Guilty Pleasure (7 page)

Michael grabbed her hand and led her to the
dining room.

“
Sit.”

She did. “Your condo is so large. Do you
entertain a lot?”

“
Nope.” He set the plate of
stir-fry in front of her. “I like my space. And like I said the
view was worth the price of this condo.” He sat across from
her.

She began eating. “This is delicious.”

“
I’m glad you like it. I’m
a very private person, Nicole. If you want to start any sort of
relationship with me you need to know that.”

“
There are different levels
of private.”

“
I don’t have many friends.
I don’t have time. I have had two serious relationships in my life
and both of those I kept very private.” He saw her apprehension.
“What’s wrong, Nicole?”

“
I moved here to get out of
a very bad relationship. Nathan tried to isolate me from
everyone…”

“
Oh, I see now, I don’t own
you, Nicole, nor do I ever want to. You are your own woman. It’s
just when I share myself with someone I become very vulnerable and
I don’t like feeling that way. And I don’t want what happened to
Adam to happen to me. What woman wouldn’t want to show off her
rich, successful and attractive man? I’m not some show pony. I need
to know that if I make myself vulnerable to a woman that she wants
to get to know me, not what I can do for her. I hope I’m explaining
this right.”

“
I think I
understand.”

“
There is something about
you, Nicole, that makes me feel safe. And like I said your
submissive nature is calling out to my dominant nature. I want to
protect you. I want to get to know you. I’m not going to lie to you
and fill your head with romantic notions, it takes me awhile to
fall in love, but when I do I fall hard. I’m leaving myself open
for you to hurt me…”

“
I want to get to know you.
I have never met a man like you before that makes me melt
inside.”

“
Melt inside, I like
that.”

She looked at him, knowing he would be
smiling. God, she love this man’s smile.

Michael stood and went over to her. “Come
with me, Nicole.” He grabbed her hand and led her out onto the
balcony that looked over Lake Michigan. “Beautiful, isn’t it.”

“
Yes.” She took in the view
as she held his hand tightly. She couldn’t stop this, she was
falling in love with him. A part of her was terrified and yet
another part of her was excited. He was so different than
Nathan.

He pulled her into his arms and held her
tightly to him. He kissed her with the same ferocity he did when he
took her in his office. Her body, her mind, surrendered completely
to him. He lifted her up and pressed her against the glass. He used
one hand to tear her panties from her.

“
I suggest you don’t wear
panties around me, woman,” he said as he playfully bit her lip. He
quickly undid his jeans and let them fall down to his ankles. He
rammed his cock deeply into her. He felt her legs wrap tighter
around him as he thrust hard. He pressed his body against hers as
he continued to take her roughly. She surrendered to him, he could
feel it and this only fueled his need to take her rougher. Her
hands glided through his hair as she held on to him.

“
Yes!” she moaned as she
rode the waves of her orgasm.

“
Look at me,” he
growled.

Her eyes slowly opened. The intensity of his
dark eyes sent an erotic shiver through her body.

“
You are mine. Say
it.”

“
I’m yours….I’m yours,
Sir.”

“
Oh God, yes!!” he howled
as he orgasmed. He held her to him for a moment and slowly put her
down.

He pulled up his jeans as she straightened
out her skirt. He grabbed her hand and led her back into the main
living area. He sat on the sofa and pulled her down onto his
lap.

“
I need to keep what
develops between us secret, Nicole. I need to know that you want to
be with me for me.”

“
I’m scared…what if you
just want to control me like Nathan had done.”

“
I’m not trying to control
you, Nicole. I just want to keep our relationship a secret. All
other parts of your life is what you decide. When we are at work
I’m your boss, not your lover. If this is too much for you I will
understand.”

“
I want to try. I want to
give you what you need, but promise me once you feel safe that I’m
not trying to use you that we can tell other people about
us.”

“
Of course. I’m glad you
understand and respect my feeling about this.”

He laid her down on the sofa and leisurely
kissed her. He couldn’t risk anyone knowing that they were
involved. A part of him wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe,
this might work out between them. Yet, he believed that about the
other two and both ended the same way. He looked down at her lying
underneath him. The trust she had in her eyes, the way she smiled
sweetly at him, just the general warmth she had about her. She was
a fool to give herself to him. How could she not see what he really
was? She reached up and gently caressed his cheek. Such a simple
gestured, one that normally wouldn’t mean anything to him, but
yet…the way the light danced in her big brown eyes…a small part of
him wanted to tell her to run away from him.

“
Kiss me,” she said
softly.

He smiled then leaned in
and kissed her slowly and completely.
Run,
Nicole, run away from me while you still can
…ran over and over in his mind.

***

Nicole went into her apartment. She spotted
Adam sitting at the kitchen table with Monica. Something was wrong.
She could tell by the look on Monica’s face.

“
What happened?” Nicole
said.

“
They found Adam’s
ex-girlfriend and some guy dead in her apartment.”

“
The cops came to my
apartment and brought me to the police station. They fucking
thought I did that to her.” Adam felt sick to his
stomach.

“
Those asshole cops showed
Adam pictures of the crime scene,” Monica said.

“
Oh my God, why would they
do that?” Nicole said.

“
They wanted to see my
reaction. I can’t believe they thought I could butcher someone like
that. I was hurt and angry with her, but I never wanted something
like that to happen to her.”

Nicole sat next to him.

“
You are clear of the
charges right?” Nicole asked.

“
Yes. I had an airtight
alibi, me and my band were rehearsing at the studio. I’m never
going to get those images out of my head.”

Nicole grabbed his hand and squeeze lightly.
He was so distraught she wanted to ease his pain a little. She
couldn’t believe that someone killed Mindy. They were just helping
Adam get over losing her and now this. It was surreal.

“
The cops think it was some
sort of drug deal gone wrong. That guy she was with has been busted
for dealing before. There were drugs found in the apartment. All of
that coupled with the brutality of the murders leads to that
conclusion,” Monica said.

“
I didn’t know she was
involved with drug dealers,” Adam said.

“
The cops shouldn’t have
done that to you. There has to be something that can be done. Maybe
Michael would know what to do.”

“
That is sweet of you to
suggest that, Nicole, but all I want to do is forget this. She did
just dump me just before she got murdered. I am the most likely
suspect. I didn’t mean to drag this stuff into you gal’s
home…”

“
Hey, don’t think like
that. Nicole and I are happy to help you. I’m glad you came here.
You are welcomed to stay as long as you want,” Monica
said.

“
I think it’s best if I
just go home. I have to sort this shit out in my head and I do that
better alone. Thanks again for listening.” Adam got up. He gave
both of them a hug and left the room.

Nicole sat back down.

“
Wow, I mean Mindy was a
bitch, but she didn’t deserve that. Adam wanted to see you. He said
something about you brings calm. Where were you last
night?”

“
I…”

“
You said you were going to
Michael’s apartment.”

“
Oh shit I did tell you
that didn’t I.”

“
You stayed at his house
last night…girl, screwing the boss isn’t always a good
idea.”

“
Okay this is going to
sound weird and you have to promise not to tell anyone.”

“
I promise.”

“
It’s very important that
you don’t say anything.”

“
Okay I got it, hush,
hush.”

“
Michael and I are starting
a personal relationship, but he wants to keep it
secret.”

“
A secret, why would he
want to keep your relationship secret? Maybe it has to do with the
fact he is your boss and people at the firm might talk.”

“
That’s part of it. But he
said that he is a very private person and wants to keep his private
life, private, well that is the gist of it. I was worried about
this because of what Nathan did to me, I sure the hell don’t want
to get trapped in something like that again. Michael explain his
reasons and I believe him.”

“
I won’t say anything to
anyone. It’s no one’s business anyways.”

“
I feel weird talking about
this after what happened to Adam.”

“
No one saw that coming,
girl. Plus, Adam would be happy for you.”

“
Don’t tell him about me
and Michael.”

“
I know, calm down. But can
I say something.”

“
Of course.”

“
To me it’s a bit strange
how he doesn’t want anyone to know you guys are starting a
relationship. I can see being hush hush at work, but what is the
big deal if people outside of your work knows.”

“
He wants to be loved for
himself not for what he can do for someone.”

“
Whoa, his past girlfriends
burnt him. It is you and his business, so I will do what you want.
Damn girl, Michael is smoking hot, you lucky bitch.”

Nicole smiled. “I’m just nervous about all
of this. What really scares me is that I think I love him
already.”

“
Love is some scary shit.
That is why I don’t actively seek it out.”

“
We can’t let Adam be
alone.”

“
Nope we can’t. So later on
today we will be bringing him some dinner.”

Chapter Seven

Adam just sat on his sofa staring out into
space. The images of Mindy’s body stabbed like that. Whoever did
that to her wanted her to feel pain. Yet, the man that was with her
only had a couple of stab wounds and his throat cut, which means
whoever did that wanted the guy to see Mindy tortured. That had to
be it. Mindy wasn’t a drug dealer. Yet, there was so many things he
didn’t know about her.

Adam quickly stood when he felt someone’s
hand in his hair.

“
I’m sorry, your door was
open and I was worried,” Nicole stood there with a box of pizza. “I
brought you dinner. Monica will be here shortly.”

“
You didn’t have to do
that.”

“
We wanted to make sure you
were alright.” She went into his small kitchen and set the pizza
box down on the table.

Adam followed her. He barely knew this
woman, but being around her made him calm. He liked talking with
Monica and she was a good listener, but Nicole is why he went to
their apartment. She had such a warmth to her, that added to the
fact you could see what she was thinking because her face was so
expressive was refreshing.

“
I was just talking to
Michael, you know work stuff. I told him what happened to you. I
hope that was okay. I wanted him to be aware just in case you need
a good lawyer.”

“
Michael would be the
lawyer I would want.”

“
Sit down and
eat.”

“
Only if you join
me.”

“
Okay.” She smiled brightly
at him. “Where are your plates?”

“
I will get them.” Adam
went to the cupboard and got three plates. “You did say Monica was
coming, right?”

“
Yep.”

Adam set the plates down then sat on the
chair. Nicole grabbed a couple pieces of pizza and put them on the
plate then handed him the plate. She got some pizza for herself
then sat across from him.

“
You have a nice
apartment,” Nicole said.

“
Nice isn’t exactly a word
I would use for it, but it’s free so I’m not
complaining.”

Nicole talked on about this and that. Adam
just sat there and listened to her. He enjoyed listening to her
talk.

“
Are you and Michael
dating?”

Nicole was quiet for a moment. “Why would
you think that?”

“
When you say his name your
face lights up.”

“
It does?”

“
Yep.” Adam was confused
when she looked a bit distraught. “My bad, you must like him and he
has no idea that you do. I’m sorry for bringing it up.”