Protecting His Interests Read online

  Grabbing Gabe’s arm, I stared down my former mentor. “I’m sorry, but Gabe and I have an agreement,” I said, echoing her former statement. “He only deals directly with me.”

  “Very well,” Bridget said, rolling her eyes. “You can come, if you must.”

  Henri coughed and dotted his temple with his handkerchief. “Is it hot in here?”

  “Are you okay?” Gabe asked Henri.

  “It’s nothing, I’m sure.” He cleared his throat and patted his forehead with his napkin. “I don’t think those mini quiches quite agree with me.”

  “You always did have a delicate stomach, didn’t you?” Bridget asked.

  I frowned. In our two years of dating, I didn’t ever remember Henri having a “delicate stomach.” It seemed as if Bridget knew more about my former boyfriend than I did.

  “Pardon me. I think Rocco wants me to meet his new friends,” Edgar said.

  “It seems he does,” Bridget said as she smirked at Rocco, who was waving wildly in their direction. “Perhaps I should go with you. I’d love to meet—”

  “There’s no need.”

  Before Bridget could reply, Edgar had left our group and started toward his date. Henri coughed once more and seemed to pale before my eyes.

  I glanced at Gabe, who had eaten his fair share of the appetizer. He looked perfectly fine to me.

  “Maybe you should sit down for a while,” Gabe suggested.

  “No, no, I’ll be fine,” he said as he pocketed his handkerchief. “In fact, I’m feeling a little better already.”

  “Good.” Bridget smiled and slid her arm into his. “Come, Henri, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

  “Of course.”

  Bridget dragged him in the opposite direction of Edgar and Rocco and they were quickly swallowed up by the crowd. As soon as they were out of earshot, Gabe let out a long breath.

  “That was rather uncomfortable.”

  I looked down at the card. Professionally made, the invitation was for a meeting back at this mansion at the end of the art convention. I wondered who else had gotten the card, and what kind of business dealings went on behind closed doors. I had lost a handful of clients in the past year, all of them claiming to have their collection complete. Part of me wondered if their excuses were true, or if Bridget had been manipulating them behind the scenes. I guess there was only one way to find out.

  “You look like you could use some air,” Gabe said.

  “Yeah, I think you’re right.” Seeing Henri arrive with Bridget tonight cast our entire relationship in a new light. How long had he been working with Bridget? Had the entire thing been a ploy to destroy me after I broke away from Bridget and set out on my own?

  Bridget was known for holding grudges. Her temper was just as legendary in the art world as her business dealings. I wondered what lengths she’d go to just to hurt me. Telling the art world about Gabe’s job would be too easy for her. It wasn’t her style. No, Bridget would find another, more subtle way to humiliate me. While Gabe didn’t seem to return her affections, he was an escort. Whoever paid the fee could have him at their mercy for one night. Bridget knew this, and I wouldn’t put it past her to hire him as her date just to see me squirm.

  “Come on. Let’s get out of here.” Gabe steered me through the sliding glass doors and out onto the deck. As we left the noise and congestion, he tugged me closer, as if he was protecting me from the rest of the party. In the safety of his arm, we talked to other members of the art community, and I even received a few requests for private showings. As time went on, I started to recover from Bridget’s assault. As he left to get me something from the buffet table, I replayed the encounter with Bridget in my mind and realized that Gabe had lied for me, claiming that we were not only a couple but that I personally oversaw the building of his art collection. He had single-handedly saved my reputation in front of my rival, and I was too preoccupied to appreciate what he had done.

  “You didn’t have to do all of that for me,” I said when he returned.

  Gabe smiled and handed me a small plate of food. “Do what?”

  “Lie in front of Bridget.”

  He winked and popped another mini quiche in his mouth. “I know, but it looked as if that woman needed to be taken down a peg or two.”

  That wink could melt the panties off a nun. No girl was immune to it in high school, and I certainly wasn’t immune to it now. I thought back to my conversation with Violet, and how she had urged me to have a little fun.

  It’s just one night, Scarlett. All throughout the night, Gabe had made me feel desirable and confident again. It had been a long time since anyone had made me feel that way. Even now, I could feel the jealousy of the women around us. Gabe was so attentive, so caring. Not once tonight had anyone asked me about my breakup with Henri. Thanks to Gabe, my ex was yesterday’s news, and I was becoming more popular by the minute.

  “Aren’t you going to eat anything?”

  “I’m not hungry.” Not for food, anyway. Throughout the evening, he had been considerate, attentive, and humorous. As promised, he had hung on my every word and seemed to know just what to say to make me look like a superstar in the art world. Listening to him, I couldn’t help but think about high school, and how good we were together. He was just as smart as he was back then, and just as thoughtful. It was hard to reconcile the escort bio on the Web site with the man standing before me.

  “I find that hard to believe. You used to eat twice as much as I did in high school.”

  “I told you, I never eat at these things. I’m too nervous.”

  He frowned and placed both his plate and mine on a side table. “Don’t tell me you’re still nervous. You really rocked it with the old couple.”

  I snorted at his reference to the O’Rileys as an “old couple.” They were wonderful artists and dear friends. They also seemed to be very taken with Gabe.

  “You might have helped a little.”

  “Me? Nah. That was all you.”

  “I saw how Ms. O’Riley looked at you.”

  He shook his head. “She was just being polite.”

  I smirked and hooked my arm with his. “Hardly.” Things were going better than expected. Gabe was naturally charismatic, and people responded to his upbeat and positive personality. It had been the same way while we were dating, and as the evening wore on, it became more and more difficult to remember that this was all an act. We were different people now. Whatever we had shared all of those years ago had died when he left for the police academy and I left for New York.

  Yet, despite knowing all of this, I couldn’t help but miss the person I had been in high school. In one night, Gabe had reminded me of how confident and adventurous I had been in back then. Somewhere along the way, that side of me had become buried in deadlines and art deals. It was nice to experience her once more. Now, as we stood in front of the food table, I realized that I was reluctant to let that side of me go. Have some fun, no strings attached.

  “I was wondering if you could do me a favor.” I steered him away from the front door and down one of the long halls of the mansion.

  “What?”

  “You’ll see.” We walked away from the crowd, away from the prying eyes of the gossip mongers and socialites.

  “Where are we going?” he asked as we stopped in front of a door.

  Flicking my wrist, I turned the knob and stepped into Rocco Morales’s extensive library. Large bookshelves framed heavily draped windows and sat on top of oriental rugs that were no doubt outrageously expensive. I kicked the door shut and dragged him to one of the oversized armchairs.

  “Scarlett—”

  Turning, I pushed on his shoulders until he fell back onto the chair.

  “What are you doing?”

  “What does it look like I’m doing?” I dropped to my knees and reached for his zipper.

  “There’s a crowd right outside.” He covered my hands, but not before I could feel the large bulge in his pants.


  I looked up at him and smiled. “So?”

  “So?” He eased my hand away from his cock and laced our fingers together. “Look, I know who I am, what I’ve become. It doesn’t mean that you have to—”

  “Oh.” I pulled my hand from his and stood. “You don’t want to have sex with me. I get it. I just thought . . .” Embarrassed, I curled my arms around my middle and turned my back to him so he couldn’t see the pained expression on my face. God, how could I be so stupid? “We should just go.”

  “Wait.” He grabbed my arm, stopping me from leaving. “Scarlett, look at me.”

  I blinked back the tears forming in my eyes and looked up at him.

  “Shit.” He dropped my arm and pushed his hair back from his face. “Things weren’t supposed to happen like this.” He steeled his jaw for a moment as he searched my face. “Believe me, I want to. I’m just not supposed to get physical with anyone. It’s a company policy.”

  “It’s okay. I get it.” My voice didn’t sound too convincing. Probably because I didn’t really believe him. I mean, he was an escort for crying out loud. Was he really going to stand there and tell me that he never got physical with any of his clients? Ever?

  It was probably just some stupid line he gave all the girls he didn’t want to fuck. I was such an idiot.

  “Scarlett . . .”

  “No.” I held up my hand and stepped away from his touch. “I just want to go home, Gabe, okay? It’s been a long night.”

  “It has nothing to do with you, I swear.”

  “I know.” Turning my back to him, I started toward the door.

  “No.” He grabbed my arm and turned me around to face him. “I don’t think you do know.”

  Before I could react, he leaned forward and captured my lips with his own.

  This kiss was different from the one before. Back in the limo, Gabe was gentle, almost caring. Now his testosterone-filled movements overwhelmed my senses.

  Sliding my arms up, I wrapped them around his shoulders and threaded them through his hair. With a growl, he tilted his head and invaded my mouth, kissing me like a man possessed. I rubbed my hips up against his, groaning as I felt his hard erection press up against my lower abdomen. Seconds later, he broke the kiss on a gasp and snaked his arms around my waist.

  “I will always want you, Scarlett, don’t ever forget that.” He kissed me once more, and I groaned as my desire surged up and threatened to swallow me whole.

  Chapter Four

  Gabe

  I shifted my head and began kissing a long, hot trail down her neck. So many nights I had dreamed of this moment. Alone in my room, I could pretend that we had never parted, that there wasn’t so much unsaid between us. I knew that this was a rare opportunity, and I was determined not to waste a second of it.

  She threaded her fingers into my hair and tugged me closer. I lingered at the base of her neck, flicking my tongue over that sensitive spot that I knew would drive her wild. Then I made my way down to the swell of her breasts. I cupped one, pushing it up so that the upper curve bulged from her clothes. Lovely. I ran my tongue over her skin and dipped it in the valley between her breasts.

  “Gabe.” Her voice sounded like music to my ears. As the world around us faded away, I was transported back to high school, before my father’s cancer, back when Scarlett was mine.

  I ran my fingers over her nipple and felt it harden despite the fabric between us. She groaned and tightened her grip on my head. My cock pressed against my zipper and a sense of urgency welled up in my core.

  “Scarlett,” I whispered against her skin.

  “Gabe . . . Stop. Please.”

  I paused and looked up at her in confusion. “Is something wrong?”

  “Yes.” She stepped out of my embrace and pushed me back toward the couch. “But I know just how to fix it.”

  I sank into the soft cushions as she fell to her knees and eased herself between my legs.

  “Scarlett, I told you, I’m on the clock—”

  “I won’t tell if you won’t.” She offered me a seductive smile. “It will be our little secret.”

  She had a point, and knowing that it was forbidden just made it more exciting.

  “Okay, but don’t make too much noise. We don’t want to attract attention.”

  “I’m not the one you need to worry about.” She pulled down the zipper to my pants. My aching cock pushed up through the fabric, eager for her touch. She slid her fingers over my length and eased me out from the confines of my clothes.

  With a groan, I reached out and brushed her hair from her face. She tightened her grip and tugged, sliding her slender fingers along my shaft. Her touch was amazing. Soft and feminine, but with enough pressure to make me hard all over. As I pushed back her hair with my fingers, anticipation built, and my mind filled with all of the ways I wanted to make her fall apart in my arms.

  It had been many years since we fumbled around in the backseat of my car. Now, watching her, I couldn’t help but think how she’d react if I showed her some of the things I had learned over the years. There were so many unique ways to worship a woman in the bedroom. I wanted to try them all with her but knew that for the moment, all she wanted to do was to be in control.

  She moistened her lips and flicked her tongue over the tip of my cock. I groaned and tightened my grip on her hair.

  “Fuck.” I widened my legs and moistened my lips as she pushed her sweet lips down my shaft. Nothing had ever felt so pleasurable, or so hot. “Scarlett.”

  If she continued this for much longer, I was going to explode in her mouth. It wasn’t something that I was ready for—yet.

  She groaned and tightened her grip on my shaft. Using her free hand, she brushed her fingers against my balls. Her light, fluttering touch sent bolts of electricity through my core.

  “You like that, don’t you?” I said. “You like taking control.”

  She moaned and quickened her movements, filling me with an urgent need.

  Pulling away from my cock, she straightened and straddled my legs with her thighs. “Do you have a condom?” she asked.

  I blinked and tried to clear the erotic fog in my head. “Do I . . . do I what?”

  “A condom.” She pulled the pins from the twist in her hair and shook her head. The hypnotic movement of her hair around her shoulders caused me to lose my train of thought.

  “Men.” She leaned over and opened her clutch. After rummaging around, she pulled out a small package. “Here.”

  “I can do that.” I reached for the condom, but she held it out of my grasp.

  “Allow me.” She tore open the package. After briefly waving the condom between us, she tossed the wrapper on the floor and placed the circle of rubber in her mouth.

  “What are you doing?”

  She slid off my lap and got on her knees.

  “Scarlett—”

  She ignored my halfhearted protest and gripped the base of my shaft. I held my breath and watched her move her lips toward the tip of my cock.

  Oh, the things this woman could do with her mouth. I felt the rubber press my flesh, then her tongue against my head. I gasped and dug my fingers into the sofa as she slid her lips slowly down my length, unwrapping the condom as she moved.

  “Where did you learn to do that?” I asked as she finished and climbed back up into my lap.

  “YouTube.” She reached between us and positioned my cock at her opening.

  Evidently, I was watching the wrong Internet videos.

  Anticipation rippled through me as she lowered her hips over my length. She was so hot, so wet. Grabbing her hips, I closed my eyes and pushed my hips up off the cushions, meeting her halfway. When I felt her ass press against my hips, I slid my hands around to her lower back and tugged her toward my mouth. As I thrust my tongue between her lips, I lowered us back down onto the sofa.

  “Oh God. You feel so good,” I whispered as we came up for air.

  “You do, too.” Bracing her hands on my shou
lders, she moved her hips up and down, making those sweet feminine noises that were like music to my ears.

  I eased my fingers around to her front and palmed her breasts, enjoying how firm and round they felt. Squeezing, I watched her bounce up and down on my cock, taking in the lovely sight before me. Fire burned through my body, and a sense of urgency burned through my core.

  “Yes.” She straightened and placed her hands over mine. “Oh God, yes.”

  “Scarlett.” I felt the need to give back a little of what she was offering me. I wanted to show her everything I had learned, to please her in every way possible. I pushed her hands away and dragged the top of her dress down, exposing her nipple. She slowed her movements as I leaned forward and took her into my mouth. She tasted sweet, like berries. After flicking my tongue over her sensitive tip, I lightly scraped my teeth against her skin, causing her to gasp.

  “Oh God.” She ran her fingers over my shoulders and back, holding me close as her pussy tightened around my cock.

  She tasted so sweet, so perfect. I rolled her tight nipple in my mouth and quickly moved to the other breast, eager for more. When she started moving quicker, I was forced to retreat and watch her lose herself in the moment. Tension built, and as the familiar tingling raced across my lower spine, I slid my hands down her waist and urged her to go faster.

  “I’m going to come,” she whispered.

  I dug my fingers into her skin and thrust up into her core. Leaning back, I used the edge of the couch for leverage as our bodies came together as one. Pressure built through my body, making my muscles more rigid by the second. She braced her weight on my shoulders and came down harder on my hips, her voice rising higher with each thrust.

  No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t thrust hard enough, or push deep enough. She was giving me so much of herself, but still I wanted more.

  Then her pussy tightened, and I watched in awe as she threw her head back in bliss. Grinding my teeth, I tried to hold myself back as euphoria blanketed her features, and her muscles began to relax.

  I thrust a few more times, allowing her to enjoy the ecstasy rolling through her body, then turned us so I could ease her down onto the cushions of the couch. When her head hit the cushions, she opened her eyes and looked up at me with a dazed expression on her face.