Her Venice Affair (The Albury Affairs) (4 page)

“You are no longer invited on this trip Theresa.
Neither is Michael!” he barked.

“Oh, Michael! He’s so very hot and yet so very stupid.
I think his brains are in his balls. And Theresa? Mother Theresa, forgive her
for soiling your good name,” Loraine muttered next to Riana, shaking her head.

Riana wasn’t sure whether to laugh or worry for her
friend’s sanity. She always did and said the oddest things at the oddest times.

Riana took a good look at Michael, who had been
cowering behind Theresa. Loraine was right—he was hot. He was lean and tall
with crystal-clear blue eyes and tousled brown hair. He looked so much like a
GQ model. But he looked like he was about to be sick from how quickly his face paled.
Why was he invited to Venice anyway if it was supposed to be a romantic getaway?

“Are…are you…Am I being fired?” he stammered.

Oh hell
, Riana thought, feeling sorry for the guy.

Allan’s lips parted in a sinister smile. “You are
smart! If only your brain was working when you were fucking my girlfriend. Yes,
I am firing you. And Theresa, if you haven’t caught on yet, it also means our
relationship is over.”

Theresa’s jaw dropped open, forming a large, deep red
‘O’. Riana heard the gasp from the crowd that seemed to have grown in number.

Note number
two, never cross Allan Sinclair
.
Riana squeezed his side, hoping he’d understand her. The embarrassment in front
of all the people who mattered in society was enough punishment. If he cut them
down another foot, they would never survive it.

“Is there a problem here?”

“Oh, damn!” Loraine groaned next to her. Riana
couldn’t have said it any better. The dragon lady—known better as Mrs. Nicholas—had
landed. Shit just got worse.

“Yes, there is a problem.” Theresa pointed a painted,
red fingernail at her. “I want this thing fired!”

“What?” Loraine and Riana exclaimed at the same time.

The dragon lady gave her a cut nod. “Immediately, Miss
Davenport!”

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” Loraine yelled.

“Mrs. Nicholas, I did nothing wrong!” Riana protested,
pulling out of Allan’s embrace.

She tipped her chin up with an air of self-importance.
“That doesn’t matter. You are relieved of your job Miss
Albury
.
You too, Miss Larson.”

“She did nothing wrong!” Riana exclaimed.

Riana felt Allan tuck his fingers in the waistband of
her trousers and pull her back against his chest. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll find
you other jobs.”

“But—” Riana blurted.

Loraine moved closer to Theresa. “Or you could just
pay our bills. I have no qualms living off my best friend’s
new boyfriend
. He’s a billionaire you
know.” Theresa’s face turned beetroot red, her fists clenched tightly at her
sides in pure rage. With a satisfactory smile, Loraine gave her a salute and
walked away. “Come on guys, let’s blow this joint.”

“Wait!” Riana barely got the word out before Allan
dragged her away.

After collecting their things from the company van,
they joined Allan and stood outside with the doorman, waiting for Allan’s limo,
and all Riana could do was pace nervously.

“I knew this was going to happen. I mean, when a day
starts with the worst finals paper that ever existed in the world, as if it had
been sent straight from hell to torture me, to catching my roommate riding my
boyfriend like a freaking horse into oblivion, and now I’m fired from a job
that took me months to find. Here I am, with no income, no place to live…with
absolutely nothing! I don’t even have my books to study for my last paper. And
of course I’m going to fail that too then I’ll have to—”

“I thought you’ve never had sex?” Allan questioned,
interrupting her rambling.

“Oh she has, but judging from her description it
sounds more like scratching an itch than sex. Right, Riana?” Loraine piped in.

“Thank you so much, Loraine, now I’m going to think
something is wrong with me because I was never satisfied. Well according to
Claire, something is definitely wrong with me because I apparently only like
missionary style like some damn nun on a Sunday. If I do prefer said sex
position, I should have felt a lot more than pressure and impatience for the
whole damn thing to be over. Steve was the experienced one, he should have
taken the initiative to spice things up but
nooo
, he
only thought of number one! When he was under Claire, he made noises he’d never
made with me and he let her come first which he’s never done with me—”

Her next words were interrupted by a pair of warm lips
pressing against hers. She was stunned for a moment as Allan’s arm snaked
around her waist and pulled her flush against his body, and the other wide hand
held the back of her head, keeping her in place, as his mouth ravished hers.

His lips tugged on hers, sucking on her lower lip and
pulling it into his mouth, suckling so hard the intensity shot a volt right to
her core and she opened her mouth with a gasp. He didn’t waste any time in
pushing his tongue past her teeth, invading, plundering, and provoking her
tongue into a duel.

He consumed her, leaving her no space to breathe but
she didn’t care. Allan Sinclair tasted as refreshing as he smelled—like rain
forests on a cool morning, yet tempting and dark. And with every twirl of his
tongue he promised hidden pleasures piled one on top of the other, ensuring
she’d never be the same after he was done setting fires not only on her lips
and her tongue but every inch of her body, and she couldn’t wait for the
promises he presented to be fulfilled.

And even as he pulled away, ending the flight to the
heavens with feather kisses, and a swipe of his tongue over the nips of his
teeth on her lips, she knew she would never be the same from that moment
henceforth.

* * * *

Allan pulled away because he knew if he didn’t stop
now he never would. The taste of her mouth was intoxicating. He’d never felt
like this with anyone else, especially not with Theresa.

He stared down at his little drug, his breathing heavy
and uncontrolled, but she seemed serene, at peace, and happy with her eyes
closed and her lips spread in the loveliest smile he’d ever seen, not at all
starved for breath like he was. How could she be so peaceful when she’d just
fed off him, pulling out not only his breath but everything that was inside him
with just her sweet lips?

Allan knew it was crazy taking her to Venice. He’d
only suggested it at first to annoy Theresa. But now he couldn’t wait for the
moment they’d be alone on his yacht with nothing but the bright night lights
and cool water around them. If it were possible, he would’ve whisked her away
at that very moment. But firing Michael had set him back significantly and
there was the matter about her not having a passport.

But he didn’t have to take her to Venice to finally
taste every inch of the hidden treasures under her waitress uniform. He could
easily book a suite, carry her upstairs immediately, and relieve the rock hard
erection the taste of her lips had caused.

But no. He had to take her to Venice. Just to make it
special for her. He didn’t know why, but aside from the problems she’d already
rambled about—he liked her rambling and this was the second time it had aroused
him—he had a feeling there was something else that kept her so timid and shy.

He then glanced over at Loraine. Loraine might have
introduced herself to him as a rabid bulldog ready to rip him to shreds if he
hurt Riana but he was growing to not only like but appreciate her vicious
nature. Riana needed a friend like Loraine who’d always have her back and not
one like her asshole boyfriend and jockey roommate. And because of her vicious
nature, and for the sake of his sanity, he wasn’t going to touch Riana again
until they reached Venice. Then he was going to try and convince her to stay
the month and each day he would endeavor to make it special for her.

Why?
At the moment he had no clue, nor did he care to
rationalize why he felt he must. He was going to do this for her because he
wanted to.

“Riana?”

He placed his hand on her cheek and she leaned into it
with a sigh. Allan drew in a deep breath. She was making it near impossible to
keep from walking back into the hotel and booking a suite.

“You won’t fail your last paper. You’ll just have to
go to the library to study because frankly that’s what libraries are for. You
will stay with Loraine and live off her rich parents’ money for a while because
I’m sure the only reason she’s working is to annoy them and exert her
independence. And finally, in a week’s time, we’ll be leaving for Venice, where
we’ll live on my yacht and make love every night because during the day I’ll be
working. I would have preferred to spend the days with you too, but that can’t
be helped since I just fired Michael. And you’ll pass the days away spending my
money which I’m sure won’t be as much as Theresa usually does.”

He tucked his fingers under her chin and pushed her
head up so that he could look into her eyes. “And Riana?”

 
“
Mmm
-hmm
?”

“I promise I won’t be selfish when we have sex. I’ll
make you come so hard until you lay shattered and spent in my arms before I
take my own pleasures.” He brushed his lips against hers and Riana parted her
lips in anticipation of another kiss. “Am I clear, Riana?”

Riana went on her toes to close the hair’s breadth
distance between their lips. “Perfectly.”

He chuckled and pressed a lingering kiss on her lips.
“Did you even hear a word I said?”

She ran the tip of her tongue over his lower lip. “I’m
not sure. Do you want to tell me again?”

Loraine laughed shaking her head. “Don’t worry about
it, Allan. I’ll repeat it to her when she finally sobers from your kiss, word
for word.”

Chapter Three

“Are you sure that’s what I said?” Riana asked for the
hundredth time that week. She couldn’t possibly believe she agreed to any of
it. After that kiss—which still tied her stomach in knots every time she
thought about it—she didn’t remember a word he said. She was too busy watching
those lips move, wondering when he was going to kiss her again. She thought
about it every moment of every day.

She sighed.
Those
sweet, sexy lips…

She slapped her forehead with the palm of her hand.
Idiot! Aren’t you in a mess already because
of those lips!

Loraine stuffed her mouth with more popcorn. “Yup. You,
my dear friend, agreed to service him every single night of those two weeks.
But he did promise to repay the favor tenfold.”

Riana dropped on the couch, her head in her hands.
“Oh, God. I agreed to have sex with a total stranger.”

“For two weeks.”

“I know that!” she snapped.

Loraine was quiet for a moment before she leaned in
and added conspiratorially. “Every. Single. Night.”

“Loraine!”

She shrugged backing away. “Hey, he hasn’t tried to
track you down in over a week. Maybe he’s changed his mind. Maybe he’s found
another girl to take.”

The thought of Allan taking another girl on a trip
he’d promised her after the bone-melting kiss he’d planted on her made her
chest ache with unfamiliar pain. He said they’d leave in a week’s time. It had
been ten days. Three days past the seven that composed a week.

She chewed nervously on her lower lip. Could Loraine
be right?

Oh please
no!
“You think so?”

Loraine sighed with exasperation. “You can’t be
serious, Riana! First you were freaking out about going out of the country with
a stranger and now the prospect of it not happening is making you sad? Make up
your mind woman!”

Riana leaned her head back against the backrest of the
couch, pulled the quilt over her head, and groaned. “I don’t know what to do or
think. I’m so confused!”

The doorbell rang and Loraine stood to answer it.
“Well, you better make up
you
mind before Mr. Allan
Sinclair decides to call you.” Riana heard the door open, and then Loraine
laughed. “Actually, you are going to have to make that decision now.”

“
Huh
?” Riana
pulled the quilt off her face and turned to the door. There stood a man in a
chauffer’s uniform with his cap held against his chest. He had the largest
smile plastered on his face.

“Miss
Albury
, Mr. Sinclair
is waiting for you at the airport. He has your passport and all other necessary
documentation. His instructions are not to pack any clothing items, as all you
require will be purchased once you reach your destination. The jet will be
leaving for Italy in an hour.” He turned to the side and stretched his arm out
signaling with his cap. “Shall we?”

* * * *

Allan leaned back in his comfy, leather seat, hoping
to get at least one hour of sleep before Riana arrived and they could finally
leave. Seven hours in the sky with a beautiful woman and no work to plow
through, after working on very little sleep for the past two days, was exactly
what he needed. Acquiring a hotel chain was more of a headache than he had
anticipated.

His executives at Sinclair Enterprise were shocked by
his sudden interest in the hotel business. Sinclair Enterprise only dealt with
buying manufacturing companies, tearing them apart, and selling them off piece
by piece at a two hundred percent profit.

The hotel business was only for his baby sister’s
benefit. He had a soft spot for her. Now no one could accuse him of being a
completely cold-hearted businessman.

Unlike others he knew, Allan helped the workers of all
the companies he had torn apart find work someplace else in addition to a very
large severance pay, which equaled six months of their monthly salary—twice as
much as their original company severance package.

Melody had always wanted to run her very own hotel.
She had a vision of making it a home away from home for her clients. Allan
agreed to help her start her own hotel if she agreed to do a year’s internship
with three of the best hotels he knew existed. Having done two thirds of the year
at The Ritz and The Hilton, she was now at the Trump. Allan was proud of her.
She’d shown dedication and hard work, and she was just twenty-three, an age
where she should be living it up.

As a reward, he’d decided to acquire an international
chain of hotels for her. He wouldn’t be taking it apart. He’d just weed it out,
replace some of the staff, and then hand it over to Melody in a pretty, pink
bow. Allan was sure she would love it. Though it may be bigger than what she’d
planned, Allan had all the confidence in her to make it a success again.

Casa
Italian
—very original—had one hotel
in every major city in Italy, as well as locations in Paris, Barcelona, London
and Los Angeles. The failed one in New York was what put them in the red; if
New Yorkers were one thing, it was loyal to their brands.
Casa
Italiano
New York
didn’t stand a chance of survival two years after it
opened. So they currently had eight in total, and maybe once the chain was
steady on its feet, he might help reopen the branch in New York. That should be
a good start for Melody.

The headquarters of
Casa
Italiano
was in Venice, which
explained the business part of the trip. The pleasure part had to do with the
curvaceous, hundred and twenty pound, five foot six, curly haired, brown skinned
beauty who had the most amazingly hypnotizing brown eyes with green streaks.
The same woman who possessed the softest,
oh
so soft
, and most delicious, supple lips that had haunted the little sleep
he’d had since the day he’d kissed her.

Allan shook his head and chuckled. He never thought a
woman’s rambling could be so sexy.

He despised it when people couldn’t say what they
intended in five sentences or less. He didn’t want a story or a history lesson,
just the facts.

But Riana’s sweet voice going on and on about nothing
in particular he found cute and very arousing.

He sighed contently. Soon, they’d finally be in Venice
and he’d be able to touch her and kiss her again.

Riana…

She was so different from the women he was used to or
even chased after. She wasn’t a very confident person and was naïve with a
gentle soul. He was sure she’d believed in Santa Claus well into her teen
years.

Allan chuckled. He could see Loraine bursting that
little bubble.

Allan could tell Loraine was always trying to get
Riana to stiffen her backbone more. He agreed with Loraine on that one; if she
didn’t get a stronger backbone the world was going to destroy her gentle soul.

He wondered about her parents and what they’d say
about her taking a two week long—hopefully an entire month long—trip to Venice
with a stranger? She seemed sheltered, the type to call her mom five times a
day. He knew she was in college because she was taking finals and the fact that
she was permitted to serve alcohol put her above twenty-one. Hopefully she was
twenty-two or twenty-three. He could live with a seven year difference, but not
nine or more. He wasn’t a cradle robber.

Allan frowned. Since when did he care about age
difference?

Maybe because this was the first
girl
he was dating and not a
woman
.
Hold up. Not dating. Just having a rebound affair with. He’d sooth her pain of
catching her boyfriend having sex with her roommate and she’d sooth the
embarrassment his ego met at having her watch with him as his longest
girlfriend in the history of his love life got fucked by the boy who was to be
his protégée at a cancer charity ball.

Yeah,
that’s what this is. Don’t complicate it, Allan Sinclair. She’s not your type.
Too young. Besides, you aren’t looking for a relationship. Just someone to keep
you company at night.

Riana…
he whispered her name in his thoughts and smiled. Soon
he’d have her under him, above him, and as many other positions as were humanly
possible.

He settled more comfortably in his seat to dream of
all he was going to do to her once they reached Venice.

* * * *

Riana walked into the small jet and stopped at the
door. She leaned forward and peeped inside. It was small. Really small.
Claustrophobic small!

She’d only been on a plane three times. Once when she
flew to Florida to bury her mother, then to Washington to say goodbye to her
brother when he was deported, and finally back to New York and to her lonely,
family-less life.

Oh Mama, I
miss you so much. Reno, I wish I’d gone home with you
. Riana batted her lashes rapidly to hold the tears
back.

Reno had her sell everything they’d owned to afford
the funeral and the rest was used on air fare and living expenses for her. The
little possessions that were too sentimental to sell Riana kept in her
apartment—well, not her apartment anymore. Loraine promised to pack up her
stuff and move them to Riana’s new home before the end of the month, in case
Steve and Claire decided to pawn them for rent.

“Hello, I’m Gina, and welcome aboard. Please take your
seat. I’ll bring you some refreshments before takeoff.” The flight attendant said
with a sweet, polite voice and a perfect, red smile on her face.

Riana nodded with a quivering smile. She took a
cautious step in. She was tempted to ask where the emergency exists were and if
there were any parachutes available. Instead she asked, “Where’s Allan…I mean
Mr. Sinclair?”

“Mr. Sinclair is asleep. If you like, you may take the
seat next to him.”

Riana nodded and quickly moved to the seat next to
Allan. Being next to him might help take the edge off. She wasn’t particularly
fond of flying.

She stopped before him and smiled. He looked
completely relaxed and gentle, unlike when he was wide awake. She’d noticed at
the charity ball he was so stiff, upright and stoic, with a stern business look
on his face. Well, except for when he was comforting her.

Riana’s smile widened to a grin when he sighed and
smiled. He was having a wonderful dream and she was glad for him.

She sat down and buckled in tightly. Then she took a
look around the compact plane.

The seats were just like those in first class on
commercial flights, large and comfortable. Only these were covered in tan
leather and there were two others facing them. The seats were situated the same
way on the other side of the plane. Behind her seat there was a table full of papers
and an office chair. And right across there was a long couch that matched the
seats.

Right at the back of the plane there was a door. The flight
attendant, Gina, walked past her with a smile and paused at the door. She
opened it, closed it behind her once she was inside, and then five minutes
later, she walked out and closed the door again.

“Excuse me,” Riana whispered—she didn’t want to wake
Allan. “What’s behind that door?”

Gina’s lips spread into a knowing smile. She leaned
down to whisper in Riana’s ear, “It’s a bedroom.”

“A what!” Riana quickly covered her mouth and turned
to Allan. He stirred in his seat but he didn’t wake up. She turned back to
Gina. “Why would the owner need a bed in a plane?”

 
“For long
flights and for the
lady
friends
Mr. Sinclair brings along to
keep him
company,
especially during
long trips out of the States.” She straightened, and then winked. “It is his
personal jet after all. Enjoy your flight.”

Riana watched her walk away, stunned. She wasn’t sure
what shocked her more, Allan owning his own plane or that she was about to be
one of the
many
Allan had already
bedded in his plane. She most definitely did not want to become one of the
many. Riana groaned as the logic sank in. Not one of the many? Here she was
going to Venice with him! Some moral compass!

“Fasten your seat belts we are about to take off,” the
captain’s voice echoed.

Riana checked Allan’s belt. It was fastened, thank
God. She wasn’t sure about digging her hands under him searching for the belt
and bringing her fingers close to his crotch. She leaned back into her seat,
closed her eyes and began reciting the Lord’s Prayer, just like the three other
times she’d been on a plane.

* * * *

One hour into the smooth flight, Riana was sipping her
fruit juice when Allan began talking in his sleep. The way he was groaning, she
thought he was having a nightmare, until she saw the bulge in his pants. She
swallowed hard. That was worse.

Riana shook him. “Allan, wake up!”

He turned to her and groaned again.