Lily's Mistake (8 page)

“No, you’re not. How can you be ready, Lil? You can barely hide the fact that you want me. I still affect you… I know this because you still look like you’re in love with me.”

I feel like he just slapped me. My hand lifts again, ready to slap some sense into him, but he catches it this time. The steel band of his hand on my wrist is unyielding. “I love this temper of yours. It’s going to be fun unleashing this temperamental side of you while I dominate you in bed.” His hips push against me and his hard arousal makes me shudder. “Now that we’re back in each other’s lives, there will be no other man for you, except me. I don’t want anyone, but you. It’s time we submit to it… to what is meant for us. I am ready for you now, Lil.”

Huh? He’s ready? How laughable because I sure as hell am not.

“I don’t feel the same. I don’t want you like that… Physically, yes, you’re very attractive, but emotionally, you’re not for me. Never were, so let’s drop it. This woman is not interested in your sexual prowess. Get off me before I knee your blessed balls.”

His nose flares while his eyes rage. “You will come to me. I am sure of it. Once you do, don’t expect me to let you go again because I won’t and don’t ever plan to. I’m counting down the hours until you come to me.” Drake speaks in a clipped tone before he finally releases my tense body.

After another hard stare, he spins around and goes to his room, striding ever so confidently. While I stand here, taken aback… troubled and dumbfounded more than ever.

What gets to me most are his parting words. The way he said them, it was like he knows. Does he think that since he’s ready for me that I’ll just happily oblige and let him back in?

He can think again.

Both Bass Cole and Emma Anderson come back to the villa a couple of hours later, just before six in the evening. I’m really unprepared when I come face-to-face with the very masculine, blonde, blue-eyed star.

“This is my assistant and childhood best friend, Lily.”

Drake introduces us all. Emma is sweet and strikingly pretty. To me, she looks like a goddess, but what catches my attention is Bass himself.

“How are you finding the island so far? It’s gorgeous around here, isn’t it?” Bass smiles at me. Like a stupid puppy, I’m just in awe of him.

Drake nudges me. “I’m sorry. I’m just a big fan. I love your movies!” I gush at the smiling Bass.

“Thank you, Lily. Do you mind telling this woman how great I am? She’s being a brat.” Bass takes hold of Emma and kisses her forehead.

It’s obvious how crazy he is about her. Watching them laugh before they excuse themselves to get ready before dinner is nice to see.

“You totally looked stupid just then, Lil.” Drake is being a dick again.

“Whatever, you just wish you looked like that. Damn, those two look great together.” I smile before I go out to the patio and stroll towards the beach.

I’m just in time to watch the sunset. It’s glorious. The slight breeze is crisp, just enough to cool the skin. I take off my sandals and stand barefoot on the shore. The tide brushing against my feet is relaxing.

The day after tomorrow, I will be back in LA. Back to my home and away from Drake. I don’t mind working for him, but being around him all day and night is definitely driving me nuts. He’s insufferable, stubborn and he makes me want to gouge his eyes out. There are times, though… I just want to kiss him senseless.

“I can’t help that I’m a jealous bastard. I don’t like it when you smile at another guy like that. I know you didn’t mean anything by it, but shit—I still don’t like it,” Drake speaks from behind me.

Oh come on, it’s Bass Cole. It was a given for anyone with eyes.

“Yeah, well, it’s bullshit. You have no grounds to be jealous, Drake. Get that through your head. Acting like a jealous, possessive lover is dumb when you mean nothing to me.”

Drake stands behind me, lips against my ear, cutting through my delicate armor.

“Ouch, that tongue of yours really needs some kind of punishment. I am possessive of what’s mine. You were mine the moment you surrendered this body to me eight years ago. I’m back and I don’t want to relinquish that right. However long it takes, I will fucking have you back. I won’t have it any other way. Get that through your head, Lily.” He abruptly leaves afterward his speech.

I still stand there like a frozen statue, his words playing around in my head. He might be right, but I will not submit that easily, not without kicking and screaming with protest.

“Are you okay?” Emma asks as she comes up next to me. Her beautiful, big, blue eyes look concerned.

“Yes. Drake’s just being… a dick. Nothing new there, if you ask me.” I smile when she starts laughing.

“Yeah, I could tell he was getting all territorial. Men can’t help it. They act like idiots when they really like someone.” Emma stares out at the horizon, looking like her thoughts brought her somewhere far away.

“You and Bass look perfect. He’s crazy about you,” I say, changing the subject. I know I’m getting personal, but Emma has that easy personality that I feel comfortable talking to, like normal friends do.

Emma shakes her head, but her eyes speak volumes. “I think he does… he’s been terrific. No, no, he’s been perfect… Amazing to the point where… I feel that we should slow down.” She quickly glances at me before continuing. “Sorry for dumping that on you, I just miss having my friends around. I don’t have an emotional outlet about men right now. They’ll be here in a few days, though, and I’m excited about that.”

“Trust me. Your problem is much better than mine. I’d rather listen to yours than go through mine in my head for the thousandth time. I was in love with him eight years ago. After spending a night in his arms, my first, he left without a word and now he just expects me to fall back into his arms again.”

“Maybe a good talk would do the trick for you both. From what I could see earlier, he’s got it bad for you and I don’t think Drake’s the kind of man to back down, anyway. Just follow your heart, that’s what I used to tell myself.” Emma looks thoughtful a moment.

“You guys are in love, huh?”

Emma looks at me strangely, shaking her head and huffing. “No, no, we just started barely a week ago. It’s too early. I just got off a relationship a few months back.” Emma bites her lip nervously. “It’s just too early… It just can’t happen…” she wonders out loud.

I touch her shoulder and squeeze it. “Trust me, Hon, love is a bitch. It creeps up on you when you don’t want it to.”

Emma sighs. “Shit. I don’t want to think about any of it. Let’s go get some dinner and get drunk. I think we both need it.”

That’s more like it. That I can agree on. “Awesome, lead the way.”

The next day, Emma has to shoot scenes with her co-stars, and Bass has to go to New York for some work involving the third installment of Knights of the Cimmerian that is going to be out in a few months.

I was at the meeting Drake held earlier with Martin Lombardo, the director, and some other important people involving the movie. The meeting took almost two hours and when it ended, I was ready to hit the sack. The time difference really is too difficult to adjust to when I’ve only been here for a couple of days. It’s a bitch, but I know I have to deal with it.

Drake is supposed to be meeting up with a few people. I’m relieved since I don’t really want to do anything unless it involves passing out for the rest of the night.

Which I do, gladly.

When I wake the next day, it’s already time to leave for London.

The last couple of days with Drake are challenging and strenuous and I am exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally.

I am teetering on the edge of the precipice and I’m a step away from surrendering to what he wants… to what my body’s been longing and yearning for.

It’s been over five hours since we departed from Heathrow. Six long, arduous and crucial hours… ticking slowly by until we land in Los Angeles.

Good luck to me.

I shift again, a little uncomfortable. The silent humming noise of the aircraft’s engine lulls people to sleep as we cross the Atlantic Ocean. The past few days flash in my head. 

Spending three whole, damn days with Drake took a toll on me.

I am confused as ever, maybe more so.

One side is telling me to never forget about the past and the other one tells me to hell with it, just surrender to him. I admit the second choice is seriously starting to appeal to me as the minutes tick by.

Could I separate having sex and my emotional being?

Could I be that mechanical? I know a lot of people do it. Heck, my friends do it all the time, but I never have… What Drake did to me ages ago made me hesitant. I only get involved sexually with men that I have been dating seriously.

Curled in my seat, I stare at the back of the woman who is across the aisle from me, snoring lightly, while my thoughts run amok.

“Are you awake, Babe?” Drake gently asks behind me. He is so close I can feel his hot breath on the back of my neck.

My body tenses as each of his labored breaths hit my skin. I bite my lip hard, trying not to groan and moan at the same time. Drake is definitely making things difficult now. When I’m certain that I can’t take any more of the toe-curling torture, I shift onto my other side and face him.

“What do you want?” I ask in a gritted, hushed tone.

The dim lighting of the cabin makes his eyes glow. Desire and lust are tangible in those silver orbs. Instead of responding to my question, Drake nudges his head closer against the laid back seat and stares some more. His eyes take me in, stroking as he studies my profile. Starting from the base of my throat, his gaze slowly and heatedly caresses me; it makes me tremble as it drifts higher.

Drake hasn’t even touched me and I’m ready to come apart. His power over my body is beyond ridiculous, and yet, it’s something I crave. It is something I haven’t experienced with anyone else, except Drake, and now that I’ve been reminded of it, its compelling power is hypnotizing and simply binds me towards him like a fucking magnet.

His face is so close our eyes clash. Drake’s eyes challenge me. He obviously wants me to make the first move. Have I made my decision? Am I sure enough that I can withstand this once it’s done between him and I?

Oh, just fuck it!
“I want you,” I murmur before I bite his bottom lip. I hear him groan before he pulls my head towards him, a little too hard, but I like it.

I know Drake is a passionate man with insatiable appetites, but the way he is ravening my lips with a wolfish hunger, I’m beginning to think that I was his last meal.

With our lips on a wet-hungered lip lock, my hands reacquaint themselves with his body. The dull ache and the ambush of nostalgia come in spades.

I’m eighteen again. In his arms, he makes me feel like the Lily I once was. In love and worshipping the ground this man walks on. The overwhelming tidal wave of old emotions burns something inside me. The more Drake and I kiss, the burning becomes much more intense. It’s addictive. Like getting high the first time and I want more of my drug.

I lift his shirt and run my nails from his chest all the way to his abs.  Drake’s grip on the back of my head tightens. My hand goes lower and rubs his palpable hard-on. The more I rub and stroke it, the bigger it becomes.