“You have a meeting, and I have an appointment?” I question, turning the water off, opening the sliding glass door. He has the towel open and ready for me, and goes one step further, wrapping it around my body.
“Fuck, you’re right.” He backs away. Apparently, I’m getting to him as well. It’s good to know I’m not the only one who loses her mind at the thought of having him inside me. God, it’s like he’s seared into my soul.
“I know I am. Now shoo. I’m going to finish getting ready.” The towel is wrapped around my body, tucked in so I can walk around freely, brush my hair, do the much-needed skincare routine that I’ve been slacking on. I make a mental note that if I’m going to be staying at Wylde’s house more often, I definitely need to buy another set to keep in an overnight bag or something.
“Not happening. I’m going to enjoy the show. While you’re at it, we should probably talk about a few things.” I head to my vanity, grab the hair brush out of the drawer along with a spray leave-in-conditioner that also has a heat protectant so I can tame the wildness before work.
“Well, if that doesn’t sound ominous coming from a man.” Wylde moves so he’s standing behind me, pulls the brush from my hand after spraying it, and works my hair in sections. “Something tells me you’ve done this for Journey a time or two.”
“Many times, especially when she was hell bent on having hair well below her waist. Mom and Dad would need to get to work early while I was in college.” He takes his time, has more patience than I would have with my own hair. I’m usually tugging and pulling at it until I’m done since I’m usually in a rush.
“That’s sweet,” I reply, visualizing him with Journey. The image of seeing him doing it with a little girl about five years old takes over, her long dark hair, eyes like her father’s, facial features like my own. My heart does a flip in my chest, thinking about how this daydream could actually become a reality in the future. “What did you want to talk about?” I ask, remembering he wanted to talk about something.
I go through the first layer of serum, patting it on my face and neck. Next is my eye cream, then the moisturizing. Letting it set for a few minutes, I spin around and look into Wylde’s eyes. Emotion is swirling in my gut at how amazing things have been with us even if we don’t seem to agree on a few things.
“I’m working late tonight. Want you in my bed so I can slide in next to you. I know that’s not fair for me to ask, seeing as how you’ll have to be up earlier than me tomorrow morning. I don’t like not having you next to me even with our hours being different. Figure I’ll give you the key to my place along with the opener to the parking garage, or if you have a spare, I’ll come here tonight.” I stop. Not that I’m shocked he has this all figured out because he’s smart, so sharp in everything he does, business wise, knowing me so quickly within a week of meeting me, and now this.
“I like that idea. A lot. If you want to grab the spare key, it’s in the kitchen drawer right next to the fridge. I’m going to finish getting ready. Tyra rescheduled all of her clients yesterday. So, that’s off my to-do list, but during lunch, I’m going to her place or Mace’s, depending on where they landed, to see if I can help out with Von.” I know he’s going to be a bundle of energy, and if she’s taking care of Mace, she’ll be dog tired, and Von will need to do something to keep him active, even if it’s only for an hour.
“Good. I’ll grab the key, make us some coffee, and then we’ll get going. I guess taking separate cars will be necessary after all.” He sounds annoyed at that thought, even though it’s true.
“I won’t take long. You can follow me in your car and make this grand entrance at work.” The grin he gives me, it’s all I need to see that he’s good with this idea. “See, this is compromise. Now kiss me and make me coffee, macho man.” My lips graze his. I’m trying to keep it short and sweet so we’re not late for work. Wylde has other ideas. His tongue laps at my lower lip, causing a whimper to work its way up from the back of my throat. He takes advantage, not letting me go until we’re both breathless.
“Love your mouth, sweetheart. I’ll have your coffee ready, then we’ll head out.” He backs away. I finish getting ready in a lust-induced fog, looking forward to tonight, knowing exactly what’s to come.
TWENTY-FIVE
Wylde
“I see you,strutting around like a caveman, happier than ever because you got your way,” Celeste says. True to my word, I followed her in my car the whole way from her place to the hotel and casino. I had to call her since she thought I would want her parking away from where my designated spot is located, making a mental note to take care of that as well. It did something to me to see her black Audi parked next to my silver Bugatti, watching her step out of her little two-door coupé, and even though I wanted her to ride in with me, there’s something to be said for an independent woman who knows what she wants and won’t back down until she gets it.
“Sweetheart, walking next you with my hand on your back, every fucking man knowing that you’re mine, it’s a moment of pure male pride.” The looks Celeste was worried about aren’t anywhere, at least that I’m seeing. Of course, that could be because my sole attention is on Celeste because I already know that once she’s at work, the day is going to suck something fierce until I slide into bed with her tonight.
“The same could be said for all the women, too. Now they’ll know Wylder Hayes is officially off the market.” Which means I’ll be calling Vanessa today to let her know me being her date for functions is officially over. She’ll have to either come clean to her parents or find someone else to help out.
“We both are. Now kiss me before you go to the spa, and if I get a spare moment, I’ll stop by and say hello.” I’m pushing. I know that with the way her body stiffens. We’re out in the open, in the middle of the lobby. I could do a whole lot more by walking her to the spa, backing her into a room and really giving them something to talk about.
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?” she asks. Her hair is down in soft waves after blowing it dry this morning, face bare of makeup, not even a swipe of mascara or lip gloss, which works in my favor. The black scrubs she wears are molded to her body, and even though she’s covered from practically neck to feet, it’s still not enough to turn me off. I’m pretty sure no matter what she does, it’s hard-on inducing.
“Not for anything on this earth, Celeste.” I press her closer to me. My other hand tips her chin up, and I press my lips against hers, wanting to deepen the kiss, lay a claim on Celeste so every fucking person in this building knows she’s mine. I don’t, though. I know that if I do, it’ll piss her off, and I’d much rather her not be pissed at me.
“See you tonight, handsome.” Her hands squeeze my sides as she gives me one last peck.
“Might be sooner. Have a good day, sweetheart.” I squeeze her one last time before letting her go, standing as she spins on her sneakered heel and walks off like a woman on a mission. The sway in her hips has me salivating thinking about the things I’ve done and would like to do to my woman. I don’t leave until she’s completely out of view, even if I do have a meeting with Nico today.
“Glad to see that is working out for you and Celeste.” Monica slides in beside me, stating the obvious, as if she wasn’t behind pushing us together. Not at all thinking that tooting her own horn isn’t showing her cockiness. Between my phone call over the weekend and Monica seeing it out in the open, I’d say she probably deserves it.
“Me too. Now, I hate to change the subject.” Not really. The chuckle Monica gives me lets me know she sees right through my bullshit. “I’ve been thinking.”
“That’s dangerous,” she responds.
“Isn’t it? How much of a pain in the ass would it be if I took Pierre a little bit until I found a personal assistant?”
“Are you saying that you, Wylder Hayes, are in need of my assistant, or that you need your own, or is it both?” A question answered with a question. Classic Monica.
“I’d take Pierre off your hands easily if you’d let him go. He already knows the ropes. Be careful what you ask.” I think she knows what I’d like in the end, but I’m not a dick to just take without asking.
“Fine, let’s talk with Pierre about it. If he has no problem transferring, you can have him. You better give him one hell of a pay raise, though. He deserves it.”