Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Epilogue
Beyond the Cherry Trees Playlist
Other Works by H. D’Agostino
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Beyond the Cherry Trees (The Cook Brothers #2)
H. D’Agostino
Copyright © May 2016 by Heather D’Agostino
All Rights Reserved. This book may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. All characters and storylines are property of the author and your support and respect is appreciated. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
The following story contains mature themes, profanity, and sexual situations. It is intended for adult readers.
Cover design and formatting by Cassy Roop @ Pink Ink Designs
Photography by Kelsey Keeton of K Keeton Designs
Cover Models: Dillon Denton and Amanda Romine
Editing by Rebecca Cartee @Editing by Rebecca
ISBN: 978-1530188734 (Paperback)
2 months ago…
THE LIGHTS FLASHED around me, pulsing to the beat of the music as I lifted the glass to my lips once again. Tonight was about celebrating, and I was the man of the hour. The case I’d been working on for the last several months finally closed, and we won. My client was getting a huge settlement, and after my boss saw me in action on the case, he finally awarded me the title of partner. No one in my firm had ever made partner at my age. I was what they called a “prodigy”. Several of the other junior partners had invited me out to celebrate, and here I was. Gavin, my best friend, was supposed to be meeting me here, but he hadn’t shown up yet.
“Hey, you.” Her voice came from behind me, causing me to jump slightly. Christina had been pursuing me for weeks. I’d been interested at first, until I found out she was strictly off limits. First, she was an intern. She didn’t work directly with me, but still, interns were off limits. The big kicker? She’s my boss, Henry’s, daughter. Yeah, that one caught me completely off guard. I walked into Henry’s office one day to see a picture of Christina on his desk. It hadn’t been there before, but now she was staring right back at me. As much as my dick wanted me to say “fuck it”, I couldn’t. I knew messing with her would screw me royally, and I loved my job. I was Tyler Cook. I could have any chick I wanted. I didn’t need Christina Stark.
“You can’t be here,” I mumbled around the lip of my glass drunkenly. I’d stopped counting at drink number five, and Johnnie Walker had become my new best friend tonight.
“Why’s that?” She tipped her head to the side and sunk her teeth into her lower lip. “You seem pretty lonely Ty.” Her palm flattened on my bicep before she squeezed it lightly. “I was hoping you might want a little company.”
“You know this can’t happen,” I grumbled as I motioned for the bartender to get me another drink.
“But it can.” She licked her lips, and I couldn’t help but watch her tongue as my dick twitched in my pants. “No one would have to know. It could be our secret.” Her voice lowered as she leaned in next to my ear. One hand slid across my back as the other lowered to where my thigh was flexing under the bar.
“I would know,” I muttered as I swallowed. “Fucking rules,” I mumbled just as the stool on the other side of me made a scuffing noise as it was pulled back.
“Sorry I’m late,” Gavin’s breath was labored as he folded his tall body onto the stool. “Work was a bitch today, and I just couldn’t get away.” He motioned for the bartender as I swung my gaze in his direction. I would have been amused by his disheveled appearance if I wasn’t trying to push Christina away so hard.
“It happens,” I chuckled lightly with a shrug.
“Who’s this?” Gavin grinned as his eyes scanned the vixen perched on the other side of me.
“Trouble,” I muttered as I used my fingertips to push the glass I was holding across the bar in hopes of getting another. I’d been tipping these back so fast that I was starting to really feel them.
“Trouble ‘eh?” His brows wagged as he looked past me and held out his hand to her. “Nice to meet you. Why are you with this loser?” Gavin laughed lightly as I rolled my eyes. We’d been friends since law school, and after Mia crushed my heart, he’d turned into my perfect wingman. He knew when to back off, and when to swoop in and save me. Apparently, I wasn’t sending the right message tonight because the harder I tried to deflect Christina, the more he pushed. “You look like a fantasy to me, not trouble.”
“Why, thank you,” she giggled as she moved to stand between us. “If you don’t want me, maybe your friend does,” she whispered as she turned her back on me. Now, I don’t know if it was the alcohol or the fact that I was going to lose the girl to my best friend, or what, but those few words made me throw all common sense out the window and head down a path I knew would be nothing but trouble.
“I don’t think so,” I growled as I rose from my seat. “I don’t lose,” I grabbed her wrist and tugged her flush with my body. “Ever!” I stressed the words as I leaned down and nipped the shell of her ear. Yeah, I was in so much trouble, and I didn’t even know it yet.
Christina giggled as I dragged her toward the bathroom of the club. I wasn’t usually this impatient, but I hadn’t gotten laid in over a week. I was never really into the one-night stand, but after Mia up and left, I was doing everything I could to get back in the saddle. I’d sworn off dating for over two years, and now I was happy just to have a warm body in my bed. I really didn’t have to search; the women seemed to come to me. I had the looks and the brains, a total package. I haven’t always been this cocky, but having your heart broken changes you. I don’t care what people say, once that little piece is shattered, there’s no getting it back. You may heal and move on, but you’re never the person that you were before.
“Ty,” Christina panted as I shoved through the door of the bathroom. I pushed her into the single stall, and twisted the lock.
“You better be ready for this,” I warned. “All this teasing and taunting that I’ve listened to for weeks,” I winked as I undid my belt buckle “I’m going to give you one hell of a ride.” The alcohol was making me brave, and as I watched her body tremble with desire, I couldn’t slow myself down if I wanted to.
“I hope so,” she giggled. She reached for me just as I shoved my boxers to my knees and wrapped her in my arms. Our mouths crashed into one another, and as my tongue explored, my hands slid under the pencil skirt she was wearing. I pushed it up as I fisted the flimsy material of her thong and gave it a harsh tug. It ripped from her body, causing her to gasp in surprise. “Fuck me, Tyler,” she groaned as I lifted one leg to wrap around my hip. I positioned myself at her entrance and with one quick thrust filled her.
“Fuck!” I hissed before pulling back and slamming into her once again. She
moaned and I covered her mouth with mine to muffle her cries. I knew I wasn’t going to last, and as I sped up, her nails dug into my back. We soared over the edge together, and just as I finished, reality slapped me right across my face.
“Get a room,” someone groaned as the door to the bathroom swung open. Our feet were all that could be seen, but we hadn’t been subtle about what we were doing. I placed my hand over Christina’s mouth to keep her quiet as we waited for the person to leave. I recognized the voice as one of the men I’d come here with. I was so dead if we got caught.
“Shh,” I whispered as I slowly moved my hand. The bathroom door closed, and I leaned over to pull up my pants and boxers. “This can’t happen again,” I warned as I turned my back on Christina and left.
I walked as fast as I could to the front of the club, leaving her in my wake. I needed to get away. I’d text Gavin later and let him know what happened, and then I needed to figure out how to make Christina understand that this was a one-time thing. We had a company function coming up soon. I’d need to show up with a date. Maybe that would help. Christina and I couldn’t be anything. It just wasn’t possible, no matter how hot she is. I just hope she understood this as much as I did.
Present Day…
“WHAT ARE WE doing?” I gasped as her hand reached into the waistband of my boxers, and I felt her fingers wrap around my cock.
“Exactly what you want to be doing,” she giggled as she stroked me again. We were in my office making out like teenagers. It was late, and only the cleaning crew was here. I don’t know how she managed to stay without anyone questioning her, but she did. I’d been finishing notes for the case I was taking to trial the next week when she waltzed in and closed my door. I’d told her months ago that this couldn’t keep happening, but we couldn’t stay away from each other.
“What if someone finds out?” I mumbled against her lips as she pressed her body into mine more fully.
“Stop worrying. No one will know,” she laughed lightly as she started moving us backward toward my desk.
“Seriously, Chrissi, I worry. Your dad will fire my ass if he finds out, and I happen to like my job.” The words came out in an umph as she shoved me backward into the chair.
“Daddy doesn’t know a thing, and I need you… like now.” She leaned forward to press her mouth to mine as her hands began to work my pants over my hips. I knew what I was doing was wrong on so many levels. I knew that messing around with Chrissi was doing nothing but leading me down a path that I couldn’t escape, but I couldn’t help it. She was so hot and had a way of convincing me to do just about anything. I knew why her father couldn’t tell her no. I couldn’t tell her no either. “Stop worrying,” she giggled as she reached under her skirt and slid her panties down her legs. She kicked them to the side before moving to straddle to my lap. “I need you like you need me.” Her face went from playful to serious. “Right, Ty?”
“Fuck!” I hissed under my breath as she slowly slid down on me. Her hands went to my shoulders and mine to her hips as I worked her up and down. “You feel…” I paused as my brain started to catch up. “Shit!” I tried to push her off, but her thighs tightened their grip. “Condom!” I scrambled to get away.
“Relax, Ty. I’m on the pill.” She leaned forward and ran her tongue up the column of my neck. “It’s fine,” she reassured me.
“It’s not fine.” I froze as I tried to hold her still. “I don’t go without wrapping it.”
“You didn’t wrap it the first time.” Her head tipped to the side.
“Fuck!” I shook my head. She was right. I was drunk, horny, and not thinking. That night at the club all I wanted to do was get her out of my system.
“I’m on the pill. It’s ok.” She tried to raise herself up and sink back down on me. It felt so good, her hot, wet heat surrounding me. Her head dropped back, causing her hair to spill down her back, and her breasts to push out in front of my face. “Relax,” she moaned as she rose up and sunk down once again.
I knew I should be more concerned. I didn’t do the whole no protection thing. I always wrapped it. You never knew who was lying to you, and I was a well-known name here in the city. I wasn’t a manwhore, but I did get around. The last thing I wanted was some woman claiming that I was her ‘baby daddy’. “We can’t do this anymore.” I grunted as she dropped down on me with more force than I was expecting. “I mean it, Chrissi. I can’t be sneaking around with you.” My eyes closed as I leaned into the back of the chair while she continued to bounce on my lap. My words didn’t sound convincing at all.
“We’ll see,” she laughed as her insides tightened on me. My dick pulsed as it disappeared inside her once again before she leaned forward and ground herself down on me. “You always come back,” she teased. “I’m the only one who can give you what you need.” She reached behind herself, and swiped her hands across my desk, causing papers to fly everywhere. Her eyes got a twinkle in them like she had some devious plan before she attempted to scoot off me. “Fuck me like you mean it, Ty,” she grinned, eyeing the desk again.
I knew what she wanted. She wanted it fast and hard. She wanted to unravel me, and that’s exactly what she got. I stood, causing her to fall backward onto the hard wood. She gripped the edge as I leaned forward to get my footing. “Hold on to the edge, sweetheart,” I teased before rearing back and slamming into her. Her body slid a few inches up the wood before she tightened her grip.
“Oh god. Again,” she panted. “God Tyler. You fuck so good,” she moaned.
“I know, baby. I’m gonna make you come so hard you’ll be feeling it tomorrow,” I growled as I slammed into her once again. It didn’t take long before I felt everything inside me tighten, and my climax burst forth like a monsoon. “Fuuuuck!” I growled as I fell forward and collapsed on top of her. We lay there panting as I tried to catch my breath, and she wiggled to get out from under me.
“That was…” she paused, giggling.
“Not happening again,” I finished for her. “I mean it, Chrissi. I can’t keep doing this. As long as you work here, we’re done.” I tucked myself back in my dress slacks and began fastening my belt.
“Right,” she smirked as she grabbed her panties and stepped into them. “I don’t believe that for a minute.” She pushed a strand of hair over her shoulder as she sauntered toward my office door. I’d just gotten one to myself when I made partner. It was a blessing and a curse. I had the privacy I wanted, but it had made Chrissi more brazen. The last couple of weeks, she’d been coming in to flirt with me during the day. We’d yet to have sex during business hours, but I could see her trying that soon.
“I mean it!” I pointed at her and narrowed my eyes. “No more.” I began picking up the papers she’d scattered on the floor as she leaned against my door.
“Ty,” she paused as she snickered to herself. “You and I both know that this isn’t stopping anytime soon. I like fucking you, and you like fucking me. I don’t have time to date. Sound familiar?” She was right. I’d said this to all the girls that had hit on me lately when I was out. Chrissi had always managed to score an invite, and we’d christened most of the NYC clubs on this side of town. I didn’t need to date. I had her. “Don’t go and ruin a good thing. See you tomorrow.” She waved her manicured fingers at me as she slipped out my door, leaving me sitting there reeling over what she was saying.
“HEY MAN,” I sighed as Gavin, my best friend, answered my call. “I need a favor.”
“Who’d you piss off this time?” he chuckled.
“I need a date for a function I’m supposed to attend this weekend. I was hoping your sister might be interested.”
“I can ask, but I thought you were seeing someone,” he laughed lightly, and I could hear the confusion in his voice.
“Not really. I’ve been kinda sleeping with someone, but I wouldn’t say that we’re seeing each other.” I groaned as I leaned back on my couch. After I’d gotten home from the office, I’d spent most of the evening drinkin
g beer and trying to convince myself that I could break things off with Christina. I knew I needed to, but the way she left my office the other night was a little frightening. She’d gotten really territorial lately, and we weren’t a couple by any means. I knew this, but she seemed to be forgetting. Showing up at the charity ball this weekend with a date might be what I needed to put her back in check. I didn’t like being an asshole, but she had been way too brazen lately. If I didn’t watch it, she could end me.
“Sleeping with who? That woman from work? Are you still fucking the intern?” he gawked.
“I know,” I groaned. “It’s stupid. You don’t need to tell me this.”
“Not just stupid, dude. All she needs to do is tell Daddy on you, and you’ll be looking for a job in another state. What the fuck were you thinking when you dipped into those waters?”
“I wasn’t, ok? I know it was a stupid ass move. I know that I’m in way too deep right now. I know all of this!” I barked into the phone. “You’re my best friend. You’re not supposed to lecture me. You’re supposed to help me. Now, can your sister be my date, or not?”
“I’m sure she’ll do it as long as it doesn’t interfere with her classes. She’s a junior this year, ya know? I’m sure she’d like to rub elbows with some of the higher ups in your firm. She’s hoping to intern there next year,” he laughed lightly while the words drifted into my ears.
“Great. Just what I need,” I sighed. I’d used Jessica as a date before. She was cute, but not my type. She was always such a tomboy. Never really dressed up or wore much makeup. She saw me as more of a brother, and I would never go after my best friend’s sister. “Tell her to text me tomorrow and let me know. It’s formal. I’ll buy her a dress as a thank you if she doesn’t have one that she likes. Tell her to charge it to my account at Bloomingdale’s.”
“Will do,” he chuckled before clicking off the line. I tossed the phone on the coffee table right before it started buzzing. “Christina” lit up the screen. I clicked ignore, but not two seconds later, it flashed with the same message. I’d been dodging her calls for a few days, and could only imagine what next weekend would entail when I walked through the doors with another woman on my arm.
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