Page 21 of Wishes for August

New York would be… something.

Chapter 13

Caleb

Friends with benefits. Friends with benefits.The suggestion played on my mind like an earworm, over and over again. Frustrating the hell out of me. Totally my luck that I would meet someone who was my complete match sexually and intellectually but who was emotionally unavailable. I wasn’t a meaningless sex kind of guy. I valued connections and building relationships and I wanted that with August. But he had laid out his feelings on the matter and I had to respect them.

By the time our trip to New York rolled around, I had accepted that August would only ever be my colleague and possibly a friend and he seemed to have done the same. I still caught him watching me from time to time and I still took the opportunity to run my hungry gaze over him when he wasn’t looking but I kept my hands and my thoughts to myself.

My anger towards him had faded. The first few days after our soiree in the club, I had been cold and distant. Treating him with an indifference that wasn’t normal for me. I couldn’t keep it up though, it just wasn’t in my nature.

On the flight to New York, August kept to himself, watching a film while I read a book. It was four hours into the flight when I felt his breath against the side of my neck and the sudden weight of him against me. Turning my head slightly, I took in the beautiful sight of him sleeping, his head resting on my shoulder. He looked peaceful and so fucking stunning. What I wouldn’t give to smooth my hand over his light stubble or press my lips against his temple. He had no idea the hold he had on me, or how much I wanted to give him.

I didn’t move him, instead, selfishly wanting to feel his warmth, I rested my head against his and closed my eyes, breathing in the pepper and bergamot scent of him. I was startled awake when he shot up straight, our eyes met and he turned away, but not before I noticed the blush on his cheeks.

We spent the last hour of the flight talking about New York. This would be his first trip to the Big Apple, and he expressed how much he would love to see Central Park and Times Square. I vowed to make that happen, no matter how busy our week was.

When we landed, Noel had a car waiting, which took us to Manhattan’s Upper East Side, home to Bennett Properties flagship hotel - The Starlight. Pulling up outside the front of the hotel, I was speechless. Looking at August, his head tilted up, eyes firmly out the car window, I guessed he felt the same.

The hotel was spectacular. A set of red velvet-covered stairs lead up to an impressive glass door surrounded on each side by gold pillars. Above the door running the length of the front of the building were stunning glass stained windows decorated with an array of intricate patterns. A concierge dressed in a top hat and tails opened the door for us and we were ushered into an ornatelobby. Tones of gold, red, and black adorned the floors and walls, and a huge staircase made for an impressive focal point. We were shown to the receptionist who greeted us with a beaming smile.

“Good afternoon, welcome to The Starlight Hotel. Can I get your names please?” I gave her our details and if it was possible, she beamed even brighter at us. “Mr Winters, Mr West, it’s a pleasure to meet you both. I’m Christie. Mr Bennett’s PA made me aware of your impending arrival. Let me get you checked in and then I will have Michael show you to your suite,” she said, gesturing to a smartly dressed gentleman standing to our right. “I have it here that you are staying in our presidential suite, which is a two bed suite - I hope that will be satisfactory?”

“That is perfect, thank you Christie.”

We were shown up to our suite and yet again I was blown away by the beauty and opulence of the hotel. Knowing we would be working to promote this impressive place filled me with pride. The Starlight had been recently refurbished, one of the first of their hotels to be given such treatment. It was no wonder their branding needed a refurb to match.

“This is something else,” I heard August say. I turned to find him checking out the incredible views over the city. I walked over to him and stood by his side, sharing the view.

“It sure is,” I said, my voice quiet and contemplative.

Turning to look at him, I was once again taken aback by his beauty. He was breathtaking in his black leather jacket and tight jeans. His hair was ruffled from travel, sticking up in places and he had a stray curl hanging over his eye. In the light pouring through the windows, I could see golden streaks in his dark brown hair. I was staring at him when he turned unexpectedly towards me and our gazes clashed, locking us into a soundless bubble where time stood still and only we existed. Like one of those snow globes you found at the airport.

I lost myself in his brown eyes.Boom boommy heart thumped wildly in my chest. My feelings for this man were so far from friendship, I didn’t know how long I’d be able to keep them from spilling out. My hand moved before I could think better of it and I brushed the stray curl from his eyes. August let out a stuttered breath but didn’t move.

Our gazes were still locked together as I ran the back of my fingers gently down the side of his cheek. His stubble was rough against my skin and I delighted in the feel of it, wanting to trace my fingers further down to feel the smooth skin at his neck. As I took a step closer to him, a knock on the suite door pulled us from our reverie and August took a huge step back before turning and walking down the corridor, presumably to one of the two rooms the suite offered.

Letting out a disgruntled groan and running my hand over the back of my neck, I moved to open the door to find a smartly dressed woman standing at the threshold.

“Mr Winters?” she asked.

“Yes, and you are?” My tone was curt, bordering on rude which again was unlike me. But August often left me feeling like someone different.

She gave me a warm smile and stuck out her hand. She had slender fingers and immaculately painted red nails. A huge diamond ring sparkled on her ring finger.

“I’m Madeline, Mr Bennett’s personal assistant. He asked me to come and greet you and extend an invitation to join him in the hotel bar at six this evening.”

We were only scheduled to meet with Noel tomorrow and I was pretty exhausted but a drink or two before heading to bed didn’t sound like a bad idea.

Changing my tone so I didn’t sound like such a dick, I thank Madeline for the invitation.

“That sounds great, thank you Madeline. I will let August know.” She gave me a sweet smile before saying her goodbyes and walking off, her high heels silent on the lushly carpeted hallway.

August had not reappeared so I strolled slowly down the suite’s corridor, stopping to pop my head through the first door. The room housed a huge queen sized bed covered in white linen with red and gold accents. A large beech desk stood in one corner, with a set of drawers to the right of it. I walked into the room, the carpet soft beneath my feet. An interleading door led to an en-suite with a claw foot tub and huge walk in rain shower. Given there was no sign of August in there, I claimed the room as mine, removing my coat and placing it on the desk chair.

I continued down the corridor to the next room, the door was open so I peaked in, I could see that August had been in there. His leather jacket was haphazardly strewn on the bedroom floor, his shoes and trousers lay in a pile near the ensuite door. I could hear a shower running and my feet moved on their own accord, moving further into his room. The scent of vanilla and coconut filled the room from the steam wafting from the slightly ajar bathroom door. Standing motionless in the room, I warred with myself. Fuck me, but I wanted to push open the door and….

And what Caleb? Watch him shower? Climb in with him? Way to be a creep.

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