Stay With Me Tonight: A Drake Brothers Series (PART 1) (8 page)

Chapter Nine
             

              Bellamy looked down at his watch.

              “It's getting late, better get back or we could spend the whole night...”

              “Not so fast Casanova.  We should really get back,” I cut him off mid-sentence.

              “Why won't you stay with me tonight?” he asked me with a look in his eyes that was begging for me to say 'yes'.

              “Here?” I asked.

              He laughed as he brushed his stubble on his face with his knuckles.

              “Not here.  Somewhere that we are completely and entirely alone,” he shimmied his eyebrows in an effort to make me laugh.

              I had completely forgotten that Peter and Beth were still on board.

              “Oh yes, I forgot that Peter and Beth were below.”

              “So is that a yes then?  Will you stay with me tonight?”

              “We'll see... we should really get back though.”

              Bellamy buzzed down to Peter to advise him to start the engine so we could get back to shore.  Within a few moments, the subtle roar of the engine could be heard.  Bellamy took my hand in his and linked his fingers between mine.  Our hands fit together perfectly.  His hands were warm, strong, large.  He led me out to the bow.  There were large chaise loungers on the deck and we sat together in silence.  We soaked in the crisp autumn air and the sound of the crashing waves.  I was checking out the cities lights in the distance when Bellamy said, “Kate, I am not sure what happened in your past, and you can share that with me some day when you're ready to, if you want to, but just know... I'm not going to hurt you.”

              I was about to speak, but just gave him a half smile instead.  Once we got back to shore and the boat was docked, Bellamy stood and offered his hand to me.  We linked fingers once again.  He led me to the boat's exit.  Standing on the dock were Peter.  And Beth.

              “I hope you had a wonderful evening, Miss Conrad,” Peter said as he tipped his captain's hat towards us.

              “Thank you. I did, it was a lovely evening.”

              Beth stared blankly at her shoes.  She wouldn't look at me or Bellamy.  She was one strange bird, especially after what happened earlier when I caught her.

              “Goodnight Miss Conrad.  Goodnight Mr. Drake,” Beth mumbled as Bellamy and I began to stroll back to the front of the yacht club where Mr. Andrews and the black town car were waiting.

              Mr. Andrews held the door as Bellamy and I slid into the back seat.

              “Where to Mr. Drake?” Mr. Andrews asked.

              “Home,” was all he said.  It was cut and dry - “home”.

              “Very well.”  Mr. Andrews pushed a button and a privacy screen closed between the front and back seats.

              “Kate, please, Kate... stay with me tonight.  I don't want to spend a second away from you. I want to know every part of you.  Please, stay at my home with me.  Let me make love to you until the sun comes up.”

              I smiled a smile that reached my eyes.

              “Okay.”

              “Bellamy, this may seem like a strange question out of nowhere.  But how long has Beth worked for you?”

              I couldn't stand it any longer.  I needed to figure out what was going on.  Her behavior was so weird.

              “She's worked for me briefly... I'd say maybe a few months or so at various times.  Why do you ask?”

              “Oh, I was just curious, her behavior seemed strange tonight.  I thought maybe there was a reason.”

              “Her behavior?” he gave me a look that told me he had no clue what I was talking about.

              The car abruptly stopped at that very moment.

              “We're here!”  Bellamy looked at me and gave me a quick wink.

              With that said, the Beth discussion was put on the back burner.  I didn't know Bellamy well enough to stick my nose in his business and I didn't want to nag him or make him think I am obsessive or jealous.  I figured it may be a discussion better suited for a different day at another time.

              We took the elevator up to his penthouse, it felt much like it did last time, except I this time I knew Bellamy's last name, where he worked, I had met his brother, and had been on an actual date with him.  None of that mattered I guess because even though I had met his brother, it wasn't as Bellamy's girlfriend or date, but instead as his new employee.  Gahh what was I doing.  The elevator doors opened up in the foyer of the penthouse and Bellamy flicked a light switch near the door.  The sitting room dimly lit up and Bellamy told me to make myself at home.  He took off in a direction towards the right of the penthouse.  I could hear glasses clanking and the ever-so-familiar sound of a cork being pulled from a wine bottle.  Bellamy returned a few moments later with two crystal wine glasses filled with red wine.  He handed me a glass and sat himself comfortably on the sofa.  He patted the cushion next to him and said, “Please, sit.”

              I took a small sip from the glass.  As I pulled the glass away from my lips, I sat down next to Bellamy and our legs gently brushed each other's.  I leaned forward to place the wine glass on the table and Bellamy followed suit.  He laid his glass on the table as well.

              “Kate,” he started. “...so tell me... what are your interests?  Tell me about yourself.”

              “Okay, well my parents are still married.  They've been married for thirty-two years.  I have a little brother, named Jack.  He is fifteen.  My dad is an accountant and my mom is a sixth grade science teacher.  I had my first kiss at fourteen and lost my virginity to no one special when I was eighteen.  My parents still live in the house they were living in when I was born.  They live in Savannah and up until your brother offered me a job, I was planning on moving back there because I was having a hard time finding a job here.  I have only been in love once and it didn't end well.  That's all I am going to say about that.  In my spare time I enjoy reading on my Kindle, crafting, working out at the gym, and going out with friends.  Ohhh.. and I am a Pisces and I enjoy longgggg romantic walks on the beach...” I laughed.

              “Anything else you want to know?”

              He laughed, but then he begged me not to make a joke out of it.  He was interested in knowing me outside of the bedroom.  That is more than I can say for most of the guys I have dated over the last few years.  I hadn't had a serious relationship since Andrew in college stomped my heart into obliteration when I thought he was about to propose.  Maybe I deserved a little promiscuous period in my life.  I hadn't ever really done anything like that before.  Maybe I was being far too much of a prude about this whole '
random hook up with no strings attached
' nonsense.

              “You like to read?” he asked.

              “Yes, I love it.  It gives me a place to retreat when I need a break from life.  It's pure fantasy to read and imagine what is going on, what the characters look like, how it will end.  It takes me away to a place I really enjoy.  It's an outlet for me when I have a bad day or when ever else I may need an escape.  Reading is a vacation for the soul...”

              “Hmmmm....” he nodded his head at me, “Well it just so happens that I have an entire library of books right here in my penthouse.  I mean they're not all techy and digital as I'm sure you'd prefer for your Kindle, but you can take a look if you'd like.”

              “Really?  You have a library?  I would actually prefer paper printed books over my Kindle, but I got tired of lugging all of those books around from dorm to dorm to sorority house to apartment.  I gave my books to a used book store and bought a Kindle a year or two ago.”

              “Yes, well it's more of a study with a desk, but it has quite an array of novels.  Would you like to see it?”

              “Yes!  Yes!  I would love to,” I couldn't contain my excitement.  I literally jumped right off of the couch.

              “Well then, right this way,” Bellamy grinned as if he was so proud to show me his '
library
'.  He took my hand in his and led me through the sitting room and into another room and then down a long hall way with a plush red rug.

              The study had floor to ceiling book shelves.  The room alone was two stories and it even had one of those cool ladders you see in movies that you can roll around and climb to grab the books on higher shelves.  It was absolutely beautiful.  The floors were dark hand carved wood and a huge dark wood desk with a computer on it sat at one end of the room.  There was a sitting area and over stuffed navy blue leather sofas to sit on and read.  It was a dream.  I walked over to the shelving and ran my hand along the spines of some of the books.  I quickly noticed the books were not in any sort of alphabetical order by name or by author.  I was still dancing my fingers along the books when one of my favorite titles popped out at me. 
The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher
.  I gasped when I saw it.  I immediately pulled it from its home on the shelf.

              “Have you read this one?!”  I held the book out for him to see.

              “Um no, I am sorry I have not.  There are lots of books in here I have read and many that I have yet to conquer.  The study's bookshelves were so large when I bought this place that I had my interior decorator pick up a bunch of books that were on the New York Times best seller list to fill the empty shelves.  It's probably one of those.  Have you read it?”

              “YES!  I love it.  It's actually a serial.  There are two more books in it.  Each is better than the last.  I really love this author.  Tarryn Fisher.  There are a few other books she has written.  I read one of them.  It's called
Mud Vein
.  And then there is another called
Marrow
.  I haven't read that one yet.”
              “
Mud Vein
?  Sounds kind of freakish if you ask me.”

              “Actually it is.  The whole story is very bizarre.  Tarryn Fisher has a way of making you think something completely different is happening than what is actually going on.  That's how she gets her readers hooked.”

              “Well you're more than welcome to help yourself to any of the novels you would like.  I may even have that other one you were talking about...
Marrow
.  Maybe we can look tomorrow?” he said it in such a tone that made me realize I was sleeping here.  I wasn't getting out of it this time.  What could it hurt?  I really needed to live a little.

              “Sounds great.  We'll look tomorrow.  Wait.... don't you have work tomorrow? Tomorrow is Tuesday.”

              We made our way to his bedroom.

              “No worries, I am the boss, remember?  I can take a day off if I want to.  Any time I want to. Right now I am beat.  Ready for bed?”

              “Bed.”

              “Yes, sleep?”

              I smirked at him, “But you promised you'd take me home and make love to me until the sun comes up.”

              “I would love that actually.  I would really love that but tonight, can I just hold you instead?”

              I think my heart grew two sizes when he asked if he could hold me as we drifted off to sleep together.

              “Perfect.  Yes I am exhausted.  I don't have anything to wear to sleep in.  Do you have something I could borrow?  Just an old t-shirt or something would be fine.”

              “Really Kate, you think I am going to give you a crappy old tee to sleep in?”

              He walked over to his closet and came back a few moments later.

              “Here,” he tossed a pressed white dress shirt to me.

              I looked at the tag.   Armani.

              “Bellamy, this shirt probably cost more than I make in a month.  I can't sleep in this.”

              “Take it, Kate.  It's just a shirt.  I'm not taking no for an answer.  I have a hundred more almost just like it.  You're not going to hurt it by sleeping in it.  And plus I bet it will look hot seeing that oversized dress shirt on you with your bare ass peeking out beneath the hem,” he said jokingly.

              I threw my hands up in defeat.  I tore my clothes off as quick as I could and threw the shirt on.  We climbed into bed together just like an old married couple.  It felt like we had known each other for years.  This felt so right and normal.  Bellamy turned the bedside lamp off and Bellamy held me in his firm arms.  I drifted off to sleep pretty quickly.  The last thing I remember was looking at the clock on the bedside table. 1:04 AM.

Chapter Ten

              I woke up sometime in the middle of the night.  It was still dark out.  I looked over at the clock. 4:51 AM.  I was wide awake.  I laid there for a few minutes hoping I would find sleep again.  But I could tell pretty quickly that wasn't going to happen.  Bellamy and I were a twisted tangle of limbs under his fluffy down comforter.  I peeled his body from me slowly and crept down the hall to the library to see if I could find
Marrow
on the shelves.  I looked for maybe fifteen minutes with no luck and then I realized that his sea of books may take some time for me to sift through before I could possibly find the book.  Even if it was there.  I wandered around aimlessly glancing at titles as I went.  When I neared the back of the room by the desk I noticed there was a picture frame on the desk.

              Bellamy's penthouse was covered in beautiful works of art, but no photos of people.  No photos of birthday parties, vacations, weddings, friends, or family.  I desperately wanted a peek at his personal life because it had occurred to me that I really knew much less about him than he knew about me.  I don't know about his parents or where he was raised.  I don't know if he has any other siblings or if and where he went to college.  I don't know if he played sports in school or who his favorite band is.  The picture frame on his desk seemed like it might be a small slice of his personal life that I very much wanted to know about.             

              I came around the corner of the desk.  The picture was framed in polished silver.  I picked it up from the desk to take a closer look.  The photo was of Bellamy and Beth?  Beth!  His hired help who he barely knows?  They were laughing in the photo.  Her arms were playfully draped around his neck and his hand held onto her forearm.  They looked happy.  They looked... in love.  My heart began to race.  I slammed the picture frame face down on the desk and ran.  I ran right back to the room where Bellamy laid blissfully sleeping... he was probably dreaming about Beth at that very moment.  I grabbed my clothes and ran.  I ran straight to the elevator.  I was still in Bellamy's dress shirt with my ass basically hanging out.  I entered the elevator and ripped the shirt from my body.  Buttons flew everywhere and made a plinking sound as they scattered across the floor.  I tossed the shirt in a crumpled mess on the floor and threw my dress back on in record time.  When the elevator reached the bottom, I bolted.  Leaving Bellamy's very expensive pressed Armani shirt on the dirty elevator floor.

              I got a cab back to my place and ended up getting home right around 5:45 AM.  The sun was still nowhere to be seen in the early morning sky.  I was mentally drained from trying to figure out what was possibly going on.  Bellamy had flat-out lied to my face about Beth.  Why is there a loving picture of them on his desk if he barely knows her and she is only his employee?  And then she watched for who knows how long as he fucked me on the yacht.  So weird.  I was more than angry.  I was fucking pissed!  I contemplated just never showing up for work the next day.  I thought about how I could still move home to my parent's house too.  The more I thought about it, the more angry I was.  I had to confront him.  I had to ask why.  Who was she?  Why did he lie to me?  Did he take me for a fool?  What kind of game was he playing?  He said he would never hurt me and yet he already had.

              I slept away a good portion of the day on Tuesday.  When I finally drug my self from the slump around 4:00 PM, I figured I had better get ready for my first day of work the next day.  I decided on skinny black dress pants, a sleeveless black peplum top, and black heels.  The all black attire that I had decided on happened to match my mood perfectly.

              The next morning I got up early and went for a jog to burn off the steam I had been holding onto.  I ran 5 miles before the sun came up.  I came home and showered and then got ready for work... and ready to confront Bellamy about his terrible lies.  I arrived at the office at 8:00 on the dot.  I went straight to Human Resources and the receptionist showed me where my office was.  It was on the seventh floor.  The same floor as Turner's and I am sure the same floor as Bellamy's.  When I walked into my office, there was a beautiful dark cherry desk sitting across the room.  The windows behind the desk were floor-to-ceiling just like in Turner's office.  My office was not as large as his was, but it did have quite the feminine feel to it.  I had wondered if the last CFO was also a woman.  The receptionist told me to let her know if I needed anything and then she left, closing the door behind her.  I walked around the desk and pulled the chair out to sit.  When I did,
Marrow
was sitting there in all it's glory.  A small note card was taped to the front cover.  I plucked the card from the book...

Reading
is
a vacation for the soul.

Yours,

B.

              He had some fucking nerve! I yanked the book from the chair and stormed out of my office.  I walked towards Turner's office to ask him where Bellamy's office was, but I found it before I had the opportunity to ask.  I walked into the office and Bellamy's head was down as he was typing away rampantly on his computer.  He looked up at me when he realized I was there.

              “Good Morning, beautiful.  I see you got the book?  I actually didn't have it in my library, but I stopped by the book store and picked it up for you yesterday.  Are you settling in okay?”

              I slammed the book down on his desk in a fit of rage.

              “You have some fucking balls, you know that?”

              He looked at me bewildered and quite frankly he looked a little terrified.

              “I take it you don't like your gift?” he questioned me.

              “Beth.  Who the fuck is Beth to you?”  I raised my voice at him.

              At this point he could fire me if he felt the need to, but I wanted an answer and I wanted it now.

              “Kate, please shut the door and we will talk about this.”

              I walked over and shut the door.  I turned back and walked to the chair sitting in front of his desk.  I sat down and clutched the book nervously in my hands.

              “Fine, talk!” I seethed.  I threw one hand up in the air insinuating that he better start explaining what the hell was going on.

              “Okay, look, Kate.  I told you I didn't want to hurt you which is why I hadn't talked to you about this yet....”

              “Yet?”

              “Yes, well you see..... I have a particular kind of taste.  Sexually, speaking.”

              “Excuse me?” I interrupted him.

              “Look, this was something I wanted to talk to you about
later
... when we had more of a relationship established.  I am sorry you had to find out this way.”

              “Sorry that I had to find out what this way?  Just tell me what the hell is going on, Bellamy....”

              “Okay.  Well here goes... I am a one woman kind of man.  I do not cheat and have never cheated on a woman.  However, in the bedroom I like multiple partners...”

              “Stop!  Just stop, Bellamy!  You have got to be fucking kidding me. So let me get this straight... you are emotionally faithful to a woman you are dating all the while you are fucking many women in the bedroom.  And feelings with these '
other
' women never get in the way of keeping it just sex?  And on top of that, are you insinuating that you thought that we could add another sex partner later down the road once our relationship was better established?!”

              “Well, yes.  Sort of.  It's not quite like that.  Beth is the only other person I would introduce into our sex life.  It's not like it would be multiple women.  Beth has been an employee of mine for some time.  That, I didn't exactly tell you the truth about.  I apologize, please forgive me.”

              “So you pay her to fuck you and your girlfriends and you have no emotional relationship with her at all?”  I balked at him.

              He stared at me and after a few moments with no response from him, all I could mutter was “UH!” in complete disgust.

              I rolled my eyes when I stood.  I turned on my heels and I walked right out on Bellamy Drake.

              I heard him call my name and he was even telling me to wait, but I couldn't... tears fell from my eyes like hail during a bad thunderstorm.  I speed walked straight to the elevator and pushed the button for the ground floor several times before the doors flung open.  Once the elevator stopped on the bottom floor and the doors swung open, I high-tailed it right out the front doors of Drake Dynamics.  I figured I would spend the rest of my day packing up my stuff so I could move back to Savannah where I should've gone in the first place.  I was a complete moron for thinking that after those couple of amazing nights with Bellamy and then finding out he was my boss that this would actually work out in the long run.  Then he throws a curve ball at me that he likes fucking multiple women on a regular basis.  I must be dense if he thought I was just going to say
'Sure, sounds fun, let's do it!' 
And there it was... smacking me right in my naive face: this was the reason he was a
dud
.