Page 16

“Wow, I thought for sure Savage would want to get you hitched by next weekend.”

She rolls her beautiful eyes. “He tried, believe me. But he’s learning he can’t always have his way.” I hide a smile and raise an eyebrow when she bites her lip, a worried look crossing her heart-stoppingly beautiful face. “You think you can help me organize the wedding on top of the Indigo Lounge project?”

I send her a speaking glance. “You kidding? Have you forgotten what I do for a living?”

She laughs. “No, I know you can juggle projects in your sleep, but Zach can be demanding.”

“Girl, please, he may rule your world with thunder and lightning, but Zach Savage doesn’t scare me. Besides, I’ve hammered down most of the project details and expect everything to be done by the end of March, so that leaves me a clear month to help you with your wedding once I’m back from the IL trip. I’ll be able to devote a full month to helping you, babe. Don’t sweat it at all.”

Her face lights up with a smile so radiant, I can’t help but smile in return. But again, I feel that sharp ache in my chest that makes me feel like a bitch.

We talk wedding shop for another fifteen minutes before she leaves me alone to get dressed. I know she has a relaxing day of entertaining her remaining guests, but I’ve already made the excuse to return to New York under the pretext of work pressures. For a moment, I feel bad, but then I’m glad I’m not staying, because I don’t think I can face running into Mason Sinclair this morning, in case he hasn’t already left.

In the clarity of day, my behavior last night seems even more shocking. I’ve enjoyed one-night stands before, those which I’ve initiated, and those I’ve gone along with just for the hell of it.

Last night was different. The intensity of the whole thing is not something I’m familiar with. I want to think it’s my uncharacteristically long abstinence that made me react like I did, but I know it’s not true.

Something about his intensity drew a response from me that still makes me reel.

I sit in bed, sipping my coffee, then feel my face heat up as I recall his parting words.

Your pussy is the sweetest thing I’ve tasted in a long time… So why didn’t he go a step further? I’m not ashamed to say that I wanted him to. That I would’ve let him fuck me right there on top of his car.

He certainly wanted to. So why didn’t I push?

I set my cup down and slowly absorb the answer I’ve known for a while. Because I like being in control. Every single one of the men I’ve slept with was carefully hand-picked because I like my sex one way—by being the one in control.

From the moment I set eyes on him, I knew Mason wasn’t that sort of guy. I called him a Neanderthal just now. Deep down, I know it isn’t far from the truth. Behind all the demons lurking in his eyes is a deeply primitive guy who will push all the wrong buttons in me. Buttons I haven’t let anyone push since I was nineteen.

No matter how hot the sex, I’ll never give up control in bed. Or in any other aspect of my life.

Never again.

6

KEELY

Two weeks later

I step from the private jet in Nice, France, and immediately smile at the warmer climate, glad to have left the sub-zero temperatures of New York far behind me. I love my birth city, but even I am tired of the wet snow and constant freezing temperatures. A little warm sunshine is very welcome.

“I hope you have a pleasant stay, Miss Benson.”

I smile at the sharply dressed pilot. “Thanks, Grant.”

Breathing in deep, I send a silent thanks to Bethany for securing the ride on the Indigo Lounge plane. Due to her help, I’ve been able to finish my last assignment for Rubio Events, the PR company that I worked for right up until an hour ago. I grin from the sheer high of quitting my job while cruising in a private jet at thirty-thousand feet.

There is an unfettered thrill in the knowledge that I no longer have to account to anyone for my time, that I can come and go as I please. Zachary Savage has tried to hire me full-time, but I prefer to come on board his latest Indigo Lounge project as a freelancer. Until I weigh all my options and decide what I want to do with my life, I don’t intend to tie myself down to another company, no matter how huge or reputable.

Nevertheless, whatever I decide to do next, having a successful Indigo Lounge event on my résumé will be a huge feather in my cap. Especially an IL event that is the first of its kind. I was more than excited to discover that the latest Savages Inc. launch was to be on a super yacht and not another jumbo jet.

I don’t have anything against planes, but I find yachts much sexier, and I can’t wait to get started on planning the events for the maiden voyage of theIL Indulgence.

The ten-day trip will start in Monte Carlo and stop in Mallorca, Sicily and then Valetta in Malta, before terminating at a private island in Greece.

“This way, Mademoiselle Benson.” I smile as another uniformed crew member, this time a helicopter pilot, points me toward a six-seater Mercedes chopper sitting about a hundred feet away. “The flight to Monaco shouldn’t take more than ten minutes,” he imparts with a sexy French accent. “Your luggage will be delivered by car to your hotel within the hour.”

“Merci,” I say in my best high school French, and I watch his appreciative smile as his gaze drifts over me.