Consume Me (A Burning Desire Novel) (7 page)

She
pointed at the laptop screen and I breathed out a sigh of relief and froze just
as quickly.

"Non!"
Jenna exclaimed excitedly.

"What
the fuck!" Jude cursed.

I
couldn't move; the spike of fear when I thought it was Caden weakened my knees.
But when I understood that it was actually bazillionaire Landon Davis getting
in my apartment while I was wearing my smiley pajama pants and a yellow tank
top; I freaked out. I looked like a mess.

Ryan
walked back inside eyeballing me and mouthing 'Oh. My. God'. He was followed by
no other than Mr. Davis in all his plush glory. He wore a button down white
dress shirt hugging his body, tan trousers with a Capri belt and loafers.

He had
so much style. I took in the sight of him, imprinted it in my memory, and took
a step forward to greet him. He stood behind Ryan. His hot scrutinizing glare
and smile did nothing to calm my nerves.

"Hello
everyone."

He said
waving and beaming at the general direction of the room.

"Looks
like I missed the party."

I
didn't know what he was doing there. I wanted someone to cut on the awkward
silence. I needed to gather my thoughts. The man was standing in the middle of
my living room and my friends seemed to have lost their tongues at the same
time.

The
answer to my prayer came from my best girl.

"Care
for a glass of that Chateau La Fleur you're holding."

Landon
frowned not understanding Jenna, then smiled, and extended the bottle of
Pomerol to her.

She
took it and shook his hand "J'aime un homme qui connait son vin." She
said shaking her head in acknowledgment.

"Du moment que vous aimez, c’est tout ce qui
compte."
Landon beamed at
her accepting the compliment.

When
Jenna tugged Ryan to the kitchen to bring an extra glass, Landon's attention
shifted behind me. He was probably staring at a dumbfounded Jude. I followed
his gaze.

Shit.
Shit. Shit.

His
photo was still on the screen. Jude didn't seem to bother.

He
walked to him and offered his hand.

"Hi.
I'm Jude Cervi."  He said composed and serious.

Landon
shook his hand.

"It’s
a pleasure to meet you Mr. Cervi."

"I
hope it doesn't bother you. You know what people say. Information is key."

Jude
said signaling to my screen.

Landon
nodded

"Of
course, I understand."

"Great."

Mr.
Dark and Mysterious Landon Davis turned to me. I was still shaken. I knew I
needed to say something, but the whole scene was like some kind of illusion. It
felt like I was assisting from outside my body. Jude was snarly, Maria watching
with a quizzical look all over her face. It was overall embarrassing, especially
my yellow pajamas.

Say
something you stupid bitch!

My
snarly subconscious scolded me in disbelief.

"I'm
sorry. I didn't mean to barge in like this." Landon was addressing me. He
looked a little confused.

I
finally managed to talk past my choke.

"It's
alright. I mean... Please, take a seat." I gestured to the sofa and once I
spoke, I felt the tension fading a little.

He did
take me by surprise, because, never, in a million years, had I envisioned him
in the middle of my living room.

"How
did you know where I live?"

I asked
once we were all seated.

"Oh
Miss Dane; you and your wrong questions."

He
admonished with a knowing look. It felt intimate, as if we had our own private
joke.

"I
believe that you're officially well aware of my resources." He cocked his
head with a sinful smile showing perfect teeth.

I
turned crimson and looked down at my twisted fingers.

"Yeah,
boo didn’t know who you are. She had absolutely no knowledge of your public
status." Ryan said softly as a way of explaining

"She
needed a little introduction." Jenna followed.

Jude's
muscles clenched. He really didn't like the man. I expected that after what I'd
been through, Jude wouldn't like himself either, I mean if he wasn't gay.

"You
shouldn't trust everything you read on there." Landon said with a wink.

I just
shrugged.

Thankfully,
Jenna and Ryan launched us in a very animated conversation. It started with the
Internet comment; which sent my girlfriend onto journalist mode trying to get
Landon to spill the beans about a gay governor in a red state. He held his
grounds, but with Jenna's talent, he caved without giving her much. Ryan fell
in love with Landon's outfit, which launched him into designer mode asking
about who shopped for him and how did he choose his clothing.

It
surprised me that Mr. Davis shopped for himself for a long time, before he got
a personal shopper that he mentored into knowing his likings. He had to,
because his work didn't allow him much space.

Overall,
we drank and talked about everything and anything. Well, I didn't talk much. He
never took his eyes off me for more than a minute. He watched me intently. I
was still processing his presence. I had a million questions. I wanted to know
why he was there. I wanted to know what he wanted from me. I watched him as
much as he did me. He was sharp and smart. He didn't talk too loud or too low.
He didn't monopolize the conversation, although his presence held most of the
attention. He engaged in every subject he was invited to bring his opinion
about and talked with so much refine. I was in awe. He was perfect.

Too
perfect.

The
conversation carried on for a while, until all of my friends decided to head
out at the same moment when Maria said she had to check on Terry.

Jude gave in not-too-eagerly, to Ryan's nagging about
needing to sleep early.
Jenna
used one too many chocolate dipped strawberries as an excuse for a nocturnal
walk around the neighborhood.

Soon,
we were alone, Mr. Davis and I along with the sudden tension and awkward
silent.

He had
that damned gaze, beautiful gray gaze undressing me inch by inch.

"What
are you doing here Mr. Davis?"

I asked
as a way of intruding into the heavy silence.

"Why
do you think I'm here Miss Dane?"

Jeez...
I don't know...Maybe To fuck me senseless like you'd suggested.

"Just
answer my damn question."

I bit
at him resigned to hold my grounds

"I'm
not one of your groupies. I don't have the time nor the patience for your
stupid games."

"Stupid
games huh?"

He suddenly
pushed to his feet and in one swift move pulled me to a standing position and
closed the mere distance between us. Before I could react to his brutality, he
sealed our lips together in a kiss.

If I
thought the kiss from the previous night was violent, I was formidably
mistaken. It was gentle compared to that one. It was deep and demanding. His
hands were traveling upward until he reached my messed up bun and relieved my
curls. He gripped them in a fist deepening the kiss. He sucked at my tongue extracting
a moan. He stopped to gather his ragged breathing. I was just as responsive. As
soon as he sealed our lips, I bit at his and sucked them. I pushed myself
upward and wrapped my legs around his waist gripping him from the back of his
neck. He pulled me to him as if there was still too much airing distance
between us. I had never wanted someone that much, the notion itself was
frightening me. It felt as if I'd been waiting for a chance to just unleash my
desire and just consume all those emotions he aggravated deep inside me.

I was
vaguely aware of my surroundings. He moved us hurriedly to the sofa, my back
against the leather. He levered himself over me, keeping our lips secured.
Landon groaned in my mouth and gripped my knee with a possessive hand sliding
his body upward along my thighs. He broke our kiss only to suck along my neck.
His breath so hot that it made me lose the little remaining reason I had left
in me. I pushed greedy fingers into soft strands of hair.

"I
want you
Clea
."

He
spoke against my earlobe biting it and nibbling his way down my jaw.

Landon's
tone added to my wanton state.

"I've
never wanted someone this much." He said looking through my eyes with
piercing gray ones.

"You
want me too. I can see it in those damning eyes." He was watching me
between swift kisses, trying to calm his breath.

"I
can feel it too." He brought his hand between just over my heaving chest.

"You're
trembling."

He was
irrevocably right. I'd never been that aroused by a man. I wanted him more than
I'd ever wanted anything my whole life.

I
didn't say a word. I just brought my lips to his and kissed him with silent
moans.

Supporting
his weight on his left arm, Landon brought his palm and cupped my breast. He
pinched my nipple through the soft material extracting a moan. He leaned down
and bit at it. I cried out. I was a damping mess aching for something, aching
for him.

Landon
pulled my tank briskly, exposing flushed skin and erect nipple; they felt heavy
and hard. He licked avidly in circle, making me lose my mind further. I had no
rational thought. He went from one breast to the other, licking and biting
extirpating loud cries. I gripped him harder, rocking against him. He renewed
our kiss, more passionately as if possible.

"You
are a taste of heaven
Clea
."

I loved
the way my name wrapped around his tongue. It felt almost poetic.

"I
want to be inside you."

Landon
spoke in my mouth.

"I
need to be inside you."

He slid
his palm down my navel burning a path through my skin and slipped it under the
hem of both my pajamas and little piece of lacy fabric.

He
sucked in a sharp breath.

"You.
Are. So. Wet." He spoke slowly making a statement of each syllable.

"Can
you feel you sweet little cunt thumping against my palm?"

There
were many words a woman should, and would be offended by; and he'd just spoke
them crudely and matter-of-factly. Yet, they only enlivened my arousal. Only he
was sliding deeper. I could feel him reaching further.

Suddenly
a flash intruded on my shattered thoughts and I saw him. My heart started pounding
relentlessly and my breath caught. I was suffocating.

No!

 I
jolted myself from under him, petrified.

Landon
was taken aback, confusion drawn all over his soft features. He pulled back
straightening himself.

He was
disturbed. As was I, I'd never let things get out of control. But I saw him; I
saw Caden. I did everything I could to push back the tears begging in the back
of my eyes. I was still haunted; it happened every time I’d tried to move on or
even just flirted with a guy. He scarred me.

"Fuck.
Clea
, I'm so sorry. I was out of
control."

He held
his head between his head.

I hated
myself for making him feel any regrets. It wasn’t his fault; but I couldn’t let
him know. How could I ever tell anyone how damaged and defective I was?

"No."
I finally said. "Don't be. I wanted it too, but...”

I was
trying to rummage through my messed up head to find a way to explain what
happened, or rather why it didn't happen. Maybe telling the other truth would
be less of an exposure; or humiliation.

"I
can't do it." I sighed.

"Why
not?"

Landon
spoke composedly.

"Is
it all the tabloids stuff, because if it is..."

I
interrupted him.

"No
that's not it."

I
didn't think about all that stuff. Hell, I didn't even take Jude's advice. I was
also pretty sure that if it wasn’t for those images flashing between my eyes
right about the moment he’d slipped his hand inside my pants; I was ready to go
a little further. I didn’t know how much exactly; but I was conditioned for
something more.

Was he
worried I'd reject him because of the entire celebrity buzz?

Truth
was, if he hadn't showed up on my doorstep an hour ago, he might've been right.
I hated all the exposure the minute I saw the flowing results from the search engine.
I was never cut out for it when I'd to make social appearances for my father,
and I was certainly not about to throw myself in there by getting involved with
such a media-magnet.