asked, “walk me out?”
“I’d be honored.” She glided alongside me, her hand at the crook of my elbow. It felt good there, right somehow. I led her through the room.
She briefly stopped and said goodbye to Maxwell and his girlfriend. They both hugged her and then she placed her hand back on my forearm as we went down the lift and to the curb. A black town car waited when we exited.
Tripp trailed behind us, not interfering with our moment together. He passed us and jumped into the car. She turned and looked at me.
“Will I see you again?” I asked.
“If you want to,” she whispered and leaned up. Her lips brushed mine, hands clasped around my neck. Her fingers dug into my nape and tickled my hair.
My mouth opened in shock and her pink, little tongue entered swiftly, melting along mine. She tasted of crisp, white wine and I wanted to drink. Hell, I wanted to consume. The synapsis in my brain finally clicked and I gripped her body tightly against mine and took control of the kiss, melding my mouth to hers.
She moaned and I sucked her tongue into my mouth then nibbled her plump lips. My hands tunneled into the silky strands of her hair and settled at the nape. I tightened my grip at her hairline and with a tug, deepened the kiss, ravishing her mouth, pulling her head where I wanted it.
Bone-deep lust plowed through me. Savagely and desperately I tried to stake my claim on her, out in the open, on the busy streets of New York City. My hand slid down her spine and landed on the slight swell of her bum.
She started to pull away but I planted my hand on her sweet arse and ground my erection against her, knowing it hit her at the perfect spot. She groaned and with a renewed interest gripped my face with both hands and devoured me.
“Get a room you two! Jesus, Bridge, you’re fucking making me want to jack off as I watch the show.” Tripp’s strangled voice came over London’s shoulder.
We both pulled away, startled expressions our faces. Her hand touched her swollen lips, her eyes widened in surprise. She was beautiful, effervescent in an unearthly way. She walked over to the town car and got in without a word.
I’d just shared the best kiss of my entire life with the most mysterious and unusual woman I’d ever met. And she was just going to walk away?
Hell no!
This could not happen.
What is it about me and women? I always seem to screw something up?
“London, wait. I’m sorry,” I said as she closed the car door.
She smiled so sweetly I wanted to melt into the pavement where I stood. “Don’t be sorry. I very much look forward to seeing you again.”
“May I have your number?” I desperately needed proof in my hand that she was interested.
Her lips twitched and a perfectly sculpted dark eyebrow rose. “If it’s meant to be, you will find me.” The town car roared to life and drove away. Find her. In a city of over eight million people she wanted me to find her. My grin widened at the challenge presented. The chase was on.
Chapter - 2
Collier’s breath was raspy and thick with lust against my ear. “Holy shite! That’s so uh…good, London.” His breath came in feverish gusts along the sensitive skin of my neck. “Love, just a little more…” His entire body was strung tight with pressure, legs entangled with mine as my hand stroked him up and down, harder and harder. Not only could I feel his release coming through the tension in his body, pure ecstasy rippled off of him, turning me into a blistering pot of desire. When in the throes of passion, being able to empathize and feel the pleasure of another made my gift bearable. Beautiful even.