The fondant drapes over the layers of cake smooth and shiny, finally. I’ve redone it twice because of cracks and wrinkles that refused to cooperate. I carry the cake over to the cooler to set. It’s already past five o’clock. I’ll have to stop by tomorrow on my day off to finish up the decorations. It’s a special order which needs to be delivered tomorrow afternoon.
Mitch texted me earlier and asked me to come up to the apartment after work. I’m guessing he wants to talk about the apartment and Lucinda and I moving in.
My mother is treating Luce and I to the silent treatment so there were no more outbursts when we went home last night. I was half afraid she would wait to ambush us.
I finish cleaning up the kitchen then use the bathroom to remove my hair from its bun and add makeup. My plan to seduce Mitch is still up and running after all.
Right after I show him the posts his ex has plastered all over the internet about their reconcile.
I finally found a few moments to do a search and the photographer hadn’t been lying.
Mitch would have told me if it were true. I must believe that. So, it must be some sort of publicity stunt she is pulling. I just need him to confirm. He might not even be aware of what she is doing.
Staring into the mirror at my reflection, I whisper “I am beautiful—in my own way.”
I squeeze my eyes closed and then try again. This is part of my new plan. No more negativity and insecurity.
Huffing out a breath, I try again. “I am beautiful. I am a great match for Mitch.”
Okay, saying that a few hundred more times might make me believe it.
I walk out of the bathroom, grab my things, and lock the back door behind me. As I climb the stairs to Mitch’s apartment, soon to be mine, he opens the door and leans against the jamb waiting for me with a smile.
“You’re running late. I was just about to text you when I heard you on the stairs. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I just had some work to finish up.”
He steps back so I can enter. I inhale as I brush past him. The man always smells so damn good. I wonder if someone could somehow capture his unique scent and make it into a candle or something so I could light it and fill whatever room I’m in with eau de Mitch.
“Can I get you anything to drink?”
I shake my head and smile. “No thanks.”
“I’ll be ready to move out of here before Friday. Unless you need it sooner. How did it go last night with your mother?”
“Friday is great, really. I can’t thank you enough. Mother seems to be punishing us with her silence. Little does she know it’s a reward.”
His mouth quirks to the side.
“Listen, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
That sounds ominous.
And it’s not about the apartment, he already mentioned that.
“Is this about Margeaux?”
He frowns.
“I saw some stuff she’s been posting online. The photographer was telling the truth.”
Mitch rubs the back of his neck. He doesn’t look surprised.
I finger my necklace and wait for him to say something.
“It’s hard to explain.”
“Doesn’t seem too hard, it’s either true or not.”
“It’s not, she’s impulsive.”
I take a deep breath. It’s not true.
“What about your crush?”
My back stiffens. “My crush?”
“Yeah, Bobby remember?”
“Oh, that.”
He raises one eyebrow and continues to stare at me.
I swallow hard. “I never had a crush on Bobby.”
Shit! I said it out loud.
I slam my eyes closed only to pop them back open. I pace the living area.
It’s time for a full confession.
I rub my hand across my forehead and continue to pace.
“See, I panicked when you asked for a name and Bobby was driving by so that’s why I said him. And then it snowballed from there and I didn’t know how to explain what had happened.”
I swing around to start another lap and ram into Mitch standing in my path. He grabs my shoulders to steady me.
Staring at the open buttons of his black polo shirt, my cheeks burning, and shallow breaths tightening my chest, I wait for him to say something, anything.
“Then who was that woman referring to?”
A part of me rejoices he doesn’t remember Vanessa’s name. Sheer terror drenches the rest of me knowing my day of reckoning has arrived.
Swallowing hard, I whisper, “You.”
“So, all this time you were crushing on me? No one else?”
Still staring at his chest peeking through his open shirt, I nod.
The world tilts upside down as Mitch tosses me over his shoulder and strides toward the bedroom.
For a split second I marvel at his strength and then the terror returns and my mind spins wondering what he plans to do with me. I don’t have long to imagine because he drops me in the center of the bed, and I bounce on the mattress and stare up as he looms over me and captures my lips in a devastating kiss.
There is no softness. No hesitancy. His mouth devours mine.
I fear I might melt right through the mattress as desire burns through every pore of my body.
One of his hands delves underneath the back of my shirt and clutches me closer to his aroused body. The other cups and shapes my breast, dragging his thumb back and forth across my pointed nipple.
Wrapping my arms around his waist, I yank his shirt up to touch his skin. The taut, hot muscles of his back bunch under my fingertips.
He wrenches his shirt over his head, baring his chest for my delighted gaze.
Instead of returning his lips to mine, he blazes a scorching path along my neck and shoulder. He lifts my shirt over my head and unfastens the front closure of my bra with a deft twist of his hand.
Embarrassment doesn’t have a chance to encroach because his eyes worship me and his mouth and hands follow suit.
I comb my fingers through his hair and hold him close as the pleasure drenches me in sensation.
Mitch removes my skirt and panties in one quick tug.
My breath catches and holds when the rest of his clothes disappear. He really is a perfect specimen of man.
He kisses me deeply. Our tongues and breaths entwine. My fingers map every ridge of his abs and chest.
Mitch nips my bottom lip and kisses his way down my neck and shoulder. His hands cup and shape all my curves.
Heat races along my nerve endings. Perspiration dots my skin.
His mouth and tongue worship my breasts while his hands roam lower to open my legs. He slides down using his legs to open my body to him while his fingers work their magic.
Writhing in ecstasy, sharp exclamations of pleasure emanate from me as he wrings an orgasm from my oh-so willing body.
I pant as he grabs and opens a condom from the nightstand drawer and sheaths himself.
He returns to me and I loop my arms over his shoulders and revel over his body covering and entering mine.
His movements halt.
“Franny, are you a virgin?”
“Well technically no, not anymore.”
He raises himself up and rests on one elbow as one hand cups my cheek. “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have been gentler. Did I hurt you?”
“Only if you intend to stop now.”
He closes his eyes and rests his forehead against mine.
Afraid he will stop, I clutch his cheeks in my hands and kiss him with all the pent-up passion my body has been hoarding for him and him alone.
When he still makes no attempt to enter me fully, I reach down and grab his ass cheeks and surge against him.
He lets out a harsh groan and thrusts. “God, Franny.”
Pleasure climbs and throbs once again. I wrap my arms and legs around him exulting in the decadent sensuality of the act.
My body clenches in release. His hoarse groan of completion quickly follows.
Our sweat dampened bodies cool while we lay in each other’s arms.
My brain regains the ability to function, somewhat, and a thought pops into my head and then straight out of my mouth.
“That was unexpected.”