Whatever He Wants (22 page)

 
     
“Hmm, I’m okay. I’m no Picasso but I do
okay.”

 
     
“When you told me you were taking a break
from art school, I assumed it was because you were no good at it.”

 
     
“I never said I sucked, but I’m just not
at a level I think I should be at. At least not at the level my professor
thought I should be. That guy was always on my case. He always used me as an
example and class to point out what not to do. I’d leave his class in tears
most of the time.”

 
     
“From what I saw you’re very talented.
Maybe that professor of yours was jealous. They say those who can’t do, teach.”

 
     
“I don’t know about that. He’s pretty
respected in the art community.”

 
     
James had a feeling no matter how much he
complimented Noelle on her work she wouldn’t believe him, so he stopped trying.
“So what were you drawing?”

 
     
A small smile touched her lips. “I was
sketching a cake I wanted to try.”

 
     
“A cake?
It
looked more like a landscape of some sorts.”

 
     
“It was, kind of, but I’ve been watching
these televisions shows about bakers who make the most fantastic cakes into
wonderful works of art. I wanted to give it a shot. After all, I have a lot of
time on my hands.”

 
     
“Is this something you’ve done before?”

 
     
“No. I’ve got the baking part down so now
I’m going to try my hand at the crafting part. I’ve done a lot of research on
the internet. Seems like a fun hobby to take up.”

 
     
“I’d love to see what you come up with.”

 
     
“I doubt my first attempt will come out
that good but it should be fun trying.” He could hear the enthusiasm in her
voice. Even though the lights were off, James could see the sparkle in her
eyes. Unable to help himself, he bent down and dropped a light kiss on her
lips. He pulled back after that taste.

 
     
Noelle stroked the side of his face.
“Don’t you want to finish what you started?” she asked expectantly.

 
     
For reasons he couldn’t explain James felt
sex would ruin this moment. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather just lay
here.”

 
     
Noelle snuggled closer to him and
continued to stroke his cheek. This was nice. James could get use to this. He
wished Noelle and he had met under different circumstances and…he shook his
head to dispel those thoughts. It was too dangerous to let his thoughts dwell
into that territory.

 
     
“James?” Noelle asked after several
minutes of silence.

 
     
“
Mmm
?”

 
     
“I wish it could be like this all the
time. But I know after tonight it will go back to the way it was, won’t it?”

 
     
He wished he could give her the answer she
sought but refused to lie to her. He kissed her forehead. “Go to sleep, Noelle.
You’ve had a rough night.”

 
     
Thankfully, she didn’t say anything else.
James held her until her slow even breathing indicated she was asleep. And even
after she was out he held on for as long as he dared. He didn’t want to fall in
love with her, especially when he wasn’t sure if that particular emotion
actually existed. He’d worked too hard to achieve his goals to throw it away
now for something he wasn’t certain of. If he didn’t end this arrangement soon,
one of them would end up hurt and he was almost certain it would be him. But letting
her go right now simply wasn’t an option, as irrational as it was.

 
     
It was close to dawn when he finally let
go of Noelle and slid off the bed, leaving Noelle alone. He didn’t look back as
he walked out of the room because the temptation of rejoining her was too
great.

 
     
Once again, the dynamic changed between
Noelle and James. She saw James even less after the night he took care of her
when she was ill. Noelle thought things would be different after what he’d done
and the things he’d shared with her. But was he even more distant than before.
Even the sex was not the same. While still earth-shattering, but there seemed
to be a piece of him missing.

 
     
Noelle believed his interest was waning.
They were coming up on a year of their arrangement and she continued to hold on
because her heart wouldn’t allow her to leave.

 
     
Paul told Noelle she’d lasted longer than
any of the other women who’d resided in the penthouse. At first that made her
feel a little better because she thought it had to mean something. But after a
while, Noelle knew she was only fooling herself. James still appeared in the
papers with the redhead from the restaurant. It was obvious he wanted to keep
Noelle as his dirty little secret.

 
     
Noelle didn’t visit her cousin as much as
time went on because her appearance had changed. She’d lost more weight and
wasn’t sleeping. She’d often go through the day with huge bags under her eyes,
which she’d cover with a ton of makeup. Her migraines occurred more often and,
according to her hairdresser, her hair was thinning.

 
     
One of the bright spots in the months that
passed was Paul. The two of them had managed to form a friendship that Noelle
could never have expected.  He listened to her vent and he’d often stop by
to keep her company. The other thing that gave her pleasure was her baking.
She’d gotten good at decorating and sculpting cakes. Noelle discovered she had
quite a talent for it.

 
     
Whenever she felt particularly low, she’d
try a new recipe and call Paul to come try it as she had no appetite, which is
where she found herself now. She fiddled around with one of her mother’s old
recipes and made a few modifications to it.
She texted Paul
to come over when he got a free moment.
He immediately answered back to
say he’d be over right away which meant James was away and not on business.
James was probably with his redhead.

 
     
She hadn’t seen James in over a week and
the last time he showed up, he had been more than a little annoyed with her.
Noelle typically only left the penthouse when she knew he would probably be in
the office. On that day in particular she decided to get out of the penthouse
for some fresh air. She ended up walking several blocks. By the time she made
it back, she’d been gone a couple hours.

 
     
She’d been surprised to find James waiting
for her, his eyes slightly narrowed.
The
reason I gave you a cell phone was so you’d answer when I called,” he said
without a hello or how are you.

 
     
Noelle
wished she was surprised by his tone but all he seemed to do lately was snap at
her. “I’m sorry. I forgot to take it with me. How long have you been waiting?”

 
     
“It
doesn’t matter if I’ve been here five minutes or five hours, I expect you to be
here when I arrive. Is that understood?”

 
     
She
nodded. “Yes, of course but—
“ she
was just about to
point out she hadn’t been gone for five hours when he grabbed her and
practically ripped her coat off. He pulled her against him, crushing her
breasts against his chest.

 
     
His
mouth was over hers in a kiss so hungry and angry she could barely breathe.
James wove his hand through her hair and yanked back so hard she thought her
neck would snap. This wasn’t the first time he’d been this rough with her, but
she was ill- prepared for it.

 
     
She
managed to tear her mouth away from him to catch her breath. “James, just give
me a minute. I just need—”

 
     
“You
don’t call the shots here. Don’t you ever forget
it.
”
He bit down on the tender flesh of her neck until she cried out. She didn’t
understand was happening but James didn’t give her a chance to figure it out
either.

 
     
He
covered her mouth again as he cupped her ass and lifted her against the
thickness of his erection. She gripped his shoulders and wrapped her legs
around his waist as he carried her across the room. James didn’t take her
upstairs as she thought he would, instead he pressed her against the living
room wall.

 
     
His
kiss dominated her, seeming to rob Noelle of her very essence. He roughly moved
his hands between their bodies and fumbled with the buttons and zippers of
their pants until she felt his cock against her wet opening.

 
     
Noelle
adjusted her position just enough to allow him the entrance he sought. Once his
member was aligned with her wet opening, he thrust forward so forcefully she
felt it all over. James was on a mission to conquer with no plans to take
prisoners. And despite the roughness of his movements, her pussy gushed for
him. She loved the way he plowed into her, claiming her body for his very own
in a primitive dance as old as time.

 
     
No
words were exchanged. The only sounds made were ones of grunts and moans.
Noelle clung to him trying to give him everything he needed, though deep down
knowing it would never be enough. Whatever had gotten a hold of him she
couldn’t
soothe.
Realizing she was simply a temporary
vessel to ease whatever demon drove him, she still held on as if her life
depended on it.

 
     
Her
climax came hard and fast yet he continued on, not slowing down, grinding into
her as intensely as he began. She wasn’t sure when he stopped but when he did,
his arms tightened around her to the point where she had to gasp for air.
Finally when he let her go, Noelle felt like a bowl of jelly. Her rubbery legs
wouldn’t support her without his support, so she slid down the length of his
body in a heap at his feet.

 
     
He
stood over her for several minutes, his breathing ragged. When he finally
spoke, her blood ran cold. “Next time, answer your phone.”

 
     
He
walked away and headed upstairs to shower. By the time she found the strength
to get to her feet and fix her clothing he was back and heading out the door.

 
     
“Aren’t
you staying?” she called to him.

 
     
“No,”
was his curt reply.

 
     
She
collapsed to her knees.

 
     
Noelle shuddered at the thought of how
he’d used her and then left without a backward glance. The only thing missing from
that scene was the pile of money the john usually threw at the whore when he
was finished with her. At least that’s how she’d felt afterwards.

 
     
“Earth to Noelle.
Come in Noelle.”

 
     
She snapped out of her daydream when she
realized Paul stood in front of her, waving his hand in her face. She shook her
head of the haze she had fallen under. “Paul, when did you get here?”

 
     
“A few minutes ago.
You were in your own little world. I rang the doorbell and when you didn’t
answer I let myself in and found you in here spacing out. What the hell have
you been doing to yourself lately? You’re a mess!” He looked her up and down
with a discerning stare.

 
     
“Gee, thanks friend. I call you over to
try my latest treat and you insult me.”

 
     
“I only tell you this because I am your
friend. Sweetheart, have you been eating?”

 
     
“Of course,” she said defensively. “I’m
just been counting calories lately.”

 
     
“You’re an awful liar Noelle, and there’s
only so much make up you can use to cover up those bags. Why do you torture yourself
like this? He’s not worth it.”

 
     
She raised her chin defiantly. “That’s for
me to decide. If I wanted a lecture, I’d call my cousin.”