He took a step to the side and casually walked past her. “Enjoy the night, darling. Think of me, won’t you?”
“I probably will,” she muttered after he had turned the corner towards the bar. She looked out at the glimmering city lights and leaned over the railing. The wind swept the same stray hair back into her face. Life had become all the more exciting and complicated lately. She wasn’t sure if she liked it.
Her cocktail sat abandoned on the table and she picked it up, appreciating the chill of the glass against the warm heat of the night. Below, she heard Candace's sudden, shrill laughter. The redhead stumbled out of the double doors on the ground floor, clinging to Ben. Vivian rolled her eyes. Oh, give me a break! Candace tottered on her heels and dug her red nails into Ben’s arm. Vivian could hear her drunken chatter from above.
“Where did you go earlier, Benny?” She cooed, dragging the last letter out, while the valet pulled up.
“I had to talk to my assistant,” he cooly replied in a voice so low that Vivian could barely hear it. He glanced at his watch. “Should I drop you off?”
Candace tossed her silky hair back and almost lost her balance again. “You’re going to make me sleep alone?” Vivian cringed at the whining tone, but looked enviously at the other woman’s sculpted arms, one now circled around Ben’s waist. Should I work out more? No, she wasn’t going to be bothered by this. I’m better than this, she thought with a huff and stepped away from the balcony.
Whatever. She went back inside to close her tab. While one of the handsome bartenders trotted away to retrieve her check, she checked her phone. No new messages. No new emails. She sipped the last of her wine and placed the empty glass on the polished wood.
The bartender appeared. “It appears your tab has already been cleared, Miss.”
“What?” Surely she hadn’t accidentally charged someone else’s tab? “By who?”
“I didn’t catch his name, it’s so busy tonight. I think he just left. He walked in a few minutes ago to close it and left a very nice tip,” he grinned widely at the last bit. “I assumed he was your boyfriend, sorry.”
She guessed this particular bartender had missed it when Candace practically jumped Ben earlier in the evening on the other side of the room. “No,” she said and sighed with one last glance towards the balcony, “he’s just some son of a bitch I work for.” She flashed a quick smile to the bartender, who now had his mouth open and brows furrowed, and walked out of the room.
Her apartment had never seemed so inviting. She immediately locked the door and disrobed, stripping off the elegant dress and heading toward the shower. As the water heated up, she wrapped herself in a small towel and walked into the kitchen to grab the box of fine chocolates she kept for stressful nights. She popped one into her mouth and moaned in pleasure as the rich flavor filled her mouth. It reminded her of her kiss earlier today. Completely intoxicating.
“That’s a promise.” She repeated the words over in her mind. How they excited her. She was wet just thinking about it. The power this man had over her was so frustrating.
As she started back toward the bathroom, a knock suddenly sounded on her door. She froze. Who could be here right now? She had no roommates and none of her friends would come by without calling. Another knock. She frowned and tip-toed to the door to peer through the peep-hole.
A head of familiar dark hair greeted her. She gasped.
“What are you doing here?” she couldn’t help shouting behind the door. His lips twitched up into that smirk.
“I’m here to apologize,” he said, leaning against the door. “Please, Vivian. I just want to say I’m sorry. I didn’t think about your feelings.”
She hesitated, fingers hovering above the deadbolt.
“Please.”
She unlocked the door and opened it. His eyes widened and his smirk grew even bigger.
“What a wonderful surprise,” he purred.
“Say your apology and go,” she said. His jaw tightened. He licked his lips, a sight that made her even wetter. Damn her body for responding to this guy.
“Can I come in?” His voice was heavy. Needing, wanting, yearning. She felt her body melt into the soft fabric of the towel and was suddenly aware of how little it covered. Her breasts were barely covered, the nipples underneath begging to be touched again by his hands. She tugged it upwards and stepped to the side, hoping she wouldn’t regret the decision.
He walked into the living room and she turned her back to lock the door again. He was suddenly behind her, his body pressed against her back, the fabric of the towel seeming thinner than ever. She stiffened and felt his warm breath tickle her ear.
“Vivian,” he breathed, his fingers dancing over he
r exposed shoulder. “Please. Why do you keep resisting me?”
Why had she? Because it was wrong? Because he was her boss? She bit her lip. “I don’t know,” she answered and turned her face. His lips were right near her ear, sending wild sensations through the sensitive skin.
“Let me ravish you.”
She didn’t know if it was his begging tone or her own body that pleaded for sweet release, but she turned to face him. Her eyes met his: ravenous. Her hands did away with the towel around her body and it fell to the floor with a sweet promise of what was to come.
“Fuck me already.”