Cruel Fortune Read online

  He tugged my leg over his own, sliding us closer and closer together. His hand fell into my silver locks, and then his lips were on mine. Tasting, testing, caressing. He was delving into me, taking all I would give him. And it was easy to give in. To let tonight slip away and be in the moment with this sexy man.

  “Natalie,” he groaned against my lips. His hand ran from my knee up my leg, sliding under the material of my black dress and caressing my inner thigh. Up, up, up.

  “Yes,” I breathed.

  I trembled at the lightest brush of his knuckle against the thin material of my thong. The feel of a finger running along the outline where my skin met the underwear. He skipped over my hot core to trace the other side. I bucked against him, kissing him that much harder, deeper, needier as my body thrummed to life.

  When I thought I would combust from anticipation, he hooked his finger under the material and tugged my panties over my hips before tossing them to the ground.

  “Oh god,” I moaned at the first touch of his finger against my clit.

  Desire flared through me, molten hot and unyielding. I released his lips and tipped my head back. My eyes closed in surrender as he slicked a finger through my already-wet center and then caressed me in slow, agonizing circles.

  He slipped me down, so I was lying flat on the sofa, spreading me wide for better access. All conscious thought fled the second he inserted a finger into me. And then another. He stroked me from the inside, warming up my primed body. Then, he curled his long fingers into me, reaching depths that made me shake. It had been a long time since I felt anything besides the feel of my own fingers. And, oh dear god, this was infinitely better.

  “Fuck,” I breathed desperately.

  I was seeing stars when I felt the first kiss on the inside of my knee. My eyes flew open. He was just grinning at me as he placed a second kiss higher on my leg and higher. My pulse quickened. Thumped loudly in my ears as I watched his ascent.

  Then those tempting lips were on my core. Kissing my most sensitive area. Licking the bud of my sex until I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore, and I lost all thought to anything but exactly where his lips were placed. The way he teased me with fingers and lips and tongue, drawing out my climax.

  “Lewis,” I groaned.

  I was so close. I was seeing stars. Stroking, moving, taking, needing, aching. I was on fire.

  Lewis knew exactly what he was doing. It didn’t come as a surprise, but damn, he could work my body to a fever.

  “Come for me, gorgeous,” he breathed. “I want you to take all of this pleasure. I want to see you come undone. To feel like you’ve never felt before.”

  And, at his last word, my body hit the apex. I gasped as energy cascaded through my body. It radiated from my core all the way through my legs and down to my toes. My back arched off the sofa as I came apart at the seams. Then I collapsed backward, breathing heavily.

  “God, you are so beautiful,” he whispered. He straightened my skirt and lifted his head to see the aftereffects of my dizzying climax.

  I laughed as I came back from outer space. “That was…”

  “Amazing?”

  I smiled lazily up into his beautiful face. “Yes.”

  “I could watch you come over and over and over again.” He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to my lips. “I will tonight if you let me.”

  I believed him. And I wanted to. But, as the haze of my orgasm wore off, I knew that it couldn’t be tonight. Not with the events that had unfolded, clouding our relationship. I wanted it to be right. Not because Penn had pushed me into Lewis’s arms.

  “It’s been a long night. Maybe we could just sleep instead?”

  “Of course. Stay here with me. It’s late, and I already sent my driver home.”

  “You think we’ll do much sleeping if I stay here?”

  “I can control myself,” he said with a laugh. Then he kissed me again, slow and delectable. His hands splayed across my hips. “But I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t want to try to seduce you in my bed.”

  “Don’t tempt me,” I murmured.

  He seemed to take that as a challenge. His knee coming between mine, his body sliding atop me. One arm sinking underneath my lithe body and firmly pressing us together. I could feel the length of him through his suit pants. And for a second, I could think of nothing but grinding against him to relieve that pressure once more.

  His cock moved against the space between my legs, and a desperate moan escaped me. His hips circled, increasing the friction. Tempting me with every movement as his lips claimed mine. We breathlessly tangled together on the couch. Nothing but heat and tension crackling between us. Classical music reaching a crescendo.

  I knew that if I didn’t stop him now, I would never stop him. We’d go all the way tonight. And I might regret how we got here.

  “Lewis, please,” I purred.

  “Yes?”

  His hand slipped to my ass, drawing me harder against him. A strangled gasp released from my mouth.

  “We should…stop,” I got out.

  And he stopped instantly. His eyes fluttered open, and they met mine. “Whenever you’re ready.”

  I swallowed and stopped myself from saying, Now. Because logically, I didn’t want it to happen tonight. But my body simply didn’t give a fuck.

  He straightened and helped me to my feet. I wobbled, my legs still weak from my orgasm. He brushed my wild hair out of my face, cupped my cheeks in his hands, and kissed me.

  “We have all the time in the world,” he told me. “We’re in no rush.”

  I nodded. “I like that.”

  “But you’re mine,” he whispered against my lips. He circled my waist, and I wrapped my arms around him. “All mine.”

  Natalie

  20

  The good thing about staying in all weekend after the disaster at Harmony’s party was that I got so much writing done. In fact, it was starting to shape up into a real story. And while Lewis worked during the day, I had taken to wandering Central Park or finding a café to get more done.

  Jane had messaged me this morning to meet her for coffee, and I’d promptly slung my messenger bag over my shoulder and headed her way.

  The patisserie was everything I hadn’t known I was missing. I’d spent hours writing in little cafés in Paris my first summer after college while house-sitting Amy’s parents’ flat in the city. Jane had picked the perfect place with rows upon rows of French pastries. I ordered a café au lait and a pain de chocolat and then found Jane seated at a corner table by a window.

  She rose to her feet when she saw me approaching and kissed me on each cheek. “Natalie! Here, take a seat. Don’t mind my mess. It’s all for the opening next weekend.”

  “Thanks.” I took my seat and then booted up my computer.

  “So many last-minute things to get done though. I have a whole team working on the venue and making sure everything is up to code. It’s taking way more time than I thought.” She laughed this light, tinkling laugh. She sounded frazzled, but she looked relaxed. She was even dressed down in designer athleisure attire with black leggings and a hooded pink jacket that probably cost a small fortune. Her enormous Cartier sunglasses were perched on her head.

  “You’ll get it all done,” I assured her.

  “No doubt.” Jane grinned. “Just like you and your book.”

  The next couple of hours were spent hunched over my computer, typing and deleting at equal paces. I finally had a passable intro. Now, I needed to work on a synopsis so that Caroline could sell this thing. But I didn’t want to interrupt the flow to work on that instead.

  “Oh my god,” Jane groaned. She’d hung up the phone on her fifth call since I’d gotten here hours earlier. “I am wrecked. This is going to make me break out, I swear. I need retail therapy. Bergdorf?”

  I found myself nodding. I wasn’t going to buy anything, but it’d be fun. Plus, I needed a break.

  “Excellent.” Jane stuffed everything back into h
er Hermes handbag and then hurried us around the corner to the enormous designer department store.

  Half the saleswomen seemed to know Jane on sight. We had a personal shopper, Sandra, in a matter of minutes and mimosas a second after that.

  I tried on everything that Jane and Sandra handed to me. It was like playing dress-up with things I could never afford. Jane talked the entire time about everything she had to do for the opening, who she’d invited and hadn’t heard from, and all her friends who were flying in for the event. It sounded like it was going to be huge.

  “But the best part is the fashion show,” Jane told me.

  “Fashion show?” I asked.

  “It’s part of my grand plan. I’m going to have Elizabeth Cunningham showcase her designs at the opening. It’s going to be so chic.” Jane ran her finger over a silver sequined dress. “Just imagine a dozen models wearing original designs on a runway in my club. I’m dying.”

  “I’ve never even heard of something like that.”

  “Exactly!”

  But something was nagging at me. A little flutter that wouldn’t leave me alone. I’d already agreed to go to this party. I’d agreed long before we even knew it was a definite thing that was going to happen. So, I couldn’t back out now. Still … the first time that I’d seen an Elizabeth Cunningham dress was with Katherine. I knew that she didn’t model. She was a socialite, so being seen in designer clothing was a perk for the designer. But Elizabeth’s designs were Katherine’s signature.

  “Can I ask you something?” I said carefully.

  I liked Jane. We were becoming fast friends now that I was in the city. But I didn’t really know her relationship with Katherine.

  “Of course.”

  “Is Katherine Van Pelt going to be at your opening by chance? I know that she wears Elizabeth’s designs quite frequently.”

  “Haven’t you heard the gossip?” Jane said with wide eyes.

  Jane always knew everything about everyone.

  “No.”

  “Elizabeth Cunningham eloped with Carlyle Percy last month. Which means that the owner of Cunningham Couture is now married to Katherine’s future in-laws. It’s not being reported yet. I guess they’re denying it,” Jane said with a wave of her hand.

  Wow. Two empires coming together. Cunningham and Percy under one roof. And if Katherine ever finally married Camden, then…the Van Pelt name would be there too. A lot of concentrated income in one place. Though I didn’t know exactly what their elopement had to do with Katherine coming to the party.

  That must have shown on my face.

  “Katherine was wearing Cunningham designs before the elopement, but I’d guess it had been in the works for a while.”

  I stared at her blankly. Not quite putting the pieces together.

  “Well, she didn’t start putting Katherine in her designs until she was engaged to Camden.”

  Lightbulb. There it was. So, Elizabeth and Katherine must have worked out a deal. They were both marrying into the Percy line. Maybe Elizabeth had already been having an affair with Carlyle before he divorced his last wife. So, future Percy women needed to stick together.

  “Anyway, it’s all speculation. No one is coming out and saying it,” Jane said. She laughed. “Except me to you. But Elizabeth always designs for Katherine, so I’m sure she’ll be at the party.”

  I frowned. “Great.”

  Jane noticed my expression and sighed. “Hey, don’t worry about her. You’ll be there with me. I know you have history, but show up with me and on the arm of Lewis Warren, and you’ll be untouchable.”

  I didn’t think it worked that way, but I liked the sentiment. “And Penn?”

  Jane frowned. “He was invited. There are certain names on every guest list.”

  “It’s amazing how much the Upper East Side is like a small town.”

  “Girl, do not let anyone around hear you say that.” Jane giggled and then waved her hand at Sandra. ]

  She handed me three different outfits, including a stunning dress that I had coveted but couldn’t even bring myself to look at the price tag.

  “We’ll take these, Sandra. Put them on my account.”

  “Of course,” Sandra said, taking all of the clothes.

  “Oh, Jane, I can’t accept that.”

  “Don’t be silly. That’s what friends are for. And anyway, you must wear that dress to my opening.”

  Sandra came back a moment later and spoke privately with Jane. Jane sighed exaggeratedly as if she was being put out. Then she opened up her enormous purse and passed Sandra a giant wad of cash. My eyes widened in shock. Who carried that kind of cash on them? Jane must be even wealthier than I’d thought. Jesus!

  “Yes, that should cover it. Sorry for the inconvenience,” Sandra said apologetically.

  Jane rolled her eyes. “Some error with my account. I’ll have to call the bank.”

  “That’s annoying.”

  Jane huffed. “Tell me about it.”

  When Sandra came back with the packages, Jane passed them to me and refused to take no for an answer. “Take the packages, Natalie. Wear the dress to my event and don’t think twice about it.”

  “It’s too much, Jane.”

  “Stop thinking so much. Just live.”

  That was how I walked out of Bergdorf Goodman with clothes that cost more than most people’s monthly salary. And I felt a bit sick about it.

  * * *

  I carried the packages up the elevator and into Lewis’s apartment. I was pretty certain that I was going to return them before the day was officially up. Even bringing them up the elevator made me feel guilty. It had been different when I was borrowing shoes from Amy or a dress from a rack at Katherine’s apartment. These were now mine. I was probably going to have to go to Target and find some kind of knockoff to replace it with.

  Lewis turned to face me when he heard the elevator ding, walking out of the kitchen. His eyebrows rose in surprise when he took in the various bags I was carrying.

  “Well, well,” he said, “I feel a different person has just walked into my place. Bergdorf, huh?”

  “Jane,” I said in response.

  He laughed. “If I’d known you were so amenable to shopping sprees, I would have suggested I take you.”

  “Trust me,” I said, tossing the bags down onto the couch. “I wasn’t amenable. Jane is just more convincing than you.”

  “That so?” He moved to stand in front of me, sliding his hands down my hips. His lips met mine with deliberate slowness. “I think I can be pretty convincing.”

  I couldn’t help myself. I laughed. “You’re ridiculous.”

  “Is that what you think? You issued a challenge, Miss Bishop. What did you expect from me?”

  I shrugged. “I hadn’t really thought it through. And anyway, I’m probably going to have to return all of this stuff.”

  A voice cleared from the kitchen, and I turned in surprise to see two people standing at the island bar. I immediately recognized them—Charlotte and Etta. Lewis’s sisters.

  “Brother, do you care to introduce us?” Charlotte said.

  “Or are you just going to stand there, looking sheepish all day?” Etta asked.

  Lewis huffed. “You two are insufferable.” He turned back to face me. “Natalie, these are my sisters. Charlotte.” He gestured to the taller of the two. Then the shorter. “And Etta.”

  Charlotte was stunning with dark brown skin and unbelievably long eyelashes. Her black hair was parted in the middle and curled alluringly to her shoulders. Her style was model perfect—dark wash jeans and a plain white T-shirt. She needed nothing else to accentuate her beauty.

  Etta was all black leather leggings and moto jacket, gold studded bracelets, and dark red lipstick. She had replaced the bob I’d seen her in last year with a high ponytail of box braids that nearly went to her ass. She was curvy where Charlotte was trim, edgy where Charlotte was delicate.

  They were a dynamic duo. And I couldn’t believe that
they were only twenty-one and eighteen years old respectively. Upper East Side girls were from a different planet.

  “They showed up, unannounced, in an attempt to ambush you, I’m afraid,” Lewis said, shooting me a look of frustration. “They have been bugging me nonstop since we started dating.”

  “Bugging you?” Etta asked. “Is it too much to want to meet the woman you’re dating?”

  I was taken aback. They’d wanted to meet me. I hadn’t heard a word of that from Lewis. Maybe he was worried that it would freak me out. Which maybe, if I’d had time to think about it, it might have, but here, when they were together, it just made me happy. A sharp contrast to a mother hating me so much that she’d fired me and blacklisted me from ever getting work again.

  “It’s fine. I’m glad I get to meet you again,” I told them.

  “Well, excellent,” Etta said. She darted over and looped our arms together, dragging me to the bar. “We’ve been dying to meet you.”

  “Etta, give her room to breathe,” Charlotte chided.

  “She can breathe,” Etta grumbled.

  Lewis buried his head in his hands. “I should have made you leave the moment you walked in.”

  “As if you could make us leave,” Charlotte said with a sly grin.

  “Brother, make us a drink,” Etta said. “We’ll be a while.”

  Lewis shook his head in disbelief. “What am I your bartender now?”

  “Yes,” Charlotte and Etta said at the same time.

  I started laughing right along with them.

  “Oh dear lord, they’ve already converted you,” he said with his eyes lifted to the heavens. “I will play bartender just this once, but do go easy on her. I know you two.”

  “Us?” Etta said, touching her chest, as if offended he would suggest that they’d be anything but nice.

  Lewis gave them the look. A brotherly thing that clearly said he didn’t buy the innocent act. Still, he went to the wet bar to make us drinks.

  “Now, tell me all the dirt. Lewis is so tight-lipped about you two.” Etta’s eyes were an intense hazel color, and they looked excited and maybe a bit devious. “Are you dating, dating? Has he defined the relationship? You know how guys are these days. They’re all about that let’s just see where it goes, which we all know is code for sex.”