by Iona Rose
He keeps eating and is silent for a while. And then he asks.
“Why do you want to pay me back?” He puts his fork down, and with both elbows on the table, resting his chin on his interlinked hands. His electric blue gaze is now directly on me.
It is exactly this kind of attention that he should not be giving to me while in the presence of so many people. I look briefly around and lo and behold… we are the focus of so many eyes. I have never wanted for Allen’s presence as much as I currently do. “Let’s talk about this later, sir,” I reply.
He relaxes his pose and picks up the bottle of water by his side. “I don’t need the money,” he says. “But if you really want to pay me back, then come to my house tonight.” Once again, he holds my gaze.
I’m all out of responses. Allen returns then so I focus my gaze on my half-finished salad bowl.
“What did I miss?” Allen asks.
I dare not answer the question.
The instant I return to my desk, I pull out my phone and text Jodie. He invited me to his house.
A few minutes later, her response pops up. And?
He’s never done this before.
Did something happen between you two? Before this?”
I tell her the truth. He proposed a casual relationship. No commitments.
And?
I refused it. Well, I told him I’d think about it.
Well, his message is clear then. You’re taking too damn long.
I throw my phone aside and try to return to work, but as I stare at my computer screen, I can’t help but ponder on what is truly holding me back. Perhaps it is fear, just like Layne said; the fear that I would be the one broken… this is very likely.
We have crossed a lot of lines so far but it’s still possible for us to work together. If I agree to this however, and things end badly then it will be the end of my career in the company. I make up my mind then, and hope to God that I can stand by it.
So when he comes out of his office later that evening to head home, I rise to my feet and give him my response, “My answer is no,” I say.
He stops and turns to me.
I don’t wait for him to respond. “I think that we work quite well together,” I continue. “And I don’t want that to be jeopardized. We have already crossed several lines… I know, but I’m sure that if we both agree from now and forward to keep things strictly professional, then everything will be fine.
The frown that furrows his brows is deep. Suddenly, his jacket falls from his arms.
My gaze follows it in surprise and when I look back up, I see that he is marching towards me.
I immediately begin to retreat and it isn’t until my back hits the wall that I realize I have nowhere else to go. My heart nearly flies out of my chest. “Sir,” I croak out.
He doesn’t stop until his chest is pressed against mine and it turns my legs to jelly. I hold his gaze but my hands are against the wall to support me, because the way he’s currently regarding me, with both hands in his pocket and his gaze darkened with desire is enough to melt me into a puddle.
“I don’t want to keep things professional between us,” he says through gritted teeth. “I want to fuck you. Over and over again.” His hand lifts to rest on my waist.
A small, treacherous gasp escapes my lips. I’m too susceptible to this man, too impressed, too aroused, too attracted. He’s a raging fire and I feel as weak and dumb as a moth about to fly into the midst of the inferno, seeking its own death.
My head turns as I lean away but it only gives him more access to my extremely sensitive neck. Of course, he knows the spots that drive me mad, and he takes full advantage of it… the bastard. His lips linger along my skin, just shy of making contact with the heated flesh. “How can you not want this between us?” he asks, his voice raspy and low. “You’ve experienced how it could be, how close we come to driving each other crazy, every single time. How can you not fucking want this?”
His tone is strained with frustration and desire and it makes me literally quake from the tip of my toes to the top of my head. With a heavy sigh, I move my hands from the wall and place it against his chest. The intention is to push him away, but he grabs my wrist and refuses to let go until I look up at him... until I stare into his eyes.
“Come home with me,” he says.
“Give me more than you're offering,” I reply. “I want to mean something to you beyond the assistant you fuck when you feel like it.”
He goes silent... and continues to watch me. “I can’t remember the last time I was in a relationship, Blair,” he says. “I don’t do them well. The expectations that come with it becomes a burden and when I’m not able to meet it, it will feed resentment. And then we’ll truly have to end things. I’m not ready to deal with complications like that.”
I give his explanation some thought, and then twist my wrist from his grip. “Let go.”
He releases me and steps backwards.
I check to ensure that all the blood has returned to my legs, before heading to the space beneath my desk. I retrieve my purse and my phone and then proceed to walk past him. “Let’s go,” I say, and the pit of my stomach does several little flips.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Blair
I know where he lives, as I’ve handled quite the number of correspondence that contains his personal details.
However, arriving and taking in the grandiosity of his building complex is a different matter.
A uniformed valet takes his car from him at the entrance, and it almost makes me ask if this is a hotel. His apartment is on the topmost floor which is the penthouse unit. I realize the moment he gets into the elevator and taps a key card to it that the only one with access to his floor is himself and whomever he allows.
“Maybe we don’t have to be in a relationship,” I say. “But for the duration of our time together, we must be exclusive.”
“Of course,” he agrees. He then begins to retreat to the wall and I turn around to see what he’s doing. After leaning against it, he beckons to me so I also step backwards until my frame settles into his. His warmth wraps around me like a shield, and shamelessly I turn my face to the side, reaching up on the tip of my toes to inhale his intoxicating scent. “And,” I say softly. “I’m going to need a card.”
He gazes down at me. “What card?”
“The one that gives private access to your floor.”
He watches me for a moment.
I’m not daunted. “What? You don’t want to?” I ask defiantly.
His lips begin to spread into a wide smile. “You’re usually much more timid at the office.”
“Well we’re not in the office and right now, I’m not your assistant.”
“I’m not complaining,” he says. “I immensely enjoy this uninhibited side of you.”
“So do I get the key or not?”
He turns around with me and before I realize what he is about to do, my feet are off the floor.
“Grady,” I laugh just as he presses me to the wall. I hook my legs around his waist while his hands settle and support me under the curve of my ass.
Before I can say another word, his mouth covers mine, and I crumble.
His flavor... of intimacy, longing and sweet desire puts me in a state that I never want to wake up from. I’m only aware of the ding of the elevator as we arrive on his floor and the next time I’m coherent, he’s shutting the door to his apartment. Our lips part and the soft smack that sounds at the separation severely shakes the wall that I have erected to put my emotions in check.
My eyes flutter open to stare up at his face, and I can’t help but reach up to brush his slightly disheveled hair back into place. His chest is slightly heaving and so is mine, the need to devour each other at the foremost of our minds but tonight, I want to take things somewhat slow. So I press a kiss to his cheek and whisper to him to let me down.
He does so and my limbs slide down his body. It is only then I realize that somewhere along the
way I have lost my purse. I look around to see that I am no longer holding it.
He is able to immediately guess what I’m searching for. “I’ll check the elevator,” he laughs and turns around. “Make yourself at home.” He shuts the door behind him.
I’m left alone in the massive apartment. It could have however passed for a house if it was located on the ground rather than at the top of the high rise building. The ceilings are incredibly high and right in this foyer is a magnificent chandelier that extends to hover just above the massive bouquet of Asiatic lilies that sit upon the center table.
I know that he is extremely wealthy, but seeing this magnificent display of extravagance is quite intimidating. I walk further into the space to meet a massive living room with windows that cover the entire length of one wall and also extend several feet above me.
There is a huge television embedded into a brick wall north of me, and on the second floor above, I can see an impressive array of bookshelves filled with countless titles. My eyes run down the winding staircase till it returns back to the floor, and then I turn around to head towards the kitchen.
It is immediately my favorite space so far, with its steel appliances and white cabinets. Again, there is a bouquet of fresh white lilies in the middle of the island which makes me believe that he has a cleaning service on employ to keep the place as sparkling clean as this. It almost seems unlived in and just a little bit lonely.
I hear the click to the front door signaling his return, so I turn around and head over to meet him.
True enough, he has found my purse which he places on the foyer table.
We are both amused at the occupation that led to its loss in the first place and share a smile together.
“You haven't had dinner have you?” he asks. “What do you want to eat?”
I place my hand on my stomach as I ponder on the question. “I’m still full from lunch but I could definitely eat. Do you have something quick available in your fridge?”
“Absolutely not,” he says. “Just some beverages and snacks.”
“Hmm, I guess we should order something in then. What do you want?”
“You decide,” he says. “I’m not very hungry either.”
“Okay. So, let’s get down to business then.” My hands goes to the button of my blouse, and I begin to undo the buttons there. I watch him beneath my lashes and relish the intensity of the gaze he has on me.
He doesn’t move and given my very clear understanding of how he is perceived to the world, I’m completely floored by how much I am able to hold the attention of a man that most others don’t even dare approach.
The moment my blouse parts, revealing the swell of my full breasts, encased in a sheer bra, I can almost hear his breathing briefly hitch.
“Let’s eat something first,” he says and begins to head over to the elevator. “We might not get any sleep tonight and the last thing I need is you collapsing on me.”
“Oh no,” I disapprove. “Your schedule is maxed out for tomorrow. Of course, we have to sleep.”
He ignores me and continues on his rummage through the double doored steel refrigerator. Soon, he emerges with some apples, a packet of bacon, and four eggs. “What can we make with this?” he asks.
Kicking my shoes off, I head over to him immensely amused. “Not much.”
“So we should just order something in then?”
“I think that will be best,” I say and grab an apple from the bag. I head over to the sink to wash it.
He pulls his phone from his pocket. “Chinese fried rice and chicken good with you?” he asks.
I nod in response and then take a bite out of the apple. He connects with the restaurant so I go over to him but then something occurs to me. Excited at my intention to be naughty, I place the apple on the counter and move silently until I’m behind him. My hands slink around his waist and quickly proceed to unbuckle his belt.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Blair
He remains still as he listens quietly to the speaker on the other end, and even when I slip my hand down his now released fly to the inside of his briefs, he doesn’t flinch.
However, when I grab the width of his fully aroused cock, I feel the slight jerk of his frame. The reaction spurs me on, so I tighten my hold around the sensitive flesh to stroke it in a fluid and precise motion. I know that he is severely affected by what I’m doing, which is why it’s beyond impressive that he is still able to maintain a somewhat stable tone as he continues his conversation over the phone.
At some point however, I feel his body slightly shudder and then his words become rapid, and inpatient. It amuses me so much knowing I’m going to be in trouble with him when he eventually ends this call.
So I tighten my hold around his stomach and pump him ever harder. The moment, I sense him begin to turn around to get me, I try to pull my hand out of his briefs. His hold around my scrawny wrist however sends an excited panic through me. I squeal out as I struggle with him, pulling with all my might to be released from his hold.
Eventually, I’m able to free myself and instantly hurry away.
His call comes to an end then, so he slips the phone into his pocket and turns to me. “Come here,” he says.
My pelvis goes numb with desire at the command in his tone. “I don’t want to,” I reply and continue to back away.
His eyes are locked on me as he begins to approach.
Then it’s not long before I realize I have nowhere to go but up. So I hurry up the stairs, not even aware of where I’m going.
He follows at a leisurely pace and when I look back to see the quiet fire burning in his gaze, I know that I’m in a lot of trouble. The moment I reach the top of the seemingly endless stairs, there is only the hallway to head down, so I do but soon realize that this chase will be coming to an end in no time. I hit a dead end, so I turn around to watch him beginning to unfasten the buttons of his shirt.
“I’m sorry,” I say half-heartedly, as I suspect that I will be ruthlessly albeit deliciously ravished the moment those hands of his get to me. “I just wanted to tease you. I won’t be that naughty again.”
This doesn’t work, as he doesn’t stop and with every step he takes that wicked glint in his eyes gets darker and darker.
“Grady. Grady!”
The shirt slides off his shoulders and falls to the floor just as he reaches me.
I’m thrown over his shoulder like a weightless sack and can’t contain the laugh bubbling through my system. “Grady!”
I’m gently thrown on the bed and before I can even sit upright, his beautiful warm body is on mine. Every word thereafter is stolen from my mouth with a deep kiss, his tongue coaxing mine in long languid strokes.
My core tightens painfully as he rubs the bulge of his erection against my crotch, so much so that I’m soon writhing helplessly on the bed needing more but yet completely engrossed by what he is already doing to me. I want to do more for and with him so I open my eyes, and try to turn with him.
Realizing what I want, he allows it and I straddle his chest. “I’m in control today,” I say to him.
He moves his hands behind his head to settle in to enjoy the show. “Are you?”
“I am,” I respond and reach to caress the skin of his now exposed cock.
“Then why are you still dressed?”
He has a good point so I shrug the shirt off my shoulders, and soon after, my bra is flung aside. My breasts are now fully exposed and open to his perusal… it warms me when he can’t seem to take his eyes off them.
He suddenly straightens and before I can stop him, one breast is in his mouth.
“Grady,” I shriek at the jolting sensation but I don’t want to stop him just yet. With my hand still pumping him from behind, I let my head slightly fall back as he devours my breasts.
He sucks greedily on my nipples, his tongue and teeth flicking while lightly grazing the hardened buds as his hands mold the soft mounds from beneath.
I
t is only then that I register where we are, and all I see is that it is a well-furnished, well lit room decorated in white and beige accents.
I return my attention to the man I’m on top of and wrap my hands around his neck. I realize then that I’m mere seconds from getting completely carried away and handing the reins over to him, so I summon all of my will, to push him away from me.
He’s reluctant to move away from my breasts but soon complies and falls back to the bed with a harsh groan.
I laugh softly at the torment on his face, but soon lower to place a sensual kiss on the skin beneath his pulse in his neck.
A harsh breath escapes him at the contact and I’m spurred on. I place another kiss on his shoulder, on his nipples and continue to trace kisses across his skin, tasting every inch of his flesh until I reach his navel. I thrust my tongue into it and it causes his entire frame to jerk.
“‘Blair!” He laughs.
I’m equally as amused as I continue the assault till my lips reach his groin.
For the first time I don’t feel hurried, although there is an intense sense of urgency for us to get the other off. Today however, I’m going to take my time to enjoy every bit of him. Since I’m already somewhat selling my soul, then I’m going to enjoy every second of the perks.
His cock is soon in my mouth and at my hard suck of the wet damp head, his hand finds its way to his hair.
I absolutely love how restless he’s becoming under my touch, his hips jerking and jutting as I proceed to lick and plant kisses up and down his shaft. Then I return to the head and take him into my mouth as deeply as he will go. I have to stop when he hits the back of my throat and then with my lips firmly closed around his thick column, and my teeth lightly scraping the sensitive skin, I pull off him. Next is his balls which I suck greedily on and then the feasting begins.
“Fuck,” he curses aloud as my mouth and hands settle on a frantic rhythm in milking him. “Blair…” His body shudders as my tongue laps up the arousing discharge from the head. Then I return to bobbing my head and hands up and down his shaft.