Frustrated and disappointed, I end the call without leaving a message. I sling myself back against the bed and stare up at the ceiling. My stomach aches and my head is beginning to pound. Grabbing my purse, I root around until I find a bottle of Tylenol and pour out two. I walk to the bathroom, grab the glass on the counter, and fill it with enough water to wash them down. Next, I walk back out to the bedroom and lay back on the bed.
I’m tired, but I also feel antsy, like I need to do something, but my body won’t allow it. I grab my phone again, deciding to send Sterling a message.
Me: I miss you.
I press send and lay down on my stomach as I wait for him to message me back. My body relaxes more on the bed and before I know it,
I’m drifting off to sleep.
Chapter Fourteen
Asher
I shake the older man’s hand that’s standing in front of me. “Thank you, Stewart. It’s great to have you on board. I’ll have my assistant call you on Tuesday to finalize the details and send over the contract.”
“Thank you, Asher. I look forward to working with you,” Stewart says, a smile on his face.
This meeting went smoother than I anticipated. I’ve never worked with Stewart Bennet before, but I’ve heard he can be very picky with his business dealings. While that’s definitely a good trait to have, I was sure I was going to have to work harder than I usually do to convince him to go with Silver Technologies. I guess my reputation precedes me.
I close down my laptop and gather the folder on the table and slip both inside the bag. Stewart is speaking with his secretary, so I slip past them with a chin lift and make my way to the elevators. As I ride the twenty-two floors down, I pull my phone from my pocket and look at the message again.
Poppy: I miss you.
I smile touches my lips. Although I know it’s meant for “Sterling”, I still can’t help my body’s reaction to it. She may not know me as Sterling, but I am him, and his actions and feelings are mine. I don’t act differently as Sterling. If anything, I hold back while I’m in Poppy’s presence as Asher. I’m more Sterling than I am Asher. It’s not that I don’t want her to know the real me, it’s just that I don’t want to overwhelm her. I wanted a chance to get to know her more first and learn things about her. I’m slowly showing more of myself to her through Asher.
I think back to the moment in the bedroom at the hotel. The shock and desire on her face was more satisfying than anything I’ve ever felt in my life. I knew she wanted me to kiss her. She was practically begging for it, and fuck if I didn’t want to. I wanted to grab her hair, yank her head back, and devour her mouth, swallowing every moan she would have made. Had she looked down, she would have seen how much I wanted to kiss her. My slacks were nearly bursting at the zipper. I’ve never had to fight myself so much before. But it wasn’t time yet. I need her to want me as much as I want her.
I exit the elevator, pass several desks, and make my way outside where my car and driver are waiting. I prefer to drive myself, but on these trips it’s easier to have someone else do it for me. I slide inside the back of the town car. Sam gets in and we drive away from the curb and head back to the hotel. I didn’t respond to Poppy’s message earlier, opting to leave her hanging. That may be cruel of me, but I want her to miss me. I want to know how much she missed me. I want to keep her on her toes, so when the time comes for her to find out who I am, she won’t be able to resist me.
It doesn’t take me long to get back to the hotel. I have plans for Poppy tonight. I should spill everything about who I am before I take her body for the first time, but that’s not on the agenda for this evening. She’ll fight me, and my need for her is too great. Being so close to her all day, having her fall asleep on my arm in the jet, her lips so close to mine in the hotel, there’s no way I can hold off any longer. I will have Poppy tonight. I will look in her eyes while I slide my cock inside her. She may think about Sterling and feel guilt, but when I take her, she’ll only see me. Tomorrow, I’ll reveal it all. I know that classifies me as an asshole, but I’m an asshole who will get what he wants.
I pull my key card from my pocket when I reach the private elevators that lead to the privacy wing. Originally, I had planned for my business dealings with Lance to last past today and was going to use the remaining two days with Poppy, but with the deal now closed, that leaves me three full days alone with her. I’m going to use every one of them to my advantage.
However, I now have something unexpected to take care of. My hands fist at my sides when I think about the message she received earlier on her phone. It has to be related to the guy that was in her house, the same guy that’s dead, but doesn’t know it yet. When I find out who he is, there’s going to be nothing left of him to recognize. How does he know my role as Sterling in Poppy’s life? It has to be someone I know, but I haven’t told a soul about my obsession with her.
The elevator dings and the door opens. I calm my pounding heart before I enter the suite. It’s quiet as I make my way into the living room and set my laptop case on the couch. Poppy’s bedroom door is closed, and I decide to give her a little more time to get ready. I walk to my room to get ready myself. After being closed up in the jet for a few hours and out in the Texas heat, I take a quick shower to wash away the sweat I’ve accumulated. Naked, I walk out to the bedroom and find a pair of black slacks and a black button-down shirt, and roll the sleeves up to my elbows. The Texas heat is harsh and wearing all black seems like a dumb move, but I like darker colors. I drop my phone and wallet in my pants pocket. My hair still drips water when I leave my room, just as Poppy’s door opens.
She’s currently digging in her purse and hasn’t seen me yet, so I take the opportunity to look her over. My dick instantly gets hard, and I have to bite my lip to keep my growl of approval in. What she’s wearing is a simple black dress with thin straps, but it shows off every curve of her body. It stops just above the knee. She’s paired it with black sandal type heels. Her hair is braided loosely, hanging over one shoulder, with a few loose strands hanging around her face, leaving the other shoulder bare. Enough skin shows that if I want to, I can bite down and leave my mark.
I discreetly adjust my cock. She must sense movement, because the next second she lifts her head. She has her lips parted slightly, and I watch, pleased, when she inhales sharply. Her throat bobs as she swallows and takes a step closer to me, clutching her small purse in her white knuckled grip. I walk out and meet her halfway.
“You look beautiful.”
Her cheeks pinken with my compliment and she gives me a shy smile.
“Thank you,” she says. “You do, too.”
I lift a brow and smirk. “I look beautiful?”
“No. Well… yes. I mean no.”
I chuckle at her discomfort.
“It’s okay, Poppy.” I lift her chin that she dipped back down to her chest. “Relax, okay? I know what you meant.”
She pulls in a breath and visibly relaxes.
“You ready?”