9781631054631ChoiceAffairsSalisbury (11 page)

“Mother,” I groaned.
“I always
return my calls. Perhaps not to you, but
then you would take up my entire day if I did. To what do I owe the pleasure?
And more importantly, where are you?”

“Where am I?
Silly girl.
I’m here in Washington, of course.”

“What? Did you just
say Washington? W
hy?” Panic set in as I remembered my
mother mentioning on several occasions that she intended to move to the area
once Apolo and I did.

“I live here. I’ve got
a set of suites in the Watergate, for now. I might even be able to get
something more permanent
here. I’m looking elsewhere,
of course.”

I tried to gather my
thoughts, not wanting to say something I might regret.
Or worse yet—something that she’d spin to the media.
“Mother, I know you have some money,
but just how are you managing to live somewhere a
s
expensive as the Watergate?”

“Don’t worry yourself
with the hows and whys, Caitlyn. I’m here, so get used to it. I told you I
planned on this move once Apolo was appointed. You need to have some family
close, you know.”

“Okay, fine.
Whatever, Mother.
I c
an’t
imagine
Pop
agreeing to fund this little escapade
of yours.”

“Your father and I are
divorcing, Caitlyn. He has no say in where, or how
,
 
I
live. Besides, your father doesn’t make
enough to spend a night at the hotel, let alone rent one of their apartments.”

“What the hell is
going on with you? You’re divorcing Pop? Why? Oh, wait a minute—I know why. You
have some rich sugar-daddy on the side
. Isn’t that
right, Mother? Didn’t I hit the proverbial nail right on the head? I swear,
sometimes I wish I could shake some sense into you. But then I realize it’d do
no good.”

“Stop being
overdramatic, Caitlyn. You’re not nine anymore. You’re a grown, ma
rried woman now. Such remarks might make one think—” She
stopped mid-sentence.

I waited for her to
get a second wind, but when she didn’t continue, I started to worry.
“Mother?”

“Oh,
my!
Caitlyn, I thank God I had sense enough to move here in light of this
new development.”

“What the hell are you
talking about?”

There was the sound of
an incoming call.
Apolo.
“Look, Mother, text me with your new
phone number. Apolo’s on the other line.
Gotta go.
Love you.” I disconnected and picked up
my husband’s call. “He
llo, handsome. Miss me
already?”

I heard him choke back
a laugh. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. I didn’t realize until our earlier
meeting just how much I miss some things. I had a moment and thought I’d call
and tell you that.”

“I love you, Apolo.”

“I l
ove you, too. We’re winding up for the day, so I should be
home shortly. Do I need to pick up anything on the way?”

“No, I’ve gotcha
covered this time, husband. I’ll be waiting.”

“Um,
Caiti?”

“Yes?”

“Wear something, you
know…”

“I know. See you
shortly. Don
’t dawdle, Choice. Things have been
heating up around here all afternoon. I need you to help me take care of a
couple tasks.”

He chuckled. “I
believe I know just what needs to get done. I love you. See you soon.”

“Love you, too.” Then,
he was gone.

Yep, to
night was going to be fun.

Glancing at my watch,
I decided if Apolo was indeed finishing up, it was time to put my plan into
action. Taking the vase of flowers into the living room, I placed them on the
coffee table. Then, I went to a nearby chest for cand
les.
Lots of candles.
I placed them around the room. It would
not be dark for a few more hours, but at least I’d be prepared.

Going to Apolo’s wine
stash, I picked out a red to go with the steaks I’d bought. I took the bottle,
along with two glasses, and p
laced them on the
kitchen counter. Rummaging around a drawer, I found a corkscrew.

My next phase was in
the bedroom. I already had numerous candles throughout the room, but took a
handful and placed even more in the bathroom. I envisioned a late night show
er, or perhaps bath, with soft lighting everywhere.

Looking in the mirror,
I decided it was time to fix my makeup and get ready. I went to the walk-in
closet and disrobed. I picked out a pair of sassy, red heels and grabbed a
silky, red and white scarf bef
ore going back to the
bathroom. Satisfied with everything, I applied red lipstick, slipped on the
heels, and threw the scarf around my neck.

Glancing at the clock
on the living room wall, I lit a couple of the candles and poured Apolo a glass
of whiskey. A
s I finished, I heard his footsteps on
the tile entrance.

I moved toward him. He
was facing away from me, taking everything out of his pockets and putting it in
a bowl on a hallway table. His briefcase was already placed underneath. He
wouldn’t
be needing
that this
evening.

“Apolo…”

Slowly, he turned
toward me. Oh, the look on his face as my appearance registered with him. His
eyes went dark and lustful. We inched closer to each other.

“My
god, Caitlyn.
You look beautiful.” He growled, accepting the glass o
f
whiskey.
“Ravishing, in fact.”

“Thank you. I’m glad
you approve.”

“Oh, I do. You’re so
damn hot, standing there like that.” Deliberately, he took a swallow of the
amber liquid before placing the tumbler on the table next to him. He came
closer, until he
was right next to me. I could feel
his breath, but he didn’t yet touch me. He just looked down, nostrils flaring,
eyes dark.

He took my scarf in
one hand. Then, he wrapped his arms around me, letting the other end of the
material drop to the floor. Bending
down, he spread
my legs so that he could retrieve it. As he did, he rose back up, bringing the
fabric up to my already pulsing mound and began gently pulling it back and
forth, all the while watching me. I couldn’t take my eyes off him as I moaned.

This w
ent on for several more passes, each time becoming more
intense than the last. Then, he stopped, letting the scarf fall to the floor.
He picked up his glass of whiskey, all the while staring at me lustfully. He
downed the contents and stood back, looking m
e up and
down.

Then, he moved closer,
slanting his mouth over mine in a mind-blowing kiss.
His tongue filing my mouth as he explored every inch.
One hand was on my cheek, the other my
breast, plumping and tweaking the nipple before he moved the fingers low
er.

I gasped as he plunged
two of the digits inside me. “Fuck, baby,” he whispered, hoarsely. “You’re
primed and ready to go. You’re dripping wet.”

“Apolo…”

“What is it, my pet?
What do you want?”

By the change in his
voice, I knew exactly what he had in m
ind. All the
while, I was riding his hand as he fucked me with his fingers, his thumb
rubbing my already charged clit. “I want you. I want you to fuck me.”

“Do you now?” He
chuckled. He removed his hand, then, swiping my clit with a finger as he did.
Takin
g me by the hand, he led me into the living
room. Dusk was bathing the space now, the darkness of night not far behind. He
stood next to an upholstered, wood-armed chair. “Sit. Put your arms on the arm
rests and don’t move.”

He left for a few
minutes, comi
ng back with items in his hands. I
couldn’t make them out.
Which is
what he wanted.
He set them on a table out of my sight line. Then, he
returned in front of me, holding scarves. There was a naughty grin on his face
as he stared down at me. “Sit on the ed
ge. I’m going
to bind your wrists and ankles, baby. If you don’t feel comfortable with
anything, just pull against
them,
and you’ll come free. Okay?”

I nodded, saying
nothing as he helped me get into position. Satisfied, he began draping the
scarves first
around my wrists then each of my
ankles. I was naked, my pussy
bared
to him.

He straightened and
stepped away, studying me with that same lustful expression on his face. Then,
he approached, lowering himself between my legs. He softly blew against my
alrea
dy swelled and throbbing clit. Spreading the
folds of my womanhood, he let a finger explore.

I threw my head back
as his lips and tongue took over. I moaned as he nipped the sensitive nub,
begging me to come. I wanted to take my hands and run them through
his long, dark hair, riding myself against his tongue, but
I couldn’t.

Bucking against his
mouth, I tried to get what I wanted. But he was smart, knowing just how much to
give me and when to pull away.

Then, there was a
non-stop piercing of a buzzer and ou
r quiet, intimate
moment was ruined. Apolo lurched up, looking around. I pulled at my soft
restraints, setting myself free. Whoever it was, wanted our attention.

Apolo marched over to
the intercom. “I don’t know who the hell you are, but this better be goo
d. And stop ringing the damn buzzer!”

“Apolo, thank
goodness,” my mother breathlessly began. “Your doorman wouldn’t let me in. He
said I wasn’t on your list of approved visitors. I told him who I was and that
it was simply an oversight. Damn man told me I
had to
buzz you to get your permission.”

“Hold on a minute,
Susan. Stay right where you are.” He turned to me. I was standing next to him
now. He kissed me passionately. “I promise we’ll finish this once I’ve dealt
with your mother, my pet. Go get dressed.
Quickly.
I’ll let her up. This ends now,
Caitlyn.”

I nodded my head in
agreement. I hadn’t even had time to tell him the news. Well, now Mother could
do that herself.

“Susan, I’m going to
call the front desk and tell them to let you on up.”

“Thank God.” I
heard her reply as I darted into the bedroom. “I brought
dinner, and it’s going to be ruined if I don’t get up there now.”

* * * *

Apolo

Damn, irritating
woman. First, she eludes my security team, and now, she shows up at our door,
like nothing happene
d. Well, as I told Caitlyn, it
stops now.

Not only did she ruin
what promised to be a night to remember with my new bride, she started my first
weekend in Washington on a sour note.
A very sour note.
But Susan was not going to ruin anything anymore.

This
time, in front of her daughter, I was going to tell her in
no uncertain terms how things were going to be. If she can ever change her ways
and become a lot less self-absorbed, then perhaps I’ll ease up on my rules.
Until then…well, she isn’t going to like
it, and I
fully expect Susan Pickett-White to find a way around them.

She came off the
private elevator all smiles. Like she had not a care in the world or had done
nothing wrong. She carried two bags. Take out from one of the better
restaurants, I was sur
e. She stuck out her hands,
thrusting them toward me.

“Apolo,” she said
curtly. “Here, be a good boy and take these for me. I never expected to have to
go through such an ordeal to get up here.”