Truly Mine Read online

  “Nothing. You’ve done nothing. What happened last weekend should not have happened. So, that’s where it ends.”I leave her standing on the sidewalk the way Cory just did to me. There’s nothing else to be said.

  With Cory’s info dump yesterday and the fact that I haven’t spoken to Truly once this week, I’m not looking forward to this trip to New York at all. I texted her last night to remind her of my visit but received no reply.

  I managed to make my flight though.

  Now, we’ve just landed, and we’re sitting on the runway. It’s nine a.m. and far too early for me to be stuck on a plane with all these people.

  I send Truly a text to let her know that I’m in New York and can meet with her anytime. It looks like it will be a quick trip after all. I gather my carry-on and join the others filing off the plane.

  Entering the terminal, I head for baggage claim. I check my phone for a message from Truly. Nothing.

  I head toward the exit to catch a cab when I notice her big inviting smile. She’s standing near the exit doors, looking as beautiful as ever. Her hair is down but held off her face by her sunglasses, and I swear, she glows. She appears happy to see me. She waves me over as if I didn’t see her.

  Acknowledging that I notice her, I nod and walk quickly, nearly plowing down a few people who cross my path. I’m not sure what to do when I reach her, but she doesn’t leave me to wonder for long. She closes the gap between us and wraps her arms around my neck. The perfume that I now love consumes me for a moment. She must have more. Good thing for her because I have no intention of returning the bottle I have.

  “How was your flight?” she asks softly against my ear.

  “It was fine. I didn’t know you’d be here. Thank you.” I slide my hand across her back and rest it on her opposite hip.

  She leans her head back and looks at me. I focus on her sweet lips. I want to kiss them again.

  “Of course I’m here. I got your text last night.” As if she can read my thoughts, she slowly leans in and presses her lips against mine.

  This is unexpected. I’m learning quickly that nearly everything about Truly is unexpected. I want to ask her why she didn’t respond. Instead, I slide my hand up the curve of her hip to her shoulder and pull her close. After a few seconds, she kisses the corner of my mouth and then slides her lips over my cheek before burying her face in my neck.

  It might be wishful thinking, but it seems like she’s relieved to see me. Her body relaxes against mine, and her breathing slows. Her hand moves to the back of my neck, and her fingernails gently rake across my skin, back and forth.

  Resting her head on my shoulder, she smiles up at me. “It feels so good to touch you again.”Her eyes close for a moment.

  I smile but take note of her tone. “Everything okay?”

  She nods her head and pops up, meeting my gaze. “Perfect.”

  I’m ready to be alone with Truly. Now.

  pronunciation mas-kuh-reyd

  (n.) under fake pretenses; façade; false show

  Truly

  I haven’t talked to Tyler since last weekend. I didn’t even tell him I’d be waiting at the airport.

  Foolishly, I’d hoped I could convince myself that I don’t care for him. All week, I’d tried to brainwash myself. Apparently, one cannot brainwash oneself because the minute I saw Tyler walking toward me, my knees went weak. Even though he seemed a little distant, I didn’t waste any time in sliding into his arms.

  I wish it didn’t feel so good when he was near me. It’s blowing my bitch cover. It’s a little hard to keep up the facade around him when he knows the real me.

  This weekend, I’m not even going to try. I’m going to let the walls down and enjoy every minute. Because this weekend will be the last time I’ll ever see Tyler Burke again.

  “There’s a driver waiting out front for us.” I wrap my arm around Tyler’s waist, nuzzling my cheek against his soft gray T-shirt. Either this is the softest material I’ve ever felt, or just being in Tyler’s arms feels better and better every time. Maybe a little bit of both. Either way, I can’t wait to get him back to my apartment.

  Once we’re in the car, Tyler and I are on the same page.

  He pulls me close to his side and lifts my chin. “I missed you, Tru.” He ever so slowly presses his lips against mine.

  I open willingly, and he slides his tongue past our lips to find mine. Our tongues dance for a moment, and then he pulls back, sucking my lip as he goes. My heart is beating so fast that it might jump right out of my chest.

  Once I’ve regained my composure, I ask Tyler, “What would you like to do while you’re in New York?”

  “I haven’t thought much about it. I’ve been here several times. There’s nothing in particular that I had planned.”

  “Well, how about if we drop your bags off and then go to my office to sign the papers? I want to introduce you to my friends while we’re there.”

  He glances down at me. “Sounds good. I’m staying at The Mark.”

  I sweetly smile up at him and place my hand low on his stomach. “Uh…I thought maybe I could return the favor, and you would stay with me.”

  Nodding his head, he leans forward and kisses me again. I hope that’s a preview of what’s to come.

  Previously, I arranged for Perry, the bellman, to take Tyler’s bags to my apartment. When the car pulls up to my building, the driver pops the trunk, and Perry retrieves the bags. I roll down the window and thank him as I hand him a tip.

  “Wait. What’s he doing with my bags?”

  “He’s taking them up for us.”

  “We’re not going in?” Disappointed that he’s not getting what he wants, he pops his lip out like a child.

  “Not yet. But it’ll be worth it when we do.” I lean toward him and kiss his shoulder.

  “Okay then. I’ll hold you to that.” His eyes burn me.

  Anxiety creeps up on me as we get closer to my office building.

  Marie scheduled around Tyler’s visit so that no clients would be in today. Anything that would clue him in on what I do for a living is not in plain sight. Our time here will be brief anyway. We’ll go over the paperwork, and Lissa or Marie will witness as Tyler notarizes. Then, the ordeal with my mother’s estate will be over.

  When we pull up to the curb, Tyler exits the car, and I slide out, following him. I grab ahold of Tyler’s proffered hand. We proceed into the building, hand in hand. Entering, I quickly lead Tyler to my office and close the door.

  “Have a seat, if you’d like.” I point to a sitting area across the room.

  He looks around. The room appears as ordinary as anyone’s office. When he reaches the seating area, he lays the folder of paperwork on the round coffee table in front of the chairs.

  “I’ll be right back.” I leave Tyler alone to find Marie and Lissa.

  I find them both standing behind Lissa’s desk, hunched over, looking at her PC monitor. Smiling and ogling at the screen, I know exactly what they’re looking at. All of us belong to a Facebook group full of fellow readers, and we all post photos of delicious men that fill the descriptions of the sexy men we read about. I have no doubt that there’s a fine specimen to be seen.

  Without saying a word, I round Lissa’s desk and take in the beautiful man on the screen. “Oh, nice!”

  It’s another shot of model David Gandy in a suit. It’s enough to make a woman’s panties melt, I swear.

  “Hate to interrupt your meal, but Tyler’s here.”

  With that, they turn their attention to me.

  “I’d like to introduce you to him.”

  Still giddy, they stand and make themselves presentable.

  Marie smooths her dress. “Okay, let’s do this.”

  Lissa applies a new coat of lipstick before all three of us file out of her office and into mine.

  Tyler stands as we enter the room. He smiles at the girls and meets us in the middle of the room.

  “Tyler, this is Lissa and Marie.” I
wave my hand toward each of them, respectively.

  They are still gawking. Only now, it’s at Tyler.

  “Hello, ladies. Very nice to meet you.” He takes each of their hands and sweetly presses a kiss to the top.

  To my surprise, they’re speechless. Neither says a single word.

  I cross the room, passing between the girls and Tyler. Once I’m behind Tyler and he can no longer see me, I throw my arms in the air and silently mouth, What the fuck?

  They blink rapidly and join us again.

  “It’s nice to meet you as well,” Marie swoons, her voice shaky. “How was your flight?”

  Lissa hasn’t moved a muscle. They are behaving like high school girls.

  “It was fine. No screaming babies.” Tyler smiles a crooked smile.

  “Shall we sign now?” I attempt to bring everyone’s attention to the reason Tyler’s here in the first place.

  “Of course.” Tyler joins me, sliding his hand across the small of my back as he passes behind me.

  The girls take notice and exchange looks. For several minutes, Tyler reviews the details stated in the document, all boring legalities of the situation that I’ve already explained to Marie and Lissa. They should be uninterested, yet they’re hanging on Tyler’s every word. When they aren’t mesmerized by his lips as he speaks, they’re raking his body from the black boots on his feet up to his dark denim jeans and lingering a little too long on his toned chest and biceps under his tight-fitting tee.

  His usually messy dirty-blond hair is tamed and calling out to me, begging me to run my hands through it.

  Oh, geez. Now, we’re all three doing it.

  I straighten my posture as the girls flash me a smile.

  Once again, I mouth, Stop, scolding them.

  “If you understand everything, you can sign right here.” He points at the yellow arrow sticker at the bottom of the page as he hands me a pen.

  His eyes meet mine, and my heartbeat accelerates for no reason whatsoever. He has such an effect on me, even when he isn’t trying.

  “Tru?” Tyler places his hand on my knee, concerned with my sudden trance. “Is there something you want me to go over again?”

  He stupefies me. I can’t put my thoughts into intelligent words when I’m near him.

  “Uh…no.” Uncharacteristically, I lay my left hand on top of his on my knee and weave my fingers through his.

  Comforting me, he smiles sweetly and squeezes my hand.I sign my name on the line and lay the pen down, leaving only the inheritance money to be donated before this ordeal is put to rest. That’s as easy as writing a check. No visit from Tyler necessary. With that one signature, all my mother’s accounts and debts are settled, taxes are paid, and her death certificate is filed.

  “Tyler, you’re going to dinner with us this evening, right?” Lissa asks.

  Shrugging his shoulders, Tyler glances at me.

  “I haven’t yet asked him,” I answer Lissa. Then, I address Tyler, “Every Friday, after work, we go to Harper’s for drinks and dinner. I was going to ask you if you would join us, but Lissa beat me to it.”

  He slides the papers into a large envelope and then turns, looking at me. He talks softly and to me only, “If you want me to go, then I’d love to.”

  It’s sweet.

  I look at Lissa. “Yes, Lissa, Tyler will be going to dinner with us tonight.”

  “So, what do you ladies do here?”

  I freeze. I don’t want to lie to him, but telling him the truth is not an option.

  “I’m a designer.” Marie gives her standard answer, not entirely a lie.

  Lissa quickly chimes in, “She has lines in Neiman Marcus and Macy’s.”

  Tyler nods his head. “I see. That’s great.”

  I stand and walk to my open office door. “Now, if you’ll excuse us.” I hold my arm out toward Lissa and Marie. Sweeping my arm toward the hallway, I attempt to quickly put this conversation to rest.

  “We’ll see you soon.” Marie smiles sweetly at Tyler and follows my cue, dragging Lissa with her.

  Closing the door behind Marie and Lissa, I lean against it and let out a sigh of relief. I’m not used to my past meshing with this life I’ve created in New York. I have no interest in Tyler being a part of this life. He still has that small-town mentality and would never accept what we do here for what it is. In this big city full of diverse people, what I do is accepted and even quite popular. I was prepared for my anxiety to be on high this weekend, but I must say, it’s worse than I thought. I can do this though. I can do anything for a few days.

  “So, your friends are very nice.” Tyler stands and stalks toward me.

  “When they want to be,” I retort. I need to change the subject ASAP. “What do you want to do until dinner?”

  He reaches me, placing his hands against the door on either side of my head, and he leans his forehead against mine, his eyes smoldering with desire. “Oh, I don’t know. I was thinking maybe I could hook up with a hot brunette.”

  “Yeah?”

  His mouth is just inches from mine.

  I stare at his lips as he speaks to me, “Yeah.”

  I meet his heated gaze. “Well, you’re in luck. I have a friend.”

  “Ha!” He laughs a deep belly laugh, throwing his head back. “A friend, huh?”

  “She’s even kind of nice. Or so you might think.”

  With the back of his hand, he traces my jawbone and then drags his thumb over my lips. The muscles deep in my belly clench tight.

  His beautiful eyes are hooded and telling me exactly what is on his mind. “No, that won’t work. The only hot brunette I want is the one I’m looking at.”

  I try to hold him off. I have something planned for later. “I think we should save this energy for after dinner. Back to my original question, what would you like to do today?”

  “I’d like a tour of your office.”

  Surprised at his request, I make a sour face. “A tour of my office?”

  “Yes. Starting right here.” He walks across the room and stands at the bookcase.

  I step in front of him and point from the top of my floor-to-ceiling, jam-packed, beautifully messy bookcase. “This is my bookcase,” I say sarcastically.

  He grabs me from behind and pulls my back to his front, and then he rubs his hands down my hips.

  “Have you read all of these books?” he asks.

  “No, but I love books so much that when I see a beautiful one, I have to buy it whether I’ll read it or not,” I reply.

  Next, along the west wall is my bathroom. I sidestep to the door, Tyler moving with me, and open it. “This is my bathroom.”

  Still standing behind me, he begins to untuck my dress shirt to get to the bottom buttons.

  Ah, I clearly get his intentions now.

  He unbuttons my top as we move to the corner curio cabinet that holds keepsakes and photos. As I tell this to Tyler, he slides the zipper down on my skirt, and then he hooks his thumbs into the waistband and slips it over my hips. I’m left standing in my panties and bra with my shirt still hanging on my shoulders. Oh, yes, and my heels.

  As I round the corner, there is nothing along the north wall until the sitting area. I play along with Tyler’s game. I lower my shoulders, letting my shirt fall to the floor, as I walk to the sitting area.

  “This is the sitting area, as you know.” I sit on the coffee table, place my hands down behind me, lean back, and slightly spread my legs, flashing a smile at Tyler.

  I hook my finger, motioning for him to join me, and he walks to me. When he’s standing in front of me, I point at the floor. Half-expecting him to laugh at my request, I’m shocked when he simply falls to his knees before me. He places his head in my lap and wraps his arms around my bottom. I stare down at him, wondering what I’ve gotten myself into. I place my hands on his head and run them through his hair. Taking hold of his head, I force him to look at me.

  “What are your intentions with me, Burke?” I narrow my
eyes and tip my head, speculatively looking at him.

  “That depends.” He presses on the inside of my knee, forcing my legs open further.

  Feeling vulnerable, I suck in a sharp breath.

  “Are we talking about right now or in the future?”

  That’s an easy answer. There’s no confusion with this issue. “Right now. The future is a nonissue.”

  He smiles. Sadly, I know he doesn’t understand.

  “Right now, I’d like to fuck you.” His eyes pin me and I can barely breathe.

  I can’t even explain the emotion invading me because I don’t know what it is. I’m not familiar with it. But it makes me want to never be away from him again.

  I simply nod.

  “Truly, have you ever let a man do this while you sat on this table?” He dips his head between my legs, licking me through my panties.

  I’m panting. Instead of stopping him, I place my hands on his head and weave my fingers through his hair. A soft moan escapes me. Just like when we were younger, he’s in complete control again.

  “Answer me,” he demands.

  I shake my head, not able to put thoughts into words quickly enough.

  Tyler raises his eyebrows, reminding me of his question.

  “No,” I gasp.

  “What about that window?” He stands, pulling me up with him, and leads me to the window before positioning me so that I’m looking out at Central Park. “Have you ever been fucked against this window?”

  I shake my head as he takes his position behind me. Placing one hand on my hip, he holds my bottom against him. He’s hard already. With his other hand, he traces my spine from the small of my back to my shoulders. Along the way, he presses down, so I’m left standing with my chest against the window. I hear his zipper, and a moment later, I feel him pressing between my legs.

  He kisses the center of my back. “I want to be the only man who ever fucks you against this window.” He slides my panties aside and presses himself into me.

  “Let me in, baby. I want to bury myself deep in your beautiful pussy.”

  I’m burning hot. I spread my legs and his fullness consumes me. I close my eyes and accept him as he fills me over and over again. We’re moaning.