Lifting the envelope, I opened it knowing he was hired before I even looked inside. As I took out the paper, cake shaped confetti fell to the ground.
Oh, he knew me.
Hired.
Taking a bite of the cake, I paused to enjoy the citrus bursts of moist deliciousness practically melting in my mouth. It was so good. Did he make this? God I hoped so.
Opening the folded paper, I was surprised to see it was a letter and not a résumé.
Dear Morgana,
Cake is love. You taught me that.
When I first met you, I laughed at your love of cake. I made excuses for this odd affection. Told myself only a fool would take in its sweetness and think they could marry it.
As time went on and I came to know you, I wrote off your cake love as a cute quirk. How could a woman charm everyone she met, even the most hardened of men? Even me. It must have been your foibles and your ability to match any wit you came across.
At times I became jealous and wanted to keep you only with me. But you never belonged to me. Cake had your heart long before I came into your life.
So I surrender to cake. I could never ask you to choose, but if you would be willing to consider marrying me with cake. I don’t think it’s against the law to have two people marry cake together.
Will you marry me (and cake), Morgana?
Love Always,
Henrik Payne
Tears were cascading down my face. With shaking hands, I placed the paper on the desk and looked up.
Henrik was standing there in a dark navy suit, no tie. He walked around the desk and came to his knee in front of me. Lifting his hand, he produced a diamond ring.
It was big.
Shiny.
He was every woman’s wet dream right now.
“Will you marry me, Morgana?”
Henrik’s eyes were wide with curiosity. But as the moments ticked past that curiosity turned to panic as I considered my reply.
“You will have my answer Henrik, but you first must answer one question. My answer depends on yours.”
This was going to be fun.
THIRTY-SEVEN
Payne’s Rule
Be prepared for any question.
What a nightmare.
Just Morgana at her desk towering over me, licking crumbs of cake off her plump lips while I sat at her feet, waiting to hear my fate.
My face hurt from frowning so much. I thought she would have loved this. Winston serving her tea cake. Her dream.
Maybe I’m not her dream.
That’s what this was about. If I answered her question wrong, she had an excuse to say no. This was my punishment for all the times I fucked with her.
“What is your question?”
Morgana stood, taking off her blazer and unfastening the top buttons of her white blouse with black polka dots before sitting back down. “It’s getting a little warm in here, Henrik.”
I watched with a mix of longing and alarm as her finger slowly slid over the edge of her top where she just released the buttons. The wispy fabric slipped to reveal red lace, and I swallowed.
The hardening between my thighs was stealing the much-needed blood supply my brain required right now. Closing my eyes, I did my best to concentrate.
A Trevor and Jamie sandwich.
That did it. Captain Cock was limp as a soggy piece of bread.
It’s when I opened my eyes that my brief respite from the good captain was shadowed by panic. Morgana slid back in her chair clasping her hands over her stomach. Her ease seemed to intensify my uncertainty.
“Now for the question.”
I placed my hand on the desk and began to rise when I felt a pain in my shoulder.
The sharp heel of Morgana’s red shoe ground into my shoulder reminding me of where I belonged. Keeping her foot on my shoulder, she leaned forward. “I haven’t asked my question yet.”
“Yes.” I nodded remaining seated.
“What kind of cake will be served at our wedding?”
She blinked once.
I blinked twice.
Did cake mean something else? Like it’s code for something. Perhaps she wants Winston to serve her at the wedding.
“Cake?”
“Yes Henrik, cake.”
She reached back and picked up the letter. “I believe you mentioned I would be marrying not only you but cake as well. I need to know what kind I will say ‘I do’ to.”
How did I even begin to answer this?
If she had a favorite cake, I would describe it, but she loves all cake.
Every type of cake.
“Chocolate.”
I had to say something. She did love chocolate. Maybe that was it. Chocolate was the key. It’s rich and could make a tasty cake.
It was a good answer. I felt confident.
Smiling, I nodded my head in approval.
“Chocolate. Okay. That’s all you have to say about that? You didn’t want to think about it a little bit more? It seems a quick and easy answer for such a long commitment. Remember my answer depends on yours. You want me to say yes to just chocolate cake?”
That was the wrong answer.
Shit.
“Before you go spouting off random cake flavors, let me take you down memory lane.”
My head bobbed so fast I was afraid it might fall off. Any hint she could give me would help.
“What was the first thing you taught me when I started as your assistant, Henrik? Your first rule for me?”
I remember I made her work in various departments hoping she would hate it and quit, though I didn’t tell her that.
“To get to know the company.”
Her face glowed with a grin.
“Very good. Because of that, I am sitting here right now. Not because I came up with one idea, but because you had me work with people. Employees and areas of the company I would never have understood or seen. That helped me think outside the box. That helped me come up with the idea that got me into the program. But you know what Jacob Mimir said to me when he offered me a chance in the program?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“He told me every department manager I had worked with came to him and said they were jealous of you. That you got a great assistant. That they wanted to keep me in their departments after my time was up with them. I have you to thank for that, Henrik.”
I stood, pushing aside her foot. “No Morgana, even if you had only worked as my assistant and I hadn’t pushed you off onto each department, you would have shined. Anyone would have seen it. I knew it the moment you walked through that door back in December. Maybe that’s why I tried to push you away. I was afraid you would realize I wasn’t worth the effort.”
Morgana got up and placed a hand on my cheek. “What was the second rule you mentioned those first months I worked with you?”
I furrowed my brow, a bit confused.
“I don’t remember.”
“Good. It was stupid anyway. The no kissing before sex rule.”
My immature rule had me groaning. Slipping my hands around her waist, I pulled her into me.
That’s what I needed, to feel her. Be near and wrapped in her. My mouth fell to hers because it was necessary to taste her and Morgana seemed to agree.
At least, that’s what I believed her moan implied. Her hands reached for my ass causing a chain reaction of my cock grinding into her making her moan more, which then had me groaning.
She tasted sweet, like oranges, and I gobbled her up.
Just as I was about to push for more, a deeper taste or fingered touch, Morgana pulled back.
Her face sagged, lost in everything I felt. I didn’t know if I could take another question, but she surprised me.
She hitched up her skirt and removed her red lace panties, tossing them aside. Words couldn’t form as I watched helplessly as she sat on the edge of her desk and spread her legs for me.
That’s when the answer came to me.
“Any cake you wan
t, Morgana.”
“Good answer, now drop your pants, Mr. Payne.”
I did.
My hands slid up her thigh pushing her farther. She leaned back on her elbows and gifted me with an even better view. Her pussy was swollen, glistening, and the urge to run my thumb over her was too tempting to deny.
A hiss of breath caused me to glance up as my fingers pressed over her. Her eyes drooped, and everything on her face begged.
For me.
“I love you, Morgana. I love this. I would take anything you gave me.”
My two fingers plunged deep into her. She was warm and soft like heaven. I didn’t even do much before Morgana rocked against my hand.
My other hand cradled my cock, stroking to her rhythm, watching her unravel. But before Morgana tumbled over that peak, I pulled away.
“Ahh, oh Henrik. Please fuck me.”
That’s what I have been dreaming of hearing these past few months. My fingers slipped into my mouth and I lined up my cock and pushed. Not forceful, but easy with a few thrusts.
Glorious thrusts that had me almost collapsing on top of her. Taking my hand out of my mouth, I gripped the desk and managed to keep going. This may not last long.
“I missed you. You feel so good.”
She sat up, her eyes saucers as they stared an inch from my face. We stayed like this as I thrust in and out of her. Morgana shifted her hips and her eyes fluttered up.
She tightened around me and I slipped my fingers, the ones that were inside her minutes ago, past her lips to muffle her cries as she came.
Her beautiful face tensed as her eyes closed. It was more than I could handle. I broke.
I grabbed her hair and tugged it back, exposing her neck to me. My head fell as I shuddered, biting her neck, spilling into her. Everything tensed as my hips slowed.
We clung to each other with slow, tense pulls.
“Yes, Henrik, I will marry you. I will always reach for your happiness because I love you.”
THIRTY-EIGHT
Morgana’s Problem
Pie
“It is pie.” I pointed to the round crusty object in the middle of the conference table.
“Cherry.” Jacob Mimir smiled puffing out his chest and gazing about the room as if he won first prize at some country fair.
“Oh. Did you make it?”
“No, bought it at that new grocery store by my house. Thought it would go nicely with the party.”
The party that was currently going on around us, my engagement party. Since Henrik and I told everyone last week we were engaged, Jacob insisted on an office engagement party.
Jacob forgave Henrik for trying to steal my idea when I came back from Wake Up Joe’s last week after seeing Henrik. I knew he had a meeting with him about R. Payne Works so I wanted to explain that Henrik lied to get himself fired all those weeks ago. Jacob also didn’t understand why Henrik didn’t just quit, but Edgar mentioned Henrik liked to brood. We all agreed it was just Henrik’s way.
Jacob was glad I explained everything, as he believed the meeting with Henrik was for Henrik to ask for his job back. I sort of lied myself to arrange the meeting. I told Jacob that Henrik really wanted to discuss being fired and Jacob, having a big heart, was willing to talk to him.
I had informed Evaleen before I ever talked to Jacob or saw Henrik that day that if she didn’t contact Zooey and set up a meeting that I would let the ladies in Accounting know what a big heart she had. Being the gossips that they were, the entire building would know by the end of the week.
She didn’t believe me until I showed her the administrative leave form she had filled out for me back in the spring. I highlighted where she wrote, Morgana Drake is a good worker. She gets along with others and they sing her praises. She is too good to ever be fired from this company in my opinion. Therefore, I recommended to her boss she only be put on administrative leave until the problem is resolved. Morgana brings sunshine to this company.
I underlined sunshine, which made her groan. Evaleen reluctantly agreed to the phone call.
I had been impressed with Henrik’s new company and wanted to find him the support he needed.
“I think my mother said she would bring cake.”
He frowned and placed his hand with ease on my shoulder. “Look, Morgana, I didn’t want to have to be the one to tell you this, but your mother called my assistant this morning. Her oven broke, there will be no cake. That’s why I went and got this pie. Everyone loves pie.”
I was blinking.
Lots of blinking.
No cake, only pie?
I pushed at my blazer and almost ripped it from my arms. It’s so hot in here. Did someone shut off the air conditioning?
I felt nauseous.
“You taking care of my fiancée, Jacob?” Henrik slid up beside me placing his hand on my shoulder.
“I just told her about the pie.”
“Are you all right, Morgana? You look green.”
I pulled at Henrik’s arm so he would lower his ear to me. “Henrik, I think this is a sign.”
He whispered back, “What type of sign? That I get to eat lots of pie during our marriage?”
He wiggled his eyebrows at me. His immature humor caused my nausea to subside. I may not be in danger of throwing up all over that crusty red gelatinous dessert anymore, but I’m still disappointed.
It’s not so much I dreamed my engagement party would have my mom’s cake, but that I dreamed of having my mom’s cake. The highlight of any event was that cake. To find out it’s not coming, well, I mean I love Henrik but this changed things.
“The cake, silly. Maybe we can sneak out—”
“Oh, and meet in your office for some bonding.” He animated his eyebrows once again.
“No, I mean sneak out to get cake. The bonding can happen later. As for that, I would like to have sex in an actual bed. The last time a bed was involved we were in London.”
I heard coughing and looked up to see Jacob frowning. “I am still here you know.”
“Uh, right. How much did you hear?” I asked.
My nausea came back.
“Enough. I will just go talk to my brother. At least he’s discreet about that stuff.”
Jacob turned to go. Henrik shrugged. “Hey, at least I can’t get fired now.”
“No, but I can. That’s another thing about the bonding. We need to be less obvious about it.”
“Whatever you want, Morgana.” Henrik brought my hand to his lips but dropped it as his eyes widened. I turned to find what he was staring at, Grace.
“Congratulations, Mr. Payne, Ms. Drake,” Grace said.
Henrik wrapped his arm around my waist with a tight pull. The more she spoke, the more Henrik inched behind me. I suspected he was using me as a shield.
Coward.
“Thank you, Grace.” I grinned because I’m not afraid of her. Henrik thinks she’s crazy, even Evaleen has mentioned she has a few screws loose, but I liked Grace. I think she was just shy and maybe a little awkward, but Grace has been nothing but sweet to me.
“Here, I got you both something.”
She reached into her purse and produced a small envelope.
“Oh, Grace, you didn’t have to do that. That is so nice. Isn’t that nice of her, Henrik?”
I wrestled out of his rigid hold and gave him a tight smile. His eyes weren’t on Grace or me but on the envelope Grace was passing to me.
“Yes, so nice, Grace. Here, let me take that. We will open it later, at home. Or maybe in a bomb-proof box.”
Henrik mumbled the last part but I heard it.
Grace’s eyes seemed to dim and she reminded me of a lost puppy. Everyone here avoided her, and I thought all she wanted was to fit in.
“Oh, uh, okay. You probably have a lot of cards to open. You’re busy with all the engagement stuff.” She seemed to half smile and half frown, which I didn’t even think was possible.
“No, we will open it now. You went to all this troubl
e to get us the card. I want to see it.”
I began to tear at the seal when a hand grabbed mine. It was Henrik’s. “Fine, but let me do it.”
He took it and ever so slowly tore open the seal. Slowly lifting the card out he peered into the envelope. “No glitter?”
“Oh, well, when I put it in your holiday card you didn’t like it.”
Henrik nodded before taking a deep breath and looked at the card. There was a cartoon drawing of a piece of poop on the front.
Maybe Henrik was right to think she was crazy. What if there was crap smeared all inside the card, like she was calling me a piece of shit.
She hated me.
All this time she had been luring me to believe she was misunderstood and really just sweet, perhaps a little too innocent. Yet, the whole time she had been planning to take her revenge in the form of a poop card.
Evaleen and Henrik were right about her.
Henrik began to open the card. I tried to reach for him, to stop him, but I was too late.
“No, Henrik, I—”
“I hope you two marry the shit out of each other. Congratulations.” Henrik’s monotone voice had my heart filling with joy.
Henrik and I made eye contact. Relief was communicated through our glance, followed by euphoria, and finally, it all tumbled into laughter.
“It’s just a card,” I said between my fits of laughter.
“Yes, just a picture of poop and nothing more,” Henrik added flipping the card over.
“I’m glad you two like it. My boyfriend Trey picked it out.”
“Boyfriend?” Henrik and I announced at the same time.
“Yeah, that’s him right over there. We met a month ago when he first started in IT. He’s so nice.”
I glanced over to find a tall man with caramel hair dusting his shoulders waving at us. My jaw dropped, not for the fact that Grace had a boyfriend, but at his arms. They were cut.
The man was built like a truck. If I wasn’t with Henrik, I would have been very jealous of Grace right now. As I looked up at Henrik, I saw relief followed by a little bit of hurt.
I think having Grace like him made him believe that despite how much of a Payne he could be, that there were people out there who liked him no matter what. Well, now he has me for that.
Rules of Payne (Cake Love Book 1) Page 22