“Oh please! He’d break that policy in a heartbeat if it meant he could get between your toned thighs.”
“I’m not giving him the chance. Reserve next week for me. I think I’m going to let the nymph take complete control. Maybe check out some of the open playrooms. I need to get Jack out of my system.”
“He hasn’t even gotten in you yet.” Paul mumbled.
“Just do it, please, Paul. I’m desperate here.”
Paul’s heavy sighed reached her through the phone. “Whatever you say, babe. I’ve got you down.” Thank god he relented without giving her more flack.
The internal office buzzer sounded from the speaker. She was being summoned. “I’ve got to go. Love ya, Paul. You’re the best.”
Paul hung up after saying goodbye. Lisa picked up her notepad and pencil, diminished the screen for the temp agency, and took a couple of deep breaths. She needed to slip the cool, controlled mask onto her face before joining her bosses.
Plastering a smile on, she breezed through the door. The look of concern on Jack’s face and the knowledge that he wasn’t having the last laugh erased her foul mood. Vacation was back on and there wasn’t a damn thing Jack Morgan could do to stop it from happening this time.
CHAPTER FOUR
April 6th, 8:00am
THE OFFICES OF MORGAN & POWERS DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE
Jack rode the elevator up to his floor, hands shoved in his pockets, whistling a soft tune. A cool sense of calm flowed through him as floor after floor whizzed by until he stopped on eight. The door slid open and Lisa’s soft scent drifted over him. He could pick it out anywhere, even with the smallest amount present. She must be in already, he mused, stepping into the corridor.
His day tended to begin and end with her on his mind. Some would say it was the nature of their relationship. The endless hours working together; sometimes in intimate settings. Dinners together with clients. Black tie charity auctions. Closed up in his condo late into the night.
It was more than moments in time that kept her on his mind. She’d taken up residence before he’d gotten to know her, starting the day she filled in for his previous assistant Claire. At first, it was purely physical. Noticing her petite, lithe body the second she’d walked through his office door to introduce herself. A wave of protective instincts washed over him as she slid her small hand into his. She was tiny compared to him, even when she wore her sexy as hell heels.
Part of him wanted to fire her right then and there. But he was fairly sure asking her out on a date right after firing her wouldn’t work out in his favor. He’d planned on finding her after her stint as a fill-in at his office, but his secretary abruptly quit in order to join the younger man she’d been dating on a world traveling adventure. Lisa already knew the ins and outs of his schedule, so like the dumb ass he was; he offered her the job as his new permanent assistant.
Three years later and he couldn’t imagine his life without her. She’d become the one person besides Griffin he could count on. She was the only other person to care about him as a man and not just as the wealthy head of a multi-million dollar company.
His love, for as long as he could remember, had been architecture until the last couple of years. When Lisa entered his life, he realized he’d found something—someone—that filled a corner of his heart he hadn’t known was empty. He wasn’t about to let her go, not now…not ever. He knew in his heart they could make a relationship work. If she wanted to stay his assistant, he was all for it. If she wanted to quit and be a stay at home wife and eventual mother, he was all for that as well. He would do whatever she wanted as long as she vowed to be by his side forever.
And to make up for his dick move of cancelling her plans, he gave her the weekend off. He didn’t even call her. It was the magnanimous thing to do. He also hoped it would give her time to get over being pissed at him. Surely, she wouldn’t hold a grudge against him after a weekend away.
Pushing through Lisa’s office door, he looked to her desk, expecting her shining face to greet him. Instead of seeing her short dark hair, creamy cocoa skin, and a smile that set him on fire; there sat a graying, older woman with crinkles around the corners of her mouth. She smiled gently from Lisa’s chair.
“Good morning, Mr. Morgan.” She stood and held out a stack of mail. “Ms. Cannon briefed me on this week’s schedule. Nothing too pressing, so I’m sure I’ll have no problem handling it.”
Jack took the mail from the woman, his mind whirling. What the hell was going on? Was Lisa sick? Did she get into an accident? Panic welled in his chest threatening to steal his breath. She didn’t call him to tell him anything was wrong, so why was there a stranger occupying her desk? Heading into his office, the woman followed, oblivious to his tumultuous thoughts.
“I have your computer booted and ready for your morning meeting. I’m assuming Mr. Powers will be joining you soon. I’ll bring the coffee and pastries in once he arrives. I understand they are to be heated enough to make them melt in your mouth. ”
Jack walked around his desk and sat. “Excuse me, miss…” he trailed off.
She blushed, her pale cheeks turning pink. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Mr. Morgan. I’m Mrs. French. I’m from the temp agency. I’ll be filling in for Ms. Cannon while she’s out this week. I assure you, I’m well qualified for the position. On Saturday, Ms. Cannon spent an hour going over my qualifications and references and another two hours showing me the ropes. If you’d like, I can bring my references to you.”
Jack forced the charming smile that had women telling him their every secret and fantasy onto his face. “I have no doubt you’re qualified. Ms. Cannon is excellent at her job. Were you given a reason why you needed to fill in for Li…her?”
“Of course, Mr. Morgan,” she said without batting an eye. She also didn’t give him the reason.
He stared expectantly and waited for her to crack, but the tight-lipped older woman wasn’t forthcoming. Griff walked into the room, brows dipping down when he glanced at Mrs. French standing in front of the desk. “Hey Jack, what’s going on? I didn’t see Lisa at her desk. Is she running late?”
Jack gave him a no shit look and tilted his head toward Mrs. French. “Ms. Cannon is out for the week. Mrs. French will be filling in for her while she’s gone.”
Griff’s unsettled gaze drifted to the woman in question. “Is Lisa, uh, I mean Ms. Cannon alright?”
“Why wouldn’t she be?” Mrs. French asked in confusion. Her forehead pinched and lips puckered.
Griff shrugged. “I didn’t know she was going to be gone this week. That’s all.”
“I wouldn’t expect she’d tell you, Mr. Powers. She is Mr. Morgan’s assistant and not yours,” she admonished. The starch in her voice putting them both in their places.
Like the recalcitrant boy Griff used to be, he dropped his head. “Yes ma’am,” he mumbled.
Jack chuckled and received a hardened glare from her. He smothered his laughter behind a cough. “Yes, well, we’ll take our coffee and pastries, please.”
She gave a sharp nod. “Very good. The documents for your morning meeting are in the folder on your desk. The sketches have been brought up on your computer.” She turned stiffly and strode out of the room with her head held in an imperious manner.
Griff swung the door shut behind her and plopped into a chair. “What the hell? Did you know about this?”
“If I did, do you think I’d still be sitting here?” The vein in Jack’s temple throbbed. He felt a headache forming. How could Lisa do this to him? He hadn’t authorized the time off. Shit, he’d thought he’d nipped this whole vacation thing in the bud.
“Where do you think she is?”
“If I had to guess…Satyr,” Jack growled. The throbbing in his head grew stronger.
“You think she would go without telling you? You know what, never mind. I told you to quit messing with her plans. You’re getting exactly what you deserve.”
Mrs. French walked in unannounced carrying the
breakfast tray, and they waited for her to leave, shutting the door behind her.
“Well, she’s going get her own little surprise. I’m done waiting for that background check. I’m going to Satyr and getting my woman.”
Griff tossed his head back and laughed. Jack didn’t find the situation the least bit funny. The day of reckoning was coming for Miss Lisa Cannon, and she damn well better be prepared for the punishment she was about to get. He could imagine it now, tossing her over his lap and paddling her ass for defying him. She would beg for forgiveness, then, and only then, would he show her precisely why they were meant to be together.
CHAPTER FIVE
April 6th, 11:00am
SATYR – THE RETREAT
“This is heaven,” Lisa breathed out slowly. And exactly what she needed.
After checking into her suite an hour ago, Lisa had unpacked her suitcase, ordered lunch to be delivered at noon, and was relishing in the first of many luxuries to be had over the upcoming week.
She leaned back in the massive tub, disturbing the bubbles around her. Lavender floated in the air, soothing her ragged nerves. She sighed, her eyes fluttering closed when the jets turned on and tension flowed from her body.
“Holy crap that’s wonderful.” She couldn’t think of the last time she’d been able to take a bath. To play in the rejuvenating waters that were a large part of who she was. No wonder her nymph side got cranky. They’d been apart from an elemental part of their soul for much too long.
Quick showers were her only connection as of late. Fast, unfulfilling ones where she scrubbed the grime of the day off before falling into bed. For the last couple of months, her life revolved more and more around Jack and his needs, while sacrificing the needs of her nymph.
“Not any more.” Taking a deep breath, Lisa scooped up water in each of her hands. Eyes closed and head tilted back; she called to the spirit ruling her soul.
I invoke you, Mother of the naiad, who rules over the power of water
Goddess of energy, wisdom, passion and desire
Mistress of lake, river, spring or fountain
Please come to me, flow through my veins
Allow me to be my destiny.
A warm breezed swirled around her, lifting her hair and caressing her face. The Goddess answered her call. The water jumped in her hands. Churning…twisting into a funnel as she brought them together. Thrusting her offering forward, the funnel broke, the water spewing away from her and back into the tub.
The breeze disappeared and when she opened her eyes again, it was with clear vision and lighter heart.
A knock sounded on her outer door, a muffled room service making its way through the thick barrier. Climbing out of the tub, she drained it and wrapped a warm towel around her. She had no intention of putting clothes on at the moment. The urge to walk around naked was too much to resist.
Pulling the door open, she was greeted by a tall, delicious-looking man. His midnight black skin gleamed under the lights in the hallway. He tipped his head down, a slight nod to submission. “Your meal ma’am.”
Waving him in, Lisa trailed behind him, more than happy to check the enticing view. The nymph in her slowly awoke from her water-induced high, appreciating the man before her. His tight leather pants hugged his firm ass like a second skin. She wanted to smack it and hear the sound crack through the room. Her gaze traveled up over his thick, bare muscular back. She noticed scars crossing down over his broad shoulders onto the upper part. Her fingers itched to trace the marks. To find out if they were as smooth and taut as they appeared. To test how much feeling he had in the slightly raised blemishes.
He placed the tray on her table near the window. As he uncovered the dishes she’d ordered, she grabbed some money from her purse. It wasn’t necessary to tip in the traditional manner. Satyr allowed for alternate forms of payment to the Mystics who worked there. But being in the business world for so long and dealing with more humans than her kind, it was habit.
The man stepped to the side as she approached the table. A grin curved the corner of his mouth. A sexy smirk telling her he knew she’d checked him out. He’d probably planned it that way. “I’m happy to feed you ma’am, if that is your wish.” His deep baritone slid sensuously from his full lips.
Lisa couldn’t say what made her hesitate, but she did. She paused; mouth open ready to say yes, yet nothing came out.
The man invited her attention. Lust was stamped on his face as he perused every inch of her. She felt the heat of his stare through her towel. The offer to feed her, which she knew would result in him sitting at her feet submissively, his hard packed muscles begging to be touched and fondled—grazed and nipped, should have been tempting her beyond reason.
She did a systems check of her body. There was no racing heart. No slither of arousal through her veins. No excitement or anticipation of what would follow. There wasn’t a fiber in her being aching to do more than have a cursory look or to enjoy the beauty in his body as a visual feast. The nymph didn’t clamor to tear his clothes from his body.
She smiled softly and pressed the money in his hand. There was no reaction from her nymph. No spark to do more. “Thank you. Maybe some other time,” she said gently and escorted him to the door.
He stopped outside the threshold. “When you’re ready, call guest services and request me. My name is Kyron. I would be more than happy to bring you pleasure.” He ran a hot look over her before picking up her hand and placing a kiss on the inside of her wrist. His tongue flicked over her pulse, and she thought she should change her mind. She’d bet he could do wicked things with his tongue. Things she hadn’t experienced in far too long.
But when she imagined laying claim to hulking Kyron, he morphed into the last person she should have lustful thoughts about…Jack. Even on vacation the man refused to vacate her mind.
CHAPTER SIX
April 6th, 1:00pm
THE OFFICES OF MORGAN & POWERS DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE
“What do you mean the background check isn’t complete?” Jack barked into the phone. The first chance he had he’d called Satyr. First, to the registration desk to find out if Lisa was a registered guest. When they wouldn’t tell him, he hung up and called the membership liaison to check on his application.
“Like I said, Mr. Morgan,” the nasally man on the other end of the line grated out. “There are a couple more relations we need to investigate before we can make a decision one way or the other.”
“You’ve had the application for almost a year. What is it in my background you can’t find?”
“At the present time, Mr. Morgan, a Mystic. If you knew for sure you had Mystic blood running through your veins and what kind, the investigation would have been over months ago. As it is, we’ve only found one loose connection to an angel dating back four generations, but we cannot confirm the verification. We’ve been unable to contact the Mystic in question. Our researchers are following proper procedure to ensure the validity of the relation. We’ll let you know when our findings are complete.”
The man hung up before Jack could say anything more. It was probably a good thing he had too.
“Fuck,” Jack roared, slamming the phone down. What the hell was he supposed to do now? He couldn’t very well head to the club and demand entrance. No one did that. The security was tight, and unless you were a member, you weren’t getting in. Not even guests were allowed unless they had easily proved Mystic abilities, or had received a special invitation. He didn’t think he knew anyone who could get him one of those.
“What’s up, Jack?” Griff asked sauntering into his office, then taking a seat across from him.
“I just got off the phone with Satyr. They won’t tell me if Lisa is registered as a guest, and my application hasn’t been processed yet. I’m not Mystic enough at this point to be allowed entrance. I have to wait until their research is complete.”
“Even then you still might not be allowed in. If they don’t find anything in the background, t
hey’ll toss your application on the burn pile. No one gets in unless they’re approved.”
“Fuck,” Jack grunted again. He leaned back in his chair and pushed his fingers through his hair. Frustration ate at him the longer he was away from Lisa. She could be having the time of her life with some random guy at that very moment.
“Here,” Griff said grabbing Jack’s attention. He looked to see his friend holding out a pale blue business card.
“What is it?” He asked, reaching across the desk.
Griff’s mouth pulled down into a frown, his grip tightening on the paper. “Mrs. French gave it to me as I was coming in. She said you might want to call the number listed if your plan didn’t work out. Whoever this is has some pull and might be able to get you in.”
“Why do you seem reluctant to give it to me?”
“I don’t want you to make a mistake. I like Lisa. In fact, I think she’s great.”
“But…”
“But I don’t want you to get your hopes up about having a lasting relationship with the woman. She’s a nymph. They’re known for playing with people’s emotions. They’re ambivalent, fickle, and salacious. She may only be interested in having a quick affair. Last I heard, most nymphs don’t settle down.”
Jack felt the burn of anger fire in his chest. “Where the fuck did you get that information?” He knew Griff was trying to be a friend, look out for him. The man forgot one very important thing. “She’s not like most nymphs.”
“I know. I did a little research online. I was concerned.”
“Don’t be. I’m sure how I feel about her, and I think she feels the same. Lisa has worked her ass off for the last ten years to prove she isn’t anything like the stereotype.”
Lisa: April (Mystic Zodiac Book 4) Page 3