He raised his eyebrow.
“Miss Gracen? Are you ready for the next dress?” the attendant asked. “Mr. Statham picked out another one while you were trying on this one.”
“Are you going to speak to me at all today?” I narrowed my eyes at him, waiting for him to answer, but he didn’t say a word.
I rolled my eyes and turned around, following the attendant back into the dressing room.
I slowly slipped out of the white gown and watched as she unzipped the black bag that hung over the door. As she removed the dress from the plastic, I gasped.
“Stunning isn’t it?” She smiled and signaled for me to raise my hands above my head. She took her time pulling it over me—zipping up the back, and aligning the strapless top.
I looked at myself in the mirror and shook my head. The dress was flawless. It was a nude colored gown that accentuated my every curve. It was covered in sparkling crystals and the sweetheart neckline gave way to a skirt that fell in soft satin waves, a skirt that made it appear like I was floating as I walked.
“Miss Gracen?” The attendant held the door open for me. “Are you ready now?”
I nodded.
I walked into the studio room, immediately feeling the pressure of Jonathan’s eyes on my body with every step I took. I stepped onto the small platform and moved in front of the tri-fold mirror.
“Are you going to say something about this one?” My eyes connected with his. “Why haven’t you said anything? You don’t like any of the dresses?”
He blinked. Then he stood up and walked onto the platform, circling around me like he was assessing every inch of me.
“You’ve looked beautiful in every dress you’ve tried on today—every single one.” He trailed his fingertips across my bare shoulders. “I’ll buy them all.”
“But I can only wear one to the IPO ball. You’re supposed to help me choose which—”
“I will.” He pressed his finger against my lips. “After you try them on for me again at home...”
I flipped past all twelve of those dresses and picked out a small little black dress. It was extremely simple, but it had a few elegant details along the straps that made it stand out.
I snapped on a bra and pulled the dress over my head. As I was doing my make-up, the doorbell rang.
It’s only six o’ clock... He’s an hour early? “Ashley! Caroline! Go get the door!”
I put on a thick layer of mascara and a touch of blush. I brushed glittering bronze over both my eyelids and the doorbell rang again.
“Ashley and Caroline, get the door please!” I took out a tube of red lipstick. I was about to place it against my mouth, but the doorbell rang again.
Ugh! Are they sleeping or something?!
I rushed down the steps and opened the door. Jonathan.
He was wearing black slacks and a white button down shirt—with the sleeves pushed back to his elbows, with the top buttons undone. He didn’t look too happy to see me. He looked enraged, like he was about to hurt someone.
My heart started racing and I tried to say something—anything, but no words came out of my mouth.
“Hello, Claire.” He seethed.
Silence.
He looked me up and down, narrowing his eyes at me. “You look really nice...Are you going somewhere?”
“Yes...”
“And where would that be?”
“I’m...” I took a step back. “I’m going out on a date...”
“Really?”
“Yes...”
“You sure about that?” He shut the door and moved forward.
“Jonathan, I’m—” I felt his lips against mine, his arms possessively folding around me.
I murmured as he slid his hands underneath my dress, as he whispered, “You’re not going anywhere” against my neck.
My knees started to buckle and he caught me before I could fall. He assaulted my mouth with his tongue until I couldn’t breathe, and then he carried me upstairs to my room.
“You’re still mine.” He tossed me onto the bed and moved on top of me. “You’ll always be mine.” He kissed me again and again, making me moan at the passionate touches I’d been missing all these months.
“I meant to say I love you too...” I choked out once he let my lips go. “I love you too...”
He ripped my dress off and kissed a line down my stomach. “Then why’d you leave me?”
“Ahhh...” I felt his tongue swirling between my thighs, preventing me from answering.
“You shouldn’t have left me.” He unbuttoned his jeans and slid them off. Then he moved back up and straddled me, looking deep into my eyes. “You really shouldn’t have done that.” He pushed his dick into me—taking his time entering, sliding in inch by inch.
“Please....”
“Please what, Claire? Give you what you want even though you don’t deserve it?” He wasn’t even halfway inside yet; he was teasing my nipples with his tongue, enjoying my frustration.
“Please, just—” The loud ring of the doorbell interrupted my sentence. “Just fuck me...”
“Shouldn’t you go get the door?” He raised his eyebrow. “It’s probably your date.”
I shook my head.
“Why not?” He slid in further. “It’s not nice to keep him waiting.”
Before I could respond, he buried himself deep inside of me and I wrapped my legs around him. He thrust into me wildly—kissing my lips to stifle my screams, keeping his eyes locked on mine.
“Mom! Mom!” Caroline called from the other side of my door. “Damien’s outside!”
Jonathan smiled and slowed his rhythm. He pushed my legs away from his waist and rolled over so I was on top of him. “Move.”
I did as I was told, rocking my hips against him, leaning down to kiss his lips—not ever wanting to stop, but then my door opened and in walked Caroline—then Ashley.
“Um, Damien is downstairs...” “We told him to wait in the living room.”
My eyes widened and I gasped. I reached for a blanket to pull over my body and looked down at Jonathan—only he wasn’t there.
It was only a dream.
It was only a dream?!
My chest tightened and tears formed at the corner of my eyes. I rolled off my bed and onto the floor, staring straight ahead.
“Do you want us to tell him you’re not here?” “We should tell him that anyway...” “Why? I thought we agreed that we liked him.” “We do, but I don’t think she does...He is pretty hot though.” “You think he’s as hot as Jonathan?” “Ha! No! But if she ever asks, we should say yes to make her feel better.” “Hmmm. Okay.” “Well, I don’t think I’m allowed out of my room for more than five minutes so you should probably go tell him that she’s not—”
“No, it’s okay...” I stood up. “Thank you.”
Chapter 31
Claire
I rearranged my clothes in the hotel suite’s closet for the umpteenth time and shut the doors. Bored, I walked into the living room and sat across from Damien.
“Is that five or six shipments?” He gave me an apologetic smile as he continued to talk on the phone. “Can you get that verified by receiving please? Yeah...No, I’m at the Juniper conference...Seven days, so that gives you plenty of time to figure out what’s going on...Alright. Keep me posted.” He set his phone down and sighed. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”
“It’s okay. It’s a working vacation. I completely understand.”
“Come here.” He locked his eyes on mine and I walked over, prepared to sit in the other chair, but he pulled me into his lap. “Are you okay? You didn’t say much on the way over...”