“Can I help you?” a woman asks. She is older than me and looks refined.
“Yes. I am here to pick up a package for Aiden Grace.” She looks at me, almost impressed.
“You must be Hannah.” I just nod at her.
“Please follow me, Hannah.” I follow her toward the back of the store, where she stops near a diamond case. I start to get nervous.
“Mr. Grace is an important client of ours. We were happy to work with him.” She takes out two boxes. She starts to open them, but they are facing her. My heart starts to beat faster. What the hell is he up to? Then she turns them around and I look at them. I feel the tears come to my eyes.
One box has a St. Michael charm in yellow gold, and the other in white gold. He thought of them. I wasn’t coming here for me; I was coming here for them. I feel the smile reach my lips.
“Do you like them?” she asks me.
“Yes, very much. They are beautiful.” She wraps them back up, and I watch her place them in a Tiffany’s bag. I take the bag from her and thank her again. As I walk out, I see Sam is still parked out front. I walk over to the car and get back in.
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Redman, I didn’t see you come out.” He has a bit of fear on his face.
I laugh. “No worries, Sam. I know how to open a door.” He looks a bit relieved and starts to drive again. It’s only a few short blocks before we stop again. We are still on Fifth Avenue. I look out the window and see a sign for Grace Industries. We must be at Aiden’s office.
“Mr. Grace is on his way down.” He gets out and stands next to the car, waiting for Aiden.
I spot Aiden when he walks out. He looks like a dream. He is wearing a three piece suit that is black with thin, white pinstripes. I see a few women slow down to look at him, and it makes me smile. As he gets closer, I see him getting off his cell and place it in the inside pocket of his jacket. He stops and speaks with Sam for a moment.
Sam nods, then opens the door for Aiden. I watch him get into the car. Everything this man does is with ease and grace. He sits and looks over at me.
“Hey,” he says, then he leans in and kisses me. I feel his lips against mine and I start to purr. His hand wanders on my leg, but stops just above my knee. I feel a little disappointed.
“Hello,” I finally manage to say back to Aiden.
“Did you like the trip to Tiffany’s?”
“I was quite surprised, to say the least. Thank you so much. The kids are going to love them.” I lean forward and kiss him lightly, then pull away.
“Where are we going for lunch?”
“My apartment.” He places his hand in mine and leans back into the seat. I look out the window and wonder where he lives when he is in the city.
It’s no surprise that we drive for only a few short minutes before we stop again. Aiden steps out and takes my hand to help me out. The doorman opens the door and tips his hat to Aiden.
“Mr. Grace.” Aiden gives him a nod and continues into the building. The lobby is like a museum, with a huge statue in the center and pictures lining the walls. The security desk looks out of place to the left. I follow Aiden to the elevators, and they open immediately. Aiden motions me in first, not letting go of my hand, then steps in and swipes a card. He turns around and directs his attention on me. I take a step back and feel the wall. Aiden presses against me and kisses me hard. I place my hands on his belt line. I feel the elevator start to slow down, and Aiden pulls away.
“I have lunch ready if you are hungry.” I grin at him. I’m hungry but not for lunch.
“I know that look,” he whispers to me as the doors open.
“Do you?”
“Yes, it’s your ‘fuck me’ face. Let’s work up an appetite.” He drags me down the hallway and into his apartment. It is masculine and much larger than I thought it would be. It has an amazing view. I
walk over to the floor-to-ceiling windows and look around. I can feel him standing behind me, taking off his jacket. I turn around as he throws it on the couch. He picks me up and presses me against the window. I wrap myself around him, kissing him hard. Slowly he takes me away from the window and leads me to the couch. He drops me and I bounce on the couch, then he jumps on top of me. I can’t help but laugh as he starts to take off his dress shirt. I work on his pants. Once he is unbuckled and unzipped, I push him to stand up. I slide his briefs and pants down his long legs, releasing my favorite part of him. He takes off his shirt, and then his undershirt. He slides my arms up over my head and takes my dress off. I lie back and he stands looking at me.
“I like this,” he says as he brushes his hands over my sexy, matching lace set. “But not that much.” He pulls the panties down, and then unhooks my bra with ease. I lie there, baring myself, and he starts to kiss me. He works his way down my neck and kisses over my collarbone to each shoulder, where he gives a little bite. I spread my legs so I can feel him against me. He starts to kiss my neck again, then makes his way down between my breasts. His hands take each breast, and his fingers start to play with my nipples. I let out a breath as he goes lower.
“I missed you,” he mumbles between kisses and nips. I don’t say anything, because I am on cloud nine as his tongue finds my sweet spot. I just moan as I grab his hair in my hands.
“Slow down,” I murmur in my euphoric state. He slides on a condom. Then in one swift motion, he plunges his hardness into me. I groan as he pushes it all into me in the first pound. He quickens his pace, slamming into me over and over. I let out moans and yells as I come. He takes my legs and places them on his shoulders and takes me faster. I can feel him deeper inside of me, and it hurts so good. He slaps my ass and calls me a fucking whore, but I’m starting to come again, so I could care less what he calls me or how many times he spanks me. Once I come, I can tell he is about to come too. He gets faster, gripping my thighs closer to him, before I feel him collapse on top of me.
“Fuck,” is all he can say when he is done. I lie there under him for a few minutes before he gets up. “Bathroom is down the hall, second door on the right.”
So romantic
, I think as I get up.
I grab my clothes before going into the bathroom. Once safely inside I lock the door behind me. I look in the mirror at my backside and see a few handprints. I clean up and get dressed. My cheeks are red and my hair is wild. I splash some cold water on my face to cool down, and then put some lip gloss on and go back into the living room.
“Are you still hungry?” he calls from the kitchen.
“Sure, what’s for lunch?” I sit at the breakfast bar as he serves me sushi.
“You like?” He looks at me.
“It’s my favorite.” We sit side by side and eat our lunch. Aiden’s phone rings a few times, and he looks at it each time, but doesn’t answer it. I look at my watch and see it’s ten to one.
“I think we should get going,” I say, turning to him.
“Yeah, we should. I have a meeting at one thirty that I need to do some work on.” I get up with my plate to clean it off, but he grabs it and places it back on the breakfast bar.
“I have people to do that,” he says as walks over to his jacket. He puts it on and watches me pick up my clutch.
“Ready?” I nod and follow him down to the elevators.
“Was your maid home just now?” I ask.
“Yes.”
I feel embarrassed thinking about it. I hope she didn’t see anything, or hear anything, for that matter. He takes my hand and I let him.
“How does your ass feel?” he asks as his hand begins to rub it.
“It’s still stinging.” I half smile. “So you think I’m a whore?” He smiles at me.
“Yes, you’re my fucking whore, and I will do as I please with you.” He looks at me with darkness in his eyes. I feel dirty all of a sudden and look away to break eye contact. As we get out of the elevator, I let go of his hand and open my clutch as a distraction. The doorman
opens the door, and Sam is waiting for us at the SUV. When he opens the door, I get right in and move over. I need distance from Aiden.
“Did I say something wrong?” Aiden says after he slides in.
“Do you feel like you said something wrong?”
“Nope.” He sits back and places his hand on my leg. I feel anger brewing inside. I sit and hope we can get to his building fast. I start to think of things to say to him, but speak none of them. He is calling me exactly what I have been acting like, a whore. The words hurt more than I thought they would. I want to give back the necklaces. I don’t want the kids wearing them. We stop in front of his building, and he kisses me before he gets out. I give him my cheek. Am I overreacting? No, I was getting attached to him. I have to rip him off like I would a Band-Aid.
“Hannah, don’t be like this.”
“Like what?” I snap at him.
“Pissy towards me because of something I said.”
“No, the heat of the moment is one thing. It was after, when I asked you how you felt about saying it and you repeated it proudly.” I watch as he grows frustrated. Sam is out of the car now, and Aiden rolls down the window and tells him to wait. I watch as the window goes back up and Aiden turns toward me.
“If you didn’t want to know the answer, you shouldn’t have asked the question. I don’t do the whole dating thing.” I cut him off.
“Aiden, we aren’t dating. I’m just a whore you fucked a few times.” I give him a hateful glare.
“Don’t be like this.”
“You’re going to be late to work, Aiden. I have to get back home to pick my kids up.” I look away from him. He touches my hands but I pull away.
“Hannah, look at me.” I can hear the urgency in his voice, but I keep looking out the window. I hear him take a deep breath. “Hannah, I said look at me.” His voice is getting louder, and I don’t care.
“I said fucking look at me,” he screams in my ear, and then he kicks the seat in front of him. “Now you’re acting like a fucking whore.
I know you fucked my brother. How do you think that makes me feel? I’m fucking the same woman as him
again
.” I hear the emphasis on
again
.
Fuck
. Why does he think I fucked Grant? I fooled around with him, but never… I finally look over at Aiden.
“I never fucked your brother. Get your facts straight.” My voice is unraveling, and I hope he leaves. Why did he say
again
?
“Don’t lie to me, Hannah.” His eyes look like the sky right before a storm.
“I’m not,” I snap back. “I never slept with Grant.”
When he finally gets out, I let out a deep, shaky breath. Never in my life have I felt so ashamed of myself. I just want to go home and shower to get him off me. The whole car ride home, I fight with myself. The angel wins and the devil walks away with her tail between her legs.
When Sam pulls in front of my house, I hop out and head straight into the house. I run upstairs and get right into the shower. I feel the tears running down my face before the water hits my face. I stand under the hot water, scrubbing my body to get his scent off of me. I never thought a man could make me feel this way. Chase would have never said anything like that to me. The heat of the moment is one thing, but when I asked him if he thought he said anything wrong, he said no. Why did he think I slept with Grant?
My skin hurts as I get out of the shower. I quickly get dressed and leave to get the kids.
I need to clear my mind
, I think as I step outside, but I stop when I see the Range Rover still parked out front. I head to my truck and Sam steps out.
“Hannah, you forgot your Tiffany’s bag.” He walks toward me, but I put my hands up.
“No, Sam, I didn’t. Could you please let Aiden know I don’t need them?” I turn to get in my truck. Sam looks uncomfortable.
“Please, Hannah, take it. Mr. Grace is going to be angry if you don’t.”
“Aiden can go fuck himself and you can tell him I said that.” I slam my door and roll down the driveway. I speed away to the kids’ school. On the way there, I decide to go to my parents’ house after I pick them up. I don’t need to go home, and find Sam still there.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
I
get out of the truck when I get to the school and wait for the kids. I fidget with my phone and decide to make a hair appointment for tomorrow. When I get off, I feel a bit better. I made an appointment for a haircut, massage, manicure, and pedicure. I will spend the day relaxing. When I see the kids walking out, I start to walk toward them. I feel my phone vibrate and see a text from Aiden.
The gift was for the kids. Take it
.
I delete it and bend down to hug the kids.
“Do you guys want to go over to Grandma and Pop’s house?” I ask.
“Yes,” they both yell. We drive straight to my parents’ house. I don’t bother calling because I know they are home and they will be happy to see us. My dad is mowing the lawn when I pull up. He stops the lawnmower and walks over to the truck.
“Hey, guys,” he says when he opens the back door. The kids jump right into his arms. I walk around the truck, and he puts the kids down and hugs me.
“Hey, Han, you OK?” I hug him back and nod yes, but I try my hardest to hold the tears back. I pull away and head into the house. When I walk in, I feel the calm come over me, and I settle on a stool at the kitchen island.
“Hello,” I yell as I sit down. I lean back and look out the front door at the kids. They are running around the front lawn as my dad finishes mowing. I don’t hear my mom.
“Marco,” I yell.
“Polo,” I hear as my mom comes upstairs with a basket of laundry on her hip.
“Hey, sweetheart, what are you doing here?” She is studying me right away, and I don’t blame her. I’ve come over here many times unannounced, just to hide from the kids and cry.
“I’m fine, Mom. I just wanted to come by with the kids to hang out and have some dinner. We didn’t see you this weekend. I missed you guys.” I get off the stool and hug her.
“What’s on your mind, Hannah? I know something is going on.” She knows me way too well.
“Nothing, Mom, really. Well, there is one thing.” I stop and she looks over at me while she starts to fold towels. I grab a towel and start to fold it, contemplating what I’m about to say.
“Would you and Dad mind watching the kids Friday night? Becca is flying in Thursday, and she wants me to go to a charity dinner with her Friday night.” I see the smile beam across her face.