RISE - Part Two (The RISE Series Book 2) (6 page)

I suspect that's a gross understatement. The words that Landon told me weeks ago about how much his mother treasured the love that she shared with his father have been haunting me.

"Is his fiancé coming with him?" I struggle to remember her name. It's a detail that got lost in the intensity of the past few days. "It's Bridget, right? Is she coming too?"

"I arranged for them to both fly out today," he pauses. "I've never met her before. I told Dane that it would be best for the two of us to talk alone first."

It's a wise move. If his brother carries the same sensitivity within him as Landon does, the news will devastate him.

"I think that's smart," I offer. "I'd tell you that I hope it goes well but I know that this entire situation is very difficult."

He leans forward to brush his lips across my cheek. The gesture is sweet and intimate and makes me wish I could crawl onto his lap and kiss him with the same depth of passion that we shared just a few nights ago.

"I want to talk about you." He closes his eyes briefly. "I can't take you to California. I need to stay here. I'm sorry about that."

I've never wanted to be a burden on any man I've ever been involved with. I secretly loathed the fact that Ansel paid for much of my education. When we broke up, I took out a loan so that I could repay him in full. He had refused the money but I had gone behind his back to his business manager. I felt an indescribable sense of relief when I walked out of the office that day with my debt to Ansel paid. I didn't owe him a thing now and I was grateful for that.

I can sense the regret in Landon's tone. He feels badly that he can't pilot the plane that is taking me on a business trip. It's thoughtful on his part but his responsibility is here, with his family. I don't want him to feel badly that a crisis in his family is keeping him from me.

"Gianna is going with me," I say to lighten the mood. "Gabriel said that she would be on the plane with me."

"Really?"

I motion for the waiter. I haven't had anything to drink since I woke up hours ago. As soon as he approaches I order a bottle of sparkling water.

Landon shakes his head from side-to-side when the waiter asks if he wants a refill of coffee. "Why is Gianna going to California?"

"I didn't ask." I shrug my shoulder as I lean into his side. "I like her. It'll be nice to have her company on the flight."

"I need to ask a favor, Tess." His lips press against my forehead. "It's nothing really but it would mean a lot to me."

I pull back so I can look directly into his face. "What do you need?"

"I need you to keep the stuff about my dad quiet for now." His eyes skim the room. "It's a complicated situation. If Gianna knows it might compromise things."

"How so?" I nod to the waiter when he places a chilled bottle of water and a tall glass filled with ice on the table. "What does Gianna have to do with your dad?"

His gaze is dark as his eyes lock on mine. "I meant that it would be best to not tell anyone about my father at this point. It might compromise the police investigation and besides, I want to tell Gabriel myself."

I turn towards the table as I reach for the bottle of water to fill the glass. I know I don't have a full grasp on the severity of what Landon's father is capable of but it's obvious from the promises of secrecy that Frederick has done things his son isn't ready to accept.

––––––––

"Y
ou could feel it in the café, couldn't you?"

Technically I could see the outline of it through the dark pants he's wearing. Correction. He was wearing dark pants until I unzipped them when he followed me through the door of my apartment.

I'd fallen to my knees and had taken him in my mouth. He was hard before my tongue touched the tip and as I raced my hands over the length of him, his cock had swelled even more. I'd whimpered around it when he tangled his strong hands in my hair and as I felt his thighs tighten with each lash of my tongue, I'd readied myself for the gift of his pleasure.

I wasn't disappointed as he'd come hard, with a thud of his hips against the wall and a litany of curse words falling from his lips.

I'd pulled back only slightly when his grip on my hair had loosened and as I wrapped my tongue around the tip, I'd tasted the last drop he'd given me.

"You have condoms here?"

I nod. I bought a box when I first moved to New York with the breathless hope that a man just like this would walk into my life. "In the bathroom. I keep them in the medicine cabinet."

His head juts to the left as he looks down the narrow hallway. "Is it that way?

I pull the dress I wore to my meeting with Gabriel over my head. I wanted to look professional so I'd chosen a plain navy shift dress. I'd ripped the hem when I dropped to my knees just now.

"I'll get one." I take a step in my heels to walk down the hallway.

"No." He pulls on my arm to stop me. "Don’t move, Tess."

I freeze in place, feeling suddenly exposed in the sheer white panties and bra that I'm wearing. I cross my arms over my chest. "I want to get it."

His hand drops to his cock. It's semi-hard again. He strokes it slowly. "I love when you touch yourself."

I blush even though I don't want to. I've never hidden behind a veil of embarrassment when it comes to sex.  I've always touched myself when I've felt the need and with Landon it's been no different.

"You like that?" I stare at his fast moving hand, watching it glide effortlessly over the same spot where my tongue had just been.

"I want you to come for me." He motions to the hall. "I want you to get on your bed and touch yourself just for me."

I've never done that before. I haven't ever wanted to be that vulnerable with a man. "Right now?"

His hand jumps from his cock to my side. "Take your bra off."

I reach behind me, grabbing the back and unclasping the bra. I let it fall to the floor.

"Your breasts are so beautiful." He dips his head down to lash his tongue against one nipple and then the other. "Look how plump your nipples are."

I gaze down. "You did that."

"Take your panties off."

I give him exactly what he wants when I hook my fingers under the lace on the side of my panties before slide them to the floor, kicking off my heels in the process. I'm completely naked now. The late afternoon sun is pouring into my apartment. I have nothing to hide behind.

He runs his fingers quickly over my smooth cleft before he reaches for my hand. "Take me to your bed, Tess. Let me watch you come before I fuck you."

I arch my back, stand on my tiptoes and kiss him deeply before I take his hand and lead him into my room.

***

"W
ill I see you before I go to Los Angeles?" I shuffle from one foot to the other.

He's dressed now and I'm not. I'm actually only wearing the panties I dropped in the front entryway an hour ago.

"I'll come see you again as soon as I can." His eyes slide over my body. "I'll never forget what we just did, Tess. It was amazing."

It was the most intimate experience I've ever had with a man. He'd crouched over me on the bed as I gave in to the pleasure from my own hand. I'd called out his name as I found my release and then he'd sheathed his cock before he fucked me slowly. It was tender in a way it hadn't been before and after he'd come, he held me against him, telling me that he was grateful that I'd gotten on that flight in Milan.

"Do you need to go to the airport now?" I don't want to lessen the moment but I know that when he pulled himself from my side it was because he had to leave. He wants to be there to greet his brother when the flight lands.

"I do." He finishes buttoning the blue dress shirt he's wearing before he tucks it beneath the waistband of his pants. "I'm scared."

I lean forward unsure if I heard him clearly. "You're scared?"

"I haven't seen my brother in years." He scratches the back of his head. "He's about to get married. He's going to be a father in a few months and I have to tell him about our dad."

"You're doing what needs to be done." I look down at my exposed breasts wishing I had reached for a robe before I walked out of my bedroom. "You have to tell him, Landon. You don't have a choice."

"I don't get you sometimes." He smiles softly.

"You don't get me?" I perch both my hands on my hips. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"You're way too insightful to be twenty-two."

I furrow my brow playfully. "Is that a compliment or did you just insult my age?"

"I love that you're the smartest, kindest and most insightful woman I know and that you're only twenty-two."

I can't argue with that. All I can do is kiss him goodbye before he walks out of my apartment and into the reality of facing his brother.

––––––––

"D
id you see Ansel when he was in town?"

"I didn't think you had time for lunch this week," I say completely ignoring Lilly's question. "I'm glad you made time for me. I'm going to California tomorrow."

"That's not going to work, Tess." She bites into a carrot before she quickly chews it. "I asked you a question. I want an answer."

I'd be offended if she didn't have a wide grin on her face.

I'm the one who suggested we squeeze in a quick lunch today because I honestly just needed to see my best friend. I knew that Ansel's name would pop up.

"I saw him." I sigh. "It was awkward and weird and I was glad when he took off."

She takes another bite of the salad she ordered. I take the opportunity to try and change the subject.

"I've been working on the details for the Corteck gala." I pick up my smartphone. "I have some notes. Do you want to see?"

"What do you mean awkward?" She pushes the plate away from her. "What did he say to you?"

I'm not about to replay word-for-word my conversation with my ex-boyfriend. The main reason is that I don't remember much about it at all. "He said he wanted to talk to me and then Landon showed up."

"Shut up," she almost screams the words across the table at me. Thankfully the Italian restaurant we're in is almost empty. "Landon met Ansel?"

I nod. "Ansel didn't know I was dating anyone."

"This is juicy." She pulls the name badge she wears to work each day from around her neck. "I can take a longer lunch break if you want. I don't even have to go back to the office at all."

I need her to go back to her office so I can finish packing for my trip. I'm completely organized in terms of what I want to discuss with the manager of the Liore boutique in Los Angeles. I haven't packed anything though. It's not that I need a lot. I'm going to be hanging out with my dad for most of the weekend.

"There's nothing more to tell, Lilly." I swallow a large mouthful of water.

She cocks a red brow. "Don't give me that, Tess. Your ex met your current. There's always a story to tell."

"Landon was polite and gracious to Ansel." I smile softly. "He told Ansel that I was an amazing woman and that was the end of it."

"He said you were amazing?" I hear the definite hint of sweetness in her voice. "Landon thinks you're amazing?"

Lilly is a true romantic spirit, which means that she wants everyone she cares about to find the same happiness she has. I saw that in her when we first met and it's one of the qualities that drew me to her. I love that she sees life the way she does.

"I really like him, Lilly," I confess quietly. "He's different than anyone I've ever known."

The soft smile on her face offers me a reassurance I didn't think I needed. "You've been different since you met him. I can see happiness in your eyes now."

I can feel it everywhere. I am happy. I'm happier than I've ever been before.

***

"H
ow old are you?" Gianna holds my hand in hers. "You're eighteen, no?"

"No." I look down at her expensive manicure. "I'm actually twenty-two."

"You're twenty-two?"

I glance past her to the window of the airplane. I'd arrived before she did and when I asked to sit in seat 2B, the flight attendant on board had gently explained that the seats weren't numbered. I'd felt a surge of panic race through me.

Each time I'd flown on a private jet to go see Ansel, I'd sat in the first seat in the second row. In my anxious mind that translated to seat 2B so I was in that seat when Gianna walked through the door and sat down right next to me.

"You've accomplished so much at such a young age." She turns my hand over so she can examine the watch I'm wearing. It's the same watch I always wear. It's the one Ivy gave to me. "Is this part of your cousin's collection?"

I answer quickly. "It is. Ivy made this for me."

"Gabriel is impressed with you both." She carefully places my hand into my lap before she pulls her hand away. "He's a perfectionist, you know. He isn't impressed very easily."

I do know that. I've sensed it not only in the way he carries himself but in the way he runs his business. "I'm learning a lot from him. I'm grateful the he believes in me."

"He does." She arches her long, elegant neck so she's looking directly at the flight attendant standing a few feet in front of his. "Landon believes in you too."

I anticipated hearing his name on this flight. I know that Gianna is close to him. It has to stem from the experiences they all shared the day his father drowned, or almost drowned.

"He told me to watch over you on the flight." Her gaze drops to her lap. "I told him that you could take care of yourself."

I don't want the words to segue into a discussion about Ansel. I know from what Landon has shared with me, that Gianna read the letter that I left on the plane the day I met her. She's had a glimpse into a love that I once shared with a famous man. I expect that she's drawn conclusions about me and perhaps about whether I'm a good match for Landon.

I respect her position as the mother of the man I'm working for and as a friend of the man I'm sleeping with, but I can stand on my own. If push comes to shove, I'm not above reminding her that the letter was private and meant for only my eyes.