* * * * *
“So, are you officially pussy whipped?” Andrew asked. My smile spread across my face and I shrugged. “I knew it would happen at some point,” he said.
Andrew had suggested lunch and I’d had my assistant organize reservations at the place where we’d not-so-accidently “run into” Anna and Leah the morning after our first night together. I’d been crazy about her even back then.
“What can I say? She’s worth being whipped for.”
“So, she’s coming over for Christmas?”
“New Year’s,” I corrected. “I’m taking my folks to Aspen for Christmas. They’re disappointed not to be with Izzy, so I thought Aspen might make it up to them. And then Anna flies in on the twenty-seventh.”
“And then what?”
“And then what what?”
“Well, is she going to move over permanently? Are you going to London? Are you going to marry her?”
Yes, yes and yes? No, maybe and one day? I didn’t have an answer. I shrugged again.
“But you love her right?”
I couldn’t stop the grin that spread across my face. “Yeah, I love her.”
“So make it happen, dude.”
Andrew was a great friend. He could have been giving me miles of shit for going soft but instead he wanted me to get my girl.
“Thanks, man. I’m going to find a way for us to be together on the same continent.”
“Good. Girls like Anna and Mandy don’t come around very often. Don’t fuck it up.”
“Good advice. And so very eloquently put.”
“So, do you want to spend New Year’s with Mandy and me, or do you have other plans?”
“I know Anna would love to see you guys, but can we do it another night? Maybe the day before? For brunch or something? I have other plans for us on New Year’s.”
My idea was to make the evening special. I just hadn’t decided how yet.
“Is work busy?” he asked.
“Yeah, hopefully it will be better now that I’m back in the US. The clients are so fucking demanding. It was hard managing it from London, but it should settle down.” I wasn’t going to be late tonight. I wanted to make it home by 7pm. I had a promise to keep. I needed to make sure my beautiful girl came every day. Shit, my dick started to stir. “How’s Mandy?” I asked, knowing talking about her should settle me down.
“Good. She wants us to go out to dinner so she can give you a hard time about leaving Anna in London.”
“I didn’t leave her there. She lives there.”
“I know man, but you know what she’s like. She’s excited that you’ve found someone.”
I couldn’t help but grin. I was excited that I’d found Anna, too. We just had to find a way to be on the same continent.
Chapter Two
Ethan
On the way back to the office, I texted Anna
E: I’ll be home by 7pm. Can you wait up?
A: All night, for you.
E: Good. I want you in bed and naked by the time I call.
A: Yes, sir.
E: Stop with the “sir”, you’re making me hard.
A: That’s how I like you, sir.
Fuck, she could get me like steel with a text from three thousand miles away. I was like a fucking teenager when it came to her. Maybe we should have a no text rule during office hours?
I slipped back into my work routine. Managing things from London for three months meant that being back in New York made everything seem easier and I got through things quickly. But I did have a conference call at eight that evening that I could take from home. It meant I got an hour with Anna. The thought of her in bed and naked—her creamy-soft skin wrapped in our sheets—had my dick twitching, so I tuned it out and got on with the day.
It was just coming up to 7pm and I was stuck in traffic. Fuckety fuck. I didn’t want to waste a minute with her, so I called her from the back of the cab.
“Hey, my handsome man.”
“God, I love you.” I couldn’t stop myself, I loved her and how she loved me.
“Are you okay?” She sounded concerned. Because I’d told her I loved her? I wasn’t doing it enough if it raised questions.
“Yes, I just wanted you to know. I’ve missed you all day.”
“I’ve missed you, too. I don’t like being here without you. It doesn’t feel right.” My gut ached hearing her say that. It felt like she might be missing me as much as I was missing her.
“Where are you?”
“I’m in bed.”
“Did I wake you? Were you sleeping?”
“No, I was waiting for your call. You told me to be naked and in bed, so I am.”
I groaned and the taxi driver shot me a look in the mirror.