The Red Eye 3 (The Red Eye Erotic Romance Series) Page 5

  I wiped my eyes, nodding as I turned toward him. “It’s a last-minute thing. Grayson wants me to go down to Boston.”

  “Ah, Boston. Yes, I can see why you’d be so upset about the thought of going down there.”

  His joke was meant to cheer me up, but all it did was remind me that I wouldn’t be seeing his smile again, except in the papers with another woman.

  “What’s wrong?” His voice was gentle as he turned me to face him. “Come on. You can talk to me. You know you can tell me anything.”

  I wished with all my heart that I didn’t have to tell him what I was about to say.

  He took me by the hand, led me to the sofa, and sat me down next to him so that we were facing each other. He casually put his arm over the backrest, lightly stroking my shoulder as he waited for me to start.

  “I’ve been thinking about things.” Oh God, this was hard. How was I supposed to tell him that I didn’t love him anymore? “I’m not sure if getting married is the right thing to do.”

  “Don’t be silly, Rebecca. You’re just getting a bit of pre-wedding jitters. It’s perfectly natural. After all, you’ve been through this before, so you’re bound to be nervous. But I’m not Rick, and I promise you that no matter what happens, I’m going to do everything I can to make things work. I know it must be really intimidating having to deal with the press on top of everything else. I mean, how many people have to have a press conference to announce their engagement? I get that it’s a lot to take in, but we’re in this together. You don’t have anything to worry about. I’m right by your side every step of the way.”

  I looked into his eyes and I knew that he meant every word, which made it even harder.

  “It’s no good, Devon. I spoke to Grayson, and—”

  “Dad.” He spat out the word bitterly. “I should have known that he’d have had something to do with this. Look, you shouldn’t pay any attention to him. Mom wasn’t exactly from a rich family either. Dad of all people should know what it’s like to fall in love with someone from a different background.”

  This was news to me. I’d always thought that both sides of Devon’s family were wealthy. But I didn’t have time to take in this new revelation with Devon sitting in front of me, trying to persuade me to stay.

  “You shouldn’t blame Grayson. It’s my fault things aren’t working out. He just made it a little easier for me to move on.”

  “Move on?” Devon clearly couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Rebecca, we announced our engagement this morning. It’s a little early to be talking about moving on, don’t you think? Unless you’ve got someone lined up already…”

  “No, no. It’s nothing like that.” Only it was, in a way. Of course, I had no intention of seeing Rick again, but if I hadn’t have slept with him, then Grayson wouldn’t have any power over me. “It’s just that it would be impossible for us to work together, can’t you see that? Grayson’s offered me a transfer to the Boston office. This move could be really good for my career. He’s even given me a promotion.”

  “Of course he has.” Devon shook his head. “I knew Dad was capable of some dirty tricks, but this is low, even for him. Look, whatever he’s said to you, don’t listen to him, at least, not just yet. Give it a few days before making any rash decisions.”

  I wanted to do what he said, I really did, but I knew it was impossible. If I stayed, the truth about Rick would come out and things would be even worse.

  “I’m sorry, Devon, but—”

  Devon shushed me with a kiss that swallowed my protests and elicited a desperate moan as I tried to fight the instant desire that shot through my body. I weakly tried to push him away at first, but my body wanted him so badly that I gave in to him, lying back on the sofa as he tore at my clothes. As the fabric easily peeled off my body, I knew I was lost. Devon’s hot mouth darted to my cleavage, his nose pressing into the swell of my breast. I shook the unclasped bra down my arms, and I reached up to massage my breasts as he dragged his lips and nose from one to the other.

  I arched my back as he took one of my nipples in his mouth, sucking hard to draw out every silky sob of pleasure he could wring from me. I wanted to curse him for distracting me from what needed to be said, but in the back of my mind I was thinking everything else could wait. It was the way Devon made me feel every time he touched me—like the whole world and its handbasket of bullshit could wait until the two of us were done loving each other. I’d never felt so turned on as I did right now, the knowledge that this was the last time I’d ever make love to Devon adding extra heat to our passion. Because this would have to be the last time. I knew it.

  Grabbing a handful of his hair, I pulled his face back to mine so my lover could kiss me. His tongue twirled teasingly around behind my lips. I sucked at the velvet texture and flicked my tongue back in response. His lips were soft against mine, and I nibbled at the corners of his mouth, pulling back with his bottom lip tucked between my teeth. I reached down and deftly undid his pants. We reluctantly broke the kiss, and I worked his pants down his muscular thighs to reveal his cock, which sprang free of his boxers as if his member couldn’t wait to meet me. I ran my hand up and down, feeling how big and erect he was.

  I was going to miss this.

  I took him in my mouth, teasing the head of his penis with my tongue, my head bobbing up and down as Devon moaned. I didn’t even stop him when he put a large hand to the back of my head and guided my movements. When his hips thrust forward so he could ram his cock between my lips, I greedily let him passionately ease in and out of my mouth. His sounds of excitement only made me wetter.

  I could always tell when he was about to come, and I stopped just in time, letting him calm down before sucking him again.

  “Jesus, Rebecca. If you keep that up, I’m going to come all over your face.”

  “Well, then. I’d better change what I’m doing, hadn’t I?” He didn’t even notice the wistful tone in my voice, because I hid my sadness well, but there was a lump in my throat I had to swallow back.

  I pulled my skirt up, bunching it around my waist, then tossed my panties across the room, before slowly lowering my lithe body down on top of him. I knew that he was enjoying the view of my breasts bouncing in front of his face as I rode his cock, leaning back to get the best angle. I put my hands behind me to brace myself up on his knees as I rode him with all the artless abandon of a child riding a carousel, up and down languidly, trying to pretend I didn’t have any cares but riding the ride until the music of his lust stopped chiming.

  He put his hands around my waist, holding tight as we ground against each other, his cock hitting just the right spot to drive me wild. There were tears rolling down my face. He didn’t see. He pulled me up to my full seated height so he could nuzzle against my breasts while he raked his blunt nails down my smooth back. I felt my inner muscles constrict and contract as I fought my climax until I knew that he was about to pop, and I went with him, my orgasm coming just as he cried out in ecstasy.

  I stayed where I was, panting as we both recovered from such an intense interaction.

  “See, Rebecca?” Devon whispered, as he brushed my hair back out of my face. “You can’t go. We’re too good together. You can’t walk away from this.”

  “I’m sorry, Devon. I have to.” And with that, I shattered the mood and any hope he might have had of convincing me to stay.

  Quickly, I stood up and went to the bathroom, unable to bear the look of hurt in his eyes. I didn’t have time to shower before I left to catch my flight, so I cleaned myself up as best as I could, not wanting to wash away the smell of him, but knowing that I had to.

  Devon was lying on the bed when I came out of the bathroom. “All right. If you have to go, then I’m not going to stop you. But I’m going to ask you to promise me something. This is just a trial separation. We’re not going to tell anyone that the engagement’s off, because as far as I’m concerned, it’s not. I’m still going to marry you. You just don’t know it yet. So go t
o Boston. Take time out to yourself. I know that once you’ve had a bit of time away to think, you’ll see how ridiculous this whole thing is, and then you can come back. Whatever promotion Dad promised you in Boston, I’ll make sure you come back to the same position here, so you’ve got no excuse to stay away. I don’t care if he doesn’t like it. It’s about time that he stopped trying to interfere in my life.”

  If only I could tell Devon that his dad was doing his best to protect him, to save him from being hurt any more than necessary. If I did, though, I’d have to tell him about Rick, and that was one secret he was never going to find out.

  “All right. If you really want to think that some time apart is going to change my mind, then I’m not going to tell you you’re wrong. But don’t make this any harder on yourself than it has to be.”

  I wanted to tell him that I loved him, that I would never leave like this unless it was absolutely essential, but all I did was turn and walk away.

  Ten

  Waiting in line to check in, I couldn’t help but remember that it was in a queue very much like this one that I’d first met Devon. It seemed as though all the important points in our relationship had centered around airports, and it was as though we’d come full circle now, ending things just the way they’d begun, on the red eye.

  “Welcome and how are you today?”

  I looked at the check-in assistant and wished that she wasn’t quite so chipper. The broad smile on her face had the opposite effect to what was intended, making me want to yell, scream, anything to make her as miserable as I was.

  “I’m doing okay thank you for asking.”

  “Ofcourse, it doesn’t hurt to be courteous.” She smiled. “Here you go and have a nice flight!”

  She passed me back my ID and I made my way through to the business lounge, free of the bags that carried my worldly possessions.

  I headed straight for the bar and ordered myself a large vodka and tonic. I was going to drink myself into oblivion. It might not erase the pain of losing Devon, but I could at least forget it for a little while.

  “You look like a woman on a mission to drink the airport dry.”

  I looked up to see a smarmy businessman grinning at me.

  “Why don’t you let me buy your next drink?”

  “I’m fine, thanks.” I turned my back, hoping that he’d get the hint, but of course I wasn’t going to be so lucky.

  “I’m Matt.” He took a seat next to me, holding out his hand for me to shake. I looked at him coldly, but he was undeterred, and eventually I took it, if only to get him to stop smiling at me. “So where are you off to?”

  “Boston.” I closed my eyes and took a large gulp of my drink. Just saying the name of the place sent shivers down my spine. It wasn’t that I didn’t like the city, but I knew that Devon rarely went there. It might as well be Outer Mongolia.

  “Me too! Maybe you could let me show you the sights while you’re there?”

  I looked at him, unable to keep the contempt from my face.

  “Listen, Matt.” I spat his name as if it were an insult. “If I needed a tour guide, I’d arrange my own and not some jumped up, overweight, middle-aged man in a suit who thinks he can strike it lucky just because we happen to be stuck on the same plane for a while.”

  At last, the smile faded from Matt’s face. “Well, sweetheart, excuse me for trying to be friendly. If that’s your attitude, I don’t think you’re going to last five minutes in my town. You see, down in Boston, we value this little thing called manners, something you don’t appear to have heard of. But if you think that you’re too good for the rest of the world, well, good luck to you. Seriously. Good luck.”

  He raised his glass at me, swiveled in his chair, and stalked off.

  I couldn’t help but feel a little ashamed of myself. Sure, I’d never have been interested in him, even if I wasn’t dealing with a breakup, but he had a point. I didn’t have to be so rude to him.

  I’d taken out my bad mood with Grayson out on a total stranger and it wasn’t fair.

  I didn’t feel too bad when I saw him sidle up to another woman in the lounge a few moments later.

  Three vodka tonics later and my flight was announced. I was pleasantly buzzed, but instead of the numbing effect vodka usually had on me, once I took my seat on the plane, I found myself overwhelmed by melancholy.

  A single tear trickled down my cheek, and it took all my willpower not to burst into floods of tears.

  “Are you all right, ma’am?”

  I nodded, biting my lip to hold back my sobs, keeping my gaze firmly fixed out of the window.

  “Let me know if I can get you anything.”

  The stewardess moved on, but I could feel her looking at me in concern.

  I was long since past caring what other people thought of me.

  There was no one sitting in the seat next to me, which was a blessed relief. I had worried that Matt would be there. The way things had been going recently, I wouldn’t have been surprised if I’d have had to put up with him attempting to flirt with me all the way to Boston.

  I pulled an eye mask over my face and put my seat back to try and get some sleep. Grayson had said that I could have tomorrow off to get myself settled in, but I was due at work after that. I could tell that he thought that he was being terribly generous. After all, I was the harlot who’d cheated on her son. But I wasn’t sure if I would be able to face work at all. Not at Caesar and Krause. Maybe not as a lawyer altogether.

  I used to enjoy the intricacies of the law, cutting through to the heart of a case to find the little nugget that would leverage a win for our clients. Somehow, it had lost its allure. As long as I was practicing law, there was always the chance that I’d encounter Devon, and I couldn’t cope with seeing him again.

  I’d love him for the rest of my life.

  Perhaps it was time for a change of career. I’d always thought that being a shepherd might be fun. Or if not fun, then at least uncomplicated.

  I’d made up my mind. Once I touched down, I’d book myself a flight to Europe. Greece would be nice. Then I’d head up the nearest hill and start looking after sheep.

  I didn’t care if it was the vodka talking. I’d made a decision and I was going to follow up on it. My mind made up. It was the plan I was sticking with.

  Eleven

  “Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to touch down at Logan International Airport, Boston. The weather here is warm but cloudy, with sunnier weather expected later today. I’d like to take this moment to thank you for choosing Myriad Airlines for your flight and wish you a very pleasant stay.”

  I groaned and shuffled off the plane with the other passengers, heading toward the airport exit, where a driver was waiting holding a card with my name on it.

  I handed him my bags and followed him to where his vehicle was waiting. Slumping into the back seat, I closed my eyes as he pulled out and headed to the hotel I was booked into.

  “Good morning, Ms. Bevan. Will you be staying with us for long?” The hotel receptionist was just as perky as the check-in assistant had been. Why was everyone so damn cheerful? Couldn’t they see that my heart had been broken?

  “I don’t know. I’ll have to see how things go.”

  “Of course.” She smiled and handed me my key card. “You’re in room 505. Take the elevator to the fifth floor and turn right.”

  “Thanks.”

  A porter picked up my bags for me and led the way to the elevators. “First time in Boston?”

  I knew he was just trying to make polite conversation, but I really wasn’t interested in small talk, so I ignored him, hoping he’d take the hint and shut up.

  For once, things went my way and the porter didn’t say another word until we reached my room. He put my bags down and stood waiting patiently.

  I fished out a fifty from my purse and pressed it into his hand. I’d charge it back to the company later. It might be a petty way of getting back at Grayson, because it was small change t
o him, but one way or another, I’d make him pay for forcing me to leave Devon.

  The porter retreated, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I left my bags where they were and flopped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.

  I was in Boston. If Grayson had kept his word, I was now head of a team at the Boston office of Caesar and Krause, with a partnership round the corner.

  Of course, that was if Grayson had kept his word. Something told me that I couldn’t trust him. I had no doubt that the moment an opportunity arose, he’d ditch me and probably destroy my reputation—and career—in the process.

  I needed a Plan B.

  My mind whirled with thoughts of Devon. He was the key to all of this. Grayson would never do anything to me if I was with Devon. He wouldn’t risk hurting his son.

  But I’d made a promise to stay away from him. I couldn’t risk Devon finding out the truth about me and Rick. It would kill him.

  I sighed as I was forced to face the inescapable reality that the mess my life was in was entirely my own fault. Much as I’d like to blame Grayson for my problems, if I hadn’t slept with Rick, I’d still be in New York planning my wedding.

  That didn’t mean that I wasn’t going to just accept Grayson punishing me without a fight. I didn’t care that he was one of the most powerful lawyers in the world. He wasn’t going to walk all over me.

  I wondered whether I could find some dirt on Grayson. Maybe he’d done something just as bad as my sleeping with Rick. If I could find his dark and dirty little secrets, I could blackmail him into letting me get back with Devon. Someone in his position was bound to have done a few things over the years he wouldn’t want to become public knowledge.

  “Face it, Rebecca. You haven’t got a chance.” My voice sounded strange to my ears.

  I was exhausted, but I knew that I wouldn’t be able to sleep. I pulled myself up and headed to the bathroom for a shower.