Risk: Part 1 (The Vault)

by Nina Levine

  You kissed him.

  And let him touch you in inappropriate places.

  Hell, you made him look at your panties. If that’s not consent, I don’t know what is.

  Jesus, if I could extract the voice from my head, I would. It never freaking shuts up.

  “Charlize.” Warm breath whispers across my neck, and I jump.

  “Shit,” I mutter. “You could give a girl warning.”

  I lost track of Owen while I was thinking about consent, and now he’s standing behind me.

  Right. Behind. Me.

  As in, I can feel his erection pressed against me.

  “You couldn’t see the warning in my eyes as I watched you walk towards me?” His voice is so damn growly and sexy. “I’ve undressed you five times over. Just like every man here tonight has. When you’re mine, we’re going to have to negotiate the dresses you wear.”

  I grip the counter of the bar as I do my best to calm the sensations his words cause. I’ve been with men before. Sure. Many of them. But holy hell, not one of them has ever said anything like that to me.

  When you’re mine.

  I’ve never felt so wanted.

  Twisting, I face him and find those hungry eyes of his watching me carefully. “I’m not good at negotiating, Owen.”

  “Then it’s a skill you’re going to need to learn.”

  My breaths come a little faster. “I don’t think so. I’m more about choosing my own clothes and being in control of myself. I’ve never let a man into my life who wanted to take that out of my hands.” I might be saying these words, but I can’t deny I’m so freaking turned on right now at the thought of battling Owen for control. And at the thought of a man wanting me all to himself.

  His gaze drops to my chest for a good few moments. The silence between us only fans my lust. I have no clue what Owen will say or do next, and waiting for him is driving me crazy.

  When he meets my gaze again, he says, “I’m not interested in taking control of you. I’d just like to keep dresses like this one between us.”

  “Do you always go from a kiss straight to making plans for the future?” I’m spinning with this sudden development. Owen moves faster than any man I’ve ever met.

  “I’ve never been inspired like this before.”

  Silence descends on us again as we watch each other. I don’t think we even need words right now. The electricity between us speaks volumes.

  It’s then that Jill North, Owen’s ex-wife, chooses to interrupt us. “Owen, a minute please?”

  He scowls, but it’s brief. Facing her, he says, “I’m in the middle of something, Jill. Can this wait?”

  She looks past him at me, her eyes narrowing as she takes me in. Looking back at him, she says, “No, it can’t. Not if you want to win that bloody award. And I’m not convinced that talking with the staff is more important than the opportunity I’ve lined up for you.” Her tone is snooty, and I have to wonder how the hell Owen was married to her. He has money and status, but not once has he come across as up himself like she does.

  “Give me a minute,” he says. I don’t miss the edge in his voice, and neither does Jill. Her eyes widen, but she doesn’t call him on it.

  He turns back to me. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow.” It’s a simple statement, but it’s so much more than that to me. I hear the promise he’s making. He’ll come looking for me tomorrow.

  I nod. “See you then.”

  He spends another moment just taking me in, and then he leaves with Jill. I watch as they walk away, noting how heads turn when they walk past.

  Owen North commands attention everywhere he goes.

  But it’s my attention he wants.

  And that makes me feel all kinds of fucking awesome. It’s a feeling not many people bring out in me, so I’m running with it.

  8

  Charlize

  This morning has not gone to plan. Not in any way, shape or form.

  First, I overslept. Meaning my hair isn’t on point.

  Second, the coffee jar was empty. I’m heading to work uncaffeinated. The absolute worst way to begin your workday.

  Third, I burnt my dress with the iron and didn’t have time to switch my outfit.

  Fourth, the bus I catch to work was late.

  Seriously?

  The universe is conspiring against me.

  I’m like 99 percent sure I’m going to see Owen today. This is not the day for the universe to zone in on me.

  As I leave the bus, I step straight into a puddle of water caused by the rain we had last night. The water splashes all over my dress, not just my shoes.

  “Mother-effer,” I mutter under my breath. Taking a deep breath, I attempt to calm my thoughts.

  You will have a good day.

  You will have a good day.

  You will have a good fucking day.

  My phone sounds with a text, cutting in on my positive thinking. Not that you could really call it that, because I’m not feeling any more positive than I was before I began chanting to myself.

  Owen: Where are you?

  Oh, God. The one day I’m late, he notices. And suddenly the thoughts slam into me.

  He’s your goddam boss. What the hell are you doing contemplating a relationship with him? It can only end badly. Probably with you out on your ass, unemployed again.

  I take another deep breath.

  Nope, does nothing.

  Another one.

  Come on, help a girl out. I’m trying here.

  Another breath.

  Fuck, I need this job. Probably more than I need sex with Owen.

  Owen: Charlize?

  Good Lord, the man is persistent.

  Me: I’m sorry. I’m late. I’ve had the morning from hell. Almost at work now.

  Owen: Come straight to my office when you get here.

  Shit.

  Is this because I’m late or because he wants to check out my panties again?

  I pick up my pace.

  Me: OK

  Screw you, universe. Either I’m going to be fired or I’ve missed out on time I could have spent with Owen’s hands and mouth on me. And it’s all your fault.

  Owen’s busy when I knock on his office door five minutes later. He motions for me to enter and lets me know he’ll only be a moment. He then goes back to talking in hushed tones with Julian.

  He takes longer than a moment, so I sit on his couch to wait for him. Once I’m settled, I glance back up to watch him and find his eyes on me.

  His hungry eyes.

  Oh, thank God.

  He’s not going to fire me.

  Well, not unless he fucks me first and then fires me. But that would be a dick move, and I’m convinced Owen isn’t a dick.

  I spend the next ten minutes checking out his office from where I’m sitting. It’s the largest office I’ve ever seen, and the most masculine. Lots of browns and leather. My eyes are drawn to the table we sat at the other day. It’s a large round dark wooden table that could seat eight.

  That table was made for fucking.

  A man could spread a woman out on it and take everything he wanted.

  I’m lost in an amazing sex fantasy when the door to Owen’s office closes. My gaze snaps to it, and I find Owen shutting the blinds.

  Julian has left.

  We’re alone.

  I squeeze my legs together.

  Hard.

  He turns and stalks my way, desire blazing from him.

  With a flick of his wrist, he indicates for me to stand. His arm easily snakes around my waist once I’ve followed his directive. And his hand slides down my ass to grip it.

  “You slipped out last night before I had a chance to come back to you.” His deep voice does so many good things to me that I’m instantly bewildered.

  I grasp his biceps. “You were busy, and I needed to escape my mother. And by the way, you should just keep talking. Unless of course you’re going to fire me, in which case you should definitely stop talking and—”


  He silences me with a kiss. It takes me completely by surprise, and I’m a swooning mess, kissing him with everything I have. Our lips, tongues, and hands move with a frantic rush of need, and when we end the kiss, I stare up at him even more bewildered.

  “I seriously thought you were going to fire me.”

  “And I’ve seriously been waiting here for hours for you to get in. Firing you is the last thing on my mind, Charlize, but you picked a hell of a morning to be late.”

  I breathe a sigh of relief. “Thank God.”

  He looks at my dress before meeting my gaze again. Reaching for the hem, he says, “Negotiations begin now. This dress is not acceptable.”

  I cock my head to the side. “It’s not acceptable for work?”

  His hands run up my legs to my panties, and I bite my lip at his touch. “It’s not acceptable for anything. It barely covers your ass.”

  “It definitely covers my ass, Owen, and more.” The dress hits me just below midthigh. He’s being ridiculous.

  Bending his face to my ear, he growls, “Are you going to argue with me or are you going to let me finger fuck you?”

  I want to scream yes.

  I do.

  I really, really do.

  But I’m still stuck on the boss thing.

  I know it’s crazy. We’re both adults, so we should be able to sleep with whoever we want. And if it all goes to hell, we should be able to go back to a professional work relationship. I mean, he seems to tolerate his ex-wife at work still, so why wouldn’t he tolerate me?

  “Charlize,” he says, all bossy, his fingers skimming over my panties. “I’m waiting for an answer.”

  I step out of his embrace. It takes everything in me, because his fingers on my pussy feel so damn good. “You have no idea how much I want to let you do whatever you want to do with my body, but I don’t want to screw this job up.”

  He ignores my wish for space and closes the distance between us again. I take a step back to keep him away. We play this cat-and-mouse game until he’s backed me up against his desk.

  Shit.

  Fuck.

  My willpower is slowly slipping away.

  Hell, I have no willpower.

  I don’t even know what the word really means.

  He presses his body against mine, and my senses are overwhelmed by his erection.

  And his scent.

  And his eyes.

  Oh, God, I want to go swimming.

  Lots and lots of naked swimming.

  “You’re not going to screw this job up. I promise you that. And if I don’t uphold that promise, tell everyone I forced you to fuck me and then sue me. The cost to my reputation alone would be enough to do serious damage to my business.”

  I stare at him.

  “Are you real? Like, what man would tell a woman to do that to him?”

  His voice drops to a husky tone. “A man who knows he has nothing to worry about because he has no intention of screwing shit up.” He traces his finger over my lips. “Now answer my question.”

  I can’t bring myself to say no. Walking away from Owen isn’t something I can do. Besides his good looks and sexy ways, there’s something else between us, and I want to explore whatever it is.

  I unbutton the top two buttons on his shirt. “You should most definitely finger fuck me. But before you do that, we need to negotiate this shirt you’re wearing.”

  Amusement flashes in his eyes. “What do we need to negotiate?”

  I undo the next two buttons. “I don’t ever want to see it on you again.” I push his shirt open to reveal his chest. God, the man is built. “I mean, these muscles should be on display. And unlike you, I don’t care who sees them as long as I see them.”

  His lips brush over mine. It’s a quick kiss that soon turns into a whole lot more. We can’t control ourselves when our mouths are this close.

  By the time we’re done with the kiss, his hair is messy, as is mine, and his shirt buttons are all undone. And finally, blissfully, Owen’s fingers slide inside me.

  “Oh, fuck me,” I moan as I close my eyes and lean my head back while resting both hands on the desk to steady myself.

  Owen trails kisses along my collarbone and cups my breast through my dress with his free hand. His mouth moves up my neck. When he reaches my lips, he says, “You are so fucking beautiful. Especially when I’m inside you.”

  My eyes open, and I grip his cheek with one hand. “I need your cock inside me.” It’s a desperate demand that comes out on a frenzied breath. He’s driving me wild with his fingers, but I need so much more from him.

  “Fuck,” he growls, slamming his mouth down onto mine.

  His fingers work faster, and I come just as Owen’s phone rings.

  I grasp his biceps while my orgasm shatters through me. My fingers dig into his skin so hard I’m sure they’ll leave marks. “Fuck!” I cry out, unable to hold it in. Owen surprises me by not trying to suppress my scream, but then he’s full of surprises.

  His phone stops ringing.

  Thank God.

  But then it starts again.

  I gather my senses as I recover from the best orgasm I’ve had in a long time to find Owen looking at his phone that’s sitting on the desk.

  “Do you have to get that?” I don’t want him to, but I figure he may need to.

  His gaze slices back to me just as the ringing stops. “Yeah, I think I’m going to have to.”

  The ringing starts back up again, and he swears under his breath as he snatches the phone up. “Can this wait? I’m busy,” he clips.

  I can’t hear what’s said, but I can hear it’s a woman.

  “Give me a minute. I’ll come to you.”

  She says something in reply, and the irritation that flares in his eyes tells me he’s not happy with whatever it is.

  “Okay, I’ll finish up here.”

  He ends the call and steps away from me. Buttoning his shirt, he says, “We’re going to have to finish this later. Jill’s waiting for me outside.”

  Jesus, the woman has the worst timing. She dragged him away from me last night, and now this.

  I nod and fix my dress before trying to make my hair presentable. Owen finishes buttoning his shirt and moves towards the door. Reaching for him, I stop his progress. “Your hair is a mess. Let me fix it.”

  His eyes meet mine and there’s so much regret there. He bends his head so I can try to work some magic. I don’t know what it is about the moment, but him silently letting me do my thing, and my fingers gently working their way through his hair sparks more of that electricity between us. I know he’s felt it too when he lifts his head back up.

  Grabbing me around the waist, he pulls me close again for one last kiss. When he’s finished, he stalls for a moment and murmurs, “Beautiful,” as his eyes hungrily roam over me.

  And then he lets me go, and I exit his office.

  Jill’s eyes widen as she takes me in. I’m guessing she knows what it means when Owen closes his blinds while he has a woman in his office.

  The last thing I hear is her snapping at him, “We’ve got a lot to discuss. The first thing being her,” and I wonder if I’ll ever get to experience another Owen North orgasm in my life.

  9

  Owen

  “Are you listening to a word I’m saying?” Julian asks later that afternoon.

  I exhale a frustrated breath. “No. Today’s not a good day to go over this.”

  “Tomorrow then?”

  I nod. “Yeah. First thing in the morning?”

  He stands and agrees. “You can’t blow me off tomorrow, though. This needs to be taken care of as soon as possible.”

  Once I’m alone, I pull out my phone and send a text to Charlize. It’s just after five, and I haven’t seen or heard from her since this morning. My dick has been hard all day just thinking about her.

  Me: Where are you?

  Charlize: In the bathroom.

  Me: Take your panties off.

>   Charlize: I haven’t had them on since lunch when I had to take care of myself. They were too wet to put back on.

  Jesus fucking Christ.

  Me: Stop what you’re doing and slide a finger inside yourself.

  Charlize: I’ve never had a boss like you.

  Me: Are you complaining?

  Charlize: I’m too busy making myself come again to be complaining. You should finish me off.

  Fuck.

  I’m torn.

  Jill warned me off Charlize this morning after catching us together. It wasn’t a subtle warning, either. She threatened that if I couldn’t keep my dick in my pants, she’d do everything in her power to stop North & Co. winning the Bluestone award. Turns out my ex-wife is a vindictive bitch.

  Me: I’m busy. I’m all yours tonight.

  I’m playing with fire here, but I can’t stop myself. I want Charlize like I want air. It’s a need as much as a want at this point. I just have to control myself at work. Jill won’t ever know what’s happening outside of work. It’s not like her path would ever cross with Charlize’s.

  Charlize: You don’t know what you’re missing out on.

  She texts a photo of her breasts a moment later, and I know I’m fucked.

  Completely fucking fucked.

  I call her.

  “Yes, boss?” she purrs. “I’m kind of busy right now.”

  I unzip my pants and wrap my hand around my dick. “Get your ass to my office.”

  I rest my head against the back of my chair and groan as I slide my hand up and down my cock.

  “Are you sure about that? I thought you couldn’t fit me in until tonight?”

  “Now, Charlize,” I growl.

  It’s a good thing I left my blinds closed all day. I figure they’ll never be opened again at this rate.

  She arrives a few minutes later, and I soak her in as she comes towards me. I told her she was beautiful this morning, but that doesn’t cover it. Not even close. However, it’s not her beauty that has me captivated so much as her mind and everything else about her. Charlize is an original in a fake world, and that is a rare find. From her quirks to her intelligence, to her sense of humour, to her disregard for societal expectations, she has so many qualities I want in a woman. And I hardly know her yet.