“If I have anything to say about it…,” he started. But they both knew the board had the final say at this point.
“Thank you.” She winked at him.
She’d ended last night in his arms, again. Going to sleep alone, without him, would feel weird at this point. Just like standing in her office right now freaking the hell out without him being in here to calm her was strange. But why did she need him for that? This was new to her to rely on someone else besides herself. She’d taken care of herself for this long. But the fact he wanted to be there for her was a big step for them both. She’d nail this investment project and this promotion with him by her side. Or at least… she hoped.
She heard the soft knock at her office door. She opened it to Daniel looking all shades of gorgeous in a dark grey suit and teal colored shirt opened at the collar. The color brought out the color of his eyes and she tried not to swoon. “You look... good,” she breathed.
His heated gaze ran the length of her body and back again. “And, you look delicious enough to eat, kitten,” he growled at her. He dipped his head and kissed down her jaw.
She gripped the lapel of his jacket and pulled him into the office with her. “Come here, you,” she said against his mouth dipping her tongue in to taste him.
He moaned and obeyed kicking the door shut behind him. “Why didn’t you come home with me after work? You could have brought your clothes over and gotten dressed there instead of getting dressed here.” He ran his hands up and down her back as he spoke still kissing at her.
“And, we would have never made it back here in time. We’d be in your bed…”
“Or my shower.” He nipped at her jaw
“Or your kitchen,” she sighed.
“My couch.” He chuckled. “Well, there is always the couch in here…”
She laughed out loud. “You are so impossible. Can you zip me up?” she asked, turning her back to him.
“This is so backward. I should be unzipping you,” he whispered, splaying a warm hand up her bare back. He fiddled with the clasps of her bra.
“Daniel,” she gasped when he flicked it and she felt the support of her breasts loosen.
“We have some time before the dinner starts. And, we are already here… So, we can’t be late, kitten.” He ran his hands up and over her shoulders taking the dress down with him.
“You just come in my office and undress me…” Her protests were weak at best.
“Tell me you don’t want it and I’ll stop.” His strong hand found her breasts. Her head fell back against his shoulder as he palmed her.
“Yes… Daniel. You know I want you…”
“Let me give you want you want then. Take the edge off the evening.” He ran a hand down her belly to the waistband of her panties. “Christ, Callie, you and these garter belts… Do you know how much of a turn on this is?” He fiddled with the lace before he dipped his hand beneath the waistband of her silk panties.
“Wait,” she breathed knowing what his intentions were and where this was going quick. “You should really lock the door.”
He chuckled against her ear pressing her back into him. “You scared we’ll get caught again? Don’t want to live dangerously with me, huh?”
“It’s just a big night and I don’t want anything getting messed up…” She sucked in air as he continued his exploration, his fingers sliding over her mound.
“My back is to the door. If anyone is bold enough to open that damn door, without knocking, I’m covering you.”
“Still… ahh, Daniel, Yes. There. Touch me…” she moaned.
He slid his fingers through her slick heat finding her clit ready for his touch. His other hand caressed her bare breasts, both hands moving in tandem over her, giving her what she needed.
“I want you to come, Callie. I don’t want you to think about anything on the other side of the door right now. Get yours first and all that on the other side will fall in place later. Do you hear me, kitten?”
She could barely hear anything through the buzzing in her ears. This would be quick and powerful. She could already feel it mounting. She wiggled her ass against the steel rod, thick and at attention in his pants.
“Daniel… We have to take care of you, too. I want you to come with me…” She writhed against his relentless hand.
“Let’s worry about you first, baby. Your pleasure is mine right now. You’re so fucking wet, just how I like it,” he murmured. “Tell me what you want and I’ll make it happen.”
“I want to feel you inside me, Daniel. I need it.” Her breath ragged as she spoke. She panted as fingers found their destination.
“This?” he asked, dipping those two digits into her opening.
She gasped. “Shit. Oh my God.”
“Tell me, kitten…,” he gritted out next to her ear as he supported her limp body back against him.
“I want it all. Your hand, your fingers, your… dick. I feel you, Daniel.” She rolled her hips back pressing her ass into the erection tenting his pants. “I want all this inside me. I want to ride you.”
“Goddamn, Callie,” he groaned against her ear. He removed his fingers from her core and turned her around in his arms. His lips found hers and he bruised her mouth with a rough kiss. She moaned against him as she slipped her hands between them.
“Take this off,” she commanded, pulling at his suit jacket.
“Callie…” He searched her eyes, making sure she was sure.
“No, don’t argue. You started this, Daniel Morrow. We are both coming… together.”
“I wouldn’t dream of arguing with you, not again. Certainly not about this.” He shrugged out of the jacket.
“So, you know we’ll probably argue over something stupid tomorrow… right?” she teased him pulling at the button and then the zipper of his pants.
He let out a half laugh as she slid his pants down over his ass. “Just so we remain on the same page about this, kitten…”
She found his dick through his black boxers. “It seems since I’ve been hooking up with you, I have such a pension for quickies in my office… That is your fault, Mr. Morrow.”
“Are you mad about that?” he asked.
“Not one bit,” she said pumping his rigid length. “Come here.” She led him, pants still around his knees, his cock in her hand, to the chair in her office. Anchoring both hands on his shoulders, she held on as he lowered into the seat. She went with him and wasted no time impaling herself with his hardness.
“Christ, Callie. You are so wet, so fucking tight, baby,” he gritted out through his clenched teeth.
“Are you mad about that?” she asked mimicking him. She flashed a wicked grin at him.
“Fuck no. Ride me. Take what you need, baby. Let me give it to you.” He fell back against the chair, his hands at either side of her hips.
“What we both need,” she said, grinding against him.
“Hell, yes,” he groaned as she rode the need right out of him.
Chapter 18
They entered the oversized meeting room for the cocktail party an hour later. Despite their efforts, they ended up being a few minutes late. People were already milling around, drinks and appetizers in hand, including members of the board. They caught sight of Lana, the event planner, and another woman across the room. “Lana is over there. We should go over and say something. How do I look?” Callie asked, pulling at her dress and making sure her hair wasn’t as tangled as it felt.
“You look like you were just riding my dick like your life depended on it for the last twenty minutes, but hell so do I,” Daniel said, buttoning his suit jacket.
She glared at him mouth agape and he winked at her. “Oh my God, Daniel. You are—”
“I’m gonna want round two tonight, baby. Don’t act shocked. Just know, tonight I want every inch of you wrapped around me while I’m buried inside you. Now should we make our way over to the event planner.” His tone remained even as his gaze never left hers. He spoke as if he was discussing
something as simple as the weather as not to attract any attention of those around them. But, she saw the heat and desire spiraling in the depths of his blue eyes.
“You’re gonna stop looking at me like that, Mr. Morrow,” she said walking away from him in the direction of Lana.
“How am I looking at you, Callie?” She heard the humor in his tone.
“You know exactly what you are doing,” she paused and said over her shoulder.
“Letting you know I want you just as much as you want me?” he said, his voice low for her ears only.
“We just…” she looked around. “You are insatiable.”
“For you, kitten.” His tone was low and slow.
She suppressed a moan. She knew what that tone would do to her. “Stop it, Daniel.”
“I want to kiss your lips right now… both of them,” he continued.
“Stop it.” She giggled.
“Your ass looks amazing in that dress,” he pressed.
“Oh. My. God.” She whirled on him. “Stop looking at my ass, Daniel,” she hissed, but still sashayed away from him so he’d have a better view. “Let’s get this evening over with,” she called back to him.
“I hope my client was able to present all the information your board needs to make the decision on financially backing the new apps. I think you’ll see this company will make a ton of money in the future.” Austin Davis, the VC Account Manager for the app development company, shook their hands after the presentation and dinner. Daniel thought everything went exceptionally well. The board looked pleased with the company and the app idea, for the most part.
“Thank you, Austin. Everything went perfect. The board is excited to move forward.” Lauren came over interrupting the conversation and extended her hand. “I do apologize. My soon-to-be ex-husband showed up and caused a scene.” She rolled her eyes looking at Callie and Daniel. “Don’t even ask.” She held up her hand. “It’s a story for another time.”
Austin stifled a laugh. “This working relationship won’t involve him at all. That, I can promise you.” Daniel looked at Callie and shrugged. Who knew Lauren was having marital problems? No wonder she was such hell on heels.
“We’ll talk more, Austin. Thank you for everything.” She patted the man on the shoulder as he walked away. “Did you see him earlier with the event planner?” Lauren said in a rather gossipy tone. “They looked rather hot and heavy.” She winked.
“Austin and Lana? Really?” Callie turned around to see if she could catch sight of them. “Did you know they were together?” she asked Daniel. She saw the amusement on his face. “What?” She blushed.
“And, how about the two of you? A blind person could see the way you are looking at each other. When did this happen?”
Callie cut a glance at Daniel quickly and then back at Lauren. This could go one of two ways. She’d either frown at the fact they were fraternizing at work or she’d be glad the two of them were finally getting along for the good of the firm.
Daniel, obviously okay with taking that gamble, took the first step. Taking Callie’s hand, he gave her a gentle squeeze. Lauren watched the hand hold and a slow grin parted her face. “Oh, so this really is a thing? Not just a show for the board members, right?”
Callie’s mouth hung open. How dare this bitch…
Daniel squeezed her hand again before the words actually slipped from her lips. He spoke up instead. “Callie and I are not putting on a show for anyone, Lauren. We’ve had to work together more closely lately. I’ve had feelings for this woman for a while now and we are figuring out where we go from there. We are professional enough to keep the personal aside and there won’t be any hiccups in the day-to-day running and management of the law firm. You have my word on that. We don’t have to explain our relationship beyond that.”
Lauren nodded, looking between the two. “Fair enough. We like what we see so far from the two of you. There were concerns at first, but I think Paul has groomed two capable people to take his place. Callie, there were some concerns around your promotion—”
“Why the concerns? She is more than deserving of a promotion. She works her ass off for this firm,” Daniel spoke up again. It was her turn to squeeze his hand to get him to be quiet. She liked everything he was saying, but this was about her career. She had to speak up for herself. “What are the concerns, Lauren?” she asked.
“Well, Paul mentioned VP of Operations which we’ve agreed would fit with your skill set and career path. However, he also wanted you to be a partner in the firm. That is where the concern comes in. You aren’t an attorney, Callie. You must be a member of the Bar to be a partner. I know Paul and Daniel asked for an exception, but law is law.”
“Lauren, really?” Daniel spoke up giving voice now that the cat had gotten Callie’s tongue.
“My hands are tied here, Daniel.” Lauren shook her head.
“It’s okay,” Callie said, feeling like she was choking on something. This was disappointing, of course, but it wasn’t just about the title. It was about recognition for her role in the firm. Daniel was right. She had worked her ass off and she did that for Paul and the other attorneys and their clients. She’d hoped the board would see that too, but apparently none of it mattered.
“No no. I read the bylaws,” Daniel continued. “If she can’t be a partner, then at least the VP of Operations does not have to be an attorney.”
Lauren considered that. “This is true which is why the title of VP is hers if she wants it. What do you say, Callie? Would you accept the position at Harmon, Morrow and Associates as new VP of Operations?”
Daniel turned to her searching her eyes, and she knew they were probably glassed over from the tears she wanted to shed. She had a mixture of emotions going on right now. One for the job she wanted all this time while having Daniel by her side sticking up for her and standing ground with the board president and the fact that Paul believed in her that she could do this job whether she was a partner or not. She would do him proud.
“Of course I want it. We promised Paul we’d keep this going for him and we damn well will,” she answered Lauren but looked at Daniel.
A smile broke out over Daniel’s face. “We should call Maggie and ask her to tell Paul the good news then.”
They stood in Daniel’s office after the board cleared out and the caterers had cleaned and left for the evening. She slipped out of her high heels and stood in her bare feet before him. “Did you know?” she asked him.
“Did I know what?” He looked up from checking his messages on his phone.
“That they were going to give me VP?” she asked sliding a hand up his arm.
“I knew they sure as hell better or they’d be dealing with one hell of a pissed off named managing partner.” He looked at her, his features softened when she smiled.
“You and Paul did this,” she whispered.
“No, kitten. You did this being who you are; smart, independent, always in control.” He winked at her when she placed a hand on her hip. “We only had to point your amazing qualities out, babe. It spoke for itself. Maggie told me to call her as soon as the board told you about the promotion. Paul wanted to hear about it.”
He flipped to the contacts list on his cell phone and dialed the woman’s number. “He was so happy about this, let me tell you. He’s your biggest fan, well, next to me.” He grinned.
She smiled at him. “I’m happy, too. I’m excited about where we are going to go with the firm and the new investments will bring in a ton of new business.”
“Absolutely. We’ll definitely have to work on that budget now. Right?”
“Ugh, the damn budget. Can we look at it tomorrow?” She laughed.
“Of course, the budget will still be there tomorrow… Hmm. That’s strange,” he said, looking at his phone.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“This is the second time I called Maggie, and it went to voicemail.”
“You don’t think anything is wrong, do you?” Ca
llie asked and he could hear panic in her tone.
“I don’t know. I spoke to her earlier today, and she sounded in good spirits. She said Paul was a bit weak, but he was resting…”
“Try her again.” Callie pointed at the phone.
“I’m gonna try Ty,” he said of the eldest son.
He scrolled through his numbers until he found Ty’s number. He went to dial the number but his cell rang. “It’s Maggie.”
“Answer it!” Callie yelped.
He hit ‘talk’ on the phone, placing the call on speaker so Callie could hear. Maggie’s voice was not the voice on the other end. “Daniel?”
“Ty, man, I was just about to call you. I’ve been trying to reach your mom. Is everything okay? Why are you calling me from her phone?”
“I saw you were trying to call, man. She’s in with Dad.” The man’s voice broke.
“Ty, what is it, man? Talk to me,” Daniel pleaded.
“He’s gone. Dad is gone. He just passed.” Tyonn’s voice was low and Daniel could hear the man holding back the tears that still found their way out.
“Jesus.” Daniel turned and looked at Callie. Her hand was to her mouth, tears already forming in her eyes.
“How is Mags and all of you?” Daniel asked, knowing full well the answer to that question already.
“We knew it was coming, you know? But it’s still a shock. I’m just… and Zay and X, man…” Tyonn tried to give voice to what he was feeling but no words or complete sentences were coming out.
“I know, brother. I can come down there—” Daniel tried.
“No. No need to come down now. Mom is in with him saying her goodbyes, but we are about to take her home. She needs to get rest. She has been in this hospital, by his side, for the last week. If you want, you can stop by the house tomorrow,” Tyonn said.
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