Today we have the blog tour of FASCINATION by Ainsley St. Claire! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!
Title: Fascination
Author: Ainsley St. Claire
Genre: Contemporary Romance
About Fascination:
It started when my boyfriend was caught in public with a girls lips on his you know what.
People think my life is easy - they couldn't be more wrong.
A girl can never be too thin, too rich, or too famous. From experience I know that's crap. Well, maybe not the thin part.
Men don’t see me – they see my name and my bank balance.
Dating is near impossible with the paparazzi following my everywhere. Any sane man would run from that.
When a competitor steals my company's entire fall line, down to names and packaging, I daydream of tropical islands far away from the mess of my life. He brings me back.
There was one man who saw the real me. A man who wasn't swayed by the money and was strong enough to deal with the craziness that surrounded me. But we'd been friends to long to move beyond that.
But can I control myself? I have feelings for him but our timing has always been off.
**Fascination is is a standalone romance with a happy ending. It’s the ninth and final book in the Billionaire Venture Capitalist series. You can read it on its own, everything you need to know is explained, but once you get a taste you'll want to binge the rest ;}**
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I arrive at the Top of the Mark restaurant early. It has a stunning three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of the city as it sits atop the 104th floor of the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins hotel in the financial district downtown. It’s a bit touristy, but it's one of the few places that’s quiet, and I’ll be able to talk to CeCe rather than yell across the table to be heard.
I’ve preordered the chocolate soufflé and brought along a dozen white roses. She thinks she’s meeting a group of our friends, not just me. Emerson planted the idea in my head a few weeks ago, and I realized she was right. I owe CeCe this and so much more. I also plan on making my move. I’d rather she tell me to pound sand than to always wonder what could have been. I may not be an actual prince, but I’m ready to make my case.
I see her crossing the restaurant. She looks amazing in her emerald green pantsuit. “Are we first?” She looks around the restaurant, scanning for our friends. “That never happens to me.”
“It’s only us tonight.”
She looks at me, startled.
“I wanted to thank you for hosting me for the last month in your home. I’m finally feeling good enough to go to work beyond lunch.”
I hand her the roses.
“Oh my goodness, they’re beautiful!” She draws in a big breath through her nose. “They smell amazing. You didn’t have to do any of this.” She smiles, and I see what all the tabloids seem to capture—a brilliant white smile full of honesty and caring. She rocks my world.
“I wanted to.”
The waiter arrives to take our drink orders. Talk about lousy timing.
“I’ll have a Jonny Walker Blue straight up,” CeCe declares.
“That sounds good. I’ll have the same.”
The waiter leaves, and we’re alone again.
“How are things going with the investigation into the Chinese company?” I ask.
“They’re at least working on it. I don’t think the FBI would’ve done anything if Walker Clifton hadn’t lit a fire under them.”
“I hate to think that’s true. Those two agents were just imbeciles.”
“Well, that’s one way of putting it.”
Our drinks arrive, and we toast to my health.
I lift my glass of amber liquid, suddenly anxious. “A toast. To you. You are beautiful, gracious, and generous. Thank you for allowing me to stay with you while I recuperated.”
We clink our glasses and take a sip. “Thank you, though it wasn’t any problem.”
“You’ve watched my dog for the last three months. She isn’t going to want to go home with me. Did you know Angela cooks her dinner each night?”
“I didn’t know, but it doesn’t surprise me.”
“Well, I don’t think Misty has any plans on moving home with me.” I chuckle.
“She can stay as long as she’d like. And frankly, I don’t think you should move home yet. I know you’re anxious to sleep in your own bed, and we can easily move it over if it’s important, but I still think until the doctor tells you otherwise, you should remain at my house.”
The first course arrives: butter lettuce with pears, blue cheese crumbles, candied pecans, and a blue cheese dressing.
She looks at me, confused and happy. “What did you order?”
“They’ve made all your favorites, and we have a surprise dessert, so make sure to leave some room.”
“Mason, this is too much.”
“It’s only the start.”
We enjoy our salads, butternut squash soup, and the rack of lamb with scalloped potatoes while we fall into an easy conversation comparing our espionage examples.
When the soufflé arrives along with a glass of twenty-five-year tawny port, she wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me. I know it was supposed to be a friendly kiss, but I wrap my arms around her and don’t let go, kissing her back with great passion. She’s hesitant at first, but she eventually gives in and allows my tongue entry, and that’s it. I’m a goner. Her kisses fill me with desire, and my cock stands on end.
When we break, she sits back. I can see her working through all the possible outcomes, and based on her expression, none of them are good.
Before she can get too far, I’m determined to lay it all out. “Look, I’m not sorry for having kissed you. I’ve wanted you since we met years ago.”
Her eyes widen. “Mason, why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“I was going to. We were supposed to play golf together, and I had it all planned, and then you sent your brother in your place.”
“What?” Her hand goes to her mouth. “Are you kidding? I sent Trey to play golf with you because he needed to get out of his funk after Sara discovered her birth parents were still together and were married with four kids. Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I figured you didn’t want to spend time with me.”
“Mason, I’ve wanted you since I met you, too. I don’t know what it is, but you do something to me, and I compare every man I’ve dated to you. And we’ve never even dated! But why did you move in with Annabelle if you had any feelings for me?”
“As I saw it, you’d cast me away, and she was really into me. It really helped to mend my broken heart. But I also moved her in with me to keep an eye on her. I still think she may be involved with the mole issue, particularly now that she’s disappeared.”
She drinks her port, and I see conflict in her eyes, but I’m not going to allow her to push me away. I lean in and kiss her softly this time, and she immediately returns the kiss. “Nothing has ever felt so right, please don’t over think this,” I beg.
I hand the waiter my Black American Express card and quickly pay. I want to show her just how thankful I am.
We enter the elevators, and the doors close behind us. The enclosed space has electricity sparking between us, visible to the naked eye. I push her against the wall and show her how I really feel about her. My hands are in her hair, and her body is pressed against mine, her lips all over my mouth and neck. I’m sure she can feel how hard I am as I grind against her.
She gasps for breath and pushes me back. “What if this is a mistake?”
The doors open again, CeCe stepping away as a couple walks in. We never pushed a button, so the elevator never moved. They look at us curiously but don’t say anything as they push the button for the ground floor. CeCe is flushed; I can tell she’s as turned on as I am. There is nothing innocent about the way we look, and we’re fooling no one.
The elevator stops and the door opens. Now is her chance if she wants to put a stop to this. She grasps my hand and squeezes it. My heart beats triple time and tells me she feels the same way I do.
When we get in our waiting car, I turn to her. “CeCe, we’ve had terrible timing, but the stars have finally aligned. I’ve had deep feelings for you for many years. Please, let’s not overanalyze this. I don’t think this is a mistake, but if you think it might be, let’s talk about it. I’ll do everything in my power to convince you otherwise.” I lean in and slowly kiss her. It’s like fireworks are going off inside me. My hand wanders to her breast, and I can feel her nipple through the fabric. She moans in my ear, and I’m a goner.
When we arrive at her home, we immediately walk in. Angela was in on my secret, and she left a bottle of white wine in a bucket of ice and two glasses. Pouring us both a glass, I gulp down a mouthful for courage, even though it’s very cold. I refill my glass and put on some music. It's a cliché when Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” comes over the speakers, and it makes her laugh and relax a little.
I extend my hand. “Will you dance with me?”
She nods, and we dance slowly in her living room as I sing in her ear. My dick is hard, and I know she knows it, but I’ve pushed as hard as I can tonight. If she doesn’t want me, then I need to move on. If she does, she can tell me.
We dance to two more songs. “I love being in your arms, I feel safe and secure.” She stands on her tiptoes and kisses me softly.
I see this as a green light, but to be sure, I ask, “Are you okay with this?”
“I’ve never been so sure of anything. I promise, I’m not overthinking this.”
My heart soars, and I know if I don’t think of something else, I’ll explode in my pants and ruin our night. I’ve wanted this for so long, I almost want to pinch myself to make sure this is a reality.
Our dancing slows, and I smell the Chanel No. 5 on her neck. I nuzzle and begin to slowly kiss up the side. Her breathing quickens and she moans softly encouraging me. Quickly we’re making out like teenagers. I love the way her kisses begin tentatively and grow more urgent. Two more songs play and we’re continuing to kiss. Nothing but our arms enclosing us and our bodies pressed against each other. I don’t want to push her too fast. I’ve waited for this for years and if she needs to take her time, I will figure out how to do this. Her hands begin to explore and I’m ready to follow her wherever she takes me.
Taking me by the hand, she leads me up to her bedroom.
“I hope you don’t think ill of me for moving fast,” she says with a grin, “but we’ve danced around this for so long, I can’t wait any longer.”
“We’re moving at the pace you need to feel comfortable.” She moans as I kiss slowly down her neck, and it encourages me. She loosens my tie and unbuttons my shirt, running her hands over my bare chest. Her hands are warm, her breathing more ragged than before. She looks at me for permission to continue, and I grin.
“Then I think I’m ready to speed us up,” she moans as she rubs her hand over my cock beneath my pants.
Catch Up on the Series:
Forbidden Love (Venture Capitalist Book 1)
Promise (Venture Capitalist Book 2)
Desire (Venture Capitalist Book 3)
Temptation (Venture Capitalist Book 4)
Obsession (Venture Capitalist Book 5)
Flawless (Venture Capitalist Book 6)
Longing (Venture Capitalist Book 7)
Enchanted (Venture Capitalist Book 8)
About Ainsley St. Claire:
Ainsley St Claire is a Romantic Suspense Author and Adventurer on a lifelong mission to craft sultry storylines and steamy love scenes that captivate her readers. To date, she is best known for her series Venture Capitalists.
An avid reader since the age of four, Ainsley’s love of books knew no genre. After reading, came her love of writing, fully immersing herself in the colorful, impassioned world of contemporary romance.
Ainsley’s passion immediately shifted to a vocation when during a night of terrible insomnia, her first book came to her. Ultimately, this is what inspired her to take that next big step. The moment she wrote her first story, the rest was history.
Currently, Ainsley is in the midst of writing a nine-book series called “Venture Capitalist.”
When she isn’t being a bookworm or typing away her next story on her computer, Ainsley enjoys spending quality family time with her loved ones. She is happily married to her amazing soulmate and is a proud mother of two rambunctious boys. She is also a scotch aficionada and lover of good food (especially melt-in-your-mouth, velvety chocolate). Outside of books, family, and food, Ainsley is a professional sports spectator and an equally as terrible golfer and tennis player.
