Page 16 of Coming Home

“Hi, Uncle Ray.” I try to keep my voice calm and confident.

“Scarlett, where are you? Are you all right? My security lost you in the crowd and told me there was an incident and…”

“Uncle Ray, I’m fine.” I cut him off, “I’m just with a friend and everything is fine. I will be home later. Please don’t worry.”

“I do worry, Scarlett. I didn’t know you were going to the club Shaun Marshall owns, otherwise I wouldn’t have let you go. Please don’t be home too late. I have my car and my security team still at the front of the club at your disposal.”

With thanks, I quickly hang up and start to turn to look at Shaun before my phone rings again.

“Scarlett!” Katie screams. “Where are you?”

“I’m upstairs with Shaun, where are you?”

“I’m on the dance floor. Tony, Tom, and I are going to go and grab a bite to eat, but we wanted to ensure you are okay. I mean, seriously, who wouldn’t be okay if Shaun Marshall drags you off the dance floor?! He was like a possessed man getting you out of there!”

“I’m fine, Katie. I don’t feel like eating, but I am okay. I will head home soon and see you tomorrow.”

“Okay, as long as you are sure you are okay, I will see you tomorrow... and I want all the details!”

“Thanks, Katie, bye.” I cut her off before any other questions come through the phone.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath; this night has turned into a crazy evening, and I am starting to feel exhausted. I forget where I am for a moment, but then I feel him. He is standing right behind me. His body heat pulses into my back as I stand facing out the windows looking down at the dance floor below.

“It seems you have a lot of people worried about you. Are you okay, Princess?” Shaun asks as he passes me a glass of water, his dark green eyes piercing me with what looks like concern and lust mixed together. It doesn’t escape me that he calls me Princess, I kind of like it if I am being honest. Terms of endearment always make me swoon.

I take the glass of water gratefully and quickly drink it all. I have been dancing for hours without a break, so I am thirsty. When I take time to think about it, I realize that my hair is sticking to my head, and I must look like a hot mess. No doubt my makeup has moved with all the sweaty dancing, and I am no model at the best of times.

I straighten my dress and push back my hair off my face in an attempt to gain some air of confidence in front of this man who just pulled me off the dance floor.

“Thank you, for the water… and for helping me on the dance floor. I’m okay, just a bit startled by it all.” I look at him, his eyes are burning into mine.

“I will take you home, Scarlett. I don’t want Ray to get more concerned and come looking for you. He may not like what he finds,” he says with a smirk.

“It’s fine,” I say a little too quickly. “I have a car out front, so I will just make my way there, and I will be safely home in no time. Thank you for your concern, but really, I am fine.” Suddenly, I was nervous to be in the same room as this man. He towers over me, and his shoulders are so wide, I can’t really see around him as he stands so close. And, oh boy, do I want him close.

I didn’t actually realize that men like this existed. Not only does he look like he stepped off the cover of a magazine, but he also protected me on the dance floor and is concerned about me now—he is what my mom would say is the whole package. As I start to gather my bag, I try to make small talk to ease the tension.

“Do you come here a lot?” I ask, and he looks at me. “I mean, to this room, to watch people. Were you watching me?” I ask and immediately regret it. I start to blush, why am I asking this?! Have I totally lost my mind? I am usually so calm and confident in these situations, but there is something about this man; he makes me feel like a nervous schoolgirl again.

He grabs my hand and kisses my knuckles again, I am not sure why, but it immediately calms my nerves. “I come here sometimes when I don’t want to go home. And yes, I was watching you, I couldn’t keep my eyes off you.”

I gulp at his statement. His body is so close to mine, I think I will explode into hot mush on the spot. “Did you like what you saw?” I ask him cheekily, again not sure where this sexy confidence is coming from but for some reason, I just can’t shut my mouth. Also, Shaun makes me feel sexy and I want to flirt a little. This is how I used to be, when my friends and I would go out. I was the flirty one, but after so long out of the game I am surprised it comes back so quickly.

He looks at me. Without letting go of our joined hands, his other hand grabs me by the waist, and he pulls me closer, so our bodies are touching, my breasts pushing against his crisp white shirt. Leaning down to my ear, he whispers, “I very much like what I see.” Then he drags his lips down my neck.

OMG. Is this really happening? My body trembles at his touch. I think my insides melt, and I gasp in surprise. He takes that opportunity to slide his tongue in my mouth to tangle with mine. He kisses me passionately, like I am his last breath, and I give myself over to him, heat burning through our bodies. My arms wrap around his shoulders, and his fingers enclose my waist as he pulls my hips closer to him, so I can feel him harden against me as our hips grind together. We are hungry for each other, not able to get close enough, even though our entire bodies are pressing against each other. Hands exploring, lips devouring, and hormones raging.

I hear a glass break somewhere behind the bar which snaps me out of this love trance I find myself in, and I step back, using the opportunity to put space between us. What am I doing? I have been hidden away for over a year, under extreme security, and the first opportunity I have, I go to a club, dance the night away, get attacked on the dancefloor by a drunken party goer, and then get up close and personal with one of the city’s billionaire bachelors. I am out of my mind.

I grab my purse and rush to leave. “I need to go,” I say as I grab the door, yank it open and run down the same set of stairs we used to come up to the private room. Once downstairs, I keep to the perimeter of the dance floor, snaking my way to the front of the venue, then fly out the door. Out front, I find the car and driver waiting for me and I race to them, jumping in the back and slamming the door behind me all before I can take a deep breath. Within less than 10 seconds, I have left the man of my dreams and plunge myself back into my safe cocoon.

What the hell was I thinking? Shaun Marshall is a playboy and he just saw me as his easy prey tonight. I need to stay away from him. I need to remain focused. I am here to connect with family and build my career. I don’t need any distractions, and Shaun Marshall is exactly that. One big, sexy distraction.

21

Shaun

The bang of the door startles me. I’m not sure what happened just now. But I have never wanted anything more in my life than that woman, in my arms… fuck, in my bed, underneath me. She tasted like strawberries and cream with a hint of liqueur. She is sassy, sexy, and oh so addictive, and that accent. Fuck, my dick gets hard just listening to her talk.

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