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GRAYSON’S CONDO WAS contemporary, with minimal furnishings, almost as if no one lived here. No family pictures, no mail sitting on the counter...nothing. Everything was black, white or chrome. The leather sofa set and glass tables sat on a black rug and defined the living room area. The tiled backsplash in the kitchen was textured black and grey, accentuating the chrome appliances. But Emma didn’t get a really good look before Grayson whisked her straight down the hall and into his bedroom where the king sized bed was the only thing she noticed. The glass shower was equally impressive, even more impressive when Grayson had made love to her inside it.
Afterwards, he’d shaved and dressed, then left her to get ready, he needed to make some calls now that they were back on land. All her luggage had been brought to his condo and she was glad she had over-packed, affording her a fresh, new dress to wear tonight. Grayson had a tux waiting for him on the back of his door and Emma paired up a deep navy blue dress with black heels.
Alone in his bedroom, Emma looked around for the first time without Grayson distracting her with his drop-dead gorgeous smile. The charcoal colored sheets were in disarray. Emma picked the soft duvet comforter off the floor and draped it over the foot of the sleigh bed. As she turned from his bed, the dresser caught her attention, holding the sole picture in the entire condo. Emma picked up the black frame and smiled at the family portrait, not a planned family portrait with everyone standing in a row with a fake smile. No, someone had caught these wide smiles in the midst of something entertaining. From the shocked look on the little boy’s face being held by Brock and a woman whom Emma assumed was Susan, she would suspect they’d surprised a young Grayson. Plus, in the background, were Tom and Linda, joining in on the excitement. A happy family.
Emma’s heart broke for the loss of Susan and the wedge that it had put between Grayson and Brock. Brock’s extracurricular activities hadn’t helped. Emma had seen this side of them on the cruise. After a combination, both men had relaxed, laughed and the eggshells they seemed to be walking across were swept away, leaving room to talk and joke. It had been wonderful.
“That picture was taken the year my mom died.”
Emma jumped at Grayson’s voice like a guilty criminal.
He made his way across the room and she fumbled for words.
“I wasn’t snooping, or−”
He smiled at her and she relaxed. He then touched the photo in her hand. “We always smiled like that before she died. There’s a difference in the Cohen smiles. The smile we share with each other and the smiles we share with others.” He rubbed his thumb across his mother’s reflection and Emma wondered if he knew his father had the same notion about smiles.
“After she died, my dad stopped smiling when people weren’t around. He stopped everything except work...and women. I wasn’t even allowed to talk about my mom with him. He couldn’t handle it. I guess that’s where I get it from.”
Emma couldn’t imagine. She’d gone to private school, but had siblings and the limo drove them there and back every day. Emma was home with family every night. It might have been what some would consider a “dysfunctional” family, but they had each other.
“Even after university, it took us years to talk to each other outside of casual greeting. My dad and I were beginning to bond again, when...”
He didn’t have to finish his sentence. Emma knew he was talking about Brock’s betrayal involving Samantha.
He set the picture down. “Anyway. You look gorgeous.” He kissed her, pushing away his pain. Hopefully, one day, he would realize he didn’t have to hide his sadness with her.
“Hey.” Emma touched his face and rubbed her thumb across his cheek. “I’m not only here for the kisses and the smiles,” she said. “Although the kisses and the smiles are the best part.”
He grinned.
“Grayson, I’m here for the tough stuff, too. If you want to talk about your mom or your dad, if you want to talk about what happened with Samantha, your pain or your difficulty trusting...I am right here to listen. Always.”
“I don’t want to talk about Samantha.”
“Neither do I. A woman who didn’t see what an amazing man you are doesn’t deserve our time. But you do deserve my time. And I don’t want you to run from me. Okay?”
He scooped his arm around her waist and slipped his hand around her neck, pulling her into a deep kiss. They were breathless by the time he pulled away.
His eyes were that amazing dark green again staring at her and dragging her into the world of them. “I promise.”
She kissed his lips lightly and then pulled his bottom lip playfully between her teeth.
“I don’t know if I can spend the whole evening at a party when I want you this badly,” he moaned against her lips.
Emma laughed. She wanted him, too. “You’re going to have to try.”
He wrapped both arms around her and pulled her tight. “How about we stay in?”
That was so tempting.
She shook her head. “This is the merger party. There is no getting out of it. My family will be there. Your family will be there.”
“It is a huge event.” Grayson was beginning to see her side of the reasons they couldn’t stay in...even if she wanted to as much as him.
“Exactly.”
“No one will miss us.” He kissed her again and she laughed, trying to wiggle out of his grasp...not hard to do.
She lightly hit his chest. “Let’s go. You’re going to ruin my hair.”
“Oh, I will ruin your hair.” His face went into her hair, kissing her neck and nibbling softly on it.
Emma laughed. “Stop.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
He groaned and let her go. She stepped back, smoothing her hand over her hair and grinned at him. “You are a trouble maker,” she accused.
He shrugged. “The limo should be waiting downstairs.” He held his arm out and she looped it through his, warily watching him in case he had another case of the neck-bites.
Walking away from the bed was the hardest thing she’d done all day and she couldn’t wait to get back this evening.
The elevator opened directly at his suite and as the doors closed, Emma asked, “Are we the only ones in the limo?” She let the seductiveness roll off her tongue, heating the small space.
Grayson’s hot stare stole her breath away and he answered with a sultry, “Yes.”
***
THE DRIVER OPENED THE limo door and Grayson helped Emma inside.
In a lowered tone to the driver, Grayson said, “Can you give us some privacy. Add a half hour to our drive.”
The driver nodded knowingly and Grayson climbed into the limo.
Emma was waiting with a seductive grin on her face as if she knew what he’d asked for.
Lord, she was gorgeous.
As with her regular wardrobe, her dress this evening wasn’t as revealing or tight as other women might wear, but Grayson liked the tease, the want, and knowing she was all his no matter what she wore.
Tonight, lace trailed from her rounded neckline all the way down her arms but leaving her back exposed. He loved the subtle contact with her skin. His fingertips had enjoyed each burning touch as they rode down the elevator and out to the car. The nice thing about tonight’s dress...or the benefits with his plan in action...wasn’t the hugging material to her full breasts or the small, cinched in waist, but, instead, the flared skirt just above her knees.
He sat next to her, ready to make full use of the half hour he’d acquired for them, but as the driver shut the door, Emma straddled him first. The blue lace of her dress covered his lap and the seat like a flower.
“How long do we have?” Her hands ran up the front of his shirt, slipping between the buttons to caress his bare chest, each touch sizzling his skin.
His hands moved up to her shoulders, the lace rough against his palms. He wanted more than her exposed back and didn’t stop until his fingers gripped the top of her zipper.
“A half hour,” he said.
She licked his lips. “We can do a lot in a half hour.” She pushed her warmth against his bulging desire for her and giggled at her discovery.
“You keep doing that and we’ll only need five minutes.”
Emma kissed him, her hands gripping the sides of his face. Her tongue dived into his mouth devouring him like the day in the shower, hot and heavy, but this time he enjoyed it more. This time, she really was all his and there were no secrets or lies between them. She’d offered everything to him in his bedroom and he was going to take her up on it.
He unzipped her dress, pulling it over her soft shoulders. She let him slide the material down her arms before her hands slid under his jacket demanding the same removal. Grayson tore out of the jacket and threw it behind her.
Emma laughed tossing her head back, showing her long tender neck. He grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her throat to his lips before covering her mouth again. She tasted delicious.
She undid the buttons on his shirt, but didn’t demand the removal instead her hands explored his bare chest dragging a growl from deep within him.
Grayson did the same, running his hands over every last inch of skin he could touch. As his hands moved over the front of her breasts, he was happy to find the snap of her bra at his fingertips. He undid it and slid his hands across the warm mounds.
Emma nibbled his jaw and licked his earlobe while pushing her body against him.
“Grayson...”
With his name so sweet on her tongue, Grayson lifted her up and laid her on the seat, settling himself over top.
“You are one naughty girl,” he said, catching her bottom lip with his teeth.
Desire filled her eyes. “I learned from my naughty boyfriend.”
He chuckled. “Naughty bingo is all yours.”
Emma’s eyes grew serious and she smiled at him with the smile he’d craved from her all these years: her real smile. “I’m all yours,” she said.
His mouth covered hers for a kiss until they were breathless. “Home, love, forever.” Grayson said, slightly changing the rules of naughty bingo.
“That sounds perfect,” Emma said. “Best naughty bingo words ever.”
“I love you, Emma Caliendo.”
Her smile grew and he knew he would never tire of seeing it. “I love you too.” He kissed her
***
GRAYSON AND EMMA WERE separated immediately after stepping through the doors of the event. They were late.
Cameras flashed, questions were shouted, names were called. It was a massive party.
Being a new couple, with only a handful of people aware of their status, Emma didn’t object when Grayson’s acquaintances pulled him away, not loud anyway. She squeezed Grayson’s hand, but as a socialite herself, she knew she had to let him go.
Before he walked away, he kissed her directly on the lips. There was no hiding their relationship now. It no doubt stirred some interest from the people focused on them, but Emma found herself welcoming the whispers. The whispered were nothing new to a Caliendo, and she was accustomed to behaving appropriately. Her father would have called the affectionate display “inappropriate and miscalculated.” Robert had calculated every move of his life, and his children’s lives, and disobeying the progress was punishable. But he wasn’t here and if Grayson was ready to share their relationship...so was she.
THE END
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Please enjoy a sneak peek of the next Caliendo Resort novel
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