No, Lana’s problem was that she talked herself into a pit of self-doubt. This wasn’t the first time Ken saw it happen, and he figured it wouldn’t be the last before they said their goodbyes at the end of the conference. If she doesn’t want a relationship, then why is she getting hung up on things? Ah, maybe she wanted a relationship…
Ken had to admit that he was disappointed to hear her brush off the idea so brusquely. Sure, it would be difficult to date and further get to know each other living in separate cities, but Ken wasn’t bothered by it. He always figured that the right woman would be worth any obstacles. The fact he put Lana in the contender class for the right woman after only knowing her for three days made this date even more important.
They held hands as they walked down Fifth Avenue toward Ken’s apartment. Sure, it was possible that someone from the conference may be out and recognize them, but Ken didn’t care. It wasn’t a point of pride to be seen with a woman like Lana now. It was a point of ownership, of showing her off to other men who might be thinking about more than business with her.
“See this woman here?” he would say to any man from another agency. “She’s mine. You can hire her, but know that she comes home to me every night. That’s right. Me. Do you want to mess with me? I didn’t think so.” His hand slipped out of hers and around her midsection. The closer he held her to him, the closer he felt their hearts beating in sync.
“We’re here,” he said with a quick kiss to her cheek. “Third location’s the charm.”
“The charm for what?” At least she was laughing again. A bubbly laugh like that deserved to be heard all the time. “Last I checked we had a pretty damn good record.”
Ken nodded to his doorman, who held the front entrance open. “Oooh, you said one of my favorite words.”
“What’s that?”
“Deed.”
“You’re a fiend.”
“Why, thank you.” Ken was glad to lead that grin into the executive elevator.
If Lana was impressed by his hotel and restaurant, he hoped she would be blown away by his Fifth Avenue apartment. While he didn’t boast a penthouse – he didn’t see much investment potential in that, currently – he did have a fantastic view, and the insulation was equally superb. Not a single one of his neighbors was ever going to hear what he got up to in his bedroom.
Sure enough, Lana darted straight from the entrance to his living room windows. The New York skyline had to look almost mythical to anyone not used to it. Is she thinking this is the kind of place she wants to live? Is she so entranced she doesn’t remember where she is? Ken dumped his keys and wallet in a glass bowl by the front entrance. He then cautiously approached Lana, who was still wearing her blazer, and all those other unfortunate clothes too.
“This could be yours one day.” He embraced her from behind, careful to not startle her while still fulfilling his desires to hold her close to him. Lana smelled of a large, hot, lavender bath that Ken was eager to climb into. I am definitely climbing into her tonight. Three times the night before was not enough. He had only been thwarted by biology. Otherwise, he would’ve kept fucking her until daylight came again. “I mean the view, that is. Play your cards right and you’ll have a home like this.”
“I thought my apartment back home was nice.” Lana leaned back into his embrace, arms covering his. Her head rested on his shoulder. Ken soon forgot what his view looked like as he became too involved with the nape of her neck. He hoped Lana understood what he wanted. Now.
This woman was quickly becoming the end of him. No matter how controlled he was in the realm of the world, deep inside he was as convoluted and losing his senses as the base common man. From the moment he first shook Lana’s hand, he knew there was something special about her. Something otherworldly. The first kiss completely destroyed him, even if he didn’t know it at the time. While he had kissed many beautiful people before, Lana was her own brand of diabolical and delicious. He felt like he was kissing a queen.
No, a goddess.
Those other bastards wouldn’t know how to treat her. Lana wasn’t impressed by cock grabbing and money thrown at her. She could go out hunting for cock and make her own money whenever she wanted. So far, the things that seemed to impress her most were worshipping her for the deity she was while quietly proving his own net-worth. Because Lana had definitely been surprised (and impressed) by the properties he owned. Why? It wasn’t because of the money he currently held. That couldn’t be it. Perhaps there were some unknown goals lurking within that bright brain of hers.