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"I love you too," I say softly. "But I'm afraid."
"We'll figure it out together," he says, taking my hand in his. "I promise.”
In this moment, with him holding my hands and looking into my eyes, I feel like anything is possible.
Cannon raises one hand to swipe his thumb over my bottom lip, humming in his throat as he does so, like he’s trying to make a decision. “Come home with me again. Let’s finish what we started here.”
He means taking my virginity!I think, almost panicking, but part of me is hungry for it, too. My body craves him, and my inner channel clenches hard at the thought of Cannon filling me up. But what point is there in resisting what I really want? My job might be permanently messed up anyway, but this thing with Cannon, thislove…it’s still here. Right here, right now.
So with a short nod, I go to the corner of my efficiency where my bed is and throw everything I’ll need for a few days into my duffel bag. I take clothes, toiletries, and anything else I think I’ll miss because something tells me that we won’t be back anytime soon.
Cannon watches me quietly, his arms crossed, but when I come back to his side, he’s quick to put his arm around me and rub it up and down my back. He grazes my still-sensitive butt, and I jump.
“Sorry,” he chuckles as we walk out to his car. I realize that Cannon drove himself, and the dark green Jaguar parked in my parking lot full of run-down, old vehicles stands out like a sore thumb.
The adrenaline of the past half hour starts to fade as we drive to Cannon’s penthouse. Still feeling so much negativity from work, I look out the window, feeling forlorn, until Cannon speaks up.
“Do you want to tell me why you freaked out earlier?” His tone is level, but I can hear the tension underneath the control.
"It was just so humiliating at work today," I say, brushing away tears that threaten to stream down my face. "Everyone was looking at me and gossiping, obviously about the way we acted at the gala. And then someone left that tabloid on my desk, with our picture on the cover, which means everyone knows we’ve been spending more time together. They left it there for me to see as a way to stab at me. I was so embarrassed.”
"I'm not embarrassed," he replies, a possessive look in his eyes. "And you shouldn’t be either. I'm proud that the world now knows that you're all mine. Rest assured, Candace, I’m going to handle the situation atElite.That sort of behavior is not the kind I accept at my business. Our standards state that there will be respect for privacy for everyone we interview, and everyone who works in my building. I won’t allow gossip-mongering, like this is some public high school.”
"But what about my career?" I ask, feeling torn. “None of this is fair to either of us.”
"I know it isn’t, and that it’s affecting you more than it is me," he says, a hint of sadness in his voice. Cannon keeps his eyes on the road as he drives but shoots looks over at me, concerned, when I remain quiet.
I want to believe him, but I don't know if it's possible. I'm afraid of what the future holds for us. I'm afraid of losing my career and ruining everything I've worked for. But at the same time, I can't deny the way I feel about him. He makes me feel alive, and I can't imagine a future without him in it.
"I don't know what to do," I choke out past the lump in my throat. "I'm so confused."
“Let me handle things, sweetheart.” Cannon sounds firm. “For now, you can stay with me at my penthouse full-time,” he says, rubbing my back soothingly. "That way, you won't have to worry about the paparazzi. And you can work from home, so you don't have to face your snotty coworkers. It's my company, and I can do what I want. If the other employees wanted you to still work in the office, they should have treated you better."
I hesitate, not sure if that's the right solution. “I don’t know, Cannon…it seems like too tidy of a solution.”
"You won't lose anything," he assures me. "You'll be able to work just as effectively from home. And think about it, we'll be able to wake up in each other's arms every morning. And don't forget about the jacuzzi bathtub that you love so much. We can relax there together after a long day of work."
"But what about the paparazzi?" I ask, still feeling worried that what he’s saying is too good to be true. "I don't want to be hounded by the press all the time, either.” I sigh, resting my chin on my hand. “I didn’t know you were so…famous, I guess?”
Cannon waves one hand dismissively. “Being wealthy makes people think they should have access to your life at all times, even if you’re a more private person like I am, so it isn’t really fame as much as it is the mystery of me not playing into the celebrity machine of it all. But don’t worry about being bothered. I have top-of-the-line security at my penthouse.”
I want to ask a million other things, but I know I’m just talking in circles. So I close my mouth and try to relax, only really doing so when Cannon’s hand reaches across the car and lands on my knee.
* * *
As I stepoff the elevator and into the penthouse, I’m immediately struck by the stunning views from the floor-to-ceiling windows. I can see the city skyline and the mountains in the distance, and I feel a sense of awe at the beauty of it all.
The first night I came here, it was so dark that I didn’t even register the incredible views. When I exited the guest room, bleary-eyed the next morning, Cannon was waiting right outside the door for me with a cup of steaming coffee, but when I turned the corner and saw the view of the mountains, I had been so taken aback that I almost dropped the mug.
I wander through the spacious living room, admiring the leather furniture and the large flatscreen TV. The kitchen is a chef's dream, with top-of-the-line appliances and granite countertops. I can't wait to cook a meal in this space, even if my cooking skills are pretty basic.
Cannon has a chef on retainer, which I found out the second night I stayed with him, but I notice that he doesn’t like having any employees in the penthouse full time, just on reserve. He’s a man who enjoys his privacy.
I head to the master bedroom suite, Cannon leading me with my hand in his. It’s a true haven of relaxation. The king-sized bed looks incredibly inviting, and I can't wait to curl up in front of the fireplace. The spa-like bathroom has a deep soaking tub and a rain shower, and I can already imagine myself relaxing in the tub after a long day. The en suite bathroom in the guest room was lovely, but Cannon had given me full access to his when I was here, and I had taken full advantage. I adore a good, long soak.
Cannon has a masculine, minimalist sense of style, but I still feel comfortable here. He never made a move on me besides some hot kisses here and there last weekend, but we did have slow, decadent meals together and spent time getting to know one another in the short time we shared.
I had left last night feeling like I was walking on air. Now, it feels like I’m wearing cement shoes, even in this beautiful place.
