Chapter 34
‘Do I look okay?’ I ask Nico for the twentieth time, fluffing my hair. I got a blow out at lunch time—big bouncing curls that rest just above my breasts.
‘No, honey, you don’t look okay.’ His eyes rove over my outfit—I showered and changed into a little black Givenchy dress. ‘You look fucking sensational p>
‘Is it too much?’ My hands smooth over the velvet clinging to my bump.
‘For a date with one of America’s hottest billionaires, and your baby daddy—never!’ Nico swats the air in front of his face.
Butterflies swarm in my stomach. I’ve reread Cole’s emails a hundred times today. His possessiveness should be yet another giant red flag, but for some reason, it feels like a white one—offering peace, a safe place, maybe even sanctuary at a time when I’ve felt utterly fucking alone—even with my family smothering me.
He was obviously joking about moving in with him.
He had to be, right?
‘It’s not really a date, more of a discussion,’ I remind him.
‘Yeah, you keep telling yourself that, Z.’ Nico laughs. ‘Maybe that way, your lingerie will stay on p>
I roll my eyes. ‘Please give me some credit. You know I don’t put out on the first date—ever p>
Nico closes the distance between us. ‘Well, you fucking should. Apart from the fact you dated him for half of January, what’s the worst that could happen? You could get pregnant?’ he teases.
‘Funny.’ I stick my tongue out at him. ‘I need you to do one more thing before you clock off tonight.’ I reach for my lipstick from my handbag and apply it slowly.
‘Slavedriver,’ Nico moans. ‘Go on, what is it p>
‘I need you to pen an advert for the Irish Times for me.’ I toss my lipstick back in the bag and snap it closed. ‘I’ll dictate; you type p>
He drops back into the seat at his desk, fingers flying over the keyboard. ‘Go on.’ His attention is firmly focussed on his screen.
‘Okay, pull up the “place an ad” section p>
‘Done,’ he affirms, ten seconds later.
‘Okay, type, PA wanted for deluxe interior design company. Absolutely no assholes may apply. Successful candidate will be seen and not heard, obey all orders, and will absolutely never make fun of the boss p>
Nico’s head spins round so fast he’s in danger of giving himself whiplash. ‘Bitch!’ he snorts. ‘It’s a good job I love you,’ he huffs.
‘Ditto, my darling, ditto.’ I stand, squeeze his bicep, and glance towards the front sash windows, where a ridiculously large limo is double parked on the street outside.
‘Are you absolutely sure Cole has a massive cock?’ Nico asks.
‘Certain.’ I smirk, ‘But I get why you might wonder p>
‘Call me later. I want ALL the details, okay?’ Nico begs.
‘Sure.’ I drop a kiss on his cheek as I pass by him.
‘Unless you can’t talk because you have a mouthful of American sausage.’ He wiggles his eyebrows at me.
I flip him the birdy over my shoulder as Tate and Felstead greet me at the office doors. ‘I don’t like it,’ Felstead complains.
‘It’s work,’ I snap. ‘I suggest if you want to remain on my detail, you keep your likes and dislikes to yourself. You’re here to protect me, not provide me with your opinions p>
Tate fires him a warning look. ‘If it suits you, I’ll accompany you in Mr Hartmann’s vehicle and Felstead can follow behind in the SUV p>
I turn to Tate. We’ve been through so much together in the past couple of years. He knows Cole won’t hurt me. He trusted him to help him protect me at the resort, he’s hardly likely to turn on me now that I’m carrying his child.
‘It doesn’t suit.’ I eye him levelly. ‘Follow with Felstead. Cole and I have some catching up to do. It would be easier if we could do it in private p>
Cole chooses this moment to slide out of the back of the limo. In a fitted black tuxedo that hugs his torso like a second skin—he looks fucking delectable. His pale blue eyes flare with fire as they lock on mine. ‘Zara,’ he says breathily. His gaze drops unashamedly to my mouth. Then to my ridiculously enlarged breasts. To my stomach, then over my thighs, all the way to my peep toe Louboutin’s, and then up again.
‘I’ll take care of her from here,’ he says to Tate with a nod. Two suited security guards exit the front of the limo as if to reinforce his point.
Tate assesses the three men for a long beat. Finally, he seems satisfied. ‘We’ll follow behind. Where are we going p>
‘The Shelbourne Hotel.’ Cole’s eyes drift from Tate back to me. ‘Then to my place p>
Laughter rolls from my tongue. ‘Cocky, aren’t you p>
‘Confident, sweetheart, remember?’ He winks.
Felstead scowls as he stalks towards the SUV.
Cole presses his palm to the base of my spine and ushers me into the limo. Tingles fire in every direction, and chemistry crackles between us like bolts of lightning. The way this evening is starting, I can’t rule out going back to his place. The hormones have me horny as hell, or maybe that’s just his sheer proximity. Masculinity exudes from every inch of him, and I am absolutely here for it.
Inside the limo, soft golden lighting glows from recessed strips along the ceiling. The seats are upholstered in a buttery-soft cream leather stitched with a subtle gold thread. A full bar stretches along one wall, stocked with crystal decanters and Macallan. Pah. I’m going to have to convert him to Becketts Gold. Opposite, an entertainment screen runs the entire length of the partition—sleek, black, and unmistakably expensive.
But it’s the scent that undoes me.
Cedar combined with Cole’s familiar cologne—unique, masculine and utterly enticing. A million memories of him in my bed rush through my head as he climbs in behind me and the door clicks closed.
‘Finally, I’ve got you alone,’ he growls, sliding over the seat until his thigh rests against mine. His face dips until our lips are inches apart. The scent of spearmint permeates the air between us.
A voice inside my head screams at me not to make this easy for him. Men like Cole like the chase. But my vagina is begging me to throw myself at him.
‘And now you have me alone, what is it that you plan to do to me exactly?’ I manage to keep my tone level. Cool, even. But I’m not fooling either of us. I want him. So much it hurts.
‘I’m going to feed you. Convince you to build a future with me. Then I’m going to fuck you.’ His piercing eyes smoulder as his tongue darts out over my lips, tracing my cupid’s bow before slowly, agonisingly, sucking my lower lip into his mouth.
His hands settle on my swollen stomach. Our eyes collide. His flame with possession.
I don’t stand a chance against him.
I never did.
His hands roam over my breasts, my nipples are straining for his mouth, for more friction and my lingerie is absolutely destroyed already. I palm his shoulders, reacquainting myself with every hard line, and the smooth contours of his chest. He tugs me onto his lap like I’m weightless, and I open my legs and straddle him.
The swell of his enormous erection digs into me, and I grind, needing the friction.
He laughs, and I swallow it.
This wasn’t part of the plan, but I’m powerless to stop it.
No, instead, I’m silently begging him to slide his hand beneath my dress and touch me like he did in the sea that day.
He breaks our kiss suddenly, tearing his lips from mine. Heat and hunger dance in his dilated pupils. ‘Are you wet for me, Irish?’ His fingers skirt up over my thighs and disappear beneath my dress. They hover at the junction between my legs.
‘I’m not sure,’ I lie. ‘Maybe you should find out p>
‘Dirty girl.’ His pupils darken. ‘You want me to touch you there p>
I shrug. It takes every ounce of willpower I possess to play it cool. ‘Maybe p>
‘Maybe?’ he growls, tearing the thin lace between my legs straight from my body. He holds it up in the air triumphantly. ‘They’re soaked. And so are you.’ He holds my lower back, steadying me as he shoves my lingerie into his pocket.
My pulse is pounding. My pussy is throbbing. I’m dizzy with desire, and I need him to touch me more than I need oxygen right now.
His huge hand settles on my thigh, fingers swirling in circles as they skirt higher and higher until they’re so close to where I need them, yet still so far. Finally, his index finger slides over my slit. If I wasn’t so turned on, I might be embarrassed at how wet I am for him.
‘This pussy is mine.’ His fingers glide up over my clit, and my head rolls back.
‘Yes,’ I moan.
‘I take care of what’s mine.’ His thumb circles my clit as his fingers seep deep inside of my core. All too soon, he pulls them out and lifts them to his lips, licking slowly like he’s savouring them. ‘I’ll make you come hard enough they’ll hear you in the Caribbean—when you come home with me.’ He grins as the limo glides to a stop outside one of Dublin’s most iconic hotels.
‘Bastard,’ I mutter, sliding off his lap and smoothing my dress down. ‘I hate what you do to me p>
But that’s a lie. I fucking love it.
I love the way he commands my body.
I love the way he consumes me.
And I’ve got a horrible feeling if he hangs around like he says he’s going to, I could love him—deeply and irrevocably too.