Consume Me (A Burning Desire Novel) (26 page)

"What? What is it Clea?"

His frown told me that it would kill his
mood, so I thought better of it.

"Oh, nothing, just a little sore from
all our lovemaking and on-side-fuckery."

I was laughing at my words. It was exactly
that, a mixture of both, and I loved every bit of it.

He stood up and carried me in his arms
walking towards the door; I was completely naked, while he was completely
dressed.

"Hey, let me get dressed, Alison
might be downstairs."

"Oh so you worry about Ally but not
about Calvin seeing you."

He smirked reminding me of last night’s
incident.

I hated that damn situation, it was
uncomfortable for both of us and I wasn't even completely naked. I just put my
arms around him and feigned disinterest.

*****

We were
driving back to the hotel; Landon was a very busy man even on a Sunday. His
phone kept ringing when we were in the shower earlier. I was unstoppable today,
I was too sore to go at it again. But I didn't hesitate to make him come in my
mouth. It was the best view; the expression on his face was one I will never
forget. We took care of each other just like yesterday.

After that, he laid me on the bed and
started the very serious chore of moisturizing every inch of me. One of the
things he bought would appease soreness, and he didn't hesitate to do it. It
was so hot and intimate.

When he felt that I was ready to go again,
he shook his head in disbelief, but said that we had all the time in the world
and that I needed to let myself heal. I complied none-too-eagerly. But he was right,
I was burning up, I even walked funny.

Landon
was taken between angry phone calls with Evelyn, Alec and some Braden character
that seemed to frustrate him even more than his bitch of a partner. I let him
get busy and plugged my earplugs. I had a text from Brooke asking me to confirm
drinks with her and Liam tomorrow. I texted and offered lunch and drinks after
work. She accepted it gladly and told me about some snarky bitch Liam had
brought to the house and that almost burned down their kitchen.

I scrolled down my playlists; I smiled at
my newly created one. I was one of those persons who loved sad melodies. It
even cheered me up sometimes. Jude called the
‘P.
Sawyer Syndrome’
referring to one of my favorite characters in a TV-show
that had basically shaped my musical registry.

Nevertheless, it was true. It was a little
weird. I was happy; even more than happy, I was euphoric. I was sated from
several orgasms and I was listening to
‘Lightning Crashes’ by the Throwing Coppers.

It was one of my favorite songs, nothing
cheery about it, but the melody touched my soul and made my heart race.

The
events of the last two nights kept playing like a movie, again, and again. I
looked outside the window wondering when would be the next time I’d come here.
I couldn't possibly afford to fly to Chicago every week; we had to talk about
it before I left.

I thought about our conversation, I
apologized for what I’d said about the paintings and we went back upstairs.

He’d told me every story behind every
painting and revealed something I hadn't expected:

I was admiring a Botticelli ’ painting,
lost in the details, his work was often a mixture of the middle ages and gothic
style. The painting was tempera on panel, the use of color so modest compared
to other areas. The figures told stories; they gave lessons about life, death,
and faith.

"You are magnificent Clea"

Landon had said

"I will never forget the first time I
laid eyes on you, you were the most captivating woman I'd ever seen."

His voice was deep.

He sauntered behind me and pushed my hair
to the side. He brushed his thumb against my tattoo.

"I won't choose that word to describe
what I looked like on that day, although I did get your attention and you saved
me from a humiliating moment."

I turned to him, interrupting his private
session with Dara.

He smiled, twinkling in his beautiful gray
gaze

"I never said that was the first time
I saw you."

"What do you mean?”

“What do you think it means Miss Dane?”

I had it coming.

“Don’t you dare!”

I warned.

“Well, that day in front of the church
wasn't the first time I saw you.”

He’d admitted; I was flagger basted.

“When was it then?” I urged.

A smile drew on his face, exposing perfect
teeth.

“The first time I laid eyes on you Miss
Dane, was inside the Louvre"

The revelation had me pinned against the
wall.

"You were standing in front of one of
Botticelli’s. You were hypnotized, lost inside every inch, as if you joined the
Madonna and felt for her sadness. It was like you were with her; envisioning or
discovering for the first time, the fate that the child would find at some
point in his life. Reliving it.”

My mind whirled.

He looked at me appraisingly; he brushed
his thumb against my cheeks.

“By turn, I was the one hypnotized, I
froze looking at you. You were so beautiful, a yellow sundress, a discreet
glowing tan. Your hair laid on the right side of your shoulder, revealing
another angel. You were just standing as if you were immobile. I was about to
come and talk to you, but you were snatched out of your state by Miss Seiter,
and by the time I finished discussing with the manager, you were nowhere to be
found"

He announced.

I had lost all abilities to talk,
astounded by the confession.

"Then one week later, I was attending
a meeting and looking out the window, and there you were; snapping pictures of
Notre Dame.”

“What are the chances really? It had to be
fate. I got out of the car determined to find a way to talk to you, and the
most amazing thing happened.”

He pulled me to him and pressed a kiss to
my temple.

“You fell into my arms Miss Dane.”

Landon smiled against my hair.

“You were so damn condescending.”

I hadn't said a word, but instead I put my
arms around him and told him everything I couldn't say with a kiss.

Landon pulled at my earplug, and gave me a
sweet kiss.

He was very affectionate.

"What are you listening to?"

He put the device in his ear.

"Heartbeats.  Jose Gonzales.
It's suitable."

"I love the melody, mostly
acoustic."

He kept listening.

"One
night of magic rush.

The
start: a simple touch.

One
night to push and scream

And
then relief…"

I whispered along some of the lyrics to
his free ear. It felt so adequate, and I made a new memory to the song with a
tender kiss.

“Hey I saw your guitars, do you play?”

Landon smirked.

“No I just got them for show-off.”

He said complacently, but mostly amused.

We stopped in front of the hotel and I
started gathering my things to get out the car but Landon stopped me.

"Don't bother baby, Calvin is
bringing your friends to the car."

I didn’t understand.

"We have a date with the Best Burger
on the planet, remember?”

I smiled at him tenderly. He was so
jovial, and carefree. It made him even more handsome.

“My dad and Simon are also meeting us
there."

"When did you do that?"

He seemed to be in the habit of surprising
me.

“I arranged the lunch date with Jude; but
the old man invited himself."

He was grinning sheepishly and I couldn't
hold my own grin.

“That sounds nice. Thank you Baby.”

"Say that again!"

"Thank you baby!"

Jenna, Jude and Ryan joined us in the car
and we drove for the best burger in the planet. They were relaxed, they spent
the whole morning in the spa again, and they kept complimenting the hotel
services. They eyed me quizzically the whole time, especially Jenna and Jude.
They were grinning, eyeing each other, glancing between Landon and me.

I chose to ignore them and concentrated on
the conversation between the other two, which was about fashion, obviously.

They talked about Ryan's upcoming show and
I participated with my own praises for my best friend’s new collection.

He’d reinvented Disney princesses.

We
stopped in front of Uncle Jimmy's restaurant. Landon explained that it belonged
to his godfather, who was in the army with his father. There was a closed sign
on the door, and I turned to Landon with a disappointed look. I was in the mood
for that burger, starving for it. The way he talked about it made me eager to
taste it.

I was absolutely famished.

"Why are you pouting baby?”

I motioned to the big fat closed sign on
the door.

“He made it Family only, don't look so
disappointed."

My grin returned as soon as he said it and
we got out of the car.

I was stopped by my friends.

“Not so fast Missy.”

Jenna beamed at Landon.

"We'll be inside in a minute
Landon."

He eyed Jude and Jenna curiously but
walked inside.

"You gave up your V-card didn't
you?"

I blushed at Jenna's words.

"That obvious huh?" I muttered

"Oh my god Boo! This is huge."

Ryan seemed happy about it.

"As long as you did it on your own
terms, it's great."

Jude said tenderly; all too-brotherly
referring to that god-awful-night.

"Look at her; she's a poster-girl for
orgasms, glowing red cheeks and sparkling eyes.

I flushed again at Jenna's remark.

"That good?" Jude asked, I
nodded

"Good for you!"

"This conversation isn't over."

Jenna said while we were getting inside.

I didn't think so either.

I had some questions, some confessions. I
also needed some help, and she was like a Wikipedia for me.

Inside
the restaurant, there was a big table with more seats than I’d expected. Uncle
Jimmy welcomed us cheerily, announcing a real feast. He was a very affectionate
man; and humorous. He didn’t miss on teasing Landon about bringing a girl to
his restaurant for the first time since he was a college student. It made me
laugh; and it flattered me.

He'd apparently been preparing our meal
for the whole morning. We sat and the waiter offered us chilled beers. We
talked about some of last night’s events. Ryan even announced to Landon the nickname
Jude had given to Evelyn.

Soon Uncle Robert, Simon and another
couple joined us.

Simon was in a talking mood, and he
revealed that he was at my dad's funeral. It was a blur for me actually, but I was
amused by the fact that the two brothers had seen me before I did.

The nice couple was Robert's old friends
and they seemed to love Landon a lot. He had dinners with them frequently and
they invited me to their thirty-fifth anniversary the following month.

"Speaking of anniversaries Boo."

Ryan held my attention.

"Your mom said she's coming to your
birthday next week. Would she mind bringing me some fabrics, I would have them
sent to her house. I'll pay for the extra baggage, of course"

I rolled my eyes at him, the guy lived in
New York for god sake, but he only wanted authentic Italian or French or
Turkish straight from the source.

"Don't be silly! Just get the damn
thing sent to her house before Tuesday; she'll apparently be one day early."

"Helen is coming?"

Uncle Robert sounded genuinely happy.

"Yes, on Friday."

I conceded.

"So your birthday is on
Saturday?"

Robert insisted and I nodded smiling.

He turned to face Landon.

"You should have told me, son."

He admonished.

"I didn't tell him Uncle
Robert." I threw in.

"You're either funny or naïve."

Simon blurted out suddenly.

"Hey big brother; what’s Clea’ social
security number?"