When he kissed me, a frisson of desire passed between us. It surprised me and I moaned softly, my mouth opening to him. He nibbled along my lips before tangling his tongue with mine. I melted against him, my body limp in his arms.
I broke the kiss. My arms pushed against his chest. The little voice of reason screamed at me. What was I doing? Was I crazy?
David looked at me with a surprised expression. “Carrie?”
“I have to go. I’m sorry, I need time to think. After everything that’s happened with Richard and now you. I just need some time to get my head straight.”
David sighed and released me from his grip. I could see the disappointment in his eyes, as though I had just failed some sort of test. But I couldn’t help it. I did need time to think. I needed to get as far away from David as I possibly could and sort things out in my head.
“Fine. But I won’t wait very long for you. If you don’t come back by tomorrow morning then that is it. My offer is off the table.”
“Offer?” Was this the business proposal he had spoken of?
“When you return—if you return—then I have a proposition for you. But not until you return. I need you to be sure, Carrie. I don’t want someone who will flake out on me at the last moment or when they’re a little unsure about something. I need someone who wants to be here. Who wants what I can give them. I thought that was you. But we’ll see.” He turned his back on me and moved away.
I had failed some sort of test and now here I was caught up in another one. How did I get myself into these predicaments?
Once more I closed my coat and headed for the door. His voice made me pause.
“I’ll have my car bring you home.” His voice was cold and he never looked at me as he spoke. It was as though he was mentally withdrawing from me already. I turned and opened the door but he was there first, his hand closing over mine. He wrapped his arms around my body and lifted me from the floor.
“I haven’t forgotten that you have no shoes.” He carried me from his apartment and down to the elevator.
“David.”
He shot me a cold look before I could get the rest of my sentence out. I sealed my lips together and he held me in silence as the lift travelled down. Upon reaching the ground floor I expected to be shamed as people coming in and out of the apartment building saw me in my dishevelled state. But when the doors opened I was relieved to discover we were in the underground car park.
David carried me to the car. The engine was already idling and the driver didn’t seem fazed by David carrying me out of the building only hours before he had carried me in. The driver held the door and David slid me in across the seat.
I looked up into his eyes but he was completely shut down. I couldn’t see any flicker of emotion as he fixed the coat around my thighs. I was his secretary once again. No more and no less.
He closed the door and watched as the driver got in behind the wheel.
“I’m going to—”
“I know, ma’am.” The driver cut me off before I could share my address. Colour mounted my cheeks as I sat back against the cold leather. No doubt he thought I was some type of one night stand that David had picked up.
Well, isn’t that what you are? the little voice in my mind piped up. I couldn’t deny it. It was right. I was little more than a one night stand but it was my fault it had gone this way. If I had just kept my mouth shut. If I had crushed my doubts and fears down inside me then this wouldn’t be happening. I could have enjoyed what he was willing to offer me and been happy. For once in my life I could have had what I wanted and been happy. But my stupid insecurities had to get in the way.
I stared out the window as the city passed by. I needed to decide what I wanted. And if I wanted any hope of having anything with David then I needed to do it before tomorrow morning.
CHAPTER SIX
The car pulled up to the curb and the driver hurried around to my door. Gingerly I put my bare feet on the ground. It was cold but at least it looked kind of clean.
“Thank you,” I said, my voice barely more than a whisper.
“Just doing my job.” The driver’s voice was cold and aloof. No doubt he saw plenty of women come and go from David’s apartment.
I hurried inside and up the stairs. Once I reached my own apartment and discovered it to be safely locked just as it had been left, I was relieved. Entering the apartment I scanned each room. It seemed Richard had not returned.
I peeled the coat off and immediately climbed into the shower. The warm water ran down over my skin washing David’s scent from my body. My thighs were sticky and I scrubbed at them with soap. David had been the first man to ever cum inside me. He had said he was marking me. Marking me as his. Luckily I didn’t have to worry about any unplanned side effects. The little pill I took every evening saw to that.
But still it had to mean something. Or was it something he told every woman he took to bed? Tears ran down my face and mingled with the water. Even the shower reminded me of him. The way he had held me. Cuffed my hands before pushing into me.
And then when it was over. The way he had spun me around and kissed me. My lips tingled at the thought of his kiss. Everything about him screamed that he was wrong for me and yet there was a part of me that felt differently. If I ignored my better judgement and went to him. If I let him own me, was I really making such a huge mistake? I had never once had these sorts of thoughts or feelings where Richard was concerned, or any other guy for that matter. What made David Ashcroft so damned special?
Climbing out of the shower, my apartment buzzer made me jump. The shrill sound grated against my building headache. Who the hell was here at this time of the morning?
Grabbing my robe I pulled it tight around my body and ran to the door. I pressed the answer button. “Who is it?” My voice was breathless. I used the towel I was holding to dry off the wettest areas of my hair before it dripped all over the floor.
“I’m not sure if you remember me from last night. I didn’t get to give you my name. I’m Robert. Robert Hatcher. I helped you leave the club and find a cab?”
My heart sped up. How the hell had he found me? And what was he doing here?
“Yeah...” I wasn’t sure what to say. What did you say to some guy you had a fleeting conversation with who turned up on your doorstep?
“Look, I don’t mean to be weird or anything. It’s just you seemed really upset last night and I just wanted to make sure you were alright.”
He sounded kind and very genuine and when I thought about the smile he had, it softened my initial reaction.