Lie Next to Me (25 page)
Authors: Sandi Lynn
I lay there wrapped in Ian’s arms, the sheets tangled between us, from the best sex we ever had. I was on Cloud Nine and nothing could bring me down. The passion that I felt when we made love was like nothing I’d ever felt before. I lifted my head and looked at Ian’s smiling face.
“I think you need to explain about Andre.”
“I was wondering when you were going to ask me about him. I found out you were here from Adalynn’s assistant. That reminds me, Adalynn and I are going to have quite a talk when we get back because she lied to me about you.”
“Leave Adalynn alone.” I smiled.
“Anyway, I knew where this place was because it’s been in her family for years and I’d stayed here a few times when I came to Paris. I’ve known Andre for a long time, and I figured you’d be checking out the fruit stand since it was so close, so I sent him your picture, asked him to be on the lookout for you, and asked him to keep an eye on you until I could
get here.
“So that’s why he didn’t hit on me.”
“He didn’t hit on you because I threatened him. Believe me, he would have.”
“You arranged to meet me at the Eiffel Tower. That was very romantic.” I smiled.
“I’m trying to be, Rory. I know I said all that shit about romance and stuff, but the truth is, I’ve never wanted to do any of those things until I met you. Oh, that reminds me,” he said as he got up and pulled a box from his pants pocket.
“Here,” he said as he handed me a small box.
He climbed back into bed and I opened the box, revealing my key necklace that he’d given me before. “Thank you, Ian. I’ve missed this.”
“It’s a new one. Your other one is still sitting on the dresser where you left it.”
“What? I don’t understand.”
“When I gave that other one to you, I told you that it represented that you’ll always have a place to stay. I wanted to give you a new one that represented something else. This necklace is the key to my heart because you’ve unlocked it and you filled my heart with love. I want you to know that my love for you will always protect you.”
He took the box from my hand and removed the necklace from it. I lifted up my hair as he put it around my neck. “There, it’s right where it’s supposed to be,” he said as he lightly kissed the back of my neck.
I turned around and looked into his eyes. Eyes that were happy and full of life. I placed my hand on his cheek. “I love you so much. I’ve never felt this way before.”
“I’ve never felt this way either. I love you too, Rory,” he said as he kissed the palm of my hand. “Christmas is in a few days and, if you don’t mind, I would like to spend it here, in Paris. No family or friends. Just us. I want to spend Christmas alone with my girlfriend.”
“I would love that. What about your dad? Won’t he be mad?”
“I had a long talk with my dad and I told him how much I loved you and that I was coming to Paris to get you back. He told me to do what I had to do and we’ll talk after the holidays. I also wanted to tell you that I went and visited Stephen before I left.”
“You did? Why?” I asked as I kissed his bare chest.
“Because I wanted to tell him how much I loved you and that I promise to take care of both of you.”
“Ian,” I whispered.
He took my hand and interlaced our fingers. “I’m so sorry for everything, Rory. I really need you to know that.”
I sat up and cupped his face in my hands. “I know you are. I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have pushed you the way I did.”
“No, you doing that really opened my eyes. I thought for days about how much I loved you and how I needed to tell you, but I couldn’t. I was too scared. Scared of everything that love represents.”
“Are you still scared?” I asked.
“A little bit. I’m afraid I’m going to fuck up and you’ll end up leaving again.”
“We need to promise each other that we’ll be open and honest about everything. As long as we talk about how we’re feeling and what’s bothering us, we’
ll be fine.” I smiled as I kissed his lips. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
“Me too, sweetheart,” he said as he pulled me into an embrace. “I’m never letting you out of my sight again.”
“Promise?” I smiled.
“Promise. I need to make love to you again, right now.” He smiled.
“What are you waiting for? I’m more than ready.” I winked as I took his hand and placed it between my legs.
“Damn, I love you!” He smiled as he rolled me on my back and hovered over me.
****
The next morning, after two rounds of making love, we got dressed and walked down the street to the fruit stand. Andre looked at me and winked as he and Ian shook hands.
“You.” I smiled as I pointed my finger at him.
“You deserve to be happy, Rory, and I was happy to make it happen for you. You’re my beautiful American girl.”
“Hey! Watch it,” Ian said.
Andre laughed as he threw him an apple.
“I thought you were leaving today,” I said.
“I’m leaving tonight.”
I gave him a hug and a kiss on both cheeks. “Have a Merry Christmas, Andre,” Ian and I said as we walked away.
“I’ll be coming to Malibu to visit my beautiful American girl,” he yelled.
Ian held his hand up and flipped him off from behind and I heard Andre’s loud laughter throughout the streets.
Ian hailed us a cab and had the driver take us to the Eiffel Tower. “Why are we here again?” I asked.
“We’re here as an official couple. I wanted us to look at it together because it’s something you’ve always wanted to see, and I want to share it with you.”
“You’re an amazing man, Ian Braxton.”
We stood in front of the Eiffel Tower, and I held the hand of the man who was the love of my life. The man who saved my life. The one who took me in, healed me, protected me, and showed me a world that I had only ever dreamed of. I looked up at the tower and then over at him. He looked at me and smiled.
“I love you, Ian.”
“I love you too, sweetheart,” he whispered as he leaned over and kissed my lips.
Ian and Rory’s journey of love continue in the second book of the Millionaire’s
Love Series,
When I Lie With You (A Millionaire’s Love, #2)
Make sure to read the first chapter of Collin at the end of the book!
Say Somethin
g - A Big World featuring Christina Aguilera
Unchained
Melody - The Righteous Brothers
Story of My Life
- One Direction
Somewhere Over t
he Rainbow - .Jewel
Sandi Lynn is a New York Times,
USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who spends all of her days writing. She published her first novel, Forever Black, in February 2013 and this is her sixth published novel. Her addictions are shopping, romance novels, coffee, chocolate, margaritas, and giving readers an escape to another world.
Please come connect with her at:
www.facebook.com/Sandi.Lynn.Author
www.twitter.com/SandilynnWriter
www.pinterest.com/sandilynnWriter
I looked at the time on my phone while I was stuck in the famous New York City traffic. My mom was going to kill me if I was late for dinner again. I was expected to be at home for dinner two nights a week. The two nights that Julia and Jake came over, we’d all have dinner as a family. I should’ve left Black Enterprises earlier, but I had an unexpected visitor and she was smoking hot. One thing led to another, we had sex, and now I was going to be late. I parked the Range Rover and took the elevator up to the penthouse. As I walked through the elevator doors, I headed straight to the kitchen, where I heard everyone talking. Thank God, they hadn’t started eating yet.
“There you are,” my mom said as she walked over and kissed me on the cheek.
Something was going on. Everyone was way too happy. Julia smiled as I kissed her on the cheek and I shook Jake’s hand.
“What’s up? I’m sensing there’s a celebration or something.”
Julia looked at me and grabbed my hand. “I’m pregnant. You’re going to be an uncle.” She smiled.
“What?! Congratulations!” I exclaimed as I pulled her into an embrace.
“Thank you, little brother.”
I reached over and gave Jake a light hug. “Congratulations, bro. Wow. I thought you guys were going to wait a couple of years?”
“Yeah. So did we. But it happened, and we couldn’t be happier.” Jake smiled.
I turned to my dad, who was grinning from ear to ear. “Well, looks like you’re going to be a grandpa.” I smiled as I hooked my arm around him.
“Yeah, and I think one grandchild is enough for now. You reek like perfume and I’m assuming she was the reason you’re late.”
“I was working, Dad. I got the contracts ready for tomorrow’s meeting.”
“Really, because when I left the office three hours ago, you were almost finished.” He sighed.
I walked away because I didn’t need his shit. He didn’t understand what I was going through and I was in no mood for a Connor Black lecture. My mom and Julia called us to the table and we all sat down and enjoyed a family dinner. I was happy for Julia and Jake; they were going to make amazing parents. She was glowing, Jake was all smiles, my parents were ecstatic, and I was happy that now there was something other than me on which Connor and Ellery could focus.
I hadn’t been the model son since Hailey left. I wanted it to work, but she said that with her being in Italy, and me in New York, it wouldn’t. She left to study fashion when she was accepted by one of the top schools of design and was interning with a well-known, up-and-coming designer. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her and the thing that hurt me the most was that she wasn’t even willing to try and have a long distance relationship. She left without even so much as a sorry. My twenty-second birthday was the next week and we had been seeing each other for almost six years. How do you just throw the past six years of your life away? I thought we had something, and I thought that I meant something to her. The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. Well, those days were gone now. I’d never let another woman do that to me. Since she left, I’d partied too much, drunk too much, had sex with every woman that looked my way, and I’d been labeled New York’s Most Eligible Playboy. Much like my dad, women fell all over me. My mom called it the Black Curse. I’d decided that many women were better than just one. No relationships, no strings, no frills, nothing. Just good sex and a sweet goodbye. When one woman left, another stepped into her place.
“Are you okay, Collin?” my mom asked.
I looked at her as she stared at me with her blue eyes. “Yes, I’m fine. Why?”
“You seem distant. Your sister asked you a question and you didn’t answer her.”
The truth was that I was lost in my thoughts about Hailey that I didn’t hear her. “I’m sorry, Julia. What did you say?”
She looked at me with pursed lips. “We’ll talk later, after dinner.”
“Okay.” I smiled as I finished eating.
****
As I pulled my phone from my pocket, I went upstairs to my room and sat down on my bed. Julia knocked lightly on the door and asked if she could come in.
“Hey.” I smiled as I held out my hand to her.
She took it and sat down next to me. “I’m worried about you, Collin.”
“Don’t be, sis. I’m all right.” I smiled.
“It’s been a couple of months since Hailey left. Have you talked to her?”
“No. She made it clear that it would probably be best if we didn’t because it would make things harder. What the fuck ever. I’m over her, and I’m moving on.”
Julia put her arm around me. “I don’t think you’re over her and there’s no way you can be. It hasn’t been long enough, and I know damn well that when you’ve been in a relationship as long as the two of you were, it’s just not that easy to get over.”
“Yeah, well, you’re wrong. I’ve wasted the last six years of my life on a bullshit relationship. I won’t ever do that again. I’m exploring, going out, and having fun. I’m doing what I should’ve been doing the past six years instead of being tied down to one girl.”
“I know you don’t mean that, Collin.”
The truth was maybe I did mean it. I was still angry at her for leaving our relationship behind. I looked at my watch and saw it was time to hit the bar with Aiden. I gave Julia a kiss on the cheek and got up from the bed.
“Listen, I have to go now. I’m meeting Aiden in about thirty minutes. Congratulations again. You and Jake are going to make really great parents.”
“Thanks, Collin, and stay out of trouble,” she said as she pointed at me.
“That I can’t promise.” I winked as I walked out the door.
I walked into the bathroom and brushed my teeth before walking out of the penthouse. I dabbed on some more cologne and, as I walked downstairs, my mom stopped me.
“Collin, where are you going?” she asked.
“Out with Aiden.”
“Do you think you can stay home at least one night? We hardly see you anymore.” She pouted.
“Mom, come on. I’m almost twenty-two. The last thing I want to do is hang with my parents when I can go out with my friends. Plus, Dad sees me every day, all day long at the office.”
“Yeah, well I don’t, and I miss my son.”
“I love you, Mom,” I said as I kissed her on the cheek and stepped onto the elevator.
I felt bad. I loved my mom so much, and I hated when she made me feel guilty, but fun was to be had and that was exactly what I was going to do; no matter what she said.
****
I took a cab to Club S because I knew that I’d be drinking and wouldn’t be able to drive. My dad was in the process of hiring a new driver. Denny had retired; my dad forced him into it because he had some health issues and it was becoming too much for him. My dad seemed to be taking his time with hiring the new driver, and I believed that it was because he couldn’t see anyone else driving him or us around besides Denny.
Aiden was standing outside Club S, waiting for me, when the cab pulled up to the curb. I got out, we high-fived, and walked inside. The music was blaring and the floor was thumping. It was more crowded than usual tonight and the girls were gorgeous. I was getting hard just looking at them. I walked up to the bar and ordered my usual scotch, and Aiden ordered his whiskey. This club had become our usual hangout over the past couple of months. The girls were smoking hot and they sure knew how to have a good time. I think if my parents knew that I hung out there, they’d be pissed. We sat at the table and kicked back our drinks. This pretty girl kept eyeing me from the bar. When I gave her a wink and a smile, she strutted over to our table and sat down next to me.
“You’re really cute.” She smiled.
“Thanks, babe. You’re pretty cute yourself.”
“Can I buy you a drink?” she asked.
“No. But I can buy you one.”
I raised my hand and signaled for Amber, our waitress, to bring us a couple of shots each. As soon as she set them in front of us, we brought our shot glasses together and then slammed them as fast as we could. After we slammed both shots, she grabbed my hand and led me to the dance floor. As I grabbed her waist, she moved her hot ass up and down my body, causing me to become instantly hard. Her dress was really short, which allowed my hands easy access to cup her bare ass. She welcomed it and threw her head back when I squeezed it. When the song changed, I led her back to the bar for some more shots, and when we approached the table, Aiden already had some hot girl sitting on his lap. The four of us drank more than we should’ve and, before I knew it, we were outside the club and I had my girl’s back pressed up against the side of the building.
“Let’s go back to your place.” She smiled as she nipped my bottom lip.
I turned around and hailed us a cab that took the both of us back to the penthouse.
“We have to be really quiet. My parents are sleeping,” I whispered as I carefully shut the front door.
She laughed as I picked her up and tried to carry her up the stairs. Needless to say, I stumbled and we both fell. We started to laugh, and I put my hand over her mouth as we got up and went to my bedroom, closing the door softly behind us.
****
“Collin, get down here, NOW!” my dad yelled up the stairs.
I rolled my eyes and went down to his office. “What?”
“You know what, Collin.”
I sighed as I crossed my arms. I knew what this was about. It was about the hot brunette I brought home last night. “Dad, calm down. She’s a nice girl.” I smiled.
“Really? What the hell is her name?”
Shit, he put me on the spot. If I remembered correctly, I didn’t catch her name, but if I told my dad that, he’d flip, so I gave her a name. “Her name is Darcy.”
“Bullshit! Her name is Renee. Ask me how I know, Collin. Go ahead and ask me,” he yelled.
“How do you know her name is Renee, Dad?”
“Because she introduced herself to me this morning when I was walking down the hall and she came out of your room, naked! Your mom is in the kitchen, ready to kill you. You’ve been out of control since Hailey left and this stops today. Do you understand me? Now get your ass in the kitchen and apologize to your mom, and maybe, just maybe, when I walk back in there, you’ll be alive.”
My head was already killing me from last night’s alcohol binge and my dad’s yelling made it worse. Now, I had to go and face my mom. The last thing I wanted to do was disappoint her, but lately, that was all I seemed to do. I walked out of the office and straight into the kitchen, where my mom was sitting at the table.
“Sit down, now!” she said with anger in her eyes.
“Mom, I’m—”
“Don’t. Don’t you dare say a word until I’m finished saying what I have to say.”
She pointed her finger at me. Something I didn’t ever remember her doing. She was pissed and she kind of scared me.
“I know you’re hurting, Collin. I know how hard it’s been on you since Hailey left, but you are way out of control. You go out every night. You come in during the wee hours of the morning, and you reek of alcohol. I don’t appreciate naked girls coming out of your bedroom in the morning. It’s rude, disrespectful, and I won’t have it in my house. What the hell were you thinking?”
As I looked into her angry, but sad eyes, I hated myself for making her so mad. “Mom, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking, and it’ll never happen again.”
“You’re right; it won’t happen again. Connor, get in here,” she yelled from the kitchen.
My dad walked in and looked at me. “Still alive, I see.”
I rolled my eyes and my head felt like it was going to explode. My mom got up from her chair and started getting the stuff out for the hangover cocktail she always made. God, I hated that shit.
“Connor, don’t you have something to tell Collin?” she said.
My dad looked at me as he sat down in the chair. “I’ve decided that you’re attending the meeting at the office this morning and then, after that, I have some things I need you to take care of.”
“No way, Dad. Today’s my day off.”
There was no way I wanted to sit in that meeting with a hangover. I didn’t get much sleep last night, and all I wanted to do was go back to bed.
“I’ve changed your day off and today isn’t it,” he said as he got up from the chair.
My mom walked over to me and handed me a glass with the cocktail in it. “Here, my darling son, drink up because you’re going to need to feel a hundred percent before you go into the office.” She smiled.
My dad sipped his coffee and, as he walked out of the kitchen, he turned around, looked at me, and then looked at his watch. “You have about fifteen minutes to get ready. I’ll be waiting by the elevator. You better not be a
m
inute late.”