Realizing his slip of the tongue, Christian glanced at Skylar with dread. He didn’t want her to know how much he loved her! It would make him too vulnerable before her.
Thankfully, she was too lost in the song to hear him mumble.
The song ended, and she turned to him hopefully. “That was so heart-touching. Don’t you think so?”
“Yes. It’s good. Who’s the singer? She’s really talented.”
“I didn’t get her name. Maybe some budding artist.”
They reached the hotel and Christian led her inside the grand set-up.
All the employees greeted him with respect and surprise. He had arrived unannounced and they were at their wit’s end. “Good morning, sir! Should we get the conference room ready?” asked a nervous, suit-clad man.
“No, Mr. McCarthy. I’ll just use my office today. Please send our Finance Manager over in an hour. This is my fiancee, Skylar Carnell. We would need the Presidential Suite for an overnight stay.”
“Hello, Ms. Carnell! It’s an honor to have you stay here. I’m Jeremy McCarthy, Administrative Head here at SJ Metropolitan. I’ll book a Presidential Suite right away. Have a pleasant stay.” A porter took Christian’s overnighter away to the Presidential Suite booked for them.
“We would like to have breakfast before heading to the office.”
“Sure, sir. Where would you prefer it?” Christian gave her a brief glance before turning to face his employee.
“We would like room service, please.”
Mr. McCarthy led them to the room he had booked for them. “I’ll send someone to take your order, sir.”
Skylar looked around the grand suite with awe. She wondered why Christian brought her here! She walked up to the enormous bay windows that gave her a panoramic view of the city’s skyline. Christian’s presence behind her made her heartbeats race.
“Do you like it?” he breathed into her neck.
“Yes, it’s grand. Why are we here, Christian?” He snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her into his body.
“I wanted to spend time with you. Maybe I missed you a little!” His lips grazed along her neck, leaving a trail of fire that aroused her more than she had expected. His warm breath teased her skin, causing her heart to race with excitement. Skylar wanted to complete the kiss they had initiated earlier. She slowly turned around to face him, her eyes burning into his.
“Liar! You didn’t miss me at all.” He considered her taunt and studied her for a moment. His penetrating gaze read every thought inside her head. He knew the reason for her grudge against him. He knew she missed him, too. Why else would she join Travel-O-Mania?
“I did. I missed you every second I was away from you. Why the fuck is it so difficult to believe?” he whispered, grabbing her head to smash his lips to hers in a punishing kiss. He wanted her to admit it first but she was one heck of a stubborn woman!
The kiss melted all her anger away, and she gasped with surprise at the intensity of the kiss. His tongue plunged inside her mouth, forcefully snatching away what was rightfully his. The world ceased to exist around her as he devoured her sweetness without her permission. Not that he needed one. His wild mouth was hungrier than ever before. She could feel the aroused length of him pressing against her belly. He crushed her body to his, grinding his erection into her. It seemed as if he was kissing her with his whole body and it was unlike any kiss she had ever experienced before.
“I missed you so much!” she whispered breathlessly, briefly pulling away to gasp for breath.
Her admission drove him wilder, and he reclaimed her lips with double the passion. This time, Skylar kissed him back, fisting her fingers in his hair and tasting his addictive mouth. A deep groan of pleasure escaped his lips as he drowned in her passion.
A knock on the door tore them apart, and Christian sighed, releasing her. He opened the door and ordered their breakfast. Closing the door, he gazed at Skylar who still stood where he had left her, staring back at him in a state of daze. He slowly approached her, like a predator towards his prey, giving her ample time to escape. Yet she stood still, silently watching him, waiting for him. He could almost feel she wanted him the same way he did.
He closed the distance between them, pinning her with his body against the wall behind her. His fingers cupped her cheek roughly, and he crashed his mouth to hers again. He was done being gentle and waiting for her permission. The fire burning inside him had turned into an unstoppable inferno!
A month’s abstinence had driven him crazy. He needed her like a drug!
“I want you, Skylar. All of you!” His raspy whisper against her lips made her heart skip a beat.
Didn’t she want the same thing? Yes, she too wanted him, all of him! She had been wanting it for a long time! She kissed him back, this time slowly, lingeringly, as if savoring every inch of his mouth. Crushed against his hard chest, feeling his pounding heartbeats, inhaling his intoxicating male scent, Skylar knew she had fallen for him, hook, line, and sinker.
“I want you too, Christian!” she breathed, peppering his chin, his jawline, and his throat with tiny kisses. Christian stilled and gazed at her with disbelief. For the first time in his life, he was dumbstruck by her admission. It was something he had wanted to hear for a long time. It might not be the three magic words he longed to hear the most, but it was close. He could spend a lifetime with it even if she didn’t love him. At least she felt something for him!
There was a knock on the door, and he walked away in a state of daze. Their food arrived, and he set the tray on the table. “Come here, Skylar!” he called her softly.
Skylar couldn’t control the blush that crept up her body at the admission. How would she face him now? Would he consider her desperate? Would he mock her now? She took baby steps towards the dining area where he sat serving himself. “I’m starving! I haven’t eaten since morning!” he said, serving her as well. Skylar smiled and relaxed a bit with him.
“Neither have I.”
“I saw that! Did you skip breakfast every morning in my absence?” Skylar shook her head, but couldn’t meet his probing gaze. Yes, she was too upset to eat properly. Not only breakfast, many days she had skipped lunch as well.
“I see. I have to take care of you now that I’m back.”
“No need. You would be busy. Anyway, I’ll go away to New York on Friday.” Christian shook his head, sticking to his promise of accompanying her. He knew he wasn’t invited, but he wouldn’t let her go all by herself. He wanted to be a part and parcel of her life! After all, he would marry her when they returned from the wedding.
“We will go together. When we return, we’ll get married.”
“Oh! Why so early? Sebastian and Erica are getting married in a fortnight. Won’t we attend their wedding?”
“Maybe we’ll marry before they do.” Skylar gaped at the man who was still a mystery to her. Why was he hurrying their wedding?
His phone buzzed with an incoming call, and he got up to accept it. Walking away to the bedroom, he spoke urgently into the phone.
“I have to go to the office now. You can complete your breakfast and join me.” He picked up a sandwich and left while munching it. Skylar ate her food absent-mindedly. Her mind was on Christian’s parting shot. Why was he rushing their wedding? Would it be a normal wedding or a contract marriage?
Later, she went downstairs to the reception, and they guided her towards the office. She knocked and went inside, only to find Christian sitting opposite a beautiful woman. “Skylar,” he acknowledged her presence.
The woman looked up at her, and Skylar could sense the jealousy burning in her eyes. “Claudia, meet my fiancee, Skylar Carnell!”
“Hello, Skylar! Nice to meet you at last. I’m sure you’ve heard about me. I’m Claudia Shelby.” Skylar shook hands with her, but she had no idea who the woman was.
“Claudia’s sister, Cecelia, is Lillian’s best friend. They both have been working here in SJ Metropolitan for the last three years,” explained Christian.
“Yeah, and every time Chris is here, we meet up. Why didn’t you inform me about your engagement, Chris? I’m quite upset with you,” said Claudia with a pout.
“Sorry, I’ll treat you some time. I have a busy schedule so we just squeezed it in somehow. We didn’t get time to invite anyone. It was just a family affair,” said Christian.
“That’s understandable, Chris. Why don’t you bring Skylar home to dinner tonight? Mom and Dad will be happy to see you.” Skylar watched them interact but strangely, for the first time, she didn’t feel jealous of them.
“Not tonight, Claudia. We have other plans.” Skylar’s heart skipped a beat at his announcement. What other plans did they have? She wasn’t aware of any.