Ropes of Lies: A Dirty Liars Novel

by Kathy Noumi

  “You’re still the boss.”

  He huffed a half chuckle. “You assume it will be easy for me to be around you all day with your damn polka-dot stockings and heels, ready to tease me at every turn. How am I supposed to work under those conditions, Miss Black?”

  I pressed my lips together, trying to hide my smirk. “Learn self-control?”

  “With you? It’s easier said than done.”

  “This is why we need ground rules—and why you shouldn’t be here right now.”

  Jameson beamed a toothy smile, tugging his ear. “Touché. But you need help unpacking, and I’ve already volunteered.”

  “No funny business in the office. Got it? I won’t risk it, Jameson.”

  He visibly relaxed, sauntering over to me. “But you’ve always enjoyed a little risk.”

  “Not at the expense of my reputation and my job.” I glared at him.

  He pressed his palm to my cheek. With his thumb caressing my jaw, he tilted my head up to meet his stare. “I’m sorry I didn’t call. You’re all I thought about the last few weeks.”

  I bit my top lip, averting my eyes. “We’ve both been busy.”

  Jameson tilted my neck back up so our eyes locked. “No excuses, I should have called.”

  “This can’t happen, so it doesn’t matter.”

  The next thing I knew, his soft lips devoured mine. He groaned between kisses, crushing his mouth to my lips with more intensity each time he came back for another, allowing us both to fall infinitely deeper into the abyss. Jameson slid his palm back, gripping my hair. I unbuttoned his suit jacket, slipping my hands in and around his waist.

  “Tell me what you need.”

  As if my hands had a mind of their own, I tugged his button-down from the waist of his pants, releasing it. “I don’t—”

  “Say the words.”

  I flipped Jameson the bird right square in his face, waving it about. He caught my middle finger between his teeth, and tingles spread across my skin when he bit down. “Oh God . . .”

  “More?”

  “Mmm.”

  “Tell me.” He bit harder, then suckled, taking my entire finger into his mouth.

  I let out a whimper. “I need you inside me.”

  Jameson’s tongue grazed each knuckle as he removed my finger. “Go over to the couch and bend over while I lock the door.”

  My entire body shivered at his command. “Are you serious?”

  He turned the lock on the knob, and twisted to make sure it was secure. “Does it look like I’m joking?”

  I made my way to the couch, placing both hands down on the cushion. The flutter in my belly grew more intense as I waited.

  “You’re perfect.”

  Jameson stood slightly behind me now. The couch made a sound when I tried to adjust my hands. “Maybe we should move to the floor?”

  “Hold the top instead.”

  A swell of nerves churned in my stomach. I moved, grabbing onto the edge this time.

  “New rule: don’t make a sound in here.”

  I bobbed my head yes. Jameson picked up the hem of my skirt and pulled over my ass, up to my waist, then yanked my stockings down along with my panties.

  “Already so wet.” Jameson blew a steady stream of cool air over my slicked sex, and I sucked in a sharp breath. In the quietest voice I’d ever heard him use, Jameson murmured, “I’m going to taste you.”

  His warm tongue licked my folds, parting my lips. He hummed between every pass, and I tightened my death grip on the couch. He circled my opening with his finger, teasing me. Just when I thought I couldn’t take another second, he plunged his index and middle finger inside. I groaned, and he reached around to cover my mouth with his palm.

  Next sound: a wrapper. Then: muffled plastic crinkling. Finally: a zipper.

  Let the countdown commence . . .

  Jameson bent over me, dropping his other hand from my face.

  “I’m still on birth control,” I whispered. “You don’t have to use—”

  “I’m clean, in case you were wondering.”

  “I trust you,” I sighed.

  “Good girl.” His breath was hot on my neck. “Second new rule: every time you sit here, I want you to remember my mouth on your pussy and how deep and hard I feel inside you. The way I made you come while you were positioned over this couch.”

  My knees all but buckled. I arched my head back. “Good luck trying.”

  Jameson’s teeth sunk into my shoulder. “There goes that mouth again.”

  “You can’t pretend you don’t love it.”

  Jameson placed his bare thickness at my opening. “I wouldn’t dare.”

  My breath caught in my throat. All the reservations I’d had a few minutes before vanished. I didn’t care. In that moment, I wanted him more than air. My pulse drummed in my ears, throbbing faster and louder with each beat.

  Jameson gripped my waist. “Why can’t I resist you?”

  “Because all your functioning brain cells are not in their proper place.”

  “Well, I happen to think they’re right where they should be.” Then he was deep inside me, bringing his mouth to my ear. Between thrusts he whispered, “Don’t you think so?”

  My muscles froze in place. I couldn’t nod or move, only fight the uncontrollable urge to moan. “Mmm-hmm.” Or not.

  I never wanted it to end. Although it meant saying goodbye to my sanity, I didn’t have it in me to keep my feelings at bay. How could I deny it any longer? Jameson remained the one man who could make me come apart at the seams and wish for more all at the same time.

  Heartbreak city, here comes Eden.

  “Try to be quiet. You wouldn’t want Vince to hear us, now would you?”

  I shook my head side to side as Jameson held onto my hips, steadying me. He plunged into me with more force, my core clenching around him. The thought of someone hearing us scared the ever-living crap out of me, but it also sent jittery tingles right to my sweet spot. “Uh—yes.”

  Jameson slid his hand down my thigh. He moved closer, teasing me. “Ask me,” he sighed into my neck.

  “Touch me.” The sweet ache between my legs deepened when he rubbed my clit. I wanted more. I needed him, and more than needing him, I craved him with every fiber of my soul. In the quietest voice I could manage, I whispered, “I want you to make me come.”

  His deliberate, tortuous circling grew quicker, greedier, like he’d accomplish the task or die trying. “It’s all I’ve thought about doing for weeks. I just wish I had the rope from my office right now.”

  The probing intensified, each circle faster than the last. I groaned when Jameson moved his other hand over my nipple. It directed a jolt straight to the pit of my belly, electrifying every nerve. “Next time, I want to tie up these pretty tits.”

  I let go of the couch’s back, covering Jameson’s hand with my own. Our hands moved together, in sync. I arched my head back, clenching my eyelids tighter. My knees shook.

  He groaned into my ear, “Come for me, Eden.”

  When my name rolled off his tongue, it released a rip current of sensation. My body trembled and convulsed as the orgasm washed over me. I came apart. Jameson continued to caress my throbbing bud as another swell tore through every inch.

  Gently pulling out, he lifted me from my bent position and proceeded to maneuver me into sitting on the couch.

  When I finally caught my breath, I glanced up at the towering figure standing in front of me. He was gorgeous as ever, forehead slicked with sweat. I reached out to touch his shaft, but he kneeled. Without a word, he surged his lips to mine, kissing me as if it were the first time.

  “Now it’s your turn.”

  The corner of his mouth turned up. “Finally playing fair, huh?”

  I smiled before pressing my mouth into a firm line. “All’s fair in love and business.”

  “You were right, I do love your smart mouth.”

  I gripped his cock in my hand. “You seem to have forgotten
that I’m always right.”

  Jameson threw his head back when I began to stroke him. With my other hand, I held onto his tie, wrapping it around my palm.

  “God, Eden, you’re ama—fuck.”

  I yanked on his tie until he faced me. “Sit on the couch.”

  After he did, my knees hit the carpet in one quick motion. I parted his legs, inching closer, leaning against his thighs. With my hand around the base of his length, I licked his pre-come from the tip of his cock. Jameson grumbled under his breath. I took his tip into my mouth, sucking, prodding with my tongue.

  “You’re going to be the death of me,” he mumbled.

  My sheepish grin couldn’t be held back. I batted my lashes up at him. “I think I like the sound of that a little too much.”

  “Uh—yes. Feels so…”

  I took his shaft deep into my mouth, letting my teeth graze it when I pulled away. Jameson let out a throaty growl.

  “Shush.”

  “Rule three: no shushing me. Keep going.”

  I proceeded to tease and torment him. He wrapped his hand around the back of my head and laced his fingers in my hair, pulling just enough. I’ll never figure out exactly what made me fall apart around him, but God, did he set off every last, hot button. My thighs were soaked.

  “Your mouth is perfect.” He threw his head back then let go of my hair to bite down on his thumb. “Fuck. I’m going to—”

  The velvety liquid squirted on my tongue. I nearly moaned from the taste: sweet and a bit salty. He pulled me up onto the couch next to him, then, draping his arms around my neck, he kissed me. When he pulled away, a distant glimmer of something lingered in his eyes. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but the satisfaction I’d felt a moment before disappeared. Jameson cleared his throat before rising off the couch, placing his garments back in their proper place.

  I couldn’t move. What the heck happened? He’d been warm and playful, then all of a sudden he’s an ice man? Damn him!

  “You should head back. I can manage the unpacking from here.”

  “Uh, yeah. You’re right.” He glanced around the room and smoothed down his tie. “Oh, before I forget, there’s a meeting after lunch, for the City Net project.”

  Did anyone plan on informing me? It was day one! He knew, so why didn’t I? Jameson had intentionally told me in passing so I wouldn’t explode. This is the exact reason I didn’t want to work with him.

  I stopped, papers in hand, narrowing my eyes. “Why didn’t anyone tell me about it sooner?”

  He paraded over to my desk, placing a bunch of files on it. “I’m telling you now.”

  The air in the room was charged with my anger. “You aren’t my damn boss, even if the partners insisted on giving you that title. The meeting should have been on my schedule. If you hadn’t told me, I would’ve missed it.”

  Jameson’s shoulders remained loose; he made no acknowledgement of the problem. He continued sifting through the papers on my desk. Either he wasn’t bothered in the least by the oversight, or he did a bang-up job of acting. “I would have filled you in.”

  I tried to keep my voice even. “I am perfectly capable of unpacking on my own. I’ll see you after lunch, Mr. Winthrop.”

  Jameson dropped the handful of documents and rounded the desk, reaching for me. “E—”

  I stepped away from him.

  “Miss Black, I didn’t—”

  “I need to review the files before the meeting. Can you give me some space at least . . . boss?”

  The air around us crackled. The invisible barrier between us slid back in. I would have given anything to be able to read his mind.

  “I’ll have Donna bring the files to you.” His hushed tone sent chills through me as he inched toward the door. “See you at the meeting.”

  I stood alone in my cluttered office. He’d acted like I was his damn employee rather than his equal, and after he promised he wouldn’t. Jameson obviously didn’t value me or think I could strengthen his team. I’d only ever be an afterthought.

  However, I certainly wasn’t some damsel who needed help. If I wanted to succeed here, I needed to push him from my mind and focus on the City Net development, then one-up him on the Uptown deal. One account at a time, I’d prove my worth here better than I did at Pryce & Leigh, even. All I needed to do was keep my distance from Jameson, or, at minimum, keep our office interactions professional. That was why we needed rules.

  A knock at the door yanked me from my thoughts. “Come in.”

  A gorgeous, busty redhead strode in holding a folder, and I knew it had to be Jameson’s assistant, Donna. “Good morning, Ms. Black. Mr. Winthrop sent me down here with the up-to-date City Net file for you.”

  I half smiled at her as she extended it toward me. “Thank you. I planned on fetching it from you myself, but you beat me to it.”

  She gave me a girls-need-to-stick-together wink. “I know how first days can be. If you need anything else, feel free to stop by my desk. I’m more than happy to assist you.”

  She seemed far nicer than I thought she would be, especially working for Jameson. “I appreciate it. Thanks again.”

  I settled into my desk chair and dove into the file. Most of the paperwork appeared the same, but they had moved one step forward and assessed the property for all the environmental hazards that needed to be remediated. The board of directors at City Net had voted on a final plan. The only thing left was to sign on the dotted line. I grumbled. All my hard work had paid off, but on paper it looked like Jameson had done it all. He’d stolen Thompson and used my damn plans. Calm down. Same team now, remember?

  I wouldn’t let him get away with it. Not now, not ever.

  Countdown to City Net meeting: T-minus sixty-eight minutes.

  Chapter Twenty

  Jameson

  The burnt-orange sun set sluggishly over the lake, and I watched from the window of my living room. I wasn’t sure how long I had been sitting sprawled out on the sofa, but the gurgling in my stomach meant I missed dinner hours ago. After two days of agonizing silence from Eden, I messed with my phone, glaring at the screen. I scrolled to her name, then let my thumb hover over it, never tapping the screen. She wouldn’t answer if I called. Would she? I wasn’t sure if she’d even forgive me for the City Net debacle, which had concluded in a two-hour verbal sparring match that was supposed to have been a simple meeting.

  When I arrived at the conference room, I had a planned speech and the paperwork ready to be signed by all parties. Then in walked Eden with fire in her eyes. Out for blood, she’d sauntered over to me with metaphorical switchblade in hand, ready to cut me open.

  Without wavering, she’d grabbed the contracts straight out of my hands and told me she’d be running the meeting. I’d stared at her, blinking in disbelief. I thought she’d be less tense after what happened in her office, but I underestimated her frustration with my title. Fuck my vindictive father for lying to me. It didn’t help matters that she hadn’t known about the City Net meeting taking place. Vince should have been informed to put it in her schedule. I hadn’t thought anything of it when I mentioned it to her.

  Fucking hell.

  My phone chimed, shaking me out of my daze. Nathaniel.

  I’m outside.

  “Thank fuck,” he said when I opened the door. “I thought maybe you were knocked out for the night and I would have to crash in my car.” His voice was unsteady.

  He looked worn out, like he hadn’t slept in weeks. Apart from the fact that he didn’t have a beard, you’d think he was an out-of-work slacker. “What the hell happened to you?”

  He strode past me into the foyer. We both stood there a minute before his head slumped. “I called off the engagement.”

  “Shit. What happe—”

  “Lauren cheated.”

  I’d never witnessed Nate fall apart before, not throughout his parents’ divorce, and not when his sister almost died from alcohol poisoning our senior year of college. The guy even survived the c
hicken pox the week of his thirty-second birthday.

  “Let’s get you a scotch, and then you can tell me what the hell happened.”

  “I might need more than one.”

  We walked in silence through the hall as we made our way to the den. Nate entered before me, immediately plopping down on the leather couch with one big sigh. He shut his eyes and dropped his head back, seeming so lost in his post-breakup fog. But who could blame the guy? We joked constantly about the ol’ ball and chain, but Lauren was the love of his life. They’d met ten years ago when we first moved back from New York. I wasn’t sure what to say to him, so I poured him a tumbler of his favorite scotch on the rocks, filling the glass to the brim, and another for myself.

  Extending the drink, I said, “It’ll be all right.”

  “Will it?” he asked, and the sadness is his question pierced me like an arrow. I hated seeing him like this.

  I sat beside him. He took a gulp of the chilled malt liquor, and I did the same, supportively squeezing his shoulder. We weren’t good at feelings, but there was something to be said about sharing a quiet scotch with a lifelong friend, because even without words he knew I would always be there for him.

  “It will,” I reassured him. “Maybe not today or tomorrow, but you’ll be all right.”

  A few minutes passed as Nate sipped his drink, savoring each gulp until he finished it.

  “What happened?” I took the opportunity to ask.

  He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, head hanging between his shoulders, before he replied in a gruff, cracked voice, “You mean, how did I find out?”

  Man, this is bad.

  I couldn’t say anything; whatever I chose would seem trivial, like bullshit on a platter. I wasn’t sure how he’d react if I pressed him for more information, so I sat there until he was ready.

  “S-She handed me her phone to see a picture of her nephew and she got a text . . .” He trailed off.

  I picked his glass off of the small wooden coffee table and walked over to the wet bar. “Go on.”

  “It said, ‘Hey babe, what are you wearing?’ I mean can you fucking believe that shit?” He rubbed his temples with his thumb and forefinger. “At first, I didn’t think anything of it because it was a chick’s name—Blaire, or Brianna, or some shit, I don’t remember exactly—but she snatched the phone back so quick . . . it was odd. There was an awkward silence, then she left the room, mumbling something about calling her friend about a blind date.”