by Alycia Brown
“Are you crazy?” I spat. “Thirty-two thousand dollars for a week of work?!”
His full lips smiled, spreading his perfect cupid’s bow of an upper lip. “It’s a sign on bonus. It’s very common in corporate America. I thought we’d discussed it?”
“Nope.” I crossed my arms, unsure of why I was so angry with him giving me all this extra money. I should’ve shut my mouth and thanked him. Instead my ego stepped up to bat. “I’d have remembered something like that.”
“You’re dissatisfied with the amount?” He asked. “You want…more?”
This man was crazy.
“It’s not about the amount.” Okay, so maybe a little. “I want to know why. Why are you being so good to me?”
I had to know. Was it all out of guilt? Out of spite? Or was this chemistry between us actually there and not just a figment of my imagination?
“So let’s get this clear, the amount is okay?” He said, and I picked up a hint of facetiousness in his tone. “I’m more than willing to give you more. Just name your price, Alexis, and I’ll give it to you.”
I marched up to his desk and lowered my gaze to his. He looked so smug and so fucking sexy at the same time in his gray suit and skinny blue tie. His dark hair was combed and parted on the side, and he smelled like sex on fire.
“The amount is fine,” I said through gritted teeth, fighting off the burning warmth between my thighs that set in the second we locked eyes. “I want to know why you’re doing all this?”
Ronan stood up, smoothing his hand down his tie and walking around his desk until we were mere inches apart. I stood up, squaring my shoulders as his gaze burned into my soul.
“Because maybe deep down, when you get the bottom of everything,” he said, lifting his hand to my jaw and running his thumb along my full, bottom lip. “I’m a man who knows how to get exactly what he wants, and Alexis, I want you.”
I knew it. Ronan Pratt, diamond billionaire, wants me.
“We’ll you’re not getting me, Mr. Pratt.” My body wholeheartedly disagreed with my words. “Not today. Not ever.”
His hands fell to the curve between my breasts and he smirked, his eyes falling to my cleavage and then running slowly back up to my gaze. “My, my, Alexis. Look at how your body responds to the way I touch you, to the way I look at you.” He leaned in, breathing me in slowly and intently. “I can almost hear how hard your heart is pounding in your chest right now, Alexis. And your breathing, you haven’t caught your breath since you set foot in here.”
“My body and my mind may be at war,” I said, “but my mind always wins.”
“Does it, Alexis?” he leaned in, grazing his lips over top of mine. I hated that I wanted him to kiss me.
“Always.” I swallowed as I told the biggest lie of my life. “You can’t have me. Mr. Pratt.”
“Call me, Ronan,” he groaned. “I’m not your boss. I’m not your superior. In this moment, I’m just a red-blooded man staring at a beautifully fuckable woman plotting all the ways in which he can get her to scream out his name in the next five minutes.”
My heart thumped in my ear, and my eyes fell to his mouth. Ronan’s hand reached up, gripping the back of my neck as he leaned in to claim my mouth once and for all.
Only he wasn’t just claiming my mouth, he was claiming me.
The force of Ronan’s kiss pressed me up against his desk, and within seconds his hands were searching the front of my blouse, undoing each pearl button with an unstoppable fervor as our tongues danced hungrily. When his mouth left mine and headed south for my breasts, I released a baited breath and let my head fall back. His tongue, his mouth, his hands. They were all over me. Every inch of me.
And I fucking loved it.
He ripped my blouse off and tossed it across the room, his hands heading toward his belt buckle next. But it wasn’t happening fast enough. I leaned forward, unzipping his pants as his belt flew open. Ronan’s cock was rock solid, bulging out of his designer boxer briefs and raging and ready to go. His fingers reached beneath my skirt, pulling my silk panties off and tossing them across the room where they landed on top of an office plant.
My eyes darted to the door. Was it locked? I wasn’t sure. I would die if anyone walked in on us. My reputation would be soiled forever.
“Stop,” Ronan breathed. “Stop fucking thinking about whatever you’re thinking about.”
It was as if he knew – that’s how in tune he was with me. A man who could read my mind could probably read my body like a book. A warmth tingled between my slick thighs and a smiled curled across my lips.
Ronan pulled a condom from his pants pocket and ripped the packet with his perfect teeth, his eyes never leaving mine. Sheathing is monster, he grabbed my thighs and pulled me closer to him, toward the edge of his desk. I leaned back on my elbows, parting myself and waiting impatiently for him to take me.
With one hand gripping the base of his cock, he pressed the head into my entrance, pushing it in one tantalizing inch at a time. I reached forward, my fingernails digging into the flesh of his outer thighs as if to silently cue to him that I was ready to accept him – all of him. Every last inch.
One big thrust and Ronan was completely inside me, filling me and pressing against my walls. I squeezed against him, providing friction with every plunge. As soon as he was headed into a natural rhythm, he lifted my legs over his shoulders and went deeper than I ever knew possible.
“Oh, God!” I screamed out. “Ronan!”
“Shhh….” Ronan placed his hand over my mouth and flashed a sexy grin. The weight of his stare quieted my words, but on the inside, I was still screaming with pleasure. “You don’t want to get us caught.”
My gaze switched from the ceiling tiles above to the beautiful oasis that was Ronan’s intense stare. I could see the ripple of his muscles beneath his suit jacket, his shoulders rolling with each plunge. I only wished I could see the rest of him, but I supposed quickies were quick for a reason.
My sex burned with pleasure and a ripple of intense electricity began coursing through my body and heading between my thighs. I couldn’t hold off any longer. I bit my lip and closed my eyes, concentrating on the sound our bodies made when they came together coupled with the faint groans escaping Ronan’s sexy mouth.
His pumps grew harder, faster, and I relaxed my body and welcomed the wave of ecstasy as he dumped himself into me with five hard thrusts. He crumpled on top of me when it was over, our bodies slightly sticky and stupid smiles on our faces.
TWELVE – RONAN
My only regret was that we didn’t have more time. That and a girl like Alexis is worth more than a quick fuck on top of my desk. She deserved a five star hotel, 600 thread count sheets, and a bottle of champagne chilling on ice for when we’re all done.
But it all happened so fast, and none of it was planned, so…
My grandfather’s words echoed in my mind, haunting me and threatening me. His rules had always been clear from the get go, and I’d watch him go after countless employees and family members who had violated his policies. He’d completely disowned my uncle Richmond after he slept with his secretary.
“We’re going to have to be careful,” I said, watching Alexis pull her blouse over her shoulders and hastily button it up. “We can’t do this at work anymore.”
“Not a problem.” She flicks her ebony hair over her shoulder. “It was a one time thing anyway.”
“It was?” Her body sure had me fooled.
“I just needed to get you out of my system.”
“I was in your system?” I smooth my tie flat and take a seat in my desk chair, my gaze never leaving her hourglass curves. I can still feel the way her body felt against mine, how deep and wet she was for me as I fucked her tight pussy.
“Maybe.” She seems uncomfortable with my interrogation. Her eyes shift to the floor.
“Did it work?” I ask, a smirk claiming my face.
“Did what work?”
“Am I out of y
our system?”
My phone buzzed. “Mr. Pratt, you have a caller on line one. Midwest Suppliers. They want to talk about the last shipment.”
“Put them through,” I ordered.
Before I had a chance to say anything further to Alexis, she disappeared behind my office door.
“This is Ronan Pratt,” I said, picking up the phone. I twist my chair toward the window, wearing the smile of a highly satisfied man.
She’ll be back.
THIRTEEN – ALEXIS
I locked myself in my office the rest of the day, only coming out at three o’clock for a mandatory staff meeting.
Shit got all kinds of complicated the second I laid back on Ronan’s desk and silently willed him to take me. And it wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy it. Oh, God, I enjoyed it. But enjoying being fucked by the one man who makes my blood boil makes my anger a bit complicated.
“Good afternoon,” Ronan said as I walked in. I took the seat furthest away from him, and I was quite sure my thoughts were being broadcasted across my forehead for the rest of the room to see. “Come in, everyone. Take a seat. Let’s get started.”
The last of the staff members rush in and slap their pens and notebooks against the conference table before plopping into rolling chairs.
“Winthrop, can you shut the door please?” Ronan directed. “I’m dropping our old PR firm in lieu of an in-house team.”
Silent gasps fill the small space.
“We’re big enough that we can have our own team,” he says. “I’m in the process of hiring a company to scour the nation and bring me one of the best PR professionals they can find. I’m willing to pay top dollar, and that person will be our vice president of public relations as well as lead the marketing department.”
“The marketing department?” Winthrop squeals. He’s a portly man with an affinity for neon pink bow ties and wears a suit in a different shade of gray each day. He’s fun, flamboyant, and heavily opinionated. “I’m sorry, Mr. Pratt, but we’ve always used the Fullerton Agency for our outside PR. They’ve been great to us. We’ve had no issues with them. And PR and marketing are two entirely different beasts.”
“I agree,” I chipped in.
All eyes fell to me, and Ronan’s jaw flexed. “Ms. Turner, with all due respect, you’re in charge of our creative division. You’re a designer. Please let Winthrop and I and his marketing team discuss the PR changes.”
He turned back to Winthrop, sending my blood into an instant boiling rage. How dare he speak to me in front of his staff like that! My cheeks burned red hot.
“As I was saying, Winthrop,” Ronan continued. His body was leaning away from me, but his gaze was locked into mine.
“I have ideas too, Mr. Pratt,” I said, spitting, “Ronan.”
He stopped speaking and cocked his head to the side.
“You forget I used to run my own company?” My body begins to shake, as if it’s trying to summon all the strength I have and push the fear deep down where it can’t come out. “The one you destroyed. I’m familiar with what it takes to run a company, even if it’s on a much smaller scale. And I agree with Winthrop that Marketing and PR are two different departments. The new PR person shouldn’t need to govern over Winthrop’s department.”
Winthrop flashed me an appreciative yet satisfied smile as the rest of his team cowered like fearful idiots in Ronan’s presence.
“I’m well aware of your former company, Ms. Turner. You feel the need to remind me about it every chance you get.” Ronan squared his shoulders as he pulled in a sharp breath.
I saw red. Those were fighting words.
“If you’re going to continue to punish me for that, then perhaps we’re not exactly on the same page,” he continued. “We can meet about it privately after the meeting is over. I’m sure we can come to a mutually satisfying agreement. In the mean time, Ms. Turner, I ask that you not undermine me in front of my staff.”
I can’t let go. I can’t let go of the hurt and pain and anger that defines me every minute of every hour of every day. What is my soul worth? I can’t put a dollar amount on my life’s work. On my happiness.
Tears filled my eyes. “Excuse me.”
I bolted out of there before anyone, before Ronan, had a chance to stop me. And as if I was racing against the clock, I collected my things from my office and hightailed it back to my apartment.
I spent most days straddling the line between wanting to jump his bones and wanting to clock him across the face. It was exhausting, and it had to end.
FOURTEEN – ALEXIS
I woke later that night with dried tears sticking to my cheeks and someone pounding on my apartment door. I peeled myself off my couch and squinted my eyes at the clock on the wall. It was seven o’clock.
Who the hell’s pounding on my door?
I knew it wasn’t Monique. She was always with Hector that time of night.
“Coming,” I yelled, stopping short to straighten out my hair in a mirror by the door.
With my brain still in a fog, I peeked through the peephole only to see my boss. At least, I was pretty sure he was still my boss. I wasn’t quite sure if storming out of a meeting after telling your boss off and going straight home was the equivalent of quitting.
“Alexis.” His voice came through the door. I drew in a breath, cleared my throat, and smoothed over my dark hair before pulling the door wide. “You’re home.”
“Where else would I be?” I arched a brow and prayed to God I didn’t have any wrinkles on my face from having buried it in a pillow all afternoon. I’m sure my eyes were swollen to hell, but there was no hiding that.
“Can I come in?” He walked in, refusing to give me time to answer him.
I closed the door behind him and immediately crossed my arms. “Can I help you? I know this isn’t normally the part of town you hang out in, so you must have something on your mind.”
Ronan walked toward me, invading my space and sending a small tremor through my body. I tightened my resolve and ignored the way my body caved to his presence. “What’s that.”
He motioned toward a pile of suitcases and small tote boxes stacked in the corner. In a fit of emotions, I’d pulled them out and started packing when I got home earlier. After a while, I got tired, threw myself down on the couch, cried it out, and passed out.
“I’m thinking about moving back to Stone Mountain,” I said. “It’s where I’m from. My parents are there.”
“But you have a job in New York that starts next month,” he argued. “I need you in New York, Alexis.”
“You don’t need me, Ronan.” I sighed. “You never did. You only wanted me. You bled me dry, emotionally, physically, and then tried everything in your power to make it up to me.”
My gaze lands on the floor, and I focus on the shiny, unscuffed tops of his black shoes. They must have cost a fortune, but to him it was probably a drop in the bucket. Like shopping at K-Mart.
“You gave me the job, the title, the car, the bonus,” I said, shaking my head. “And at the end of each night, when it was just me, laying in bed with my thoughts, I still wasn’t happy.”
“What do you want me to do, Alexis?” His face morphed into a frustrated scowl. “I want you to be happy, and yes, fuck, I want you too. But admit it, you want me just as bad.”
I covered my face with my hands, crying into them for a moment before wiping away the tears. They were gone as quickly as they were there. I couldn’t have him thinking I was too weak, but then again, I was only human.
“Yes, Ronan. I want you too, but I don’t want to want you.”
“I can’t give you your store back,” he breathed, stepping closer to me. His hands found my face, lifting it to meet his. Our mouths were mere inches apart, though they were separated by the scorn and frustration oozing from my every cell. “But tell me what I can do, Alexis. Tell me how I can make this better. Tell me what I need to do for you to forgive me, to give me a chance.”
It wasn’t everyday that a
n attractive billionaire was begging for me to give him a chance. I smiled through the wave of hindrance that claimed me. “Why do you like me?”
“You’re smart. Independent. Sassy,” he began, “stubborn. Sexy. Talented…”
I smiled. It felt good to hear those things even if it did twist me into a contorted mix of confusion.
“I’m not letting you move to Stone Mountain, Alexis. You’re coming to New York with me, next month.”
“I don’t like being bossed around.”
He lifted his hand to a tendril of hair next to my face, twisting it around his fingers before letting it fall over my shoulder. “I am your boss. At least for now. Maybe someday we’ll be working side by side. Until then, I call the shots.”
“That’s not the way I operate.”
“Clearly,” he smirked. “But you’re teachable. You can learn the way I like things just as well as I can learn the way you like things.”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re not talking about work right now.”
“Because you’re smart.” He flashed a half smile. “Which is one of the reasons I have to have you.”
Ronan pressed his mouth against mine and our tongues swirled. Heat seared between my legs at warp speed. As long as Ronan was touching me, tantalizing me, and telling me everything I’d ever wanted to hear, I was as good as powerless.