Don't Forget Me (25 page)

“Mr. Brooks, would you like me to accompany Miss Whitely to the lobby?” she asked politely, surprised to see him on the girl’s trail.

“No, I’ll take her down,” he replied stiffly. Stella nodded to Nancy curtly and continued walking decisively toward the elevator. She hit the call button and waited, on edge. Donn caught up with her, turned her toward him and kissed her gently on the lips. Stella’s resistance crumbled. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately, her tongue savoring every part of his mouth, her fingers sliding through his still-damp hair.

The elevator doors opened and Stella pulled away from his kiss with narrowed eyes.

“I admit you are very convincing…”

“I know.”

Donn took her hand and went with her into the elevator. He pressed the L button, but did not punch in the security code needed to go up into the penthouse. The doors closed and they went down, still holding hands. He ran his other hand along her neck, noticing the tension that permeated her body. He paused when he reached her face, one of his more thoughtful expressions covering his face.

“What is it, Miss Whitely? What’s wrong?”

Stella looked down and blushed.

“Do your bite marks hurt?” He touched her dress in one of the places he knew he had pierced her with his fangs.

“A little… but I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me,” he insisted gravely.

Stella took a deep breath to summon her courage.

“I’m going to have an interview for an internship in an investment company in New York. I’ll obviously be working in the telecommunications sector.” She released all the air from her lungs. Her body finally relaxed.

“What company?” Donn asked, trying to keep his face impenetrable.

“I don’t want to tell you, I know you’ll butt in,” Stella snapped.

“You can consider yourself lucky you’re not still in my office.”

“Why do you say that?” she asked.

“Because my lips are trembling and back there I could have bitten you. Here we’re in the lift and the non-disclosure agreement isn’t valid here…”

“Who’s the boss of the company? I might know him,” he insisted, making his voice as persuasive as he could.

“Of course you know him, you said his name before in your office,” Stella said without thinking. Donn thought back to the various conversations he had in her presence and his eyes narrowed in concentration. Then he froze. He realized that the only person who worked in the investment industry who he had named that day in front of her was Loogan Rooney, a powerful businessman and a confirmed bachelor in the world of high finance in New York. He did not like this at all. The elevator doors opened and Stella walked out into the lobby. His mind was racing as he watched her. Then, in a flash, he caught up with her as she was nodding goodbye to Kate. He smiled at her.

“I didn’t know you were interested in an internship…”

“Why, would you have offered me one?” She cocked her head, revealing part of her neck. Donn looked away from her, temptation was too great. His eyes turned to marble.

“Are you making fun of me, Miss Whitely?”

“I would never dare,” she joked brazenly, turning abruptly and continuing through the lobby.

“Did you submit an application for an internship in my company?” he asked, trotting alongside her.

“No,” murmured Stella, her throat suddenly very dry.

“We offer excellent opportunities for paid interns.” The employees passing by stared at him in disbelief. They had never seen him walk someone to the front door before, let alone hurry after them.

“Do you want to buy me, Mr. Brooks?” asked Stella, sharply.

“I can afford it…” Donn grimaced, but he seemed amused.

“I would never want to work under you,” Stella said pointedly.

“Why not?”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it?…”

“Not for me, it isn’t!”

“What’s the matter with my company?” His look became stern, without a trace of irony.

“The dictator that runs it,” she replied sharply. “And I don’t like the idea of working under you!” she added again, perturbed.

“I’m not so sure of that, Miss Whitely. At any rate, when you were under me earlier, you seemed to enjoy it.” He took her hand and pulled her towards him with such violence that she slammed into his chest.

“That smarmy attitude won’t get you anywhere, Mr. Brooks.” She slapped her other hand on his chest, squeezing his shirt and looking at him with desire.

“So far it’s got me everywhere in your case, Miss Whitely.” His tongue caressed her name and he clasped her other hand. He bent over her, closing in on her lips.

Stella broke away, determined to reach the glass doors before she could change her mind. Donn let her go, walking calmly beside her.

Donn took her hand and yanked her through the glass door, onto the street.

“I just wanted to ensure that this time you made it through the doorway unhurt.” He released her hand, and stroked her hips. Stella felt disoriented by his words.

“I can go it alone from here,” she said, embarrassed. His penetrating eyes were boring into her.

“Miss Whitely,” he said dismissively.

“Mr. Brooks,” she replied, taken somewhat aback. She took two hesitant steps back and looked up into his eyes. On the one hand, she yearned for him so much, she felt like she was going crazy, but on the other, she knew that it was best to get away while she could. She wanted him, but not under these conditions. She turned her back and walked toward the Corvette, Donn’s eyes following her.

Stella reached the car and she flopped into the driver’s seat, suddenly exhausted. She looked at the bright screen of her phone, undecided about whether to break off her budding relationship with Donn. She leaned her head back on the headrest, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She finally decided to write him a message. Her had butterflies in her stomach and her eyes were had become teary. She hit “send” and then crumpled into a ball and wrapped her arms around herself, her energy totally spent.

I’ve been thinking about it, and maybe it’d be better if we spent some time apart…
I’ll give you back the iPhone, thanks. It was fun.

You’ve had an intense day, Miss Whitely, and I think the wine must have gone to your head otherwise you would not be spouting such bullshit!

Jamie’s Party

T
hat evening, Stella
found a parking spot a few yards from her friend’s house. She could hear music blasting out of the lighted windows, though they were closed. She walked towards the metal gate that opened onto Jamie’s front yard.

She saw the silhouettes of a throng of people through the living-room curtains and heard their raised voices echoing from the smoke-laden house. The closer she got, the more deafening the music became. Beer barrels were lined up under the porch, a couple of trash cans were overturned in the garden and cars were parked haphazardly over the sidewalk. She walked through the gate and two strong arms seized her firmly as she turned to close it behind her. It was Donn; he gave her all-consuming embrace and a blinding smile. He drew her to his mouth and pushed her back against the metal mesh of the gate.
In the End
by Linkin Park boomed from the speakers, providing a pulsating backdrop to their energetic fumblings.

“So, once again, it’s a pleasure to see you…” he said softly.

“Donn…” Stella gasped, her mind racing.

“Your message is worthy of only one answer,” he murmured. Stella opened her mouth to speak, but Donn closed it again with a kiss so intense it made her lips swell. She opened her mouth to speak, but was silenced by his glare. She sulked, and Donn’s eyes softened. He kissed her again with slow, demanding lips. Then he grabbed the hair on the nape of her neck. The more his tongue pushed its way into her, the more he pulled her hair and pressed himself against her. Stella nibbled at his lower lip. Donn pulled back, his face stern, a dangerous spark of both menace and desire illuminating his eyes.

“Do you want to slip into the party?” Stella asked him feebly, close to his lips, keeping her legs clinging to him.

“No, I’d prefer to slip inside you.” He looked deep into her eyes.

“Too much body heat and blood tempt you, huh?” Stella eyes dropped to the ground, but Donn raised her chin with his thumb.

“I’m tempted by you.” He kept staring into her eyes, then he pointed his remote control car keys at the other side of the street, locking the car he had left open in his haste to catch up with her. There were tons of cars lined up along the sidewalk, but the car that blinked as it locked put all the others into the shade. It was a red and black sporty number, the Bugatti Veyron that had chased her that night when she was on her way back from the Green Mountain National Forest. She realized in that moment that Donn had been the mysterious man at the wheel of that car, and she could not suppress another smile. Donn read all of this clearly inside of her, and smiled fondly at the memory.

Stella tried to move away from the gate, knowing that Donn would never change and that she would never be able to fully satisfy his needs. But Donn pulled her to him and clung to her body, not wanting to let her go, never.

“Don’t run away, Stella. Trust me, it’s not like I bite.” Sarcasm dripped from his voice.

“Hold that thought for the next time we’re alone!” Stella exclaimed, breathless.

“Relax, angel, there are too many people around.” He touched her cheek, moving slowly to her chin. His hand was cold but his touch made her burn. A scorching desire filled her from head to foot.

“
Incredible, one touch and I’m already his… My God, Stella, control yourself
!” she said to herself.

Donn raised his eyebrows and smiled in self-assurance.

“Careful, angel, don’t think those thoughts or I might not be able to control myself. First of all, you left your coat at my office, you’ll have to come back to get it.” A perverse thought was reflected in his eyes.

“You could have brought it here,” replied Stella.

“I forgot, I’m getting old, remember?” He shrugged his shoulders and smiled cunningly, then spoke, the warning note in his voice all too clear.

“Now, make sure Vuk keeps his paws to himself in there if you don’t want to see me again in the next few minutes.” He tilted his head and leaned on her lips. A hoarse, guttural growl escaped his lips, then he grabbed her neck, thrusting his tongue deep inside her, both of them forgetting to breathe in the passion of the moment.

“I can keep him under control, if I want to, no problem,” she said, a spark of challenge in her eye. She grinned at him sensually, biting her lip.

“You’re doing it again, angel.” His face hardened, but his eyes leaving her in no doubt about his desire for her.

“Sorry,” she murmured. She did not dare to look him in the eyes.

“Do not apologize. Look at me,” ordered Donn, and Stella obeyed hesitantly. She saw his eyes crackle with danger.

“To hell with limits and the non-disclosure agreement for this evening. I want to be the one to bite that lip. I want to bite it hard,” he hissed. He bit the inside of her lip so hard it hurt. He lapped up the blood and stroked her tongue with his. Stella gasped in pain, and Donn bit her once again, mercilessly, then kissed her gently and released his hold on her.

“This is the pain I feel when you avoid me and deny me what’s mine!” he scolded her harshly. Stella moved away from him, her breath heavy, her eyes dark with disenchantment and anger. She put her hand to her lips and then looked at it. She saw a trace of blood on the tip of her fingers and glared at Donn.

“It’s pointless playing games, Donn, we both know this is all wrong! You have needs I could never fully satisfy. You said it yourself!”

Suddenly Stella heard the unmistakable dulcet melody of Vuk’s semi-acoustic guitar and swung round towards Jamie’s house. She started to move away, but Donn held her back with his arms.

“Stella, wait, stay here!” he yelled, exasperated. He moved to give her a kiss on the forehead.

“No, take your hands off me!” Stella pushed him away, managing to slip off before his lips could make contact.

“Goodbye, Mr. Brooks,” she murmured, backing away slowly, squirming to avoid his touch. Once those hands made contact, she knew, resistance would be so much harder. Donn’s eyes seemed troubled, but he tried to remain impassive. Pain was not something he was fond of revealing. Stella turned her back and walked away, drawn by Vuk’s warm voice echoing from the house as he sang
Cryin’
by Aerosmith, delicately caressing the guitar strings as only he knew how. Fired by the words of the song, he sought to attract Stella to him, he could wait no more, the message was plain even to her.

Donn heard the sound of a motorcycle flaring up. He knew it was Jason, he had seen him coming, he was sure that Jason had heard Stella saying goodbye.

“Until we meet again, Miss Whitely,” warned Donn, his voice full of erotic promise. It sounded like a challenge. He saw her turn in hesitation, halfway to the door, her eyes brimming with tears. He took a step toward her, but Stella drew back, full of anger and distrust. She threw him a last, lingering glance, then turned and ran into Jamie’s house, thinking regretfully about what she had done, that he would never forgive her for turning her back on him a second time. She didn’t want to lose sight of Donn, but something inside her – common sense or perhaps a survival instinct – told her it was the best thing to do.

Donn stood watching emotionlessly as she entered the house without looking back, knowing that every step was taking her closer to Vuk. His anger flared within. Stella said hi to Jamie and turned to look back at Donn, but the door closed on her, preventing her from seeing him one last time. Her friend welcomed her with a hug.

She sighed deeply and, resigned to her fate, smiled bitterly as she sought consolation in Jamie’s arms.

“Vuk’s here,” yelled her friend, trying to be heard above the music; she smiled encouragingly at Stella. Stella nodded feebly and shrugged her shoulders. She felt out of place in the crowded hallway and was on the point of leaving. She wanted to be alone, to bury herself in a corner somewhere, but Jamie led her into the living-room in spite of herself. She said a few more words, but they were either lost in the music or blurred by the thoughts pounding in her head.

Stella tugged down the hem of her dress and hesitatingly entered the crowded room, leaving Jamie to talk with some fellow students. With one hand she waved away the smoke from her face as she headed toward Vuk at the end of the room, guided by the energetic sound of his guitar and his voice, made hoarse by alcohol and smoke. A knot seemed to come and go in her throat.

As soon as she caught a glimpse of him, she was frozen to the spot. She watched as he sang, enchanted by his handsome, manly figure under the spotlight, while he played his black guitar with his hair tumbling over his face as he poured out his heart to the words of
Cryin’
. He looked like a real rock star, a dream man, with his jeans torn and hanging from his hips, so seductive that Stella felt like ripping them off him then and there. By the longing looks the other girls in the room were giving him, she was not the only one.

Suddenly Vuk raised the guitar, flaunting his sculpted abdomen, his red sweat-soaked t-shirt clinging to his chest. Perspiration poured down his face, separating the locks of his tousled hair. He furrowed his brow and looked at his fingers on the guitar strings. His voice broke several times on the word “torment”. He caught sight of the heavenly vision of Stella standing in front of him.

He looked at her sullenly and he felt himself dissolve into a pool of hot, sensual liquid. He saw her flinch and his lips twisted into a slow smile, that yellow glow appearing in his eyes. Hardly anyone noticed; the few that did just supposed he’d been drinking too much. He got down from the stand, spoke to a boy nearby, pointing to the stereo set with a nod of his head, as if they’d prearranged something. He picked up a lit, half-smoked cigarette that lay in the ashtray beside his brown leather jacket on the stool. He raised the cigarette to his mouth, staring at Stella straight in the eyes, took a last deep drag, blew the smoke from his lungs and took a sip of neat, colorless vodka. He screwed up his eyes, a grimace on his lips as he started strumming the guitar violently, taking slow paces toward her.

Stella turned away as if to warn him not to embarrass her or come any closer, but he paid her no heed. She turned a bright red, feeling increasingly ill at ease. Her breath caught in her throat. He continued to swagger toward her, never taking his eyes off her face. Right then it was as if she was the only person in the room. Only a few paces separated them. Vuk pushed his way past the last few people between them. His fingers caressed the final notes of the song, which echoed around the room. Silence fell and Vuk placed the guitar on the table beside him. He gazed into Stella’s eyes wordlessly and stretched out a finger to touch her lips, silently inviting her to do the same. He turned back toward the boy he’d spoken to before, nodded at him, then looked again at Stella. The music started up on the stereo, and Stella heard the opening notes of their song,
Angel,
by Aerosmith.

“So, little girl?” asked Vuk softly.

“I wanted you to go on playing,” whispered Stella, clutching a hand uneasily to her breast.

“I’m through with doing anything you want,” replied Vuk tenderly. She noted the intense green of his eyes. His breath still reeked of smoke and alcohol.

“I still haven’t said sorry to you for yesterday evening. I was drunk. Forgive me, please,” he gasped. Stella’s eyes softened.

“The list of things to forgive keeps growing.” She could not repress a faint smile.

“You’re driving me crazy, you know that, don’t you?” he said, his voice strained. He closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair in exasperation.

“Look at you, you look like death warmed up,” Stella scolded him.

“I feel like death… You’re killing me,” he admitted desperately.

“Don’t hate me… please,” he pleaded, almost shaking from emotion.

“I can’t, for now…” She shook her head, her lips quivering.

“I can’t stand the thought of losing you,” he confessed in agony. “I began to live again when I met you, and now you want to take my life away? Come and save me tonight, Stella! You’re my angel.” His voice trembled with desire as he voiced the words to
Angel
playing in the background.

“I’m not an angel,” Stella whispered, uncomfortable at him using the name that Donn called her.

“Just the same, angel or demon, it doesn’t matter… I need you, I need you now!” Unable to resist her any longer, he took her hand, pulled her into his arms and held her tight. He could do nothing else. Stella threw her arms around his neck and Vuk sighed in relief at having her close to him once more. He stroked her ear with endless ‘thank yous’.

“You’ll hurt me again…” Her voice was troubled as she looked over his shoulder.

“Never, baby, I think you’ll be the one hurting me.” He caught a glimpse of Donn watching from the window, but continued staring into Stella’s eyes. He slid the CD she’d broken the evening before out of his pocket. He’d stuck it together with a bit of sticky tape; it looked like a reflection of their moods, split down the middle. He placed it lovingly in Stella’s hands, wrapping his own hands around hers as he gazed deeply into her eyes.