by Marie Skye
“Excuse me.” He looked up and smiled. “Yes, ma’am?”
“You know me, don’t you?”
He briefly hesitated. “Yes, ma’am.”
I nodded and turned away. I walked into the building and rode the thirty-three floors, thinking how big of a problem this would be. The doors opened, and I gasped. There stood Grayson, hands behind his back, legs wide, eyes dark.
“Ms. Ross, I’ve been waiting for you.”
I cleared my throat. “Surely, you had better things to occupy your time, Mr. Mandrake.”
He smiled. “On the contrary, Ms. Ross. However, an impromptu meeting interrupted my schedule, so I had to rearrange a few things.”
I nodded, suddenly wishing the doors to the elevator would close.
He herded me back into the corner of the elevator, inserted his card into the slot, and we went up a floor. The elevator stopped at his office apartment, and I rushed out before the doors finished opening.
I walked to the middle of the room and turned to face him, because I knew once he was near me, I wouldn't be able to think straight. "No. You stay right there.” I held my hands up in a defensive pose. The moment he was near me, the moment I even smelled him, I would melt, and he damn well knew it too. His eyes narrowed and slowly smiled.
"You know it turns me on when you're pissed."
I chanced a glance down, and sure enough, there was a nice bulge coming from his pants. I cleared my throat. "What time did you wake up this morning, Grayson?"
"You have a driver for a reason. It's safer that way. I expect you to use him.”
I stared at him in disbelief.
"I told you I would take care of things with Caleb. In no way was that meant for you to interfere."
"You also said you would take care of that before. I was ensuring it was handled properly."
"Grayson, you can't do that. You can't go behind my back and do stuff like that. You can't interfere with my life like that. I have a life outside of you. It's not filled with the glitz and charm that you're used to, but it's still my life, and I like it because it's mine. Do you understand that? Because if you don't, then you need to tell me now, otherwise this won’t work between us.”
He looked at me with fear in his eyes. "Don't say that," he quietly said. In that very moment, as strong as he always was, I saw what he was like broken.
My heart cracked. I walked toward him. "You always want me to be honest with you, but I need you to do the same and trust me."
His mouth crashed down over mine, hard and demanding. "You have no idea what you do to me. I crave you," he whispered against my lips. "Before, I said I wasn't a jealous man. With you, I'm an extremely jealous man.” He pulled me tighter.
I smiled. "But I'm also my own person who can fight her own battles."
He nodded. "It's just a matter of giving over your control, love."
My head snapped up. "My control? What does that have to do with anything?"
He smirked before walking over to the bar. "You have problems relinquishing control. One might even say you were a little bratty. But with proper guidance, I'll get you there.” He handed me a bottle of water.
"Get me where?"
"Your submissive side, of course.” He shrugged like it was no big deal. Like he just said he didn't care where he wanted to go to lunch.
I threw my head back and laughed. "I'm not submissive. I mean, I know you're into that stuff, but I'm not."
He chuckled before taking a long sip. "We'll discuss this in a more appropriate setting."
I crossed my arms. "When? When I'm laid out, defenseless?"
He moved toward me. "It's called forced orgasms, and trust me, you haven't even begun to experience the true meaning of forced orgasms."
I felt my face heat and stepped back just as he stepped forward. "There's still the matter of you having me followed."
"I told you before, I protect what's mine. He was merely protection."
“I feel like this argument is a moot point.”
He gave me a chaste kiss. “Who’s arguing? Just do as I ask, and we’ll all be good and well.” Before I could protest, he kissed me again and then checked his watch. “Now I do have that meeting, and again, either Luke or Alistair. Are we clear?”
I saluted him. “Crystal, sir.”
The rest of the day seemed to go fast. Next thing I knew, it was nearing lunch time, and I’d agreed to have lunch with Edith and Kevin.
“I can’t do lunch with you guys.” Edith and I looked up at Kevin who just walked in holding up a bunch of files. “I need to get these documents over to be signed in person.”
“Isn’t that something a carrier can do?” Edith looked devastated. I knew since I met her she was crushing on Kevin.
He sighed. “You would think, but apparently that’s not good enough.”
“Oh.” She sulked back in her seat. I tried not to smile.
“Well, I can do it, and you two can still go to lunch together,” I offered.
“I don’t know,” Kevin said. “The powers that be specifically said that I should do it.”
“Give me the papers, Kevin. I’ll handle it. You two enjoy lunch, and I’ll see you when you get back,” I insisted.
Edith beamed. Young love.
I finished up the last few e-mails before grabbing my coat and heading down to the lobby. There was a commotion off to the corner, and Ashley was being flanked by both Alistair and someone from security. What the hell was she even doing here?
I ducked outside before she had a chance to see me. Standing on the sidewalk off to the side of the building, I pondered if I should call Luke. Then I realized my phone was upstairs. I was just about to walk back in when someone called my name.
"Ms. Ross.” I turned my head to the gentleman walking toward me, eyeing me up and down. He was tall like Grayson. "We met a few weeks ago. Dale Ferguson." I thought back to when he first appeared in Grayson’s office. I wasn’t too keen on him then, and I sure as hell wasn’t changing my decision about him now. He gave off such a creepy vibe.
I smiled. "Right, of course. Mr. Ferguson. Nice to see you again."
"It's always a pleasure seeing you, Ms. Ross.” He licked his lips. Just then, the door opened and he pulled me in to him as we both watched Alistair guide Ashley to the car before getting into the driver’s seat and driving off.
"I take it that was your ride."
Seeing he was still holding me, I gently pushed him away. "Something like that."
"Lucky for you, my car is right here. I'll be happy to take you wherever you need to go.” I eyed him warily. "That won't be necessary."
"Nonsense. I insist."
Before I could protest, he took my arm and all but dragged me to his car. "If I didn't know any better, Mr. Ferguson, I would think you were attempting a kidnapping."
He laughed. "Grayson would have my head, I'm sure. Do you like steak? I know a restaurant that has the best prime rib. You must join me for lunch. I was on my way there."
"Perhaps another time. I think just going to my destination will do, and I'll see my way back."
"Let me guess, you were en route to Ellestad?"
I looked back down and opened my folder again. Sure enough, it said, Ellestad. “How did you know that?"
"It's my company. I realized I forgot to sign a document and was heading back to sign it but saw you coming to bring it to me instead."
"So you dragged me to your car, knowing I had the documents?”
He sat back. "Of course. How else would I have gotten you to come to lunch with me?” He held his hand out, took out a pen, and signed the paperwork. He was starting to creep me out.
"You know, you can just drop me off at the corner. My business is done."
His smile faded. "But mine isn't. You and I have business to discuss.” The car slowed outside the restaurant.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Ferguson, but whatever business you have is with Mr. Mandrake. I appreciate the ride, and thank you for getting these
signed."
I turned to open the door, but he grabbed my arm. "Trust me, my business is with you.” The door opened. "Shall we?"
"I understand there was a disruption in the lobby?"
"Yes, sir, it was handled. We'll ensure she no longer enters the building from here on out."
I nodded. "That'll be all. Thank you.” There was a knock on the door. "Come in.” Edith poked her head around the door.
"Sorry to bother you, Mr. Mandrake."
Then don't. I smiled. "What can I do for you, Edith?"
"I was just checking if Emmalin was back yet. She didn't catch up with us for lunch, so I brought her a sandwich."
I eyed the bag in her hand. "Where did she go?"
"Oh, well, Kevin had to take some papers to Ellestad, but I wanted to have lunch with him so—"
I stood up abruptly. "I don't give a shit what you wanted. That job was given to Kevin for a reason."
She stood there cowering.
"Get out, now.” I pulled out my phone and called her. No answer. I turned around to the security screens, looking for the exact moment she left, or rather who she left with. I sped up the feed as she watched Alistair deal with Ashley in the lobby. I hated that she had to see that and that Ashley was still causing problems.
I zoomed to her on the sidewalk, looking through her purse. Then she turned back toward the building, but was stopped. There was Dale, looking at her like she was his next meal. The door flew open, and he pulled her in to him. I saw red. I knew exactly what he was doing. I picked up the phone, and he answered on the first ring.
"Dale, I believe you have someone who belongs to me.”
He chuckled. "That I do, Grayson. We're having lunch at Zella. Please join us."
After the longest fifteen minutes ever, I arrived at Zella. Hands clenched in my pockets, I calmly walked to his usual table. Instead of sitting across from her, he was sitting next to her.
I focused solely on Emmalin, whose eyes looked despondent and she had a fake smile plastered on her face. I sat directly in front of her, and it took a minute before she finally looked at me. I needed to know she was okay and still with me before I dealt with Dale.
"Ah, you made it. I was telling Emmalin here about my recent trip to St. Petersburg. She would love it. It's a beautiful country.” Just then, the waiter came and set down three plates. "I took the liberty of ordering for the three of us. I knew it was only a matter of time before you showed up. Please eat before it gets cold."
Emmalin looked between both of us. I gave her a small nod as she cautiously picked up her utensils.
"I must say, Grayson, I'm looking forward to the charity ball in a few weeks. You must be proud."
I nodded. "I always am. It's something I'm extremely fond of."
He turned toward Emmalin. "Emmalin, are you attending the charity ball?"
She sat down her drink and looked at me. "I didn't know there was a ball."
"So I take it you don't have a proper date for the ball then? I would love to take you."
I clanked my fork down. "She has a date."
He glared at me, with a slight glimmer in his eye "Well, surely not you. You have a date."
"Che cosa esattamente pensi che stai facendo?" What exactly do you think you're doing?
"Solo affermando un fatto.” Just stating a fact.
"La mia vita personale è affar tuo.” My personal life is none of your business.
He took out his black credit card and gave it to the waiter. "Mi scuso, intendevo niente di esso." My apologies. I meant nothing by it.
"Abbiamo finito qui. Se ti vedo da nessuna parte vicino a lei, o avere di nuovo le mani su di lei, non solo sarà demolire la società che sta volendo me per tenere a galla. Vi distruggerò. Chiara?" We're done here. If I see you anywhere near her or have your hands on her again, not only will I demolish your company that you're wanting me to keep afloat, but I will destroy you. Clear? I stood up. "Emmalin, let's go."
"Thank you for the company, Emmalin. Till we meet again.” She gave a polite smile before I took her arm and led her out of the restaurant where we waited for the valet to bring my car around. I was gripping the steering wheel so tight my knuckles were turning white. We drove in complete silence for five minutes.
"Emmalin—"
"Not now, Grayson. I'm not in the mood to listen to you yell at me. All you do is tell me what I do wrong. Well, I didn't do anything wrong."
I pulled the car over behind an old, abandoned warehouse and got out of the car. I went around to her side, unbuckled her seatbelt, and pulled her out of her seat. She had to run to keep up with me as I went further to the back of the building. I pushed her up against the wall where we were out of sight from anyone. I cupped her face and put my forehead on hers.
"I need a few minutes to hold you. To feel you against me, to breathe you in. I need you to give this to me before I talk, and then you can fight me, but right now this is what I need to bring me back down before claiming you back. Can you do that?" She nodded. "The words, baby. I need the words."
"Whatever you need."
"Thank you,” I whispered against her lips and pulled her tighter to me.
I don’t even know how long we stood there. I relaxed into her as she threaded her fingers through my hair.
"You didn't do anything wrong. He crossed a line and involved you because he knew how to get under my skin." I caressed her arms. "He touched you, even if his intentions were innocent, I didn't like it. But I also know he doesn't have an innocent bone in his body. He's malicious, and I don't want you near him. I need you to trust me on this."
She nodded. "I do."
I began looking over her, for what I didn’t know. "Did he do anything, or say anything?"
She cupped my face. "Grayson, I'm fine.”
The breath I let out, held so much relief, it felt as if I’d held it since discovering she was with Dale.
My mouth crashed over hers. Devouring her. Owning her. “I need you. Right here. Right now.”
She was already unbuckling my belt as I hitched her skirt up around her waist. She yelped as I tore her panties off and stuffed them in my pocket.
“Are you wet for me?”
“Always,” she whispered as I lifted her and wrapped her legs around me.
“Let’s see then.” I filled her in one thrust, moaning in approval. “Fuck, yes, you’re drenched.” Her legs tightened around me, and I bit into the column of her neck. “Who do you belong to?” I growled into her neck.
She shrieked as I bit harder. “You. Only you.”
“Say it again.”
“Only you, Grayson.”
I punched the wall next to her head and thrust harder. I was vaguely aware of the blood on my knuckles. I knew that in a way I was fucking her to reclaim my ownership, but for punishment as well. I pumped harder. No matter what, I felt like I couldn’t get deep enough. She cried out as a wave began to take over. Her walls clamped down on me, and I growled, feeling my balls tightening as her pussy milked my cock, coming hard, panting, over and over again.
Our breathing labored, and she looked at me with wanton eyes and kissed me gently. She opened her mouth to say something—her eyes already saying so much—but instead she just put her head against mine and pulled me closer. I sighed.
There was a noise in the distance, and I tensed up. “We should go. This probably wasn’t the best place for me to lose my shit.”
She smiled as I reluctantly released her, and she straightened her clothes and smoothed her hair. I paused.
In my need to claim her, I had been selfish, and as much as I should, I didn’t care that I hadn’t bothered to pull out. I liked her filled with me. “I didn’t use a condom. I’ve never not used a condom, I promise. I’m clean.”
She nodded. “I’m on birth control.” Damn.
I cupped her face. “Did I hurt you?”
She shook her head. “Only in a good way.”
We rode back to the office in silence, fingers
linked. I felt calmer as long as I was touching her in some way.
"I didn't get to ask, how did you come to find me?"
I stopped at a stoplight. "Edith came looking for you. She said you didn't join them for lunch. I asked her why, and she mentioned something about how Kevin was supposed to run an errand but, because she really wanted to eat with Kevin, you took the errand instead, prompting me to lose my shit. Which reminds me, I need to make sure security escorts Kevin from the premises when we get back."
"Grayson, you can't be serious."
"I'm very serious, Emmalin. He had a direct order to do something and didn't."
"Because I told him I would do it. You can't fire him for something I did."
"Watch me. There's a reason that job was given to Kevin."
"Grayson, I think you're overreacting. It's not like I was in any danger. I knew Edith had a thing for Kevin, so I was simply letting those two happen."
"This isn't up for discussion, Emmalin. You could very well have been in danger. That's the issue you don't understand when it comes to Dale Ferguson."
"Grayson, firing Kevin because you're pissed at him isn't going to change anything.”
I pulled into the parking garage and turned to her. "You're not going to back down from this, are you?"
She shook her head. "I have half a mind to fuck some sense into you, Mr. Mandrake, if that's what it takes to convince you."
I slid my seat back. "Convince me then."
She smiled before crossing over the console. "What if someone sees?"
"Then let them."
She convinced me well. Twice in the car. Once in my office apartment, and then again in the shower. Next thing I knew, it was five, and all I'd done for half the day was have sex. I couldn't even concentrate. Just thinking about her, I swore I got hard. Finally, I said fuck it and took her home and found myself purposely disagreeing with her so that I could convince her otherwise.
It was now two in the morning, and I was in my office, attempting to work when all I wanted to do was be upstairs in bed with her. After another fifteen minutes, I finally shut everything down and headed upstairs.