Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 67973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“I’ll be right back,” he said, pulling out of me and heading into the bathroom.
A few minutes passed, and when he returned the condom was gone and he carried a warm, damp hand towel. He sat on the edge of the bed beside me, and instead of handing it to me, he gently cleaned me himself.
The gesture was so intimate it nearly undid me, considering no one had ever taken the time to do that for me before. My body was still humming from the pleasure he’d given me, and now this, his quiet care, the gentle sweep of warmth between my thighs…it made me feel stripped bare in a way I wasn’t sure how to process.
“You okay?” he asked, as if sensing just how off-kilter I was feeling.
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
When he was done, Liam tossed the towel onto the bathroom floor, then came back, climbing into bed. The mattress dipped as he settled beside me, and he covered us both with the covers. Then he surprised me by gathering me close, so that I was snuggled up to his side. I hadn’t expected that, or any of this extra tenderness or aftercare. For a moment, I wondered how a stranger’s touch could feel so achingly right. Then he exhaled a slow, contented breath, and the answer didn’t seem to matter.
I relaxed into his hold, thinking that this might just be the best birthday I’d ever had. For that matter, this man was the best lover I’d ever had. Dominant and considerate and hot as hell.
My eyelids grew heavy as I allowed myself to get comfortable. Just before I fell asleep, I felt Liam brush aside my hair and press a kiss to my forehead.
“Good night, Birthday Girl.”
I smiled as I drifted off, content and happy with my decision to come here with him. But hours later, when I awoke to the sunrise coming through the big windows, I realized that I was alone. The other side of the bed was empty, the suite completely quiet.
A knot of disappointment twisted in my stomach as I pushed myself up, glancing around. He was definitely gone. There was no note. Nothing to even indicate that he’d been there, and the fact that he hadn’t even bothered to at least say goodbye hurt more than it should have.
He hadn’t made any promises. I knew that. This was supposed to be uncomplicated. A night of pleasure, and he’d certainly given me that. He’d been generous, attentive, and the sex had been mind-blowing. He’d ordered me cake, for God’s sake.
Still, part of me had believed the softness in his voice, and the way he’d said, “Good Night, Birthday Girl”, like our evening together meant something. Like maybe I had, too.
Clearly, I’d been mistaken. Again. What was wrong with me that I always read more into situations with men than existed? That I believed that there was a connection when there was only the convenience of a hookup?
With a sigh, I lay back down and drew the covers tighter around me, trying to hold onto the fading warmth he’d left behind. But the truth settled in as quietly as the morning light filtering into the room.
Whatever last night had been, for him, it was already over. For me, I knew it was something I would never forget, along with a sharp reminder to stop confusing great sex with genuine connection.
CHAPTER FIVE
Liam
The October air was crisp as I made my way toward the tall glass building with Simon at my side. This New York City office building housed several businesses, but the one we were here to visit was GalvaTech, a small electronics company on the tenth floor.
As angel investors, Simon and I had been in negotiations with them for the past few months, and I was hopeful we were finally close to an agreement. I wanted to invest in the company. They weren’t a big operation just yet, but I could see the potential for growth.
This was our first in-person meeting, though I’d already exchanged several emails and phone calls with the owner. Once we stepped out of the elevator on the tenth floor, we were faced with a glass door to the office of GalvaTech. Just inside the reception area, an older man with white hair and an easy smile waited for us.
“Welcome,” he said, shaking both our hands with undeniable enthusiasm. “I’m Samuel Starling.”
The name matched the email correspondences. Samuel Starling was the founder and driving force behind GalvaTech. After a few quick pleasantries, he led us through the workspace beyond the lobby. The office was clean and efficient, lined with private offices and a large conference room enclosed with glass walls.
Employees bustled about, but none of them paid us any attention. Samuel led us straight to the conference room where a man was already seated at the long table, waiting for us. He stood when we entered and smoothed a hand down his tie.