Inky (26 page)

“I should’ve been an actor.” I sighed.

“That seems like it would’ve been a huge waste of your artistic talent.”

“Maybe. Although at one point I was pretty sure I was gonna throw up.”

His laughter filled the car. “Well, all I know is, I was very impressed. I wish I’d met you years ago. It would’ve made all these events so much more tolerable.”

“Thank you. I’ll take that as a huge compliment.”

“Why do you go at all? I mean, I know you aren’t comfortable there, in that environment.”

“I go because my mom and Olaf go. But more than that, every now and then, I network with some of the wealthy and suggest that they look at certain causes or charities. They all think I’m a bleeding-heart do-gooder but I’m well liked and also pitied for having Richard Carlyle as a father. I honestly try to give back, not through guilt, but by example. When someone asks what I’ve been up to, I tell them I spoke to so and so who runs this organization that aids…whatever…and by the end of the conversation I’ve planted a seed. Maybe less than half the time, that person might mention it to someone and make a donation or enquire about it. Whether I like it or not, I’m an only child. At least when I do inherit, I’ll have paved the way to be known as a decent human being and not the megalomaniac that my father is known as.”

I thought it was amazing he hadn’t bought a gold-plated yacht and sailed around the world until he ran out of food, or got tired of the naked women. I was about to commend him, but Cole was staring out the window, a million miles away. Strange to think that only moments before we were laughing. I’d been wondering what would trigger his dark side and I’d just come face to face with Darth Vader.

“We’re here.” I urged gently, “come on.” He opened the front door but I led the way and took him out to the deck. “I’ll get us a couple of beers. You sit tight, cowboy.” I knew what I needed to ask. We’d kind of made a pact. I had no intention of breaking his heart and I was fairly confident he wouldn’t break mine either. I needed to know how to help him when he got dark. I wanted to help him move through this shadow.

“Here ya go.” I said, handing him a beer. “Cheers.” We clinked our bottles together but still he was silent. He leaned back onto the chaise that paralleled my own and took a long pull. “Cole?”

“Hmm?”

“Give me your hand.” I put my beer and my feet down to the side and faced him, taking his hand and pushing the sleeve up to expose his wrist. I gently kissed him there, brushing my lips across his pain. “He’s your trigger?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Do you get anxiety attacks like I do?”

“Not anymore. I used to. Now I get this.”

“Look at me, Cole.” He turned his head toward me and, even though we were only lit by the moon, I could see the tears on his face.

“I’m so sorry, Anika. I’m usually better at hiding it.”

“Well, there’s your mistake right there. You shouldn’t have to hide anything from someone who says they care about you. Life is messy, Cole. Remember? You show me your fucked-up side and I’ll show you mine?” I laughed lightly.

“This was unexpected. I didn’t want to be like this with you. I want to help you. You shouldn’t be in this position.”

“Well, for the first time ever, I’m not afraid of what I’m gonna have to expose of myself in a relationship. Maybe this is what I needed in order to feel safe. Maybe, you’re what I needed.” As soon as I said the words, I knew I meant every single one of them. I was falling in love with someone I barely knew and I couldn’t wait.

“Are you sure? Because I’ve been quite sure about you for some time now.” He put his feet down to the sides and faced me. “Anything I’ve said to you in the short time we’ve known each other…I’ve meant every single word.”

“Well, I have a little surprise for you then. I keep my word too.” I stood up before him, my stomach facing his head. “Give me your hand.” I guided him under my dress, between my legs until his fingers brushed my pubic hair.”

“You were like this all night?” He brightened.

“All night.”

“You mean I could’ve had this in the car?”

“Well, maybe not on the way there with your mother sitting right across from us but on the way back, sure.”

He slid a finger inside me. “You are so wet.”

“For some reason, sparring with Satan got me all fired up.”

“I want to make you scream, Anika.” He said, adding another finger.

“Ah…I know you will, but I have something for you first. We won’t be interrupted, right?”

“No” he said, removing his hand at my urging. I moved the chaise lounges so they were facing each other.

“Sit back.” I ordered.

“Getting bossy again, are we?” I watched in awe as his brows rose and his small smile grew wide.

“Yes. Don’t take your eyes off me.” I leaned down to kiss him, licking his lips as I pulled away. “Only think about me, and your hands on me.” I could feel his dark mood passing.

“Yes Ma’am.”

I stood up and faced him, pulling the hidden zipper on the side and moving the one sleeve over my shoulder. I held the shimmering dress away from me and moved it down my body to reveal I was wearing nothing underneath. Luckily the dress had plenty of support. I would save the beautiful lingerie Anthony brought for another day. I heard Cole draw a quick breath through his teeth as I kicked the garment to the side, keeping the heels on. As demurely as I could, I leaned back onto the chaise and faced him with my legs together and let my hands begin exploring my body. I’d always had exhibitionist tendencies (to be clear though, a stranger is one thing but someone I knew as an onlooker would be quite another) and this was something Evan would never have the patience to let me do. He would’ve rushed me and pounced on me. Gerry would’ve come in his pants and anyone else I’d been with wouldn’t have been worthy. This was intimate and I knew Cole would appreciate me sharing it with him.

I began at the sides of my face, hands sprawled, allowing my pinkies to tug at my bottom lip. I sucked on one and let the other hand fall between my breasts and travel up my side to brush lightly across each nipple as I went. Taking my wet pinkie, I swirled it around my nipple until I felt the already taut flesh tighten even more at the extra sensation. I began to squeeze and pinch both, arching my neck. My eyes closed, letting myself be free in the moment, I moved both hands to my thighs and opened my legs for my audience of one. I pulled my lower lips apart, exposing my sex to him completely. Holding myself open with my fingers in a V, I slid my other hand against the wetness and began to rub myself, moaning as I massaged the sensitive bud. It wasn’t staged or premeditated in any way, I just went with it. All I could think about and focus on was Cole inside me, moving against me. In the height of my abandon I opened my eyes, hoping beyond all hope that he would be pleased. His pants were open and he was stroking himself while he watched me. “Do you want me to finish, or would you like the honor?” I asked.

“I would be honored to watch you.” His low voice cracked as he spoke.

“Talk to me, Cole. Tell me how you want me to do it.”

“Dip your middle finger inside…”

I did as he instructed.

“That’s it. Now move it to your clit again and tell me how it feels.”

“It feels…great.” I was finding it difficult to concentrate and answer at the same time.

“More, Anika. Tell me more.” He demanded.

“It feels like I don’t have enough hands. Like my body is missing something vital. It misses you. It wants you to see how much it needs you. When I touch myself, I wish it was your touch.”

“Put two fingers inside.”

“Please…” I begged. The way he spoke and the words he used, I wanted him more than ever.

I felt him move to my feet, straddling the end of the chaise. He was stroking his cock harder and hissing between his teeth. “Come for me. Come for me so I can put my cock in you and fuck you hard and finally make you scream, Anika. Come for me.”

His words were like fire igniting my flesh. I came at his urging and as soon as the first shudders of my orgasm began, he thrust himself into me, hard and deep.

“Ah, Cole, yes…please, please.” I felt the second wave begin as he rammed against me, his sweat dripping onto my face as we came together. He cried out my name, almost a roar and I’d never heard anything more erotic and sexy in my life. I wasn’t sure if I did indeed scream but it was beyond amazing.

He collapsed against me, panting and breathless. “God, what you to do me. How did you know I’d like that?”

“Lucky guess?” I replied trying to catch my breath. We lay like that, together until our breathing slowed.

“Come upstairs.” He said. “I have another surprise for you.” He gently eased himself out of me and rose from the chaise, picking up the dress as he went.

“You really need to slow down with the surprises, Cole. I’ll get spoiled and then I’ll either expect them or not appreciate them when they do happen.” I couldn’t imagine ever getting used to anything he did. He stopped abruptly and pulled into his arms.

“No, Anika. I know you’ll never expect it.” He slipped out of his jacket and pulled it around me. “You’ll always appreciate it because you’re different. Come on. You’ll like it, I hope.” I followed him through the house and up the stairs to the bedroom. “On the counter in the bathroom, you’ll find a box. I would like you to put the contents of the box on and come upstairs when you’re ready.”

“You mean to the little room with the easel?”

“The very one.” He smiled. “Take your time.” I started into the bathroom and closed the door as he loosened his tie and threw it onto the bed.

On the counter was a box and an envelope. I opened it to find a note from Anthony.

Dear Anika,

I hope the evening went well. It was nice to meet a real person. I bet Mrs. C. loved you. I thought you should know, I didn’t choose these. Cole asked me to pick these up this morning, before the event was confirmed. He has good taste and I’m sure you’ll be beautiful in them.

See you soon,

Anthony

With some trepidation, I opened the box and removed something flimsy, wrapped expertly in tissue paper. I opened one to find a gorgeous robe in a gunmetal grey with turquoise blue velvet piping and details. The next item was a matching gown. Nightgown simply didn’t do it justice. There was so much detail and beauty in this garment, it seemed a pity is was not only meant for sleep but only a couple of people would ever see it. With thin straps and an almost floor length, it was the companion to the matching robe. The breasts were completely visible through a sheer cup of grey fabric which was thin, soft and delicate against my skin. It was heavenly and I felt beautiful in it. I was happy that I had something this elegant to wear for Cole and that he was so thoughtful. Although I suspected it was as much for him as it was for me.

I let my hair down, which made me look like Greta Garbo, and brushed my teeth. Before I left the bathroom, I took each earring and laid them on the counter. Enjoying the cool wood beneath my feet, I climbed the stairs to see a mattress had been laid in the middle of the floor and two large pillar candles were lit, protected from the ocean breeze by tall hurricane vases. The bed was dressed in sandy beige tones and looked very inviting. But the most inviting part was Cole who sat on the deck in long silk pajama pants which matched my outfit exactly. That must have been my part of the gift.

He turned around and looked at me in that way. The way that made me feel like I was the only woman on the entire planet. “Come sit with me.”

I sat beside him on the deck and leaned into his side. “This is beautiful, Cole.”

“Which part?”

“All of it.” I smiled. “You should know, I am a little freaked out though.”

It started when I walked out of the bathroom. I looked around his room, at the clothes I’d worn that night, at the multi-million dollar home. He was wonderful. I didn’t care that he had baggage because I had baggage too. What made my stomach start doing its fight or flight dance was the fact it was all too good. I’d been here before.

“Talk to me.” He took me in his arms and held me, “Just talk. How’d it start?”

“I was walking up here. Everything feels right, it feels perfect. This is usually the time when something goes wrong for me, when everything feels so right.”

“Is it possible that you’re finally getting a well-deserved break?”

“Aimes would say the same thing.”

“I’m sorry my father was rude to you. I didn’t expect anything different but I should’ve prepared you for that possibility.”

I laced my fingers through his and moved closer to him. “You and me, huh?”

“You and me. Are you okay with that? I know it’s fast.” He sounded wistful again.

“Maybe I shouldn’t over-think it. About all the gifts though, Cole. It kinda makes me feel like you’re trying to…I don’t know; make me into a kept woman or something.”

“That sounds bad. I’m not trying to buy your affection, if that’s what you think or bribe you to stay with me by giving you these things.”

“No, that’s not what I think at all. But it’s over the top a little bit. A bouquet of flowers is more my speed. If you think about how much you’ve already spent on me, starting with the paintings…it’s not exactly a couple of bucks.”

He slowly and tenderly cupped my face in his hands. “Anika” he said in a voice that was melodic and low, “If I wanted to, I could have a house like Olaf’s. I could take you to Paris on a private jet. I could lavish you with diamonds or buy you a loft in Manhattan. I’ve never spent my dad’s money before, well, he paid for college. I bought this house with my money, money I earned. I bought your painting,
paintings
with money I earned. All of it, I earned. The best part of all is you don’t care or expect it. Emma, or any woman I’ve ever dated, they expected it. You see me, not the status or wealth. It feels good to give you beautiful things.”

“The paintings, Cole. I don’t even know what you spent on the set of eight.”