Crash - Part One Page 6

  Now I found myself in the lobby of an apartment block I clearly did not belong in. The receptionist had made no attempt to hide her glare as her eyes moved up and down my body, presumably wondering what I was doing visiting such exquisite apartments.

  “Your name?” she asked.

  “Emily. Emily Saunders.”

  “Ah, yes. Mr. Murphy informed us of your planned visit. Please follow me.”

  The receptionist led me over to the elevator and waved a keycard over the panel. A light came on for the penthouse suite, which she pressed.

  “You’re all set.”

  “Thanks.”

  The doors closed and I quickly turned round to fix my appearance in the mirrored wall of the elevator. During the short walk from my building to the car, the bay area wind had swept up my hair and dumped it back down in a heap. I frantically pulled my fingers through it, but my hair had always been stubborn and it just fell down in the same position each time.

  I heard the doors open behind me and made one quick adjustment to my chest—might as well put my best assets on show, after all.

  “Well, this is going to be an entertaining evening,” Carter said behind me.

  I spun round and saw that the elevator had opened directly into his penthouse. He stood there, sipping from a glass of wine as he checked me out. Like the receptionist downstairs, he made no effort to be subtle about it, but this time I didn’t mind. While he undressed me with his eyes I did the same to him, eager to rip off that tight t-shirt and run my hands over his firm chest.

  “We’re going to have dinner, and that’s it,” I said, walking out of the elevator and throwing my coat down on a sofa.

  “That will not be it,” Carter said. “Not by a long shot. Wine?”

  I took the glass of white wine and admired the room—or rather, rooms. The main area in front of the elevator functioned as a living room of sorts, complete with a massive flat screen television mounted to the wall with standing speakers on either side.

  “Would you like a tour?” Carter asked. “We have a few minutes before dinner is ready.”

  “Sure. Lead the way.”

  “I do like to hear that from a woman,” Carter said as he showed me into the kitchen.

  It was about twice the size of mine and had brand new appliances. A couple of pots sat on the stove with enticing aromas wafting up my nose. Dinner would be a step up from Chinese take-out tonight, it seemed.

  The bathroom had a walk in shower and a Jacuzzi. I should have been surprised to see such luxuries in an apartment, but it seemed completely in fitting with the rest of the penthouse.

  “So, what do you think?” Carter asked. “Not bad, is it?”

  “What about the bedroom?” I asked, somewhat surprised that he had left that out.

  “You’ll see that later,” Carter said as he walked back into the kitchen. My eyes followed his perfect behind as I imagined sinking my nails into his skin.

  “Take a seat at the table and I’ll dish up dinner.”

  Carter had decorated the table with a single rose in the middle next to a solitary candle which smelled faintly of the ocean. At least that was what it said on the label.

  Carter served up seafood risotto complete with prawns, calamari, and mussels, which went perfectly with the pinot grigio.

  “Did you really cook this?” I asked. “Or did you just order from room service and then stick it in a couple of pots?”

  Carter smiled. “You know, Americans always seem surprised that I can cook. That stereotype about British food isn’t really true, you know. And yes, I did cook. If you like, you can check the bin and see all the mess I made in the process.” I smiled at his reference to “bin” instead of trash can. “Anyway, tell me about your week. How is the business going?”

  “Looks like we are getting investment within the next couple of weeks.”

  “Really? Wow, that’s good, right?”

  “Yes,” I said, weighing my words carefully. “It’s just all happening rather fast. We are having to fend off a takeover at the moment, and that sort of forced our hand a bit.”

  “A takeover? I didn’t realize the business was that well developed.”

  “It isn’t,” I said. “But that isn’t stopping PharmaTech from trying. I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, but they offered ten million dollars the other day.”

  Carter nearly choked on his food. “Ten million! Why on earth haven’t you accepted?”

  “PharmaTech would destroy everything we’ve worked for just to make a quick buck,” I said. “We aren’t going to let that happen.”

  “Well, you are a better person than I am, because I would take the money. Companies like that have a habit of getting what they want one way or another. At least this way you stand to profit from it.”

  I wished he hadn’t said that. I didn’t want to hear him reinforce the same fear I had been dragging around these last few days. PharmaTech was playing nice at the moment, but that could change in a heartbeat, and then what? They already knew about the recent security bug. What else did they know about? Was there really anything to stop them from just copying our code and grinding us into the ground with legal fees?

  “Speaking of money,” I said, putting down my fork as I savored the last mouthful of Carter’s meal. “I always pictured hedge funds as being fairly prudent with expenses.”

  “They are, for the most part.”

  “And yet here you are in the penthouse suite of one of the most expensive apartments in San Francisco.”

  Carter narrowed his eyes and looked at me. I held his gaze and did my best to project confidence while feeling like a nervous wreck inside.

  “What are you getting at, Emily?”

  “I know you’re lying to me,” I said. “You’re lying about working for Chadwick Ellis and you lied about your plans for the other night.” I managed to keep my voice calm as I accused him, but my fingernails were digging into the skin of my palm.

  “What the hell, Emily! Why did you even come here tonight if you were just going to accuse me of lying?”

  That was a good question. Why had I come here? I shrugged. “I guess I was hoping you would be able to explain it.”

  “I shouldn’t have to.” Carter looked pissed. His fingers were pressed hard against the table as if he were trying to push through it. I couldn’t help but notice the muscles in his forearms rippling as he tried to control his anger. “I get that you have self-esteem issues because of the leg. It’s stupid, because you are beautiful, but I do understand. But that does not give you the right to go around accusing me like this.”

  He hadn’t even attempted to provide an excuse for his lies, but had managed to make me feel like crap in the process.

  “I’m sorry Carter, I need to get out of here. Thank you for a lovely meal.” I stood up and walked over to the elevator, but then promptly made a fool out of myself by not being able to find the call button.

  “I did lie,” Carter admitted. “I don’t work for Chadwick Ellis.”

  I turned around to face him, hoping to see a hint of remorse in his eye, but there was none.

  “Why?” I asked. “Why did you lie? What’s going on?”

  Chapter Sixteen

  “It wasn’t a big lie,” Carter said. “Just a little white one. I am here on business, but I don’t work for a hedge fund. I work for a bank. A big one. People aren’t too keen on big banks these days, so I tend to keep it secret. I am in town to work on a deal, though. That part is true.”

  Shit, that actually made a lot of sense. It certainly explained the luxury penthouse. Big banks threw money around like it was going out of fashion.

  “What about the women?” I asked. “Like your date the other night.”

  Carter gave a quick shrug of the shoulders. “I like women, Emily. You and I are not a couple—not yet—and you can’t make me feel guilty for sleeping with other women. I enjoy sex and, if I may say, I’m quite good at it.”

  Carter walked towar
d me. I took a step back and leaned against the cold steel of the elevator doors. He was coming to claim me. I could see the look in his eyes. He wouldn’t take no for an answer now, and I didn’t want to fight him anyway.

  He stopped three feet from me and held out his hand. I placed my hand in his and he led me to the one room that had been out of bounds the entire evening. Until now.

  I admired the bedroom as Carter spun me round and lowered the zipper on the back of my dress. The light fabric fluttered to the floor, leaving me standing there in just my underwear, my leg exposed to him for the first time. Carter brushed my neck with light kisses as he undid my bra to release my tender breasts. The room was warm, but my nipples stood erect, waiting to be touched.

  I cringed as Carter got down on his knees and planted kisses on my belly. I normally hated to be touched there, but he put me at ease with my own body. I relaxed as his fingers slipped under the waistband of my panties.

  Carter pulled my panties down to the floor. He slid them off over each foot, the real one and the fake one, before standing up and backing away. He looked me up and down like an art critic examining a painting.

  “Emily, you are quite certainly the most gorgeous woman I have ever had the pleasure to see naked. And I have seen a lot of women naked. I am going to make it my mission to kiss every inch of skin on your body.”

  I laughed. “And the plastic? Don’t worry,” I added, seeing Carter upset at my negativity, “I’m only messing around. When do I get to see your body?”

  The sudden rush of confidence took me by surprise as much as it did Carter, but I wasn’t about to complain.

  “I’m right here, Emily. You’re going to have to do some of the work by yourself.”

  I approached him and maintained eye contact as I slipped my fingers under the hem of his shirt and lifted it over his head. My body urged me to look down and admire his chest, but I kept staring straight at him while my fingers opened his belt and the button on his jeans.

  Finally I allowed my hands to touch him. I started on his chest, digging my fingers in, searching for any trace of body fat, but there was none. I pushed hard against him, but he didn’t budge as I moved my hands up to his shoulders and then down the arms. My hands, while not tiny, were unable to get even halfway round his heaving biceps.

  My knees were about to give way under me, so I lowered myself to the floor and pulled down his jeans. He stepped out of them, leaving me on my knees staring at his crotch. His boxers were close-fitting and incapable of hiding the generous length contained within.

  I subconsciously licked my lips as I slipped him out of his underwear. My eyes opened wide when I saw what hung between his thighs. His member was not yet hard, but I could tell it would put Neil to shame.

  My fingers brushed against it—as if not believing it were real—and I felt it twitch under my touch. Before I could get a grip on it, Carter reached down and pulled me up in one swift movement like I weighed no more than a child.

  “I want to return the favor,” I said, longing to wrap my lips around his shaft. I’d never done that to a man before. I’d never wanted to until now.

  “No,” Carter replied. “Not tonight. Tonight is all about you.”

  He ran his fingertips down my chest, lightly brushing my nipples before moving on down to my belly. He planted his palms against me and gave me a soft shove, sending me down onto the bed. I lay back with my legs spread open wide. As Carter climbed on top I realized I’d never let a man look at me in that way before. All my previous sexual encounters involved getting naked under the sheets and often with the lights off. Now I was truly giving myself to Carter in every way.

  Carter positioned himself between my legs and knelt there staring at me, his cock now rock hard and ready for me.

  “I can see how much you want me,” Carter said. “You pussy is wet for me.”

  “Fuck me,” I said. “I need you inside me.”

  “Tut, tut, tut,” Carter said, shaking his head. “Always so impatient for sex. First I want to taste you again.” He threw his head down between my legs and put his tongue straight to my sex. My hips raised to meet him and I moaned as his tongue flicked in and out of my hole.

  I came within minutes, unable to hold back as his tongue explored every nook of my folds. When his lips pursed around my clit my body shook, and the orgasm hit hard, traveling up from my pussy to my brain. A feeling of euphoria washed over me as I crashed back down onto the bed.

  Carter took a few more eager licks of my lips and then pulled his head away and got off the bed.

  “No,” I whimpered. “Please don’t leave me like this. I need you. I need you to fuck me. I need your cock inside me. I need—”

  “Emily, calm down,” Carter said. “I’m just getting a condom.”

  “Oh,” I replied, smiling. “Well, hurry up, then.”

  Carter sheathed himself and then lay on top of me, his tip flicking lighting against my wetness.

  “You know, for someone who likes to play innocent, you can be very eager for cock between your legs.”

  “Just yours,” I said as he parted my folds with his fingers and slipped inside.

  I breathed in hard as inch-after-inch of him filled my aching sex. As wet as I was, there was still some pain as his large member moved deeper and deeper inside me, until I was completely full.

  Carter rocked back and forth on top of me. His hands held my wrists down while his mouth explored my body. My nipples stiffened as his tongue moved around my breasts and I ground my hips in time with his.

  “I’m coming,” I moaned as Carter’s thrusts quickened. He stopped kissing me and let his head hover over mine, staring deep into my eyes. I held eye contact as I came hard, my pussy clenching on to his thick cock.

  Carter finished soon after and collapsed on top of me, our bodies covered in sweat and my juices forming a sticky mess between our legs. I’d never orgasmed that hard and a wet patch formed on the bed between my legs.

  My hands explored Carter’s sweaty back and moved down toward his perfect behind. I grabbed hold hard and wished he could just stay here on top of me—inside me—forever.

  Finally Carter rolled off, and I placed my head against his chest for the best night’s sleep I had ever had.

  Chapter Seventeen

  I woke to the smell of strong coffee and cooked eggs. Not a bad way to start the day.

  “Morning,” Carter said, standing over me with a tray of breakfast. There was also orange juice and toast, plus some cooked sausage. I wasn’t usually one for big breakfasts, but apparently having two powerful orgasms could give you an appetite.

  “In the spirit of complete and utter honesty between us,” Carter said, placing the tray on my lap, “I’m going to confess that this is room service.”

  “I suppose nobody’s perfect,” I joked, propping myself up on a pillow. Carter stood there in just his underwear; it was an effort to look away and start eating breakfast. He opened the curtains to reveal a view of the city. The Golden Gate Bridge had a layer of fog covering it, but that couldn’t be helped. Other than that the view was perfect; both inside and outside the hotel.

  Carter sat next to me while I ate, but we didn’t talk. The silence wasn’t awkward, but I could tell both of us were wondering the same thing, and neither wanted to be the one to bring it up.

  “What next?” Carter asked. “What happens now?”

  “I was wondering the same thing,” I said. “I know what I should do, but it’s not the same as what I want to do.”

  “You think you should end this now because it will only end in heartbreak?”

  I nodded.

  “But you want to keep going because we have amazing sex?”

  I laughed. “I wouldn’t have quite put it like that. But you’re not far off.”

  “This doesn’t have to end, you know,” he said, sneaking a piece of sausage from my plate before I could claim it with my fork.

  “If it doesn’t end now, then it ends when you g
o back home.”

  “No,” he said. “It doesn’t have to. I didn’t sleep last night, Emily. I lay up all night thinking about this. We can work something out. I don’t know all the details yet, but I could try and get a transfer, or maybe I just take more holiday leave. And I could fly you out to England as often as you like.”

  “I don’t know,” I murmured, trying to think of more excuses. At the moment this sounded too good to be true. There had to be something that would mess this up. “I can’t afford to split my focus right now. The business takes up all my time, and I will have to be utterly devoted to it over the next year or so if I want it to succeed.”

  “I thought the business was going well,” Carter said. “Don’t you already have investors circling?”

  “We do,” I admitted. “But it’s not quite as simple as that. We are burning through money right now. We already owe our lawyer five grand.”

  “None of these reasons are insurmountable,” Carter said. “We don’t have to decide right now. Can we just agree to see how it goes over the next few weeks?”

  I nodded. Was I really considering this? My main problem with Carter had been him going home, and now he was saying we could work around that. It was tempting—more than tempting—but it was sensible, and sensible was my middle name.

  Decisions like this couldn’t be made in bed. “Let’s talk about this later,” I said.

  Carter smiled and pulled me on top of him. As our bodies merged again, I knew that somehow we would find a way to work this out, and my life would never be the same again.

  Chapter Eighteen

  I came home to find John working at my kitchen table. “Do you spend any time at home these days?” I asked. “Are things really that bad with Tom?”

  “Tom and I split up,” was John’s terse reply.