My Exception (My Escort #2) (6 page)

A
n hour had gone by since I was last with Damon. A smirk crossed my lips as I saw the reflection of myself in my laptop’s dark screen. My nipples ached for Damon yet again. How I ached for that man. It would be another night without him unfortunately as he was busy with his work schedule once again. It was the first time I was disappointed he told me so, because I wanted him again tonight. It was thrilling and my heart still raced at the amazing sex we had had. Never did I think I would have done something so improper, yet it didn’t feel like that at the time. It felt amazing.

“Have you finished, Clover?” A light tap on my door alerted me that I should rip the smug expression off my face. “Did I interrupt a daydream?” Hayden smiled.

“No, not at all,” I quickly blurted out, embarrassed. I closed my laptop. “What’s wrong?”

“I was wondering if you were up for that coffee now, or even a drink? I know a bar not too far from here.”

I shot him a warning look.

“C’mon, it’s been forever since we have had a drink together. I promise I won’t ditch you again to go get laid. I will stay until you decide to leave. And
then
get laid,” he smirked. How I had heard that too many times. But I was intrigued to hear of how Hayden had been all these years. We were friends once. We has once been close. And I didn’t have many people in my life that I considered to be a friend.

“Fine, but only a few. I can’t drink like I used to,” I laughed, packing my things.

“Ha! You never could drink,” Hayden laughed in response as I pushed him aside to walk out the door.

*

The bar wasn’t the worst I had been in, but it was certainly different to what I was now used to. I eyed the bowl of peanuts, knowing that nothing good could come from eating those mixed nuts. But Hayden dived in anyway as we sat on our leather booth across from one another, both with a beer in hand. It had been so long since I had drunk the stuff, and now I remembered why I stopped drinking it after university.

“I can’t believe your sister has had two kids. Argh, I remember little Megan. She was always so hot and…” I cut Hayden off, raising my finger to him. “Ahh right, the ‘no-sister’ code again. I thought after all these years you would let that go.”

“I thought after all these years you might have changed,” I said with a smile.

“I have. I just kind of suck still when it comes to women. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I have been trying to settle down for a while now. It’s just hard. As clichéd as it sounds, I just haven’t really found that one woman who strikes me.”

“With an attitude like yours, you have probably had sex with several ‘true loves’ but palmed them off, not even realising it,” I said, taking another swig of the vile beer and looking up at the footy that was playing on the television. “So, you’re a sports manager now?”

“Yea, I know, who would have thought I was going places, right?” he said with an undercurrent of self-doubt. “I didn’t leave far from Ithaca after we all split and left behind the uni days. In fact, that is where my office is based, although I do a lot of travelling. I only have a small team there. My accountant, Gregory, and personal assistant, Amber.”

“Amber?”

“Hey, don’t mock her because of her name, she has a fiery temper. And I know what you are thinking: how on earth did I get a female personal assistant without trying it on,” he said, bemused. I raised an eyebrow to egg him on before he gave a defeated expression. “I thought she was playing hard to get for a while. I only found out a few weeks ago that she is lesbian. Like gay gay, wouldn’t-even-turn-straight-for-me sort of gay.”

“Wow shocking, wouldn’t even turn for you. That must be so hard on you,” I teased. He smiled as he took another swig.

“You know you two would get along really well. You are very similar. She grabs my balls just as hard as you do. She was the one who persuaded me it would be in my best interest to be the sports columnist for
Be True
. She said it would be extra exposure for Zilch Enterprises. She looks after me. They both do. I really wouldn’t have gotten as far as I have without them. And so now I have the money, flash car, a nice apartment, some awesome big-named players I represent and invites to some amazing events and yet, I still feel like there is something missing… a serious relationship, maybe. I’m still waiting for life to begin.” There was a silence as he reflected on that. He called for another two beers as we both finished our third. “And what about you? You and the Brogardt kid, ey?”

“He is far from a child,” I defended him quickly. “I love him very much. I honestly couldn’t imagine myself with anyone else.”

“Wow, you have fallen hard. I remember the days when you couldn’t stay entertained with one guy for a few weeks, let alone a few months.”

“Yea and I was exactly like that a year ago. There is just something about him. He just pushes me and challenges me in every way. It’s what I need most, so it makes him my perfect partner. I suppose, or something like that,” I laughed, taking another mouthful.

“So do you guys live together or…? What does a pretty boy like him call a home, a five-story palace, a house boat, or a batman cave?”

“I wouldn’t know, I haven’t seen his apartment yet,” I paused at the wince Hayden pulled. “Is that bad?”

After much hesitation he responded. “You have been dating for what, a little under a year? And he still hasn’t shown you his apartment; that screams out
secretive
to me. If a guy doesn’t want you seeing his home or stuff there is usually a reason for it. Are you sure he is as committed to this relationship as you are?”

I looked at him in mortification. I grabbed my handbag, infuriated by his claim. Damon was secretive, but I didn’t doubt that he loved me or wanted to be in this relationship.

“Woah, woah,” he stood quickly, stepping in front of me. “I’m sorry Clover, I didn’t mean to upset you. It was just a question.” Looking into his brown eyes, I knew he was being earnest. It wasn’t Hayden’s fault I was so rattled.

“I know. I just want to go for now. I have things to think about. I will see you tomorrow at work,” I pushed Hayden aside. He showed little resistance, watching me as I left.

Was there a reason why Damon hadn’t shown me his apartment? I felt vulnerable, like that first night when we got close and he left me.

T
he drive home in the cab gave me plenty of time to think. I found myself sitting in my comfy couch for an hour or so when I got home, just thinking as Pudding snuggled up to me. I loved Damon, that much I knew for sure. I knew that he loved me as well. Yet when others questioned it, it wounded me. I felt irrational for how I felt because Damon hadn’t done anything wrong, and yet I felt myself brewing. It wasn’t secrecy; I had never asked why he hadn’t shown me his home. A few days ago was the first time I even thought of it. Perhaps there were things he didn’t want me to see.

When I woke in the morning I tried to be positive about the situation. I couldn’t be irrational about it. We both had busy work schedules and I had claimed many times that his hectic one didn’t bother me. So I couldn’t justify being angry with him for not taking the time to give me a grand tour of his home. I loved Damon and that was all that should matter. Whether I saw his home or not shouldn’t be an issue. It was as if I were picking a fight with him, and I didn’t want that at all.

As always I was at work early, but much to my surprise, Hayden was waiting out the front, as slickly attired as always. He waited outside the door while I paid the driver. As I went to open my door, Hayden opened it for me, offering me a hand. He was always well-mannered and chivalrous.

“Good morning, Clover.” His voice was like velvet, yet husky at the same time. “I just wanted to see you early and to apologise for last night,” he continued as he helped me out of the cab.

“Please don’t apologise. I was being unreasonable,” I had to admit. I was being unkind to my old friend. It was not his fault he asked the wrong question. Hayden’s hand was very different to Damon’s. It felt rougher to the touch. I retracted my hand as one of the co-workers walked past, glancing at us suspiciously.

Hayden shot me a dashing smile. “Oh please, Clover. It is no crime for me to hold your hand,” he said, pressing his hand to my lower back as he escorted me into the building. “Time might have put distance between us, but you are still the same Clover I knew back in University. Such trivial things as idle gossip didn’t bother you back then,” he said with a smile. At my silence as we walked through the large doors, he retracted his touch. “I often think of those days. Do you know, I still go to that bar we used to always hang out at.”

My face brightened as I thought of the memories. Although I mostly focused on my school, I too had my fun. “Really, is it still the same?”

A low rumble caught his throat as he laughed. “Well, it is still a bit shady, but it’s picked up since Brandy has taken over.” I remembered the young woman who first started waitressing there. Her father owned it and so she decided to help him as his health slowly declined. I remembered her to always be a little bit rough and wild. In fact, I was surprised she hadn’t yet got herself into serious trouble with the law.

“Brandy, I remember her. Wasn’t she the one you always flirted with?” I asked with a sly smile. She was more than open with her sexuality and very open with her words. I respected her in that respect. If she wanted something she often got it.

Hayden let out a hearty laugh again as we walked into the elevator. “Well, she is most certainly the same. Only a little bit rougher now,” he said with a smile, looking up at the ceiling as if recalling certain events.

I laughed lightly, smacking my hand on his hard chest. “Mr. Zilch, are you still tapping that?” I laughed, instantly surprised at how I had just spoken to him. I hadn’t said ‘tapping that’ for some time now. I had straightened out my more youthful ways in the big city.

The elevator doors were shutting when a very familiar hand stopped it and walked in. A cold shudder ran down my spine as Damon walked in, as well-dressed and handsome as always.

“Clover,” Damon nodded, a burning passion in his eyes. “Mr. Zilch.” His tone had deepened. I felt guilty for my doubts about him last night. I should have never mistrusted him. I looked down as I didn’t understand the threatening tone in his voice. Was Damon angry?

“Damon,” Hayden nodded coolly in response.

“No,” Damon replied. “You may address me as Mr. Brogardt. I am your boss, not your friend.” His tone made me look quickly into his beautiful blue eyes in surprise, which now looked back at me distantly. I felt guilty and I wasn’t sure why. There was a harsh stillness in the air as the elevator moved.

“Clover, if you could accompany me to my office that would be very much appreciated,” Damon said as he looked forward to the doors.

“Of course,” I said, trying to keep my tone flat. Never had I seen Damon appear so intimidating. Standing between the two men made me want to seep into the elevator walls and disappear. I wondered if they knew one another before Hayden’s employment because the sharp hatred within the air suffocated me. I hadn’t seen this ugly side of Damon before.

“I‘ll see you later, Clover,” Hayden said, stepping out of the elevator with a small wave. I reluctantly waved back, conscious of Damon’s eyes on me. The elevator doors closed and I could feel some of the hatred dissipate.

I couldn’t speak, but I felt the warmth of his hand brush over my knuckles as he intertwined his fingers with mine. We stood silently in the elevator. I looked up at his side profile. Although I could see he was still angry, he was at least holding my hand. And it was warm.

“Is everything okay, Damon?” I asked. My tone came out more wounded than I had intended. His hand tightened around mine and he looked down at me with a passionate gleam in his eye. He leant down, sealing his lips with mine and demanding such a savage kiss that I lost my breath and almost dropped my laptop bag. He pulled away just in time as the elevator doors opened. Instead of holding my hand, he pressed my lower back. The touch sparked within me as I tried to find my breath again.

“Everything is much better now,” he growled. I inhaled deeply, still trying to gather my breath. How could he still take my breath away like this?

I wanted to ask him of his relationship with Hayden but thought it was best to leave it for the time being. I didn’t want to arouse that ugly side of Damon again that I had just seen. Hayden was my friend so I hoped that they didn’t dislike one another.

I followed him to his large office. His personal assistant was not yet there. It was only Damon and I right now. Michelle’s office was slowly turning into Damon’s, which held his masculine smell that I so much adored. The office was surrounded by glass. It was a great site to watch over the traffic and joggers who swept by. His large wooden desk had already been set up, his two laptops and three diaries on top.

He didn’t often call me to his new office. But then again, he had been acting odd lately. He was certainly risking the professionalism we had always maintained between the two of us. Yet if he demanded from me what I wanted from him, I didn’t think it would be me to hold us back.

“What did you want to talk to me about, Damon?”

He was looking out his large window in front of his desk, his hands clasped behind his back. How his very presence made me quiver with both excitement and passion was beyond me. “Clover, come here for a moment,” he said, his voice husky.

I couldn’t see his face so I wasn’t sure what his expression was. His tone seemed very serious. Maybe he wasn’t angry with me but with something or someone else. I couldn’t help but feel as if it were directed at me, though. Instead of arguing with him, I found myself placing my laptop bag down on a leather chair and walking over to him. Still he didn’t turn to face me, so I stood by his side, looking out towards the city as well.

Gently, he placed his hand around my waist and pulled me in front of him. He wrapped his hands around my waist and his hard chest pressed against my back. He simply surrounded me with his warmth, his rough facial hair on my shoulder as he kissed my neck. I couldn’t help but feel myself instantly drift into him. But it worried me: why was he acting this way? He never had behaved this way at work before. Perhaps the shift of role to CEO really was affecting him.

“Damon, is everything okay?” I asked, stroking my hand over his as he held me tightly.

After a long moment he spoke. “I’ve been neglecting you,” he said in a defeated tone.

I was surprised by this. “No, you haven’t,” I said quietly, not trying to push anymore out of him. Damon was opening up to me; this was something he didn’t so often do. Beneath the games and taunts there was this sensitive side Damon rarely revealed. I tried to turn to meet his eyes but he only held my waist firmer so I couldn’t move.

“I want to see more of you every day. It drives me crazy when I see you with another man,” he confessed.

I frowned, now realising what this was about. “Hayden is just a friend, Damon,” I said, still looking out towards the low hum of traffic.

“Friend or not, I can’t help but get jealous. You are so exotic. You could make any man fall to their knees. I’m finding myself in that exact predicament.” He nestled further into my neck as if hiding his face.

“I love you, you know that. Stop acting so jealous. Ugly doesn’t suit your face,” I teased lightly. I felt his smile spread against my skin. He kissed my shoulder lightly before relaxing his hands so I could turn around and see him.

“You are right. I am too damn pretty for that,” he said with a teasing smile.

“Is that so?” I said, arching an eyebrow.

He cupped his other hand under my jaw, pulling me in for a light yet intimate kiss.

“You are mine, Clover Granture,” he growled through his kiss. His vibrations swept down my throat and into my heat. He tore at my bottom lip a little as he released our kiss, leaving me wanting more.

“You don’t play fair,” I smiled, enjoying the embrace.

“You make me find new ways to play,” he announced. “Also, I have a favour to ask you.”

“Mr. Brogardt, you have a favour to ask of me?” I repeated, a hint of suggestion in my voice. I pulled away from him and walked over to collect my laptop bag. It would only be minutes until his personal assistant got here. And one of us had to be the adult to pull away before she walked in on us in a compromising position.

“How you tease me,” he said with a smile, walking me to the door. “I have a dinner tomorrow night. Come with me? It’s a boring meeting with a few of my father’s old sponsors. But I would very much appreciate it if you could accompany me.”

Before I could argue with him and tell him he had given me too little notice to find something to wear, his wicked smile stretched.
But wait, there’s more
, I thought internally, knowing that smile oh-too-well.

“I’ve already bought you something to wear.”

“Damon, you know I can’t accept that,” I said, almost embarrassed. I had never relied on him for expensive clothing and I didn’t want to start now.

His personal assistant walked through the elevator doors just as I turned to leave.

“Miss. Granture, this is my most humble request. Please don’t deny me the privilege of your company,” he said in a low murmur.

I couldn’t help but smile as I walked out. “You think you’re just so charming, don’t you?” I winked, swaying my hips as I walked out.

“Only for you,” he called out from behind. “I will pick you up at six.”

Red streaked my cheeks as Michelle’s personal assistant, Heidi, gave me a knowing smile. “Good morning, Miss. Granture,” she smiled, making me blush.

I took a moment to regroup in the elevator. Damon was always so intense and just, well, Damon. There wasn’t a bone in my body that wanted to deny him. He had me wrapped around his little pinkie and he knew it.