Man in Charge, Book 1

by Laurelin Paige

  “You,” he said in turn. His tone seemed to both appreciate my scorn and know full well the source of it. “I was hoping we’d meet again.”

  “I was hoping we wouldn’t.”

  “Funny, I don’t believe you.”

  He wasn’t an idiot, and the truth was glaringly evident. I couldn’t stop staring. My eyes were magnetically drawn to him. He was so gorgeous, it made me need to take a seat, and I was already sitting. His hair was lighter, I realized, than I’d figured in the dark. Brownish-red with golden hues, so perfectly messy in distribution that it had to be natural. His eyes were a killer blue. I’d always been a sucker for blue eyes. And for stupid-hot player types. It was like he’d been ordered up for me specifically, a Tessa Turani cocktail guaranteed to make me mind-numbingly drunk from just looking at him.

  “Can I buy you a shot?” he asked, as if I needed alcohol when he was in my system.

  Somehow I managed to pull my gaze away. “It’s an open bar.”

  “In that case, I can afford to buy you two.” He summoned the bartender who hadn’t gone far, that nosy little spy. “Four shots of…” Blue Eyes looked at me. “Tequila all right?”

  How had he known? “The source of many a bad decision.”

  “Tequila it is.”

  He was so smooth. Much smoother than the liquor would be, I knew from experience.

  Yet, I didn’t object when the bartender put the four shots in front of us, along with a shaker of salt and a bowl of limes.

  Just seeing the setup made me want to take my clothes off. Or maybe it was Blue Eyes that did that. He knew how to fill a tux, and I had a feeling he looked even better with it off.

  He and the bartender knew exactly where this was going. How dumb was I?

  I held up a single shot. “A little obvious, don’t you think?”

  “That I want to be one of your bad decisions?” He lifted one as well. “I thought honesty was deserved after what we’ve been through together.”

  “As if we’ve gone through a bonding experience.”

  “I found it incredibly bonding. See, you watched.” He leaned in close, lowering his voice to a rasp that only I could hear. “And I find that very, very hot.”

  A shiver ran down my spine. Yeah, I needed the tequila. Skipping the salt, I shot the first glass back then reached for a lime. I cringed, not just from the sour taste but from the words he’d said and my reaction to them.

  I shook my head. “And you’re bonded with women that you find hot?”

  “Temporarily,” he grinned. “Yes.”

  That smile was a serious weapon. “There’s that honesty again,” I said, pretending that I wasn’t doomed. “I should give you credit for it.”

  “You should.” He poured back his own shot, no salt, no lime. He was letting me know he was hardcore, in case that did it for me.

  Of course it did. My type to a T.

  Perhaps it was because he was so perfectly my weakness that I continued to fight it. “Just because I watched didn’t mean that I found it hot.”

  “But you did.”

  “I never said that.” I’d said I found him hot. It wasn’t the same thing.

  He shrugged as if the semantics didn’t matter. “You didn’t have to.”

  No, I didn’t. I was a puddle of wet for him. He didn’t have to put his hand between my legs to know.

  I swiveled toward him, finally giving in. I lifted the second drink up so that we could clink them together when he lifted his. We shot them back together, and though I tried to resist, I broke down and sucked on the lime.

  I could feel his eyes on me as I did, scorching with their intensity. I could practically hear his thoughts. She’ll taste like citrus when I kiss her.

  I had to cross my legs to ease the ache. “Who said you were the reason I watched?” This time I was flirting. Teyana would be so proud when I told her later. “Maybe it was Eden I found hot.”

  “It wasn’t.”

  He’d gotten closer, somehow without even seeming to move. Instead of two people sitting next to each other, we were two people sharing one space. His body pressed against the outside of my thigh. I could feel that touch everywhere. My nipples steepled like antennas attempting to draw more of that electricity in.

  He reached out to brush a lock of my hair behind my ear, then let his fingers trail down my neck.

  “You’re rather sure of yourself,” I whispered.

  “Tell me your name. I’ll make you sure of me too.”

  I stood up in a sudden panic. “No. No names.”

  “I didn’t think it was possible, but I’m even more turned on.”

  On my feet, the world felt a hell of a lot less steady. It was the alcohol, of course, but also it was him, this charming brute of a man. Saying charming things and smiling his charming smile and gazing at me with his charming blue eyes.

  Dumb and doomed. That was me. “I think I should leave.”

  “Let me take you.”

  I knew I couldn’t agree to that. Letting him take me to the apartment I shared with Teyana in Jersey City would be as bad as giving him my name. Besides, I was staying at Kendra’s, and I definitely couldn’t lead him there.

  But I’d had enough drinks to make it difficult to think straight, and if he was offering to take me to his home, we both knew the answer wasn’t no.

  Three

  My trip to the lobby would have been embarrassing if I’d been sober enough to recognize it. Walking was impossible without holding on to Blue Eyes’ arm, which I clutched onto for dear life. Truth be told, I would have clutched it anyway. It would have been a shame to ignore it once he’d offered it. Even with the material of his tux between my hand and his bicep, I could tell it was a very nicely shaped bicep.

  I’m pretty sure I told him so in the elevator because Blue Eyes turned to the elderly couple who was riding with us. “She has a thing for toned biceps.”

  “I actually do,” I said with a smile.

  The returning smile from the couple wasn’t quite as polite.

  When we were out of the elevator, one glance at the distance to the outside doors, and I knew I wasn’t going to make it, even with the help of toned biceps. “Hold on,” I said. Pressing a palm to his chest for support, I bent over and worked off one of the sky-high sandals, then the other. “Much better,” I sighed when my bare feet met the marble floor.

  “I’m pretty sure there’s a no shoes, no entrance policy.” But from his tone of voice and the glint in his eyes, I gathered he was more amused than concerned.

  “Better get me outside then quick.”

  He didn’t waste a single second ushering me out of the building. When we got to the curb, he only had to nod to the doorman, and his car pulled up, as if it had been waiting for him. Blue Eyes was smoother than I’d realized—I hadn’t even seen him pull out his phone, and he must have called or texted ahead for such quick service.

  I would have remarked on the fact if I hadn’t been so distracted by the car itself. “A limo?”

  “The Maybach’s in the shop.”

  I assumed it was a joke, but it might not have been. Considering he’d actually been invited to the froufrou party upstairs, he might very well have owned a high-class Mercedes. More likely, he’d rented the limo and was simply trying to impress.

  I was impressed. I was also stubborn enough not to let on. “I suppose it will do.” I handed my shoes to Blue Eyes then slid across the back bench. “Comfy.”

  “Glad you approve.” He was smirking when he joined me. And despite all the ample room in the vehicle, he sat pretty darn close.

  I had to catch my breath. “Well, hello.”

  “Hello yourself.”

  This close, in the confines of such a small place, I could smell his rosewood cologne. Or maybe it was sandalwood. I wasn’t experienced enough with male fragrances to be able to correctly identify more than the fact that it was woody, and it smelled nice. And that it was the kind of scent that made me heady and outside m
yself.

  That could also have been the copious amounts of liquor.

  Whatever the cause, I knew then that I was in real trouble with this boy.

  A well-mannered voice boomed through a speaker near my head. “Destination, sir?”

  Blue Eyes reached past me to hit an intercom button, then he looked to me, as though waiting for me to say something.

  Oh, fuck. He wanted my address.

  It was appropriate, I supposed. Allowing me to direct where this would go next instead of making assumptions. Even drunk I recognized it as admirable.

  I was a little annoyed at the same time. I resented having to be the one to make the decision and almost wished he would have just given the order to go to his place, and then I could have feigned shock and dismay while secretly being thrilled and relieved.

  So it was my job to say the words. Take me to your place. It was on the tip of my tongue.

  But I was headstrong and wanted a little more of the chase. “Could we just drive around awhile?”

  “You heard the lady.” His grin said he didn’t mind more of the chase himself.

  The car jolted into motion, the swerve out of the drive into traffic throwing me in his direction. He caught me in his arms, and my heartbeat stuttered. There was so much wild energy between us, I could barely handle being held by him like this. And we still had all our clothes on. Doomed, I say.

  “Doomed?”

  Shit. Hadn’t meant to say that aloud.

  Needing to take hold of my dignity, I pulled out of his arms. “Wasn’t ready for the car to start. Aren’t there seatbelts in these things?”

  There was a seatbelt, it turned out, but as soon as I started examining the vehicle’s interior, I found many other features to appreciate. “You have a printer? In your car?” I shut the cabinet that had revealed the computer and charging station and opened another to find a television. This was not like the party limo from my trip to Vegas. “What’s on your side?”

  “The fridge. The bar. Can I get you something to eat? Some water?” He was studying me like he wanted to devour me. It was his restraint that made me squirm the most.

  I wondered how Eden had borne it as well as she had. She’d come away from their encounter with a bit of smudged makeup, but she was at least able to hold her head up. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to leave this car at anything but a crawl.

  The encounter with Eden back in my head had me suddenly wary. “Was she your girlfriend?”

  “Who?”

  It was amazing how patient he was with my subject jumps, as though he was ready to follow anywhere I led.

  “Eden.”

  “Oh. No. No.” He dragged the last no out like the idea was ludicrous.

  I believed his answer, but I’d known manipulative men before. The kind who rely heavily on the questions worded. You asked if she was my girlfriend, not if I was married. “Your wife?”

  “Nope.” He guessed my next question before I asked. “No one else is either.”

  I had already checked out his hand and found neither a band nor a tan line. Even just a one-night encounter, I refused to be party to infidelity.

  I pivoted so I was facing him. “So nobody has reason to later say you cheated by being in this car with me?”

  His hand found its way to rest on my knee. Lightly, above my skirt. Nothing scandalous, and yet I felt thoroughly scandalized. “That kind of accusation would require something to happen between us. Right now, all I’ve done is offer a beautiful woman a ride home.”

  “I’m not going to be distracted by the charm, you charm...whore.”

  He laughed. “Charm-whore?”

  “I know, it didn’t even make sense in my head. And you avoided the question.”

  His eyes moved from mine to the hand on my knee that was now toying with the tulle, as though he were inspecting the fabric instead of casually planning his voyage underneath. “I am not currently obligated to anyone in any way.”

  “Okay.” I relaxed a little. Let myself start to accept that I was really going to do this. I was really going to let this filthy-hot rich man have his filthy-hot way with me.

  I never let my guard down easily, though, and I was curious by nature. “Then how did that hookup even transpire? You weren’t into her, you weren’t obliged to her…Why would you even…?”

  “Do you really want to spend this time talking about Eden?”

  I shivered as his palm met the bare flesh of my lower thigh even though the touch itself was searing. “I just…” What had I been saying? What had I been thinking? “I mean, if you’re that nice to a girl you aren’t interested in, how nice are you to a girl you like?”

  “Lucky you, you’re about to find out.” He bent forward then, and I raised my face thinking he was coming in for my lips. Instead, he landed on my jaw, and whoa. Somehow that was even more electrifying, the press of his open mouth against my skin, an almost kiss. A tease. A taunt.

  I turned my head to chase after him, but he’d already moved on, lower, to my neck. Without thinking to do so, I tilted my chin up, giving him better access. Of course, as soon as I gave him that, he’d advanced again, peppering kisses down my décolletage before kissing along my breasts where they swelled above the dress.

  He was fast, giving me no time to adjust to one sensation before giving me another, and yet it also felt achingly slow. I arched my back, a silent plea for him to discover more of me, all of me. My nipples ached with a need so urgent, I half wished he would tear the bust of my dress down so he could get to them. I didn’t even care that it wasn’t my dress that I’d be sacrificing nor that I didn’t have the five grand to pay Kendra back for its destruction.

  Fortunately for my future self who very much wanted to keep her employment, Blue Eyes had other plans. Abruptly he shifted, and next thing I knew, he was on the ground in front of me. On his knees, his mouth in my lap, kissing first above my navel before moving to the apex of my thighs.

  Even with the layers of tulle, I felt his mouth there, pressed against my clit, and if I hadn’t been before, I certainly was wet now.

  “You smell incredible,” he said, his voice rough, like my scent had a potent effect on him.

  Holy hell, he was dirty.

  And I was there for it. I pressed my knees apart, making space for him.

  “Is that an invitation? Because I can’t go any further unless it is.”

  Oh, he was good. “Don’t tell me you’re the kind of guy who makes a woman ask for it.”

  His fingers circled around my ankles, and even so far away from where I wanted them, I felt the jolt on my pussy as though they were there instead. “You had been awfully concerned about consent earlier.” He trailed the tips of his fingers up the side of my calves to the outside of my knees.

  “I was concerned when it was Eden. Personally, I prefer a little less give and a little more take.”

  That was all the permission he needed. With a firm yank, my ass was pulled to the edge of the bench, then my knees pushed together, which confused me until I realized his goal was the removal of my panties. I was at once grateful that I’d worn my prettiest white lace and also regretful when he stashed them in his jacket pocket, and I realized I’d never see them again.

  Worth the price, I decided when my knees were pressed open again, my dress pushed up, and I saw the expression on his face.

  Devastated. That’s how he looked. Completely devastated, in all the good ways.

  Now he knew how I felt.

  Reverently, he stroked the tip of his finger down my seam. “This is a pretty pussy.”

  My skin felt hot everywhere. No one had ever said anything like that to me before. I couldn’t decide if I was mortified or just really fucking turned on. I decided to lean into the latter. “Yeah?” I asked, wanting to hear it again.

  “Oh, yeah.”

  I wanted him to say more, but then he leaned forward and traced his tongue along the same path his finger had made, and suddenly there was only one thing I w
anted his mouth to be doing, and it wasn’t talking.

  “Taste as good as you smell,” he said when he’d reached my opening.

  “Don’t stop, don’t stop, don’t stop.” So much for not wanting to give. I was practically begging.

  He chuckled but went back to task, the vibration and his beard rubbing my pussy in just the right way.

  I let out a whimper as he parted my folds and zeroed the tip of his tongue in on the buzzing nerve bundle. Only a handful of licks in, and I was already seeing stars. Magic. He was magic, and I was unraveling faster than a spool of thread in the possession of a kitten. My thighs shook, my pussy clenched, my clit was on fire. Had oral sex always felt so good? It couldn’t have. I would certainly have remembered it, would have encouraged Alejandro to perform it more often instead of only the four or five times he did during our two-year relationship. There was something else at work. The amount of alcohol I’d had, perhaps. Or the length of time since I’d last been laid.

  “That’s why,” I said, deciding the latter was definitely the reason.

  Magic man between my thighs lifted his mouth but replaced the pressure on my clit with his chin. “Why what?”

  Oh, wow. The scratch of his beard against my sensitive skin was as mind-blowing as everything else he’d done. I stretched my hands above my head, giving in to the pleasure. “Why it feels so good. Because it’s been so long.”

  “So long since...what?”

  I couldn’t even mind that he was chatty, not when he was still doing magic. “Since I got laid.”

  “Has it been a while?”

  “Too long. And so this feels super amazing.”

  And now his finger was helping out, circling around the rim of my opening, teasing it with entry. I bucked my hips, urging more. Urging him inside.

  His mouth returned to my clit. This time instead of a stroke of his tongue, he sucked and, damn, I was instantly close to coming. “That’s why it feels good,” he said with a not-so-subtle hint of sarcasm. “No other reason.”

  Who was I fooling? Certainly not him, and even intoxicated, I knew that I was only barely fooling myself. That last little thread of self-deceit vanished with the next little trick of his mouth, some sort of lick, flick, and suck combination that took me to the edge.