Kiss my Boss (Plot Twist, I'm Pregnant Book 1)

by Kelli Callahan

  “I would never let a woman walk alone in New York City; plus, I want to walk you home.”

  “I think you’re just curious as to who Brian is and why he was there.” I lifted my gaze from the sidewalk to him, and since Godrick walked next to me, I saw his profile. Not many people looked good from all angles but Godrick did. His dark hair and stubble on his chin seemed darker now in the night. His skin was pale, and for a second, he reminded me of one of those hulking vampires in paranormal romance novels.

  Why did I like that?

  “You caught me,” he said, staring up at the starlit sky. “What’s your story, Lucy Green?”

  I shoved my hands in the back pockets of my jeans and sighed, the air cooler than I thought when is saw the frozen cloud leave my mouth. It didn’t feel cold. I was still sweating from the scene at Poppies. “I’m pretty boring. There is nothing to tell.”

  “What happened back there is anything but boring.” He gave me a sideways grin, and it made me trip over my feet like a complete idiot. “Woah, you okay?”

  “I’m fine. It’s okay.” His hand was on my arm to make sure I didn’t fall, and he let it linger. I wanted to slide my hand through his arm, walk hand in hand, but I knew that would never happen. Godrick was being kind, and maybe he wasn’t kind to others, but with me, he seemed different.

  “Are you going to tell me, or am I going to have to hire a private investigator?”

  “Something tells me you would.” I nudged his side with my elbow, and somehow, we ended up walking closer together. Every step we took, our arms brushed against each other, and that fluttery sensation in my belly, the one teenage girl’s feel when a boy noticed them, made my heart liquefy from the warmth.

  “I would.”

  “That’s an invasion of privacy, you know.” We stopped at a coffee cart that was just packing up, and Godrick gave the man a fifty dollar bill. The older man seemed annoyed but glad he didn’t have to pour out the coffee from the pot.

  Godrick handed me a paper cup, steaming billowing from the hole in the lid. “Of course it is. I love invading privacy. When I want to know something, I want to know it. I don’t like to play games. I don’t believe in secrets.”

  “Interesting,” I said, blowing air on the coffee to cool it off.

  “Why is that interesting?”

  “Because you seem like a big bundled up pile of secrets. Coming from a guy who says he doesn’t believe in them, I don’t know; I find it interesting.”

  He spun around in front of me and started walking backwards. He licked his lips and grinned, showing his perfect square teeth. “How did you change the subject? I asked about you.”

  “I can’t get to know you either? If it is only a one-way street, then you are hiding something. I believe that is something you said you didn’t believe in. Secrets, is it?”

  “You’re sassy.”

  “It’s true.”

  “Your sass?”

  I shoved his shoulders a bit and chuckled. “Your secrets, you doof.”

  “Okay, okay. You tell me one thing I’ll tell you one, deal?”

  “That’s fair,” I muttered through a small smile as I brought the rim of the coffee cup to my lips. “What’s your favorite color?”

  “Really? That’s your go-to question? What are we, fifteen?” He was kidding, I could tell by the way he chuckled and laughed, his eyes roaming up and down my body, so I did the same to him. I could tell he was in shape by the way his tailored suit fit, but it was the bulge between his legs that caught my eye.

  Damn, that bulge was big.

  “Ouch.” I pulled the coffee cup away from my lips. I burnt my damn tongue, and it was all because of the package he carried between his legs. How did it show through his pants?

  “Blow,” he said.

  “I do. I just forgot.”

  “You blow, huh?”

  “Oh, who is fifteen now?” I giggled, and Godrick spun to his right until he was settled next to my side again.

  “I deserved that. And black,” he said. “Black looks good with everything.”

  Tossing my head back, I laughed so loud; it could have woken up the rats in the sewer. “Why aren’t I surprised? You look all dark and gloomy.”

  “That’s not nice. I am not dark and gloomy. Dark, maybe. Gloomy? Not on a sunny day, anyway.”

  My cheeks hurt from smiling so much. I never expected him to be funny. He seemed too serious for that with his bold black eyebrows and midnight irises, big imposing stature, and natural serious expression on his face.

  “Brian?”

  I groaned, not wanting to talk about him, but I made a deal. “I hate talking about him.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  “No, no. It’s okay. You deserve an answer for all the help you gave tonight. It’s the least I can do.” I pinched the bridge of my nose and took a deep breath, thinking back to the first time I met Brian. All the way back in high school. It was almost as if he and I didn’t happen, it was so long ago.

  Godrick rubbed soothing circles between my shoulders and the anxiety that buzzed through my system eased. “I met Brian in high school. It was one of those love at first sight things—oh, sorry—you don’t believe in that.”

  “Doesn’t matter what I believe. I’m listening to what you believe. That is what matters.”

  That was oddly sweet. “Anyway, I met Brian freshman year, and we dated all through high school, college, and after. I thought we would get married, but thinking back on it, it was only because we were together for so long. My first. Why start over? Blah, blah. Anyway, I caught him cheating on me. I walked right in my apartment and saw him screwing some other girl. Come to find out he had been cheating on me for years.”

  “Jesus, I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine how that must have hurt you. I hate that for you. I wish I could have done something for you. It really pisses me off when men act like that.” I could tell by the sound of his voice that it bothered him. His jaw ticked from how tight he had his mouth closed and his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. I didn’t understand why he cared so much, but I liked it.

  I liked his protective nature way too much.

  I lifted my left shoulder and shrugged. “It sucked, and while it was easy to get over him, it wasn’t easy to get over his actions. It hurt so much to know someone who claimed to love me would do that to me. Anyway, over the next year, he stalked me, sent me notes, flowers, candies, showed up at my job, a few times he got rough with me.”

  “He did what?” Godrick roared, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk. Luckily, no one was coming or going to run into us since it was so late.

  “It was kind of like tonight. He would grab me real hard and shake me to get my attention, but what made me get the restraining order was waking up in the middle of the night with him sitting on my bed staring at me. Logan applied to your job, we moved here, and I thought I’d be safe. I thought my life started over, and instead, it followed me. I don’t know how to get rid of him, Godrick. I don’t know what else to do.” My voice hitched, and the last thing I wanted to do was cry in front of him again. This man was my boss. “This is so embarrassing. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t ever be sorry for telling me about yourself. And if I can, I’ll talk to my friends at the local police department to see if anything more can be done about what happened tonight. I don’t want you to get hurt. You’re my responsibility now.”

  “You mean as your employee?” I asked, stopping in front of my apartment building. “This is me.” I pointed behind me and rocked on my feet.

  “You’re my responsibility now, Lucy. Mine.”

  The way he said it made me feel claimed. Whatever the hell he meant by it, my soul was stamped, sealed, and delivered. I was a goner.

  Chapter Eight

  Godrick

  The kiss Lucy placed on my cheek Tuesday night after I walked her home still burned almost a week later. I didn’t like how it made me feel; I wasn’t used to it. I had to take a st
ep back from her. She opened my heart up and wiggled her way in too easily. Honestly, it scared the shit out of me. I had nothing to offer a woman like Lucy, nothing good. Sure, I had money, but I wasn’t husband material.

  I wasn’t boyfriend material.

  Hell, I wasn’t even friend material.

  Now, fuck material? I’d fuck.

  It wouldn’t be enough with Lucy. That was something I knew to my core. Was that what love was? Wanting more than lust?

  “Mr. Stoneridge?”

  “Yes, Barbara?” I never took my eyes away from the computer screen. I did something stupid and typed in Lucy’s name in the search engine. I was a glutton for punishment apparently. She didn’t have any social media that most girls had these days. The only thing I could find on her was an article about her parents dying in a car accident when she was younger. Her brother was eighteen and took care of her. It really was just the two of them.

  “Your new personal assistant is here, Lucy Green?”

  “Send her in.” I exited out of all of the screens I had up on the computer to hide what I was doing. Right as the screen went black, Lucy walked through the door.

  “Godric—”

  “It’s Mr. Stoneridge, Ms. Green. Don’t forget that.” I buttoned the front of my suit as I stood, making sure not to make eye contact with her because if I did, the defenses I managed to place around me would crumble with one glance from those emerald gems.

  “Of course, I understand. It won’t happen again, Mr. Stoneridge. What can I get started on for you today?”

  My will broke, and I finally looked at her. She looked fucking beautiful today. Her hair was up, showing the silky skin of her neck. I wondered if she had freckles anywhere else besides her face. My cock hardened when I saw the tight emerald dress that hugged her body like a second skin.

  Men would be looking at her left and right. She couldn’t wear something like this. I wouldn’t make it through the day knowing men were drooling all over her. They would want her attention, and it made me feel like a king—no—a god that I had it. But Lucy wasn’t the type to notice that kind of thing.

  “You need to go change,” I stated simply, rummaging through pointless paperwork on my desk. “That dress is not appropriate for work.”

  “What’s wrong with my dress?” she glanced down at her body, pissed and agitated. “I’m not going all the way home to change.”

  “You won’t have to. I’ll give you money to go shopping for a new one. Have Barbara give you some cash on your way out.”

  The click of the door had me lifting my eyes, and her back was to me, her hands lying flat against it. Her shoulders rose, and then she rolled her neck to the left and right. “What’s your problem?”

  “Excuse me?” I asked, stepping around the desk. I leaned against it, crossed my arms, and waited for her to turn around.

  She turned so fast; I barely had time to register the finger poking my chest after she stomped forward in her baby pink heels. “Who the hell do you think you are telling me to change?”

  “I think I’m your boss, and I make the rules. If you don’t like the rules, don’t work here. It’s as simple as that.”

  “My dress is according to code. If you don’t like my dress, update your dress code. I’ll be at my desk if you need anything.” As she walked away from me, I wanted to reach out to her and pull her to me, to have her close like Tuesday night, but I knew I had to break whatever bond we shared. I had to.

  It was hard to think about though when her luscious hips swayed, and the curve of her ass made me want to lift the back of her dress, slam her against the wall, and fuck her within an inch of her life. It would be what she deserved, teasing me like this, keeping me up every single night with an aching cock and swollen balls full of come that belonged inside her.

  I came up behind her and wrapped my hand around hers on the doorknob, keeping her from leaving. I pressed my cheek against her head and inhaled. She was still warm from the sun and smelled like it too. “You think you’d have a case against me? Look at what you’re wearing; you’re practically tempting me.”

  “You arrogant son-of-a-bitch,” she hissed, spinning around, piercing me with those fairytale green eyes. Looking at her made me dive into another realm outside reality; her beauty was one of novels, the kind authors rambled on and on about. I never thought it actually existed, but here it was, her curved lips panting hot breaths against mine. I could take her mouth right now, sear it with the need my lips felt, show her what a real kiss felt like from a man who truly desired her. “You think you can do whatever you want because you are you? I welcome the challenge. And if you think this is the only dress I have that will ring your fucking bell, Godrick, your workdays are going to be filled with torture.”

  I clicked my tongue from the sound of my first name. I hated when everyone else called me that because my father loved for everyone to call him by his first name, but when she said my name, oh god, it made me my cock pulsate. “You don’t want to challenge me, Lucy. You will lose.” I placed one hand on the left side of her head, then the right, caging her in, and I leaned forward, smelling the sweet candy scent of her lip gloss. It smelt like cherry jolly ranchers—I wasn’t one to eat those, but right now, I had a sweet tooth for her lips.

  I bet I’d get addicted.

  One taste. One feel.

  And I’d be ruined.

  “It looks like you’re the one losing.” She lifted a brow as she scanned my body, landing on my erection. It almost touched her belly. I wasn’t just hard; I was raging.

  The air became stifling, hot, and humid, but the air conditioning blew without an issue. The sexual energy between us crackled, and a shadow on the other side of the door caused Lucy to jump.

  “Nervous?” I rubbed my jaw along hers, the rough scratch of my beard sounded like sandpaper on her flesh. The slight inhale of a sharp breath made me grin.

  “Not a chance,” she said, never taking her eyes off my cock.

  “See something you like?”

  With a determined expression on her face, she leaned in closer to me. “I see something I’m starting to despise.”

  “You’re lying to yourself, sweetheart.”

  “I am not your sweetheart, sweetheart.”

  Her feistiness caused precome to dribble into my pants and a wet spot spread on my thigh. I wasn’t ashamed. I knew that if I cupped her pussy right now, spread my fingers between her folds, she’d be drenched with need for me, her wet hole aching to be filled with my cock.

  “Ms. Green?” Barbara’s raggedy old voice was muted being on the other side of the door. “Are you in there, Ms. Green?”

  I pressed my finger against her lips to keep her quiet, and her eyes dilated as her lips parted. She flicked her tongue out, and the very tip grazed my finger. The small stroke had a direct line to my dick. It was like her mouth was sucking me down her throat. I was on the verge of coming in my pants, and if I did that, I was going to make her clean me up.

  With her mouth.

  “She isn’t here, Barbara. She went on an errand for me,” I said, cocking my head at Lucy. She never broke eye contact with me. “Isn’t that right?” my tone hushed against the shell of her ear.

  “Oh, alright. Do you need anything, Mr. Stoneridge?”

  “I’m all set, Barbara. I have everything I need right in front of me.” I sucked my bottom lip into my mouth, and Barbara’s shadow hobbled away, leaving me alone with this maddening woman again.

  “Why are you fighting me?” I questioned her. “You feel what is between us. I know you do.”

  “I felt more Tuesday night than I did right now. Right now, you’re proving yourself to be like every other man. I already have one stalker; I don’t need another.”

  I tsked, shaking my head with disappointment that she thought I’d be a stalker. I gripped her chin between my thumb and palm. “Stalkers are weak, Lucy. I’m not a weak man. Unlike a stalker, I don’t hesitate to take what I want.”

  �
��What? You like to play with your food?” She placed her hands on my chest and pushed, but I hardly moved. “Who am I kidding? I bet you like to chew it up and spit it out. I’m not going to be that for you. If you think for one minute that I’m going to be that for another—”

  I yanked her head back by the thick of her hair, and she whimpered, a high-pitched sound that told me she was turned on. “—Shut up, Lucy. Just shut up.” I couldn’t take it anymore, I smashed my lips against hers, hoping like hell all this build-up meant nothing, that I’d feel nothing and I could push her out this door and never think about her again.

  She shoved at my chest, making me break the kiss, and both of us were breathing hard, nearly gasping. “I want to hate you,” she said, her fingers digging into my shoulders.

  “No,” I shook my head. “No, you don’t.” She wished she could, but wishes didn’t come true that easily.

  “Shut up, Godrick. Just shut up.” She yanked me to her by the fabric of my shirt, violently pressing her lips against mine. The softness of her lips disappeared, and all I felt was the blunt force trauma of her angry lust. Her teeth nipped mine, and I didn’t hesitate to nip back. The taste of iron filled my mouth, and it only made my want for her grow, the need for her consuming.

  My fingers pulled her hair out of her clip until the red locks fell down her shoulders like a heavenly fire. I groaned against her mouth, and she responded by wrapping her legs around my waist. The hem of her dress lifted a few inches, and my hands touched the bare skin of her thighs, close to her ass.

  We rolled against the wall, knocking my degrees and plaques off and onto the floor. My back was against the wall this time, and I didn’t like to be in a position where I felt dominated. I flipped us again, and my erection fit between the space of her thighs perfectly, as if it was always meant to belong there. Our tongues dueled, fighting, lashing with temperamental confusion about what was happening right now.

  Something that shouldn’t be happening.

  Something that should be avoided at all costs.

  Something that could never happen again.