Egotistically Yours by Hayley Faiman

 

Prologue

BETHANIE

Laurent watchesme from across the table. We’re sitting on his boat, a small table set up and a picnic-style dinner between us. I didn’t know that this man could be so romantic. I didn’t realize that he had it in him, but he does and it’s sexy as hell.

Most of our dates, if you can call them that, are nothing more than booty calls. They’re quick meetups somewhere, usually halfway public places, but this is different. This is amazing.

I know what I am, and I know who he is. I know that I am not the kind of woman that a man like Laurent Astor marries or even officially dates. I’m the woman he fucks on the side. I’m the receptionist that’s easy and he’s the rich and powerful boss.

I’ve been okay with all of that. Knowing who I am, knowing who he is. I’ve been okay with it because I have been willing to allow it, just to have my own little slice of him.

I’ve seen the way that he looks at other women. Hell, I’ve even heard him ask other women out on dates in front of me. All of that has changed though. It has to have, right? Why would he wine and dine me if it hasn’t?

Maybe this is different.

Maybe this is my Cinderella story.

If my friend, Tennessee, can have her soon-to-be happily ever after, can’t I too?

Laurent smiles, reaching over, offering me a strawberry by pressing it against my lips. My entire body trembles as I open my mouth and take the fruit. My eyes focused on his as I do. It’s like a movie.

I’m living in a dream right now.

I watch as his amber-colored eyes darken, then he licks his lips as his hand drops from my mouth.

His lips curve up into a grin and I can’t stop my heart from slamming against my chest with excitement, beating so hard that my chest aches. He laughs, probably clearly able to hear the pounding of my heart’s beat.

Then he leans forward and touches his lips to mine. I want to ask him what this means for us, are we dating? Am I officially his girlfriend? A million questions ramble off inside my head. But I don’t. I’m way too scared he’s going to say fuck this and turn this boat back home.

He stands, holding his palm out for me and I slip my hand in his waiting one. He curls his strong fingers around mine and gently pulls me up to standing. Then he fiddles with something in his other hand and I hear the low hum of music.

I can’t make out the song, but as soon as Laurent turns to me, I don’t care about any of it. I don’t care about anything but the way he looks down at me. His eyes, they are full of a million different things, things that I wish I could make out, but I can’t.

Instead of trying to figure him out, I dance with him.

I, Bethanie Clark, dance alone on a boat with the Laurent Astor. Dreams do come true. At least that’s what I tell myself. That this is a dream come true. That finally, for the first time in my life, something is going right for me.

The hand wrapped around my waist slides up my back. His fingers curl around the base of my neck as he looks into my eyes. God, I could get lost in his gaze. He’s so tall, strong, and handsome. He has every right to be as full of himself as he is, but in moments like these, it all vanishes.

He dips his chin, his mouth finding mine and then I feel his tongue slide across the seam of my lips. My thighs tremble, his grip on my hand tightens before we stop swaying. His hand leaves mine, trailing down my arm before skimming my waist and grabbing a handful of my ass.

Lifting my arms, I grip his shoulder with my fingers and he smiles against my mouth, then he starts to peel my clothes off. His fingers grip my shirt. Lifting his head, he tugs it free before looking down at my breasts.

Laurent lowers his head, pressing his lips to the swell of my breast, he slides his tongue across it. My eyes close, feeling his mouth on me. I love every part of him that touches me. Reaching between us, I unbuckle his pants before I slip my hand beneath his underwear.

Wrapping my fingers around his hard length, my eyes close as I stroke him. He grunts, his hips thrusting forward as he pushes my skirt down as far as he can. It’s tight, so it doesn’t go past my hips.

Releasing his cock, I take a step back. His hands fall from my body and I watch as his gaze flicks down to my semi-naked state. He licks his lips as I push my skirt and panties down to the floor and step out of them, then I reach behind my back and unhook my bra, dragging it down my arms before tossing it over with my skirt.

Kicking my shoes off, I close the distance between us. Laurent is hard and waiting, his cock still very much jutting out from his pants. Sinking down to my knees, I keep my eyes on him, looking up at him through my lashes.

Licking my lips, I open my mouth and swirl the head of his cock with my tongue before I suck. He grunts. Reaching down, he grabs a handful of hair at the base of my head and gently guides me forward.

I don’t take control, or even try. The way he’s looking down at me, his gaze full of nothing other than need, lust, and desire, I don’t want to do anything to change that. I want to make him happy.

“Take me,” he growls.

He starts to thrust himself a little farther down my throat with each stroke. I force my entire body to relax as I do exactly what he’s demanded—as I take him.

Laurent fucks my mouth.

There’s no nice way of putting what he’s doing to me. He fucks my mouth, and I let him because it’s sexy—he’s sexy. I can tell that he’s close. I reach up and cup his balls, gently tugging on them, and he groans before he shifts his hips backward.

Lifting my hand, I wipe the saliva from my mouth and chin. He smirks as he removes the rest of his clothes and tosses them to the side. Then he lowers down so that he’s right in front of me, directly across from me.

“Turn around,” he grunts.

I do, wanting nothing more than for him to slide inside of me. I need to feel him. I want him to fill me, to stretch me like I know only he can. Arching my back, I spread my thighs and close my eyes, waiting for him.

His fingers slide through my center and dip inside of me before he swirls my clit. My body trembles with anticipation. I need him and I need him right now. Pinching my eyes closed, I hold my breath as I feel the head of his cock against my center.

Slowly, far too slowly, he sinks into my body. Once he’s fully seated inside of me, I let out a sigh. This is what I needed, exactly what I crave. One of his hands clasps around my shoulder, the other, his fingers grip my hip and he thrusts.

His movements are steady and slow at first, he takes his time, his hips rolling and I moan reaching out to grab on to something. I can’t, there’s nothing there and my nails just drag the boat’s carpeting.

Laurent’s hips start to move faster, each stroke becoming less steady, less controlled than the last. I’m so close, I’m about to fall over the edge. The hand at my hip slides around my waist and then his fingers swirl my clit again.

My hips buck, my control completely gone, and I come. I see stars, my climax is so hard. I’ve been with Laurent several dozen times, but never has it felt like this. Never has my entire body become completely boneless, and I’ve blacked out.

Never.

Everything about this night is completely different.

He touches his lips to my shoulder and my body shivers as he buries himself deep inside of me, his cock twitching with his release. It’s beautiful. So beautiful that I have to hold back tears.

He slips from my body and moves behind me, but he doesn’t stand up and get dressed, instead, he gathers me in his arms. I rest my head against his shoulder, trying not to tell him that I love him or something equally crazy.

We lie there in silence for a while, and I draw circles against his bare chest with my fingertip. “I like you, Bethie,” he rasps into the silent night.

“I like you too, Laurent.”

He hums but doesn’t say anything else. I hold my breath, waiting for whatever is going to come next. Inside, I scream to tell him I love him. That I’ve been in love with him since the moment I laid eyes on him months and months ago. I don’t say any of that though.

Laurent holds me for a while and then when the cool air becomes too much, we dress and go back to the dock. I am floating on air. Nothing, not a single thing can bring me back to earth. Absolutely nothing.

I am in love.

LAURENT

Fuck.

I feel something for her.

I’ve never done that before—felt for a woman.

I am so fucking screwed.

I have to find a way to get out of this. Not just for me, but for her sake. I can’t ruin her, she’s too sweet.

BETHANIE

My heart squeezesas I watch Laurent walk into the building with Abbie from the coffee cart. It’s not that they’re walking in together, it’s that they’re hand in hand. He leans down and his lips touch hers, right in front of me.

When his hand grabs her ass, my heart completely breaks into a million pieces.

I can’t look away. No matter how much I want to stop watching the disgusting display, I still continue to look in their direction. He’s kissing her, touching her, and she leans in closer to him. When he breaks the kiss and takes a step back, I can see his profile and his lips move, but I can’t make out his words. I don’t think that I would want to anyway, even if I could.

Then, he lifts his hand, extends his index finger and touches it to her nose. I hold my breath. There is nothing I can do. I have to watch the whole thing and my heart aches as I do. He walks away from her, right past my desk, and doesn’t even spare me a glance. It’s as if I’ve ceased to exist.

Poof.

Instantaneously.

Sinking down in my chair, I wonder how I’m going to go to Laurent’s family dinner I’ve been invited to tonight? How am I going to go and pretend that I’m not broken? That he hasn’t broken me completely.

Shaking my head, I decide that I’m just going to suck it up. This whole dinner is about Tennessee and Landry, not me. This is about showing my best friend support and being there for her during a rough time, plus Landry is my boss and he personally invited me. I’m not going to be rude.

Even if it kills me.

Which to be honest, at this point it just might.