Boss Me_Alpha Billionaire Romance

by C. J. Thomas

  “Nope.” She nodded, then left me alone again.

  Lunch from anywhere I wanted? Anywhere at all? I could hardly believe it. Just another too-good-to-be-true aspect of my new job.

  I decided to make myself useful while I waited for the lunch delivery. Aaron had mentioned me being part of a team—or, rather, the head of a team. I couldn’t imagine having a group of people working for me.

  No, with me.

  I liked the sound of that. I wouldn’t be the sort of manager I’d worked under in the past. Taking all of the credit, assigning all of the blame. I could forge my own path, be my own sort-of boss. A person I would want to work for.

  One thing I would do for sure: give the women just as much responsibility and credit as the men. I didn’t know if that was a problem at Ricardo de Lugo, but I wouldn’t let it be one on my team.

  I was smiling with satisfaction when my cell rang. “Emery?”

  “Oh, jeez, Kenzie. I’ve been trying to reach you all morning,” she said. “I called your office number at least three times. Finally, somebody else picked up and said you didn’t work there anymore. What the hell is going on?”

  “You have no idea the sort of day I’ve had,” I replied. “I mean, name it, and I’ve been through it.”

  “That bad?”

  “That insane!”

  “What gives? Where are you?”

  I looked around my office with a smile. “In my new office. At my new job.”

  Silence. “Shut. Up.”

  “Nope. Hang on.” I took a few photos of the office, including one of me sitting at my desk, and texted them to her.

  “Shut! Up! Where are you? Who are you working for? Why didn’t you tell me you were looking for a new job?”

  “Well, I mean, wasn’t I always sorta looking for a new job?” I rolled my eyes, imagining the way Reed and his drones had to be running around like headless chickens without me.

  “Right, I know, but you never said anything about an interview.”

  “Promise you won’t think I’m a total slutty whore for what I’m about to tell you?”

  “Uh . . . sure. I would never call you that, anyway.”

  “Thanks. Okay, so you know how we found out last night that Aaron owns Ricardo de Lugo?”

  Silence, again. “Hang on. You mean you’re working for him now? Just like that?”

  I gave her the back story—my forced resignation, the job offer taped to the door, my brand new office and incredible perks.

  “I’ll have my own team, Em. A team, and decisions, and responsibility, and a real salary that I can do more than just get by on. I might actually enjoy coming to work in the morning for once instead of dreading it. Do you know how many Sunday nights I’ve cried—actually cried—because I would have to go to work in the morning?”

  “Calm down, cowgirl! You don’t have to convince me that this is a good idea.”

  I hadn’t realized I was speaking so loudly. I took a breath, then asked, “Do you think it is, then?”

  She sighed. “I think it’s more telling that you have to ask me that question, don’t you?”

  “I hate the way it makes me look, is all. I mean, I’m sure nobody else around here knows—”

  “I get it,” she said, cutting me off before I outed myself in my office. There could be any number of prying ears, wondering what the new girl was doing here. “But do you think this is the first time in history somebody has gotten ahead this way? Besides, Kenzie, you deserve it. You’re not some talentless hack who needs to sleep her way to a good job.”

  “True—he did have a whole portfolio made up for me when I got here.”

  “He did?”

  “Yeah. He went through my work and came up with all of my pieces. He loved my writing. He even called the site’s top advertisers to find out about me. Can you imagine?”

  “Oh, forget it! This job is all about you! The work you do! You just happened to meet the right guy one night. I mean, you deserve this. This is payback for all the years of misery you went through. Enjoy it! Stop second-guessing yourself for once and accept what you deserve.”

  “I do sort of wish it had happened differently.”

  “We can’t always control how life happens. I mean, I wish I hadn’t wasted so much time with that asshole, Gabe, but I did, and I’m sure it happened for a reason. You met Aaron for this reason. Isn’t that great? Something is out there, taking care of you.”

  I smiled to myself—Emery was in her self-help phase of the breakup. I was glad, though, because what she said was what I needed to hear.

  “I guess I’d better start kicking ass, then,” I said.

  “I guess so. I don’t think you’ll have to try too hard.” Then she made a noise I’d heard a million times over our ten-year friendship. She wanted to say something else, but stopped herself.

  “What is it?” I asked, bracing myself.

  “Do you think he’s maybe a little too controlling?” she asked. “I mean, this is me talking. I’m the queen of attracting controlling men into my life. He raises all the red flags.”

  “I thought so, too. But like you said, it was all for the best. Right?”

  “Right. I just wonder what else he’s gonna try to control about you. He’s gotta run any changes past me first.”

  “I’ll let him know,” I said, grinning.

  Jeanine knocked briskly before coming in with a cart. “Your lunch,” she said, taking a plate from the cart. I stared in awe at the gorgeous array of sushi.

  I put a hand over the speaker, speaking to Jeanine. “Seriously? This is delivery around here? Flowers made of tuna and avocado?” I was used to a few pieces of fish over rice in a plastic container from the deli section of the grocery store.

  “The restaurants nearby know to up their game when they prepare food for us,” Jeanine said. “They get a lot more repeat business that way.” She laid out chopsticks, soy sauce, wasabi, ginger. “Everything look okay?”

  “More than okay,” I said, shaking my head, completely overwhelmed. “You don’t have to go to all this trouble for me, you know.”

  “I won’t for long. You’ll interview assistants soon enough.” She left with a wink and a smile, her ponytail swinging back and forth in time with the steps she made in her mile-high heels.

  I remembered Emery, waiting on the other end of the phone. “Hey, Em? I think I’m gonna like it here.”

  CHAPTER 18

  Kenzie

  I couldn’t believe how nice everybody was. That was one thing that hit me right away as I looked through my emails, reading through the chains of responses. There was respect. People said thanks and please and my pleasure.

  It didn’t seem put-on, either, like a forced sort of thing. The company culture was one I could appreciate, since the only time people ever said thanks in an email back at Madison Media Group was when they were being sarcastic.

  So Aaron was a good leader. It stood out, and trickled down to his employees. I liked that. He had high standards for everyone in the company—even the restaurants providing lunch.

  For the first time, I understood how people would meet me on the level I set for them. If I was willing to accept being walked over, I would be walked over. If I demanded more, it would be giving those around me the opportunity to rise to the challenge. It was something to think about, seeing as I’d be running a team and an assistant of my own.

  At exactly five o’clock, Aaron walked in. I noticed how he didn’t bother to knock, then reminded myself it was his company, after all.

  “Ready to go?”

  I looked around, dumbfounded. “Go where?”

  “Home, of course.” He grinned at my obvious confusion.

  “Sorry. I’m not used to leaving at a normal time. Five o’clock usually meant the time I got to watch everybody else parade past my office door while I sat at my desk.” I stretched, standing to gather my things.

  “You’ll have to make a habit of being ready at five,” Aaron said. “One of
many habits you need to start building for yourself.”

  “Oh? There are other habits you think I need to adopt?” I asked, smiling coyly.

  “Indeed. We’ll talk more about them later. After we get to my place.”

  “We’re going to your place?” Not that I wasn’t happy to hear it—in fact, a slow, tingling fire kindled in my loins at the thought.

  But it was a surprise. Three nights in a row? He was a man of surprises.

  “One of the habits you need to develop,” he said by way of reply, “is accepting what I say without question.”

  I should have rebelled, but something about the look in his eyes, the way his mouth curved into his patented panty-melting grin, cut off anything I might have said.

  Because I wanted to obey him.

  What did that say about me?

  CHAPTER 19

  Kenzie

  I was a little disappointed by the chaste ride to the penthouse. I’d expected a little hand holding, at the very least. Maybe a little groping out of sight of the driver.

  Instead, Aaron asked me about my day, how I liked Ricardo de Lugo so far, what I thought about my position, and whether I had any ideas on how to move forward.

  “It’s all so new,” I admitted. “I hope you don’t think I’m not worth hiring if I say I don’t have the first idea where to start.”

  “Not at all,” he said, shaking his head. “I don’t expect you to know everything. In fact, that you’re willing to admit you don’t know tells me a lot about you. Good things, of course. You’re not kidding me, or yourself.” I shrugged, glad I’d answered in a way which pleased him.

  He showed me just how much I’d pleased him the moment we reached his private elevator. No sooner were we inside than he pinned me to the closed door, his face only inches from mine. I felt his hot breath against my face, and my heart took off at a gallop.

  This was it.

  My entire body tensed in anticipation.

  “You were a very bad girl today,” he growled. I shivered a little at his tone; the power behind the hands that pinned me by the shoulders, the flood of wetness between my legs that his words inspired.

  “I was?”

  “Mm-hmm. You tried to deny me. You thought you could have your own way even though I’m the one in charge. You made me wait for you.”

  “I didn’t do that on purpose,” I whimpered.

  “I don’t care. You made me wait. I don’t like to wait, Kenzie. If we’re going to work together, I need you to understand that. Do you understand that?”

  His mouth hovered just over my ear, and I trembled in utter pleasure from the feeling of him so close to me. His smell, the sound of his voice, the heat coming from his body. So much promise.

  “Yes, I understand.”

  “Hmm . . . I don’t think you do. I think I need to teach you. The only way to teach is through action.” I whimpered, and he chuckled. “I don’t want to punish you, but you force my hand. It’s the only way to get you to understand, to make you remember. Believe me. I know what’s best.”

  I whimpered again. Every instinct told me I should leave. He was venturing into some fairly kinky territory, and we hadn’t discussed anything like that.

  My body told another story, though.

  My body wanted me to stay, to let him punish me, to soak in every last bit of pleasure his words promised. I knew if I followed his lead, I wouldn’t be disappointed.

  I wanted him to take me to the edge and beyond.

  “I need to be punished,” I whispered.

  He groaned, pressing his body to mine. His taut, erect dick brushed against me. I sighed, unable to hold back the lust he inspired. His mouth touched my throat, my jaw, my chin. Tasting me almost gently, like he wanted to try before he committed. His lips hovered over mine, so close. My whole body cried out for him, and I leaned in before I could stop myself.

  He chuckled, pulling back. “No, no. Lesson one: You don’t get to do what you want. I decide when you get what you want. Understand?”

  “Yes,” I whispered, disappointed. I wanted nothing more than to kiss him, to let him sweep me away, to take the terrible ache from between my legs where the longing was greatest. I leaned against the door, willing to let him call the shots.

  “Good girl,” he growled.

  Then he kissed me. Our mouths seemed to struggle for control, nearly biting at each other as we both fought to take what we wanted. I’d never felt so aggressive before, so desperate to have what I needed. It was all so new to me.

  He bit my lip, making me hiss in a mixture of pain and pleasure. “See what happens to bad girls?” he whispered. “Even trying to control our kiss. You’re not in control. I am.”

  With that, the elevator doors opened and he bent, throwing me over one shoulder. I squealed before I could help myself, heart beating like a speeding train as Aaron carried me to the front door of his penthouse. I felt nearly weightless in his arms.

  He put me down when we reached the bedroom. “Take that off,” he said, gesturing to my clothes. I stripped without question as he did the same. I stopped at my bra and panties, laying the rest of the clothes across a chair. “No,” he said. “Those, too. Everything. I want to see your body.”

  I gulped but followed his instructions. Not that he’d never seen me naked before, but there was a difference between getting naked in bed and actually standing there, naked and vulnerable. I did everything I could to keep myself from covering my body with my hands.

  “On the bed.” He pointed. “Head on the pillows.” I climbed into the comfortable bed, sighing as I stretched out. He watched me, still clad in boxer briefs. I saw the outline of his straining manhood. As much fun as it was to play, as hot as he’d gotten me, I wanted nothing more than for him to take me. I wanted him to rock me until I screamed.

  He picked up the tie he’d discarded by the foot of the bed. Kneeling beside my head, he took one wrist, then the other, tying them to the headboard.

  I could hardly breathe. I thought I might hyperventilate. What would he do to me? How could I stop him if I didn’t want him to continue?

  I asked him in a shaky voice. “Just say ‘banana’, but it won’t be anything like that, trust me. You trust me, right?”

  I hesitated for just a split second before nodding, wide-eyed.

  “You had to think it over first. Didn’t you? I don’t like that.” He positioned himself in front of me so his bulge hung near my face. Then he pulled his shorts down just enough to free himself. “Suck on this,” he muttered, pressing the head to my mouth.

  I took him in gladly—I already loved giving blowjobs, but doing it while tied up sparked something new inside me. There was a depth of pleasure I didn’t know could exist, and the way he treated me reached that part of me.

  He didn’t abuse me, wasn’t rough. Simply thrusted in and out of my mouth while I sucked his thick length. And it was so fucking hot.

  While I sucked, he touched my body, playing with my breasts. He stroked my nipples, flicking his fingers over them. I moaned, my mouth still full of him. He grunted, thrusting faster, harder, fucking my mouth.

  I felt so dirty, so slutty.

  And I absolutely loved it.

  My entire body cried out for more.

  Then, before I knew it, it was over.

  He pulled out, groaning. “Not too much more of that,” he said, positioning himself between my legs. I thought he would take me then, and readied myself for it.

  I was wrong.

  “Are you going to obey me from now on?” Aaron asked, staring down at me, his erect dick in his hands. He stroked himself slowly, and my eyes couldn’t help but linger on the sight. I licked my lips in anticipation.

  “Kenzie. When I ask you a question, I want an answer. Will you obey me from now on?” The tension in his voice told me it was no time to be coy.

  “Yes, I will.”

  He turned me to the side, exposing my ass to him. A sharp, quick slap to my cheeks left me gasping in surpr
ise.

  “Tell me again. Will you obey me?”

  “Yes!” I gasped again, louder this time, as his hand made contact with my flesh.

  “One more time. When I tell you to do something, will you make me wait? Will you make me beg? Will you make me convince you? Or will you simply do it?”

  “I’ll do it! I promise!” Another sharp, stinging blow.

  That time, the pain faded quickly, leaving a warm, glowing pleasure in its wake. It felt like my body was waking up, somehow, like I was totally on alert. Everything seemed more intense, more pleasurable, more painful; simply . . . more.

  He pushed me flat on the bed, and I winced as my smarting butt made contact with the mattress. He didn’t seem to notice, too wrapped up in the way his fingers danced across my pelvis until they stroked my aching, glistening lips. I felt him gliding through the wetness there and strained upward, hoping for more.

  “No, no,” he whispered. “You’re in my hands, remember? I make the rules. You don’t get to come yet.”

  He teased me for what felt like an eternity; stroking me, driving me wild, making me scream with frustration as every last muscle strained, dying for release. The pressure between my legs built to where I was beyond discomfort, beyond pain, beyond pleasure.

  All that was left was need.

  I needed something, anything, to end the delicious agony.

  He gave it to me in the form of his hot length sliding into me. I screamed, writhing as he invaded me, coming around him almost instantly in a sharp, searing burst of pleasure.

  He rode me out, thrusting, building me up again before I knew what was happening. I stopped thinking, my body taking over for my brain.

  All I could do was feel.

  Aaron took my legs, placing them against his chest, then pummeled me with long, hard strokes. I cried out, louder, louder with each one until my voice broke.

  And still I gasped, grunted, fought to free my hands so I could touch him. He saw me fighting and held them in place, holding me even tighter to the bed as he fucked me mercilessly.

  Another wave of pleasure built, growing higher, higher, so high I thought I might die . . . before crashing down around me as I came so hard, I was afraid I would pass out.