by Bianca Cole
“No, thank you, I’m fine.”
He sits in front of his desk and clears his throat. “So, you have some information for me about the case?”
“Yes,” I set the USB down on the desk in front of him, and he frowns at it before picking it up in his hand.
“What is this?” he asks.
“Proof that Bryson Stafford is innocent. It’s footage from Wells Fargo at the time he made a deposit, but as you’ll see on the footage, it’s not him.”
The detective raises an eyebrow. “How did you get CCTV footage from the bank?” he asks.
I shrug. “I asked nicely.”
I watch as he puts on his glasses and slides the USB into the slot on his computer, pulling up the footage. His mouth falls open. “Theo Stafford,” he mutters, almost to himself. He shakes his head. “I can’t believe it.”
“Why can’t you believe it, detective?” I ask.
“Theo Stafford called us in on his brother. Why would he do this to his own flesh and blood?”
I nod my head. “I know the answer to that, too, detective.”
His eyes widen. “You do?” he asks.
“Yes. Abraham Stafford is unwell and has assigned the two brothers each a three-month trial period as CEO. Once that is over, he intends to name his predecessor. Theo wanted to ensure he won by framing his brother and sending him to jail. It makes perfect sense.”
The detective brushes his hand across his stubble dusted jaw. “Miss Clayton, if this is correct, then it’s a case of embezzlement and identity fraud. It’s very serious. This indeed is condemning evidence, but it would help if we got a verbal confession.” He gazes at me with uncertainty. “Would you be willing to take this evidence directly to Theo and confront him, while wearing a wire?” he asks.
I don’t even have to think about it. I nod my head instantly. “Of course, anything to free Bryson. I know he’s innocent.”
He smiles. “All he has spoken about in jail is you. No one has come to bail him out, which we found odd. His father and brother have both ignored us when we called them to inform them of his arrest.”
My brow furrows. “Well, we know why Theo ignored you, but I wonder why Abraham did. Perhaps, he’s too ill.”
“Perhaps.” He claps his hands together. “Let’s get you set up with a wire and then get you back over the office to get this confession out of Theo Stafford.”
I nod and follow the detective back out of his office. My stomach is a mess of nerves, but I’ve got to do this. Bryson is innocent. He was telling the truth all along, and I’m the only one that can free him.
23
Tessa
It’s late, but I’m sure Theo will still be here, basking in his victory. I have to hope so, anyway. I’ve got a reason to head to his office after leaving some files in there when I was working with Bryson. He moved all his stuff into the main office first thing that morning, according to the receptionist at the front desk.
I head into the elevator and select the top floor. My heart is beating out of my chest as the elevator rises. I intend to go up there and speak with him, maybe flirt a little, and see if he will open up to me. Little does he know that I already know the truth and that I’m wearing a wire to the Wynton PD stationed outside the building.
I march out of the elevator toward Bryson’s office. I stutter at the sight of the new name tag already on the door: Theo Stafford - CEO.
What kind of brother would do that to his own flesh and blood? He doesn’t deserve Bryson. Some people aren’t lucky enough to still have their siblings in their life, and this asshole has framed his only brother for a crime he didn’t commit. I swallow hard, as Jack’s face flashes into my mind.
I ball my fists and try not to let the rage and sadness get the better of me, before plastering on a smile and letting myself into the room. “Oh, I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t think you’d still be here, and I wanted to come and collect my things.” I nod my head toward the little desk with my files, and stationary still sat in the same place they were yesterday.
“Hello, Miss Clayton, no problem, please, collect your belongings.” He watches me as I move through his office. An arrogant smile curves onto his lips. He doesn’t even hide the fact he’s staring at my ass. A shiver passes down my spine. This guy is such a dirtbag.
I busy myself collecting my belongings into my handbag. His footsteps echo across the hardwood floor as he approaches. “I’m ever so sorry that you were caught in the middle of all of this,” his voice is low. “Bryson pulled the wool over all our eyes.”
I wonder what he intends to do. I turn around once I pick up my last pen and stare at him. “Are you saying you had no idea what he was up to?”
He smirks. “It is a little hard to believe that Bryson Stafford would be intelligent enough to pull this off on his own, isn’t it?” He swaggers toward the sofa on the far wall and pats the seat next to him. “Have a chat with me, Tessa.”
I move to sit next to him and drop my bag by the side of the sofa. “After everything, I’m not sure I can keep working here anymore. It’s been so stressful.”
Theo takes my hand in his, and despite wanting to punch the guy in the face, I let him. “I understand, Miss Clayton, but I’d love to have a woman like you working beside me.” He winks and leans toward me. I realize if I’m going to get any information out of this guy, I’ve got to act as if I’m into this.
I let him capture my lips in a short kiss before breaking away. “Mr. Stafford, isn’t it inappropriate for a CEO to kiss his employee?”
“Did that stop you from kissing my brother? I heard you and him getting rather hot and heavy in here the other night.” Heat travels through me, settling on the back of my neck.
“Y-You did?”
He nods and leans down to kiss my neck.
This is bad. “Aren’t you upset about what happened? That your brother pulled the wool over your eyes. I guess that’s why he was always considered the most intelligent, running such a scheme for a long time without getting caught.”
It seems I caught his attention with that, as he straightens in the chair. “More intelligent? Who the hell says that?”
I shrug. “I heard someone on the first floor saying he’s always been the most intelligent out of the two of you. Isn’t that true?”
He shakes his head. “It’s always the stupid ones that get caught. Bryson has never had an affinity with numbers and science like I do.”
“What do you mean, it’s the stupid ones that get caught?”
“He got caught because he’s stupid. I didn’t because I’m intelligent.”
“Are you saying you were involved?”
“I’m saying I was the mastermind behind it.” He cocks his head to the side. “That’s just between you and me.” He moves his lips to mine again, and I let him kiss me, not wanting to blow my cover yet.
He pulls away. “Does that turn you on, baby? That I’m behind all of this. I’m left in the clear while Bryson goes to jail for a crime he didn’t commit.” He kisses my neck, and I let him despite the sickness twisting my gut. He has confessed, which means the Wynton PD should be up here any minute to bail me out.
He stops kissing me and gazes into my eyes. “My father is very ill. He will die soon and leave me the company. I need someone like you by my side. Imagine how unstoppable we could be together.” He doesn’t even sound upset about his father’s illness. He kisses my neck again, and I want to puke. When the hell are they going to arrive?
I stand, unable to stomach any more of his fawning over me. “Theo, this is all so much to take in.” I rub the back of my neck, unsure of what to do.
He stands and grips my waist. “You can’t walk away from me now. I’ve told you the truth, and I need you to stay here at the company.” There’s an edge of a threat underlining his words.
Finally, the police bust in through the door. “Theo Stafford, don’t move.” Detective Braxton shouts, holding a gun in his direction.
His eyes widen, a
nd then he glares at me. “Fucking bitch, you set me up,” he shouts as I shift away from him and back behind the cops. My heart skips a beat as Bryson steps through the door and locks eyes with me.
“Hello, little brother,” he says, grabbing my hand as he steps up next to me. I smile up at him. “I’m afraid it is over.” He pulls the wire out from beneath my blouse. “We heard everything. Not to mention, Tessa has footage of you entering Wells Fargo posing as me.”
He shakes his head in shock, unable to stay anything. Detective Braxton tackles Theo to the ground, and they cuff him, although he is trying to hit anyone that gets near him. He ends up kicking on the floor like a kid having a tantrum.
The police officers drag him out of the office, leaving me alone with Bryson. He looks a little torn as he watches the door where his brother is dragged out. “I can’t quite believe it,” he mutters, shaking his head.
I shift to stand in front of him and take his chin in my hands. “I’m so sorry, Bryson.” I shake my head. “I’m sorry I ever doubted you.” I gaze deep into his blue eyes.
He smiles at me. “Tessa, you have no reason to apologize. You saved me from prison and proved I’m innocent. How can I ever thank you?”
My heart breaks a little as I wonder if he feels the same way about me as I feel about him. Tears prickle my eyes, and I turn away and take a few steps away.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
I clear my throat. “Did you mean it? Before, when you said…” My throat closes up, and I can’t even ask him. Tears spill from my eyes as the fear of heartbreak and rejection paralyzes me.
He places a hand on my shoulder and spins me around. “Did I mean what, Tessa?”
I shake my head and gaze at the floor. He can’t see me cry. He can’t see how vulnerable he makes me. “It doesn’t matter.” I try to walk past him, but he stops me.
He pulls me into his arms and lifts my chain to look at him. “Did I mean that I want to date you for real? Hell yeah, I meant it.” He shakes his head. “Tessa, I know we haven’t known each other that long, but I’ve fallen for you, hard.” He presses his lips against my own. “When they arrested me, do you know the one thing I worried about the most?”
I shake my head in answer.
“Never seeing you again, I didn’t care about the company or the money, only you.”
I can’t quite believe what I’m hearing. My heart beats fast as I pull him toward me and kiss him.
He pulls away and gazes into my eyes. “I love you, Tessa Clayton.”
“I love you, too,” I say, past the pain coating the sides of my throat.
He pulls me into him again, and we get lost in each other until someone clears their throat behind us. Detective Braxton is standing at the doorway. “Sorry to interrupt, I just wanted to let you know we’re finished up and heading back to the precinct now.”
“Did you get enough evidence to clear Bryson?”
He smiles wide. “Thanks to you, yes. Bryson is clear, and Theo will go to jail for what he did. There’s no way he’s going to weasel his way out of this one.” He turns back toward the door. “Both of you take it easy.” He gives us a knowing smile and leaves the two of us alone in Bryson’s office.
Bryson turns to the door and locks it before giving me a look that sends a shiver of need through me. “Come here,” he demands.
I walk toward him, and he pulls me against his muscular chest. “I’ve missed you,” he whispers into my ear.
My brow furrows. “It’s only been twenty-four hours.”
He kisses my neck, and I moan. “Twenty-four hours too long, baby.” He trails kisses up my neck. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you the entire time.”
“I’m so glad it wasn’t true. At first, I thought–”
Bryson silences me with a kiss. “It’s all over now.” He trails kisses along my neck and shoulder, unbuttoning my blouse. I submit to him, allowing him to undress me. The look in his eyes is a mix of adoration and lust.
He lifts me into his arms and carries me over to the sofa I’d been sitting on with Theo. His touch is soft and slow, as he works my skirt loose and slides it down my legs. He frees himself of his clothes and stands, towering above me, naked. The sight of him makes my mouth water. He shifts to kneel between my legs and closes his mouth over the bundle of nerves at the apex of my thighs.
“Bryson,” I gasp his name, as he thrusts two fingers inside of me, curling them to hit the spot that makes my toes curl. Within seconds of his mouth working my clit, I’m ready to tip over the edge.
He stops at the moment I’m about to come undone and withdraws his fingers, making me whimper in protest. My body tenses as I feel him circle my back hole with his finger, wet with my arousal. “Relax,” he says, as he slides his finger through the tight muscles of my ass.
It’s so fucking dirty. My boss has his finger up my ass in his office, and I can’t quite believe it. The sensation makes everything ten times more pleasurable as he thrusts his finger in and out of me. I’ve tried it before and enjoyed it, but never with a man endowed like Bryson.
“Do you like my finger in your asshole?” he growls.
I tremble beneath him and nod. “Yes, are you going to fuck me there?” I ask.
His eyes are dilated with pure desire. He shakes his head, and my stomach dips. I wanted him to.
“Why not?”
His eyes narrow. “Do you want me to fuck your ass?”
I glance between his thick, long length and his finger, which is thrusting in and out. Would it fit? I’m so damn needy. I don’t seem to care. “Yes, I want you to fuck my ass, sir.”
He growls and kisses me hard, his finger still pumping in and out of my hole, making me moan. “Not today, Tessa, you’re not ready for me.”
The pressure building within me is the promise of release soon as he lights up every nerve with his finger and licks my pussy at the same time. I love the way it feels. It’s so filthy but so good. He doesn’t let up as I squirm beneath him. His teeth graze over my clit and pleasure explodes through me.
“Fuck, Bryson,” I scream his name as I come on his mouth. He’s still licking my juices from my dripping wet slit, his finger still pumping in and out of my back hole, stirring the need to feel him inside me. “I need you inside me,” I rasp out.
His aquamarine eyes light up as he fists his huge length with his hand, sitting back on his haunches. I take in the sight of him. He looks amazing with his muscles straining as he runs his hand from root to tip of his huge cock between his legs. “How much do you need me?”
“I need you so bad, Bryson, please.”
“I love you begging me,” He growls as he shifts between my thighs and positions the head of his cock in line with my entrance, sliding it between my wet lips. He glides into me, gazing into my eyes as inch by inch, he sinks deeper.
I link my hands behind his neck and pull his lips to mine, kissing him as he moves in and out of me slow and deep. The pressure inside me wells again the moment he stretches my pussy, filling me. He’s driving deep in the most pleasurable way, hitting that part of me that no one ever has before him. He pulls back from the kiss and licks a path down my neck as he continues to fuck me, harder and faster now. The intensity is growing as I claw my fingertips into his back, needing more of him.
He stops when I’m about to come and leans towards me, kissing my lips and then nipping my ear. “On your hands and knees,” he commands.
I turn around and shift to the floor, dropping to my knees and baring myself to him. He thrusts his cock inside me without warning, and next, I feel his slick finger back inside my tight hole.
Fuck.
His grunts become animalistic as he drives into me hard and fast, hitting the spot inside me that promises release. He fucks my pussy with his cock and my ass with his finger. I gasp as he adds another slick finger into my ass, stretching it out more. I know I won’t last long as he pounds me like this with his fingers in there. It’s filthy, but it turns me on like n
othing ever has.
“Bryson, I’m coming,” I scream as the pressure wells to breaking point and a far more intense orgasm rocks through me.
His cock hardens inside me, and then he grunts against my neck as he comes undone too, shooting his seed deep inside of me. We rest together for a moment; The rasping of our heavy breathing fills the air.
He breaks the silence, “You’re so fucking filthy, Tessa, begging me to fuck your ass.”
I can’t help but moan even though I’m spent. “I want you to.”
He nips my ear with his teeth. “I will. I’m going to claim all your holes, but not today. We best get dressed,” he mutters into my ear.
He retreats from on top of me and turns to find our clothes scattered about his office. I watch the man I love in awe, as he heads toward the bathroom to clean up. He’s more perfect than I ever could have believed I deserved. When he returns, he passes me my skirt and blouse.
I pull them back on before turning to face Bryson, who is dressed before me.
“I think it’s about time I take you on a proper date.” He winks.
I can’t help but laugh. “Yeah, well, normally, you go on a date and then have sex.”
He walks up to me and wraps his arms around my waist. “I intend to make love to you after as well,” he whispers in my ear.
I moan, shocked at how wanton I am for this man. I’ve just come twice, but it’s not enough, it’s never enough. Bryson is my addiction.
24
Bryson
I sit in the dreary gray interrogation room across a scratched-up aluminum table from my father. We’ve been brought in to answer some routine questions. I’d spent some time in the past in places like this, waiting for my dad to come to bail me out. This time I’m here because my brother is a greedy idiot. My dad isn’t looking too well, and I feel bad that he’s been dragged into this.
“Are you okay?” I ask.