Explore Her, More of Her (15 page)

It was the perfect time to approach Daisy, but Belmont knew he couldn’t. He could see how vital the moment was to her. Perhaps it made her feel just as he felt after his conversation with Karl. Belmont’s work gave him purpose. Daisy loved her job as a travel writer, and from the very beginning of their time together, he had been fucking with her purpose.
 

He’d started with trying to get her to start a travel magazine with A&Rt Media. It hadn’t even excited her. She’d gone through the motions for about a month, had all the meetings with potential editors and staff writers, and decided to put off the project indefinitely. Belmont had made himself believe it was because she was having a difficult pregnancy, but deep down he knew the reason. Daisy wasn’t a publisher! She just didn’t want to sit in an office and worry about numbers. She wanted to hit the road.
 

Belmont dug deep. Could he do it? Could he let her travel all over the world, mostly without him? There would be men like Dexter lying in wait. There would be many nights when he would ache to hold her, kiss her, and make love to her. He would want to see her roll her eyes and listen to her grunt while reading the
Times
. She had a love-hate relationship with the opinion section. Reading it was one of the few things in life that got her fired up. She would ask him, “Who gives these people a license to draw these conclusions?” Belmont would shrug. He knew she wasn’t asking for his response.
 

Daisy squinted at the chateau. Belmont thought about his session with Dr. Calvet. He may not have treated her as his father did his mother, but he had had certain expectations of her, which didn’t include racing all over the world to write articles. Why should she when he had enough money for the both of them? But damn it. Daisy wasn’t one of those people. She didn’t do anything for the money, not even love him.
 

She smiled as if she’d just figured out his secret and skipped down the short set of steps. She moved in his direction as if she knew exactly where she was going, and Belmont smirked. He was staying in the tower suite, and that was where she was headed.
 

Belmont scrambled to stay out of her eyesight. He rushed down the walkway, pretending not to see those who wanted to capture his attention. A lot of women were present, and they watched him like flesh-eating hawks. Belmont dipped around a group of guests, waiting for Daisy to pass. If she hadn’t been so focused on her destination, she might have seen him. Belmont planned to follow her all the way up to the tower. Screw abstaining—he grew wood just thinking about all the things he would do to her in a matter of minutes.
 

“Daisy!” a woman called.

Daisy stopped dead in her tracks and looked toward the voice. “You made it!”

“Shit,” Belmont muttered. His cock throbbed. “You’re going to have to wait,” he told
it
.
 

Belmont looked to the right. A woman was approaching him, smirking and batting her eyelashes. He recognized her face, and her name was on the tip of his tongue. Sadly the line between friendship and fuck-buddy had always been fuzzy for him before Daisy came along. The woman’s hair was long and thick. Her eyes were brown and almond-shaped. She had long, shapely legs. Her dress was tight. Belmont turned to walk in the opposite direction just as he remembered that her name was Yvette. She was an American. A girl he met in L.A. The last thing he’d said to her was, “I’ll call you.” He wondered what the hell was she doing there.

After evading Yvette, Belmont had to find Daisy in the sea of bodies. It appeared as if all those who’d said they would attend had showed up, plus the nos and maybes. By the time Belmont caught a glimpse of Daisy, she was with Anton and two women. They were laughing. Anton put his hand on Daisy’s back, and one of the women noticed. Then Daisy turned and spotted him. All Belmont could do was wave.

***

Daisy

I wave at Belmont. All the talking around me ceases as I watch him walk toward me. He’s wearing black slacks that fit his body like the perfect pair of designer gloves. His black button-front shirt shows off his sexy physique. He’s so
GQ
, and he’s mine, all mine.

“Who is he?” Anna asks.

“That is Daisy’s husband,” Anton says.

“Oh,” Nina says. “I did not know you were married.” Her eyes go right to my hand. She’s looking for that damn ring.
 

Belmont embraces me. Our kiss is quick, but our gazes lock. Belmont rubs his cheek against mine, and my head feels light. The endorphins have kicked in. I’m high off love.

Belmont and Anton greet each other with a manly hug, patting each other hard on the shoulders. I smile. I feel as if the hug is their way of saying, “We’re family from now until forever.”
 

“Who are your friends?” Belmont asks.

“Um, this is Nina and Anna.”

He shakes their hands. “I’m Jack Lord.”

Both women look at him as if he has entrancing rays flowing from his face.
 

“He does not look like a frog,” Anna says.

I chuckle. “Why would you think he would look like a frog?”

“Because men with his kind of wealth, they look like ugly animals.”

“Like a parrot,” Nina says.

“Or a turtle,” Anna adds.

Belmont and I laugh. Anton looks at Anna with stars in his eyes. I do understand his dilemma. Anna and Nina are very tuned-in to each other.

“Do you want to dance?” he asks, although it’s not clear which woman he’s offering the invitation.

Anna looks at Nina.

Nina shrugs. “Okay.”

Anton and Anna look at each other as he takes Nina’s hand. I shake my head. What in the world is he doing?

“Hey,” Belmont whispers in my ear.

I look at him.
 

“What about you? Do you want to dance?”

I turn to Anna.

“Go.” She waves. “I am fine.”

I hear the disappointment in her voice, but I nod. Every molecule in my body is compelled to stick my nose where it probably doesn’t belong. I take a deep breath and just go for it.

“Anton wants you,” I whisper to Anna.

She looks at me as though I’m the headlights and she’s the deer. I squeeze Belmont’s hand and give him a look that says “get me far away from here.” He’s happy to oblige.
 

 
Belmont leads me to another patio where there are mostly high tables and a full-service bar. Many of the guests eye Belmont as if they want to say something to him and would if they could only get his attention. So many women are dressed as if they’re out for a night at a disco. One woman sitting at the bar hits another on the arm when we pass them. They eye Belmont and sneer at me.
 

“Did you hire prostitutes or something?” I ask.

Belmont pulls me into his arms, and our bodies melt together. “That would sure get me into a world of trouble. They’re just looking for a fun night out.”

“A fun night out with you?”

“They must’ve heard I was giving a party. As you can see, it’s a little over the top. Plus, they haven’t gotten the memo.”

“What memo is that?” I ask.

“You know what the memo would say, don’t you?”

“‘Jack Lord is no longer split from his wife. So back off, hussies.’”
 

Belmont interrupts my chuckling with a passionate kiss. We moan, frustrated that our mouths won’t merge into one. He’s hard, and I’m wet. We’re both willing to ditch this shindig and go straight to bed.

I stare him with a heavy-lidded gaze. “Where do you really want to take me, Jack?”
 

Belmont presses his forehead against mine. “Don’t tempt me. I need you to dance with me.”

Our moment is interrupted when a girl bumps into us.

“Fuck you, Jack Lord,” she snarls.

Belmont turns.

The woman scowls as if she wants to rip off Belmont’s face. “You don’t remember me?”
 

Before Belmont can find his words, I see her arm shift, then I catch the tail end of the wine she throws in his face. My mouth is caught open. I can hardly believe what just happened. A series of camera flashes go off. Belmont stands in front of me, his arms wrapped around me as if he has to protect me from her.

She goes crazy. “That’s why your reputation is fucked! You can’t keep your dick out of bitches like her!” She points at me.

I gasp. “What are you talking about, lady? He’s my husband, you skank!” I don’t know what’s gotten into me, but I feel like roaring as I try to climb over Belmont’s back.

“Skank?” the woman shouts as if I’ve just deeply offended her.

Belmont’s too strong for me to break free, but two men in security uniforms carry her out as she calls me different kinds of bitches.

“That’s why you’re getting what you deserve, Jack!” she yells before going back to insulting me.
 

I’m shaking. Everybody’s looking at us.
 

Belmont faces me. “Are you okay?”

I nod, although I’m still shaken up. “Who in the world was that?”

He frowns as though he doesn’t want to answer.

“It’s fine, Belmont. I can take it.”

“There’s nothing for you to take. She’s not stable, baby.” Belmont rubs my arms. “You’re shaking.”

I remind myself that the confrontation is over.
I think
. I frown at another woman who’s wearing a very short skirt. She’s watching Belmont with that look in her eyes.

“How many of your ex-flings are here?” I ask.

“Daisy, come on.”

“What?” I snap.

He draws back to get a better look at my face. “You don’t have to be jealous of other women.”

“I’m not jealous.” That didn’t sound convincing.
 

“She was a woman I used to see way before I met you. If I had known she’d upset you, I would’ve her thrown out earlier.”

My heart takes a dip. “You saw her earlier?”

Belmont lifts a hand. “Not in the way you’re thinking. She walked past me. I was too focused on you to pay attention to her, though.”

I sigh. I know a thing about the past rearing its ugly head. A few weeks ago, Adrian, my ex, tried to seduce me. I’d never told Belmont about it because he’d probably do something drastic, like confront Adrian.

“Oh well… it’s over,” I say.

Belmont raises an eyebrow. “‘Skank’? You were really trying to claw your way to her.”

I roll my eyes. “Well, she needed her eyes scratched out.”

Belmont looks off playfully. “Damn, I would’ve loved to see that.”

I nudge his chest and take him by the collar. “We should get you cleaned up.”
 

Belmont shakes his head. “First you owe me a dance.”

“But you’re all covered in wine.”

He curls his tongue out of his mouth and licks the wine. “At least it’s the premium brand.” He smirks.

That was sexy. “Oh?” I lick the same spot his tongue left wet.
 

Belmont’s mouth seizes mine, and we engage in a luscious kiss. The guests nearest us clap.
 

Belmont presses his lips against my ear. “Let’s pick up where we left off.”

I nod, looking at him with stars in my eyes.

He takes my hand and leads me across the same grass Anton and I had danced up earlier. We’re walking adjacent to the lake, toward the darkest part of the lawn. Belmont and I aren’t the only ones seeking privacy. The darkness masks lovers enfolded in embraces. We reach a fence with vines growing through the wire. Belmont opens the gate.

“Where are you taking me?” I ask. It’s just so dark. It looks as if there’s nothing back here but buzzing night crawlers and wild trees.
 

“You’ll see.”
 

I take it he had this moment planned out. That’s one reason why Belmont is so successful—he never disregards the smallest details. He glances at me as he guides me through the maze of trees. I smile at him then look up. The stars are brighter than they were last night. The birds of night, which hide in the bushes, do a little squawking. Applause erupts in the distance.
 

Belmont checks his watch. “Damn it.”
 

“What?”

“It’s nine o’clock.”

“How are y’all doing tonight?” I hear my father say through the party speakers.

My eyes expand and I tug on Belmont’s hand. “Is Jacques here?”

We step out of the trees into a small clearing. The grass looks trimmed, and pink roses surround the circle.
 

Belmont gathers me in his arms. “Yes, it’s your father. You owe me a dance and not to just any song.”

My father plays a string of his most popular notes on a trumpet. The crowd applauds and whistles.

“Oh, Betty,” Jacques calls.

A beautiful voice fills the air with a few notes of “God Bless the Child.” The guests are mad for Betty Moreland.

“Is she here, Jacques?” Betty asks.

I beam at Belmont, who’s smirking.

“She’s somewhere around here,” Jacques replies.

“All right, then. Ma fleur, wherever you are, this one’s for you and him…”

Jacques starts playing “God Bless the Child.”
 

“You should’ve danced this with
me
,” Belmont says.

I roll my eyes playfully. “Oh Belmont, what am I going to do with you?”

Betty Moreland starts singing. Our lips press against each other’s, and the tips of our tongues touch. We’re merely making contact. Belmont’s hands massage my back, working down to my ass. His breaths are heavy.

“You’re so soft,” he whispers.

I lick his lower lip, and the next thing I know, Belmont spins me around and stuffs his fingers between my legs. I gasp when he smashes my clit and grinds against my butt. Our dancing has ceased. There’s neediness in the way he’s stimulating me. I reach back to hold his neck, and he goes completely still. All I can feel is his package twitching.

“Daisy?” he says breathlessly.

“Yes?” I’m in a daze.

“What do you want from me?”

“I want you to make love to me.”

“No… we’ll get to that.” He chuckles. “I had a long session with Luc Calvet yesterday. I want you to tell me what you want, and I’ll do it. Whatever it is you want, baby.”