5. Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Zach

There's no point in answering Natalie's rude question. She won't think highly of any woman I have around. I won't put sweet, desirable Claire through anything more than she has to.

When she admitted to believing she's lower class than everybody here, I saw red and wanted to set the record straight that she belongs here even without me. She's the picture of poise and grace. I want to make sure she sees it.

"I thought for sure you would bring one of your lady friends, or maybe even a cousin." Natalie snipes in the perfect tone of appearing as a polite conversation.

Donovan remains tight-lipped as always. We used to play golf together and didn't have a friendship, but we were good acquaintances. As soon as he and Natalie got together, he hasn't spoken much to me. It's no big loss.

Something comes over Claire and she smiles wide as she maintains eye contact with Natalie. "Oh, well, those days are long gone. Once we realized we can't live without each other, we figured why hide our relationship." Claire gazes up at me with hearts in her eyes and I can't tell if she's acting or if she's sensing this strong connection between us too.

"Relationship?"

"Yes, we've been together for a couple of months now. Oh, look honey, it's the Cartwrights. Let's go say hello. Nice to meet you both."

Without saying a word, I follow Claire across the room to the couple I introduced Claire to earlier, who she seemed to take more of a liking to out of everybody else here.

I pull her hand, making her turn around to face me. Grinning, I tuck one tendril of hair around her ear. "That was impressive."

Claire huffs. "I'm sorry, but I didn't care for her attitude and I wanted to make sure I did my job."

I frown at how she's calling this a job, but before I can correct her, she's on her toes reaching up toward me and her lips connect with mine.

Not caring why or where, I wrap her closer, demanding the kiss to be more than a simple, chaste one. Once my tongue sweeps inside her mouth, she moans and tightens her hands against my shoulder.

This kiss is everything and more. Never having been a guy who cared for PDA, with Claire, I don't care. I'll kiss her in the middle of a company meeting with all the employees watching on if that is what she wishes.

We part and I ask, "Not that I'm complaining, but what brought that on?"

She's catching her breath. "Sorry, but your ex is staring daggers at us. I wanted to give her something to stew over. I hope it's okay?" And here returns my sweet, shy girl, but her protective care of me puts her in a whole new ball game. I'm used to being the protector, not the protectee.

She fascinates me more than anybody else ever has. These different sides of her are enticing and make me want to learn everything about her because something tells me she'll never be boring.

"Sweetheart, you can kiss me anytime you want." And more.

Claire

The evening turned out to be a lot more fun than I expected, and I can't wait to see Zach tomorrow. When he dropped me off at home, he was a complete gentleman, even though it took all my willpower not to drag him into my apartment with me and climb him like my personal jungle gym.

I've never reacted to a man like this before. Then top it off with that sensational kiss. I don't know what came over me, but if ever there was another chance to kiss him, I'm taking it. After tomorrow I won't be seeing him again, so I'm happy I took the opportunity. Another thing out of character, but man, I should do more things I wouldn't normally do because I took the risk, and it paid off immensely.

The bed squeaks as I turn over, trying to get comfortable. It's too hot and I ache too much for the gorgeous billionaire.

That's right, I had a fake date with a freaking billionaire. I pinch myself.

This kind of stuff only happens in a romance novel or a romcom. They don't happen to a girl like me. I groan while I bury my head in my pillow as I squeeze my thighs together as the throbbing sensation in between my legs grows stronger. It's been like this from the moment I walked into Zach's office building, and spotted him across the room.

I need to sleep. Tomorrow is a big day, so I decide it's better to take everything into my own hands and slip one beneath my panties. I imagine Zach's large hand doing the work— the taste of his kiss comes back, the memory of his tongue slipping against mine. The thrill of a room full of people watching him kiss me and call me sweetheart. The stunned appearance on his ex-wife's face.

In all my life I've never been bold and it's hot. I work my fingers faster around my clit as Zach's face is in the forefront of my mind— his smile, his laugh, his deep voice— I shake as a strong release ruptures from me and I work to get my breathing back under control.

Rolling over, I hug one of my many pillows, sigh as sleepiness takes over, and I imagine Zach wrapped around me tight, spooning me as his hand strokes along my body.

My ex didn't cuddle, but something tells me Zach would. He's probably a very generous lover, and I get a little sad knowing I'll never find out. However, I'm going to take tomorrow and live out my fantasy. I just wish I mentioned to Zach my ex's obsession with him.

I don't look forward to the weeks to come when Alan will flood my phone and email wanting Zach's contact information. He's going to demand I set up a meeting or something. He's that callous of a boy, because he's not a man. Not like Zach.