I needed to diffuse the situation before something bad happened.
“Let's just go,” I said to Dorian.
Elroy's eyes hardened. “You only just got here. Don't let me stop whatever it was you were going to do for your billionaire date.”
I didn't need the emphasis on the last word to know that he'd chosen it specifically because that was how most prostitutes referred to the time they spent with their johns. From the highest-class escort to the streetwalker on the corner. I didn't know if using that word made any of them feel less ashamed or sick, but it never had for me.
He didn't leave it at that though. “It's not like I've never seen it before.”
“I won't warn you again,” Dorian said.
There was nothing particularly frightening about the words themselves, but there was something about his tone that sent an icy shiver down my spine. I could tell Elroy felt it too, as he took a step back. He'd always been a coward.
“This isn't over,” he snarled at me before he walked past us, giving Dorian a wide berth.
When Elroy was out of earshot, Dorian grabbed my hand and turned me to face him. “Are you okay?”
I nodded. I'd already blinked back my tears, not wanting him to know how much Elroy being here had affected me.
We'd been having such a good night before Elroy showed up. Even if my plan not to let Dorian into my heart wasn't exactly working, I was enjoying myself. I decided during dinner that it would be worth the heartbreak to have this time with him, and while I still felt that way, Elroy's appearance had thrown a wrench into things.
“What was that about?” Dorian brushed a strand of hair from my face. His touch warmed me to the core. His mouth tightened. “Is there something going on between you guys that I should know about?”
I almost laughed. Dorian wanted to know if there were still feelings between Elroy and me, but I very much doubted he meant a connection forged by blackmail opportunities.
“He's always like that.” Not a lie, either. “You know what, it's not so big a deal that my voicemail isn't on. Let's just leave it and go up to your room.”
I didn't want him to ask any more questions. They would only get harder and harder to answer. If he broke my heart by leaving again, by being indifferent to how I felt about him, that was one thing. I didn't know if I could survive him being disgusted with me.
We headed back for the elevator. As we walked, Dorian threaded his fingers between mine, gently stroking my palm with his thumb, and I reveled in the comfort his touch offered. I'd noticed him keeping a small distance between us when we were out in public, and I figured it was safe to reason that he hadn't wanted to do anything while I was on the clock. Fair enough, I supposed. Not that I would have minded a little hand-holding every once in a while despite what people would've thought. It was nice to share affectionate moments like this. Sweet moments. I loved our lust-driven touching too, but it couldn't take the place of something so innocently simple.
As we made our way back to the elevators, I kept expecting Elroy to pop back up again. I didn't feel like I could breathe openly until we were back in Dorian's suite, and I didn't start to fully relax until I downed my first glass of champagne while we watched the city sparkle and flow from the balcony, high above the world. I let the alcohol ease the negative tension while it stoked the fire between us.
I sighed. “This is exactly where I want to be right now.” The words popped out without me thinking.
Dorian's response, however, made me glad I'd opened up that little bit.
“I wholeheartedly agree. And I couldn't ask for better company.”
“Really?” I teased. “You're saying out of the whole wide world you'd choose me over someone much more fabulous? Like Heidi Klum or something.”
From his seat on the lounger beside me, he let out a bark of laughter. “I can think of several people I'd be here with over the likes of any model,” he replied. “Not that I have anything against them. But I can't think of anyone I'd be here with over you.”
My heart swelled until it hurt.
“You're too sweet,” I said. “I'll get cavities.”
He tipped his head back and drank down the rest of his champagne, then placed the glass on the table next to him. Then, without another word, he moved from his lounger, swept me into his arms, and spun us in a circle.
I giggled and shrieked at the unexpected motion. My champagne sloshed over the side of the glass still clutched in my hand. “What are you doing?”
“You think I’m too sweet,” he explained with a grin. “I’m trying something else on for size.”
Unexpectedly, he dropped my legs and held me while I got my footing. Even when I was steady, he kept his arms around me, almost as if he was afraid I might escape.
“So what's your new thing then?” I asked breathlessly. My gaze moved from my feet to his eyes.
There was something dark and wicked in those green depths, something wild and unrestrained. A spike of desire went through my core, and he pulled the glass from my hand, tossing it to the other side of the balcony. He kept his eyes locked on mine as the glass shattered. I gasped, unsure if my reaction was more about the broken glass...or the almost dangerous vibe he was sending out.
“Take off your dress,” he commanded, the order slipping across my skin like silk.
My mouth went dry. I was almost too eager to comply, my hands fumbling with the zipper on the back of the slinky garment. He offered no help. The blaze in his eyes told me he was far too interested in seeing the show.
The dress fell to the floor just as the last bit of sunlight disappeared behind Dorian, wind trailing along my skin like soft, gentle kisses. I shivered, but it had nothing to do with the weather and everything to do with him.
He reached for my breasts, weighing both on his palms as his eyes assessed the prize before him. And that was what I felt like. His prize. Something he'd won in a game that neither of us had been aware we were playing.
I was rooted to the spot, waiting for more orders, waiting to learn how I could best fulfill his desires. I'd spent more than three years having men tell me what they wanted from me, tell me how to make them feel good.
This was the first time I actually wanted to know. Wanted to do. Wanted to please.
“You're so fucking gorgeous,” he murmured.
“Thank you.”
His eyes flicked to mine, a trace of amusement at my response showing before disappearing behind lust. “Take off your bra.”
“Are we going to do this outside?” I looked around. Though I felt like I was completely exposed, I realized there was actually no way that anybody could see me up here. No other balconies overlooked this one, and the Rock Bay was one of the taller hotels in the vicinity. We were completely exposed but completely covered at the same time.
“Yes. We're going to do this outside.” He took a step toward me, his voice lowering to a near growl. “I'm going to bend you over that balcony rail and fuck you while the fireworks explode in the air above us. Any questions?”
It was like he'd flipped a switch that suddenly sent a flood of moisture between my thighs. I squeezed them together, hoping to relieve some of the pressure. It didn't. He smirked as he saw what I was doing.
“Take off your bra and panties.”
I did as he said right away this time, tossing the undergarments back toward the doorway. He loosened his tie while he watched. His features might have seemed dark and cold if I hadn't known the simmering lust he held just under the surface. And the fact that he was hiding it, wearing a mask of impassivity, was somehow even hotter than it would have been if I could’ve read everything on his face.
“Now undress me,” he commanded.
I moved forward, reaching shaky hands toward the lapels of his suit jacket. It slid easily down, and I placed it on the lounger next to us before working on the rest of his clothes.
I took my time. He hadn't told me to be quick about it, and I knew this was killing him as much as it
was me. I used every asset in my arsenal, pressing my breasts against him as I worked on his buttons, then kneeling to pull down his pants, my hot breath fanning over the bulge in front of me. I looked up at him as I removed his boxer-briefs, licking my lips. He shuddered.
“Is there anything else you'd like me to do?” I asked playfully, my lips mere inches from his cock.
He groaned. “Lick me.”
I smiled and did as he said, licking all the way up from his heavy balls to the salty tip of his cock. Then I licked all the way back down, taking the time to learn every inch of him, my eyes never leaving his.
“Get up,” he ordered just as I'd been about to take him into my mouth. “Get up and lean against the railing.”
This was the part I was most nervous about. I felt more exposed with the cool metal pressed against my belly than I'd ever felt before. I kept reminding myself that we were secluded up here. And hell, it wasn't like I hadn't been seen having sex by strangers before.
But it was different with him. Everything was.
I tried to look at Dorian as he stepped up behind me, but he shook his head. “Don't look at me,” he said. “Look at the sky.”
I shivered, feeling blind as I waited to see what he would do next. Or feel, rather.
His fingers traced a tingling path along my back and ass. His hand went away for a second, then came back with a slap. I flinched, unprepared for the sudden sting, but my pussy clenched with pleasure. He smacked me again, a little harder this time. The desire to look back at him was almost overwhelming, but I was a good little soldier, and shit if this didn't feel amazing.
He tapped my ass a few more times before seizing the flesh in his large hand and squeezing. That hand then slipped down between my legs, plunging between my folds to abruptly drive up into me for two twisting strokes. I let out a moan, hands clenching around the railing.
“Stay here while I grab a condom,” he said into my ear, kissing the nape of my neck.
“Wait!” I turned my head. “Don’t.”
“Don’t?” He was still bent over me, a quizzical expression on his handsome features.
“I’m on the pill,” I said. “And...well you’re the only one I’ve slept with in a while.”
I didn't add that I'd always religiously used condoms in the past for any sort of sex, even with my ex-husband. Mikala's conception had been one of those statistics on the warning label. As soon as she was born, I went on the pill, not wanting to risk getting pregnant again.
Dorian nodded. “Good to know.” That sexy, vicious smirk returned to his face. “Now face front before I have to spank you again.”
I turned back dutifully, every cell humming in anticipation of feeling him inside of me without a barrier.
The next thing I felt was his cock filling me with one swift thrust, stretching me all at once. I went up on my toes, biting back a cry as my body struggled to process the sudden invasion. He didn't give me anytime to adjust, withdrawing almost immediately before surging back inside.
It was all I could do to clutch onto the balcony and stay upright as he began to pound into me with brutal, hard strokes. The pleasure was so intense that it made my head spin. I no longer knew which way was up and which way was down. I didn't care where we were or who might be able to see.
I closed my eyes to savor the sensations of skin against skin as his hands came around to cover my breasts, kneading them in time with his thrusts. I arched up to give him better access, and he removed one hand long enough to wrench my head around so he could plant a bruising kiss on my lips. It was the first time we'd had a full kiss today, and for some reason that made it even more sensual. I hadn't realized how much I'd been aching for his lips until I had them. I drank in his kiss greedily, savoring the faint taste of champagne on his tongue.
He released me and sent his hand down to explore between my legs instead. He brushed against the place where he was still plunging in and out, then pressed his fingers against my clit. I cried out as new pleasure blossomed in my core.
Not much longer now. So fucking close.
A bang overhead startled me. I jerked my head up to see a brilliant explosion of color in the sky above. The fireworks had started, and I soon saw starbursts of red, white, and blue paint the sky. At times it was so bright that it almost seemed like day had come early.
The fireworks in the sky weren't even a fraction as explosive as the ones that went off all over my body as I came, pelvic muscles squeezing his bare dick and creating the most delicious sensation all through my body. My cry was almost a scream, so heavy and hot was the pleasure. His thrusts grew more erratic and labored, driving the air from my lungs and wringing out every drop of pleasure possible.
“Oh fuck,” he grunted as he slammed into me over and over again with short jerks.
My hair stood on end, body quaking. And then I felt him swell and spurt inside of me, almost in time with the cascade of colors overhead. With a fist in my hair, he buried himself in me one last time and collapsed onto my back.
“Happy Fourth of July,” I murmured once I could get enough air.
He laughed as he kissed my shoulder. “And to you, darling.”
29
Dorian
Briana chose not to stay with me, and at this point, I'd come to expect it. I couldn't tell whether she just didn't want to, or if there was something else holding her back, but either way, I didn't press it. I'd never bully her the way I saw her bastard ex do.
I tossed and turned in bed, blood boiling as I thought about that asshole. Why did he seem to think he had such a claim on her that he could confront me like that? Was it just part of his personality? I shuddered to think how he treated her when there wasn't anybody else around. I'd never met someone I wanted to throttle quite so violently.
I was still imagining all the ways I wanted to beat the shit out of him when I finally fell asleep. My dreams were much more pleasant, replaying the firework display on a loop that left me waking up with morning wood so hard it hurt.
I didn't see Briana at all that morning. I knew she was due into work later in the afternoon, so I didn't think too much of it. Instead, I wiled away the hours with gambling and a couple drinks, preferring to stay close to the hotel rather than heading out to enjoy some of Vegas' other pleasures. I didn't want to miss seeing her.
I was all too aware that I was acting like a love-struck teenager, and I didn't really like it. But what could I do? Whether I was down at the craps table or across the city, I'd be waiting for her text. It was better to do so here.
I was halfway through a game of poker when I saw her. She was just walking through the casino, doing the rounds that I often saw her doing. I didn’t want to take her from her other duties, and I still had my hand to play, so I didn’t catch her attention as she walked by. I'd find her later.
When I was finished with my game a half hour later, I got up to go find her. I tried to make my stroll around the casino look as leisurely as possible. The last thing I needed was to be known as that guy who chased after the pretty hostess. So when I turned the corner to the slot machines and saw her talking to someone, I held back.
Then I saw who she was talking to.
Kendall. My blood churned and boiled as I watched him flirting with her. His hands were thrust casually in the pockets of his slacks, eyes wrinkled with laughter as he leaned in ever closer to whisper something in her ear. Then she laughed too, and even though she took a little step back, she was being friendly enough with him for it to sting.
What was he doing here? More importantly, what the hell was he doing with her?
After a minute or so more, Briana took her leave, waving a brief goodbye to him before she headed in my direction. I was off to the side, and she didn’t see me right away. I waited until Kendall was nowhere to be seen before I stepped into her path.
Her eyes widened with recognition. Behind the recognition, I saw a trace of something else. Fear. Guilt.
Each one went through me like a knif
e.
“Dorian! What are you doing here?”
“I’m staying here. I’m more interested to know what the fuck my cousin is doing here, and why you two look so friendly?”
Her mouth gaped open. “I-I don’t actually know why he’s here. He didn’t say.”
“Oh really?” I stepped toward her, looming above her.
The claws of jealousy had sunk into me and weren’t letting go anytime soon. Even though I recognized stress on her features. Even though I knew I was just adding to it. Even though the words that came next were cruel.
“It looked like you two were getting pretty friendly, so is it just that you don’t spend much time talking? Are you too busy providing him with the same kinds of ‘perks’ you give me?”
Briana went white. Her mouth opened and closed, but she said nothing in her defense. Nothing to tell me that I was an ass. Her silence was more condemning than any excuse she could have offered. And then, without so much as a word, she turned and walked away, posture stiff, hands clenched, leaving my vicious words hanging in the air between us.
30
Briana
My heart felt like it was wrapped in tight coils of thorny vines, each one slowly squeezing the life out of me. I barely remembered anything after Dorian’s accusation, but somehow ended up back home. I was still technically on the clock at work, but I didn’t care. When I remembered to, I sent off a quick text to Earl saying I’d started vomiting and wouldn’t be back for the rest of the day. After all the extra time I'd put in over the last month, I doubted he'd complain.
Mikala ran to the door when she heard me open it. “Mommy!” she shouted. “You’re home early!”
Tiffany followed her to the front door, eyes widening with concern as they settled on me. She swore under her breath as she wrapped me in a hug, making me wonder if I looked that bad. Nevertheless, I was grateful for the comfort. I squeezed her and Mikala, burying my nose into my daughter’s hair and inhaling her clean, innocent scent. I loathed the thought that one day somebody would make her feel like this. I would do everything in my power to prevent that from happening, but life was a cruel bitch. Even if I could stop her from getting screwed over by an asshole like her father, I knew she’d get her heart broken eventually. And that made my own heart ache even more.