“I know,” he says. “But it wasn’t always like that.”
He sighs, and then continues.
“When I was younger— it was many years ago now— I went to college out of state because my girlfriend at the time went there. My mom couldn’t really handle it. I had always been her support. She got even worse.”
“That really sucks,” I tell him, knots forming in my stomach. “I can only imagine the weight of the responsibility of that.”
“Yeah,” he sighs. “And the relationship didn’t work out. She left me, actually. Looking back, it was a good thing. We weren’t even a good match. But at the time, it made me feel I had left my mom for nothing. That I couldn’t count on anyone.”
“And that’s why you don’t believe in love,” I tell him.
It all makes sense now.
“It’s why I didn’t believe in love.”
He looks straight at me now. I feel compelled to share as well.
“I don’t believe in love because my mom and dad hate each other but just stay married for appearances,” I tell him. “My dad’s a pastor and for religious reasons they had to stay together and we all have to act like everything is fine when it’s not.”
“I figured it was something like that,” he says.
“Yeah, but it’s more embarrassing than that. And it causes my anxiety to flare up just thinking about it. But you should know. Because we’re together now.”
He squeezes my hand, which gives me the strength to continue.
“When I was sixteen, I had my first job helping out the church secretary,” I tell him. “She told me that we’d go together to the rectory and she’d show me where the books are kept and how to do them. So, we walked over there together and when we walked in, my dad had this… woman… sitting on his lap.”
“Oh, my god,” he says. “That’s horrible. For you to have to discover that.”
“Yeah and she was the associate youth pastor. Not too much older than I was. Fresh out of youth group and high school herself. So, I’m such a hypocrite to have… fallen for you like this.”
He puts his arm around me.
“You are not,” he reassures me. “I’m not married. I’m not a pastor pretending to be one thing but actually being another.”
“That’s true,” I tell him, leaning up against his broad shoulder. “With you, what you see is what you get.”
“Whether people like it or fucking not,” he says, and we both start laughing.
I’m amazed that he can make me laugh about something that once seemed so awful and depressing. He and I are definitely great together.
“So, what happened, with your dad and the associate youth pastor?” he asks.
I look at him and shrug.
“I don’t know. He convinced the church secretary that it was all a big mistake. That she had just, like, fallen into his lap or whatever.”
He laughs a sarcastic laugh.
“And she promised not to tell anyone as long as they stopped. So, the youth pastor went away to college. And my dad continued living a miserable life with my mom.”
“She never found out?” he asks me.
“Not about her,” I tell him. “And at first I felt really guilty about that. Unsure of whether I should tell her or not.”
“I’m sure,” he says. “That would be a hard decision.”
“But then one day he had had a bit to drink and he was texting someone right in front of me, and I saw that it said XO in the text. And it wasn’t to my mom. He doesn’t talk like that to her.”
“Oh no,” he says. “More lies and deceit.”
“Exactly.”
“So, what did you do?”
He eventually passed out on the couch and I picked up his phone and looked at it. I thought the messages were with the same girl— the associate youth pastor. But they were from another girl.”
“Oh wow.”
“Yeah, exactly. And one of the text said, ‘I can’t text you as much anymore now that my wife knows. We have to have a cooling off period until she calms back down.’”
“So, she did know,” he says.
“Yeah, at least about that one.”
I shrug.
“I guess for whatever reason, the marriage works enough for her to stay in it,” I tell him. “And that’s why I started to think, fuck it. Marriage sucks.”
“I can understand,” he says, taking my chin and lifting it up so that I’m looking into his eyes. “It makes perfect sense why you would think that. I’ve been quite the cynic myself. But I love you, Katie Finnegan. And I won’t let you down. Our relationship won’t suck.”
Oh, my god.
I feel like crying. But instead I smile.
“I love you too, Damien Hudson. Boss.”
“That’s boss and boyfriend to you,” he says, and then he kisses me.
“Oh, by the way,” he says, the look on his face turning proud. “I heard you moved out of your parents’ house. And now that I know the full story, I definitely think that was the right decision.”
“It was time for me to move out anyway,” I tell him.
I can read Faulkner books anywhere, but at least I don’t have to put up with my dad yelling at me or my mom first. And maybe it’s time to move on to something lighter and more fun. Maybe I’ll give romance books a try, now that I’m starting to believe that they can come true.
“But you’re right, it was definitely overdue.”
He kisses me again.
“So, what are you going to do about the settlement?” I ask him, when he lets go of my tongue with his own. “Take it, or not?”
“What do you think?” he asks me, with a grin on his face.
I’m glad that his mood has turned around. And so has mine.
“I think hell no you’re not going to take it,” I tell him. “Because you’re Damien Hudson. You’re going to fight and win, and keep making toys for your mom.”
“And for kids and adults like her,” he adds.
“Yes, exactly.”
“No one can stop me,” he says. “I’m not going to agree not to make them anymore. And I just needed to come talk to you to figure all of that out.”
“Talk to me? You mean fuck me in your office.”
“And that,” he says, as he raises his eyebrows mischievously, a sparkle appearing in his handsome brown eyes.
We head back to the office, for him to tell Ron his decision. And I have never felt happier about anything in my life as I do about our relationship.
Epilogue
SIX MONTHS LATER
DAMIEN
We're at an Italian restaurant near the courthouse when Ron gets the phone call. Ruby, Ron, Asher, Madilyn, Katie and I were pretending to enjoy cold calzone that none of could really eat because all of us have been waiting to find out the jury's verdict in my patent case.
"Thank you, Bailiff," Ron says. "We'll be right there."
"Jury's back," he says to the rest of us.
We rush back to the courthouse and I squeeze Katie's hand the entire time.
"It'll be okay," she says. "Everything will work out."
I sure hope she's right. Even though I know by now that she always is.
Sure enough, once we're back in the courthouse the foreman announces a verdict in my favor.
"Yes!" Asher shouts, jumping up as if the victory belongs more to him than to me— whose case it was— or Ron— who was the lawyer who did most of the work on it.
I look at Katie with a knowing smile, and she elbows Madilyn and says, "He's quite the showboater, isn't he?"
"Always," she says, with a grin.
The first thing I do is kiss Katie. I don't even care that the judge looks at me funny. The second thing I do is call my mom.
"Damien?" she says, sounding lucid today, thank goodness.
"Mom, I won the case," I tell her. "I can keep making your games."
"That's great, Damien," she says. "And make sure you let me know what number comes after eig
ht hundred and four."
I guess she's not entirely lucid. But that's okay. She'll understand better when I come see her and show her my improved Dominos-like game I made with her help.
"Was she happy?" Katie asks me, as I hang up.
"She sure was."
"At least one of our parents are."
"Hrmph."
Katie's dad was none too thrilled when he found out she's with me of all people. But I’m sure he'll get over it soon. It's not like he's one to talk.
I beam down at her, considering how far we've come. I'm so proud of her for continuing to make her own decisions. And I'm happy that one of those decisions is dating me.
"Well, you kids have fun celebrating," Ruby says. "I have some coding to do."
"I'll help you guys take this stuff back to the office," I say, gesturing to the boxes of files that contain the designs and other plans for my toys.
It's a lot to carry but there are plenty of them to do it. Really, I just want to get Katie back to the office so I can do what I want to her. It only makes sense to do it in the office that is still mine for a little bit longer. Then I'll be moving back to my regular office, and taking her with me, if I have any say in the matter.
"Aren't you glad you didn't listen to me and settle?" Ron asks, with a grin, as we walk back to the office.
"You gave me great advice, Ron," I tell him. "I know that settling would be the prudent thing to do. But no one has ever accused me of being prudent."
Once we're on the partners' floor, I nod to Ron and Asher one last time.
"Thanks for helping me win," I tell them.
"Nothing I like more than basking in the glory of a big win," Asher says, grinning widely. "And thank you. Because I couldn't have done it without you."
"Oh, honey," Madilyn says, playfully swatting his arm.
"Bye Madilyn, bye Ruby," Katie says, giving both of them kisses on the cheek. "Thanks for all your help too."
"Any time, Katie," Ruby says, with a wink. "I know I've been an excellent role model to you."
"But I'm the one who got this whole thing started," Madilyn says, and everyone laughs.
"You're certainly a real trend setter," Katie says.
Then they leave for their own respective offices and it’s just Katie and me, alone, like the very first time we were together.
KATIE
"Turn around," Damien says, when it's just him and me alone in his office, with the door locked.
I do it, a chill running down my spine. He still makes me feel a mixture of fear and excitement. Just like the very first time I met him.
"Lift up your skirt," he tells me.
I do that too.
"Your ass is beautiful but it's not red enough," he says. "I'm going to have to change that."
"Yes, Boss."
He slaps me and I flinch, standing up straighter.
"Do you want me to spank your ass again?" he asks me.
"Please, Boss."
He does it, in the same spot as before. My pussy drips for him and my ass aches for more of his spankings.
"More, Boss," I beg him.
He spanks me hard, several times in a row, to the point where I start to wonder if other people will hear us.
Then he pulls me close up against him.
"I'm going to take your ass," he says. "Will you let me?"
"Yes, Boss."
He reaches into his desk drawer and takes out some lube. He lovingly slathers it all over my ass hole and reaches up inside with his fingers.
"There you go. Now I can take your little ass without it hurting too much. Just the right amount."
He slides his cock in me gently at first, and I tense up, feeling pain.
"Do you like that?" he asks.
"Yes, Boss."
I turn around and look as I realize he's not wearing a condom. He pulls my hair back a little, not too hard, and bites me gently on my neck.
"That's right," he says, "I'm claiming you. I'm going to come in your ass. And then I'm going to start coming in your pussy. Because you're mine and I want to mark you as mine."
"Yes, Boss," I tell him, thrilled that we've reached this level in our relationship.
He pushes his cock all the way inside me so that it feels up my entire ass. I had no idea it could feel this good. I want him in every part of me, taking it and claiming it.
He reaches around and plays with my clit while pumping his cock in and out of my ass. With his other hand, he pinches and twists my nipple.
"Oh, my God," I groan. "That feels so good. I'm coming."
I feel his cock throb and pulse inside me.
"I'm coming too," he tells me. "Inside you. Without a condom."
I feel his cum gushing into me and then after a little while he rubs it around my asshole and pussy, looking down at it and saying, "I marked you as mine. You're mine."
I sit down in his computer chair, panting and exhausted.
"It's been a long day," he says, leaning against his desk to steady himself.
"Yes, it has."
"But I'm so glad you won your trial," I tell him. "And I'm glad we get to end it this way."
"End it?" he says. "I think we're just beginning."
"What do you mean?" I ask him.
He reaches into his desk drawer again and then gets down on one knee.
What the…?
"Katie Finnegan," he says, looking up at me and smiling. He's holding up a box with a very big, shiny ring in it. "My life has been amazing since I met you, and I don't ever want to let you go. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
"Yes," I nearly scream, not even caring who hears me now.
He takes the ring out and hands it to me. I put it on my finger but I barely have time to admire it because I just want to celebrate with him.
I jump up and he picks me up in his arms. He kisses me and says, "Now you see why I didn't think the condom was necessary. I don't think we need it."
I kiss him back and laugh.
"And why's that?" I ask. "Because we're going to get married?"
"That, and I think maybe we should have a baby," he says.
I look at him.
"You don't think that's a good idea?" he asks. "I know you feel like our parents kind of did a number on us, and that's true. But I think we'd be good parents. I know how to make toys, anyway. And I'd like to have a baby with you. What do you say?"
"No," I tell him, burying my head in his shoulder.
"No?" he asks, seeming genuinely hurt. "You really don't want to have a baby with me?"
I shake my head very solemnly, but my grin still peeks through. I can't stop myself.
"Oh," he laughs, getting it now.
"Not just one baby," I say. "He or she will need a sibling."
"Two babies?" he asks, swinging me around in a circle in his office.
It's only his office for tonight; he won't be here tomorrow but wherever he goes, I'll follow him. And I'll still stay in touch with Ruby and Madilyn of course, even if I no longer work here. I can't get rid of those two, because they're not only fellow members of the Sugar Daddy Central society but they're also two of the best friends a girl could ask for.
"You don't want to have a baby with me because you want to have two babies with me, don't you?" he asks, in a happy, singsong voice.
I smile, still shaking my head. Then I shrug.
"Or more, Boss."
He kisses me and says, "Now that's more like it. Let's go tell everyone about all the big decisions we just made today. I love you, Katie Finnegan."
"I love you too, Boss."
"Forever and ever? As much as you've ever loved anyone?"
"And more, boss."
Extended Epilogue
DAMIEN
As I stand barefoot in the sand on my wedding day, one thought runs through my mind: Life is fucking great. I know that every man is supposed to say that when he’s getting married, but I really mean it.
I started off with such humble beg
innings and now I’m a billionaire who is marrying the hot virgin I deflowered. First, I tied her up and spanked her ass until it was red all over, and now I’m putting a ring on her finger.
What more could a guy ask for? Sure, at first I didn’t believe in marriage. But that was before I met Katie. She blew everything about what I thought I believed in— or didn’t believe in— out of the water. So here we are getting married, and I’m fucking loving it.
We’re back in Ibiza but this time we brought the whole crew— or at least, we tried to. Asher, Cameron, and Jameson— coincidentally, all the same named partners of the law firm— are supposed to be my groomsmen but they’re not here.
To be more precise, then, I guess there are two thoughts running through my mind. After my amazing love for my gorgeous, curvy bride, the next biggest thing on my mind is: where the fuck is my wedding party?
Cameron had already told me at almost the last minute that he and Ruby weren’t going to be able to make it— which surprised me, considering that Ruby and Katie are so close.
But the show had to go on without them. And I didn’t even get time to hear the story as to why they can’t come. I figure there’ll be plenty of time for that after the festivities are over.
Asher is supposed to be the one to walk my mom down the aisle to seat her before the bridesmaids walk down, but he’s missing in action. He was taking his own private jet but he was supposed to have arrived in Ibiza hours ago.
I know he’s involved in a large class action lawsuit that keeps him really busy— and I also know that Madilyn is six months pregnant, just on the cusp of it still being safe for her to fly halfway around the world. But Asher had said that both he and Madilyn had time to jet— literally— in for the wedding, spend a night together at the hotel and a day on the beach and then jet back to Albuquerque.
I shift my feet nervously, wondering if anyone in our wedding party is actually going to show up. I can’t help but smile at the irony of hoping that they get here, though.
When I first met Asher and Cameron I would never have believed I would entrust them with the responsibility of being my groomsmen— and perhaps it was a mistake to do so, seeing as how they’re not here. But the two of them— as well as their law partner Jameson Reed— and I have grown quite close. They continue to represent me in various legal matters and I trust them with my business as well as with my wedding day plans— or at least I thought I did.
Forever, Boss: Bad Boy Office Romance Series Box Set with Bonus Novella Page 72