Champagne Showers (39 page)

At my condo, I pack enough for the rest of the week, although I don’t plan to stay at the penthouse. While I pack, I decide to change into a little sexy bustier set in cherry red that I’ve had tucked away and have never worn. Why not, he’s heading out tonight with the wine witch so this will give him something to remember while he’s gone.

I lock up the place and head to the penthouse. On the ten minute drive there, I rehearse some of what I want to say to Harrison. I need more from him than he’s giving. I want to know why he’s rushing off to Montreal and why does he need her to accompany him? Is there some kind of grape emergency? While I run these questions and more through my mind, I nearly collide with a bicyclist! Damn it, don’t they have their own lanes??

I pull into the parking garage instead of the lot. He’d given me a parking pass for the garage. I stick it in the window and grab my things out of the trunk and head up.

I come off the private elevator and as I step out into the foyer, I can hear some sexy electronic music playing. It sounds like it might be coming from the terrace. I set my heavy bag down and go in search of Harrison. I head past the water wall into the living room and then my breath catches in my throat. Sure enough, there’s Harrison standing outside on the terrace. He’s wearing a fitted pair of worn jeans and a black linen shirt that hangs loosely around his well-developed body. His hair is messier than usual and he’s barefoot. He’s swaying to the music with a generous glass of wine in his hand.

I stand undetected in the doorway long enough that I get the rare opportunity to watch this beautiful man dance. The way he moves his body makes my pulse quicken and my body ache for his touch. He turns and sees me standing there and for a moment, I feel like I was interloping. He locks his eyes with mine, walks over to me and leads me out to the terrace. He puts his glass of wine down and then puts his left arm behind the small of my back and his right arm farther up my back. I put both of my arms behind his back and we begin to move together to the music. He smells of the exotic spice market again and I’m transported to some faraway land with this seductive prince. We continue to move together, swaying our bodies in time with the music. His hands begin to wander up and down my body. I feel my loins tighten and my desire builds under his expert touch. He looks down into my eyes and then kisses me tenderly. I shiver. He takes my hand and leads me back inside, down the grand hall, past the elevator and to the master bedroom.

He pulls me to the bed and then he hops on and props himself on some pillows. He grabs the remote and flicks on the same music from the terrace. “Dance for me, Danielle.”

Holy shit! Dance for him? I hadn’t planned on that! “Oh Harrison, I don’t know.”

“Dance for me. Seduce me.” Then he licks his lips.

Oh my! I wish I had something in me that would make it easier. As if reading my mind, he hops off the bed and walks over to me and sways with me to the music like we just did out on the terrace. “Be right back, don’t move.”

I stand there feeling nervous about dancing sexy for him. I like to dance, but there’s a big difference between girls just wanting to have fun and an erotic dance to turn a man on.

He returns with a bottle of his own Griggio and two glasses. He pours us each a glass and hands me mine. He clinks his glass to mine and gives me his seductive smirk. I down my wine like it’s  a shot of whiskey. He looks at me with utter amusement and then shimmies himself back onto the bed. I shut my eyes and sway to the hypnotic beat. I can feel my body getting into it. I can picture Harrison's cock thrusting into me in time with the music and that’s all I need to lose myself in wild abandon. That, and the wine kicking in on my empty stomach.

I begin by undoing the one button on my camisole top, lifting it over my head and letting it drop to the floor. I open my eyes when I hear his gasp. Oh yeah, I forgot that I have a little surprise for him under my clothes. Knowing what this is doing to him, I continue. I unzip my skirt from behind and wiggle my hips to the music and let it fall to the floor too. I step out of my clothes with only my necklaces, shoes and a bright cherry lace bustier and matching thong left. I sneak a peek at Harrison and I see his breathing has quickened and the lust in his eyes tells me all I need to know. He likes what he sees.

I continue my floorshow and as I think of his hands and tongue all over me, I start to touch myself. I cup my lace-clad breasts and began to knead and massage them. I run my hands down my taut tummy and then tuck my hand into my panties and rub my clit in time with the music. I throw my head back and allow myself to feel the wine warming my insides, the music vibrating through my core and the feeling of my own hands pleasuring my body all while Harrison watches and wants me.

My eyes fly open when I hear a rustling sound followed by Harrison’s arms wrapping around me and his mouth colliding with mine. His tongue is seeking my own, tasting of sweet wine. He pulls me to the bed and continues his exploration of me with his tongue. I don’t think I can ever get sick of feeling his tongue probing all the surfaces of my body. He makes his way straight to my clit and he makes easy work of lapping at my wet “P” and pleasuring me. He puts two fingers in my “P” and starts moving them in and out and I feel my insides tightening and preparing for their release. I know that his cock is going to be ready for action and its own release. He stands up and removes his clothing at lightning speed. He climbs onto the bed with me and parts my legs to gain entry to my “P”. He inserts his cock with a slow and tortuous pace and then he slowly starts to move his cock in and out to the beat of the music, just like I had hoped he would. I wrap my legs around his back and we kiss passionately as we make love.

Two hours later, I say goodbye to Harrison at the elevator. It’s not like other times that he has left to Montreal. This time feels really different. I don’t know if it’s because he’s flying with her and I now have proof that she wants him, or if it’s because each moment I spend with him, I fall harder and harder for him. Either way, my stomach feels queasy. The dinner Philippe left for us to eat was delicious but I couldn’t eat much because my stomach was in knots. Harrison could sense that too since he must have asked me a dozen times why I was so quiet.

“Harrison, I need to know more about Marion. What is the history there, don’t tell me there wasn’t something between you as some point.”

He sighs, “The Devereauxs and Towers have a long history and Marion always had this fantasy that we would someday marry and bring the two families together. When I moved to the states, she finally gave up on that notion and married.”

“Wow, she’s married and hitting on you? Nice. ”

“Well, not exactly. She divorced after her husband pushed her for a family. After her divorce she started working with our US division in 2007 and moved here.”

“So I don’t get why you are flying to Montreal with her tonight. Couldn’t she go by herself?”

He takes a sip of wine. “Now that falls under business dealings and not something you need to know about.” He looks at my disappointed face. “Danielle, I have the opportunity to close on a big deal that Towers Holdings has been in negotiations for over a year now. We finally get to complete the acquisition and Marion is a key player in this deal. Do you understand?”

“I guess, it just makes me feel uneasy. Kind of how you don’t like me spending time with Bradley.”

He scoffs, “I have pointed out to you on many occasions that the two are in no way similar. Marion is a hired business associate.  Bradley is your ex-husband. Got it?”

I suck in a shallow breath. I see his clear eyes cloud over  and I know that means he is getting annoyed.  “Yeah, I got it.  One last thing, why do you feel it necessary for me to stay here at your penthouse while you’re gone? It’s going to feel weird being here without you.”

For the last time, Danielle.” His voice is raising, “I want to ensure that you are safe. This penthouse it secure, where I don’t feel your condo is safe enough. Now drop it, we have gone over and over this.”

I stand there in the lobby after he has left and contemplate our conversation over dinner. I just get this nagging feeling that there’s more to his relationship with Marion than he’s telling me. The only thing I know is that his family and her family have a long history and they knew each other as kids. He moved here over a decade ago and she started working with his wine division of Towers Holdings about four years ago. That’s all I know. If I am going to be held here like a kept woman, I think maybe while he’s gone I will see if I can probe Philippe or Garrin for information.

In the meantime, I need to get some sleep. I have a busy day ahead of juggling my current projects.

I wake up the next morning to a very big and lonely bed. I look over to where Harrison would normally be lying. The nauseous feeling in the pit of my stomach has returned along with some cramping. I pick up my phone and see that it’s time to get up, so no lounging in bed for me. I head to the bathroom and really feel the cramps. Then it occurs to me that I must be starting my period. Well that’s good timing while Harrison is gone. I set about getting ready when I realize I have no messages from Harrison. He should have gotten there about 5:00 AM my time. He said he would message me when the plane landed. He must have forgotten.

After I’m finished getting ready, I head into the kitchen to get something to drink and there is a note for me from Philippe.

Miss Austen,

Coffee is in carafe and breakfast in the warming oven. Please turn the oven off before you leave.

I will have your dinner ready for you tonight.

Philippe

How very thoughtful of him. I just wish I were hungry. I open the drawer to find one of his famous omelets. I take it out and turn off the oven. I help myself to some delicious black coffee and force down a few bites of the omelets and toast. I’m disappointed that Philippe isn’t here this morning so I can probe him about Harrison. Maybe tonight I can try. I scratch a thank you on his note and then leave to go to my office.

I get into my office and settle into my days work. I check my phone again and still nothing from Harrison. This is very odd. I decide to send one to him.

9:14 AM

Me

Hey! Did you get there safe? Getting worried!

I set my phone to the side and engross myself into my work selecting dining tables for the Professors to choose from. An hour goes by and I still haven’t heard anything. It makes the sick feeling in my stomach worse. I reason that I haven’t heard anything because maybe he went straight into meetings when he got there. I mean, they are in a different time zone, that puts them three hours ahead of us here.

I continue to focus on my work and then finally hear my phone buzzing on my desk. I pick up to see it is just that annoying unknown caller. I hit ignore.

The day seems to drag on and I fail to hear back from Harrison. I’ve sent a total of four texts by the time late afternoon rolls around. I have half a mind to call his personal assistant, but decide against it. If I call, it might create office chatter and the last thing I want to do is seem like the spying girlfriend. Actually no, I’m not the girlfriend. I sit there for a moment in stunned silence realizing that we have no definition of our status. I don’t know if I’m just the woman he’s having sex with at the moment, or what.

The phone buzzes twice. That means two text messages.

4:38 PM

Harrison Towers

SO SORRY Danielle, I hit the ground running when we landed. I’ve been in meetings all day and now at dinner. I will call you in the morning.

4:38 PM

Harrison Towers

PS. I miss you.

Well, I am glad that it’s as I suspected and that he was in meetings. I wonder, though, why he couldn’t have sent a quick text to let me know he was okay. On one hand, he claims he doesn’t want a relationship, and yet he has set this up as one. Here he is saying he will check in with me tomorrow. If all we are doing is having sex, then he would have said I’ll have sex with you when I get back, not I will call you and I miss you. It’s all so puzzling and I wish I could get him to stop sidestepping these things and just hit this head on. 

I decide to send him a quick text back.

4:40 PM

Me

So relieved you are safe. I look forward to your call in the morning. I miss you too.

I don’t receive a text back, so I assume that he’s focused on his dinner.

After I send my last email to my clients, I pack up my briefcase and lock up the office. Good time to end the day. I pull into the parking garage and head up to the penthouse. I walk into the cavernous space, feeling so alone and deflated. It occurs to me that this is what it would be like if we actually did live together. Without Harrison here, the place feels more like a museum than a home. I set my things down, kick off my shoes and seek out Philippe. I walk into an empty kitchen with another note from the little French man.

Miss Austen,

Your dinner is in the warming oven. Please remember to turn it off. There is a bottle of wine chilling for you. Enjoy your evening. I will be back in the morning to prepare your breakfast.