Reinventing Fate, page 20
“It will be fun,” I remark, “because I’m uninviting her.”
“Ha. Right.”
He thinks I’m joking. I’ve never been more serious in my life. “I’ll have security ban her. She won’t be allowed anywhere near it.”
“Seriously?” A dubious look shoots my way. “You can’t uninvite someone to a party.”
“The hell I can’t,” I challenge.
“It’s not even your party. And why would you do that?”
“Hey, I can do whatever the hell I want. I created the monster, I can pull the plug on it.”
Perplexed, Eli glances over at me. “What are you talking about? What monster?”
“I’m talking about locking Paige in my room that night wrapped in her pajamas while she waits for me to get home.”
“What? Did you lose the club you were going to use to beat over her head and drag her off?” He shakes his head in disbelief. “All these years and I had no idea you were such a sexist. Maybe you’re the monster if you think that’s the way to a woman’s heart.”
“Spare me your insight into the female psyche.” Pfft. What does he know about women? He dated all of one girl in his life. How does that make him the expert? Still, I return his fleeting gaze. “You have a better idea?”
“To uninvite her to the party? No. That’s just wrong. To win her heart… I might have some ideas.” A considering pause. “Her one weakness, if you will.”
I wait expectantly. Patiently, if I do say so myself, only he chooses now to shut up. “Well?”
A smirk breaks out. “One word.”
“Chocolates?”
The look he cuts me can only be described as exasperated. “Rome. And I don’t mean the capital of Italy.”
“Her brother?” I chew on that and decide it’s actually quite brilliant. Paige would do anything for him. My mood suddenly brightens considerably. “I got it. I arrange some thugs to kidnap Roman the night of the party, then have someone call her—”
“Stop right there. One, don’t make me your accomplice. Two, unless your plan is to encourage her to commit murder, I wouldn’t finish that thought. I was thinking more along the lines of winning over Rome. He can be your biggest ally. Where she might brush off others’ opinions, she wouldn’t with her brother’s.”
“How the hell do you propose I do that? The guy hates me.”
He shrugs a shoulder. “He’s a teenager, right? It shouldn’t be that hard to figure something out.”
“I’ll hire a prostitute to blow him.”
That earns me a chuckle. “Shit, Colin, when did you get so devious?”
I was only half joking.
As soon as we reach I.So.Metrics, I turn right back around to head home, taking a longer route to nurture my new-found deviousness. Eli gave me some food for thought, but I still need to figure out how to deter Paige from attending Benny’s celebration.
By the time I’m back in the building elevator– and what was I thinking? I sure as hell wouldn’t want to be in an elevator without cables– I’m much calmer. I even managed a civilized growl at Sam in the lobby.
That’s when it hits me all at once.
Not wasting any time, I torpedo through the front door and immediately crash the freak show. Two pairs of startled eyes swing over.
“You.” I aim a purposeful finger at the refinement coach. I still can’t remember her name. “You’re done. Marie will see you out.”
No-name floats off her seat, the air her theatre. “Excuse me?” The stylish, sixtyish woman with no name is trying to frown at me, except the unyielding skin seems to be struggling over concrete. Many shades of blonde busily highlight the short fluff that reminds me of Mother’s Maltese after a day at the pet spa.
“No need for that. You’ve already been excused.”
“Mr. Kutter, this is terribly—”
Politely yet purposefully, Marie takes the woman’s elbow. “This way, Mrs. Long.”
Mrs. Long, that’s the freak’s name.
Paige is on her feet as Marie propels out the sputtering woman desperately bidding to hold on to her sensational deportment. “We were in the middle of something,” she chides, clearly perplexed at the hasty interruption. “And why are you looking at me like that?”
I decide I don’t know what she means. My feet carry me to her, the indisputable craving to be closer a constant. Her makeup is flawlessly airbrushed on her skin, her luscious lips lined with subtle, tasteful color. And I want to take a towel and whip them all off her face.
“Listen to me, Paige.” Needing a second, I inhale deeply, then push the tense words out in a rush. “The arrangement. It’s finished.”
Bronze eyes grow over the beautiful face. Her lips part notable seconds before she responds. “Finished?”
“Done.” Firm. Unbreakable. That’s what we both require. “As in invalidated.”
When all I want is to be near her, she pulls back. “No. It’s not,” she disputes promptly. “That’s not permitted.”
“I say what’s permitted, and the arrangement is over. Eli, Mr. Morrison, Mrs. No-Longer will be notified today. You’ll be paid for the week, but there will be no more lessons.”
Fire shoots out of her glare, out of the manicured finger she’s boldly digging into my shoulder. “You.” Jab. “Can’t.” Jab. “Do.” Jab. “That.” Jab.
“Stop that.”
“What’s the matter, Colin Kutter? Can’t take a little poking from a woman?” Jab. “Am I hurting the big, bad asshole?” Jab.
I return her glare inch for inch. “I’m warning you…”
“Warn all you want. Makes no difference to me.”
“It’s a good thing we’re cutting off this arrangement because clearly, none of your lessons imparted the significance of finesse.”
She smiles, an entirely unpleasant one. “You’ll see exactly what your money has taught me in a couple of weeks.”
Good. I’m glad she brought up the celebration. “You’re not invited to Benny’s party, so you can just forget it.”
“You can’t do that. That’s… that’s uncultured!”
“I’ll be sure to make an arrangement with myself.”
Perfectly made-up eyes narrow at me. “I’m going, Colin, and you can’t stop me.”
The superior smirk takes over my expression. “How are you planning to do that? Consult a crystal ball?” Smug out of my mind, I fold my arms on my chest. “You don’t have any information on the event.”
“June twelfth. Eight o’clock.”
My arms and expression promptly drop. “Who told…” It hits me within seconds. “Eli. That party fucker.” I jerk a shoulder. “He neglected to mention where it’s held, or you would’ve thrown it in my face by now.”
“I can find out,” she retorts, just as haughty.
“As of this moment, the location is top secret.”
There. That ought to do it.
I don’t see it coming. She whirls, hair slapping my unsuspecting shirt, and takes off in a blink, zigzagging out of the room to disappear before I have a chance to process her intent. I don’t know what she’s up to, but I race after her, feet pounding up the floor.
She ignores the stairs and veers down the hallway, but I’m gaining fast. Her hassled breaths saw out of her and fuck if that doesn’t get me hard. That ass I admired from day one is exceptionally superb when it’s hustling.
“Get back here, Paige.” I don’t know why we’re dashing around my house. “Stop running.”
She swerves right into the study, attempting to fling the door shut behind her. My arm shoots out just in time to catch it, grabbing her in the process.
“You can’t stop me.” Her absurd taunt is accentuated by mad wriggling. “I bet the information is here somewhere.”
“I’m not trying to stop you,” I refute, holding on tight against her irritated wiggles. “I’m just making sure you don’t call an attorney after you slip and break your neck running around my home. Now would you stop jiggling? You’re making my man parts even happier.”
She instantly freezes.
Damn, why did I open my big mouth?
“You can let go now,” she says drily, finger poking at my forearm for emphasis. “I’m not going to break my neck or bother a lawyer.”
“Are you sure about that?” The rhetorical question was muffled against her hair. She smells too good, too tempting to resist. I’m no longer furious, her presence as jubilant on my mood as a condom on my dick. “Give me a minute to make sure.”
“Colin.”
“Um?” Deep inhale. My eager nose skates up her temple. She’s like those scratch and sniff stickers I used to stockpile as a kid and is just as blissfully addicting.
Her truly luscious ass presses against my upper thighs. “Your man parts are still very much happy.”
“Want to make them happier?”
The sexy squirming intensifies, sending my eager man parts into panting overdrive. “Are you still not inviting me to your brother’s party?”
I nearly groan. “You’re not playing fair.”
“Fair? What’s fair about any of this?” Her fingers drop, only to start hiking up her loose skirt. Face half turning up to me, she watches me with impossibly huge, seductive eyes. “Should we put it to the test?”
My sigh bounces on her skin and back at me. “No, Paige.” That actually hurt. Saying it. Knowing it. “We’re not doing this so you can score an invite.”
I let her go when she steps away from me.
Her gaze wanders as if she’s never been in the room before, as if this isn’t the spot where we reinvented our fates. The vague nonchalance would be innocent if not for the fact the sides of her skirt are bunched in her fists as she strolls to the desk.
“Doing what?” she asks, rounding the large furniture to face me from behind it. “Talking?”
“Doing me.”
A flash of a smile, lightning fast, pumping my veins with hot adrenalin. Taking her time, she wheels the chair several feet back on the rug before bending, sitting with that scrunched-up piece of clothing. One foot lifts, propping on the edge of the desk, followed by the other. She must’ve kicked off her shoes beneath the desk. Her hands fall to her lap as she relaxes back.
Smoking siren red panties. By her smug, all-knowing smirk, she’s not ashamed to use them.
Those bronze eyes seem to be glowing, mesmerizing. “We’re just talking, Colin.”
I’m stunned I’m still able to pull that off without slobbering all over myself. “Is that what you want to do?”
“I want you to come here.”
I gulp. “Why?”
“So I can wipe your chin, for one.”
I swipe at my dripping lower face. Shit. “Done.”
She feigns disappointment. “I was going to do that with my panties.”
“There’s more where that came from.” This is the most ridiculous dirty talk I’ve ever had the utmost pleasure of participating in. No complaints here, no, ma’am. “Plenty of it,” I boast.
“Why don’t you show me?” She taps the desk with her curled toes. “Right here, Colin.”
She’s bewitched me, that’s what’s happening, because I’m gliding on air now. The next thing I know, I have her slim ankle in my hand and I’m sliding home. Leaning against the desk, I’m front row center to the best view in the city.
“Here?” I ask, watching with fascination as her gaze lowers to my bulging, straining pants. “Or here?” I lower to my knees right between hers.
“That’s a good spot.”
I skim my palms up her smooth, inner thighs. My mouth follows. Up one, then the other, crossing over the damp, red lace. Her exhale flutters out, ruffling the top of my head seconds before fingers clutch at the strands.
“Paige?” My tongue flicks out at the edge of her panties. A glimpse up reveals she has her head thrown back, eyes closed. “The arrangement is over,” I murmur. This has to be clear.
She’s silent for a moment, her breasts rising and falling with rapid life. “I know.” Slowly, painfully, her lids lift as her head straightens. Her gorgeous eyes glow with an aching mixture of heat and disappointment. With resignation. “One last time?”
She means us. One last time.
It’s a good thing I’m already on my knees. I might have completely pussy-out and fallen on them. I push up until I’m face to face with her, until the dejected gaze is latching onto mine. She needs to see it, see my mouth as I utter the indisputable fact mere inches from hers. “Not. Even Close.”
It’s she who fuses her lips to mine, inhaling me until it’s certifiable I’m a part of her. Hungry, desperate, her tongue ravenous as it takes, takes, and takes.
My hands are on either side of her face as I ease her back, her wild exhales choppy over my skin. “Listen to me, Paige.” I smooth back her hair, my chest so tight, I fear I might not be able to get the words out. “You and me. You got my meaning? No arrangement. No wager. No dishonesties.” The air goes in hot at my inhale, flaming my lungs. “You and me,” I say again, harder this time. Engraved in granite. “I want you with me. And I want to be with you.”
The pink tongue darts out, nervous, flicking over her lips. Her eyes are massive as they watch me. “You mean like a couple?”
“Exactly like a couple.”
“What… what would we do?”
Don’t laugh.
That’s Paige’s potent effect on me. She infuriates, frustrates me one second, blazes me with lust the next, then teases me with humor. “You want me to draw you a picture?”
“I’d rather you show me.”
29
~ Paige ~
Oh, yes, this is a fantastic chair. Colin has the best furniture. Sturdy. Adaptable. Well-oiled. Roomy.
The best.
“You like that?” he huffs out, his heated exhales a hurried pant over my damp face. “You like that, sweetheart?”
My legs are obscenely thrown over the arms of the executive chair, sweaty fingers linked behind Colin’s corded neck as he roughly bounces me on his lap. I know I’m dripping all over his rock-hard thighs, but that seems to fuel his eagerness even more.
Me like. Me like very much.
Sweat runs down Colin’s temples, his expression set into hard lines of determination and agonizing pleasure. His face contorts into a grimace that I know now is him gravely holding back, trying not to pummel into me like he really wants.
This man. I don’t know whether to hug him or fuck him half of the time.
Actually, I do.
“Harder,” I cry. He does, nearly sending me to the ceiling if it weren’t for him gripping me with fingers of steel by the hips. “Oooooh. Yeah. Just… like… that.”
Every harsh, turbulent inch of him sinks in, forcing my needy muscles to stretch to impossible new depths. My butt slams onto his pumping thighs, loud, slippery skin spanking each other. I know that’s going to be a colorful canvas Colin will admire later.
“You’re perfect,” he hums. “Fucking perfect. Perfect woman. Perfect.”
So sweet.
If only he weren’t ogling my breasts jiggling all over the place as he chants that, likely wishing he had four hands so he could play with them and hold on to me at the same time.
“No,” I correct, fisting his hair so hard he’s gritting his teeth. “Not perfect.”
Hot eyes seize me, brand me inside out. Strong fingers tighten savagely. “You are to me. You always were.”
Oh, Colin, I want to croon. I don’t because I can’t seem to work up the needed energy. Instead, I envelop him, burying my face in his neck.
And screech as the chair plummets back to land with a resounding bang on the rug. Something heavy crashes a split second later just as Colin curses. Somehow he’s managed to defeat gravity to stay solidly inside me.
Such a talented man.
I’m plastered against him while he remains in the seat, albeit half off of it. Heaving up and off the poor man, I scoop my hair back to glance around in annoyed confusion. “What happened?”
“We broke the chair.” He doesn’t seem too concerned about that, too busy fondling my breasts. “Hm… these babies should come with a warning sign. Prolonged exposure may cause male brain damage.”
“I think it’s too late for you.”
Enthusiastic kneading ensues. One. The other. Both. “You might be rig—”
A brisk knock is the only warning we get before the door is sharply thrown open.
“Mr. Colin, I heard a… oh!” Marie’s urgency dies an abrupt, choked death. “I’m so sorry. I… I…”
I can’t see her face, but I imagine she’s as shocked red as I am.
At the terse intrusion, Colin yanked me within his protective arms. We’re partially hidden behind the desk, but I’m pretty sure Marie has an eyeful of me that wasn’t part of her benefits package.
“Get the fuck out of here,” he barks from below me. “Now!”
Awkward sputtering, followed by the quick but definitive click of the door.
I heft myself up a second time so I can give Colin a proper eye glare. “You know, she can sue you for sexual harassment in the workplace.”
Colin is instantly indignant. “I never came on to her.”
“I meant for having to put up with us in your sex study.”
“Hey, she barged in. I should be suing her.” Palms skid up over my back. “You okay?”
I wiggle my hips. “How is it possible you’re still hard? And inside me?”
Deliberately, his feverish gaze fixes on mine, resolute and unbreakable. His dark eyes pummel me with intensity. “You have to ask? Where else would I be when I’m hard but inside you?”
I’m stuffed to capacity with Colin Kutter. Everywhere. In my chest, my throat, my mind. He might not be full of pretty love poems or extravagant flowers, but he knows just what to say to me to make me burst with life.
Leaning in, I let him know with my lips exactly how special I feel when I’m with him.
Rome warned me about not giving Colin my heart. How can I possibly not? It pumps vigorously whenever he’s near.
30
~ Colin ~
It’s been several days of stewing in curbed anger, and I want to know exactly why Damian lied to me. I tried to convince myself it didn’t matter, that he’ll likely concoct whatever farfetched scenario he thinks will make him look less of a sly ass, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t change the fact he deliberately misled me. The whole idiotic wager was his idea, and when it blew up in my face, Damian was the shoulder Paige cried on? Fuck that. That son of a dildo isn’t getting off that easily.
