by Xyla Turner
“Deserving, sweetheart.” He kissed my lips. “You’re good at what you do. It’s well deserved.”
I smiled a watery smile and whispered, “Thank you for everything.”
“I did nothing.” He smirked. “Mum, however, might take credit for this somehow.”
At that, I burst out laughing.
“Hey! No sex in my car!” The cabbie yelled back to us.
“Not having sex mate, just prepping her for it,” Noah yelled back.
Oh shit.
I hit Noah on the chest, and he chomped down on his teeth as if he were going to bite me.
“I got something for your hands when we get back. Last night, I tied them up but tonight, for every hit you give me, I’ll give you five... on your arse.”
A pool of arousal seeped into my panties at the threat. Then, I leaned in and whispered against his lips, “Promise?”
“Bloody hell!” He hissed and squeezed my ass. “Fuck yes!”
“Shit, Noah!” I moaned.
As promised, Noah had both of my wrists tied to the bedpost with my naked body draped over his knees. He spanked my ass ten times, then three more times for good measure and one touch of his fingers had me coming all over them.
“Yes, Noah.” I moaned.
“Say it again.” He growled through clenched teeth. “Say my name.”
“Noah...” I sighed.
This got me an insertion of one finger. Then another and another until I was coming again all over his hands. He used that same moisture to circle my forbidden tight hole, and I nearly jumped off his lap, mermaid style.
“Relax, Love.” He coaxed me. “It’ll feel good.”
He continued his ministrations and the lightning that came down my spine had me bucking on his lap as if I was jolted by an electrical shock; but this one was called an orgasm from another planet. It was the third one that had Noah turning me over and fucking me until my thighs were jelly around his waist and his head was buried in my neck.
“Want this all the time.” He managed to say.
“Me too!” I whispered back and that’s all I really remember.
Chapter 9
Noah
I was addicted and even if there was a cure for it, I didn’t want the antidote to Maxine. I would rather be addicted to the feisty woman.
Fuck, but I was screwed.
She so readily invited me into her world and without a thought of anything, I just jumped in. Eyes wide open and with both feet. Hell, she was excited that Zora Black knew her, and I was impressed that Harvey heard of me. I’m from London, but from what I’d known about the owner, he used to be a hell of a player and a world traveler in his heyday of being on teams.
The day after the dinner, I spent my days working remotely, which proved to be quite efficient, except I couldn’t visit either hotel. However, it provided me the opportunity to utilize the Vice-President, who primarily dealt with the financial side of the business. He needed to be more involved with the daily dealings of the hotels. He probably wasn’t comfortable with that, but it was necessary if we were going to expand into the States. It was a fact of life for the future of our group.
My phone rang, showing on display, Richard Roundtree. He was an annoying and opportunistic member of the Wolfe Group.
“Hello Mate!” He greeted. “Heard you were in the States. Learn anything new?”
“Richard?” I groaned in annoyance. “You know what I’m doing. What’s the call for?”
He scoffed and said in his proper manner, “You’re still there?”
“I am.” I replied.
“Well, are you ever coming back?” He asked.
“I know what I’m doing.” I barked into the phone. “Do you have a particular question?”
Silence met me over the line, then Richard commented with a tightly measured tone, “The Group doesn’t seem to know what you are doing.”
“Even after explaining everything with a presentation, timeline, and a website that’s updated daily with progress?” I noted. “Tell them to refresh the page.”
Then, I hung up the phone because my time could not be wasted on a group that didn’t lift one finger to expand the hotels but sat back, gave their uneducated opinions, and watched my father drain the account on frivolous pursuits. There would be a bloody cold day in Hades before I would succumb to their rule. Mum thought they were fool-hearty and never wanted to deal with them. Father thought he was manipulating them, but I believe it to be the other way around.
Maxine and I arrived at the game much earlier than we needed. She wanted to get a lay of the land. Harvey met up with us an hour later to show us around. Then, we positioned ourselves at the front where people received tickets. We went to the concessions, and the expensive seats, then the nosebleeds. Maxine had us entering both the women and men’s loo and walking around the entire stadium twice. Just with that walkthrough, Harvey was able to pick out several things he wanted to change or update. He hadn’t even heard Maxine’s proposal. The second part of the game, we sat at court-side seats because Maxine wanted to get the customer’s view. Zora joined us and the woman was one hundred percent a Titan fan. She cheered louder than the cheerleaders. I believe she led almost every chant, yelled to players what to do, and even jumped out of her seat, yelling at the referees.
Maxine and I laughed the entire time. A few celebrities were among us and on both sides of the court. One couple caught Maxine’s eye, and she waved furiously at the woman.
“Love, who’s that?” I leaned into her and asked.
She leaned in and said, “That’s D’asia McFadden, a lawyer in New York. Her husband is the cute guy holding her. That’s Ryan McFadden, a New York detective. They run UNITE, a program that helps youth in the juvenile justice system stay out of trouble. They hit national news, but I know D’asia because she did some research a while back for her dissertation. They’re very cool.”
The game progressed and with two minutes left, a player from the other team hurt themselves. Well, the poor chap fell down with a grab of his ankle. Zora was up, yelling, “Come on Ref. He does this every game!”
Laughter rang out and someone pulled her down to sit, because the referee gave her a pointed look. By the time the game was over, Harvey was back by her side, whispering in her ear. According to the look on her face, which is known all too well, her arse was going to get spanked. Delight and wonder would be the words to describe her features. Those very same expressions had filled Maxine when I shared with her that I was not above turning her over my knee.
We spent another hour with Harvey, since they watched the patrons and fans leave the stadium and then the actual arena.
Afterward, as Zora and Maxine chatted, Harvey approached me and said, “Saw you were looking to expand to the States.”
My back straightened a bit because Maxine hadn’t even known this fact, but it seemed Harvey did his homework with potential business partners and their significant others.
Smart.
Very smart.
Have dinner, bring who you want, and see where your priorities lie and who is considered close.
“Yes, I’m here on business.” I nodded.
“From what I hear.” He tilted his head towards Maxine and continued. “What I see. Thinking a new partnership with an exclusive hotel might be a worthy investment. How long are you in town?”
Without thinking, I answered, “Another few days.”
“Great.” He pulled out his card from the breastplate of his suit and said, “Here’s my card. Yours?”
He held out his hand as I nabbed mine from the inside of my jacket pocket.
“I’ll have my secretary make the arrangement,” he said while capturing the number from my card. “Within the next few days.”
Wow, I came out here for one thing, but turned into talking business with Harvey fucking Black. Now, that would shut the group up.
We finished our conversations, rejoined the women, and then dispersed with Harvey having a planni
ng meeting that would include proposals within the next week. The man was used to getting what he wanted, but I could also tell they are both fiercely passionate, dedicated to their work, and loyal. I wasn’t a basketball bloke, but even I knew the call was bad, yet Zora stood up and yelled at the referee. Who wouldn’t want a woman like that?
On the ride home, Maxine asked what Harvey and I talked about.
“Since you must know, he wanted to talk about a future business venture.” I shared with her.
She was sitting on the other side of the limousine that Harvey insisted take us to her home or wherever we were going. That’s how he put it. I wasn’t sure why she was sitting so far away, but I let her have that because I was also reeling from the turn of events.
“Does this have anything to do with the hotel that your group is venturing out in Philadelphia?” She asked.
My body grew tight as I realized she also knew. Who told her? It wasn’t a secret. Hell, it was in the bloody papers, but I should have told her.
“Yes.” I answered.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” She asked with all emotion erased from her tone.
This was the business Maxine, the closer. The woman who stood before me during our first meeting at my mum’s restaurant.
“Do you have to be over there?” I asked with a hand gesturing to the distance.
“Are you going to answer me?” She asked, voice just as stoic.
Bloody hell.
“Yes, that’s the one.” I said while leaning forward.
Maxine remained where she was at and didn’t make a move to even acknowledge my comment.
“Why not tell me?” She asked. “Was it a secret? Is that why you really came here?” She asked with a disconnected tone.
Those words had me moving next to her in the limousine.
“How could you think that?” I grabbed her hands. “Why would you say that? I told you why I came. I’m here. I didn’t tell you because I wanted the details to be finalized. I wanted everything to settle. It wasn’t a secret.” I pleaded with her hands cold and lifeless in my mine.
Maxine continued to look at me, but she wasn’t seeing me. I could tell she was removed.
“Love?” I said and she winced.
Bloody hell, she winced as if it pained her to hear me call her that.
“What is happening?” I asked in a more reserved tone.
“I’m going to sleep at my house, and you’re going to stay at the hotel or wherever you’re staying. Okay?” I went to object, but she held up her hand. “Give me that Noah. Please. Just tonight, I want to be alone.”
Oddly enough, the car came to a stop, and she continued to stare at me. I flew all the way over here to be with her, and she was trying to tell me not to. I didn’t want to leave her alone, but I also knew that she was not ready. She needed to process, not just the day, but what she perceived. In one more effort to try, I said, “You get that tonight. The rest of the time I’m here. You don’t. I did not share because I…” I sighed and looked towards the back of the limo. “This would be my first. Taking over someone else’s hard work and labor is one thing. Creating your own is another, and there is no one to blame for failure when it’s yours. I came here for you. I’m looking to be with you. I want you, Love. Period.”
Leaning in to kiss her head, I slid out of the limo and left, so she could have her time.
There was nothing happy about this move, as she was someone that I was growing to depend on. Hell, this week alone, growing to sleep with her by my side. One night of that had my chest aching for a loss. Something that felt permanent, I’d fight to the death. She was more, and if for no other reason why than being with her made me crazy with ownership. I never felt that, except with my Philadelphia hotel and her. These are items, I am very careful and private about. I didn’t share them with everyone, including the woman that had latched onto my life and was holding my heart hostage.
Chapter 10
Maxine
Talking about a night to remember. The biggest contract of my life and there I was with one sexy, hell of a man, and I was sending him home.
What in the world is wrong with me?
Self-sabotage? Guilt? Unworthy? I mean, what could it be? When I turned around and saw him talking to Harvey in hushed tones, I immediately thought, is this how deals work? The men make the decisions. Then, I scolded myself for thinking that of Harvey and Noah. They’ve both been nothing but stand up. Noah even hired me for crying out loud.
However, this whole notion of him keeping his hotel away from me. That stung. More than I cared to admit.
After voicing it to him and hearing that he had intentionally failed to inform me, I was pissed. Like how could a man, share my bed for almost a week, in my city, and fail to mention he had an entire business venture in the same city.
What the fuck was that?
I should have known Noah would not just let it go or me for that matter. I was reminded that it was Sheryl who laid the bait down for him and sure enough, the next day he was barging through my door.
Silly woman.
I crawled into bed that night, not feeling any closer to feelings of being justified. I was wrong and his parting words confirmed just that. After tossing and turning for a few hours, I sent a text with a blushing face to Noah.
Maybe it was to break the ice or the passive-aggressive way of apologizing. I wouldn’t find out until twenty minutes later when the banging on my door began.
Running down the stairs, I swore it was one of my neighbors having an emergency. I peeked through the hole and saw a looming, unidentifiable figure.
“Hello?” I called.
“Maxine?” It was rough, yet London growl.
Immediately, I unlocked the door and was swept up into Noah’s arms. I yelled at the suddenness of the movement, but Noah turned, locked the door, and carried me up the stairs.
There was no time for talking since the man didn’t say anything. Just proceeded to strip off my nightgown and bury his head between my legs. There was no sex, just Noah keeping me up and giving me orgasm after orgasm. With his mouth and fingers. He even played with backdoor area using a finger or two, making me cum and making me crave it.
Hell, around five in the morning, my throat was raw from yelling out each release, my bottom bits were sore and I was rung out. Emotionally and physically.
As I lay there on the edge of euphoric bliss, Noah held me and whispered, “Love?”
“Hmm?” I murmured.
“My apologies.” He said in a low voice. “Never want to disappoint you.”
I hummed an answer and fell asleep. It just felt really good to be tucked under him. With my heart at ease and everything working …
Holy shit!
I jumped up and saw the sun beaming through the drawn curtains. Wait, I was in my bed. The other side of the bed was disheveled, my lower regions were achy, and the smell of a brut man lingered in the room.
Where was he?
“Noah?” I called, sounding like I had swallowed a frog.
Rolling out the bed, I padded across the room.
It wasn’t until I was out my bedroom that I smelled food. Tiptoeing down to the kitchen, I saw Noah sitting at the island, a phone to his ear, an empty plate in front of him, and a mug with a tea bag inside.
His eyes met mine, then he waved me over to him while he kept talking. Once I was within arm’s length, Noah pulled me in further, landed a kiss on my forehead, and murmured, “Afternoon.”
His smile was so bright. I smiled and despite the achiness, I wanted more of what he did last night to put me asleep. Instead, I moved to the counter, where I saw a bag from Trader Joe’s. The receipt read chicken salad, bread, water, and gum. My head swiveled back to him, but he was talking and writing something down on my kitchen notepad.
He brought food?
So, I made a sandwich too, and when I went to sit down, he waved me back over. There, he pulled me against him, so my ass was in his crotch that had a grow
ing appendage. I ate my sandwich, drank the water, and when I was finished, I saw he wasn’t anywhere near finished with his call. Therefore, I slid to my knees and began to move the slit in his boxer briefs to the side.
At first, his eyes bulged down at me as I unearthed his steel dick. It was thick, long, and the purple-ish head told me of the strain the man was demonstrating as I interrupted his phone call with someone on the board.
“Fuck!” He hissed I wrapped my lips around the head and began to suck at the slit that leaked precum just for me.
“Apologies.” Noah said on the phone with a strained voice. “Something bit me.”
At that, I decided to use my teeth to scrap against the shaft. He groaned and tilted his head back, closing his eyes. I took that opportunity to try to swallow him, causing me to gag. I think the man’s phone dropped and he did nothing to retrieve it; so I kept going, bobbing up and down until his strong hand grabbed my head to guide me further down. After gagging a few more times, my lips briefly grazed the base of his dick. My throat was burning but looking at Noah’s expression made it all worth it.
Pure bliss. And amazement.
His phone began to ring while it was on the floor, but he kept guiding me up and down until he groaned, “I’m coming, Love.”
My fingers dug into his thighs as I pressed further into his center. The man got the hint because when he growled his release, I swallowed down every drop and licked him clean.
Noah leaned against the island, completely depleted. I stood up, sashayed to my bedroom, and entered the shower. I didn’t even get to be smug about leaving the man too weak to move because five minutes into the shower, Noah came in and began to show me who was really in charge. Right against the shower wall and then over the bathroom sink, where he held me up with his hands on my neck, making me look into the vanity mirror as he slid in and out of my wet heat. God, I came so hard watching his face buried in my neck, whispering sweet nothings and calling me Love. My legs spread for him as he rocked back and forth inside of me. I nearly passed out with the intensity of how we looked. Skin contrasting, his brows bunched together, my mouth open with moans of pleasure, my wet nipples pointed forward with arousal, and his large hand, spanning the width of my neck. It wasn’t hard, just firm and fucking sexy.