The prospect of a date with Vaughn is enough to distract me from the fact my career might be over before it’s even begun. When he comes to pick me up at my place later in the evening, my stomach is tied up in knots.
As I watch him climb out his silver sports car and confidently climb my steps, a rebellious part of me wonders why I’m insisting on this charade of dinner. We both know, I won’t resist him anymore. All it would take is a couple of filthy words, murmured low in my ear, and I’d be on my knees for him, sucking him deep, reveling in the freedom of surrender.
And that’s just for starters...
I push the tantalizing images away as the doorbell sounds. I take a deep breath, and answer.
Holy crap.
“Cat got your tongue?” Vaughn looks amused. And sexy as hell. Fuck, he’s wearing a crisp white shirt, open at the collar to show his golden tan. Navy pants, and dress shoes, he’s made an effort.
“I’m fine.” I finally recover the power of speech. “Come on in, I just have to get my purse.”
Vaughn steps inside, and looks around.
It’s weird to imagine the place through his eyes. I’ve done what I can with thrift store finds and cheap decorations, but I’m painfully self-conscious about the gaping chasm between this humble apartment and Vaughn’s incredible hilltop home.
He doesn’t say a word, so I find my purse and take a final look in the bedroom mirror. Without work to keep me occupied, I had all day to obsess about this date. I even went window shopping in some of the stores downtown, but I couldn’t bring myself to splurge on a new outfit just yet. I can’t believe the Ashcroft money is real, and until the estate gives me access to his accounts, I’m not spending a penny more than I normally would.
Especially since I’m fired from work, and I may never find another job. But I decided, I’m not going to think about this tonight, I need to distract myself from the enormity of what is going on and just try to live a little. So, I focused on the things I can control right now: picking out one of my favorite dresses, a simple sheath in navy blue silk, and styling my hair to flow in messy waves. Remembering Vaughn’s instructions to me last time, I even wore garters and stockings, a secret whisper of lace against my thighs that puts a swing in my step as I head back out into the living room.
“All set,” I tell him.
Vaughn gives me a smoldering look. “Sure you don’t want to change your mind?” he asks, his voice shivering through me, low and rasping. “We could stay here instead. See how long that headboard of yours lasts once you’re tied down, and I’m fucking your sweet pussy with my tongue.”
My heart stops. “Vaughn,” I whisper, heat flooding between my thighs.
“Or we can go back to mine.” He comes closer, taking hold of my jaw. “I’ve got a gift for you, a special surprise.”
I start to protest, but he pushes his thumb into my mouth. His skin slides rough against my tongue. I have to hold back a moan.
“You like it when I fill you up, don’t you?” he murmurs, watching me. “Your wet little mouth. Your tight dripping cunt...” A wicked smile spreads across his mouth. He slides his thumb deeper, forcing me to suck as he leans to whisper in my ear.
“Has your ass been lonely without me?”
Oh. My. God.
I wrench away, blushing. “Dinner,” I insist. My head spins. “You promised.”
Vaughn smiles, standing aside to let me pass. “Very well. But don’t think for a moment I’m letting you off easy. You’re my dessert, Keely, and I’m going to eat you for days.”
We drive across the city, the streets disappearing smoothly under the wheels of his sleek car. I slide lower in the leather seat, noting the luxurious interior and way the car glides through traffic.
“This is an amazing car,” I tell him. “I’ve never been in anything like it before.”
Vaughn smiles. He’s casual in the driver’s seat, looking like he’s in some commercial. “I grew up dreaming about owning one, I had a model, a toy thing. First big paycheck I got, I went straight down the dealership and took it for a spin.”
“That wasn’t hard now, was it?” I say with a smile. “I asked you a question, you shared something about yourself.”
“Believe me, baby. I’m plenty hard.” Vaughn grabs my hand and moves it to his crotch so I can feel the outline of his cock pressing through his pants.
He’s so big, I can’t believe it.
Big, and hard and hot.
I inhale in a rush, remembering it all. The thick spear of muscle, rearing up in front of me. How good he felt in my hands.
How good he tasted.
Vaughn guides my hand, massaging him through the fabric. I know he expects me to pull away, scolding again, but I feel a surge of rebellion.
I close my hand around him and stroke.
Vaughn makes a strangled noise.
I bite back a smile, and explore some more. Light, teasing strokes along the length of him, swirling my fingertips over the outline of his shaft.
“Damn, baby...” Vaughn growls. “Harder. Fuck.”
I increase the pressure, finding a rhythm, then pull back again. I scratch my nails lightly down the inside of his thigh, and Vaughn slams on the brakes.
I lurch forwards in my seat with a cry.
Red light.
Vaughn turns to look at me, heavy-lidded with lust. “What the fuck are you playing at? You’re going to get us both killed.”
“Me? Nothing,” I recover and give him a teasing smile. “I’m just giving you incentive. Behave this evening, and maybe it’ll be worth your while.”
Vaughn’s eyes narrow. His smile turns steely as the lights change and he puts the car in drive. “You should be careful what you wish for, baby. You don’t want me to behave.”
“Maybe I do,” I reply.
“I don’t think so. Because if I was behaving, I wouldn’t tell you that I’m going to fuck you over the hood of this car.”
My thighs clench.
Vaughn smirks. “See? You like me bad. Because if you couldn’t blame me for corrupting you, you might have to face the truth.”
“And what truth is that?” I retort.
He pulls over suddenly, yanking my hand from his crotch and pulling me in so I’m staring straight in his eyes.
“You’re filthy,” he whispers softly.
I flush.
“You want it hard, you want it deep, and you want to beg for mercy.” Vaughn’s eyes never leave mine. They see through me, to all the dark fantasies I’ve been hiding inside.
“You forget, I’ve seen you on your hands and knees, my handprint branding you, my cum dripping off your lips. This good girl bullshit is just an act. Inside that innocent shell, there’s a wild beast just waiting to be let free.”
“You’ve never met a man up to the challenge,” Vaughn continues. “Well, I’m not like the others. I’m going to push every boundary that you’ve got until you’re screaming for mercy. I’m going to tame you, baby. I’m going to break you apart.”
He looks past me, his intense stare breaking into a smile. “But first, I’m going to buy you dinner.”
My head is still reeling when my door suddenly opens. It’s the valet, reaching to help me out of the car.
We’re here.
Be careful what you wish for.
I stumble to my feet, inhaling a lungful of cool night air. Vaughn casually climbs out and tosses him the keys, striding for the front entrance.
I don’t know how he can be so cool and collected. My body is aching. My legs feel weak. I’m still caught up in the wicked promise of his words -- and the fierce determination in his stare.
He’s not fucking around. He means every single word.
“Shall we?” Vaughn holds out his arm, a smug look on his face like he knows exactly how flustered I’m feeling. I refuse to give him the satisfaction, so I force myself together and reach to tuck my hand in the crook of his elbow, following him inside -- trying my hardest not to trip on my heels.
The restaurant is beautiful, a classy French place I’ve read about before. Apparently, it takes weeks to get a reservation here, and I can see why. There’s a pretty courtyard filled with candlelit tables, and everyone here looks like they just stepped out the pages of a fashion magazine. I even spot a Hollywood star in the corner, with a girl half his age.
“Table for two,” Vaughn informs the hostess, who practically drools all over him.
“Right this way,” she breathes, sliding her hand along his arm as she guides him ahead of her.
I feel like yanking her away. I’m standing right here!
She leads us to a table on the edge of the courtyard, set with white linens and antique-looking silverware. “If there’s anything you need, you just let me know,” the hostess adds, making sure to lean over to give us an eyeful of her cleavage. “Anything at all.”
Vaughn ignores her, pulling out a chair for me. I sit down, aware of the looks coming in our direction. Every woman in the place is checking him out -- and sending me a glare of jealousy.
I sit up straighter, and flash one of the blonde bitches a bright smile.
That’s right, ladies. He’s with me.
“We’ll take a bottle of the Cristal,” Vaughn instructs the sommelier. I catch a glimpse of the wine list and try not to pass out. That’s a five hundred dollar bottle of champagne!
The server brings the bottle, and pops the cork for us. Vaughn dismisses him with a look, and pours my glass full of the sparkling amber liquid.
“We should toast,” I say, feeling out of my depth. Everything here is so perfect and romantic.
Vaughn raises his glass, his smile almost mocking me. “To a perfect date. That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”
“No.” I frown. “I want to get to know you. You realize getting any kind of personal information out of you is like pulling teeth. Don’t you ever let anyone in?”
Vaughn’s smile drops. “Not as a rule, no.”
I take a sip of champagne and press him more. “Friends? Exes? Family? Come on, there must be someone who knows your deep, dark secrets.”
“My friends know better than to dig around in my life.” Vaughn shrugs. “And I don’t have relationships. I prefer to keep things simple.”
“It sounds lonely to me,” I remark. Vaughn just gives a steely look.
“I get along fine on my own.”
He’s a fortress. A sexy, controlled fortress. And dammit, I need to know more.
“What about your family?” I try. “Are they still in LA?”
I know right away I’ve said the wrong thing. Vaughn visibly hardens, a flicker of something dark racing across his face.
“Can I tell you about our specials?” We’re interrupted by our waiter.
I let out a sigh of relief as Vaughn turns away. I’ve barely looked at the menu, but it doesn’t matter. Vaughn orders for the both of us without asking: a seafood starter, and the steak as a main course.
“What would you have done if I was a vegetarian?” I ask, when the waiter leaves.
Vaughn cocks his eyebrow with a suggestive smirk. “Baby, I know you eat meat.”
I laugh. “Maybe I’m just picky.”
“Then I consider myself a lucky man.” Vaughn is leaning back in his seat, at ease again, but I can’t stop myself dragging the conversation back to him, and all the things I don’t know.
“Where did you grow up?” I ask.
He sighs. “On the east coast. One brother. Dead father. Mom prays for my soul every Sunday in church. Is that enough information for you?”
He gulps his champagne, draining the glass, then pours another.
I feel a stab of guilt.
“I’m sorry,” I say quietly. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have pried. My parents are dead too,” I add. “It was a car crash, when I was eighteen.”
Vaughn looks up. For a moment, his scowl softens. “That’s tough. My dad blew his brains out when I was eight years old.”
I gasp.
“Don’t.” He stops me before I can say anything else. “It’s ancient history. And we’ve wasted long enough talking about it. No more.”
Regret takes over. I should have known there was a reason he didn’t want to talk about himself. I just wanted to get closer to him, to know who he is and what makes him tick. But I had to push him -- too far.