by Tessa Teevan
“You’re asking me to snoop through my boyfriend’s briefcase in hopes of what? Discovering their plan?”
“Precisely. You wouldn’t be stealing anything. Just giving us the ammunition we need persuade Filiatrault we’re the best fit.”
“You’re essentially asking me to steal corporate secrets from my boyfriend,” I sputter, unable to believe the words are coming out of my mouth.
Mr. Wellsley’s eyes narrow. “Alyssa, let me be clear. You’re dating a Wellington while trying to win work out from under them. It’s not a good look for you. If we lose, who do you think the rest of the team is going to blame?”
“I’m one person on the support staff. Why would anyone blame me?”
He sits back in his chair and ignores my question. “I don’t give a damn that Sawyer Callahan wants to cultivate young talent. You’re on thin ice as it is. I could easily go to the rest of the board, present my case against you, and not even Callahan could save your job.”
“You wouldn’t,” I say, numb, because even as I say the words, I know that, yes, he absolutely would.
“Prove yourself, then. You have two choices. Singlehandedly help us win or find a new career. Because once I’m done with you, no firm this side of the Mississippi will give you the time of day.”
“Let me get this clear: Spy on my boyfriend, or you’re going to get me fired.”
He stands, straightening out his suit jacket. “I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
“Oh, no, we’re not. Not even close.” I fold my hands and lean forward, my forearms pressing down against my desk. Cold sweat runs down my spine, but I told it tight, as if I’m in control. As if he doesn’t scare me in the slightest. My eyes bore into his beady ones and I hold fast. “Mr. Wellsley, as you mentioned, my boyfriend is the CFO of Wellington Enterprises. Mr. Callahan has been aware of this from the beginning and has no qualms about the situation. Even if he did, do you think I need this job? Because I assure you I don’t. Do I love it? Absolutely? Do I want to keep it? Of course. I’ve been loyal to this company for nearly six years now. Don’t push me. You won’t like the result.”
His slack-jawed expression is worth every bit of anxiety I’m feeling right now. I wonder if anyone’s ever spoken to him in this matter. I don’t care.
“Now, I’ve said my piece. If there isn’t anything else you wish to discuss, I need to get back to work.”
I’m shocked when he stands and storms out of my office without another word. Something tells me this isn’t the last I’ve heard from the man.
After work, I intentionally beat Shane back to his place. I’m thankful he gave me a key to let myself in if he has to work late. He’s cooked for me nearly every night that we’ve been together, so I’ve decided it’s my time to shine.
Okay, so maybe I’m buttering him up a little so he won’t freak out too much over Wellsley.
I’m setting the table when the front door opens and closes. Smiling to myself, I rush into the kitchen, pour two glasses of red wine, then head back to the dining room, knowing he’ll find me there.
“Sunshine, you know you don’t have to cook, but if it tastes as incredible as it smells, we’re going to start taking turns.” His voice carries as he walks down the hall toward me. He greets me with a kiss on the cheek then surveys the dining room: candlelit with soft music playing. Then he turns to me and raises an eyebrow. “Lucy, what did you do?” he asks in his best Ricky Ricardo impression.
“Am I seriously that predictable?” I ask, pouting.
He gives me another kiss, this time across my lips. “I’m not answering that. Instead, I’ll just say thank you. As much as I love cooking, I’m exhausted and was planning on getting takeout. I never knew how nice it could be to home to an already cooked meal from a gorgeous woman.”
My hands tangle in his tie, and I have to fight the urge to kiss him. Instead, I undo the tie and the top two buttons of his dress shirt. “Sit, get comfy, and eat.”
He sits, and I take the chair across from him.
“Mmm, what do we have here?” he asks, lifting the lid off his plate.
I beam as he takes in the sight of his dinner. “Veal meatballs in a red wine sauce, braised greens, and a delicious Chianti that Bryan picked up for me the last time he went to California.”
He cuts a meatball in half, covers it with sauce, then takes a bite. His eyes close and his head tilts back. I can’t take my eyes off him, even after he swallows. When his eyes reopen, they’re practically dancing.
“You’re never leaving my kitchen again,” he informs me.
I release the nervous breath I was holding. “Oh, thank goodness. I’m nowhere near as good a cook as you, but when I saw this recipe, I wanted to try it out.”
We spend the rest of the meal mostly in silence as we devour the feast. A full stomach and two glasses of wine later, I set my fork down and smooth my napkin out in my lap. Shane’s completely lost his dress shirt by this point after nearly spilling red wine sauce on it. He looks relaxed, sated, and I hate that I’m about to ruin it.
“So, I need to talk to you about something that happened today, but you have to promise not to freak out.”
“Babe, you just lulled me into a state of bliss with veal and red wine. Sure you want to ruin that?”
His satisfied yet quizzical expression has me second-guessing if I want to do this right now. He’s right, and I realize the error in my ways, even if it’s too late.
“I had an unexpected visitor at the office today.”
My words have Shane sitting up straighter, looking more sober than he was just a moment ago. I quickly replay the scene with Mr. Wellsley, talking faster as the agitation on Shane’s face grows by the second.
“The son of a bitch,” he growls as soon as I’ve finished. “Who the fuck does he think he is?”
“Shane, I took care of it. He knows I’m not going to do what he asked.”
He pushes his chair back and stalks out of the room. I follow him to the kitchen, where he dropped his briefcase off on the way to the dining room. He opens it, pulls out a tablet, then holds it out to me.
“What does he want to know?”
“I didn’t tell you that because I wanted you to give me the insider details. I told you because I don’t want to keep anything from you. I would quit before I ever asked you to discuss confidential information with me.”
He sets the tablet down and braces his palms on the edge of the island. “You love this job. It kept you away from me once before and that’s not fucking happening again. But now I’m taking you away from something you’ve worked your whole life for just to acquire a god damn wine distributing company. It’s not worth it.”
My eyes soften, and I reach across the island to place my hand overtop his. “You’re not asking me to do anything. It’s one man who thinks he holds all the power, but he doesn’t. He’s just grasping to hold on to even a semblance of it. Even if he gets his way and I lose my job, I don’t care. I can find a job anywhere. But there’s only one you, and I refuse to lose you again.”
Shane pulls his hand out from under mine. The loss of contact sends my heart reeling because I have no idea the implications behind the move. I study his expression, but it’s unmoving.
“Please don’t let this come between us. Please don’t make the same mistake I made at the beach. Don’t push me away over something that neither of us can control.”
“Come here,” he whispers, his eyes finding mine and holding me tight in his gaze.
I do as he asked, and when I get to him, he scoops me up in his arms and carries me to the bedroom, where he deposits me onto a fluffy comforter. Shane’s body covers mine, and I’m thankful for the full moon that allows me to see his captivating eyes, even in the darkness.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen with Wellsley or Filiatrault, and honestly, I don’t fucking care. I’m never going to push you away. The only thing I want to do for the rest of my life is hold you close. Starting now.”
THE NEXT morning, I’m sitting in my office, stewing until I can’t take it anymore. I promised Alyssa I’d let it go, that I wouldn’t do anything. But that’s just not in my nature, and even though she’s going to be pissed at me, I can’t help myself.
Since Wellsley-Callahan is only a few blocks from my office, I walk the distance, getting angrier with each step that brings me closer. With a one-track mind, I enter the building, ride the elevator to the top floor, and stalk towards Sawyer Callahan’s office. An older woman with a stern expression stands when she sees me.
“Is Callahan in?” I bark out, not even caring that I sound like an asshole.
“Yes, but he’s occupied. You cannot go in there.”
I give the petite woman a glance. “Who’s going to stop me?”
“Excuse me!” she gasps when I walk right past her and place my hand on the doorknob, only to find it locked.
Pounding on the door, I don’t even give a damn if I’m making a scene. “Goddammit, Callahan, if you don’t open this door right now, I swear to God I will fucking break it down.”
My anger grows exponentially with every passing moment. Finally, just when I’m about to bust my fist against the door, I hear the lock twist. The door opens to reveal Callahan with messed-up hair and a wrinkled shirt half tucked in. I step inside, closing it behind him.
“What the fuck do you want now, Wellington?” Sawyer growls.
“Now, now, Sawyer. Clearly, something is wrong. Why don’t we all sit down and discuss the matter?”
It’s only now that I notice Cheyenne sitting on top of Sawyer’s desk, her hair equally messy. Fuck.
I hold my hands up. “I apologize for interrupting, but this couldn’t fucking wait.”
Sawyer takes his seat at his desk, running a hand through his hair. “What’s going on? What has you all riled up this morning? I swear, Wellington, we go months without seeing you, and now, it seems like you’re here all the time.”
I ignore the comment. “The head of your fucking board threatened to fire Alyssa if she didn’t get him insider information from me. That’s my fucking problem.”
Sawyer rears back then leans in closer, his eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me right. Archibald fucking Wellsley found out about us and decided to use it against her. The fuck actually had the audacity to ask her to spy on me or risk losing her job. And you know what?! I’d fucking give her the information myself if she wanted. But she doesn’t because that’s the kind of woman she is. If your damn company can’t see what an asset they have in her, then I will happily poach her from you. Just try and fucking stop me.”
“Fucking Wellsley,” Sawyer mutters, once again running his hand through his hair. “I swear to Christ, Shane, I had no idea. He has no say over employment anymore. Alyssa has nothing to worry about. She’ll be fired over my dead body.”
“Tell that to Wellsley. He threatened to go to the board, say she’s a risk, that there’s a conflict of interest between her working here and dating me.”
“There’s no conflict, Shane,” Sawyer tells me.
Cheyenne interrupts. “I think this is a discussion best had with Alyssa present.” She walks across the room and opens the door, asking the secretary to call Alyssa and ask her to come up immediately.
My heart hammers while we wait because I know I’m about to be in deep, deep shit.
And when she walks in and sees me, her expression reddens, her eyes blazing, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think she is possessed.
Oh, fuck.
When Marnie, Sawyer’s secretary, calls and asks me to come to his office immediately, multiple disaster scenarios run through my head. None of them, however, prepared me for seeing Shane in Sawyer’s office, rage apparent on his face.
“Alyssa, Shane’s informed me of the threats made by Wellsley. I want to assure you—the both of you—that I will investigate this matter and ensure nothing happens to you.”
I nod to Sawyer then turn to Shane. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I hiss, not wanting to cause a scene, but totally wanting to create a scene.
Shane throws his hands up into the air. “I’d apologize if I meant it, but I haven’t lied to you and I’m not going to start now.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “Oh, really, pool boy?”
He grimaces, and I feel a sharp twist, knowing that it was unfair to throw that back in his face. “Since then, Alyssa. I know you said you could handle it, and I trust that. I’m sure you can. But as I was sitting at my desk this morning, I couldn’t stop picturing his hands on you or the fucking disgusting things he said. What kind of boyfriend would I be if I just let that go?”
“Wait a minute,” Sawyer pipes in. “His hands on you?”
Shane quickly explains what happened at the anniversary party, and it only causes my ire to grow. The last thing my freaking boss needs to hear about is the drama in my life.
“That motherfucker. Alyssa, I will take care of this. I swear it.”
I hold my hands up. “Stop. Everyone just…just take a breath. Let me speak.”
Shockingly, everyone shuts up and three pairs of eyes stare at me as I pace in Sawyer’s office.
Finally, I turn to them, my hands on my hips. “Sawyer, I appreciate you having my back. I hope you know I would never do anything to jeopardize my position with the company.”
“Of course not. I’d never think that, no matter what Wellsley tries to say.”
Cheyenne nods her agreement. “We’ve never had a single moment of pause where you’re concerned. We know you and we know Shane. That’s not either of your styles.”
“I appreciate that,” I inform them. “I would also appreciate that this not go beyond this room. I’m prepared for whatever he has in store for me.”
Shane steps forward to protest, but I hold a finger up for him.
“And you. If you ever come to my place of employment and go over my head, straight to my boss, I will never forgive you. Now, if you don’t mind, I have work to do.”
With that, I turn on my heel and leave, heading to the stairs instead of taking the elevator because Shane will soon try to catch me and sweet-talk me out of my anger.
But I don’t want that right now.
Right now, I just want to be pissed.
I let myself into Shane’s place after work. I’ve had time to calm down, and I’m going to deal with this the best way I know how. I’m going to fight dirty.
I’m still in my coat when I find Shane in the kitchen, a nearly empty glass of whiskey in front of him.
“Pour one of those for me?” I ask.
He must not have heard me come in, because he jumps when he hears my voice. A visible swell of relief crossed his features, almost as if he hadn’t expected me to be here.
“I told you before: I’m not apologizing for something I’m not sorry for.”
“Then what the hell are we doing here, Shane?”
He looks up at me with haunted eyes. “We’re disagreeing.”
A smile plays at my lips, but I don’t want to let him off the hook that easily. “I appreciate you wanting to be protective. I really do. When it comes to my work, though, you have to trust that I can handle it myself.”
“I do. I trust you. It’s just…you love your job and I don’t want to stand in the way of that. So it was either knocking some heads around down there or breaking up with you. And I wasn’t fucking doing that, so…beating my chest won out.”
I laugh. “Well, that’s a relief, because if you were breaking up with me, it’d be really awkward when I do this.”
Hope shines in his eyes, and just like that, the last bit of irritation melts away. After a long chat over wine with Cheyenne, I’m more understanding of the situation now than I was before. After all, according to her, Sawyer would’ve done the same thing. So instead of dwelling on it, I just want to move on, and I can’t think of a better way to do it than naked.
Slowly, I unbuckle th
e belt of my coat, brushing the material off my shoulders, revealing a whole lot of nothing but bare skin underneath.
Shane’s eyes darken at the sight. “Alyssa…” he growls.
I silence him by climbing into his lap, the center of my core pressing against the rigid erection straining against his shorts. I slide one hand inside the waistband and release him, rubbing his cock against the slippery folds of my pussy until the tip of his cock slips into my wet entrance as if it has a mind of its own.
It feels so damn good, and it’s only now I realize that it’s because he’s bare. I don’t even care. It feels so good, too good, and I moan my pleasure as our bodies connect in the most intimate way. I didn’t exactly mean for this to happen, but I also can’t complain because he feels more incredible than ever before.
He jolts, looking up at me, his eyes wide with traces of both panic and desire. Shane’s hands find my hips, lifting me up and off him. I whimper, my fingers tangling in his hair.
“Shane, please.” My voice is breathy, wanton, and my insides quake with need from missing the contact.
“Fuck,” he groans as I sink down onto him again. “Fuck. Condoms. We need one.”
Except he’s not fighting me now. He’s thrusting up into me, his hands up around my back and curled onto my shoulders, slamming me down onto him over and over again until we’re both soaring over the edge of carnal bliss.
Shane’s lips swallow the scream of my shattering release, and he’s kissing like me he can’t get enough.
When we finally come up for air, I grip his hair and pull his head back until he’s looking at me. “Did you like that?”
His eyes widen. “Like it? Baby, I’ve never gone bareback in a woman before. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to buy condoms again, knowing it can feel like that.”
“Good. Now, remember that next time you want to go all alpha-male over me.”