Chapter 5: Gideon

Another day has gone by since I first laid eyes on her. I've finally decided on my point of attack.

I've learned through the daily reports of the men I have guarding her that she has a routine. Every day on her lunch break, she likes to sit alone under a tree a little off school grounds. Perfect, I'm not sure what the protocol is for strange men traipsing across schoolyards, but I'm pretty sure it can't be good.

I can't put it off any longer. I haven't slept in days, and work has lost its appeal. It's as if she's the sun in my dark, dreary world. One I didn't realize was becoming dull and ascetic until seeing her across the way that day weeks ago.

I've been living for those few glimpses of her in the mornings, like a lovesick puppy. Not a good look for a hard-nosed business tycoon who rules everything around him. Today is the day; I can't believe I'm nervous. Fuck. I haven't been this nervous over a woman in....never.

I made sure to dress down today; by that, I mean no suit and tie, just a black button-down, black slacks, shirt sleeves rolled to the elbows, first two buttons left undone. Casually relaxed without looking like a fucking perv. There wasn't a damn thing I could do about my hair, so why bother? Just a swift brush through that didn't do shit to keep it tamed.

I studied myself in the mirror, wondering who the fuck was this guy who was sweating at the thought of approaching a woman? Maybe the problem was that I hadn't once thought of her in the way I've thought of any female since I was seventeen.

She wasn't just a hot piece of ass that I wanted to break a piece off of. Those I went after whole hog until jollies were had by all before both parties went their merry way. Except not to toot my own horn, but in most cases, they usually wanted the jolly to go on for much longer.

That's how I came up with the decision to have a long-term arrangement with Lynn. I got tired of the drama that came with break-ups.

Now, this beauty did not fall into that category, and it scares the shit out of me because it's unchartered water. Her age dictates that I, as the adult handle everything with care.

If I was going to do this, and I am, it has to be about her first all the way. I have no intentions of fucking up her life. Her report reads like an innocent's; I can't imagine her being worldly and sophisticated enough to take on a man like me. So you see my dilemma, for the first time in my life, the great Gideon Thorpe cannot approach a woman with just fucking on his mind.

I left the apartment and headed down to the garage, where my car and driver awaited. It was only a few short minutes to the school, but today I wouldn't walk it; today, the business tycoon was going to impress his high school sweetheart. Fuck me.

I gave her five minutes to sit and get settled under her tree as I watched from the back of the limo.

She's just so fucking gorgeous, damn! The nervousness was finally gone, thank heaven, and all that was left was an excitement I haven't felt in way too long. That's more like it.

I left the confines of the car at a slow clip, hands in my pockets, relaxed. There were kids milling about, but no one seemed to be paying too much attention, which made me wonder why my beautiful girl was sitting all alone in the first place? Something to think about later right now I had more important things on my mind.

I settled myself as I drew closer to her, willing my body to calm the fuck down. One look, and my heart started beating the shit out of my chest. I schooled my face and tried for that relaxed thing again, but inside I was a riot of emotions.

"Hello, Ashley." I snuck up behind her and a little to the side so as not to scare her to death.

She gave a start anyway before turning to me. I felt that look in my gut felt the electricity coarse through me, and I knew at that moment that my life would never be the same. How very fucking clichéd.

Her first words to me were a bit puzzling, not what I expected at all, and they threw me for a second.

"It's you." So breathlessly spoken.

"Excuse me?" I kept staring at her beauty; she really was an exceptionally beautiful girl.

"Nothing." She blushed and hung her head, letting her hair fall forward to hide her cheeks.

"No, tell me, what did you mean?" I stepped in a little closer forgetting to be cautious and not scare her away.

"Nothing, just that...I saw you…before..." Could she be any more fucking perfect? Her voice sounded like something out of a fucking fairytale. If I weren't standing in front of her, I would swear she was someone's idea of a joke on me. It's like someone reached inside the darkest recesses of my mind and came up with my ideal of perfection. She had the face of a Botticelli angel.

Beautiful, flawless skin and bright eyes that were wide and so fucking innocent they weren't to be believed. I didn't dare look at the rest of her right now. Who knows what the fuck stupid thing I would do? Like snatch her and run; there was a thought.

"You saw me? When?"

"You were getting out of your car, I guess, in front of the Thorpe Towers; it was a while ago."

She seemed embarrassed by her admission as she avoided my eyes; just look at me, Blossom. I wanted to take her face in my hands and force her to keep those amazing eyes on mine. Too fast, Gideon; nice and easy, she's skittish yet.

"And you saw me." It had to be the same day I'd seen her for the first time; what were the odds?

"I'm Gideon Thorpe." I held out my hand to take hers, soft and warm. I brushed my thumb lightly over the pulse in her wrist. It matched mine. Like a runaway train, I have to get ahold of myself before I do something really stupid here. Everything inside me screamed to take her and get the fuck out of there, but I couldn't. If this was going to be what I wanted it to be, I had to be patient; I never hated that fucking word as much as I did at that moment.

She was a bit weary, which was to be expected. After all, I'm a total and complete stranger approaching her out of nowhere. "Ashley Sanders." She finally looked at me full-on, and my heart fucking kicked in my chest. Merciful fuck.

Her voice, that face, those fucking eyes, and her mouth sweet fuck, she 's a fucking knock out, everything about her called to me. There was no way I wouldn't own her in this lifetime if I'd had any doubts before this moment vanquished them all.

There was no point in prolonging the inevitable, so I decided then and there to do as I've always done. I'd been telling myself to go slow because of her age, to feel her out. I thought I could afford that patience, but I see now that I was wrong.

Up close, she was perfection, like nothing I'd ever seen before. And that air of innocence only made things worse for her. Something about this girl spoke to the primal part of me. That thing that makes us human makes us civilized had taken a backseat. All I wanted was to plunder. It's a strange fucking feeling for a guy who's usually the hunted. "Do you know why I'm here, Ashley?"