Cover Up (Cover #2) (17 page)

“I’ve come for you Emily,” I informed her when she asked me what I was doing at her place of work.

I took her by surprise, showing up at her work, which was exactly what I wanted. Emily was guarded and I needed her to not have a chance to prepare for our meeting, a chance to really feel the inexplicable connection that charged between us without the impenetrable walls she has managed to build around her heart.

When
I stared into her big brown beautiful eyes, I sighed in relief. Suzie had been helpful by supplying me with Emily’s work schedule when I called her earlier. I chuckled inwardly as I recalled her last statements.

“Hey
, Belmont, you better not fuck this up or you’ll have to deal with me,” she threatened before hanging up the phone.

I knew
that she meant every word and was determined to do anything but
fuck up
this chance with Emily, should she give me one. I had given her time to process everything, but now I had to claim the woman I loved ― the woman I craved more than any other. Emily was like a drug to me. Since the very first night, she caught me under her spell reducing me to an addict, one that never wanted to be sober again. I needed her like I needed air to breath and tonight I was determined to make her mine again. I needed to claim her once again as my own as I made love to her until she was breathless and completely spent.

It had been too long since I had her in my arms. Memories of her scurrying out of my arms flashed through my mind, urging me to turn away and give up
, but I couldn’t. We had played hide and seek for too long, and it was time that we fought for what we deserved; and we deserved each other.

I knew
Suzie meant every word and was determined to do anything but
fuck up
this chance with Emily, should she give me one. I watched while she fiddled with the keys in her hand a moment longer than necessary as I rounded the car with flowers in hand. I was a huge ball of nerves as she turned away from the restaurant’s double doors and began walking in my direction.

She looked up and locked eyes on me trying to figure me out. She was breathtakingly beautiful, even in her Chef uniform. Her black chef’s hat was tucked underneath her arm and her silky hair flowed on her shoulders.
The sight of her, after all this time, caused my breath to hitch in my throat.

I missed her.

“Just one date?” I whispered as I tilted her head up and kissed her softly. She didn’t protest, although I could feel her hesitation. Still, I forged on, demanding entry with my tongue and silently begged her. When she granted me the access I desired, I groaned and devoured her lips, enjoying the feel of her soft, plump, wet, hot, lips against mine. Excitement coursed through my body, radiating from my steely erection. I needed her. I needed to be inside of her at this very moment.

Sweeping her up into my arms, I carried her to my car
, never breaking our kiss. She was mine and I intended to show her that over and over tonight.

EMILY

I still hadn’t the faintest idea how I first met Julien Belmont, but one thing I did know for sure was that I couldn’t be around the man and not want to rip off his clothes with my teeth.
Shit, I sound like some horn-dog teenager.

He did everything with such intensity that it was hard to think clearly when he was near, my body often coming into
traitorous submission each time he was in my presence. It was both super fucking hot and completely frustrating at the same time.
Good God woman, hold it together?

I knew I should have pushed him away when he kissed me
, but the hunger in his kiss drew me deeper into his incredibly skilled French kiss. His roaming hands made me come completely undone in his arms, as he tugged and pulled at my body both softly and firmly. The urgency in his assault on my lips made my panties wet for him. I wanted him desperately. I couldn’t deny it. I wanted to feel him all over me, under me, on top of me, and filling me up with his deliciously thick erection. I wanted to ride the sweet waves he would undoubtedly create as we came together again. The thought only further inflamed me as he carried me away in his arms, never breaking our connection, until after we reached his car, causing me to whimper in disappointment. His lips curled up in a smile.
God, I loved that smile.
I thought as he placed me upright, allowing me to slip into his car.

“Patience
,
mon amour
, we have the whole night,” he teased only shutting the door after I was buckled in. Then he rounded the car to get into the driver’s side, and wasted no time starting up the luxurious machine and taking off into the night.

It hadn’t taken long to get back to Julien’s house. He parked the car in front of his home and leap
t out of the car to open the door for me, his excitement barely contained. A twinge of guilt snaked up my spine as I recalled running out on the man the last time I was here. It was no wonder he was eager.
He’s afraid you’re going to leave again.

Taking his hand, I got out of the car and
he practically dragged into his home. He said nothing as he closed the doors behind him with his one free hand, his other still firm against my hip.

He turned to face me; his
unique grey-golden eyes were now cloudy and dark with desire as he lifted his hand to my cheek, stroking it softly with his thumb. “
Ma belle
, close your eyes,” he said and brought his soft fingers to my lips, tracing them and causing a moan to escape my lips while I stood trembling before him.

I closed my eyes, feeling the warmth of his breath on my neck and the mounting
desire growing within me. He cupped my breast, stroked my fully erect nipples with his thumbs, then he kissed, nipped, and suckled my sensitive skin. He pulled away from my neck and I groaned in frustration, my body yearned for him. I couldn’t remember every feeling so wanted, so lustful, so…
Horny!

I wanted him desperately and every second he spent torturing with his kisses
and caresses made me want to scream. How could one man make me come undone in his strong, capable, sensual hands?

Moving his lips to my ear, I could feel the warm
th of his breath caress by my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “Tanked … Three weeks ago … You … Pink dress … dancing …” he whispered sensually, breaking the words up as he nipped away at my sensitive lobe with each word.

“Hmmm…” I simpl
y responded, as flashes of that night came to me. I knew what he was doing. He was trying to give me back what I had lost, our meeting. I smiled and he spun me around, his chest now against my back as he sought further access to my neck. I tilted my head slightly, granting him more access.

“Girls night,” I responded softly as he suckled my warm flesh, earning gasps and moans from me. God
, I loved his talented lips, I thought as the memory of a kiss flashed through my mind.

“May I have this dance
,
cheri
?” he whispered before breaking away from my neck and spinning me back to face him. He stood with his hand extended, waiting for my response. His eyes were intense as he stood before me, and I remembered thinking about how powerful those eyes were.
I was remembering…

I smiled and pulled my gaze from his,
and recalled how desperately I wanted to find something else to focus on instead of his unique, soul penetrating, eyes. Flashes of our first night together came back full force, making me feel lightheaded and weak. “You drive a Porsche,” I whispered as he leaned in closer to me, his musky masculine scent filling my nose and making me weak in the knees. I closed my eyes and inhaled his intoxicating scent.
I wanted him then and I wanted him now.

He lifted my chin with a finger, bringing my gaze back to his. He peered down at me with his smoldering
, sexy, eyes and curled his lips into a smile, “I’ve missed you,
mon amour.
”

Chapter Thirteen

EMILY

Last night was perfect
, I thought as I awoke to the chirping of birds outside the opened windows. Julien’s strong protective arms circled my waist and I felt his warm breath against my neck, which aroused me, instantly.
Was this how it would always be with him? Every touch, every whisper, everything about him sent my body on fire.

I smiled at the thought and shifted my body to face him. He was breathtaking and he slept so soundly. I watched as his nostrils flared, his chest r
ose and fell in the sexiest way. Good grief woman, you can’t possibly find
breathing
sexy, Em?

I couldn’t help it. Something about Julien made every inch of him desirable.
I found everything about this man fascinating. From his pouty lips to his golden, radiant, skin - I loved it all.

Last night, Julien was
incredible. Though we hadn’t had sex, he gave me something even better than that; he gave me back a piece of me, Words couldn’t express how much that meant to me. I knew he wanted to take me into his bed once again; instead, he focused on what I needed and gave me just that. Although I couldn’t say that all of my memory was back, I had recalled enough to know that I had deep feelings for Julien, although I already had suspected as much.

Each time he spoke, touched or kissed
me, he triggered another memory; all the while deepening our intimacy. It was incredible, really. He was incredible.

A pa
ng of guilt twisted at my insides as my thoughts drifted to Adam. He had been so raw and honest with his feelings for me, and I hadn’t even called him afterwards. Instead, I shared an intimate night with Julien; and though I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong, I still felt guilty. If anything, Adam was still my friend. And I needed to make sure he would come to terms with my relationship with Julien.
Are we in a relationship?
We hadn’t discussed it, of course, but I was sure that was what Julien wanted. Why else would he take the time to give me the gift he had given last night? Most men would have gone straight for the bedroom. Instead, he walked me through the parts of me I had forgotten, giving me back a piece of myself.

“Admiring me again
, I see,” he murmured as he slowly opened his eyes, pulling me away from my thoughts.

“Fat chance
, Frenchman!” I quipped as I swatted at his chest, remembering the morning after our meeting. Flashes of our delicious morning sex came crashing into my mind, making me instantly aroused.

He must have read my mind because he swiftly shifted so he
straddled me, and pinned my hands on top of my head as he peered down at me with a mischievous sexy grin. “Care to take that back,
ma belle
.”

Before I could
respond, his lips were on my mine, prying my lips open with his dangerously skillful tongue. I groaned into them as the pressure between my legs grew steadily with each passing moment. He deepened the kiss even further, releasing his hold on me and allowing me to explore his body, taking in the solid feel of him beneath my fingers. He groaned at my explorations, encouraging my exploits.
So strong, solid, and smooth…

His own
hand found my breast and he slowly descended, first nipping at my neck, then shoulder and finally reaching my fully erect nipples. He took his time as he explored them, almost as if he was savoring them after a long journey away. My body sang under his assaults and my skin came alive. My now dripping mound throbbed in anticipation, as he licked and sucked on my needy breasts, making sure to circle around my nipples with that wonderful tongue of his. I shivered underneath him as he continued his torment, and I arched my back to give him greater access.
He felt so fucking good!

I bit my lips as he slowly shifted from one breast to another, making sure to give both equal
attention. I tugged at his hair with one hand while the other scratched at his thick, strong, arm. A guttural growl escaped from him before he suddenly he pulled away, breaking our smoldering, sensual, connection and I grunted in frustration.
What the fuck?

“Not yet
,
ma belle
, patience…? We shall be together again soon,” he simply said as he rolled off me. My breath was still heavy as I watched him pick up his robe from behind the chaise and head to the bathroom.

Way to leave a woman hanging
, I thought and slowly rolled out of bed, my legs still weak from our passionate kissing.

I need a cold shower.

JULIEN

It took everything in me not to make love with Emily last night and again this morning. Each time I was near her, I wanted to sink deep inside of her, but I knew I could not - not yet anyway. I needed to build something emotional with her first. Then and only then would I have her.

It was not an easy choice
, but as we drove to my home last night it dawned on me that Emily needed more than just a night of passionate love; she needed to feel what she felt that first night, to experience it again. So, instead of taking her to my bed, I attempted to draw out the memories. I wasn’t sure it worked, but the more I recited our first meeting, the more her memories returned. We spent the whole night enjoying each other with kisses and we strolled down memory lane.

It seemed she had
regained many of the memories of that first night, and I planned to continue down this path with her until she not only remembered the good in our relationship, but also… I had to allow her to remember the negative. I was necessary that she recall finding out about my arrangement with Charlette and my unfortunate relations with the woman. It would be hard to watch her make those connections, but I couldn’t lie to her again, I wouldn’t. This time I wanted to be completely honest with her. It was the only way our relationship would survive.

After my cold shower this morning, I dropped Emily off at her apartment. She needed to get ready for work and I had an early meeting with the investors for the new hotel downtown. Shane had
done a great job of keeping all of the investors happy while I was out and I just needed to finalize some last minute paperwork before the opening.

Grabbing my phone from the passenger seat, I dialed Shane’s number and patched it through the car.

“Speak to me,” he answered and I rolled my eyes. Shane was almost twenty-five and still behaved like a teenager. The man was brilliant, but was resisted anything that excluded women, traveling and more women.

“Listen
, Shane. Give me the rundown of your last conversation with the investors. I have a meeting with them in thirty and want to make sure everything goes smoothly,” I informed him.

Muffled sounds came through the phone
, followed by what sounded like a disappointed woman, and I rolled my eyes again, “Shane…” I urged.

“Huh… oh yeah… the investors… I went over the income projections with them and pretty much told them they would be
fools not to invest in our hotel since we have one of the best brands in the industry. After they reviewed the numbers I provided for them, they agreed. No sweat.”

I
chuckled at my little brother and fought the urge to roll my eyes again as I pulled up in front of the office.

“Sounds good.
Thanks brother. Hey listen, what are you doing this Friday?” I asked as I transferred the call back to my cell and turned off the car. I wanted Emily to meet my father and Shane, possibly over dinner this weekend. Despite my brother’s silly ways, I thought he and Emily would get along famously. My father, on the other hand, I wasn’t quite sure about, since I hadn’t had the chance to tell him about my divorcing a certain desperate millionaire.

I couldn’t remember the last woman, aside from the
terribly annoying Charlette, that I had bothered to introduce to my family, but Emily was definitely the exception. I planned to keep her until my dying day; and I was quite overjoyed with the thought of introducing her to my family. It made our relationship seem more real… it gave it substance, and I loved that.

“Hmm… Friday I have plans
, but I’m free Saturday,” he offered and I could hear the woman in the background asking him if he were taking her out. She squealed in oblivious excitement, not realizing that this may be the last time she saw my non-committal brother.

“Saturday it is
. You invite dad. Let’s meet at the hotel downtown… gives us a chance to see how the menu is coming along,” I declared while Shane murmured his okays and I hung up the phone upon entering the building.

Things are finally beginning to look up.

ADAM

It had been six days since I had spoken to Emily. She hadn’t picked up any of my phone calls and it was becoming obvious that I was losing her… again.

I stood in front of Diana’s apartment
and went over my speech in my head. I needed to make sure she followed through and spoke to Emily. It was my only hope, and I refused to lose her again because of Diana’s insecurities. That’s what it all boiled down to. Her insecurities caused her interference with my relationship with Emily in the first place; and now… now that things were finally out in the open and she had an opportunity to fix them, she was letting her insecurities about her friendship with Emily stop her. Well, today was the day for all that to change.

I knocked on
her door and waited for her to answer. It was Thursday morning, so I was sure she was home since this was usually her day off. Although the woman still managed to work from home. I knocked on the door again and waited to see if I could hear any movement from inside the apartment, but heard nothing. Cursing under my breath, I bent down low and fished for the key Diana had buried in the potted plant outside her door.

She had placed it there for the girls years ago in case of an emergency
, and told me about it while we were dating. I wasn’t sure if it was still there, but I was said a silent prayer that it was. I just couldn’t go through another day without Emily and, unfortunately for me, Diana was my only hope.

Got it!

I blew off the excess dirt and gently placed the key in the lock and turned. Opening the door, I slowly made my way to the living room all the while feeling very uncomfortable being back in her apartment. It had been close to two months since I was last here and I had never dreamt that I would be stepping back into this place.