“Do you visit them frequently?”
“Not as much as we used to. Ever since we started the business, we haven’t had as much time. But they come up to see us as often as they can. We’re usually able to make it down South for holidays.”
After several more minutes of conversation about their personal lives, the topic inevitably turned to work.
“So, the launch is still scheduled for a month from now, right?” she asked.
He nodded. “Assuming there aren’t any major disasters, yes.” He was silent for a moment, then added, “I know I’ve already said this, but I just want to reiterate what a fantastic job you and Felicity have done. The store is looking amazing, and my people back in England are very pleased.”
“You should probably wait until after the launch before you sing our praises,” she told him. “We don’t know how consumers will respond yet.”
He shot her a look as if to say come on. “Oh, please. Even you know it’s going to be a big success. I think you and I make a pretty good team.”
She snorted. “Yeah, when we aren’t at each other’s throats.”
His head whipped around, his feet halting their paddling. She was surprised he looked so taken aback.
“I admit I can be a bit high-handed at times, but—”
“High-handed!” she said on a mirthless laugh. “Zane, I can’t so much as answer my phone at the store without you hovering over me, ensuring I’m not making any decisions without you.”
His eyes narrowed, his expression turning uncertain. “What are you saying? That I’m overbearing?”
“Maybe not overbearing so much as controlling.” He started to shake his head, but she waved him off. “You insist on overseeing every minute detail. It makes me wonder why you bother hiring employees at all if you end up doing all the work yourself. It’s no surprise all you’ve done is work since you moved here. With the way you check on everything and verify it twice, it’s shocking you have a life outside of work, at all.”
“I call it managing,” he retorted.
“Yeah, but there’s a thing called delegating. Besides, you hired Felicity and me to do a job. That’s why you brought us on, because you supposedly trusted us with the task. But every time we turn around, there you are disagreeing with me about something, or throwing in your opinion after we’d already gone in another direction.”
His jaw ticked and he looked away. But not before his eyes had grown thoughtful. She hoped she hadn’t overstepped her bounds. But seriously. Had no one ever told him this stuff before?
“So, you’re saying I need to back off?” he asked in a subdued voice.
She tucked her hair behind her ear as she pondered how to answer. “Maybe a little. Part of being a good manager is trusting the people around you to do their jobs. I’m just saying your micromanaging makes it a little difficult—and a lot frustrating—at times to do our job the way we feel comfortable.”
“Why haven’t you said anything before now?”
A couple standing by the water’s edge taking a kissing selfie caught her attention. A feeling of longing swept over her as she watched them, one she couldn’t explain.
“Every time I tried, I just ended up getting mad at you,” she said. “Felicity kept telling me to let it go because she didn’t want me to piss you off enough that we would lose the account. I think I’ve mentioned these paychecks are really helping us pay off our business loan. But the point is…” She thought about her choice of words for a second. “You just don’t always have to control everything.”
He turned back to her, an eyebrow raised. “This coming from the woman who stomps her foot anytime she doesn’t get her way?”
Her spine stiffened, her defenses rising. “I do not. I just have strong opinions.”
His loud laughter was annoying. She wondered how mad he would be if she pushed him into the water.
“And an independent streak a mile wide,” he said. “Did you ever consider that maybe you also need to let go a little and trust in others?”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
He angled his head toward her, and the sun caught on the natural golden highlights in his hair. “Just that you’re so bound and determined to do everything yourself—to prove that you can do it all by yourself—that you forget to ask for help when you actually need it.”
“I do n—”
“And then you get angry when someone tries to step in. We’re actually quite similar in that regard, if you think about it. We just have different motivations, I suppose.”
The one thing she was not in the mood for in that moment was psychoanalysis. She wanted to get off that particular subject immediately. And the brilliant way she did that was by reverting to her fifteen-year-old self.
“You’re annoying, you know that?” she muttered.
He grinned as he resumed paddling. “So I’ve been told. But I think you’ll agree there have been a few particular instances when I was anything but annoying.” He looked over and winked at her, laughing at her instant scowl. “I thought so. Women go insane for the Zane. It can be a curse, really.”
She gaped at him. “You did not just rhyme.”
He waggled his eyebrows. “It’s a Price vice. Don’t lie, it has you in its clutches.”
His laughter died a quick death when she leaned over and splashed a handful of water right in his face. Her heart sped up when his eyes darkened. Because it wasn’t anger she saw in them. It was blatant, raw lust. She tried to imagine how well they could keep the boat balanced if she climbed onto his lap and rode him like a bull.
Best to try that another time, when there weren’t so many nice families around.
“You just went behind enemy lines, luv,” he grated in a husky voice. “You have no idea who you’re messing with.”
Wrong.
She was starting to get a pretty good idea.
Chapter Fifteen
Those were not the lights he wanted there.
All week long, Zane felt as if it had been one problem after another at the store. Product was everywhere. Marketing materials were scattered about, completely disorganized. People were asking him questions every two seconds.
And now the wrong damn lights had been installed front and center.
He heard Bea’s voice before he saw her.
“If you could just bring it right over here,” she was telling two guys carrying a large table across the showroom floor. “Could you move it a little to the right, please? There, that’s it. Perfect. Thanks, guys.”
Zane stared at her long legs in her tight-as-hell black skinny jeans and licked his lips.
Oh, yeah. That was what he needed. Right there.
Every day with her being at the store had been a struggle. Surrounded by her smells, distracted by her body, consumed by her voice. He could barely focus on what he was doing when her arse was shoved in his face for eight hours straight. No man should have to endure that.
He forced himself to focus on business and walked over to her. “Bea, can I speak to you for a moment?”
“Yeah, one second,” she said, her attention zoned in on a vase she was placing on top of the table. She turned to him when she was finished and offered a sweet smile. “What’s up?”
Don’t get derailed by the smile, he told himself firmly. You’ve got a job to do.
“I was just wondering why the wrong lights were placed at the tablet display,” he said evenly.
Her smile fell a little, but she maintained her composure. “The other ones weren’t right for that area. The lighting was too harsh.”
He fought to control his tone. He didn’t like things not going according to plan. His plan. “I specifically requested that type, though. It’s the first table customers will see, and the purpose is to attract attention. It’s supposed to be bright.”
Her spine stiffened. “And I’m telling you they were too harsh. We tested it, Zane. The glare from the tablet screens was blinding everyone who walked by the table. Thes
e lights are a little softer, but the new tablet stands I had the marketing department order will offset that. The display will still grab people’s attention. I know what I’m doing.”
He took two long, deep breaths before he responded. “I never said you didn’t. But don’t you think that’s something you should have run by me first?”
Her jaw tightened. “No.”
So did his. No one told him no at work.
“Why not?”
Her hands went to her hips. “Because I’m doing my job. If I came to you with every single little decision I made, I’d never get anything done. You weren’t here when we made that change, but Denise agreed with us, so I figured you would, too.”
This was what he hated most. Being the last person to be informed. “I’m in charge, in case you’ve forgotten. If something changes, I need to know about it. That’s my job. And I can’t do it properly if my people don’t keep me in the loop.” He sucked in a breath as agitation coursed through his veins. “And while we’re at it, you still haven’t told me what’s going on with the front window display. We’re just weeks away from the launch and that entire area is still empty.”
She pinched the bridge of her nose between her fingers. “Do you remember the conversation we had about you being too controlling in the workplace? About not trusting the people around you? This, right here, is one of those moments.”
Shit.
He took a mental step back.
He didn’t want to admit it, but she had made some good points that afternoon. He’d never had anyone address his control issues in such a direct way before, but the fact that she had, had made him want to listen. He didn’t want her to dislike anything about him.
“And as for the window display,” she continued, “I’m working on something for it, so don’t worry. I know that’s difficult for you, but it will be ready by launch day and it will look amazing. I promise you.” Her eyes didn’t stray from his. “You’ve told us we’ve been doing a good job, Zane. Please have faith that we will continue to do a good job.”
She was right. He was being an arsehole.
He shot a hand through his hair. “You’re right.”
Her head reared back as though he had slapped her. “I’m sorry, what?”
“You’re right,” he repeated, though each word took monumental effort. “I need to back off and let you do your job. I apologize for being difficult.”
She still looked shell-shocked. After a few seconds, she murmured, “Wow.”
He nodded slowly. “Yeah.”
She remained silent as they regarded each other assessingly.
This was a big moment for them. Usually when they fought about something at the store, they would bicker back and forth until one or both of them lost their voice—or their cool. This apologizing thing was new territory.
He felt they were taking a new step in their relationship.
It turned him on. Big time.
Which was a bit weird, but there it was.
He stepped forward, grabbed her wrist, and hauled her to the back of the store. She squealed in surprise but didn’t protest as he dragged her through the stockroom, passing shelves and shelves of product. He knew all the shipments had been delivered, so there shouldn’t be anyone lurking around back there. He also knew there was a small maintenance closet in the back corner, near the loading dock.
He whipped the door to that closet open and shoved her inside.
He flipped the light switch, bathing the room in a soft orange glow, and pulled the door shut behind him.
When she turned to face him, her face was already veiled in a shroud of lust. Dilated pupils. Heavy-lidded eyes. Wet, parted lips. It was a mirror image of his own state. Not to mention the fact that his dick was tenting his trousers something terrible.
“I need to fuck you. Right now.”
She ran her tongue over her bottom lip. “Don’t you think that’s a little risky, with everyone out there? What if they catch us?” She didn’t sound too worried, despite her words.
“I don’t give a shit,” he snapped. “They have a problem, they can take it up with my boss.”
“Hard to argue with that.”
Enough talking. “Turn around,” he demanded.
She didn’t move. Just stared at him with challenging eyes.
“Bea…” He took a measured step toward her, then another. “Turn. The fuck. Around. Now.”
She turned and braced her hands on the shelf in front of her, sticking her arse out toward him. He reached forward and lifted her loose blouse, admiring the way her jeans clung to every inch of her figure. He slid his arms around her to pull her back against him, his hands skimming over her thighs, her covered center, before traveling back up to palm her breasts.
“Christ, I can’t keep my hands off you,” he said against her neck.
“I didn’t ask you to.”
“You want me to fuck you right here? In this closet, against this shelf, with my entire staff only feet away?”
“Dammit, yes. Now. Fuck me now, Zane.”
“That southern drawl of yours is going to kill me,” he growled. “That accent and those filthy words…it’s a dangerous combination.”
She purred. “Ditto, mate.”
Her breathy pants filled the air as he took both of her breasts in his hands.
“That feel good, luv?”
“Yes. So good.”
His breathing was hot and heavy, his body urgent as he began to take what he wanted from her. Needing more friction, he ground his stiff cock against her, fucking it between her arse cheeks and right where he was about to put it after he ripped those jeans down her thighs.
He gave one hard thrust of his hips, eliciting a gasp from her sweet mouth. “How about that? That good, too?”
“Oh my God, yes.”
He moved his hips back and hers followed, asking for more of that delicious friction.
He found the buttons of her blouse and opened each one at a frantic pace. When he had the material parted, he yanked down both cups of her bra and his hands feasted on her flesh. He leaned over her shoulder to see how they filled his hands, to watch his fingers knead them, tweaking her nipples.
“What about this, Bea?” he whispered in her ear. “How good does this feel?”
“Oh, Zane.” She moaned, arching her chest, allowing for better access. “So damn good. Don’t stop. Please.”
Ah, bloody hell.
When she got to begging like that, he had maybe one minute to get inside her before he shot off in his pants. He just had to make sure she was ready. He tore open her jeans and roughly pushed them down her legs, enough that she could still spread her legs for him. He got a good look at her cheeky lace underwear and the way they highlighted the curve of her arse before he shoved those down, too.
Then his fingers met her slick folds. Those swollen lips were so ready for his cock, her arousal was leaking down her inner thighs.
“Fuck…” He groaned.
He smeared her juices all over her sex, coating her slit from top to bottom. And just for good measure, he shoved two fingers up inside to help open her up, to make sure he could easily slide in.
“And I know how good that feels.” He hooked his fingers when they were deep inside, hitting her G-spot, soaking them in more of her. “Your pussy is telling me so. And I want my hand to be covered in you before I put my cock in there.”
“Then get to work,” she said in a breathy voice.
“My pleasure.”
She thrust her hips into his hand, seeking more, asking him without words to take her where she needed to go. He never had a problem getting her there. That didn’t stop her from clutching his wrist and pulling his hand closer, forcing his fingers to reach farther.
His breathing became heavier. “You’re hungry for it, aren’t you?”
She just hummed in response, too lost in chasing after her release.
“Fuck this,” he growled as he fell to his knees. “I want some of
that.”
A second later, his lips clamped onto her, his tongue licking up her arousal before diving into her opening. She covered her mouth to hold in her moans. He felt ravenous as he sucked on her clit, fucking her with his tongue. She reached back and grabbed his head, holding him to her. He licked up every bit of her release like a starving man. And moaned like a madman. She had just satisfied an obsession for him.
He couldn’t take it anymore.
He quickly freed himself and slid on a condom, ready to take what was his. She reached back and helped guide his thick shaft to her entrance. “How much have you got in there for me?” she asked, stroking his length.
“So much,” he said. “So fucking much. And it’s all for you.”
“Yes.”
He slammed himself into her, meeting no resistance as he slid in through her wetness. But he was forced to pause when he felt her narrow channel, his muscles tightening with restraint.
“Oh God. I’m not going to last long. Not like this, with your bare arse in my hands and your pussy gripping me so tight.”
She didn’t help matters when she clenched her inner muscles around him. “Good,” she whispered. “Because I want it fast, hard, and dirty.”
“Shit.”
He started to pound against her arse, thrusting deeply, holding onto her breasts with rough, demanding hands. He was all too happy to give her exactly what she’d asked for.
“This,” she said on a moan. “This, right here, feels the best.”
He loved to hear that. “Yeah? You like my cock inside you best, luv? And me pulling you back by your tits as I fuck you?”
She gave a half-hearted nod, too lost in her pleasure to focus on the movement. “Yeah. I can’t believe…how good it feels. Better than anything else…ever.”
Fucking right it does.
“That’s right,” he told her, increasing his pace, feeling his climax looming. “And I can’t fucking stay away from you. I need this. God, I need you. I don’t want you keeping this away from me anymore. I want you to let me make you feel good all the time.”
She didn’t get a chance to respond. Because she was moaning, silently screaming her release, and clenching around him. He covered her mouth with his hand as she came, bucking against him, thrashing like an absolute wild cat. It was the most beautiful sight in the world, watching her writhe on his dick like that, getting off on their dirty fucking.
Casual Affair (Slow Seductions) Page 11