Lured In (Dark Paradise, #1)

by Avent, V. R.

  “Do I make myself clear, Ms. Winterfield?”

  I nodded my head and turned to my dad. “Wow, Adam. How long have you felt this way about me?” I knew using his first name would sting.

  “Abi—”

  I cut my dad off. “Just answer the question, please.”

  He walked over and tried to reach out for me, but I pushed my chair back away from him. “I asked you a question,” I said sedately, holding back my tears.

  “Abigail, sweetie. I’m sorry you overheard that. I thought you had left the building already.”

  I retorted, “That’s not an answer, Adam. I asked you how long you felt this way about me. Did it start when I went to the bank and got the loan to improve your practice? Did it start when the money started rolling in? Did it start when the practice expanded and finally started getting good public reviews? Or did it start when I reversed the negative image that clung to your practice for years?”

  He didn’t say anything, and Uncle Ernie stepped between us and told us to take it up in private, at home.

  I countered, “I don’t have anything to say to any of you unless it’s business related. You all can leave my office. Now.”

  As they were leaving, a gentleman entered with a bouquet of flowers and asked for me.

  “I’m Abigail Winterfield,” I said.

  “These are for you,” he said, handing me the bouquet with a smile. He turned and left.

  I placed the bouquet on the desk and read the card.

  Abi,

  I am sorry about this weekend and this morning. Please accept my apologies and have lunch with me today. I think we both need to clear the air and start over fresh.

  Z.

  P.S. You smell and look amazing. That sleeveless red silk dress complements your curves very well, and me likey. I can’t keep my eyes off of you and am so damn frustrated that I can’t touch and kiss you. You have no idea how hard it is for me to force myself not to jump across the desk and kiss the pain away.

  Hope you still think of me as Mr. Sexy.

  It was from Zach, but the handwriting on the card was different. I shook my head. My dad looked over my shoulder and asked, “Are they from Gabe? He must have enjoyed seeing you yesterday for dinner. He even got you your favorite, calla lilies.”

  I looked at him ferociously and said, “I believe I established that the only communication we have would be business related. Did I not make myself clear?”

  He looked at me, wanting to say something else, but Zach intervened to push everyone to leave so that we could finish the evaluations. Zach saw everyone out of the office and made sure they were gone. He slammed and locked the door behind him and looked at me as if he wanted to rip my head off.

  “Who the fuck is Gabe, Abi?” Zach demanded to know, charging at me from the door, loosening his red and white striped necktie that went nicely with his black Italian suit and red poplin shirt.

  I was shocked, which made me stutter before I gathered my composure.

  “Why? It’s not business related, is it now?” I teased, as I could sense his jealousy.

  He got closer to me and lifted my chin with his left hand. He looked at me intently, and I swore that I felt steam rising from him. He was serious, and it was evident by the dark look on his face. He asked who Gabe was again.

  “That is none of your business,” I said, removing his hand from my chin and pushing him away.

  He grabbed me by my waist before I could get past him. He positioned himself back in front of me and backed me into the wall. He nuzzled at my neck and traveled up to nibble on my right earlobe.

  Oh, damn, he’s doing it again. He knows this turns me on. It feels so good, but I am so mad at him. Oh, God, what do I do now? The sensation raced throughout my body, and I felt it down to my twitching pussy.

  “Who is Gabe, Abigail?” he whispered in my ear. This time the sound was sweet, warm, and so mesmerizing that I couldn’t push him away.

  “My daughter’s dad,” I answered as if I were hypnotized. Hell, I was, and as much as I hated him at that moment, it all vanished with just a nuzzle against my neck.

  “Why does your dad think he sent the flowers to you? And why did you have dinner with him yesterday?” He continued to kiss my neck and stroke my arms.

  “I don’t know why Adam thought that Gabe sent the bouquet. And Adam and my stepmom invited him for dinner, not me,” I answered, still under his hypnosis.

  He looked at me and asked if he could kiss me. I kissed him, silently answering yes.

  “I’m so sorry. I know I don’t deserve a second chance, but give me one anyway,” he managed to say with his tongue in my mouth.

  He ran his hands through my hair and yanked my head back like he had done so many times before on Saturday. Panting, he seduced my neck and throat. I moaned in approval.

  “I want you right now, baby,” he whispered as he began to lift my dress above my hips. “Is that OK with you?”

  I nodded, as I wanted to feel him right then and there myself. He lifted my chin and looked at me.

  “I can’t hear you, Abi.”

  “Yes,” I whispered in his left ear.

  “Mmm. Good girl,” he whispered back.

  He sat me down in my chair, pushed the chair back to the wall to keep it stationary, and pulled my hips toward him, off the edge of the chair. He pulled a condom from his pocket, ripped the corner of the gold foil with his teeth, pulled out his enormous erection, and pulled the condom down his shaft. Wasting no time, he moved my panties to the side and buried his erection deep inside of me. He kissed me immediately to muffle my moans. He thrust harder with each stroke, keeping his lips over mine, eating my moans as I swallowed his. His strokes were fast and hard, and as my muffled moans grew louder, as I was nearing my release, I grabbed hold of the necktie he had loosened and encouraged him to fuck me faster and harder. He shushed me and followed with a kiss on my lips. His own muffled moans were growing with sounds of undeniable pleasure just before we locked eyes and climaxed together. He smiled and kissed me when he had calmed down and reached to the desk behind him for some facial tissue to dispose of the used condom and to clean us both.

  “I’ll take these,” he said, pulling off my red lace panties and putting them in his left pants pocket before putting his semi-erection back in his pants and straightening his appearance. He helped me to my feet and helped me fix my clothes and hair.

  “All mine,” he whispered in my ear possessively before he walked over to the door.

  “Wait, what about my underwear? I can’t walk around without panties.”

  He looked at me, raised his eyebrows, and unlocked the office door. Walking back over, he sat down and grabbed the last stack of documents he had been working on. I looked at my chair before I sat in it and knew I would never look at it the same. Sitting down, I squirmed almost immediately. I looked at Zach, who was already watching me closely.

  “Every time you look at that chair, you will think of me and your confiscated red lace panties,” Zach said.

  I smiled and raised my eyebrows flirtatiously, and he smiled to show his approval.

  Oh my. I can’t believe what I just did. In this office? In this chair? And how could I forgive him just like that? Why did I forgive him just like that? I don’t know what I was thinking. We still need to talk about what happened this weekend. Oh my God, this man is a different species. I wonder what he is thinking about me right now. Is he even thinking about me right now? Was this just one more of his pacifying moments? Hell, yeah, it was. And I loved every moment of it. Feel free to pacify me anytime. Or did he just use me? Maybe he …

  “Abigail?” Zach called out, which made me jump a little. “Stop putting too much thought into it. Relax, baby. You did what was natural to you, and I loved every moment of it. We’ll talk about what happened this weekend over lunch, OK? Now get back to work before I’m force to reprimand you.”

  How the hell does he do that? How does he know what I’m thinking?


  “How do you know what I am thinking?” I asked, puzzled.

  “I don’t know exactly what you are thinking, but just that you are thinking. And I could pretty much guess what it’s about based on what we’re talking about or the events prior. Besides, it’s written all over your beautiful face.” He winked his right eye.

  We worked harmoniously, and on occasion we would stop to flirt and make out. Zach called it quits at 12:16 p.m. to take lunch. He pulled out his cell and called Joan, who I’d learned was his assistant, to tell her that he was taking an hour and a half lunch break and to look out for the contracts that Matt was sending by way of a courier. He hung up the phone, looked at me, and said, “Call Goldstein and tell him that you will be out of the office for an hour and a half as well.”

  I called Timmie and informed him of the extended lunch break, and he said that he would unpack our boxes while I was away at lunch. He came into the office as we were leaving and saw the bouquet of flowers.

  “Wow! Nice flowers. Secret admirer?” Timmie asked.

  “I hope so,” I replied a little loudly so that Zach knew that I was talking to him.

  Zach, who was standing behind me, fondled my ass to let me know that he did indeed admire me. I blushed and glanced at Timmie, but he was so wrapped up in the bouquet that he hadn’t noticed anything.

  Zach slapped my ass inconspicuously, which was his way of saying, “let’s get going.” I grabbed my handbag, and Zach stepped aside to make his way to the door.

  Timmie looked at me and asked, “And what’s with this glow, Abi? You did not come to work with that glow. Must be the flowers and this admirer?”

  “That it is. I’m quite sure of that.” I left the office smiling.

  “Blushing and glowing? Who is he?” Timmie questioned. I didn’t respond—I only raised a brow. “Enjoy!” Timmie yelled out from my office.

  When we got on the elevator, Zach pressed L for Lobby, and I pressed G1 for Garage, first level.

  “Why are you going to the garage?” he asked. He put his arms around my waist and turned me to face him.

  “My car is there. Why else would I be going there?”

  “We’re taking my car.” He continued, “So I make you blush and glow, huh?”

  I pulled my bottom lip into my mouth and nodded yes.

  “Mmm. You turn me on and disobey me at the same time. This is a dangerous combination. I’m excited about what I am going to do to you,” he said impishly before kissing me gently on my lips.

  The elevator stopped on the ninth floor, and he removed his arms from my waist just before a few people got on.

  “Mr. McConnallay, how are you doing today, sir?” one of the gentlemen asked. Zach exchanged small talk with him. The elevator stopped on the seventh floor, and more people got on. Zach made his way behind me, and because the elevator had become crowded, no one noticed his hand travel up my dress to play with my wet pussy.

  “Mmm. Still wet for me, I see,” he whispered in my ear. The elevator was noisy from everyone holding their own conversations, so they thankfully didn’t hear Zach.

  “Mmm. I want to put my finger inside of you. May I?” he asked, whispering in my ear and nuzzling my neck. I looked at him and narrowed my eyebrows.

  “Yes. Now. Here,” he responded, reading my expression. Before I could answer, the elevator opened to the lobby. He removed his hand from under my dress and pulled my dress back down. He slapped me lovingly on my ass, and I walked out ahead of him.

  “Over here.” He motioned toward his black Escalade ESV. There was a driver standing outside—he was nice looking and muscular with sandy blond hair. He wore dark sunglasses that concealed his eyes.

  “Mr. McConnallay, Ms. Winterfield,” the driver said as he opened the door.

  We got in and I looked at Zach. “Your driver—how does he know my name?”

  “Because you are mine,” he responded, grabbing my right hand and drawing it to his mouth to kiss it.

  “Chop House, Galloway,” Zach ordered.

  “You know, we don’t have to go all the way to Annapolis to have lunch,” I mentioned.

  He smiled and nodded his head. I slid closer to him and lifted his chin with my right hand.

  “I can’t hear you, Mr. Mc-Con-na-laayy. You have to speak these things to me.”

  He chuckled and kissed me. “Yes, baby. I know we don’t.”

  “Good boy,” I said, emulating him. We both laughed, and he leaned in to kiss me again.

  “About this weekend, Abi. I owe you an apology. I should have returned your calls and texts. I guess I am a bigger jerk than what most say I am,” he started.

  “I thought you didn’t care what people think or say about you,” I responded.

  “I don’t give a fuck what other people think and say about me, but I do give a damn about what you think and say about me. I don’t want you to think I’m that guy, ever.”

  “Why did you ignore me?” I started fondling his left index finger.

  “I didn’t know how to respond to what I witnessed and what I encountered during such a precious moment for me.”

  “I am sorry for that, Zach. I really am,” I muttered. “It’s the main reason why I …” My voice had grown shaky, and I put my head down in shame to hide my tears.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for or ashamed about,” he responded, lifting my chin and wiping away my tears.

  Noticing how upset I was, he changed the subject, and I inquired, “You rudely interrupted me back in the office to text someone. Who was it?

  He looked at me and grinned, “A little jealous, are we?”

  Maybe.

  “No. Not at all. I’m just curious about your intentions with me,” I replied, lying a bit.

  “My intentions with you?” He smiled at me lustfully.

  “Yes. Your intentions.”

  “The text wasn’t to another woman, if that’s what you’re asking,” he finally said.

  “Then to who?”

  “The flower shop, Abi. I needed to make things right with you. That’s what we asshole, hogwash-spewing jerks do when we make terrible mistakes—we buy the best bouquets of flowers and put our hearts into cards that accompany them. Our plea for forgiveness—my plea to you for forgiveness.” He looked at me and raised his brows questioningly. I nodded, accepting his apology. He kissed me, and for the rest of the ride we talked of other things and made out a few times.

  We arrived at Chop House and were greeted promptly. “Mr. McConnallay, sir. How are you today?” The blonde hostess blushed. Then she looked at me and rolled her eyes.

  Why the hell does everyone keep rolling their damn eyes and giving me attitude?

  “The usual business meeting table?” she asked.

  “No. A private table will be fine for a lunch date with his girlfriend,” I hissed at her. I truly don’t know why I just blurted that out, but I bet she won’t be looking me over or rolling her eyes again.

  She gave me a second glance with wide eyes, looked back at Zach, and turned quickly.

  “Should we follow you?” I asked.

  “Yes, please.”

  Zach whispered to me, “Girlfriend, huh?” as we followed her to a private booth.

  “I remember you saying something about me being yours. So that would make you mine. Yes?” He only smiled.

  She seated us and left. The waiter came over and asked for our drinks, and Zach asked for a bottle of Krug “Grand Cuvee.” I ordered a steak au poivre, medium well, with a baked potato and asparagus, and Zach ordered the porterhouse steak, medium well, with baked macaroni and cheese and homemade fries. We ate and talked about everything except what happened over the weekend. A few businessmen came over to say hello to Zach and congratulate him on his latest acquisition and merger, as did a couple women I was sure were not businesswomen. From the looks they gave me, I was positive he’d bedded them once or twice, as he had the hostess.

  “How did those men learn of the merger?” I asked Zach.

&nb
sp; “They are all friends of my dad’s, who’s livid about me merging with a young company on a whim. He thinks I made an irrational and stupid decision.”

  “You have to agree that he is right. You dealt business on an impulse—a lustful impulse at that. That is very irrational, which is stupid. Does he know the real reason behind your decision?”

  “Irrational? No. Lust-led? Maybe. But definitely not stupid. I don’t regret what I did for a second. And I’ll do it again a million times if it means being close to you. Besides, the merger is under ZAM Enterprises, which means he has no voice in this matter.” I blushed.

  “What about those two women who came over, on separate occasions, just to say hello? I’m sure they’re not businesswomen. And the hostess—I’m sure you were personal with her. I just hope you called her afterward because I don’t want to have to second-guess what I’m digesting.”

  “I was once acquainted with them, and that’s all.”

  I put what he said in my mental compartment for later discussion and moved on.

  “Who are you, Zach? I’ve never been so relaxed, so poised around anyone. Why you? What is it about you that these infamous brick and metal walls that have always surrounded me seem to be nonexistent whenever I’m near you?”

  “I’m glad you’re relaxed and poised around me and that those infamous walls aren’t a factor in us getting to know each other. I’m sure it could be contributed to you trusting me.”

  Looking at him intently, I said, “I don’t know. You’re just so different and engaging—electrifying even.”

  “Abi, I swear I feel the same way about you.”

  With that said, we continued eating and talking before Zach asked for the check.

  We got back to the office at 1:47 p.m. and jumped right back into working. The contracts that Matt had sent were all signed and ready for Zach’s signature. While Zach signed them, I was busy with the employee handbook and office policies and procedures. Zach finished the contracts, kissed me good-bye at 2:38 p.m. to handle some business at one of his other establishments, and reminded me that a courier was coming at three to pick up the contracts to take back to Matt’s office.