“Sit.” He pulls the chair out and I jump. I didn’t even realize he was back.
He’s standing next to me with a plate of food and I see a peace in his eyes that I don’t remember seeing before. I let myself drift into a world where we could be together. A day when no one will care who we used to be to each other. Who my mother is or who Pike is to the outside world. Not this man, this Lord Tower that stands next to me right now.
If I’m being realistic and honest then I should say there’s no future here, shouldn’t I? It’s madness to believe otherwise. A future life for me and my former stepfather?
No.
Absolutely not.
Madness doesn’t even begin to describe it.
And yet I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.
I belong to this man.
C H A P T E R S E V E N
PIKE
As their limo eases
away from the front of the club, a black hole opens again inside of me. I want her here, next to me, not somewhere else. One taste wasn’t enough, it only served to remind me of what I was missing. I’m more insatiable now than I’ve ever been.
I make my way back through the club. It’s nearly 2:00 AM but the evening is just getting started for most of my patrons. The sounds of flesh being smacked, of orgasms being drawn forth, mix with the music and chatter as the elevator doors close and the silence finally envelops me.
“Good evening, Sir. You’re tea is ready, and——”
“Thank you, Vexxie, that is all.” Her eyes widen at my sharp tone, but she backs away into the elevator without another word and I drop into my desk chair, pulling a silver key from the inner pocket of my black jacket. I work it into the keyhole on the top drawer of the dark carved wood, and when I hear the click I jerk it open.
Inside is my phone. I don’t carry it usually. I’m not married to it when I’m here at the club as I am at other times. This is a time and place apart, when I give my business persona a reprieve, when I allow myself to sink into this other world, to recharge, even though I’ve not participated in the physical enjoyments of the lifestyle for years. I still tune out from the pressures of my business. Keeping my phone locked away is one of the small joys I take in my time here.
But tonight I break my own rule. I pull it out and tap the screen, opening up the phone book and adding Willow’s number. Then I pull up a text screen and start punching out a hasty message.
Me: Let me know as soon as you are back at your apartment.
I hit send and wait. My need to know where she is and if she’s safe consumes me.
Five minutes pass and I’m starting to pace the room. The fire is dying and I grip my phone and plant my feet, fighting the urge to have my own car brought around so I can go to the apartment and see if she’s there.
Just as I take a step to my desk, ready to call for my driver, my phone vibrates in my hand.
Willow: I’m home. Thanks for the dinner.
Thanks for the dinner? The dinner?
I don’t know whether to laugh or throw my phone across the room.
Me: Willow. Do you know what happened tonight?
More waiting. Then I see the three little dots start to strum at the bottom of my screen and just knowing she’s typing something back to me sends my heart rate soaring. My dick is hard. I’m losing my mind, anticipating what her reply will be.
Willow: I’m not sure what that was that happened tonight. I’m feeling very strange about it all, Pike.
I hate that she used my name. That’s not who I am to her. Not anymore. The fury rising up within me isn’t logical. It’s not appropriate, but that doesn’t dilute the intensity, not one bit.
Me: Who am I?
I wait.