I Bet You're Fae

Chapter Ten:

Lanie

"Shhh!" I hissed, practically giddy as I floated across the room. Olivia and Gina followed on my heels, weaving through the suits and dresses toward the bar. The evening had been planned out for months, but I scored Ian a ticket only yesterday when one of the main donors backed out due to illness. He was running late, and my shadows had decided to make fun of me for dressing up on my own this time, when normally they were the ones dressing me for such events.

"Oh, come on, Lanie. You never date anyone. It's practically our duty to pick on you." Olivia draped herself over the bar as I pressed my palm onto the cool surface. I needed wine, and I needed it fast. My nerves were on fire. After the trip to Wilmington with Ian and the one-night hotel stay, I hoped tonight might lead to something similar, only here in Charlotte.

"God you guys are so immature," I said, smiling. Gina pressed her index finger into her dimple and winked at me and I picked up a glass of wine the bartender set in front of me. As far as I was concerned it was going to be a fantastic night, which under normal circumstances I'd never have said at an event like this. And no matter how Olivia and Gina ridiculed me for being a hopeless romantic, I wasn't letting them get to me.

"Oh holy..." Olivia's jaw dropped and I turned to see what she was looking at. Her eyes were wide and she was practically drooling.

Grayson Thorne had his gaze planted on the three of us and he was approaching from across the room.

"Oh fuck, how did he get in? He bought a ticket?" My cheeks burned and I turned quickly to keep him from seeing me looking at him. It was obvious he liked me. Every time he saw me he made a pass of some kind. I didn't take kindly to the man hitting on me in front of Ian when he knew damn good and well that I was dating Ian.

"Does it matter? More money for Richter's plans..." Gina fluffed her hair and smacked her lips but I knew there wasn't a chance in hell Thorne would be asking her out. It was like he had it in for Ian even though they were supposedly good friends. I didn't get it.

"You don't understand," I grumbled and covered my face with a palm. Then I downed the entire glass of wine in one gulp and set the empty stemware back on the bar.

"Hey at least you don't have to give a speech today..." Gina mumbled and based on her fidgeting I knew he was close. She wasn't even making sense.

"He's checking you out, Lanes." Olivia nudged me with her elbow, and I heard the hint of disappointment in her tone. She thought he was hot. I did too, but totally not my type. Grayson Thorne was the epitome of "rich playboy" stereotypes. I preferred Ian.

"Ms. Gray..." His thick rumbling baritone picked me up and turned me around until I was facing him and I swore I saw Olivia go weak in the knees.

"Grayson, good to see you here. Is Ian with you?" I figured focusing the conversation on the inevitable direction right from the get-go would help him understand I was otherwise obligated, even if Ian and I hadn't put a label on things yet.

"Uh, no..." He looked confused. "Is he coming?" Grayson looked around, and being a head above most in the crowd, he'd be the one to see if Ian was here yet. But his eyes came back to meet mine and he smiled.

"Yes, I gave him a ticket. He should be here soon." I nervously folded my hands together realizing the dress I wore for this occasion was very low cut--on purpose. I wanted to give Ian something to look at, something that might turn him on a little, but now I regretted that choice. Grayson's eyes swept down across my form-fitting attire and clung to the dip in the neckline that left nothing to the imagination. When I cleared my throat, he looked back at my face.

"Would you care to dance with me?" he asked, holding out a hand. I would be lying if I didn't say I was tempted. He was so fucking hot, but he was just a player. I knew that. I knew it when I read social media tabloids about him and I knew it when he started flirting with me in front of my date.

"Here," I blurted out, taking Gina's hand and placing it on Grayson's arm. "Gina will..." I had no clue why I did that but it seemed to thrill my nerdy friend-slash-coworker, and simultaneously made Olivia grumble and Grayson wince. But he took it like a gentleman, nodding at Gina and smiling at me.

"Another time then..." he said as he led Gina away.

The second they were out of earshot Olivia slapped my arm. "Fuck's sake, girl. You know my dance card is empty and he would fit right in." She glowered at me in disappointment but I truly saved her.

"Look, he's a douche. He was hitting on me while I was on a date with Ian. You don't want anything to do with him. He will break your heart. Besides, he's a rich boy. You don't want a rich boy, Olive Oil." I winked at her.

"Who says...?" she grumbled again and pouted and I picked up two more glasses of wine set in front of us by the bartender and handed her one.

"I said... Your dating app is doing so well. Just hook up with a normal guy on there, one who isn't out to play you and make a name for himself." I winked at her when I saw Ian standing across the room searching for me and said "I have to go. My date is here. Please, avoid Grayson Thorne."

"Yes, Mom..." she moaned.

I whisked myself away toward the man who I'd been looking for all evening. He smiled as he saw me approaching and the instant I was at his side, his lips claimed mine in a soft and delicate kiss. He seemed happier than normal, lighter even.

"Hey," I said quietly. I already wanted to steal him away from here and be alone with him.

"Hello beautiful. My god you look gorgeous tonight." Ian's eyes lowered to the same spot that captivated Grayson only moments ago and this time I blushed. He'd seen just about every part of my body in very graphic detail, but still this seemed to push his buttons just as much.

"You don't look so bad yourself." I noticed that he wore the same tuxedo suit as the last two times we'd been at a formal event. It suited him well, though most men of his stature had multiple suits. "Very dapper tonight."

"So this is a fundraiser for your project?" Ian offered me an arm and I took it and curled my fingers around his elbow as he walked. Our trajectory would take us in a straight line past Grayson and then on to the bar, and I had no desire to be hit on again. Ian would probably flip his lid.

"Uh, yes..." I managed to maneuver our course, causing us to pass a few strides to the right of the dancing couple where Ian didn't see his friend. "Richter is actually trying to raise money for GlobalCare as a whole, not just my project. I don't have to be present the whole night. I just had to make an appearance." I hoped my gentle nudge in the direction of anywhere but here helped him get the point. I'd made my appearance and I was ready to ditch this place.

"I just got here," he whispered out the corner of his mouth.

"Because you were late," I whispered back and I smiled at him. "We could have been enjoying all this free liquor and dancing for the past forty minutes. Now you have to settle for sex." I hooked a pinky around his and pulled him toward the exit and he didn't even protest.

Before we were even out of the building he was pawing at my dress, making my skin beneath it light on fire. I'd worn a skimpy lingerie number beneath the new dress in the event that tonight went well, but I hadn't expected it to go this well this quickly. He reached under my dress for my ass and squeezed, finding no barrier between his palm and my skin.

"You little minx," he growled, pinching my butt cheek and propelling us out the door. "I've been thinking about this all day."

"Thinking about what?" I said innocently, wiggling my way into the passenger's side of the Rolls Royce. He slammed the door none too gently behind me and shot a look to the valet before jogging around to his side.

"Getting your pretty ass back in my car," he said glibly as he climbed in and started the engine, as if he told the valet to keep the car warm for him. Was I being played or was he putty in my hands? I didn't even care.

"You're not upset about missing the fundraiser?" I asked playfully, and he scrunched his nose in disgust.

"I've got what I want." He shot out into traffic, weaving his way across town. The music was loud and traffic was light, making the ten-minute drive seem like two. He parked in the driveway of a literal mansion and all I could do was gawk. I should have told him to go to my place. I was way out of my league--down-to-earth guy or not.

"Woah, Ian..." I muttered and my shock made him chuckle. He wasn't fazed though. He climbed out and walked around the car, opening my door for me. I took his hand and followed him into the house. I swore there was barely any furniture but he never turned on a light until we were in his bedroom and even then the bedside lamp was dim. I didn't care one bit. As Ian had stated perfectly; I had what I wanted.

He stripped me down to my sexy negligee lickety-split, practically growling as he did it. I was left trembling in the dim light as he admired my body. "You're so fucking gorgeous, Lanie." It was all I needed to hear before I felt his lips on mine. Ian's mouth was everywhere, leaving marks on my pale skin, claiming me as his and I arched into each touch, moaning wantonly as he tugged at the lacy elastic that covered only my most sensitive parts. I felt like a fool for bothering with the lingerie; it was forty bucks for about twenty seconds of enjoyment.

"God, Ian, I want you so bad." I tore his shirt open, accidentally ripping a few buttons off, and "sorry" escaped my lips but he silenced me with a deep, hard kiss.

"I don't fucking care," he growled, sliding his slacks and boxers off and guiding my hand to grip his dick. I squeezed and stroked and he grunted in satisfaction as we backed toward the bed. "I need you." His hand tangled in my hair and he roughly tilted my head back to bite my neck.

"Fuck me," I moaned, pushing my hips against his hardness, "don't make me wait."

"I've been waiting all damn day for this," he growled, his voice guttural and rough. His cock was like a hot brand against my core and I couldn't wait any longer. I guided him inside of me, feeling him stretching me apart as he slid in inch by inch. "You feel so fucking good," he breathed, resting his forehead on mine.

"More, Ian, more," I panted, arching my hips, trying to take him deeper.

"Oh, I'm going to give you more." And he was as good as his word. He plunged into me roughly, again and again, pushing me against the headboard with such force that it slammed against the wall. I didn't care about the noise or whether anyone could hear us, all that mattered was the way he was claiming me, making me feel whole.

Ian's hands were everywhere; my breasts, my hips, my ass, as if he couldn't get enough of me either. His thrusts were relentless, driven by a primal need that matched my own. Our moans filled the room, bouncing off the walls and mixing with the music from downstairs. The room spun in a blissful haze of pleasure as he hit my sweet spot, again and again, and again.

"I'm going to come," I moaned, my nails digging crescents into his back as my orgasm raced towards me like a freight train.

"Ian, oh god, Ian!"

"That's it, baby," he grunted, picking up the pace. "Come for me. I want to feel you come undone."

And come I did, shattering like a million pieces of glass. My body convulsed and contorted around his throbbing cock, my senses overwhelmed by the intense pleasure coursing through me. Every thrust felt like an explosion, sending shockwaves of ecstasy throughout my body. I was lost in this moment, consumed by the pure bliss of our shared passion. And then it hit me.

"Condom," I blurted out, and he growled before slowing his thrusts.

Ian pulled out, breathing heavily, and rifled through his nightstand drawer. When his hand came up with a foil pack which he brought to his teeth to tear open, I pulled at his body. I wanted him in me again. Ian tore through the foil packet and rolled the condom onto his still-erect shaft with practiced ease. As he moved to settle between my thighs once more, I spread my legs wider, inviting him in. The mattress depressed under his weight, the springs creaking loudly in protest as he pressed down on them. He lined up his tip with my entrance again, and then he was pushing inside me, filling me once more. I felt every inch of him pouring back into me, claiming me as his own.

His hands found mine where they were clutching at the sheets and laced our fingers together, entwining them tightly. Our bodies moved together in a dance of desire and lust, our breathing ragged as we found our second wind. I lost myself in the feeling of him inside me, in the way our bodies rocked together as one.

Heat coiled low in my belly, building slowly but surely with each powerful thrust. He panted in response to my whimpers of pleasure, his eyes locked onto mine as if he couldn't bear to look away. The intensity of his gaze pushed me further over the edge until I was tumbling once more into the abyss of ecstasy.

As I shattered apart again, my body arching and spasming around his length, I felt him stiffen and then moan out his release, his thrusts becoming erratic before finally collapsing on top of me. Our bodies had never felt more intertwined in that moment, our breathing rapid and labored as we tried to catch our breaths.

Ian shifted so he was no longer crushing me, but our limbs remained entwined together. The tell-tale wetness between my thighs was a testament to the intensity of our lovemaking; however, all I could focus on was the warmth that spread through me from my core to my fingertips.

"I take it you enjoyed that?" he asked with a smirk as he brushed a wayward strand of hair from my sweat-soaked brow.

"I could get used to it," I told him, curling into his chest. I knew he'd have to pull away to get rid of the condom but for now I imagined us never having to leave this position. I wondered if I should tell him about Grayson, about the way he kept coming on to me, now when Ian wasn't around. But I held my tongue. Ruining the moment didn't feel like the right thing to do.

"Fuck, I want to do this every night with you, wake up with you every morning." He kissed my forehead and I thought that sounded like a wonderful thing to do. Life was chaotic with work and research trips but having someone to share that with sounded nice. I felt something welling up in me I hadn't felt in years. Since my high school days when I was helplessly in love with Wes Patterson and all those dark curls.

I was falling in love with Ian Gregory and that made me so happy.

"Come away with me. Next weekend. We'll go to the Outer Banks or something, spend some time in the sun." He curled a strand of hair around my ear and kissed my forehead and I couldn't say no. I had a few days of paid time off and the project would survive without me for a weekend.

"Yes, I would love that." I bit my lower lip and grinned at him. Things were going so well I almost had to pinch myself to convince myself it was real. Ian was everything I never thought he was and he was so much more. My heart felt full even when I watched him walk across the dim bedroom to his bathroom to throw out the full condom. That full feeling never left me, not after round two or three, or even when I drifted off to sleep.

Yep, I was in love. And when I figured out how to say it without feeling totally stupid for letting myself fall for him so quickly, I would.

Chapter Eleven:

Ian

When I asked Lanie to come with me for the weekend to get away, I never thought she'd accept. I got a last-minute client who put a huge retainer down and I knew I had to get out of the city to relax and stop stressing about work problems and the lack of money. I had been staring at the potential for letting a staff member or two go for a few days now and now I was staring at the travertine tile floor of the Summer's Breath Resort spa while an angel of mercy worked on my back. And instead of listening to my accountant ride me about seeking capital, I was listening to the soft moans of Lanie Gray who lay on the table next to mine having her own massage done.

"This is so incredible, Ian. My god, thank you for inviting me to come away with you. It may be only two nights but totally worth it."

The hour-long flight without connections was pleasant enough. I got business class to save money but Lanie didn't seem to notice or complain. After sneaking her into my practically barren home and back out the next morning with as little "tour" as possible, I figured she understood my facade. Maybe not, but I felt better about the rich boy charade thinking she understood I wasn't as well off as most people thought I was. Or at least, I wasn't flaunting any riches the way the tabloids showed other men like Ward Nelson doing.

"Enjoy it. Later we have room service coming and I hired a foot reflexologist to come give us couples foot massages. And if you're game we can go downtown to the historic district and take in a show." The masseuse found a particularly troublesome spot that hurt and worked at it and I winced in pain. I carried far too much stress in my body and I needed to let go of it.

"Oh that sounds so amazing. You are such a romantic." Lanie's words made me chuckle softly. I never thought of myself as a romantic at all. If I was better at romance, maybe some of my past relationships wouldn't have failed so hard, or maybe I'd have been more successful at finding a woman I could truly love and be loved by.

I turned my head to look at her. Her face was down, squished into the drop-out section of the table, but her creamy skin was on display. The woman working her stiff muscles looked down at me and smiled. I could see she thought it was romantic that we were talking quietly while we enjoyed the massage. The waves of guilt that had tormented me thus far into the relationship were finally starting to dissipate.

I may have gotten off on the wrong foot by being goaded into asking Lanie out because of a bet, but that was in the past. No, I probably would never have asked her out if Ward hadn't dangled a carrot in front of me, and I had him to thank for that in a strange way. But I was here now--we were here now. I didn't want to let the means by which we met taint the future we clearly had together.

Reaching out to my left, I swiped the air until I felt the edge of her table and she lifted her head up and smiled at me, reaching back. Our fingers locked together spanning the distance between the tables and I held her hand.

"What do you think of a camping trip in a few weeks?" I couldn't get enough of her, and with our long workdays and busy weeknights, we barely spoke until Friday afternoons. If only we lived together we'd have tender moments before bed to discuss how our days had gone or what we were frustrated about. I craved that with her for some reason.

"We're on a weekend getaway now and you're planning another so soon?" Lanie snickered and put her head back down into the drop out and I did the same, but I kept hold of her hand.

"What can I say? I can't get enough of you, Ms. Gray. I think I'm falling for you."

I heard the masseuses simper and moan and Lanie squeezed my fingers tightly.

"I might be falling for you, Mr. Gregory."

Her words were music to my ears, a song I never wanted to stop listening to as long as I lived. I was walking on air hours later with Lanie's hand wrapped around my elbow. We each had an ice cream cone and a few shots of whiskey in our systems. We opted to bypass the movie because the night was so beautiful. Folks meandered on the cobblestone paths illuminated by overhead streetlamps straight out of the thirties. A carriage drawn by two white horses clopped past, wheels wobbling on the rough street and Lanie gushed. It was at that moment that I realized we were both romantics, that if I'd have planned better it would have been the two of us sharing mixed drinks, listening to the sound of the driver serenading us as we saw the sights of the nightlife from the horse-drawn carriage.