Keeping Blossom (5 page)

I’m trying to keep it together here. But all I can think about is smashing Adam’s face in. He’s a true piece of shit. He purposefully hurt her because it would bother me. I’m done with him. She’s been living in a shelter for Christ’s sake! Hearing her say that just gutted me. Spending the last two weeks irrationally jealous of Adam, and he hid the fact that he tossed her onto the street.

I don’t care if he gets locked up for a long time. I’ll call my dad tomorrow to let him know what’s happening. What am I going to do with Blossom? I want her, and I know that it isn’t for a night or a few. I’m keeping Blossom, but how do I make it so she wants to stay?

“Devin, I know you don’t really know me, but if you can find me a job, I’d be grateful. I can’t go back to the shelter. It’s not a safe place.”

“You’re not going back to the shelter. If you want a job…you can be my housekeeper.”

“Really, thank you!” she gushes, hugging me with genuine sincerity. Fuck, she’s really naïve or underestimates her attractiveness.

“Don’t thank me. I’m not doing this just for you.”

“Oh, you still want me in your bed?” she says it like it’s a repulsive thing. I find it disgusting that Adam’s had her, but I can forget it because he means no more to me than any of her other past lovers.

“Don’t say it like it’s a bad thing.”

“Listen, Devin. Please don’t mistake my gratitude for an invitation to my body.”

“Calm down, Brooke. I really don’t want you as my housekeeper, but if it’s a way to keep you near and safe then I’ll do it. Like I said when we first met, I want to know you, to date you and see what happens between us. I’ll give you time, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to try to seduce you.”

“Fine. Challenge accepted. After your brother, you’ve got a difficult journey ahead of you.”

Gripping her face, I look her dead in the eyes and warn her, “Don’t ever compare me to him. He’s not my real brother. My father married his mother and we’re nothing alike.” Unable to resist how close our faces are, I kiss her like I’ve been aching to do for three long weeks. Her lips are soft with some sweet flavoring gloss. I think I’ll forever associate her taste with vanilla. She parts her lips with a sigh. I take this opportunity to nibble on her bottom lip before slowly kissing her jaw.

I try to back away to stop this before I go too far. She’s in a vulnerable place and I can’t do this unless I know it’s what she really wants. Tonight is not that night. Stealing one last deep, tasty kiss, I sit back and observe her. She’s just opened her eyes slowly. I can see the hunger in them; it’s equal to mine, but I can’t go there— yet.

I see indecision and embarrassment in her greenish-gray eyes. “Don’t. I’m not going to make this about sex because with you, I know it’s something more. I haven’t figured it all out yet, but I want you and to know everything I can about you.”

“This is so complicated. I must be out of my mind,” she sighs.

“Just relax and rest. We’ll talk when we get to my place.”

The rest of the ride is filled with my thoughts. I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing with her. She’s got something that’s captivated me from the start. I was honest about it being more than sex, but she’s right— it’s complicated.

Once we pull into the underground garage, I escort her to my personal elevator. Waving Chuck off for the night, I press my button and enter my passcode. “Figures. You have your own private elevator in a fancy building.”

“Figures?”

“You’re a rich, young lawyer.”

“Most of my money comes from my family, but I’ve made my own sizable share through hard work.”

“I didn’t mean it in a bad way. It’s just we’re so far apart in everything.”

“Opposites attract, sweetheart.”

~~~~~

We enter his place and it’s just like out of a movie. I immediately feel out of place. It’s shiny, expensive, and super clean. I turn around, facing him and give him a skeptical glare. “You really don’t need my help with housework, do you?”

“Just because I don’t need it, doesn’t mean I don’t want it. I’d like to not have to clean and cook during my free time, plus I’d like to have an excuse to have you cook for me.”

“Oh, okay. So I know this is all a last minute thing, but is there anything in particular you need me to do?”

“To eat and relax. You’ve had a rough few weeks, and I feel terrible about it. I’ll show you where you can sleep.”

“In your bed,” I mumble to myself, but I think he heard me.

Devin shakes his head but doesn’t respond. There’s a room down the hall from a chef’s kitchen. He opens the door into a small, clean bedroom. “This is your room. If you choose to sleep here or if you want to sleep in my bed, that’s fine either way, but just so you know, I like to sleep naked.”

I blush at the thought of seeing him naked, which inspires a wicked grin from him. “Don’t worry. I don’t sleep-walk, but if you do, my room is upstairs and to the left.”

Thinking about sleeping naked, I realize all my belongings are at the strip club if they haven’t already tossed them in the street. “Shit! My suitcase is at the club.”

“It’s okay. I’ll call them right now and have it sent over.”

“I don’t know if that’s smart, considering you stole me from the club. They’re probably not too happy with you.”

“No, they’re not. You would’ve brought in an enormous crowd, but I don’t care. You’re not stripping for money. Now, if you get the urge to dance for me, I won’t have any complaints.”

“You’re not going to quit, are you?”

“Nope.”

“Just like…” she glares, but I cut her off before she says something that makes me kill Adam.

“Don’t mention my brother again. In fact, better yet, I want to get him out of the way of whatever we have, so tell me about your relationship— Just leave out the sex.”

“That’s easy. We never had sex.”

“You two didn’t,” he says in disbelief, tossing himself back onto the bed.

“No, we haven’t, and it’s the reason we broke up.” I pause, but he looks at me demanding I tell him more. “I met him at work one day. He was with a couple of guys and they all tried to run their game on me. I’ve been around long enough to know that it was a competition to see who could get my attention. I bit and let your brother win. At first, it was just to get them to leave me alone, but then he was nice to me. Of course, I learned exactly what he wanted by our first date. I told him I wasn’t that easy, and he said I was worth the wait. We spent the summer getting to know each other when we had time. It wasn’t very often because of my chaotic life. One day, I wanted to surprise him because I got out early, and I found him in his car having sex with another girl. It’s the reason he was willing to wait. He was already getting some on the side.”

“He’s an asshole. He’s always been.”

“I know. That’s why I never did have sex with him. It’s not like I was saving myself until he asked me to marry him, but I just didn’t want to throw out the goods with someone who I knew wasn’t serious. He was fun to be around, but that was it. Even my parents didn’t care for him, and that’s saying a lot.”

“He met your parents?” he asks. “Will I?”

“No, you won’t. They died over a month ago.” I immediately break down. I don’t mean to but I can’t control the pain, and the weight of the past month takes ahold of me.

“Oh, shit, Blossom. I’m sorry.” He takes me into his arms, holding me close. It feels so right.

“Thanks, it’s been a terrible month. I loved them so much, and I miss them every day,” I sobbingly whisper into his chest.

I’ve been whispering words of compassion and tenderness when I realize she has cried herself to sleep in my arms. I give her a gentle squeeze then lay her down on the bed. “I’m going to make it better, Blossom,” I whisper as I kiss her hair. Leaning down, I unzip her knee-high white boots, sliding each one off her sexy legs. She doesn’t wake as I take them off; instead, she gives a sad little whimper. Her hurt and sadness make it easier to fight the need to possess her tonight. I swallow deeply as I stare at her legs. My eyes roam her body and I know it’s meant for me.

Looking down at my broken Blossom one more time, I know I’ve got to make it better anyway I can. I close the bedroom door with a heavy heart, remembering the pain of losing my mother. I didn’t think I’d ever recover. It’s gotten easier over the years, but there’re times that I miss her like crazy.

I head to my office and pour myself a drink. I’ve got her here, and she’s safe. Taking a deep breath, I think about her lying in the bed practically naked, which reminds me that she doesn’t have any clothes here. I’m going to take her shopping this weekend, but first things first, I’ve got to call the strip club.

It goes better than expected. The owner knew that Blossom didn’t fit in there and was glad that I took her away from that life. I’m going to give her anything, do anything, to keep her.

“I promise to treat her well.”

“Good, because she’s not cut out for this kind of work. Her sweet heart will be tainted if she stays in this industry. I’ve got plenty of life-hardened women bidding for a job.”

“Then why did you hire her?” I ask. I think she’s just trying to appease me that way I don’t make trouble for the illegal things I spotted in the club. When you see a stripper blowing a guy in the corner, it’s prostitution, which could get the owner locked up and the club shut down.

“She lived in a shelter and looked like a lost puppy.”

I hang up with her.

It’s late when the club sends over the suitcase. I give the delivery boy a tip and a little more for the club’s trouble. Taking her now beat up luggage to her room, I check on her one more time. She’s curled up still wearing the white skimpy panties and bra. Her curves are illuminated by the moonlight. Grabbing the blanket from the foot of the bed, I cover her up and kiss her cheek. I’m keeping her one way or another.

“Devin,” she murmurs in her sleep. My heart jumps out of my chest and I leave the room with a smile. Going upstairs, I jump in the shower then head to bed. I’ve got court in the morning but can hopefully be done by lunch and come back to check on her.  It’s the first night in a long time that I sleep straight through.

~~~~~

I open my eyes to an unfamiliar room. It takes a moment, but it dawns on me where I am— Devin’s penthouse. Thinking about the night before, I’m embarrassed. I bawled like a baby in his arms. It felt so perfect being there, but he’s my boss now.

Getting up, I stretch and take a look at my surroundings. It’s a small room with a lot of sunlight breaking through the curtains, then I see my suitcase. “Thank you, Devin,” I whisper. I jump out of the bed still in my bra and panties, remembering Devin removing my tight boots before he laid me down, but he didn’t take the rest of my clothes off. I’m thankful for that, but damn, the underwire dug into my skin. Bras suck, but big tits sag, so I’m forced to deal with a little discomfort.

The bedroom has its own private bathroom. For a glorified apartment, it’s bigger than my whole family home. I take a fast shower and get dressed before he makes an appearance. Looking at the clock, it’s only six-thirty. I don’t know what time he’s supposed to start. Maybe he always leaves this early. Shit. I hate mornings. Oh well. It’s better than living on the streets wondering where my next meal is going to come from. Another bonus to not starving is just being around Devin. The man smells and looks so damn good, I wouldn’t mind letting him pay me in orgasms.

I step out of the room and smell fresh coffee. He’s already up and doing what I’m supposed to be doing. Damn it, I need to take control before he realizes he doesn’t need me. Well, except for in his bed, not that I mind, but I need money and I won’t take it for sex. The thought is disgusting to me. It would make me no better than some of the girls at the shelter. With all my heart, I pray he doesn’t treat me like Adam. A favor for a favor. My chest aches from just the prospect of such freaking disappointment.

When I enter the kitchen, he looks up from his tablet with a warm smile on his face. I’m like the cartoon characters with a tongue that touches the floor. Devin is fully dressed in a suit looking like perfection, but it’s his eyes that have me panting like a bitch in heat. Suddenly having him proposition me doesn’t sound like a sick idea. Shit, I’ll make him a sandwich if he’ll fuck me like his eyes promise. There’s so much there in his gaze; I feel like I’m trapped in it.

“Good morning, Blossom,” he says so seductively, I’m mentally fanning myself.

“Morning, Devin.”

“Did you sleep well?”

“Better than I have for a month.”

“I’m glad. I was worried I wouldn’t get to see your before I left.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t have an alarm clock and my phone…”

“Don’t worry. I’m going to have my assistant pick you up a new phone. Before you go crazy on me, I need to be able to get a hold of you.”

“I suppose that makes sense. You can take it out of my check.”

“Here’s my cell. Keep it with you until my assistant drops off your new phone.”

“I can’t do that. You’ll need it.”

“If I need it that bad, my driver has one. Don’t argue with me, Blossom. Do you prefer Blossom or Brooke?”

I blush because he’s the only one besides my parents that I let call me Blossom. At the club, when I filled out the paperwork, I had to use my ID. She thought it would be a perfect stage name.

“Um, it doesn’t matter.” I can see from the look in his eyes he doesn’t believe me, but he, thankfully, drops the subject.

“So I have to leave. I took off the password so you don’t get locked out of it, but here’s my work number. I’ll be calling you later to make sure your set.” He leans into me and I think he’s going to kiss me, but he hesitates then steps back. “Don’t leave the house yet. My assistant is a very busy woman and I don’t want her to have to be searching for you.”

“Aren’t you worried that I’ll go snooping through your phone?” He comes back up to me, his face inches from mine, our breaths mingling, and my heart racing with desire.

“Blossom. I’ve got nothing to hide from you. Go ahead and look through it.” His eyes dare me to test him, but I’m so turned on I can’t function. “I’ve got to go. Have a good day.”

He leaves me standing there with his phone pressed against my chest. I hear the door close and realize he hasn’t told me what he wants me to do. I guess I should just find shit to clean, but as I look around the place, there isn’t a damn thing out of place. The man is a neat freak. I wonder if he has OCD or some shit like that. Setting his phone down, I pick up his coffee mug from the counter and take a sip from it. Mm…mmm…good. He makes coffee just the way I like it. I caress the cup because he touched it. I’m fucking losing it.

Taking the cup, I dump the rest in the sink with a shake of my head. “I’m losing it.”

“Why?” I nearly jump out of my skin, almost dropping the coffee mug into the sink. I set it down and turn to face him.

“Blossom, I didn’t mean to scare you. I forgot my tablet,” Devin says, picking it up off the counter.

“Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.”

“That’s not good. Come here. I’m going to show you how to operate the security alarm for times when you’re inside the condo alone.” He grabs my hand and drags me to the front door before giving me a quick tutorial. I smile because he’s acting like I’m helpless. He’s got a private elevator that people don’t have access to; I’m pretty sure it’s safe, but whatever, if it makes him happy. After his fast lesson, he’s gone again, and I instantly feel lonely.

~~~~

Shit, I just left and I miss the fuck out of her. I want to go back in there again, but I’ll be late and I have to be in court today. She didn’t see me when she took my cup to her lips, drinking from where I did. My dick was so hard I couldn’t speak for a whole damn minute. She’s losing it? Hell, I’ve done lost all my goddamn sense when it comes to her.

Luckily, Chuck knows to wait for me at a certain time. I make it to work earlier than expected and brief Rosalie on what I need her to do today. I head to my office and call my father. I don’t want him to call my phone because he might fuck up things between Blossom and me, and I can’t have that happen.