“Drop to your knees whenever I order you to,” he rumbled, punctuating his words with a deep thrust.
“O-okay, I can do that.”
“Lie back on my desk and spread your legs so I can eat your wet pussy.”
Moaning, she writhed on his cock. “That’s a good one.”
“Bend over and touch the floor, take it as hard and deep as I want it. Then beg me for more, because you can’t get enough.”
“O-oh…yeah. I like it hard and deep. I want that.”
She was getting close. It was there in her voice, in the way she squeezed even tighter around him.
Hell. Witnessing her full body tremor and seeing the way her eyes glazed over had him ready to come, too. And he really didn’t want to do that yet.
“Up,” he growled, hoisting her off him. She let out a protesting little mewl and tried to lower herself back down, but he deposited her onto her feet and stood before she could.
“Wh-what are you doing?” she gasped.
He grabbed her wrists in his hands and lowered his head to give her a wet, hot kiss that had their tongues tangling erotically. While it gave him the cool-down he so desperately needed, all he could think about was getting back inside her. She whimpered and he broke away. Before she could speak, he turned her to face away from him and pressed her front into the desk.
“Oh,” she breathed. “Better.”
Hopefully. Much as he loved staring into Hailey’s beautiful face, it got him too excited. Maybe this would make him last a bit longer.
But as he lifted her skirt to bare the beautiful curves of her ass, he knew his time was limited. Best to make it count.
“Andrew…now.”
Grasping her hips, he drove into her hard. She cried out and shoved back against him. He gritted his teeth and pulled out most of the way. Slammed back in.
“Like that.” She reached her arms back, grabbed onto the outside of his thighs. “More, sir. Please. I swear, I’ll be the best assistant ever.”
“Yeah?” He said through his teeth. “The best fucking assistant?”
She let out a half laugh, half sob at his pun. “Absolutely.”
“You’ll do everything I ask you to?”
“Yes,” she cried. “Yes, sir.”
“Spread your legs whenever I want it?”
“Yes.”
“Take me as deep and hard as I want?”
“Yes, yes! Just… just fuck me harder.”
Willing himself a modicum of control, he drove into her over and over. Until his vision swam and the sounds of their bodies slapping together echoed in his ringing ears. Until her body shook wildly, heralding her impending release.
Words tumbled from her mouth in a torrent of crazed passion. “Oh please… please…yes. God, yes!”
She was too freaking sexy.
He slid his fingers to her clit, rubbing the slick, sensitive flesh until she reared back with a loud cry.
“Yes. Andrew, yes!”
Her inner muscles spasmed wildly, clenching him tight. Spiraling him into his own mind-numbing climax. He growled his release into the air and continued pumping inside her. Driving over and over into her warm flesh, until he’d spilled every last drop of himself into the condom.
Exhausted, he slipped back into the chair, bringing Hailey with him to sit on his lap.
She gave a tired laugh and laid her head against his chest. Her hair tickled his skin through the material of his shirt, but he couldn’t bring himself to mind. It was another reminder that she was present, here with him in this moment.
Her right hand rose to cup his cheek. “That was amazing.”
“Mm-hm.”
As he stroked a hand through her hair, some part of him, some inner caveman he’d thought long ago buried, reared its head.
Mine, it said.
This time, Andrew didn’t have the strength to argue with it.
***
Hailey ambled toward the elevator in a dreamy haze. Andrew stood right by her side, halfway supporting her. Her body felt languid and sated, and a natural buzz flowed through her veins.
The door opened with a ding, and Andrew surprised her by stepping onto the elevator with her.
“You’re leaving too?”
He grinned and pulled her in for a heated kiss. “Not yet, but I wanted to see you down.”
She closed her arms around his neck, drinking in his alluring scent. “That’s awfully sweet of you.”
“Mm.” He swept back down for another deep, open-mouthed kiss.
This was wonderful. So wonderful, she wanted him again, even though they’d just been together. Hailey was beginning to think that would always be the case.
Oh my god, we just had sex in his office.
The realization burst through her fog of content. This was a major breakthrough, simply because she knew how firm Andrew had been about keeping their business and personal lives separate. How seriously he took it all.
This isn’t casual anymore. And that made her heart sing.
Because if she had to admit it to herself, she’d been falling for Andrew the whole time. Little by little, but undeniably.
Yes, she’d always had that innocent schoolgirl crush on him, but it had morphed into something much, much deeper. Something with depth and substance.
Something that could last.
On top of that, they’d just fulfilled one of her secret fantasies. She resolved that their little game of ‘stern boss’ and ‘timid secretary’ would become a regular occurrence. It was too freaking hot not to repeat it.
Hailey pulled back to gaze into Andrew’s eyes. While still their normal light blue, they were warmer than she remembered. Happier.
I did that.
“I’m going to miss you,” she whispered, because she needed to say something. Because she couldn’t give voice to what she really wanted to tell him. He wasn’t ready to hear that yet.
“My driver is waiting out front. He’ll take you home.”
Hailey pulled back. “Wait. You called him? When? Not while we were…?”
Andrew let out a low chuckle. “No, of course not. He always waits outside for me around this time of day.”
“Oh. You don’t have to have him take me to my place. He’s supposed to take you home.”
“I want to. Besides, I live a lot closer to the office than you do.”
The elevator door dinged its arrival, and they broke apart instinctively. There wasn’t any need to worry, however. Other than the security officer manning the front desk, the lobby was empty.
Andrew nodded at the officer as they passed, and then motioned for her to go first through the revolving doors.
She stepped out to an already dark evening. People crossed in front of them, heading in both directions. Tourists, artists, business people wearing suits. The streets were packed, as usual, and there was a certain amount of anonymity in that. Maybe that’s what gave Andrew enough confidence to reach out and grab her hand.
He pulled her to him and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. “Thank you.”
Her forehead wrinkled. “For what?”
“Overtime.”
Brain-addled as she was, it took a second for his remark to penetrate. She mock-slapped his chest and gasped. “Was that a joke? From you?”
Andrew laughed and snatched her back into his arms, kissing her again before nodding to her right. “My driver’s right there. See you tomorrow.”
“Good night.”
She practically floated to the car, managing no more than a polite smile and a nod to the driver when he held her door open. As she slid into the seat, she couldn’t help but wonder what was next for her and Andrew. They still hadn’t talked about their relationship. Hell, they hadn’t even termed it as such. But even though this thing between them had only been happening for a few months, she was sure of one thing: it was for real, and it was spectacular.
Now she only had to find a way to convince Andrew what she’d already concluded. Despite what
logic would dictate, the two of them were perfect together.
***
Like a lovestruck schoolboy, Andrew stood and watched his car speed down the street. His face broke out into a foolish grin, and he didn’t even bother trying to wipe it off.
Might as well admit it. Hailey made him happy.
Much as he’d tried to deny it, there was something about her that drove him wild. And it was more than just the sex, which was admittedly mind-blowing. It was her personality. How she seemed so unafraid of life. The way she’d sing and twirl whenever the mood struck her, even if she was walking down a busy street.
He admired her.
More than that, he really, really liked her.
And then there was the incredible sex.
Still wearing his goofy grin, he started to turn back toward the building…when he saw him.
Andrew’s gaze kept moving for a moment, until he realized whom he’d just spotted. Then his chest tightened and his heart thumped.
He turned back to the man standing almost directly across from him, on the opposite side of the street.
Daniel Milstrom. Diane’s father.
Judging by the glower on the man’s face, he’d spotted Andrew kissing Hailey goodbye. And he wasn’t the least bit happy about it.
Panic rose, threatening to choke the breath from his lungs. Daniel was his biggest investor, by far. Without him, there was no global expansion. No realization of his father’s dream.
He would fail.
Swallowing hard, he summoned the nerve to stalk across the street toward Daniel. He would have to fix this, whatever it took.
Failure was not an option here.
Chapter Twelve
Tightlipped, Andrew watched as Daniel paced back and forth throughout his office. They’d ended up back here after Andrew had approached him on the street. Daniel had remained silent the entire way back, making for one of the most uncomfortable elevator rides Andrew had ever had the misfortune of taking. The heavy aura of anger pulsing from Daniel left no doubt how the man felt.
“I…I just don’t understand,” Daniel growled, running a hand through his sandy gray hair.
Andrew fought for patience. Given that the older man had somehow made him feel like a teenager sent to the principal’s office, it was hard. He hated feeling out of control. “I told yo—”
“You’re dating my daughter.” Daniel’s hand sliced out for emphasis.
Holding back a wince, Andrew said, “We haven’t seen each other for weeks, not since…”
Damn. Maybe he shouldn’t admit how long he and Hailey had been hooking up.
Daniel’s eyes flashed heavily. “Did you break up with Diane?”
There was no stopping his cringe this time. He’d been meaning to make that call, but now he was forced to face the truth. He’d been stalling. Trying to avoid a situation like this. Because, much as he’d tried to overlook it, Daniel seemed unreasonably intent on shoving him and Diane together.
“Let’s be honest,” Andrew finally said. “Diane hasn’t exactly contacted me either. There’s no chemistry there, and both of us know it.”
“Diane is a good match for you. The two of you would be virtually unstoppable if you combined your resources.”
Seriously? That was his argument?
“Is that really all that matters to you?” Andrew shook his head. “Don’t you want your daughter to be with someone who wants her? Someone who can love her?”
“Love?” Daniel gave a brittle laugh and thumped down onto one of the leather chairs opposite Andrew’s desk. “I figured you would have learned by now that love is an illusion. A lie we tell ourselves to justify our actions.”
When Andrew didn’t reply, Daniel let out a sigh. “You disappoint me, Andrew. I thought you were more like your father.”
Andrew’s gut clenched, the other man’s words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. “I’m as good a businessman as he was.”
“Except that your father knew business came first. He knew sometimes you had to make sacrifices for the good of the company.” Sighing again, Daniel lowered his voice. “Sit down, Andrew.” He patted the second chair beside him.
The older man’s soft but authoritative tone, so like Andrew’s father, prompted his automatic reaction. He sat.
“Even though you only met Diane recently, you know that I was friends with your father for many years, right?”
Andrew nodded. “Yes. He told me you went to college together.”
“I was there when your father fell for your mother.”
His words made Andrew blink. “You knew her?”
“She was like a bright, beautiful butterfly, always flitting about. But she was flawed.”
A burst of unexpected anger poured over Andrew at Daniel’s description of his mother. But, he couldn’t deny the man’s words. His mother had wavered between emotional highs and lows that had left him and his brothers walking on eggshells around her. She’d died of a drug overdose, for god’s sake.
“She was fragile, like butterfly wings,” Daniel continued. “Ultimately, your father regretted falling for such an impetuous woman, and I know you would too. Now I don’t know this woman I saw you with, but she’s your secretary, and she’s carrying on an affair with you. I’d caution you to analyze just how strict and controlled she could be.”
Daniel’s words penetrated, causing a huge ball of unease to knot in Andrew’s gut. The older man had just vocalized what he himself feared.
He knew firsthand the pain of being emotionally attached to someone he couldn’t count on. Could Hailey wind up being the same as his mother?
Could he even take that chance?
“You’re a good kid, Andrew.” Daniel’s hand reached out, momentarily touched his sleeve. “You need a good woman by your side. Think twice before you discount Diane based on something so fleeting as lust.”
Andrew gritted his teeth. His soul howled in protest at Daniel’s characterization of his relationship with Hailey. But isn’t that what he’d told himself all along, that this was just about sex?
Daniel’s jaw tightened. “Let me be blunt. I’ve always imagined a partnership between our genetic lines. I’ve been generous in pledging my money to your expansion because I believed it would benefit future generations of my family.”
Andrew’s mouth dropped open at Daniel’s not so subtle insinuation. The man’s ego demanded an empire, and he’d sacrifice anything to satisfy it. Even his daughter.
Digging into the pocket of his grey suit, Daniel then whipped out a white envelope. “I concluded my other business earlier than anticipated and came by to drop this off.” Before Andrew could reach for it, he slipped it back into his coat. “But maybe I’ll hold on to it for another day or two. I want you to take some time, think about whether this is what you truly want.”
After rising to his feet, Daniel clapped Andrew on the shoulder and left. Andrew didn’t watch him go, however. Instead, he stared, unseeing, into the distance. Contemplating everything Daniel had just said.
The man was trying to control him. He realized that, and he certainly didn’t appreciate it. But Daniel had several good points. Things Andrew couldn’t ignore.
He’d told himself from the beginning that he and Hailey were too different. He’d recognized she would never truly fit into his world. She was too bright, too vivacious, to be contained in that way.
Just like Mother.
Hell, what was he thinking? This expansion had been his father’s lifelong dream. It was now his dream. Much as he hated it, the truth was simple.
Without Daniel’s support, there would be no expansion. Not for the foreseeable future…maybe not ever.
The entire company had worked so hard for this venture. It had been years in the making, and these past several months had been hard for everyone on his team. He couldn’t throw it all away. Not for the satisfaction of a few stolen moments with a woman who would never truly be his.
Not for anything.
Closing his eyes, he swallowed past the sudden lump in his throat. He should’ve ended things with Hailey weeks ago. Should have never even started. This was a dangerous game he’d been playing, and in the end they were both going to get burned.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
It was in times like this that he wished he had someone to lean on. To ask for advice. But there was no one.
It was time for him to start acting like the adult he was. To do the right thing.
No matter how painful it might be.
***
A soft knock on Hailey’s bedroom door woke her from a sound sleep. Only half aware, she sat up and then winced at the sliver of light hitting her face when the door opened a fraction.
Lily poked her head inside. “Hailey.”
Sitting up, Hailey shaded her eyes with her hand. “Wha-what time is it?”
“A little past midnight.”
The note of concern in Lily’s voice woke her the rest of the way up. “What’s wrong?”
“I…I don’t know.” Lily hesitated for a second. “Andrew’s at the door.”
“Andrew?”
“With the dog.”
“What…” Her heart leapt into her throat, and she hopped from the bed. Something was wrong…with Andrew…with the dog. She didn’t know, but clearly something was wrong.
Lily shifted to the side so she could pass by. “I…I’ll be in my bedroom if you need me.”
Hailey didn’t answer as she rushed down the hall and toward the front door. Her panic started to recede when she saw Andrew and Loki. They both looked fine.
Whew…
Her heart calmed.
Until Andrew lifted his gaze to hers.
The look in his eyes sparked a stab of fear in her stomach. “What’s wrong?”
His jaw tightened. “Sorry I woke you.”
He didn’t sound sorry, though. He didn’t really sound like anything right now.
“That’s okay. What is it, Andrew?”
He swallowed, and his gaze traveled over her shoulder. “I’ve been thinking. About us.”
She took a shaky breath, edging closer to him. Trying not to despair when he slowly inched back. “What?”
Andrew shook his head, his eyes softening. “You know what, Hailey. This is crazy. It’s gone on too long.”
Wild Girls Rule Page 14