Laura and Phil both greeted me, and, oddly enough, I didn't feel strange around them. I thought that when I saw business associates again, it would be weird, being with Tom, but it wasn't.

  Maybe Meg was right, and my rule was outdated? Or perhaps it's that Tom was the right one to break it for?

  We all sat. It was a table of ten, and Laura and Phil were there with dates. Celia was there with her husband, John, and sat next to me. Kip and Katie, the couple that Celia mentioned in the boutique, had flown in, as well.

  They seemed nice. Since we were across from each other, it was harder to get to know them well. Something about Kip seemed familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

  I did think it was a little strange that Tom's staff flew in from New York for the Gala.

  Then I realized I didn't even know what this Gala was for.

  I leaned over to Tom. "Hey, I'm super embarrassed, but I never asked you. What cause are we supporting tonight?"

  "It's to raise money for foster kids. My foundation puts on this event every year for a nonprofit called A Better Future. They create safe spaces for foster kids to go to after school and on weekends. That way, they have adults they trust to go to if something bad happens." His voice quieted, and I saw darkness in his eyes.

  I instinctively grabbed his hand.

  The darkness didn't last too long, though. "They also help transition kids at eighteen out of the foster care system and into independent living because most of them get kicked out of their foster homes. At eighteen, the foster parents stop getting paid and often kick the kids out. This nonprofit does really great work."

  Wow. I had no idea and felt foolish. How selfish am I that I didn't even ask about the gala details when Tom initially asked me to go?

  The Gala was for his foundation. This was why he wanted me to join him in Colorado—to truly understand who he was, what his values were, and the critical work he did. He wasn't only a basketball star or a businessman. He was so much more than that. I still didn't know what happened to Tom in foster care, but this was his way to help make a difference. He had taken the pain of whatever happened to him and was trying to protect these kids.

  Always the protector.

  He held his arm around me, and I snuggled into him. The nervous twitch jumped in his leg again. To outsiders, he appeared confident and calm. But to me, I could see that he was tense.

  I think Celia realized that I was beginning to understand what tonight was for, and she gave me a small nod.

  She gazed at his leg, and I knew she had seen his twitch before.

  The servers brought dinner to the table. Throughout the meal, Tom participated in the conversation, but from time to time, his leg would start the twitch. Each time I put my hand on his leg, and he would settle for a bit. I wondered what had him rattled.

  Celia and I both watched him. She knew him well—better than me, for sure. I wondered what was going through her head.

  The typical jovial dinner noise, along with the clanking of silverware and servers picking plates up, filled the room.

  All of a sudden, Derek was on stage. The room immediately fell into a hush.

  Full of personality as always, Derek told jokes and entertained the crowd. He also made references to the people in the room and gave them props.

  After a bit, Derek brought it down a notch. "I know that we love to have fun, drink champagne, and eat amazing dinners, but there is a reason that we are all here tonight. And while I could tell you my own sob story, I think it's best if the man of the night, the one and only, the person who invited us all to be here tonight, comes up to tell you why you all need to open up those checkbooks!"

  The crowd laughed.

  "Ladies and gentlemen, please give it up for my brother from another mother, Mr. Tom Marko!"

  Everyone in the room stood up. Tom squeezed my hand one last time and walked up on stage. I was seriously drunk or something because the thought never occurred to me that Tom would make a speech.

  The room quieted.

  As Tom began to speak, he smiled then became solemn after he thanked the guests for attending. "Some of you may have heard that I was in the foster system. I know many of you in this room were, as well." He nodded his head to some people in the crowd who nodded back.

  "Those of us sitting in this room tonight are lucky. We have wealth, status, and power. We have created our futures."

  Guests agreed with Tom with their "Mm-hmm's."

  "Some of us had good experiences in foster care. Some of us, well, not so good." Tom closed his eyes for a brief moment as if he were reliving some pain.

  Celia reached for my hand, and tears were in her eyes.

  "While there are many good people who foster, there are others who are...not so good. They are in it for the wrong reasons." He paused, glanced up, and briefly caught my eye. "We need a better system, a better solution, and we need to show kids that there are outlets for their pain. We need to be the adults who help them find their way out. The solution to my pain was basketball. And I was lucky enough to have what I call an angel who believed in me." He looked at Celia.

  Celia gripped my hand harder.

  "She believed in several of us..." I swear that he caught Kip's eye, and I saw Katie hold his hand tight. "While I will spare you the gory details, I woke up in the middle of the night when I was sixteen and escaped my foster home. My foster brother was with me. We were homeless for three nights and cold, scared, and hungry. On the fourth day, we ran into our angel." Both Tom and Kip glanced at Celia.

  I had goosebumps popping up on my skin.

  Tom continued. "The system was screwed up. It still is. Our angel knew, if she turned us back into the system, we would be placed back in that same screwed-up situation. She risked everything for us, including her job, safety, and finances. She dedicated the next two years and kept us in school, developed our talents, and gave us the confidence to go after our dreams."

  I don't know about the rest of the room, but my entire table was in tears. And I knew that there was so much more to the story than Tom was telling.

  "I tell this story, not so you pity me, but so you have a small glimpse into what many foster children deal with to survive. They need a safe place to go with people who will help them stay in school, develop their talents, and give them the confidence to go after their dreams. Many children I knew, some that I even lived with, turned to drugs, alcohol, and lives of crime. I don't blame them. I would have, too, had it not been for my angel."

  Celia took a deep breath.

  "I stand before you a man of wealth, status, and power. I can use my wealth to give to causes like A Better Future, so they don't have to turn children away who need their help. I can use my status to bring awareness to a broken system and maybe help another child see that there are better days ahead. I can use my power to help create change. And that is what I am determined to do." Tom paused and surveyed the room.

  I caught his eye for a minute, but he pulled his gaze away from me.

  "So here is my question for you all tonight. What do you wish to do with your wealth, status, and power? I need your help, my friends. We cannot create a better future for these kids without your support. My foundation has hosted this Gala for five years now. I finally decided it was time for you to hear my story. If I don't use my wealth, status, and power, then I stay a coward."

  What does he mean by 'stay a coward'? He isn't a coward.

  "But what I want you to understand is that my pain is not the only pain. That is why my foundation supports A Better Future, and why I've held this Gala every year." He continued to engage the room, the perfect speaker.

  "And I tell you my story because I hope you will see that your money is needed to serve others. We have a problem with our foster care system, and if you want these children to become thriving, productive citizens, then pull out your checkbook. Tonight, I want you to dig deep and then dig a little deeper. Tomorrow, I want you to think more about how you can use your status and power. If not for this cause, then a cause that is important to you. Thank you."

  The room erupted into standing applause. Our table was in tears. Derek stepped back on stage and was in tears. I canvassed the room. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house.

  I was so proud of Tom. This man faced every obstacle but overcame them with grace and beauty. I now knew some of his past, but I wanted to know more.

  He sat in his seat, a little embarrassed by the applause, possibly overwhelmed, and I leaned over and kissed him. His fingers gracefully wiped my tears away.

  Everyone sat down again. Derek was back on stage and stomped a bit. "Man, Tom, did you have to make us all cry like that?" He laughed, but then said seriously, "Hey, y'all. This isn't the time to be cheap. And I mean it. Those donation envelopes are there for a reason. Everyone pick one up. Now don't be stingy. If you're stingy, I'm gonna come get ya!"

  The room erupted in laughter.

  Derek called people out. "I see you over there, Shuster. You better put some more zeros behind that number!"

  People were laughing and enjoyed Derek's antics.

  I leaned over to Tom. "I'm so proud of you. Someday, I want to know the full story."

  He squeezed my hand, and I saw that he was a bit choked up. I kissed him again.

  Celia wrapped her arms around Tom from the back. She kissed his cheek. "Best honor of my life, kid." Then she went over to Kip and did the same.

  The night moved into an auction and then dancing. People approached Tom all night. They told him how touched they were, thanked him for sharing his story, told them their foster care stories, and handed him big checks.

  We didn't get to dance but, toward the end of the night, Tom said, "Can you all excuse us? I haven't danced with my girl all night." He grabbed my hand and pulled me out on the dance floor.

  The music slowed, and we wrapped our bodies together.

  "I don't think I told you how breathtaking you are tonight." Once again, Tom Marko's eyes and words made me feel like the most beautiful creature on earth.

  "I don't think I told you how amazing you are." Suddenly, I felt a bit shy.

  His lips met mine. I kissed him back as we swayed to the music. Life felt simple and easy like there was no one else in the room.

  "Let's get out of here," Tom whispered.

  "Can we? It's your party!" My eyes shuffled around the room.

  "My job is done here. I have a new assignment now." He gave me his, Tom Marko, god of sex look.

  I was all in. But there was something I needed to do first. "Let me go to the restroom. But don't follow me this time."

  He held up his hands. "All right. I give up for now."

  I turned the corner, opened up my purse, and pulled out my checkbook. I wrote a $100,000 check, the biggest donation check I ever wrote, and dropped it into the donation box.

  12

  Tom

  She was a pro. No doubt about it, Liv knew how to play the press like putty in her hand. She knew what to give them and what to hold back. I stood proudly by her side, telling the world she was mine without saying anything, and claiming her for the future.

  Her networking skills were impressive. She carried on conversations and knew how to get out of boring ones. I stopped counting how many times Liv saved me from discussions with a few overzealous fans.

  It was the best Gala I had ever put on, and I knew that the secret sauce was Liv.

  I was a better man with Liv. She made me better and didn't even realize it. For the first time ever, I felt happy, alive, and wanted.

  And, I knew at that moment that I couldn't go back. No matter how selfish it was, or how worried I would always be about Liv, I couldn't imagine life without her. After months of avoiding her, I gave in, and four days with her would never be enough.

  We walked out of the Gala, as paparazzi lights flashed, and I made a beeline for the car. I had nothing on my mind but how I wanted to make her happy. She had given me a gift, herself, and I would give her anything in return.

  As I quickly escorted her to the car. Her beauty once again overpowered me, and I couldn't think of anything except how I wanted her in my bed, calling out my name, begging me to take her to sweet ecstasy.

  When we got in the car, I pulled my jacket, tie, and vest off. She leaned back into my body. "Next time we dance more." I gave her ear a little nibble.

  She let out a laugh. "But who would flatter all the donors?"

  "I thought you did that pretty well." I beamed at her.

  "All in a day's work." She shrugged her shoulders and laughed some more.

  I grabbed her face between my hands. "Liv, you were amazing tonight."

  She smiled her sweet smile at me. Then she glanced down and quietly asked, "Tom, this is real between us, right?"

  I pulled her chin up to mine. "It better be, because it'll break my heart if it's not." And I meant it and kissed her.

  Her sweet lips and delicious tongue slowly circled mine. She wrapped her arms around me and made me feel like I was her entire existence.

  There was no doubt.

  I was all in.

  Liv

  We got home, and Tom immediately led me up the stairs and into his bedroom. He threw his tux jacket, tie, and vest on the chair, flipped the fireplace switch, then put on some slow music and dimmed the lights.

  "I imagined you in this dress when I saw it." He took a step back to admire me some more.

  "I hope I didn't disappoint."

  Tom glanced at me with his signature intense eyes, and I instantly felt flutters again. "You've exceeded all my expectations, but not just with the dress." He came closer and kissed my neck.

  I groaned in anticipation as my pulse started beating against my veins.

  He skillfully unzipped my dress as his lips brushed across my back. Tom pushed my dress to the floor, and I heard his low, sexy whistle.

  I had forgotten all about my lingerie.

  Tom spun me around, and his eyes scanned my body. "Wow. Liv, you're stunning."

  I bit my lip and blushed as he continued to eye me up.

  I moved closer, reached out to unbuckle his belt, and dropped his pants to the floor. He stepped out of them. I removed his cufflinks, unbuttoned his shirt, then pushed it over his shoulders, and threw it on a chair.

  He removed my jewelry, took the cufflinks from my hand, and set them on the dresser.

  Slowly, I lifted his undershirt and moved my mouth across his muscular stomach and chest. "You're too damn sexy," I mumbled against his skin.

  "You've been driving me insane all night." He kissed my neck and removed bobby pins, so my hair slowly fell in long curls.

  I pushed his underwear off him, and he swiftly tore his undershirt off. I took my turn and stepped back and admired his body.

  He grinned at me but didn't let me stare long and took a step forward. Tom pulled me on top of him on the bed, then kissed me with so much hunger that he stole the air from my lungs. Arms wrapped around me tighter, and his tongue and lips claimed me as if I was the air he needed to breathe.

  When I recovered, I whispered, "Your kisses always make me feel special."

  Tom's head jerked, and his eyes dove into mine. He sternly said, "You are special."

  I wanted to ask him why he thought that, but I chickened out. Instead, I reached up and kissed him some more before I breathlessly, scooted down his body, and found his manhood. I wanted it, and I slowly took his smooth, massive dick in my mouth.

  He groaned my name.

  My cleavage was popping out of the silky, gold lingerie I was wearing. I shimmied his shaft against it and sucked on his tip once more.

  He groaned again. "Liv, I need you."

  "But I want you, so let me have you," I murmured as I took him in my mouth again.

  "I still need you." He sat up, grabbed me, threw me in the sixty-nine position, and ripped off my underwear.

  My body sizzled on his muscles, throbbing with heat and slightly shuddering on him, as he started to rub, lick and suck me, slowly at first, and then with more intensity.

  Our mouths were full of each other, and his magical hands caressed my ass cheeks. Slowly, he pushed his wet fingers in all my holes.

  "Oh, shit..." I moaned.

  "You okay, Liv?"

  "Mm-hmm."

  "Too much, or keep going?"

  "Keep going," I panted out.

  He rubbed my ass cheeks and then pushed back in.

  My vagina clenched his fingers, and my ass tightened up, then relaxed as he pushed a bit further in me.

  Surprisingly to me, I liked it. A pleasurable feeling of fullness filled me, as he licked and sucked my clit. His index finger curled in my pussy, swiping my sweet spot, and his thumb inched further in me. His other hand continued to rub my ass cheeks.

  I breathed against his cock as my sex started to pulse against his lips. I refocused and pulled him back into my mouth.

  He groaned loudly.

  Or was that me?

  Whoever it was, it turned me on further, and I applied more pressure to him.

  The moan from his lips vibrated against my hot, wet, pulsating cherry.

  I drew him further into my mouth, caressed his balls, and pushed my tongue against the vein on his shaft.

  Tom's deep, throaty groan ricocheted against my pussy, and his tongue started to flicker faster over me.

  Spinning. I started spinning from the rush of blood that surged through my nerves. I got slightly dizzy and moved my lower region, as I circled my body harder into his face and fingers.

  There was so much warmth as his body teased and filled me with his swiping, licking, and sucking. My face flushed further, and little ripples of energy floated everywhere in my body.

  And I couldn't handle it anymore. I tried to make it last, but I finally ground my body hard into his mouth. I came like a freight train, rubbed his penis between my breasts as I climaxed, and quivered uncontrollably on top of him.

  When I collapsed against him, he quickly turned me around, flipped me on my back, and his mouth crashed into mine.

  Once again, Tom Marko's kisses made me feel like I was the entire reason for his existence. As our tongues explored each other's mouths, he muttered words like, "sexy...beautiful...amazing," and drilled his intense eyes down into my soul.

 

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