Undeniable Box Set

Chapter 3

Chapter Three

Lily finished the last of her makeup, tamping down the ridiculous smile from her face, when a knock came at the door. It couldn’t be.

The flush warmed her cheeks instantly. She inhaled then raced for the door. The smiling, young bellhop decked in black and white carried a large bouquet of white roses.

“Signorina Bennett, these are for you. May I place them on the table?” He motioned to her small suite.

“Si. Of course.” She quickly retrieved some bills from her wallet and tipped him. “Grazie.”

“Prego,” he said with a bow before leaving.

She turned and sniffed the beautiful roses. What a surprise! She lifted the card. As she suspected, the gift was from Brandon, inviting her to dinner at the hotel’s restaurant for that evening.

Her body tingled at the delightful thought of seeing him again. She was crazy to even consider starting something when she had three nights left, but she couldn’t help herself. She flattered herself into thinking he might be interested, even if it was just s*x.

Truly, she wouldn’t kid herself about the extent of what she meant to him. A man like Brandon could have any woman he wanted. She was a plaything, but she didn’t give a hoot. Unlike the beginnings of her relationship with Kirk, her eyes were wide open. Not that this was a relationship, she chuckled softly because damn if this didn’t feel empowering.

After Kirk, she deserved to be pampered, to be adored. Even if it was only for a few short days—and nights. That’s right, damn it!

She dashed into the bathroom. Checked for any final touches, slipped on her sensible low-heeled shoes, grabbed her purse, and headed out to the wondrous city of Rome.

The taxi ride took her outside the city circle and east for about thirty minutes. There, the company had a few farms growing the ingredients for their skin care products—the rest were farther north in Tuscany.

That day she’d meet with Alberto. The last time she’d visited the plant a few modifications needed to be made. She felt confident the adjustments were made, but it was her job to ensure they were.

The following day, her tour at ALK’s newest facility was near Siena where the company had acquired a rose farm. Rose hip was purportedly rich in antioxidants that ALK wanted to integrate into their lineup. The next day she’d witness the rose plants getting pollinated, but since it was early summer, she’d have to return in later summer and fall to see the plants in full bloom. She sighed, realizing that because of the buy-out, the likelihood of that was low.

If she were smart, though, she could plan some time in Siena after her tour. She’d heard so much about the small town.

She arrived at the factory and was immediately greeted by the plant manager—a short, slightly round man with graying hair and a smile that stretched from ear to ear.

“Signorina Lily. So good to see you,” he nearly bounced to her and placed a kiss on each cheek.

“Alberto, good to see you.” She kissed him back.

“Come see. We have just finished a batch of rich, creamy cleanser. You will love it!”

Of course she would, because Alberto loved it. He loved his job. He loved the products. And he made everyone else love them too.

Lifting her hand, he gently spread a dab of the cleanser on the back of her hand. “Buona, ah?”

“Si. Very smooth. Show me around, Alberto.”

It was standard protocol. Lily was shown the factory with the huge steel cylinders holding product. Product traveled on the conveyor belt, and the workers in their white lab coats worked with plastic tubes and glass bottles. Everything appeared sterile and sanitary. Her job, in part, was to make sure things were as clean as they appeared.

Alberto stopped periodically and showed her the process for certain products coming down the line. He always had positive words for the product and the workers. She scanned the space, area by area, and made mental notes. Everything looked to be operating efficiently; Alberto was a good factory manager.

They walked to his office to review the work logs, errors, time schedules, output, a whole host of business minutiae. If she were new to this job, her head would be swimming, but she knew the facility like the back of her hand. She shuddered to think what the next person would do with it.

After lunch, she and Alberto visited several farms on the electric mule. The weather was clear, perfect for a tour. They made a few stops to investigate and discuss further.

Lily was anxious to get back to her hotel and make notes before dinner. And frankly, leave notes for whomever might inherit this position in the future. The busyness of the day had her too distracted to think about Brandon, but now that she had, he wouldn’t budge from her mind.

The embarrassment from the previous night could easily overrun her, but she would not let her actions stop her from enjoying her short escapade with him. And she had just a few hours to shore up the reserves to see him again. He was handsome, smart, perhaps rich, and for some unknown reason had a thing for shapely women, namely her.

She took the cab back to the hotel, knowing tomorrow would be another long day, but all she cared about right then was seeing Brandon again.

She showered, layered on some exquisite, scented body lotion from the ALK collection, and slipped on a cotton dress with spaghetti straps and three-inch wedges. She stalled long enough—vacillating over whether or not to decline his offer. Be brave. After one last check of her lipstick, she grabbed her keycard and her wrap, and headed to the restaurant.

She breathed in several times and blew out through rounded lips. Her nerves were on edge. She’d let this man, this wonderfully talented and gorgeous man, do . . . things to her. How could she face him?

The elevator landed on the ground floor and she proceeded to the restaurant, passing the front desk, the coffee shop, and a gift shop. She identified herself to the hostess and was shown to Brandon’s table. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him rise from his chair. He wore a charcoal suit minus the tie. His dark eyes seared her, and the smile across his lips nearly had her breathless. Gorgeous.

Lily came into view at the hostess stand.

“I’ll have to call you back,” he said to his CFO on the phone.

Heels. She wore high heels that showed her shapely legs in the best possible way. He loved to see Lily in high heels. And her beautiful cleavage, the sway of her hips, her flowing dress, all had his mouth watering.

“Good evening,” he said softly as he leaned down to kiss her cheek, filling his nostrils with her sweet scent.

She smiled, her cheeks a rose color. “Good evening.”

He pulled back her chair and couldn’t look away as her hand swept her skirt under her sexy ass.

“I’m so glad you could join me. You look lovely.”

She glanced down briefly. “Thank you. And thank you for the beautiful flowers. You didn’t have to do that.”

The waiter interrupted, asking for their drink orders. “Do you like red wine, Lily?”

“Yes.” A sweet smile graced her face.

He ordered a bottle of Masseto Toscana and several appetizers. Then turning back to his date, he said, “I know, but I wanted to. I very much enjoyed last night, but more importantly I wanted to see you again.” The flowers reminded him of her white satin robe, but the petals were almost as silky as her skin.

She blushed and reached for a sip of water.

He leaned forward and grasped her free hand. “Please. I hope I didn’t embarrass you. I would feel horrible if you regretted last night.”

“It’s just that we hardly know each other.” Lily glanced down briefly as her chest rose and fell. “I don’t regret it, Brandon. I liked it. A lot.” Her blue eyes penetrated him.

He stroked a thumb over the back of her soft hand. Her pause made him think she wanted to say more, and the stain in her cheeks told him what it was.

Her thoughts matched his thoughts, his reaction. He could already feel his d**k flex in his pants. He lifted her hand to his lips. “I am in town for a week. How long are you staying?”

“I, um, I’m staying four days, three more nights.”

“Perhaps you have some time during your trip when we could see each other again?”

The corners of her pink lips lifted. “Yes, I do.”

If he had his way, he would see her every day while she was there.

They toasted to the trip and sampled the hot hors d’oeuvres.

She went back to the conversation. “In fact, I need to go to Siena tomorrow. I’m on an early train, and I was thinking after work I would tour the town. Would you care to join me?”

He had a meeting that would take him until five in the afternoon, at the earliest. He’d rented a car so he could drive, but even still, Siena was over two hours away.

“It’s okay. I know you’re busy.” She interrupted his thoughts with a wave of her hand.

Lily’s face exhibited shyness, which confused him because she had to know he wanted to see her again.

“I’ll meet you,” he said definitively. “I have a car. You just tell me where and when, and I’ll be there.”

Brandon wasn’t in the habit of juggling meetings, but in this case, he’d make an exception. He could not recall in all of his adult years ever meeting someone like her. He was not ready to let her go, knowing of course he had zero time for relationships.

Lily smiled. “Okay. But if something comes up, I understand. I’ll give you my cell phone number.”

She did it again, giving him a way out. Her reticence left him puzzled, so he’d make an effort to show her his interest.

They lounged over their dinner, chatting, drinking, laughing. She asked more about his parents, his sisters- Katie and Leena, and growing up in Florida. In turn, he learned about her parents and growing up an only child. She apparently had a close friend, Courtney, she referred to her as a “sister from another mister”. She asked some of the most intriguing questions, like Who has been the biggest influence in your life? And What’s your favorite place in the whole world? He enjoyed her company so much, he hadn’t realized almost three hours had passed.

“It’s gotten late, but would you like to walk for a bit?”

“That would be great.” Her eyes twinkled at him.

They stepped outside the restaurant and she lifted her wrap off her arm.

“Here. Let me help you.”

“Thank you.”

He raised the soft fabric to her bare shoulders and let his fingertips glaze over her skin a moment longer. She shivered and he smiled, loving how she responded to his touch.

He didn’t wait for an invitation, but took her hand and walked with her along the sidewalk in the more quiet part of Rome. Night fell and open shops and street lamps lit the way.

They passed old stone buildings, and in several places, the sidewalks were stone as well. Lily had no problem navigating them in her heels. Some streets were busier with locals and tourists. Most of the areas though were quiet with very few cars. He smiled at her, and noticed how golden brown her hair looked in the moonlight.

A ping hit Brandon hard.

All he wanted was to have his lips on her. In fact, he was distracted today thinking about her. Kissing a woman like Lily, anywhere on Lily, would be a dream come true.

He gave in. With a slight tug of her hand, he led her to an alcove in front of a closed store. She glanced up at him, questioning.

“Lily, I’ve wanted to do one thing all night.”

“Okay?”

“I want to kiss you.”

She stared at him and her full mouth curved upward. His hand cupped her jaw and a thumb smoothed over her bottom lip.

He lowered his head, gently touching his lips to hers. One taste and he wanted more. His hands cupped her nape to take the kiss deeper, sliding his tongue against hers. A small moan escaped her precious mouth. He sought her, craved her kiss, and she returned it with the same eagerness.

He pressed her against the glass door, knowing she would feel his growing erection. Her arms looped around his neck. He let one hand slide down her soft neck and trace the outside of her breast. She mewled, and that spurred him on.

His lips traveled down her neck as his hand cupped her breast. “I love your breasts,” he whispered over her lips. He drew a thumb across her n****e, and she arched into his touch.

“Yes,” she breathed.

Her hands slid down his neck and shoulders to his chest. She pushed open his jacket and caressed his chest. He craved her hands on him. She slid further south and he didn’t stop her.

His stiff c**k ached for more, his balls grew heavy. He could only think about her, lying naked on her hotel bed, waiting for him to dive into her.

“Brandon, I want to touch you,” she breathed against his mouth.

He pulled back to meet her eyes. Blue eyes that could look right through him.

They were in a public place, and although it was dark and he had them tucked away, it was still incredibly risky. He wasn’t a goddamn teenager. He was the president and CEO of a major corporation, acquiring an Italian business. What was he thinking? And she actually knew people in that country. Gee-zus!

Who are you, she thought to herself. She worked her bottom lip. She’d just told a gorgeous man, a practical stranger, that she wanted to touch him. Her fingers itched to feel his soft skin, to wrap her hand around his warm c**k, to smooth pre-c*m over his swollen head. Her heart played staccato in her chest, and her s*x was slick.

Her shaky hands slipped passed his waistband to his firm c**k, pressing on the fine fabric of his pants. She stroked a hand up and down. His breath quickened.

One peek over his shoulder at the quiet street behind them, she returned to his gaze as she searched for the tab of his fly. His eyes widened, but he didn’t stop her.

“Lily.”

She pleaded with her eyes while she slowly drew down his zipper.

She was crazy, she knew it. But if she only lived once, she would take a chance. A chance with a man she would never see again after this trip.

Another glance behind him, and her fingers smoothed over his underwear. She tucked her hand through the placket of his briefs and as she took a hold of him, he moaned into her hair.

She stroked with one hand, and pushed the fabric aside with the other hand, letting him free, careful to shield them from any possible foot traffic.

“f**k, Lily,” he growled.

She gripped him, loving his soft skin. His size allowed her to use two hands. He felt so incredible- bigger than her vibrator, bigger than Kirk.

“I want you to come, Brandon.”

He grunted, and his pelvis flexed slightly.

The power she had over him right then was heady. This sexy man would come at her touch, and she would savor every moment.

“Lily. If you don’t stop, I’ll make a mess.”

Her teeth bit the inside of her cheek. She hadn’t thought this through. All she wanted was to have her hands on him, to bring him pleasure. She pulled the wrap off her shoulders.

“I’ll take care of it, Brandon.” She smoothed the pre-c*m with her thumb.

“Christ, sweetheart. You’re killing me. You feel so good, I don’t want you to stop.”

He slammed one hand on the glass door to brace himself, and with the other, he cupped her face and crashed his lips to hers—his kiss voracious.

Short moments later, he slid his cheek against her face and stifled his groan in her hair. He growled and she felt the hot semen in her hands as she continued to fist him. He flexed twice more as the last drops came out.

With her wrap, she wiped him gingerly, and then her hands. He breathed heavily.

“f**k, that was amazing.”

She carefully put him back together and closed his pants. She smiled inside. The elation had her feeling like the goddess he called her the prior night.

He inched backward, his eyes glazed. “Lily, that was the craziest thing I’ve ever done.”

“Ha,” burst from her mouth. “Well, I suppose now you know what last night felt like for me then.”

He grinned, showing his beautiful white teeth. “Touché.”

He tapped his finger on her wrap. “Will that come clean?”

“It should.” And if it doesn’t, it was worth every blessed penny.

He nodded. “C’mon. You have an early morning, and I don’t want you tired tomorrow night.”

She looked up at him with a raised brow. He was already planning tomorrow night?

At the door of her hotel room, he kissed her deeply and stroked a hand down the side of her arm. “Lily, you’re incredible,” he said close to her face. “Good night.”

“Good night.” She pulled her keycard out of pocket, and after one last glance at him, she ducked inside.

She gently closed the door, and leaned back against it, and exhaled. She shook her head and wondered where the reserved, sometimes self-conscious girl had gone.