The VIP Room(161)

His breath speeds. He bites me harder. His back shakes. I open my eyes to look at him. There's something about his expression. It's so heavy and so desperate. He's about to come. That's what it looks like.

He's about to come, because of me. Because he wants me. Because he needs me.

The thought of it makes my sex clench. I let out a loud moan. It spurs him on, and he moves faster. Harder. All the pressure inside me winds up again. Tight, tight, tight. I take one more look at Blake. I soak in the weight of his body, the slight shaking of his arms against my shoulders.

All that pressure inside me unwinds. Wow. Wow. Wow. An orgasm spreads through my body. I relax into the bed, again, utterly unable to do anything except feel.

It's enough to push Blake over the edge. He groans. "Mhmm. Kat." His nails sink into my sink. He moves faster, faster, faster.

Something in him changes as he comes. His expression softens. His muscles tense as he tears at the sheets.

Blake collapses next to me. He rolls off the bed to discard the condom. That same softness is in his eyes. It's the closest thing I've seen to vulnerability.

He looks me over, his gaze hardening quickly. "Are you okay?"

I nod.

He reaches up and unties me. He looks my wrists over, pressing his fingertips against them gently. He stretches my wrists, fingers, elbows.

He wraps his arms around me. Wow. A completely different sensation, but it's equally amazing. I close my eyes and relax into it. Nice. This is really nice. He press his lips into mine. He tastes like me. That's strange, too, but I don't feel shy over it.

Something shifts. Blake climbs off the bed. His expression goes back to impenetrable. "You can stay as long as you want."

"Thanks." He takes a step towards the door. "Make yourself comfortable. Jordan will take you home whenever you're ready. If there's an emergency, I'll be in my office."

I nod like it's normal that he's fleeing the scene. "Sure."

"I sent your things home with him. I'll email you about your appointments. The doctor and your hair and makeup for the gala Thursday."

"Okay." Cause apparently I can't handle my appointments or my life.

"Goodnight." He steps out of the room and closes the door.

I look around the room. There's not much besides this bed and a stack of books. The attached bathroom is gorgeous, all stainless steel, Italian marble, and an enormous tub with jets and imported bubble bath.

I soak for a long time. The thing is big enough to swim in, but there's still something missing. Everything is a lie. Everything but sex, and that's just sex. No getting attached to Blake, no matter what.

My clothes are folded on the couch. Not the pink chiffon dress--the jeans and t-shirt I wore this morning. The entire apartment is quiet and dark except for a room in the far corner. Yellow light streams out through the door. Blake's office, no doubt. I'm no fool. I understand the arrangement.

The sex part is done, but the guy isn't rude. He's not about to kick me on my ass. This apartment is beautiful, but there's something very cold and lonely about it. Lizzy is sleeping at a friend's place. There's nothing waiting for me at home.

I make myself comfortable on the couch. Three hundred channels and none of them are as interesting as wondering what the hell Blake is doing in his office, all by himself, at two in the morning.





Chapter 6





Blake fingers graze my back, pressing the silk of my dress against my skin.

His hand rests on the curve of my waist. It's equal parts possessive and sweet. Of course, the latter is a lie.

He turns to me ever so slightly. His eyes are wide, bright. He's nailing that gaga in love look.

Lie, lie, lie. It's a lie. I press my French-manicured nail into the pad of my thumb to remind myself. He doesn't love me. I don't love him. We're only pretending.

A man in a navy suit approaches. He's in his twenties. Blake offers his hand, but the guy shakes his head and pulls Blake into a hug.

The man turns to me. "You must be the lovely Kat I've heard so much about?"

My cheeks flush. Blake warned me this company party would be long, boring, and filled with *s. He didn't warn me that he was talking about me. "Kat Wilder. Nice to meet you."

I offer my best coquettish grin. Of course Blake mentioned me. People talk about their girlfriends. And that's what I am--his pretend girlfriend.

"Declan Jones," he shakes my hand. "You're much prettier than Blake said."

Big smile, little laugh. "Thank you. I've heard so much about you." Like the one time Blake mentioned his college friend who runs a start-up in San Francisco.

"And where is your date?" Blake asks.

"I'm here on business, my friend. No dates. But I'm glad you volunteered to entertain me." Declan smiles. "Things didn't work out well with Grace. Different lifestyles."

"That means she wasn't okay with him seeing other women." Blake raises an eyebrow as if to challenge his friend.

Declan shrugs with false modesty. So the guy is a bit of a player. No surprise. All that matters is that he's buying into this whole ruse. I have to admit, it's convincing. Blake is the quiet, protective boyfriend, and I'm the pretty--with the help of a hair, makeup, and styling team--young thing he needs around constantly.