“I’ve told you all repeatedly how I feel about your top five.”
“If I tell you that you’re in the top two, will you give me a quote?”
“I’ll give you that once I’m number one.”
“Well, can you tell us who your date is tonight, then? She looks familiar to me, but maybe give us a little insight into your relationship status?”
He led me past her and outside to his waiting town car. Letting me in first, he slid in next to me.
“To my condo, Simon,” he said, looking at me. “And I need you to roll up the partition, please.”
“Yes, sir.” The partition slowly rolled up to the ceiling, and Simon turned up the volume on his music at the front.
We made it two blocks before his lips latched onto mine and his hands ran through my hair.
Unbuckling his belt, he took out a condom. Then he whispered, “I want you to ride my cock all the way home.”
I leaned over his lap instead, taking his cock into my mouth—catching him completely off guard.
Slowly bobbing my head up and down, I gripped his base and listened as he groaned in pleasure.
“Fuck …” He ran his hands through my hair. “Tara.”
I briefly twirled my tongue around his tip, then I took him deeper, all the way down my throat. His cock hardened even more in my mouth, but I didn’t slow down.
His breathing became heavier the longer I pleasured him, and I felt his legs tensing under me.
“If you don’t want to taste me, or let me come in your mouth,” he said, whispering. “You need to move.”
I didn’t. I took his length all the way down my throat again, gripping his knees as he came in my mouth. I swallowed every drop.
He slowly pulled me up and looked into my eyes. Looking beyond impressed, he gave me a look that let me know we were just getting started for the night.
When we arrived at his building, we stepped onto his private elevator and kissed each other, as if we were trying to make up for lost time. There was a tinge of regret in his eyes, and I wondered if he could see that I felt the same.
Stumbling onto his floor, he unlocked the door, and the lights immediately came on.
“Oh, thank God!” A female voice broke us out of our spell. “You’re back early.”
We stepped away from each other and watched as Violet’s nanny jumped up from the sofa.
Fuming, she put on her shoes and stuffed toys and books into her bag. Violet was sitting by the window wearing headphones, looking beyond upset.
“Something wrong, Miss Julie?” Preston asked. Then he muttered to me. “This is going to take some getting used to.”
“Yeah. Your daughter—”
“She’s my niece.”
“Whatever.” She shrugged. “Your niece is a hellion. A gifted hellion, but a hellion nonetheless.” She walked over and handed him a check. “I won’t be cashing the check for next week. These past few days have been more than enough. Goodbye and good luck.”
She left without another word, and I slid Preston’s jacket off my shoulders. I started to tell him goodnight as well, but something told me to stay.
He walked over to Violet, and her face lit up immediately.
“I don’t like Julie, Uncle Preston.” She took off her headphones. “I want my Daddy.”
Preston sighed and extended his hand. “Can we talk about your dad in your bedroom?”
“Okay!” She grabbed her teddy bear and clasped his hand. She looked over at me and smiled. “Hey, Tara.”
“Hey, Violet.” I looked at Preston. “I’ll um, I’ll just—”
“Stay,” he said, briefly pinning me to my spot with his gaze. He motioned for me to follow him and Violet to her new bedroom.
I took a seat in the corner, where the designer had stacked an impressive display of teddy bears and matching bean bags. I watched Preston struggle to help Violet into her preferred pajamas and held back a laugh.
“Bear wants some apple juice before bed,” she said.
“Why would your teddy bear need some apple juice?” he asked.
“Because he’s thirsty.”
He gave her a blank stare and looked over at me for help.
“I’ll get it.” I walked to the kitchen, stepping over the remaining toys and books that were strewn across the floor. When I returned with the juice box, Violet held the straw up to her teddy bear’s lips for five seconds before drinking all of it herself.
“How very clever.” Preston smiled and tucked her under the covers. Then he held her hand in his. “Violet, your parents are … They were in a car accident.”
“A car accident,” she repeated.
“Yes, an unfortunate car accident,” he said, pausing. “And they died.”
She blinked. “Like my grandma and grandpa?”
He stilled, and I could tell he was shocked that she’d said those words. “Sort of like that. Yes.”
“Are they coming back?”
“No, Violet,” he said. “They’re not.”
She looked confused. “Are they in the clouds with grandma and grandpa?”
He hesitated to answer. “Yes.”
“Oh …” She was silent for several seconds, looking between Preston and her bear. “Can you read me and Bear the rainbow story again?”
“Of course.” He turned on the pink and yellow night-lights, and then he picked up the book on the nightstand. He read it to her twice, and halfway through her third requested encore, she drifted to sleep.
Standing up, he kissed her forehead and hit the lights. Then he grabbed my hand and pulled me into the living room.
“I didn’t understand that my dad was gone until I was six,” I said. “You did a good job for the first explanation.”
“Thank you,” he said. “I take it she’ll need to stay in my office until I find a new nanny?”
“I’ll schedule some more interviews, but in the meantime, I think you should ask Cynthia. She could watch her in your private bedroom suite across the hall that you hardly ever use. You can still check on her every hour that way, and if she ever needs you, you won’t have to rush all the way home.”
“By ‘Cynthia,’ are you referring to the same Cynthia who wants to sleep with me?” He rolled his eyes. “I don’t think so.”
“She’s the only person on the executive staff who has a degree in Child Development. She also loves kids.”
He looked unconvinced.
“Would it help if I told you that she has a boyfriend now?”
“Very much so.”
“Well, she does.” I laughed and stepped back “Anyway, about what happened tonight …”
“What about it?” He stepped forward, and I stepped back again. He moved forward and gripped my waist before I could step away once more.
“Yes, it was inappropriate,” he said. “And yes, it’s going to happen again.” He whispered against my lips. “There’s only one reason why it’s not happening right now.”
“Uncle Preston?” Violet’s soft voice made us look down, made him let me go.
“Yes, Violet?”
“Bear is scared.” She grabbed his hand. “He wants to sleep in your bed.”