by Maggie Kane
“That’s bullshit. The presentation was perfect, and I would have nailed it,” I spat back at him. Then added, “And you know it. You just couldn’t stand to let someone else have the stage even for a small fish like Neighbor’s Windows.”
Lucas had rocked back in his plush leather office chair and steepled his fingers like he was the fucking Godfather or something. He regarded me blandly and then said, “Don’t get your panties in a twist, Mia. I promised Garrett that I would be nice to you. You can do the next pitch on your own.”
There were two bombshells in that statement and I didn’t know which one to process first. “Garret? Next pitch,” I sputtered and finally got my mind to tackle the most pressing bit of information. “Are you saying you’re offering me a position at Ashby-Morgan?”
He looked smug and said, “Of course, I told my big brother that I would hire you unless you were a complete fuck up. Fortunately for us, you’re actually pretty good. I would have hated having to keep you around just to keep Garrett happy. Your employment agreement is on your desk waiting for signatures.”
I had just stood there, completely at a loss. Garrett was his brother and he had told Lucas to hire me. My temper had boiled over. “You can keep your employee agreement. I don’t take handouts.” I whirled on my heel and practically ran all the way out of the building.
I had been driving ever since, but now it was time to settle a few things. Yes, sir, Garrett had a lot of explaining to do.
Chapter 20
Garrett
I look up at the slight tap on my door that is Mike’s idea of a knock. I don’t bother answering because I know he will open the door and come in whether I tell him to or not.
“Hey, man, your babe just pulled up.”
“Her name is Mia,” I correct automatically. All women below 65 are ‘babe’ to Mike. “What is she doing here,” I wonder out loud as I stand.
“I don’t know, but she looks pissed,” he says just before Mia herself pushes past him into the office.
Pissed is probably the understatement of the century. Apocalyptic would be closer to it, and even that falls short. Mike takes one look at the storm brewing and beats a hasty retreat, leaving me to deal with Hurricane Mia. Thanks, buddy, I think and regard her warily. Whatever has gotten her this worked up has to be major, and I have a sinking feeling that it isn’t going to bode well for me.
“Where the fuck to do you get off telling Lucas Ashby anything about me? I don’t need you to make your little brother be nice to me. How dare you, Garrett?” Mia is shaking with rage and her eyes are hard and angry.
Oh, fuck. Thanks so much little brother, I think. I take a breath in and try to decide how to do damage control. All those weeks ago, threatening Lucas had seemed like the right thing to do. He had been way out of line, and someone needed to set him straight. Knowing Mia better now, I realize she is more than capable of handling my idiot brother. I don’t regret intervening on her behalf, though and would do it all over again.
I blow out my breath in a long exhale and say the only thing that I think might help salvage the situation- the truth. “Mia, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. When you told me that he had propositioned you, put his hands on you, I about lost my mind. I couldn’t stand the thought of you having to deal with that.”
“Bullshit. You just wanted your baby brother to know that I was yours. You were marking your tree, staking your claim, nothing more.” She looked disgusted with me, Lucas, and the entire male population. Unfortunately, she had a point.
“He needed to be taught a lesson. I wasn’t going to let him hurt you,” I reply in my most calm voice. I am starting to get angry too. After all, I was only trying to protect her.
“I don’t need you to fight my battles for me, Garrett. I don’t need anyone’s help. I do just fine by myself. So take your protection and shove it.” With a look of utter contempt and loathing, she storms out of my office.
I drop into my chair vacillating between anger, concern, and regret. Mia is the most stubborn person I have ever met. She is so determined to do it all on her own. I am only trying to help and she acts like I committed a federal offense. I know she hasn’t had it easy. The little she has told me about her childhood confirms that she has had to scrap and fight her way through life. I respect her for that. However, it is time for “tough as nails, I don’t need anybody” Mia Andrews to learn to bend.
Chapter 21
Mia
I start to cry about halfway home. I hate that I’m crying but don’t try to fight it. I know that it is just my body’s way of letting off some steam so I don’t have an aneurysm. I am wiping my eyes and blowing my nose as I walk into my tiny home. I plan on taking a long hot shower and spending some quality time with the two men in my life that don’t routinely try to fuck me over- Ben and Jerry.
It takes me a few minutes of sitting on the couch wrapped in my bathrobe with a spoon in one hand a half a tub of Chunky Monkey in the other to realize there is an envelope sitting on the coffee table. It takes another moment more to realize that it isn’t my coffee table. My coffee table has duct tape holding the corners together and is missing the doors to the little cabinet underneath it. This one is a nice, glossy, real wood, coffee table that is sans duct tape and has all of its pieces.
I glance around the room. The curtains are hanging on an actual rod and not the old broom handle that had been posing as a curtain rod. The glass pane in the door isn’t cracked. I numbly get up and wander into the kitchen. The stove is new and a small microwave sits on the counter. The fridge has a new door that doesn’t require a coat hanger to hold it closed.
I go back to the note on the coffee table.
Mia,
Congrats getting through your internship. I am so thankful you are in my life. I recently came into an extra $700. I thought you might like some things to celebrate your new career.
Enjoy,
Garrett
My eyes fill with tears. What a stupid, sweet man, I think, sinking down on the couch. My anger starts to deflate as I think about Garrett. He was a controlling, dominant man but not in a bad way. His motivation comes from wanting to protect, care for and nurture. He doesn’t get off on controlling people the way Lucas does. I sigh and chew my lip. Can I be with someone who wants to run everything- including me?
I know the answer to that. I reach for my phone to send a text.
Chapter 22
Garrett
My phone chimed indicating a text from Mia: Come over. We need to talk. I will be home all evening.
I read the cryptic message again, thinking that it sounds like I am about to get dumped. I’ve worked myself into a thoroughly pissy mood by the time I pull up outside her house. I was only trying to help. If she can’t see that, then she can take her ‘I can do it all myself’ attitude and see how far she gets with it. I try to keep ahold of my righteous indignation and let the very real pain of thinking of life without her take root.
I don’t even bother knocking. I open the door, ready for battle. The small living room is empty, and there are candles burning everywhere. The kitchen is dark, but there is more soft light spilling from the open bedroom doorway. I slowly follow the trail of light and pause in the doorway. My heart stutters, and my mouth goes dry when I see her.
Mia is sitting in a kitchen chair with her back to the door. Her hair is down in soft brown curls and she is in a blindfold- only a blindfold. On the bed is a selection of scarves and, completing the surprise, is a vibrator lying among them.
Candlelight is dancing on the walls and across her skin. I take several moments to absorb the scene and its message.
“Does this mean I’m not getting dumped,” I ask softly as I come to stand behind her. I rest my hands lightly on her bare shoulders and feel a slight tremor at my touch.
“It means, I’m yours, Garrett.”
I close my eyes and let her words sink in. I squeeze her shoulders and kneel behind the chair. I sweep her hair to the side and so
ftly kiss her neck and behind her ear. “I’m never going to let you go,” I whisper, meaning every word. “You are mine, now and forever, Mia.” I kiss her favorite spot and feel her trembling increase.
I kiss and suck her neck, reaching around to cup and squeeze her breasts. Her head drops back as she revels in my touch. I stand and grab a scarf from the bed. I tie around one wrist, kissing her while I do it. I pull it under the chair and tie her other wrist. I kiss her mouth and drop to my knees to feast on her breasts. I suck her nipples each in turn. She is pushing them toward me, drawing her shoulders back. I can feel her breath coming fast.
I grab two more scarves and tie each of her legs to the chair legs. She is wide open to me and is so beautiful that I can barely control myself. I take off my clothes quickly, desperate to be free of their confinement. I straddle Mia and the chair and use my hard cock to trace her lips. She opens greedily and I slide between her lips. Her moan makes me even harder and I gently work my hips back and forth. She sucks hard every time I pull back, making me answer her moan with one of my own. Her mouth must be as close to heaven as a guy can get.
I could let her do this to me all night, but I have more things in mind for my sexy goddess. Slowly, I pull myself free of her luscious mouth and grab the vibrator from the bed. I can imagine her lying on the bed; legs spread using the toy on her clit and sliding it inside herself. I can imagine her back arching and her cries of pleasure as she makes herself orgasm. She hasn’t seen anything yet.
I press her knees as wide as they go as I get on the floor in front of her. I lower my mouth and with one strong lick, I part her folds and slide hard over her clit. Her pelvis rocks up under my mouth and she whimpers, asking for more. I work her hard with my tongue, and then back off to feather light pressure. I pull her so she is sitting just on the edge of the chair. The bonds on her arms and legs let her balance against them. I slide the cylindrical vibrator on its lowest setting inside her while I spread her lips with my other hand. I blow and tickle her clit with the whisper-soft contact. Her response is incredible. She arches hard against her restraints and her head drops back.
“Fuck, Garrett. Yes,” she hisses.
I move the vibrator inside her slowly, and I know when it finds her most sensitive spot. She spasms hard. I drop my mouth to work my tongue firmly over and over her clit. Cries of pleasure burst from her lips and she rocks hard, shaking the chair and pulling furiously against her restraints. She starts squirming under the pressure and I release her, sliding the slippery toy from her pussy.
“You are so beautiful when you cum for me,” I tell her as I untie her. She is breathing like she has been running sprints and crumples forward, resting her head on my hip.
I pull her to her feet and gently guide her to the bed. I pull her blindfold off as I slide inside her. I want to see her eyes as she explodes again. I lower my mouth and kiss her hot and hard. She responds and pulls me tightly to her with her arms and legs. Our mouths slide over each other, tongues tasting and exploring.
I drop my head to work down her neck as my hips start to move. Her legs pull me into her with every thrust. She is tight and hot and wet. Every thrust is met with a small moan and she clenches around me. I set a fast tempo and she rocks herself hard to meet my thrusts. The energy builds, and her hips are frantically slamming into mine.
She drags my mouth to hers, sucking my bottom lip. I can feel myself getting close and ramp up the pace one more notch. She matches me and drives us both like runaway horses straight over the cliff. A roar of absolute pleasure leaves me as I explode inside her. She is raking her nails down my back and bucking like a wild thing underneath me. We move together until we both start to come down. I stay inside her, covering her body with mine. Our kisses are long and tender, communicating so much more than words. A long time later, I shift off of her and pull her to my chest. She sighs contentedly and her fingers trace patterns across my pectorals.
“I won’t stop trying to help you in any way I think I can,” I say quietly. I feel like I need to make sure that she knows I am what I am.
“I know. I won’t always appreciate your help, but I will always remember it is offered with love,” she whispers back, kissing my chest.
“I’m so glad you didn’t dump me,” I murmur against her hair as that post-orgasmic drowsiness pulls me under.
Just before I slip into the realm of dreams, I hear her say, “Me, too.”
Epilogue
Mia
Garrett and I are celebrating our three month anniversary today. Our wedding is still a month away, but I feel like we’ve been together forever. I never knew how amazing it could feel to have another person to share your life with.
Not that it is all sunshine and roses. We’ve had our share of rough road. Moving out of my little bungalow was harder than I would have thought. Of course, there’s my job as well. It took a lot of convincing to keep Garrett out of my career path. He finally, although ungraciously, agreed to stay in the backseat on that particular journey. It helped that Mr. Morgan took me under his wing, and I don’t deal directly with Lucas anymore. I didn’t argue when Garrett insisted that I take over the management of his portfolio. It gives us an excuse to have business lunches that are almost always accompanied by a noon-time quickie in his office.
Garrett has been working all morning, like most Saturday mornings, on his current project, a motorcycle for me. I had been hooked on riding from the first time I slid behind him and we rode our favorite stretch of Highway 54. A big machine vibrating between my legs, Garrett warm and solid for me to wrap my arms around- what’s not to like. He assures me that I’ll like driving my own even more than riding with him.
I have been waiting patiently for him to finish, doing a bit of my own work this morning, but I can’t concentrate. I want him badly this morning and decide I don’t want to wait any longer. I slip upstairs and change into something I know he is going to like.
I pad in my stocking feet downstairs. I move quietly, trying to emulate his ninja style.
“Hey, baby. What are you up to,” he asks, not looking up from the part he is working on. I pout a little. Try as I might, I just can’t perfect ‘the sneak’.
“Oh nothing,” I say, standing there, waiting for him to look at me. “I brought you something to drink. I just thought you might be thirsty”
“Thanks, babe. Give me a second- I almost have this. Did you get the proposal done,” he asks, still with the hunk of metal in his hands.
I stand, fiddling with the can of Coke and wait. He finally realizes that I haven’t responded and looks up.
Garrett’s hands go still and I can’t help but smile. Gotcha, I think. I might not be able to sneak, but I know how to get his attention. I knew it would only take one look.
I am standing in front of him in fishnet, thigh high stockings and a white baby-doll negligee. My breasts are spilling out the top and the sheer fabric clearly shows my pink, hard nipples. I love the silky fabric against my skin so I move slightly so I can feel it swish against me. He smiles one of his lopsided smiles that make me hot and cold all over. It is the smile of someone who is about to get his cake and eat it too.
“It’s kind of hot down here. I thought you might be thirsty,” I say as I take the cold can of soda and run it down my neck and across the top of my breasts, shivering with the cold sensation. My nipples pucker harder. The sensation is wonderful.
Garrett slowly extricates himself from under the bike and sits on the floor looking up at me. I give him a smile and hand over the can of soda. He opens it automatically and sips, watching me as I pull over a chair.
I put one foot on the chair and slowly begin to work my stocking down. I take my time, occasionally looking at him and enjoying the intent look on his face as he watches my hands. I push the stocking down a few inches and then let my hands run the full length of my leg, caressing from my toes up to my hip and then back to where I had stopped with the stocking. I work the stocking down a few more inches and then
slide my fingers up my inner thigh and across the lips of my pussy. I want to stop and stroke myself, but I know that it isn’t time. Not yet, so I take a deep breath and go back to work on the stocking. I am slow and deliberate, giving him a show. I love the way he licks his lips occasionally and shifts a bit, making room for his growing arousal. At last, I pull the stocking free and drop it on the floor.
I sit on the edge of the chair and extend my stocking clad leg in his direction.
“Help me with this one,” I ask, as I run my hands up my leg and hooked a thumb under the top of the stocking. I spread my legs wide letting him see the lacy white thong and how damp it already is.
Garret smiles and hums a low assent as he slides over to me and positions himself on the floor in front of me. I lean down and kiss him gently. “My hands are dirty,” he warns. As if to make his point, he places his hands on each of my inner thighs and spreads my legs wider. When he takes his hands away, greasy fingerprints mark my soft white flesh.