Page 113 of Painted Truths

"Wow!" The word leaves my lips unbidden as we walk into the latest London hot spot, Vivaldi.

From the entry area on the ground floor, I can see floor-to-ceiling glass windows on four different levels, each with a different theme that's obvious even from this vantage point.

The four seasons, no doubt inspired by the composer and name of the bar Vivaldi, are represented in each area, which Nola tells me indicates the different styles of music on those levels.

I barely glimpse the various hued tiers, each with their own individual styling looking like something out of a magazine, before I'm ushered into an elevator. It reads VIP ONLY, prompting me to send a questioning look to both girls who are standing side by side, an aura of unmistakable guilt emanating from them.

Putting on my most austere mum’s voice and frowning at both girls, I ask, "What did you two do?"

Nola shakes her head in silence, unable to meet my gaze while Josie stands there with her arms crossed, openly sneering with a brazenly arched brow.

The elevator dings as we reach our destination, which turns out to be a roof terrace, not unlike the one I'd sat on with Henry into the early hours of the night we'd met. The main difference here is that the entire place is absolutely glowing with lights, and there's music coming softly over prominent speakers that dot the area.

Stepping out of the elevator, I take it all in before I turn to ask my friends what the hell is going on, only to find the doors have closed, and I'm standing here alone.

I'd like to think it's my new adventurous side that encourages me to move further into the space, but in reality, it's probably the slightly too strong margarita I'd had in the Hummer buzzing through my veins, giving me newfound confidence.

Moving forward, I can make out the song playing much more clearly.

It takes a moment to realise it's the lyrics from These Arms of Mine, the song from 12 Monkeys, the same song Henry and I danced to the night of the DeMarco Holdings Gala.

My heart quickens as my mind races.

Turning a corner, I'm suddenly speechless as a lump forms in my throat, so large it almost cuts off my oxygen supply.

"Henry!"

Standing front and centre with his broad back facing me, hands resting in his pockets and looking the epitome of sex god almighty in a tight, dark grey shirt, and black slacks, which are perfectly moulded to his pert rear, my barely breathed exclamation sees him pivoting to face me head-on. His mouth turns up in his smug, handsome smile that I've come to adore so much.

Before he's even fully turned to me, I'm racing as fast as my sandals will allow before propelling myself into his open arms. I wrap my legs instinctively around his waist before giving him a full-body hug with my whole heart.

"Oh, Henry. I've missed you! How have you only been gone less than twenty-four hours? How are you back already? What—what happened?"

Pulling back to look into his mischief-laden green orbs, a laugh breaks from his chest as he takes in my bewilderment.

"I couldn't leave, Peach. I didn't go to New York. I was able to resolve everything over a conference video call, that’s not long after finishing up. I've been kept from you for so long, I won't be forced away from you anymore, not when I can appoint someone else to oversee international operations going forward."

My breath hitches in my throat as he goes on. "I'm going to offer the position to Alex. Not only is it his birth right, but I think, with some guidance, he could be really great. And plus…"

He trails off when I place my palm on his face, forcing his eyes to mine, overjoyed at what I know he's going to say. "And plus, you know it is a big step toward fixing things with him. Oh, Henry—I’m so proud of you.”

His eyes blaze with intensity as he nods sharply before slamming his lips to mine, almost assaulting my mouth with his warm tongue until he's eating each and every deep-seated groan that he tears from my mouth as though they are an aphrodisiac of the highest merit.

Stepping backwards, he sits so that I'm straddling him, my dress around my hips, never once breaking our kiss. Deliciously, his hands move around to clench my ass, hard, making me whimper into his hot mouth before he draws his thumbs up along my hip bone slowly, teasingly, to find the tiny string of my barely-there thong, and rips both sides.

Unable to contain my yelp of surprise any more than I'm able to stop the flood of moisture to my now bared pussy, Henry tugs my bottom lip between his teeth, biting lightly before growling, "Let me in, Peach."

At his words, my movements become erratic as each touch of his lips, each brush of his fingers across my bared skin, sends me to dizzying heights long before he's so much as glimpsed my slick folds.

Reaching between us, I undo his belt and zipper in seconds, freeing his cock before lowering myself onto his hard length with a desperation I didn't know was possible.

"That's it, baby, ride me.”

I grind down onto his lap, his hardness angled to hit deep, while I pepper his face with butterfly kisses.

“Use me, Peach.”

Circling my hips, I open myself up more, needing this man more than life itself.