Sweetest Obsessions - Anthology

by Anthony, Jane

  He chuckled. “I’d say you do a pretty good job when we’re together.”

  “That’s just sex.”

  “Just sex? What we do is not just sex. I have a confession to make, and this might scare the shit out of you, but I’m going to say it.”

  I lifted my head off the pillow as my breathing became shallow. “What is it?”

  He reached out to touch my cheek. “I’m in love with you, Samantha. I’ve never felt like this about anyone before. I’m sometimes scared how much I love you. I know it’s early in our relationship, but I can’t help it.”

  Austin stared at me, waiting for a response. I never had anyone say they were in love with me so fast. I always thought I was hard to love, at least that’s what Ivan told me when we were together. I guess I took too long to answer because Austin rolled off the bed and was searching for his pants.

  “What are you doing?”

  He tried to untangle the leg of his trousers. “I’m leaving. Based on your reaction or lack thereof, you need time to absorb what I just told you.”

  I propped my head up on my hand. “Get back in bed.”

  He sat down next to me and stroked my hair. “Please don’t be scared. I can’t help myself, and I wanted you to know.”

  “I care for you a lot. I can’t say those words yet, but I’m falling for you.”

  Austin smiled and moved the hair away from my neck to kiss me. “Can you show me this place? What’s with all the black and white? I feel like I’m in a hospital, it’s so medicinal. You have any color around here?”

  “Maybe now that you’re around, I’ll make some changes. I’ve had nothing to be happy about before.”

  He shook his head. “You had plenty to be happy about; you just don’t let yourself be. You have a job most people would kill for. You’re thirty-two and CEO of one of the biggest production companies in the world. You’ve accomplished so much for someone your age.”

  “But I have nothing else. No friends, no husband.”

  Austin raised his eyebrows. “Do you want a husband?”

  “Eventually, I might.”

  “Then eventually, you will. You’ll see.”

  I grinned. “Are you volunteering?”

  “If I knew it was what you wanted right now, then I would. We have plenty of time to get to know each other.”

  I shoved the sheet off me and sat up. “Let me show you around my palace.”

  I got up from bed, and we dressed before I took Austin around my home. Like his, my house was secluded and if I wanted to go swimming naked in my large swimming pool, I could.

  He looked from my large kitchen into my spacious living room. “You could get lost in this place.”

  I leaned against my granite island. “I only spend time in my bedroom and the kitchen. I might as well live in a studio apartment.”

  “Then why did you pick a house so large?”

  I shrugged. “Privacy. I don’t have close neighbors, and I have the full run of the place. Besides, what else do I have to spend my money on?”

  Austin bent down to kiss my shoulder. “You have me. You can buy me anything you want.”

  “You can afford anything you want without me.”

  “But now you have someone to buy gifts for like I do.”

  I frowned. “Don’t buy me anything.”

  “Too late.”

  “What did you buy me?”

  Austin reached into his pocket. “Hold out your hand.” In my palm, he placed a small round charm that had a design of an orange sun and palm tree.

  I was puzzled. “What’s this?”

  “It reminded me of our vacation together even though we weren’t together yet. I’ll buy you the bracelet to put it on, but I wanted to make sure you’d like it first.”

  “I love it. Thank you.” I leaned in and kissed his cheek. The charm meant so much to me, and I held it tightly in my hand until we got back to the bedroom. I felt silly and giddy. Austin was in love with me, and I was sure I was in love with him though I was holding off from admitting that fact. Maybe I wasn’t an ice queen after all.

  I pushed at Austin’s chest. “Let me go. I have to get up for work.”

  Austin hovered above me. He had woken at 4:30 AM and latched his mouth on my bare nipple. It was a nice way to wake up, and after he spent several minutes kissing my body, we had sex. He was still inside me and holding me in place.

  “You can spare a few minutes.”

  He delicately rolled us, and I was on top. He was still erect, and I knew if I began to move, he could easily go again.

  I kissed the tip of his nose. “I have a meeting today. I want to be ready.”

  “You’re always ready.”

  He wasn’t talking about work. He was talking about sex. I was always ready for him. Austin was the first man I let have his way with me. Even in college, I felt the need for the upper hand. My parents brought me up to be independent and have my own identity, but with him, I wanted to be us rather than me.

  “I dream about you,” I said.

  Austin crooked his eyebrow. “You do? What do you dream about?”

  I pressed my head to his shoulder. “Us in different scenarios.”

  “Like running through a field of wheat or sitting on the beach?”

  “More intimate,” I mumbled into his skin.

  He chuckled. “You mean like me fucking your brains out and making you unravel.”

  I sighed. “Something like that.”

  “I’m surprised you would admit it.”

  I raised my head to look at Austin. “Why?”

  He tucked a curl of my golden hair around my ear. “You’re still guarded with me. You don’t want to be vulnerable.”

  “I’m trying not to be. You’re one of the few people I can show my human side to.”

  Austin pursed his lips. “You can do it with others. It’s okay to be vulnerable sometimes.”

  I shook my head. “Not in business. It makes you appear weak, especially for a woman.”

  “I don’t think that’s the case.”

  “How is it in academia?”

  “There’s competition, but not as fierce.”

  “Does it bother you?”

  The pillow rustled as he shook his head. “Not really. I’m laid back as you can see. Some are not.”

  I placed my hands on either side of his shoulders so I could lift my upper body off his. “I imagine having money in the bank helps.”

  Austin knitted his eyebrows together. “That doesn’t mean I give up my integrity because I have a failsafe. I like what I do. I enjoy teaching,” he growled.

  “You don’t have to get defensive.”

  “I’m not being defensive. I just want you to know not everyone needs the high power the position of CEO brings.”

  I raised my voice. “So, what are you saying? I need to be able to wield power over everyone?”

  I felt his slightly shrinking cock twitch inside me and begin to grow again.

  He lifted his head and stroked his tongue over my left nipple. “I love when you talk about dominating the room. It’s such a turn on.”

  “You’re impossible.”

  He grabbed my hips and thrust upward.

  “Dammit Austin. You’re going to make me late.”

  “You should have gotten off me then. It’s too late now. I need to fuck you once more to hold me over for the day.”

  I struggled to move from his body. “What about if I don’t see you tonight?”

  He quickly rolled me under him and began to slam into me. How I loved when he fucked me hard. “Tell me, you’ll see me tonight.”

  “I’m not sure if I can,” I panted.

  He slowed his pace until he was barely moving. I lifted my pelvis, but he held me down with his body.

  “Don’t stop,” I pleaded.

  His lips curled up in a wicked grin. “Then say you’ll see me tonight and mean it.”

  “I’ll see you. I promise.”

  My brain was
in a fog, and I needed him to make me come. Austin made me weak, especially when he had his dick deep inside me. He picked up his rhythm, speeding along as he reached between us and rubbed my clit. I came while crying out his name before he joined me with his own release.

  He held me for a few minutes while he planted soft kisses around my face. It was almost too much, and I wanted to admit I was in love with him too, but I held off. I wanted to keep that knowledge close to the cuff. I still had some trust issues, especially after what Ivan did to me. I gave him everything, and he shit on me.

  Austin played with the handle of his white mug. “You don’t need your car service all the time. I can take you.”

  I looked at my watch. “Finish your coffee; my driver will be here soon.”

  “You didn’t answer me?”

  I took a sip from my travel mug. “I don’t want you to drive all the way downtown, and then battle traffic to get to USC.”

  “I don’t have to be at USC until nine. I have plenty of time. I would love to spend some of that time having your perfume fill up my car.”

  “I need to get my head in the game.”

  “And I’m a distraction?”

  I gripped the edges of the cold counter. “Yes. You have a way of making me lose my train of thought.”

  “What about if I promise not to touch you?”

  “I’d say I don’t believe you.”

  Austin got off the stool at the breakfast bar and came around the counter to me. “You would be right. Control is what I have very little of when I’m around you. I can understand why Gavin got in trouble.”

  “Who’s Gavin?”

  “The professor I was telling you about. He was the same way with Kat. He couldn’t control himself around her. I’m glad you’re not my student.”

  “Maybe I’ll take one of your classes. I could use an activity at night.”

  He gave me a lopsided grin. “You already have an activity. Do you not?”

  “Are you referring to sex?”

  “Indeed, I am.”

  Austin bent down and latched his mouth on mine. I breathed in his coffee, laced breath as we kissed. His hands roamed my body, and he started to unbutton my white blouse. I quickly backed away.

  “Enough, Austin,” I growled.

  The pinched look on his face told me I hurt him as I rounded the counter to retrieve my travel mug. He said nothing as he picked up his duffel bag next to his chair.

  My stomach churned. I wanted to apologize. “Austin?”

  “No.”

  “I’m not rejecting you. I’d like nothing more than to spend the day in bed making love, but I have a meeting, and my driver should be here in a few minutes.”

  As I was speaking the words, I heard the horn beep outside, indicating it was time to go.

  “Time to go play master of industry. Enjoy your day.”

  He walked through the living room and to the front door.

  “No kiss?”

  “I’m too distracting, remember?”

  “You’re being ridiculous.”

  “I love you, Sam. I’ll see you tonight.”

  I almost told him I loved him to, but I held back as he closed the door behind him. Shit, why the fuck can’t you just bend once in a while? It was something I would need to work on in the coming weeks, or I had a feeling I would lose Austin.

  As soon as I was in the car, and my driver pulled out of the long driveway, I looked back at Austin as he stood there watching me. He was like a breath of fresh air in my life, and I smiled to myself. I needed him.

  My meeting was beyond boring, and my mind drifted to Austin several times. I could think of nothing more than spending time in his bed as the director across from me droned on about our next production. I nodded several times to let him know I was paying attention when I was not. This was information I already discussed. I managed to escape an hour later from the conference room without passing out from boredom.

  As I booted up my laptop, Marina buzzed my office.

  I hit the intercom on my phone. “Yes?”

  “You have a delivery.”

  I didn’t have time to run to the desk. “Do me a favor and sign for it.”

  Her voice was full of excitement. “Are you sure you don’t want to?”

  “Marina, what’s the problem?” I grumbled.

  “It’s from a florist.”

  I cleared my throat. “Excuse me?”

  “A florist. Someone sent you flowers.”

  “I’ll be right out.”

  It wasn’t a wonder who would send me flowers. The problem was it would send tongues wagging. I knew my staff considered me an unfeeling bitch. Who would bother sending someone like me flowers? I came out of my office to the smiling face of Marina.

  “They’re at reception.”

  I walked down the long hallway and was greeted by the delivery man who was dressed in a blue uniform. He held a large crystal vase in his hand with clear cellophane wrapped over two dozen red roses. A card was taped to the front. There was no way I would be able to carry it back to my office. I signed the electronic clipboard he handed me.

  “Can you help me carry these back to my office?”

  “Sure.”

  I felt his eyes travel over my body and settle on my face. It made me uncomfortable, but it’s one of the reasons I wore non-descript clothing. My face was enough of an attraction without the distraction of my body. Marina opened her eyes wide as we passed by, and a wide smile broke out on her lips. I ignored her, leading the delivery man inside my office.

  After he placed the roses on the corner of my large glass desk, I gave him a ten-dollar tip. “Can you please shut the door on your way out?” I asked.

  He nodded, tipping his blue hat. “Yes, ma’am.”

  I winced at the reference since it made me feel old. “Thank you.”

  In the privacy of my office, I removed the white card from the envelope to read.

  * * *

  Samantha,

  * * *

  You can try to push me away, but I’m not going anywhere. Please accept these as a token of my devotion and love.

  * * *

  I love you,

  * * *

  Austin

  * * *

  I broke out in a wide grin as I put the card to my nose. It had the scent of Austin’s cologne. He had it as bad as I did, even if I hadn’t admitted it. I was in love with him. I kept saying it over and over in my head before I was once again disturbed by the buzzing of my intercom.

  “Yes?”

  Marina’s sing-song voice came over the line. “Mr. Jindal is on line two.”

  “Thank you.”

  I rarely spoke to Hassan and three times in such a short span had me wondering what really was going on with the Sunny Sky Studios deal.

  I placed the card on the desk in front of me before I picked up the receiver. “Hassan, what can I do for you?”

  “Dinner - tonight with the CEO of Sunny Sky. This deal is moving along at a faster speed than I anticipated.”

  I almost groaned. “Do you need me?”

  “Of course. You said you wanted to be involved in all aspects. I’m involving you, and now you want to beg off?”

  “I had plans for tonight.”

  “Well break them because this is important. Jameson Wentworth wants to meet you.”

  I sighed. “Fine. I’ll break them.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  I stroked my fingers over the card on my desk. “Not at all.”

  “Dinner is set for seven at Fusion.”

  “I’ll be there.”

  “Bring your game face.”

  “That’s my plan.”

  I hung up feeling deflated from my good mood. The last thing I wanted was a stuffy meeting with the CEO of a company we were looking to take over. Hassan could’ve handled it on his own, but I opened my big mouth and told him I wanted to be involved. Of course, it was before I knew Austin was in love with me and admitted to
myself, I was in love with him.

  I wasn’t sure if he was in class, but I wanted to thank him for the roses. I got up to remove the cellophane. My office immediately began to fill with the scent of the flowers. After I sat back down, I dialed Austin’s cell, planning on leaving a message to his voicemail, and was surprised when he answered.

  He answered on the first ring. “Did you get my delivery? Is that why you’re calling?”

  I picked up his card from the desk, holding it to my nose. “I thought you had class?”

  “I’m on office hours right now.”

  “No hot young females vying for your attention?”

  “There is only one hot young female whose attention I want, and I’m talking to her right now.”

  I looked up at the vase. “The flowers are beautiful and too much. A rose would’ve been enough.”

  “One rose couldn’t possibly tell you how much in love I am with you. Even two dozen doesn’t.”

  “I’m sure my employees are chattering among themselves. Who would possibly send the ice queen roses?”

  “Let them talk. They don’t know you like I do.”

  I chewed on my bottom lip. “I’m not sure we can get together tonight.”

  Silence. Exactly what I didn’t want. I waited for him to speak.

  “You promised, but I understand.”

  “We’re negotiating for an animation studio. I was roped into dinner with the CEO. I’m hoping my reputation precedes me on this one.”

  “Why?”

  I sighed. “Because it will save me the aggravation. If Jameson Wentworth knows I mean business, then small talk will be out of the way. I don’t make small talk when it comes to negotiations. I want to get right to it.”

  “Maybe negotiations would be easier if you let people in.”

  “In business, that is non-negotiable.”

  Austin chuckled. “As opposed to the bedroom?”

  “I let you in.”

  “You didn’t this morning.”

  I drummed my fingers on the desk. “That was sex not letting you in.”

  “I wanted to love you.”

  “By seducing me in my kitchen?”