Consume Me (A Burning Desire Novel) (11 page)

She was right. The hotel was truly exceptional
in its spirit, dash of gold, shades of red and a delicate touch of ivory ones.
The name suited the era that transpired; 'The Victoria'. I was thankful I had a
job, otherwise, I had no idea how I would afford it after my crazy summer
trips.

The suite was something out of the world.
It had a Mystic vibe. It was also royal and luxurious, a panacea of the
Victorian era and minimalistic modern accommodation.

I had a
shower in one of the most beautiful bathrooms I'd ever been in, I had been
through a whole bunch of outfits; it was closing on ten thirty. I went with a
crisp Bazaar printed silk popover in crepe de chine and a dark blue café Capri
with nude pumps. I kept my curls down, added a lash of eyeliner, and cherry lip
balm.

I grabbed my little clutch, and walked to
the living area of the suite. My friends were still chilling around Jenna's
magic cocktails.

"I can positively say that my job
with you is done." Ryan exclaimed when I appeared in the room.

"You look perfect."

He continued.

"Thank you sweetie."

I was happy with their approval. Ryan used
to go crazy with my choice of clothing. I laughed cherishing the memory.

"I need a shot."

I was growing anxious by the minute.

Jenna placed two full shots, and a squint
of baileys in front of me.

I washed them off down my throat,
relishing the burn of the alcohol, the sweetness of the baileys, and then ran
to the door.

"Good luck."

They yelled in unison behind me.

We were
driving to the office building. Thanks to Zee and Calvin's investigative
prowess, we knew that Landon was in his office gym waiting on a conference call
from his other business partner. I read about him, his name was Alec Avery. He
was his partner in every other business apart from the law firm.

Landon had called me earlier; he kept
insisting that I freed my whole weekend for him and that he was looking forward
to see me. I couldn't help sounding amused, which ended up frustrating him a
little. I avoided asking him where he was, paranoid that he'd somehow figure my
plan out.

I was riding
in the elevator with a beaming Zee. The building security eyed us curiously,
but he walked us in as if he owned the place. I was also surprised to discover
that Mr. Davis had several floors in one of the city's most luxurious tower. I
thought it was excessive to own so many floors for a law firm.

Zee explained that each floor was reserved
for a law department. There was an investigative one in extra, and the
entertainment floor had a space for office parties, a gym for employees, and a
nursery for their kids. I was fascinated.

We walked into what Zee had called the
'Leisure Office'. It was leisure all right, there were a variety of games for
adults, as if a lawyer would find time between clients and court to go and play
pool and tennis table in an open space. There was a library and several couches
laid around. In the center of the wall, Davis & Crawley was carved on the
bright neat glass frame.

We walked past a nursery, there were two
little kids sleeping inside, with a seemingly tired petite Asian watching them.
It was decorated as if it was a little school. We passed through a TV room, two
restrooms, and a closed cornered room holding the name of Evelyn Crawley. We
turned a corner and I could glance at what seemed like a gigantic gym room.

"My work here is done."

Zee beamed at me one last time before
waving goodbye in silence, as if to preserve the surprise.

I couldn't tell where Landon stood from
where I was.

I
sashayed swiftly until I was faced with a back silhouette going full out on one
of the million treadmills. I was nearly giddy with anticipation. He wore black
shorts that hugged his ass in the most bewitching way known to mankind. I
froze, witnessing the irrefutable proof of how beautiful the man was. His back
was strong and lean; a long crook traced its way along his waist. It was both
scary and sexy as hell.

I could
tell he was plugged in with the music. He looked straight through the enormous
screen that transmitted 3D images of a park. I pushed my little silhouette
through the glass door, seeing him like that, had my determination set off the
chart, I walked slowly behind him. The gym was absurdly vast. I went through
several machinery and ridiculously filled shelves of towels.

Landon
looked to his left; I followed his line of sight to find my own silhouette
reflected on the big glass over-heading the free weights. He slowed the
treadmills until it stopped and stared at my reflection in the mirror, I stared
at his as well.

What I experienced watching his shirtless
photo in Haiti was nothing compared to what I was witnessing in the middle of
that ridiculous office space.

My
pulse quickened, and then stopped. Fast breaths rushed out of my slightly
parted lips. He was the most breathtaking sight. Chocolate sweaty strands
framed his gorgeous face. His eyes were traveling all over me, he blinked once
or twice, but my focus was on the rest of him. His biceps made my brain crash;
flawlessly cut and aglow. His chest was strong, proportional to the frame of
his shoulders. My eyes drifted along his beautiful V wrapped in the sexiest,
most refined six packs I'd ever seen.

My breath hitched and I lost my course of
thought, drowned in his expression.

It took
him a minute to move again, as if he thought I was the fruit of his
imagination. He moved from the treadmill, and strode to me. His eyes glimmered
with something dangerously appealing,

"Miss Dane."

My inside quivered.

"You are ever the electrifying
woman."

Landon didn't hesitate to grab me in the
most unforeseen kiss. I would've never imagined that a sweaty man would smell
as divine as he did. I was intoxicated.

He cut our sealed lips and frowned.

"I'm sorry. I ruined your
shirt."

He said apologetically.

"It's worth it."

I responded pushing myself closer and renewing
our kiss. I'd been obsessed with all the wrong ways it could've gone that I'd
forgotten how his lips felt on mine. I offered him an opening, and he deepened
our kiss greedily with a low groan.

I was wild with arousal as if I was a sex
goddess. I kissed him, and sucked at his lips. My heart thrummed in my mouth,
my insides melted and unfurled with each sweet and salted lush.

To my greatest disappointment, Landon cut
our kiss again.

I arched my neck to level with his
brain-frying gaze.

A small frown formed between his brows.

"But how? How did you get here?"

"By way of air."

I grinned.

"And into the building? And how did
you know where I would be?"

I smiled smugly and winked at him.

Landon wrapped his arms around me and I
relished his warmth.

"Very resourceful little thing,
aren't you?"

"I am."

I affirmed looking into the beautiful gray
sea.

"Also, you should assess some of your
employees' loyalty. I found them to be easily tamable."

Landon beamed at me.

"Bad for business, but certainly admirable
for my personal life. Who?"

"Are you going to fire them?"

I teased. The man was probably one of the
most remarkable bosses I'd ever seen.

"You mean double their pay
grade?"

I chuckled. I was full of admiration in
front of such a kind-hearted, and fine specimen, of a man.

"In that case; your beloved
Calvin."

I said quoting him

"And Smiley-Zee."

His lips twitched with amusement.

"Smiley-Zee?"

He cocked his head, raising an amused
eyebrow.

I loved the sight of him like that. He
looked carefree and so young.

"He smiles a lot. I find it to be
extremely contagious."

"Right there with you."

He acquiesced.

"He'll get a reason to double that
amount of contagion."

I couldn't help wrapping my arms around him.
I pressed a kiss to the light stubble of hair centering his chest.

"What was that for?"

He asked pushing a curly strand behind my
ear.

I raised my shoulders, and shrugged.

"Just find a way around it
Alec!"

We were in Landon's office. It was a
luxurious space, although very minimalist; a glass desk, glass floating
shelves, and a conference table. He had a collection of photos. I'd only
recognized Evelyn and Alec from the Internet pictures. A photo of an old couple
that looked weirdly familiar to me. They looked completely and utterly mad
about each other.

The captured moment alone inspired both
awe and envy. I could guess they were pictures of people who were close to him.
I peered around waiting for him to finish his conversation with his partner.

Landon
Davis was a man to be admired; from what I've gathered from the conversation,
they were in the process of building a hotel in Buenos Aires. They were
actually rebuilding one, and there were inadequate business shops that belonged
to some old family who didn't want to leave the area. Alec failed to convince
them with an insane amount of money, even though the authorities in Argentina
had been threatening to destroy the shops because of some sanitary issues.

Landon suggested that either they’d got
them brand new shops in a rural area or that they offer them a space in the
hotel to sell adequate touristic product as he apparently did in Chicago. It
was disturbing and admirable; after all, even the government condemned the
business. Yet, for some reason, he didn't want that.

I
watched him intently as I would a magnificent piece at the Uffizi museum. I was
searching for some flaws; he was too good to be true. He was devouring me with
his hot gaze, sending shivers through my sensitive skin.

"Trust me buddy, it has been a shitty
day. I think we should delay and let the authorities in here take care of
it."

Alec said resignedly.

"No. Out of the question. Hang on in
there, I'll send Evelyn with an offer they won't refuse."

"Dear god, don't send that crazy
bitch in here."

I stifled a laugh. His tone was one of
both disdain and abhorrence.

"Come on Alec, she's the only one who
can do it."

"Hell. To. The. No. I'd rather stop
the fucking construction overall than have her around me."

I kept laughing.

"Stop it, don't be a pain in my
ass."

"Then don't send one my way
either."

They both sighed, then Alec made a
suggestion.

"Why don't you get over here or are
you too smitten with that imaginary Esmeralda from Notre Dame"

I eyeballed the speakerphone as if it'd
just grown tentacles.

Landon remained composed and smiled at me
with pure adoration.

"She's very much real, trust me. And
she's hearing you."

"Oh yeah. And in your imaginary
world, are you the only person able to hear her."

I smiled and walked to Landon. He pulled
me into his lap, and laughed.

"What do you think?"

I said smiling into the speakerphone.

Alec fell silent for a beat.

"Well hello there."

He said charmingly. I liked him without
even meeting him. They were equally rich and handsome, yet he sounded a lot
more spontaneous and fun.

"Hello to you too Mr. Avery."

Landon frowned at me

"Mr. Avery?"

"Yeah Mr. Avery is my dad. You call
me Alec."

"I'm sorry, Wikipedia."

I said as a way of explaining to Landon
how I'd come to know his partner's last name.

"So is it true that you fell from the
sky right into my friend's arm?"

He asked in an amused drawl.

"Alec."

Landon warned.

"Are there lots of angels that fall
in front of Notre Dame? Would I get lucky if I go there like, say
tomorrow?"

I chuckled in Landon's lap, feeling both
embarrassed and flattered.

Landon kept warning but Alec kept on.

"Do you have like some kind of
schedule?"

"I'm sure that if you were to stand in
front of Notre Dame, lots of female angels would fall into your arm."