by Nina Levine
Confused eyes came to mine. “What?”
I walked to where he was, placed my hand gently on his chest, looked up into his eyes, and said, “No, I’m not thanking you for cooking breakfast. I’m thanking you for being you. For being so good, so kind . . . so thoughtful. I’ve never had that from a man in my life, not even from my father. I know this thing between us is only new, and what I’m about to say might not be what you’re ready to hear . . . fuck, I’m not sure it’s what I’m ready to say, but I have to say it. I need you to know it.”
He stared at me, waiting for what I had to let him know. I couldn’t read his emotion. It didn’t matter anyway; this was more for me than for him. He could do whatever he wanted with it.
I took a breath before continuing. “I feel stuff for you I’ve never felt for a man. And I want you in my life in a way I’ve never wanted anyone. I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m going to fight for this, Donovan.”
He stood, unmoving, his breathing rapid. When his hand came to my face, it was firm but gentle. He grasped my cheek, and when he spoke, his voice was rough. “There’s only been one woman in my life who meant the fucking world to me, and I’ve never wanted anyone since. Then I found you, and fuck, baby, you’ve turned my whole fucking world upside down. I wake up in the morning thinking about you, and you’re the last thing on my mind before I go to sleep at night. We’re gonna fight for this together.”
My heart soared.
I moved into his space, put my arms around his neck, and I kissed him. His lips welcomed mine, and he proved his words with his mouth. Our souls joined in a kiss that began to wipe away the damage of our pasts. A kiss that promised we would meet the future together and fight for the love we both so desperately needed.
***
Later that day, Damian burst my happy bubble when he resigned.
“I’m sorry, Layla, but I can’t pass up this opportunity.”
I couldn’t blame him. He’d been offered a job as a lighting technician for a band, and since that was what he’d been trained for, I would say goodbye with happiness.
“You better get me tickets when they come to Brisbane,” I said.
He grinned. “Absolutely, boss lady.”
“When do you leave?”
“In a week. I can work right up until I leave if you want me to.”
“Do you know anyone who wants a job? Who could actually do as good a job as you, I mean?”
He contemplated that. “No, but if I think of anyone, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks.”
“Have you heard from Dale?”
“No, and I don’t think I will. That fucker is long gone.” The anger I’d felt towards Dale had shrunk a little. Enough, so that if I saw him again, the first thing I reached for wouldn’t be his balls.
“Yeah, I think you’re right. I’m sorry he screwed you over.”
“He will be, too, if I ever catch up with him again.”
He laughed. “I don’t fucking doubt it. Lord fucking help him.”
“Sounds about right,” I said with a smile.
We worked quietly to get the bar ready, and as I walked to the door to open for business, he said, “You seem happier today. Did you sort stuff out with Blade last night?”
I turned and nodded. “Yes.”
“I’m glad. You deserve that in your life, Layla.”
I opened the door and let the few customers, who were waiting outside, in, and walked back to where Damian was. “I’m gonna miss you, dude.”
“Yeah, I’d miss me too,” he joked.
I rolled my eyes at him. “I’m not sure how the fuck Jess and I will cope without you. I mean, you spend half your time checking guys out and the other half annoying the crap out of us. It’s gonna be so hard to replace you,” I said, cocking my head and winking at him.
“Yeah, fuck you, too, boss.”
I grinned. “Right, I’ll leave you to it for a bit. I want to check on Annie and pay some bills. Call out if you need me, yeah?”
He nodded. “How’s Annie doing?”
“She’s retreated a little back into herself after doing well to begin with. I need to find ways to draw her out and get her involved in life again. She wouldn’t get out of bed this morning, not even for bacon and eggs, which, I’ve gotta say, I would never say no to.”
“Has she started seeing that psychologist?”
“Yeah, she had an appointment last week, and I think it went alright. She’s got another one tomorrow afternoon, so fingers crossed it goes well, too.”
“I think you’re doing all you can, and I also think what you’re doing is amazing. I know people who wouldn’t do half the shit you’re doing, not even for their closest family members. You’re good people, Layla.”
I shrugged. “I guess my family showed me how not to love people.”
“Yeah, sad but true. And I guess at least you have one thing to be thankful to them for.”
“That’s one way to look at it.”
I left him and headed upstairs to find Annie. Deep in thought about my shitty family, the ringing of my phone startled me.
Donovan.
“Hey you,” I murmured into the phone, my tummy fluttering.
“Hey.” His voice was soft, and that caused my tummy to progress from flutters to somersaults.
“How’s your day going?” I asked.
“Yeah, getting through stuff. Just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“I was until one of my staff quit on me.”
Silence, and then, “You want me to help you find someone new?”
Oh god, could this man get any better?
“Sure, thanks. I don’t know anyone I would ask.”
“Leave it with me, I’ll ask around.”
“I owe you. Come over tonight and you can collect.” I bit my lip thinking about how I could repay him.
“Fuck, baby,” he growled. “It’s only lunch time. You can’t say that shit to me this early in the day.”
Oh, this is gonna be fun.
“Sorry,” I said, sweetly. “I guess I also can’t tell you that I’ve been imagining your mouth on my pussy all morning.”
“Jesus,” he muttered. “How the fuck did I find a woman with such a dirty mouth?”
“Just lucky, I guess.”
“Depends how you look at it. I’m sitting here with a fucking hard-on at eleven thirty in the morning and no way for it to be taken care of. Doesn’t sound fucking lucky to me.”
“Baby, you’ve got a hand, haven’t you?” I breathed into the phone.
“Fuck, Layla, don’t fucking tempt me,” he rasped.
“Wrap your hand around your cock and imagine it’s my hand.” My voice was husky with the desire consuming me.
The only sound I heard was his heavy breathing, and then the sound of his zipper in the background. His breathing picked up a second later, and he grunted something unintelligible into the phone.
“That’s it, baby. Now shut your eyes and picture my tits, naked in your hands. I’m pumping your dick in my hands while you’ve got your hands full of me.”
“Fuck,” he groaned in between ragged breaths.
My pussy clenched, and I walked into my bedroom and closed the door behind me. Leaning against the door, I unzipped my jeans and reached my hand into my panties.
“I’m touching myself. Imagining it’s your hands on me,” I told him as I fingered myself.
“Tell me how wet you are,” he grunted.
Oh fuck.
I ran my finger through my wetness, and squeezed my eyes shut at the intense pleasure I felt. “I’m so fucking wet for you, Donovan. I wish it really were your fingers in me. Wish your mouth was down there, eating me.”
“Fuck!” he roared, and I knew he’d come.
My fingers frantically worked to give me the orgasm I craved, and a couple of moments later, I cried out his name as I came.
We were silent except for our heavy breathing. And then he murmured, “Fuck, Layla. I nee
d more.”
I do too.
“I’ll be there soon. Tell me your address.”
He gave it to me, and I ended the call so I could deal with the stuff I had to do. I needed to get to Donovan as fast as possible.
***
An hour later, I entered the warehouse at the address Donovan had given me. Looking at it, I realised I didn’t even know what Donovan did for a living. Time to fix that.
A beefed-up guy met me at the front door and escorted me up to Donovan’s office. We passed lots of offices, but their doors were all shut so I had no clue what they held. When we got to the end of the corridor, the guy knocked on the door. “Blade, Layla’s here.”
I waited silently.
The door opened and Donovan stood on the other side, a formidable force staring back at us.
At me.
His eyes didn’t connect with his staff member’s at all; they came straight to mine.
“Thanks,” he said to the guy, and stepped aside to let me pass through.
My body brushed against his as I moved past him, and my pussy ached with desire.
I needed him.
Now.
He closed the door and fixed his gaze on me. The intensity rolling off him today was something new. He’d always been fairly intense, but this...this was orgasm-inducing.
He wants me.
His eyes flashed hunger.
Need.
Desire.
“Come here,” he growled.
Yes.
I walked to where he stood.
“Take your clothes off,” he commanded, and I did as he said.
He watched every piece of clothing come off, until I stood naked before him. I didn’t say anything, and I didn’t move to take his clothes off. I sensed Donovan needed to be in control of this.
After he inspected every inch of my body, he stepped closer to me and curled his hand around my neck and brought his lips to mine in a long, rough kiss. His other hand went straight to my pussy and a demanding finger thrust inside me.
My body jerked. I hadn’t been expecting that, but it was so very welcome, and I pushed my pussy into his hand. He pushed another finger inside and rubbed my clit with his thumb. Donovan’s expert touch caused a rush of lust to shoot through me.
I placed my hands on his hips and softly moaned into his mouth, “Fuck.”
His fingers grew more insistent as he chased an orgasm for me. It wouldn’t take long; I was still worked up from our phone sex. Keeping his hand firmly around my neck, he pulled his mouth from mine and moved to take one of my nipples between his lips. His teeth lightly grazed against my breast and I begged for more on a moan.
He growled at my need and worked his fingers harder while he sucked my breast further into his mouth.
Oh fuck me.
I cried out as the orgasm tore through me. My hands moved to his head at my breasts, and I threaded my fingers through his hair and roughly pulled.
That set him off, and he let my breast go and pulled his fingers out of me. Feral eyes looked at me, and I gulped for a breath at the sight of his wild need. Donovan’s carnal hunger for me was something I’d never experienced from a man before. It unleashed my matching hunger and we lost ourselves as we fought for what we needed from each other.
“I want you on your hands and knees,” he growled, and waited for me to do as he’d ordered.
I did as he said and he grunted his pleasure. Then he stripped his clothes off while I waited on my hands and knees for him. I was turned on just knowing he stood above me. I knew he wouldn’t be able to tear his eyes from me.
I heard the crinkle of foil and I squeezed my legs together, knowing he was closer to being inside me. His body pressed against mine, and he leaned over me to speak in my ear, “I haven’t been able to think of anything other than your fucking pussy for the last hour, baby. You shouldn’t get me this fucking worked up. It’s gonna be hard and fast.”
I moaned, and he thrust his cock inside me. His loud grunt echoed around us, and I bit my lip as the pleasure gripped me. Fuck, I loved this man’s dick and his talent at using it.
We fucked like fucking animals.
Raw.
Rough.
He gave me everything I needed, and I devoured it and begged for more.
As he drove me closer, he grunted, “You close, baby?”
I squeezed his cock as he slammed into me again. “Yes,” I panted. My orgasm surrounded me, and I could reach out and touch it, but I struggled to catch it. It teased me, and I cried out for it.
He kept going, fucking me harder and deeper. I knew he was barely holding his release in by his grunts and ragged breathing. “Fuck, Layla, not gonna last much longer . . . ”
I worked harder.
Fuck, I needed this.
Sweat slicked our skin as we moved together, and my hair stuck to my face. The feel of his body against mine, and the feral sounds surrounding us as we both fought for it, collided in my mind to create a brilliant explosion of light and bliss. Pleasure scattered throughout my body, hitting every single nerve ending. The sensations were so intense, so fucking pleasurable, and I tumbled into an abyss of ecstasy.
“Fuck!” he roared and came.
He thrust one last time and then stilled, his body tense against mine as his own pleasure consumed him.
I dropped my head and concentrated on getting my breathing under control. My heart beat wildly in my chest and the last jewels of pleasure fluttered through me. I sagged under him, but he moved one arm to hold me up.
“You okay, baby?” His gravelly voice was tinged with the softness I loved from him.
“Yes.”
His strong arm around me caused my brain to scramble again. I loved his arms, and I especially loved being held in them.
He moved so he could lay kisses softly along my spine, and a shiver ran down my back.
Oh god. No more. I can’t handle any more pleasure today.
He pulled out of me, and pulled me up with him. When we were standing, he cradled my face in his hands and kissed me. “I’ll be back in a minute,” he promised.
I nodded, and he walked into what I figured was a bathroom. He didn’t waste time and came back to me a moment later. I could hear water running and gave him a questioning look. He jerked his head towards the bathroom. “I’m gonna clean you up.”
I shook my head. “Fuck no. I think I might explode from the pleasure if you come anywhere near me in the next few hours.”
He grinned and held his hand out to coax me. “I promise not to touch you inappropriately.”
I raised my brows. “Jesus, Donovan. Every time you touch me, it’s inappropriate. Every time you look at me, it’s fucking inappropriate. You don’t know any other way.”
Heat flared in his eyes. “Okay, baby, you clean yourself up. I’ll keep my hands and eyes away from you for a bit, but I’m warning you now, I’m only giving you a few hours. After that, you’re fair game again.”
“Shit. We need to add to my earlier statement, that every time you talk to me, it’s inappropriate.”
He nodded at the bathroom. “Go,” he growled.
I left him and spent the next fifteen minutes enjoying the heat of the water on my muscles. Sex with Donovan was almost an athletic experience, and my muscles already ached. I wouldn’t have it any other way, though.
When I re-entered his office, I found him dressed and on the phone. He looked up at me and let his gaze roam over my body. I loved the desire in his eyes that he didn’t ever try to hide from me. His gaze got stuck on my breasts and I bit my lip as he abruptly ended his call and stalked to where I stood.
“Fuck, Layla, I fucking want you again,” he muttered as his hand came to my breast.
Oh god.
I took a step back so that his hand fell from my body. “You said a few hours, and I’m holding you to that.”
A scowl fixed itself on his face. “No, I’m holding you to it, baby.” He checked the time on his clock. “I’m
coming to you at five o’clock and you’re going to let me fuck you.”
Fuck.
I didn’t respond. My tongue was tied in my mouth at his dirty words.
“Tell me you understand,” he demanded.
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Good.”
As I stood there, my bossy man ordering me around, and my body in a state of bliss, I decided I’d never been happier in my life.
Chapter Sixteen
Blade
After Layla left, I spent the afternoon dealing with shit Merrick kept dumping on my desk. Construction jobs we were in the middle of needed issues dealt with, and jobs we were considering bidding for needed some details sorted out. The security side of our operation required my attention at the moment as well. Ben’s job was to keep an eye on our competition and ensure our business was clear of threats. The construction game was a ruthless business to be in and dirty tricks were common. He’d recently come across some things that needed to be further investigated.
At three thirty, Merrick stepped into my office, and Ben followed after him. Fuck, this couldn’t be good. I closed my laptop and stood. “What?” I demanded.
“We’ve had a mass walk-off on the job we’re doing in the City at the moment,” Ben informed me. “Union officials convinced the workers to strike, and although we’re working to fix it, I think we’re in for a rough ride with this one.”
I raked my hand through my hair. “Fuck. Phil Deacon’s behind this, isn’t he?”
The motherfucker had a reputation for bribing union officials into shit like this.
Ben nodded. “I suspect that, yes.”
“Jesus,” Merrick muttered. “If that job isn’t completed on time, we stand to lose a lot of fucking money.”
I eyed Ben. “What do they want?”
“New negotiations on Enterprise Bargaining Agreements.”
“Fuck, if that goes through, it pushes the final cost up at least thirty percent.”
“Yeah,” Ben said.
Tension smashed through me. Phil fucking Deacon had been a thorn in my side for far too long. “It’s time to teach that motherfucker a lesson,” I declared.
I knew I’d made the right decision when both Ben and Merrick gave me their agreement without hesitation.
Pointing at Ben, I said, “Get the guys together. This shit goes down tonight. I’ll let you know the details.”