Grumpalicious by Mia Faye
Chapter 15
GENEVIEVE
I watched Cash walk out of the recording studio, and I wondered if I’d made the right choice. I really did enjoy being in his company, but there was a part of me that needed to keep my dukes up for some reason. I had to figure that part of myself out. Why wouldn’t I just let him have sex with me? I loved being with him, sexually. Why didn’t I just let go of myself? The question was love. Was I just a conquest? Or was I something he was starting to love? I couldn’t have the answer in just a week’s time and that’s why I decided I was making the right decision.
I went back to my crazy big and lonely hotel room, ordered myself some grilled chicken and French fries, found a fun movie on Netflix, and fixed myself a big glass of wine. I slipped into fuzzy slippers and enjoyed just being in my groove.
Peyton had called and texted a few times since I landed, and I’d only just given her a quick text letting her know that I was alive and well. I had to talk to her but not tonight, tonight I just didn’t want to do anything. I was exhausted and overwhelmed and so I just did me and forgot the world. The next morning, I woke up to texts from both Peyton and Cash. I ignored both of them and went off to the studio after ordering a bagel with cream cheese and a cappuccino from room service.
I arrived ready to rock and I did all day. In fact, I was glad I ate the bagel for breakfast because I had to sign my contract over lunch and didn’t get a chance to eat.
I was ready for another night in with room service when Cash showed up looking handsome as hell. I had completely forgotten that I agreed to dinner at his place.
I was almost too tired to keep my guard up, so I greeted him with a kiss and a stern warning. “Hey, you. I’m looking forward to seeing your gazillion-dollar house, but I’m too tired to fend you off, so no funny business,” I told him.
“No funny business.” He crossed his heart, and it was going to have to do.
When the car came to get us, I slid in next to Cash and leaned my head on his shoulder, hoping for a quick car nap. I figured he’d get handsy, but he didn’t, he just stroked my back.
“You’re exhausted aren’t you?” His voice was sweet and concerned.
“Yeah, it’s been a grueling couple of days.” I didn’t even open my eyes and before I knew it we were at his house. I must have legitimately fallen asleep.
I woke up and dragged my groggy ass up the outer steps, which I noted were grand. We had landed in one of the richest neighborhoods I’d ever seen and when he opened the door to his brownstone mansion my heart literally stopped beating for a minute.
“I’m going to live here?” I asked.
I didn’t even think of him living there. I mean he did live there of course, but I was supposed to be moving in the following week. The place was wicked. It had a massive chandelier in the foyer and these deep mahogany stairs that lead up to heaven, I supposed. There was a beautiful fountain in the middle of the foyer and four polished mahogany mail boxes with tiny gold plaques engraved with last names. I noted that Cash’s last name was just above mine.
“I know you’re tired, but do you want to see your place? It’s coming along nicely.”
Since I already felt like I was in a dream I nodded and agreed to have him show me around the place. Inside there was drop cloth and plastic everywhere but I could see a sweeping set of rounded stairs and an incredible bay window with a view of Manhattan. The layout had a Victorian-style living room as you walked in with the stairs in the middle of the room cascading down from the floor above. On the other side was a dining room and I assumed a kitchen was beyond it. The ceilings were tall and the crown moldings gorgeous. My heart raced; I simply loved the place. I could see the potential for an incredible home, despite the paint-stained plastic everywhere. Suddenly, I was excited to live there. The idea of being near Cash wasn’t as daunting knowing that my own private space would be so luxurious.
“So, as I said, it’s still being remodeled but after we paint and put in furnishings—I have samples upstairs you can choose from—and add a little flavor here and there, this place will be perfect for you to never come home to.” He gave me a devious smile and I appreciated that he knew he was crossing my boundaries.
“Ha, to the contrary my dear Watson, I’ll be locking myself in here with a vat of ice cream, a bottle of wine, and a big fat do not disturb sign on the door. I am never gonna want to leave. I love it. Is the bedroom upstairs?”
Yes, there’s a bedroom upstairs and a loft, you can use that as a practice space...or whatever. There’s a dining room just past the stairs and to the left of it, is the kitchen which leads to a small back patio. Everything you need but hopefully will never use.” He kissed my neck and shuttled me out the door. “Let’s get you food and into something more comfortable.”
“I’m not getting naked,” I blurted out.
“No. You aren’t, but I have a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt that might be more enjoyable to relax in.”
He closed and locked the door and we walked up two flights of stairs to a long hallway with glossy wood floors and a huge double door painted forest green. “This is my place,” he said and unlocked the doors and pushed them open to reveal a place that sang to you.
It was open without any walls, just huge windows on all sides, rich dark wood floors, and warm inviting furniture. “This is the great room. This is where I meet people if I need to meet them at home for parties and such. Upstairs is where the real magic happens.”
I followed him up the stairs to a smaller, more intimate space with a cozy living room with an even better view of Manhattan. It was a vintage-styled space with detailed moldings and trim, arched entryways, and small spaces to get lost in.
“This place is amazing,” I gushed.
“It has three floors; the first floor is all restored to its original glory. The second floor is all bedrooms and bathrooms, and the top floor has a rooftop garden and a patio, an indoor pool and jacuzzi, my gym, and another living room which is modern. It has a bar and a dance floor. It’s for my late-night things…” he let his words trail off there.
“Wow, you came from so little to have so much. I have to say, Cash, despite all that has been said about you and the reputation you bear, you have done a lot in your short time on this earth.”
I watched the muscles in his face soften and his body eased into a comfortable stance.
“No one has ever really said it quite like that before. I have to say though, it’s a little lonely livin’ this dream all by myself.”
“Is that why you became a serial dater, a womanizer, and an asshole?” I knew it was rough, but don’t you dare play the ‘I’m so lonely’ card with me.
“Right. I forgot about that. Maybe that’s the reason I’m lonely. So... dinner.” He instantly segued and I realized I’d hurt him.
Him. Cash Coltrane the Great, he was impenetrable, right? He was impervious to insult, but I just cut him hard and in truth, he’d never done anything womanizing and assholish to me.
“Sorry, that was a little bit harsh.” I shrugged my shoulders and let a fraction of my guard down.
“No, I deserve it. No worries. I’m lonely because of the choices I’ve made. So, what sounds good to you? I’m craving Mediterranean, but I’ll go with whatever you want.”
“I could go for some falafel and hummus, I always love a good plate of Mediterranean and a Martini, I want a Martini!” Why? I didn’t even drink Martinis.
He laughed. “Well okay. Do you want gin or vodka in your Martini?” he asked, pulling out his phone.
“Vodka and olives, I want three olives.” Now I was being spoiled.
He still couldn’t contain his laughter. “Okay, three olives,” he confirmed as he plunked numbers into his phone. “And then some falafel, shawarma, hummus and pita, olives, baba ghanoush, gyro platters, and um...baklava. That should have us stuffed and ready to hunker down for a good movie and a deep soak.”
“Deep soak?” Why was I always that girl? That terrified person who just couldn’t let go.
“Well, you love baths so much I thought you might enjoy mine. It’s big enough for a party and it has these incredible jets. It’s the size of a tiny house, so you can stay on your end and I’ll stay at mine. We can wave at each other or write letters...or use smoke signals.” The look of love in his eyes was warm and charming.
“Okay. All of it sounds amazing.”
And it was. We ate, we talked about the renovations on my new apartment and I picked colors, furniture, fabrics...it was like a fairytale. When we were really full, he brought me to his media room on the top floor and we watched a romantic comedy as I cuddled in his arms, digesting too much delicious Middle Eastern food with my second martini in hand. I was a little full and tipsy, but so warm and happy. Cash just held me, stroking my arm like we were eighty-year-olds, it was perfect.
“So do you still want a bath before bed?” he asked.
“Am I sleeping over?” I raised my eyebrows but wasn’t bothered. I looked forward to cuddling with him.
“Yes. It’s too late to take you across town and I have plenty of rooms. You can stay in a guest room or in my bed, you’ll be perfectly safe in either place. I know you have to record tomorrow, and we have a meeting with the producers of the reality series this week to map out our participation. I promise you and Allie will not be crossing paths that often, but I need to fulfill my contract. I just have three more episodes.”
“Sure, I understand. Um, yeah let’s have a bath and then, um...I’ll sleep in your bed.” I wanted to be close to him.
His bathtub was huge, like a small pool with a glass roof to see the stars, the water smelled like jasmine and I found myself just wanting to wash and touch him. I didn’t want to give him the wrong message, but I couldn’t keep my hands off. There was no way we were going to be staying at opposite ends.
“Can I wash you and still keep us in the friend zone?” I asked, touching his bare shoulder. He had the perfect body, finely chiseled with muscles that weren’t too bulging, but tight and lean.
“You can,” he said, staring into my eyes.
I kissed him and pumped some soap from a basket into my hand. I then slathered the soap on his body, loving the feel of his skin. As I expected he became aroused by my touch.
“Is this bothering you?” I asked looking down at his full erection.
“I wouldn’t say bother exactly. Don’t worry as always I’ll take whatever you are comfortable giving.”
For the first time since I met Cash Coltrane, he sounded completely sincere, he really would allow me the time and space to enjoy him at my pace.
“Thank you,” I looked up at him and said as I wrapped my fingers around his stiffened cock. “Maybe I can help you.”
