“Oh my god, Randall, that was incredible,” she told him when she regained her breath.
“Again, my beauty, do it again,” he requested, rolling her off the sofa, barely missing the coffee table. He positioned her so that she straddled his lean hips and began gliding her up and down despite her feeble protests that she wanted to rest.
“Later, sweetheart,” he promised, covering her face in kisses, nipping at her mouth, teasing her into a state of heightened desire again. “You can rest later.”
Soon Sloane took up the rhythm greedily, rising and falling, lifting herself until she was teasing both of them, them sliding back down the length of him enjoying the size, the friction and the heated sensations along every nerve ending. He thought he would die from pleasure and was barely holding on to his control when she began pounding feverishly, grinding her hips in small circles, trying to get closer. He flipped her over onto the thick rug and, retaking command, plunged into her deep and fast, crushing Sloane into the floor.
Rather than complain, Sloane came hard, shouting loudly until she drove Randall over the edge and he joined her in release. She slowed, caught her breath and strained up to kiss him. She covered his face and neck in kisses, sucking lightly in places so that a small aftershock moved through his lower body.
After several minutes, Sloane stilled, rolled, and rested her head on Randall’s massive chest, laying quiet.
“This doesn’t change anything,” he heard her say in voice so tiny he thought he imagined it.
“It changes everything, Sloane. It changes everything. I am never letting you go.”
“But you tried to have me arrested. You used me. You conned me. Moreover, you humiliated me, Randall. I can never trust you.”
“Shh, my love. We will fix all of that later. I promise. Not now though. I need to feel you again, now. I need you again, Sloane.”
“Already?”
“You have that effect on me,” he offered apologetically before sliding his hard length inside her again. She was wet and ready for him, too. “Aaah,” he said in pleasure,” and I seem to have that effect on you too.”
Kissing her tenderly, Randall took his sweet time with Sloane and with his own pleasure, stroking in and out slowly, stopping to tease them both, then starting again. He nibbled on her neck, then on one breast, biting softly at her nipple, drawing it into his mouth until it was hard and she was whimpering her desire.
“Too much?” She shook her head no, so he moved to the other nipple, repeating the process while moving his hips with more purpose. He felt her tightening around him, saw her clench her fists, listened as her breath hitched. “Wait for me baby, wait.”
He watched Sloane struggle to delay her orgasm and he slowed his movements further, helping her catch a breath but teasing her horribly as well. He loved the way she responded to his every move, his every thrust, and his every touch. He could barely hold on and soon he shouted, ”Now. Come now!”
As if she could orgasm on command, Sloane did exactly as Randall had ordered, clenching hard around his heat, rocking hard against his body, kissing him like she would swallow him whole.
They calmed each other with small kisses and gentle touches and finally sat up, backs to the sofa, touching from shoulder to hip. Her hand was making lazy circles on his muscular thigh, while his fingers trailed from one nipple to the other of their own volition.
“I cannot believe I just walked out and left Edward at Navy Pier,” Sloane finally said, breaking the silence. Except that she was naked, and her lipstick had been kissed away long ago, she looked as perfect as she had when she began the evening five hours earlier.
“I think I made it pretty clear to him that he was not getting his hands on you again.”
“Oh yes, my Neanderthal man. Where did that come from by the way?”
“Desperation,” Randall chuckled before placing a slow, tantalizing kiss on Sloane’s lips. “Why didn’t you return my calls, Sloane?”
“You hurt me, Randall. You hurt me badly. You embarrassed me too, which was worse. I was already struggling to hold my head high and you knocked my knees out from under me.” Randall could not remember Sloane allowing herself to be so honest and vulnerable before.
“I did and I am so sorry. You deserved better.”
“I did. Completely. Although I must admit the flowers were gorgeous and you certainly know how to grovel.” He dipped his chin, looking up with a little boy smirk, pretending to be humble. “OK, that’s cute, but seriously, here is the primary reason I am determined not to forgive you.”
“Sloane, whether you like it or not, you have been forgiving me for the last two hours.”
“Cute also, but stop interrupting me. The main reason I didn’t return your calls, Randall, is that you and I both know it is just a matter of time before you do it again. You will go to some party, some bar, you will tie one on and fondle some babe. You came on to me when I was with Wyatt. You did it to Debra, for god’s sake. What on earth is wrong with you?”
“Just sit back and listen because I swear, Sloane, I am a changed man.”
Randall told Sloane about his conversation with Alex, about realizing he only got drunk around Wyatt, about tracing his issue with Wyatt all the way back to the fifth grade, about his unconscious jealousy and constant need to compete and about how it was all tied up with his feelings about his relationship with his father. Sloane sat silent, listening attentively and stroking Randall’s arm with her soft fingertips.
“I spoke to my father after this had all sunk in, asked him about losing his love, his attention, his faith in me. It had been extremely painful for me, especially at that age. What a revelation, Sloane, it was never about that. My mother had told him to back off and stop pressuring me. Too funny. She saw how crushed I was not coming in first on that stupid exam, so she told my father to ease up his demands on me.”
“Oh Randall. They both loved you very much. Your father may be a vagabond now, but he still adores you. I know because he turned his precious business over to you completely. How much more faith could he display?”
“You’re right, but you know how it is. I just couldn’t see the forest for the trees. I was what, ten years old? Amazing how much baggage we carry and for so damn long.”
“But you and your dad are good now?”
“All good. Oh, and I had a humiliating talk with Wyatt. I confessed everything, apologized for years of stupid competition and jealousy, and of course for my inappropriate behavior over all those years with you – and others.”
“That must have been a tough conversation.”
“It was, but not as bad as I had feared. Wyatt was not even aware of the problem. Well, he knew I groped his women, actually he knew I wanted to date anyone he wanted to date, but he was completely oblivious to the rest.”
“So you are with me because I was with Wyatt? Is that what you are saying?”
“No, you idiot, I am with you because I love you.”
Sloane stared at Randall in confusion, her eyes like enormous sapphires, her mouth a small ‘O’.
“Yeah,” he looked away, embarrassed. “I said it. You may be infuriating, tough and hard headed. You may be calculating and manipulative. But I am in love with you Sloane, and I have been for quite a while.”
“Wow,” Sloane finally answered drawing Randall’s eyes back to her face, “You love me? But you tried to send me to prison? That is certainly not an act of love. This is so surreal and certainly not how I would have predicted the evening would end when Edward picked me up earlier.”
The pair started laughing hard, tears streaming down Sloane’s face, Randall holding his stomach until they caught their breath.
“That is your response? I tell you I love you and that is your only response?”
“Well, it’s me, remember. What did you expect?” She went off into peals of laughter again, until Randall grabbed her, slid her back down to the floor and began the serious work of kissing her senseless.
Several minutes later, Sloane pushed at Randall’s hard shoulders. Once she had put enough distance between them for her to look him directly in the eyes she started talking.
“I love you too, Randall. You are controlling and domineering but you are my Neanderthal man and I love you.” She craned her neck to kiss him lightly on the tip of his nose before continuing, “But you are not off the hook, you know. I still want answers. So what do we do now?”
“I imagine I can think of something,” he responded, raising and lowering his eyebrows with a leer.
“Again?”
“Oh yeah, definitely, again.”
“Can we at least move to the bed where it’s softer?”
“Well, only if you insist, my love. Otherwise, you can just be on top.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Sloane was thrilled to be having lunch with Maria. She was hoping they could become friends. Now that all the acquisition work was completed, she wanted to develop a real relationship with the smart, tough woman. She was getting much better at being a friend, but with her recent track record, she had been reluctant to push too hard with anyone. She was learning a lot from Keeli about walking softly – without carrying a big stick. It was amazing how nice people could be once she was nice to them.
Sloane jumped from a taxi and strode quickly across the plaza in front of the Wrigley Building. She wove her way through the crowds, down the breezy sidewalk and across the plastic enclosed patio of the Purple Pig. In summer the outdoor space would have been teeming with people, but today it was empty and cold. She was momentarily nostalgic for the warmth of summer, but she let it go, pulled open the heavy door to the warm restaurant and scanned the bustling interior.
Maria waved from a table against the wall, and by the time Sloane joined her she was standing. The two women hugged tightly, sincerely delighted to spend time with each other.
“You look fantastic,” Maria commented as Sloane divested herself of her camel wool coat and Hermes scarf before taking the seat across the small table from Maria.
“Amazing what less stress can do for a woman, isn’t it?” Sloane teased.
“No kidding. What a history of flux since we met. You have sold a company, dodged a major legal bullet – I promise not a lot of people know that – gotten a plum new job, and taken a fabulous vacation.”
“Let’s not leave out the fact that I have gotten my mother out of that huge house in Glencoe and into a great two-bedroom on Pearson. She is so content. She loves walking everywhere, and of course, the shopping in the neighborhood is outrageous. It helps that she has some money again. Thanks to you.”
“I will take the credit but I really shouldn’t.”
“She really will do well down here, instead of isolated up in the suburbs. It’s been the best thing to happen to her in a while, and she really deserves a break.”
“So did you, Sloane. I am so happy things worked out so well.”
“Me too. I am so relieved.”
They buried their heads in the menus for several minutes, before they ordered a combination of small plates that tempted them both – meats, cheeses, salads and smears, as they were called – and a couple glasses of a deep ruby wine from Montepulciano.
Waiting for the food and wine, Sloane rehashed the legal results. Jonathan had been a marvel, digging through documents that the government said incriminated her, then finding companion documents to exonerate her. It had taken months, and before they were done, they had deposed people she cared about including Wyatt, Randall, even her mother. Sloane had chosen not to be present for the depositions, fearful of what people she loved might bring to light. She and Randall were still a fledging couple and she didn’t want to hear anything to destroy their fragile trust.
Sipping wine, the two women caught up on each other’s work and got to know each other a bit better. Comparing University of Chicago to Northwestern, they had a friendly competition. Maria was actively involved with her alumni association, convincing Sloane that she should do more for Kellogg, now that she was on her feet again.
“I love your jewelry, by the way. It is so unusual and original.”
“Perk of the job,” Sloane responded. “I spend a lot of my paycheck in the studio, I admit, but sometimes I just borrow a piece or two. This is one of my favorites.” Sloane held out her arm pushing back the sleeve of her sweater a bit more to clearly display the bracelet by Keeli Larsen. The entwined white and yellow gold was delicate, appropriate for Sloane’s slender wrists, with a smattering of sapphires dotting the metal. It was a stunning piece of jewelry.
“It’s gorgeous,” Maria breathed.
“You should come by the studio and pick something out. Keeli could design something special for you too. She is amazing.”
The women talked for several minutes about the irony of Sloane working for Keeli, nibbling on the delicious tidbits that comprised their meal. “If Wyatt had not bought that silent auction item, none of this would ever have happened. It must have been fate.”
“Fate,” Maria asked dumbstruck. “What in god’s name are you talking about?”
Sloane looked stunned and confused, realizing that suddenly Maria was more than a little angry.
“Well, you know,” Sloane continued more cautiously, “if I hadn’t gotten to know Keeli better when we were in Tahoe, she never would have offered me a job. I guess I should give Linda Stuart or Regan Howe credit for seeing it would be a good match.”
“Are you really this stupid, or are you just baiting me?” Maria confronted Sloane, her voice sharp.
“What? Did I say something to offend you, Maria? I think I must be missing something here.”
“I’ll say,” Maria spat. “You owe all of this, every last bit of it, to Randall Parker. He went out on so many limbs for you. Everyone advised him not to, but nooooo,” she dragged out the word for effect, “he had to invest his own money, call in every favor. I can’t believe that you give everyone but him the credit for your current success. You just about owe him your life.” Maria sat back against the leather banquette as if spent from her small tirade.
“Sorry, I did not mean to get so emotional, but the Parkers have been so damn good to me over the years and I owe them and PPHP for a lot. Randall helped me get my job. He threw business my way and so much more. I don’t like to see him unappreciated. Again, I am sorry. You are, of course, entitled to your own opinion.”
Sloane was sitting stunned. After a moment of bewilderment, she chose her words very carefully. “Maria, I think perhaps we are talking about different things. There is certainly some confusion here. I don’t know what you think Randall did or didn’t do. Of course, I heard what he did for the acquisition, although I give most of the credit to you for pulling off a brilliant feat.” Sloane sent Maria a beaming smile. “But Randall had nothing to do with me landing a new job.”
“Okay, never mind,” Maria responded, her voice cutting. She sat silent, before rethinking things and continuing. “Do you really not know that Randall arranged all of this? Has he still kept you in the dark about his role?”
“His role in what?” Sloane asked, exasperated.
“Well, let’s start with the obvious - your company acquisition. He called every last one of the HI clients to get them to agree to stay the course through the acquisition and become Steel Frank customers. When it wasn’t moving fast enough, he had Wyatt open a contract with HI - which Randall funded to the tune of over a million dollars, risking his own fortune to save your ass.”
“A million dollars. No, I heard it was half of that,” Sloane responded, dazed.
“I saw the paperwork, Sloane, I would know. An infusion of over one million, of course, made the current clients feel more secure, so they agreed to stay. Poof, the acquisition goes through quickly and at a very good price.”
“A big chunk of which was paid to your firm. I know your businesses are cozy-cozy, so let’s not make it sound like he was completely altruistic. I know you send business his way and he s
ends business yours.”
“You stupid girl. He made us waive our fees to HI and only take expenses, so you and your mother would have a bigger share. He covered the fees to us. Did he tell you nothing?”
“But how could I not know any of this? Why would he keep it secret? Hell, why would he do it at all? And why didn’t you tell me this before? Why didn’t he?”
“Good questions. I didn’t say anything because I figured he would tell you. But that is just the tip of the iceberg,” Maria went on. Now that the floodgates were open, she was relentless in her need to share what she knew. That she was beating on Sloane was obviously secondary.
Sloane was nonplussed and visibly upset. “I don’t understand.”
“That makes two of us, Sloane. Let me keep going, it just gets better and better. Your benefit, he arranged lunch that day with Tyler and Regan, told them to bring up the benefit so you could save your precious pride when he asked you to go. He knew you didn’t have a date.”
“But…”
“Wait. Wyatt didn’t buy any damn vacation at the silent auction either. Randall arranged for the house, made sure it was set then strong armed Wyatt and Keeli into getting you there. She would never have invited you otherwise. I overheard that conversation. It was a doozy. Wyatt wanted you no closer than, say, fifty miles from Keeli. He had to be sweet-talked for a good hour before he let that one happen.”
Sloane sat speechless, the color coming and going from her pale face, tears shimmering in her azure eyes, threatening to spill over.
“Is there more? I can’t believe there is more,” she asked in a barely audible voice laced with pain.
“Oh yeah, Sloane, the coup de resistance. Randall was at a business dinner and overheard lawyers say that they thought the case against Huyler Industries might not be over. He eavesdropped shamelessly to get that information, called your father’s attorneys to see if they could prevent the charges against you. Then, to top off everything, he paid the damn legal fees, both at Addison, Fine and with Jonathan. I am sure those weren’t cheap.”
Beholden (The Beguiling Bachelors Book 2) Page 27