Elevator Pitch (Hapless In Love #1)

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Greyson

Manhattan, NY | January 19, 2024

The elevator dings as the doors slide open and instead of quickly rushing out, she waits for me. We exit hand in hand as I lead her to my door. She waits by my side shyly. I remind myself of the panties in my pocket and shake my head.

My little sunflower is far from shy.

I turn the key into the lock and glance at her as I open the door. She looks nervous and I am too. I reach out for her hand to enter together. I hear Clifford on the other end of the door, his tag jingling, and once I open it, he’s standing and wagging his tail anxiously. He perks up at the sight of me, but once he sees Selah, he charges to her.

“He loves company,” I say, shutting the door behind us.

She gives him head scratches and he loves it. I remove my shoes and enter the kitchen to settle in, asking her to do the same. I watch them interact and my heart swells. He lights up at the sight of her.

Like father, like son.

She catches me staring and smiles sweetly. Peeling back the mask and giving me a glimpse of that radiance she hides from the world. I yearn for her familiarity and I don’t care who knows it. In fact, if she’d let me, I’d take her out in public every chance I get to prove exactly how grateful I am to know her. How much I cherish every moment of her precious time. For now, I will worship her with action, not words. I don’t wish to scare her off, but I plan to draw this out and make the best out of every single second I’ve been granted.

She removes her shoes when Cliff settles down. He grabs himself a plush animal from his toy bucket and curls up with it in his bed. Once he’s distracted, she joins me in the kitchen.

She slips in behind me to wash her hands while I start unloading the food bags. I turn around too quickly to grab bowls and we collide. Instinctively, I grab her, wrapping an arm around her waist and I press her into me. I look down at her and her body is tense before she eases into my touch.

She stares at my shirt with raised brows and says, “Good reflexes, sir.”

“Why, thank you. I can’t have you falling for me just yet. I’ve grown accustomed to you giving me a hard time.”

Selah blinks up at me with those big brown eyes and says, “I’m easily impressed by fictional men. Real ones must work much harder for my time.”

“Don’t I know it?”

She chuckles to herself.

“What do we have here?”

She peers over my shoulder towards the island. I let her go and instantly miss the warmth of her touch.

“Well, I wasn’t planning on sharing, but I think you’re cute enough that I’ll allow it this time.”

“So, you think I’m cute?” she challenges, mischief in her stare.

I poke her nose and add, “Plus I saw your plate at the restaurant and you didn’t eat hardly enough to sustain what I’d like to do to you. Come sit.”

I point to the stools across the island and she climbs up, keeping her eyes on me. I grab utensils then bowls from a nearby cabinet and start opening the containers, listing off what each dish is and asking her what she’d like to try. Once she makes her choices, I fill up a bowl and add a fork before I slide it gently across the counter. I do the same for myself and eat standing up. She takes her first bite, unable to hold back the moan of approval.

I look forward to hearing more of that from her tonight.

“Is it good?”

“Are you used to hearing women moan when they aren’t enjoying themselves?” she asks, her tone laced with sarcasm.

I take a moment to entertain her, rubbing my chin to appear in deep thought.

“I can’t say I’m used to that. However, I am curious to hear all the sounds you’re capable of making.”

I return her gaze and she covers her mouth, hiding the grin across her face before waving me off as she continues eating. We enjoy a comfortable silence while taking turns catching each other staring.

I can’t help it. She is so fucking beautiful.

“So, there’s still a lot that I don’t know about you, but I came here tonight with the intention of sleeping with you.”

I feign surprise.

“I don’t think you came here to sleep, baby,” I tease.

“Fine. I came here with the intention of fucking you.” She draws out the word while holding eye contact.

There she is. My dirty girl.

“That’s more like it. Good to see you being honest about what you want. Ask away, Princess. A question for a question. How’s that sound?”

“I can do that,” she agrees.

The first round of this game is off to a hilarious start because on Selah’s first turn she asks two questions and one pertains to my birthday. I share that I’m thirty-one and a Pisces, hoping that’ll suffice. I refuse to share the date, but I’m honest and tell her that I hate my birthday. I didn’t consider that being her next question, but she surprised me. I remind her it’s my turn, when she finds another question from my statement about disliking my birthday. She rolls her eyes and apologizes.

I tsk. “We’ve been through this. Take it back.”

“Fine. I am not sorry.”

“Good girl,” I say with a wink and she avoids eye contact when she blushes.

I decide to use this game to my advantage and ask her questions I desperately want answers to. She can play small if she wants to, but I’m not. I ask if I make her nervous because I want to know the reason she runs off and has been avoiding meeting me. She shares that she finds me attractive and that she isn’t the most experienced with men like me. I’m not sure what to make of that, which prompts me to ask what kind of man she thinks I am. She taunts that it’s her turn and I give her the floor. I’ll save that one for last.

“I’m curious every time I see you with a camera around your neck. Could I see your photos?”

“Of course. I’ll grab my portfolio,” I say before heading to my office. I return with the thick book for her to flip through. There are a couple hundred pictures in here. This one isn’t for gigs, it’s for me. Whenever I get the perfect shot , the one that captures my vision, it goes in this book. She flips through the pages, examining every detail and stops when she reaches my vacation photos. Her eyes light up at my nature photography.

“This island, where is it? With these tortoises?”

“Seychelles. It’s in Africa. I went with my best friends to a wedding there a few years ago. Pictures don’t do it justice, honestly.”

“I’d love to go there someday. I’ve never even been out of the country,” she says reluctantly.

“Well, sounds to me like you’re just going to have to make a new fuck it list ,” I add with a smile.

She peers up at me. “That’s not a bad idea. ”

I nod in agreement and use my next turn to ask if she’s ever been in love. She argues about keeping things simple by asking about birthdays and ages. I inform her that I have no interest in asking things I already know the answer to. Her birthday is May seventh, she’s twenty-nine years old, and she’s a Taurus. When she gives me a shocked look, I blame Audrey, which grants me a chuckle. She reluctantly answers that she was in love once, but it wasn’t reciprocated. Then, she uses her turn to ask the same. I share that I too was in love once and that I’m not sure I could do it again. I consider what to ask for my next turn and decide to keep going for the answers I really want.

“Have you ever been married?”

“You’re just going for it. Aren’t you?” She shakes her head and takes a deep breath. “I’ve never been married, but I was engaged once.” She discloses in a low voice. “I broke it off two years ago. We wouldn’t have made it to the altar. He was–” she trails off, deciding on a word. “He was awful.” Her playful demeanor has dissipated as she holds her waist, staying focused on the countertop.

Shit.

You dived into a sore subject.

She adds, “I’ve enjoyed being alone since and these dates I’ve been going on are recent. I tried putting myself out there when I made the SoulBlend profile and you know that has been an interesting experience.”

“I’m sorry, I wouldn’t have brought it up if I had known.”

“The whole point of this game is to get to know each other. I’m not upset and there’s no need to apologize. If I’m not allowed to say sorry, neither are you.”

I nod understandably.

“What about you?”

“Yes. I got married fresh out of college. We lasted almost three years before we called it quits and I haven’t had another serious relationship since,” I admit. “Actually, Audrey is planning her wedding. ”

Her brows raise in surprise at her best friend being mentioned. She makes a comment about how my ex must be rich because Wood weddings aren’t affordable. I simply shrug, hoping that deters her because I’d rather not speak about her any more than I need to. She picks up on my signal and informs me this will be the last round of the question game.

“Do you have any kids?” she asks nervously.

“No, just that big one that barks.”

I don’t want to say his name and get him started. I peer into the living room and he’s not in any of his usual spots, so I assume he’s in the guest bedroom. We must’ve been talking too much for him. I decide to circle back to my earlier question, even though it’s possible her being brutally honest may either boost or bruise my ego. I’ll handle whatever she throws at me and go for it.

“You mentioned that you’re not experienced with men like me. I’d like to know what kind of man you think I am?”

“You’re a man who knows exactly what he wants. You can back up the shit you talk. You’re intentional. Then there’s the whole pleasure dom thing.” She looks down as she blushes.

“Did you look it up?” I ask as I lean back against the counter, crossing my arms.

“I did and it only made me more curious.” She lets out a resigned sigh and continues. “I can’t believe I’m telling you this, but I’ve been celibate for the past two years. Well I was before you came over.”

My brows raise in surprise. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“What was there to say? Go easy on me?” She chuckles.

“I think that would’ve been a good start. Selah, if I had known—I?—”

She puts her hand up to stop me. “Don’t. I needed that, and I can’t stop thinking about it.”

“Me either.”

I watch her closely and when she doesn’t respond, I’m unsure of how to interpret her silence. I enjoy her company and her comfort is most important to me. While I ache for another taste, I’ll savor what lingers on my tongue.

“I know what happened in the car, and I don’t want you to feel pressured tonight. We don’t need to do anything else.”

“What if I want to do everything?”

My eyes widen as she rises from her seat and struts towards me with a slow, seductive sway of her hips. Her pebbled nipples are nearly cutting through her silk dress. Fuck . The flames in her irises engulf me, setting fire to the remains of my resolve. I pick her up, setting her on the counter as I pepper wet kisses along her neck and collarbone. Desperate to taste her skin.

I drag my tongue up her neck and order, “Define everything , Sunflower. Tell me everything you want.”

“I want you to show me all the ways you can make me come. I want to feel your tongue on me. I want…to be a good girl fo-”

I cut her off with a devouring kiss. She grips my shirt to pull me closer as she moans in my mouth. She can have anything she fucking wants. If she asked me to obey her every word, I would. I break away to nip at her neck and her breath picks up as my hands travel down her legs to spread them open further.

I kneel before her and she’s dripping for me. I am salivating for this woman. I hover my mouth over her entrance and maintain eye contact.

“If you take your eyes off me, I’ll stop. Do you understand?”

She nods in response.

“I know you’re excited, but I need you to use your words.”

“I…understand.”

“Good.”

I am so close to tasting her when I remember something she said earlier.

“You were being a brat and called me ‘Daddy’ before you went on a date with another man. Is that something you feel comfortable calling me?”

“Yes. ”

“Yes, what?” I ask.

I hold my hand to my ear, needing to hear her say it.

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Good fucking girl.”