The handle of my fork rests in my fingertips, but I drop it back down to the empty small plate again. “No other man?” he questions in turn.
“No.” It’s a relief to hear that. A bigger relief than I would have thought. “And we’re to be discreet?” Adrian finishes.
“Yes,” I say.
“Work during the day, and play at night?”
“Yes,” I answer.
His eyes narrow. “I like when you answer me like that, a single word rushing out of your perfect, parted lips.” His gaze burns. “I’d like to see those lips when I—”
Adrian gets another text and curses under his breath. He’s not the only one. My phone buzzes too.
It’s from Maddie: Hey! Are you coming?
“Oh … I’m so sorry.” I push my hair back from my face and brace myself with both hands on the table. “I’m supposed to meet a friend tonight. I completely forgot.”
Of the three women I’m closest to, Maddie is like my little sister. She’s also going through a breakup and relying heavily on company to keep her from texting the asshole when she feels lonely.
“I can’t believe I forgot.”
“No time to eat?” he questions, not pressuring me in the least. His phone buzzes yet again before I can even answer, and he closes his eyes, visibly annoyed.
“I’m sorry, I really have to go. She’s a good friend of mine and I don’t know how it could have possibly slipped my mind that we had plans.” I swallow down the horrible feeling of failing her, knowing exactly how I came to forget about anything other than the man seated in front of me. “I’m going to take a cab.”
“If you insist.”
“I’m afraid I do, Mr. Bradford.” As I speak, I stand and he mirrors the motion.
“No longer Adrian?”
He holds his hand out to me and it takes me a minute to understand what he wants. “I’ll walk you out.”
It’s almost unreal what a gentleman this man is after hours. “Will you be so kind to me tomorrow?” I question as if it’s banter, but the truth is obviously buried there.
It only takes one motion from Adrian for the doorman to bring around a taxi for me. The night has fallen dark and the chill brings me closer to Adrian as the car pulls up.
“Phone.” He says the one word and I hand him my phone without question. Adrian frowns down at the screen while he types something. It’s his number. His fingers fly across the screen. I’ll probably find out he’s sent a text to himself with my number.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he says, handing it back to me. “Perhaps you’ll give me the opportunity to play with you once the clock strikes six.”
Adrian
It takes great effort not to let on that my pants are tight from my little vixen’s text messages. I’m certain Wyatt wouldn’t appreciate that fact.
With that being said, it’s my office. My meeting.
And if I want to read the filthy things she’s messaging, I’ll damn well do as I please.
I’ll have to scold her when I see her. Not now, while she’s working, when I’m not buried deep inside her and she has nowhere to go.
Scrolling through the last messages she sent, I have to readjust in my seat.
Suzette Parks has a very dirty mouth and I want to do very dirty things to it.
It’s work hours, though, so I don’t respond to the three she’s sent me.
This morning was one thing, and technically I started the “sexting games” as she called it.
No panties today. I want to fuck you without having to rip them off.
Yes, sir.
That’s my good girl.
You say that now but if you tell me to crawl under your desk, that will be a firm no from me.
Why do I think you’re lying?
I remember when I sent the last message, I watched both the clock and the security monitors that kept track of her entering the elevator. It was nearly 9:00 a.m.
Tell me what you would do then, if I wanted you to keep me company in my office.
Did I set her up? Fucking right I did. Am I going to fuck her hard and rough to punish her for the unprofessional behavior she’s displayed? Hell yes I am. And we’re both going to enjoy it.
It’s all talk from her. I know it is. So, scolding her will have to wait.
“I don’t know, man,” Wyatt says, nudging the container of lo mein closer to me. Piling the bit of it left on his plate onto a white plastic fork he tells me, “I prefer the place on Fifth.”
“Shing Kwong?”
He nods, still shoveling the Chinese food into his mouth. Wyatt is tall, lean, and three years younger than me although it feels like there’s a decade between us. He’s naive, positive about far too much and riskier than he should be.
I didn’t come from money. We were slightly well-off, but not like the Pattons, Wyatt’s family. It shows. He makes deals like there will always be a safety net beneath him. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t resentful of it at one time in my life. As the end of a noodle slaps his chin, sauce dripping down his amber skin, the corners of my lips turn up.