Christmas with Boss Brothers

by Amy Brent

  He shrugged. “I agree, that’s how I do business as well. I don’t sugar coat anything and I always get what I want in the end. Or at least close to it.” He stared at her hard. Good enough looking guy she had said. “Rebecca is a lovely girl, and running this company keeps me occupied.” He paused. “What about you Miss Jones. It seems only fair you be forced to bare your soul like I am.”

  She smiled at him. “I am not having someone write an article on me Mr. Meyers. But, in all fairness, I am not married because I tried it once and it was bad. I feel no need to try again.”

  She moved on. “I get you run this company, but don’t you ever want to enjoy anything? I mean you're locked up in here and no one ever sees you having any fun.” She stood and walked to the massive windows.

  He let his gaze rake over her once more, surprised to feel excitement as he looked at her. He stood then, moving beside her, both of them looking out over the city.

  “I don’t need to go out and have fun Dahlia. I am content in the way my life already is.” He could breathe in her scent and it was intoxicating. “Do you see the ridge over on the corner of Hardwick and St. James?”

  She nodded, frozen to the spot.

  “Well, I own everything between the two. There is a sense of responsibility in that which keeps me grounded. When you lose focus you lose the work you’ve put into things.”

  She turned to face him, her face inches from his. “Maybe you just need to multitask then.”

  “Perhaps your right Dahlia, perhaps you're right.”

  She moved back to the chair to resume the questions and they spent the rest of the hours discussing and debating his business moves. As he watched her leave, he found himself looking forward to the next meeting. She may be in control of the questioning, but if he had his way he would be in control of her in his bed soon enough.

  Dahlia

  She walked out of his office changed. She had gone into this with a sense of what an ass he could be but she had been unprepared for him. He was tall, and he was gorgeous which didn’t help to make her feel any more confident about this assignment. She had taken his mother’s advice to heart and given it back to him just as she had dished it out and he had laughed.

  Part of her wondered if he was judging her the entire time he was looking at her the way he did. It was unnerving and if it continued on tomorrow she would simply strip down and tell him that yes, she is a big girl. He was cold, and calculating and he seemed to have an answer to even her hardest questions, but she knew there was something deep down keeping him that way.

  She quickly called Judy to give her an update.

  “Ok, so I stayed for two full hours.”

  “Was he a jerk to you dear? I know he can be but he is a good man deep down.”

  “Actually I made him laugh.”

  “Well you are off to a good start then dear.”

  They laughed for a time and made plans for another lunch date later in the week. Dahlia felt good about her career for the first time in a long time. Things were definitely going smoother for her than anyone else who had tried.

  The next couple of days flew by and on the fourth day she arrived as usual and he frowned at her as she walked in.

  “Let me guess, this is a bad time right?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  “If I say yes will it matter?” He frowned as he dug through some paperwork on his desk.

  “I’m not a dictator, so yes.” She glanced up at him and waited.

  He scowled. “Just sit down I’ll be back in a minute.”

  She did as he asked and she reveled in her small victory. She was sitting with her feel curled under her when he came back. She was still watching him as he picked up a phone.

  “Figure it out Braden, I don’t have time for this BS, especially since you should have figured it out last month. Do it over the weekend if you have to?” He slammed the phone down into the receiver.

  He glanced over at her “What?”

  “You would probably get more out of people if you didn’t yell at them you know. Not to mention it’s a holiday weekend. Sunday is Easter, you can’t make someone work on a holiday. Don’t be that guy.” She rolled her eyes.

  “You know Dahlia, todays not the day to push me ok?” He ran a hand through his dark hair and she knew he was serious.

  “Fine, do you want to skip today? It’s close to 4 o’clock now anyway and I have things I can do on Friday night.” She was lying, but he didn’t need to know that.

  “No, no if we cancel today I’m just stuck doing this longer.”

  It stung, and she knew that was his intention. Even still she had gotten to know many of his quirks, but sometimes he surprised her. She picked up her book and glanced over the things she still wanted to write about, doing her best to not tell him what she was really feeling. Her day was equally bad, she’d only today found out her ex was seeing her best friend. Or who she thought was her friend anyway. They had been friends since 8th grade and now… She was feeling bad about herself and it wasn’t an area she visited often.

  “Since you’re the one in a mood, why don’t you tell me what is a good place to start today?”

  “Dammit, now I have to do your job too Dahlia?”

  It was too much. “You really are a jackass Meyers. I am trying my best here, but I didn’t do whatever has pissed you off so bad.” She shoved her book into her sling bag, standing as she did so. She grabbed her stuff off the floor and slung her jacket across her arm as she moved towards the office door.

  He stopped her, putting a hand on the door in front of her. “I’m sorry Dahlia.” His words were clipped.

  She stood there for another long moment before she looked up at him. He watched her intently.

  “What do you want me to do then Landon?” She crossed her arms and waited.

  “Nothing, I don’t want you to do anything at all.” He moved quickly, letting his hands moved under the back of her head to pull her mouth closer to his as he crushed it with a kiss.

  She felt her body respond to him quickly and she wasn’t sure exactly when it had happened, but she knew that caring about him was dangerous. She kissed him back, letting his mouth nip and hers and his hands twist in her hair roughly holding her head in place as he kissed her even deeper.

  No one spoke as he loosened her hair, letting it fall down her back. He tipped her head back, letting his mouth kiss the base of her neck and move lower until she felt the heat of his mouth across the top of her breasts.

  “I want you Dahlia.” He said it roughly and she let her eyes meet his.

  She nodded at him, no doubt her decision was one made out of her own angst from her day. Whatever her excuse for her recklessness she would figure it out later. For now, she just wanted to feel him, and the magic he made with his hands on her skin. She walked backwards as he moved in front of her until they were near his couch. He quickly pulled her dress up and over her head as she undid the buttons on his shirt.

  She was standing in front of him in only her bra and panties, the black lace of both accenting her pale skin even more as he kissed her, pushing her back onto the couch. He looked at her taking her in, as he slowly began to let his hands move over the curve of her hip and up to cup one breast in his hand. She smiled at him as he moved his mouth then, kissing along her stomach and over her hips before he used his free hand to unclasp her bra, tossing it onto the floor nearby.

  She was exposed and she felt the coolness of the air as her nipples hardened in anticipation. He cupped each one lovingly and then moved to take one in his mouth. She moaned loudly as he suckled from first one of her massive globes and then the other. He was still tweaking on as he kissed her mouth once more. He let his eyes meet hers and he gave her a smile before he moved to pull off her panties, now the only thing between them.

  She felt him shift until he was nestled between her thighs and he kissed her once more, then looked at her.

  She smiled and moved to accommodate him and it was all the assur
ance he needed before he buried himself deep within her walls. She arched up against him, easily finding a rhythm they both wanted. His movements were almost angry the way he pounded into her and she knew he was venting his frustration out on her body. She did her best to meet him thrust for thrust until she found herself lost in a haze of excitement she couldn’t control. She climbed and climbed higher until she felt the tremors course through her body, making her clench tighter on him, and pushing him into the heated bliss as well.

  The heat was almost overwhelming as he moved within her, pushing and pulling until she was sated completely. He lay beside her on the overstuffed couch and she felt the coolness of the air as it kicked in once more. She glanced over at him, but he moved quickly, gathering up his clothes. She did the same, throwing on her dress and making her way to the bathroom. Once there she splashed water on her face, giving herself a sad smile in the mirror.

  “What the hell were you thinking Dahlia?”

  The evidence of what had happened was gone now, he had returned the room back to its former appearance once more and was sitting behind the desk, waiting. She knew whatever he was going to say next would likely hurt her feelings somehow so she decided to take the power away from him.

  “That was nice Landon, really. I had a bad day and it is obvious that you did too. We both needed some relief so please, don’t worry, I think it was anything else. As a matter of fact, I want to thank you for helping me feel little better.” She glanced at her watch. “I really have to get going. I will see you on Monday.” She gave him a half smile as she left the room and down to her car before he could say anything at all.

  Landon

  She had been gone an hour and yet she was still on his mind. He was always in control, but never with her. He watched her leave, knowing she was afraid of what he would say. Part of him wanted to stop her, to tell her things about him he never shared with anyone, but the part that kept it all buried was there and he let it win over.

  He had never felt anything like he had with her. Her body had given as much as it took and he wanted to please her, not just himself. He remembered even now how tight and perfect she had been as he moved inside her, and how beautiful she had looked laying there for him. Somewhere along the way he had let her get under his skin and he would have to keep her at arm’s length.

  Monday, she would be back and he would tell her that somehow. He knew she was a beautiful woman, and she was a good person deep down. He would do nothing but hurt her and he couldn’t let that happen. They would go back to where they had been, and he would answer her questions like he always did. Then, when this story was over he would likely never see her again.

  Even that hurt him, he wanted to make sure this story was a good one for her, she deserved it especially now. He had no right to touch her, but she had been so willing, and she had moved him in more ways than once. He frowned as he heard the buzzer and he knew before the door opened who it would be.

  “Hello mother.”

  “Oh no you don’t mister. I want to know what you did to Dahlia.” She crossed her arms and looked down on him.

  “Leave it alone mother, I didn’t do anything.”

  “Oh really? It’s funny because I spoke to her earlier. We had plans to meet for dinner and she cancelled them on me. I knew just in the tone of her voice it was something that happened with you so you may as well tell me.” She tossed her gloves down on the chair across from him and sat in the other.

  He exhaled sharply. “It’s between she and I mother just leave it alone, please.”

  She tapped her foot and then she figured it out. “Really Landon, she’s not even your type and yet you felt the need to make her another conquest? She is a good woman and she deserves better.”

  “I know she is a good woman mother, and you don’t even know what my type is anyway. Certainly not that dribble you read in the paper.” He said it all calmly. “I don’t even know how it happened, it just did.” He put his face in his hands.

  “Hmm.”

  When she didn’t say anything else he looked over at her. “I know you want to say something mother.”

  “On the contrary, I have all the information I need sweetheart.” She stood, grabbing her stuff and she leaned down to kiss him on his forehead quickly. “Don’t beat yourself up too much son things have a way of working themselves out.” She moved towards the door before she stopped. “Did you talk to her about Jackson yet?”

  “No, I don’t plan to.”

  “It would help you know, to get it off of you. You may feel better if you do.” She smiled at him. “I love you Landon.”

  “I love you too mother.” He waited until she left to pour himself a much needed drink

  Dahlia

  She didn’t even like ice cream. Yet she glanced around the room at the mess she’d made over the weekend. She was torn between reliving the beauty of what she’d done, and trying to forget about it altogether. No journalist in their career should ever break the main rule, and she had.

  “Never sleep with a story.” She said it aloud to the room.

  She had worked so hard to get to this place and yet she had thrown it out the window. No doubt when she went to see him Monday things would be different, and he would be a total ass to her or worse, he would be sweet and nice. Either way the sex she so desperately wanted to both relive and forget, would change the dynamic of their relationship.

  She tried to shift the blame, who in their right mind would say no to Landon Meyers. His body was sculpted and he was more than just an average man. He said he wanted her and like a stupid little big girl she had not only said yes, she had eagerly helped it happen. She rolled over in her bed, she just needed to sleep and face it tomorrow.

  Tomorrow, came earlier than she had expected. She showered and slid into a bright blue sundress, leaving her hair loose and flowing. She was facing the elevator to his office, taking deep breaths and plastering a smile on her face as the doors opened and she greeted his receptionist with a smile.

  “He’s waiting for you Miss Dahlia.”

  “Thanks.” She gave her a smile as she went to his door, breathing in as she pushed it open.

  He was looking out of the window again, something she knew he enjoyed and she dropped her things in the chair as he turned to look at her. She felt his eyes look her over, and something of an exhale as he faced the city once more.

  “Did you have a good weekend?” He asked her carefully.

  “Yes the usual, parties and drinking.” She waited for his look before she added. “I’m joking, obviously. How about you?”

  He crossed his arms. “You know the usual, debutants and fine dining.” He gave her a half smile.

  The stress left her body, and they both seemed to relax as she started asking him about his future and what he wanted. Before long they were back in another debate.

  “How can you not see that it’s like taking something from these people?”

  “I don’t see it that way at all, in fact I’m creating new businesses they can enjoy.” He shrugged as if it made perfect sense.

  “Ok, so if some big corporation came and took this place, obliterated it until it was as if it never existed, planning some ice cream shop in its place you wouldn’t feel anything about that?”

  He paused, leaning back in his chair. “That could never happen…”

  She stopped him. “In a world where it could. Just try and put yourself in their place is all I’m saying.” She rounded his desk, sitting back into her chair.

  “You are especially beautiful when you get so animated about things.” He said it, his voice sounding like velvet.

  “It’s not funny, Landon.” She jerkily moved her things, putting them in order.

  “What’s not funny?”

  “It happened, let’s just leave it at that. You don’t have to say things like that to me.”

  He frowned. “Say things like what? That you're beautiful… well you are. I say them because I feel like it.”

>   “Ok Meyers.” She continued to pack her things.

  “You don’t believe me.” He moved towards her.

  “I am not going to go that far; I think you mean well but...” She paused.

  “But what Dahlia?” He stood in front of her, looking down at her as she packed.

  “I’m just saying Livingston, she’s beautiful. I’m more.” She paused. “Quirky.”

  “No.”

  She spun around to face him. “What do you mean no, I didn’t even ask you a question.”

  “Livingston is a cold, dark, cruel person.” He paused to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “Even on her best day she couldn’t dream up the kind of beautiful that you are Dahlia.”

  She felt the air shift and she leaned into him slightly, before she caught herself. “We can’t do this Meyers….” She felt him move his hand to the top of her hip. His mouth moving closer and closer to her own.

  “I know.” He whispered it before his mouth found hers once more, crushing her to him. He found himself caught up in the heat of the moment before the ringing of his phone, springing them apart.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow Meyers.” She grabbed her bag and made her way out of the room and into her car where she was safe.

  Landon

  It was simply out of his hands. He watched her go, knowing there was nothing he could do about it right now.

  He glanced at his phone picking it up just as it rang.

  “Hello Rebecca.”

  “Oh Landon don’t sound so irritated. We have the gala in three weeks, I just wanted to remind you.”

  “I know.”

  “Good, pity you’re not up for some fun anymore Landon.”

  “I am just tired of the game Rebecca, goodnight.” He hung up and swore to himself.

  The gala was an event that local companies participated yearly to raise money and he had yet to jump into the pool of people who helped fund it. If anything he was always a date on the arm of one person or another. He had given his word that he would take Rebecca, and so he would. He sat, lost in thought over the day he’d had with Dahlia, and everything she said. Maybe it was time for a change after all. He made a quick call and waited.