“I’m only helping my father out until he finds Banes’ replacement. I seem to be the only one in that department who worked alongside Banes enough to know the ins and outs.” Zaira sighed. “I hope to God Dad finds my replacement before month end. I want nothing to do with those uptight bitches in the accounting department during crunch time.”
Zaira had interned with Banes, the prior CFO of Svelte Technologies, for about eight months while in her last year of studies before finding a job at an independent accounting firm. She could’ve probably stepped into the CFO role if she wanted to, but Zaira had told her many times before that despite her father’s many offers, she had no desire to work for Svelte under family. She wanted to make a name for herself.
“I feel you on that one.” Tanya nodded. “When I used to visit to take Justin his lunch, all they ever seemed to do was gossip and fuss among each other.”
“Since Marcus took the reigns as CEO, there has been major changes. I don’t know what he did or told the staff, but he put a stop to all that quickly. I’m only in there three hours a day, but you better bet his entire crew are always sitting at their desks, noses stuck in file folders or eyes glued to computer screens. He must have cracked the fucking whip on their asses.”
Tanya swallowed on the mention of Marcus’ name. The man she’d dumped before she even had him. “That sounds interesting and good for the company.”
Zaira dug into her purse, took out a small compact mirror, and began applying more lip gloss. “Dad couldn’t have picked a better CEO. He’s not even been there a year yet and Svelte’s bottom line has soured. I’ve seen the financial statements. Not only that, I spoke with some people in the sales department last week, and they’re bringing in accounts like crazy.”
“Sounds like Svelte is really moving on up.”
“Speaking of…have you spoken with Justin since he left?”
She shrugged. “I don’t take his calls anymore. I actually lost count of the number of voicemails he’s left. At least two or three a week now.”
“Wow. I bet he wishes he never left Svelte and he probably wants you back.”
Tanya shook her head. “No, he made it clear that money and social status are worth more than having a real woman.”
“Too bad.” Zaira moved her empty cup to the side. “Sounds like you’re completely over him, which is good. We’ll have more free time now that you’re graduating soon. We need to get out more.”
“Agreed.”
“And don’t just say it either,” her friend warned, narrowing her eyes. “You know I’ll come drag you out of your house.”
“Like you somehow did today?”
“Yeah…oh—” Zaira’s gaze became looked on something behind her. “Speaking of the devil. Don’t turn around now, but I think he is headed this way.”
“He? Who?”
“Ladies,” Marcus familiar voice greeted them from behind Tanya. “May I join you?”
Tanya’s blood rushed rapidly as he came into view all decked out in business attire. Freshly dry-cleaned black slacks. Formal business shirt. A royal blue tie.
“Of course!” Zaira smiled brightly.
“Hello, Tanya,” he said, as he sat down, placing a brown bag on the table.
“Hello, Marcus,” Tanya said, trying to keep her cool, although her heart was racing.
“Oh!” Zaira’s hand flew to her mouth and her eyes were wide in revelation and then wider still in shock. “I understand now.” Her lips spread in a grin.
It was evident Zaira had figured out that the Marcus from Ocho Rios was the Marcus sitting here now, new CEO of Svelte Technologies. The man that had used his hands to bring Tanya pleasure dozens of times also used the same hands to crack the whip on the employees at her father’s company.
Marcus removed his sandwich from the bag and unwrapped it on the table. “It’s a nice afternoon to enjoy lunch outside on the patio. I would have taken my sandwich back to my office, but I couldn’t resist the view here.”
He stole a glance at Tanya, and she quickly diverted her gaze.
“Oh, certainly.” Zaira shot Tanya a sharp questioning look. “Things can get rather hectic back at the office.”
Marcus rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, revealing some of the tattoo design on the inside of his forearm. He picked up his sandwich and bit into it, drawing attention to pearly white teeth and a perfect set of lips. Lips that had been all over her body in Jamaica.
Tanya’s stomach fluttered, as an image of them doing the deed all over the hotel room grabbed her.
“Well…ummm…I’ve had my one hour lunch,” Zaira said. “Since you sign my paycheck, I should get back to work.”
“It hasn’t been an hour yet,” Tanya said. This time it was she who shot her friend a warning look. One that said, don’t you dare leave me here with him.
“Oh, yes it has.” Zaira only cracked a smile and picked up her empty lunch. “I’m sure you’ll find splendid delight in the rest of your lunch hour without me.”
Zaira stormed off and Tanya crushed her nails into her palms. She was going to kill that girl.
When Tanya turned back to Marcus, he was leaned back in his chair, observing her, and chewing slowly on his sandwich. He even chewed like a sex god.
“What have you done to me?” he asked.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You told me in Ocho Rios that you’ve never done this before.”
She shook her head. What was he talking about?
“Maybe this is a game, and I’m the one being played. Do you use men and dump them for fun?”
She laughed, because she couldn’t help herself. “You honestly think that I’m some kind of whore?”
“No, I never said that. There should be no shame in what you did and what we did, but you could have warned me that you were addicting.”
“I wasn’t using you. We were strangers. We were attracted to each other. We had sex. It was time to go home, so we went our separate ways,” she said, trying to keep her voice down.
“You knew that I wanted to see you beyond Ocho Rios, yet you’ve been avoiding me. Why?”
Tanya paused, thinking and rethinking her answer. Her reason for avoiding him was stupid. It was stupid, albeit necessary.
Tanya’s phone vibrated on the table, alerting her that she had a text message. She was silently relieved for the distraction. She picked it up and read the message displayed across the screen. It was Zaira.
You heffa! How could you not tell me you were fucking his fine ass?
Her face heated even more when she looked up and saw Marcus staring right at her.
He scooted up his chair and leaned forward so that their knees were touching. “Has it occurred to you that this is my first time? I’ve never done this before.”
“Done what?”
“Pursued a woman like I have you.”
“Do you really want me to believe that? I know your type.”
“You think you know me?” he asked, his voice low and deep. “Define me. Define my type.”
“Arrogant. Cocky. Uses his power, good looks, and charm to steal a woman’s heart. You want something until the next best thing comes along.”
“You’ve appraised me. Now let me appraise you.”
“Go ahead,” she said, nonchalantly, yet she was nothing but.
“Smart. Beautiful, inside and out. Cautious, yet adventurous. A strong black woman who needs a strong black man. A man who will complete you. To bring out the naughty side of you. To make you forget what normal even was.” He waited for a few moments, his gaze sweeping across her face seeking some response. When she didn’t give it, he continued, “When you want something, you fear the risks it entails. This is understood, but if one never takes risks they never gain either. This is true in business, love, and in life. You should never give your heart unless you trust completely, but what I am asking is that you allow me a chance to earn it. Like I said before, I can put something extra
ordinary in your life.”
Tanya swallowed. “What do you want me to say to that? We share an attraction. One that won’t go away, especially when we keep bumping into each other like this.”
“That’s all I needed to hear. That you feel it too.”
Tanya lifted her mug and took a sip of her green tea. Of course, it was cold in comparison to the hot attraction to Marcus. “So…what do you propose we do about this attraction?”
“I’ll call you tonight and we can discuss our next date.”
She grinned. “Are you asking me out?”
“Are you going to accept?” he teased.
“We can discuss tonight.” She gathered up her stuff, tucking her cell phone into her purse. “I’m going to be late for class if I don’t leave now.”
Marcus wrapped up his half-eaten sandwich and got up with her. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
“That didn’t sound like a question, but you may.”
“That sexy mouth of yours has a crafty reply to everything I say.”
Tanya had parked in the garage directly across the street, so it didn’t take long to reach her little white Corvette.
“Nice,” he said, as they stood next to the driver side door. “You like fast cars, then?”
“Yeah, but not as exciting as your motorcycle, I’m sure.”
“I’ll have to take you on a ride and you can see for yourself.”
His gaze fell on her mouth, and in that moment her knees became weak as the tip of his tongue slid across the seam of his lips.
“Marcus, I…”
He kissed her, taking her mouth passionately and demanding entry. He tasted just as good as she remembered. The freshness of his aftershave and spiciness of his cologne surrounded her, and in that moment she could think of no place she’d rather be than in his arms. He teased her with his lips over and over again, kissing her as though it were the first and last time he would see her. His gentle touch at the back of her neck felt blissful and for a moment she forgot she was in the middle of a parking garage.
Tanya pulled away from the kiss, placing her palm against his chest followed by her forehead. It took her some time to catch her breath. He, too, breathed hot and heavy against the top of her head.
“I’ve gotta go,” she said, finally lifting her head.
“Yes.” He nodded. “You won’t stand me up again and I should expect my call to be answered tonight?” This time, his inquiry did come out like a question and not a mandate.
“You should expect this,” she confirmed, then picked up his royal blue tie, and straightened it so that it was perfectly aligned on his chest. She couldn’t help but think back to how they first met back in Ocho Rios. “Blue. The color exudes power, loyalty, and authority. Good choice.”
“And the man wearing it? What does he exude?”
“I haven’t quite pinpointed it yet, but whatever it is…it works for me.”
He smiled. “Good.”
Chapter 8
The next day…
“Make yourself at home,” Tanya said, throwing her keys and purse on the end table in the foyer as Marcus followed her into her one bedroom studio apartment.
Their talk last night pretty much confirmed what she already knew. Marcus Brooks was a man that one never really got enough of. Their walk through Centennial Olympic Park for the live Caribbean music fest and then winding down for an early dinner at a nearby restaurant was the icing on the cake. She’d never had anyone really pay this much attention to her wants and needs. Dating in the past had always been a quick movie every once in a while or maybe dining in a restaurant she’d frequented many times before.
“Nice,” he said, closing the door behind them. “Pretty view of the skyline. How long have you been living here?”
“Going on two years. I left the University of Georgia campus after graduating my senior year. I knew I wanted something small and relatively close to shopping and central to the city. Most of my classes are online and some nearby, so I don’t have to worry about the travel time as much. Plus they’re a lot of companies close by where I wouldn’t mind starting my career at.”
As an underemployed graduate student it was all she really could afford and it had been important to her to live in one of the safest and up and coming neighborhoods of Atlanta. The rent took a hefty chunk of her income and savings, but her peace of mind and comfort was worth more.
“You’re a smart, successful woman. I love that about you.”
“I’m an only child and I grew up in a single parent home with my mother, so being independent and making wise decisions is really all I know.”
He sat down and watched in the kitchen as she unwrapped the cheesecake slices they’d ordered to-go from the restaurant. “You said your mom didn’t stick around Georgia when you started college, right?”
“Right.” She took two saucers from the cupboard and put cheesecake in the middle of each one. “She moved back in with my grandma to help out since grandpa died. I had to convince her that I could make it out here on my own by myself before she would leave. I knew grandma needed her so I kind of had to fake it the whole first year of college.” She looked up at Marcus and smiled. “It was my first time on my own, and being such a homebody and everything, I barely knew anyone. Once I started getting out, going to parties, and tail-gating events things got easier. Then I met Zaira…and I got wilder.”
They both laughed.
“Zaira reminds me of her father. They both get down to business when it comes to work, but truly know how to have a wild time.”
“That sounds like Zaira.” She sat down on the sofa next to him and handed him the saucer, and then went back in the kitchen to grab some glasses and a chilled glass of wine.
“Tell me about your family. We talked about you growing up in Virginia while we were sitting out on the lawn at the park, but not much about them,” she inquired, after taking a seat beside him.
“I grew up with three other brothers. A full household. Both mom and dad. And my uncle and my grandfather lived with us. I’m the middle child. No one ever paid attention to me, of course.” He turned then, and gave her a wicked smile. “I had to do a bit more to prove myself every now and then. Andrew is the oldest, then me, then Sean. Andrew got married just last year to his high school sweetheart. According to him, I’ll be an uncle myself in seven months. I can’t wait.”
“You sound very happy about that.”
“I enjoy being with kids. I’m always fascinated with the way they learn these days. I plan to have three maybe more one day myself.”
“Three? Wow,” she laughed. “Have mercy on your future wife.”
“I am having mercy on her,” he said, and winked.
She blushed. “You’re silly. So tell me about your other brothers. Trent is the one I met in Ocho Rios, right? Don’t you have another?”
“There’s Austin. Trent, Austin, and I met some twelve years ago when me and my youngest brother, Sean, joined the crew. There are other brothers, but these three I trust with everything. I’m the last to officially move to Atlanta.”
“What is this crew?” she asked, placing her saucer on the coffee table in front of them.
“A club of sorts. Almost like a fraternity, but we have our love for motorcycles in common. We’re called Rugged. That’s what the R.R. is on my chest. Rugged Riders. We operate like a company. We sponsor all sorts of events, organizational and charitable. Have dues and hundreds of members. Our main and biggest source of income are from dividends and return on investments. We have some ownership in dozens of private and public companies in the U.S., including Svelte. Contrary to popular belief, we aren’t an outlaw or gang and don’t condone crime. However, we don’t let anyone run over or harm our own without consequences. We do whatever is necessary within reason to protect each other. My uncle is one of the five officers on Rugged’s board. It’s how my brother, Sean, and I got acquainted into the lifestyle.”
Tanya was fascinated by this secondary l
ifestyle of his. “And here I was thinking that all you did was ride motorcycles recklessly on the freeway all the time.”
He grinned. “We do that too. I can take you out riding one day.”
“I think maybe I’d get sick.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe and we can start slow.”
“We’re off to a pretty fast start now. Nothing we have done so far has been slow,” she teased.
He arched an eyebrow. “Is that your way of asking me to go slow and steady?” The look in his eyes told her that he was referring to something naughtier.
Her neck heated, and she cleared her throat, hoping that she could get through one day with him without thinking about his bedroom skills. “What made you move to Atlanta?”
“I’ve been wanting to join my brothers here officially for years. I had to make sure that’s what I really wanted with my parents and blood relatives being in Virginia and all. I had a pretty lucrative job back home when Mr. Wright and I talked about me filling the CEO position at Svelte. We’d been going back and forth for months before deciding that the position and I were a good fit for each other. Even though Mr. Wright is one my brothers by bond, things stay professional when it comes to business. We all strive to be successful.”
Tanya shifted her gaze away from him, thinking what a weird coincidence it was that he’d chosen a position at a company where her ex used to work.
Marcus leaned in closer, slid his palm against the back of her neck, and drew her lips toward his. “I don’t want to talk about family or anything else but you for the rest of the night…and don’t try and change the subject again either.”
“Fair enough,” she said, just as their lips met. Each kiss they shared felt just as explosive as the last, and she enjoyed the way he teased every inch of her lips from corner to corner. “But are we moving too fast?”
“I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand not touching you. I won’t subdue this attraction.”
He dragged his lips against her neck, and she lifted her chin to allow him better access.
Seduced by Sin: Sean (Rugged Riders #3) Page 22