Sunday Love

by K. J. Lewis

  “I’m not easily baited by ridiculous taunts,” I reply.

  “No, but you’re not one to back down from a challenge either, are you?”

  “It’s not going to work, Blake.”

  “What are you hiding, Elise? What is she hiding?” Ross asks. Theo only shrugs.

  “No secrets. Ever. You swore it on our wedding day.”

  “That’s not gonna work on me, Jacobs,” Theo grins.

  “It’s not anything to be embarrassed about,” Blake says.

  “Oh, for crying out loud. I’m not embarrassed.”

  “Then why don’t—”

  “Fine,” I snap.

  Blake shuffles the deck and begins, “Elise and I were at Navy Pier this summer. And it was what? 100 degrees?” He looks to me and shuffles again. “Anyway, there was a vendor selling popsicles, so we each got one and did some people watching while we ate. But it was hot, so what do you think happened?”

  “It melted,” Gabby interjects.

  “It did. So, I’m people watching and the next thing I know I hear three guys sitting across from us all groan so loud that I have to look over and see them looking at my boss,” he looks at me and winks, “who is deep throating a bomb pop.”

  “Blake.” Theo rolls his eyes.

  “I kid you not. The entire thing was in her mouth.”

  “I don’t believe you,” Gabby says. “There’s no way I didn’t know Elise has this talent.”

  “More than 37% of the population don’t have a gag reflex,” Ross offers.

  “Thank you, Dr. Jacobs,” Theo says.

  “I won’t believe it unless you show me,” Fran says to me.

  “Not gonna happen.”

  “Sophomore year. Billy Buckman.”

  This is the only thing she could have said to get me to do it, and Gabby knows it. It’s a story only the two of us share, and I have given her the right to say it five times in our life. When she does, I have to give her what she wants.

  “You want to use a Billy Buckman on this?”

  “Yep,” she says with a pop of her lips.

  “Who’s Billy Buckman?” Ross looks at Theo, and I see Reid doing the same.

  “I honestly have no idea.”

  “This I gotta hear then. If my husband doesn’t even know, it must be a story.”

  “Tell it or lick it Donovan,” Gabby says.

  “I hate you.” I pick up the popsicle and peel back the paper. It’s already sticky from sitting in the warm sun. I suck the juice just from the tip before rolling my eyes and shaking my head. I cannot believe I am about to do this. Sober. And for some reason the only thing I can think about is taking Reid down the back of my throat. I’m actually shocked I haven’t yet.

  “You know this is only, what, six inches? I’d hardly call that amazing,” I tell Blake before I push the bomb pop to the back of my throat and close my lips around the popsicle stick. I lift up both of my hands and wiggle my fingers for show.

  “Jesus,” Blake says, when I swallow the juice that has melted and Theo slaps the back of his head.

  “Don’t make me fire your ass.”

  “You don’t have anything to worry about, Boss Daddy. I about killed three men myself that day.”

  I look at Reid, and the heat in his eyes sends a charge to the bottom of my stomach.

  “While we have you here,” Theo drags my attention to him, and I know he’s about to change the subject. Ross slides his hand in Theo’s. “I wanted to tell the four of you before we tell the rest of the team. Jacobs Inc. will be expanding.”

  “You finally made Elise a partner!” Fran squeals.

  “No,” Theo replies.

  The silence that follows is a bit awkward, and I feel the need to bail Theo out.

  “I’ve told you guys more than once I have never wanted to be partner. Theo is only abiding by my wishes. You were saying?” I throw it back to Theo.

  “I am taking the business to a global level, and we will be expanding into new markets. But it will be with me as President of the company and Reid as CEO.”

  “What does that mean?” Fran asks.

  “I have sold Reid control of Jacobs Inc.”

  No one says anything for a few minutes. Theo and I give them the time to let it sink in.

  “So what does this mean for us?” Blake asks.

  “It will mean very little for most of you,” Reid answers. “You will still work directly with Theo and Elise like you do now. For the most part, I will be a silent owner, only entering into the picture when it’s what’s best for all. We will be expanding the business of taking over failing corporations. Similar to what Elise has been working on the last six weeks.”

  “Alright.” Ryan steps up to the plate first. I always know he will be the one to bring the team along and try to put a positive spin on things. “So, this is good. This is a good thing. It gives us more exposure. It’s going to open us up to a different group of people and players we would have never had access to before.”

  “I’d like to think that is true,” Reid confirms. “I don’t plan on making any staffing changes. In fact, I would like to think that each of your personal teams will see growth as your areas expand.”

  “So, you’ll run the office from New York, or are you moving to Chicago?” Gabby asks.

  “I will be staying with the office in Chicago,” Theo says. He pauses and looks at me. “Elise will be moving to New York to start the office there.”

  “What? When? You were gone six weeks and that seemed like forever,” Gabby says.

  I square my shoulders and just say it. “I move next week.”

  “You’re moving next week and you are just now telling me?” Tears spring to Gabby’s eyes.

  “I barely had three hours of sleep a night as it was,” I explain. “This last job had to have my full attention. I didn’t have even a minute to think about what the next steps were going to be, and Theo and I wanted to be together when we told you.”

  She’s shaking her head. She’s hurt. I can see it on her face. “I get you not telling the rest of the team, but I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”

  “It was my decision,” Reid steps in.

  “Reid.” I’m not about to let him take the heat for this. He needs to build a relationship with these people.

  “The sale wasn’t finalized until this morning. She would have been in breach of contract if she had told you anything, and I made my legal actions clear if that breach were to occur.”

  “Talk about trust. Our team is built on trust. Without it, it doesn’t work,” Blake says.

  “Enough.” My voice is louder and firmer than I intend. “Enough,” I say more softly. “Reid is attempting to take the heat off me. There was no threat of legal action and my contract is with Theo not him. Theo is at a place where he wants to put Ross first. They want to have a family. He shouldn’t have to apologize for that.”

  “He doesn’t. I’m not upset with Theo,” Gabby responds.

  “The decision was mine. My family is in New York…”

  “I thought we were your family.”

  “You know you are Gabriella Jane. It makes sense for me to start the New York office. It’s what’s best for everyone, and you know it. I wish I could have given you more warning, but it just wasn’t in the cards. I will be traveling back and forth, as will Theo. There’s no way we can be apart for that long.” I smile at him. “I will be meeting with each of you later today to go over what I see as your role moving forward. I expect each of you to step up into a more active leadership role. We will need a replacement for me in Chicago, and I will need strong people to get New York moving along. As you know, when a corporation gets ripe for the picking, we have a finite amount of time to secure it. I will need each of you to be at your very best. Is that understood?”

  Crickets.

  “Is. That. Understood?”

  “Then we better make the best of the time we have left this week,” Ryan says to everyone. “Why don’t
we take some time to process and all meet back here for a late lunch?” He stands and waits for the others to stand with them. He catches my eye and winks at me.

  I watch as they leave and, with the exception of Ryan, none of them make eye contact.

  “Well. That could have gone better.” I struggle to keep the emotion out of my voice.

  “Elise.” Theo and Reid say my name at the same time.

  “Theo, I’d like to see you in our room please.” Ross stands and waits for him.

  “I’ll be there in—”

  “Now, Theo.” Ross gives Theo a look.

  I know what Ross is doing, and I know Theo is not happy about it. Just like I told the others, though, we might as well start adjusting now. Theo and I are going to live in different cities for the first time in our lives. No longer can he be there to kiss every boo-boo. I have to start figuring out these things for myself. Theo reluctantly stands, and I see him nod to Reid before leaving the two of us on the deck.

  “Elise,” Reid says with enough force to pull my attention to him.

  “Don’t contradict me in a meeting again.”

  “What?”

  “I said, don’t contradict me in front of the staff.”

  “I didn’t.”

  “You did. I had already explained the situation, and you countered what I told them.”

  “I told them the truth because it was the truth. Why would you want to start your relationship with them on a sour note?”

  “First off, I don’t have a relationship with them. I am their boss. Second, I don’t care if they think I am an asshole. It usually ends up in my favor when people think I am. I took responsibility because that is how I wanted it to go. It’s a lesson you need to understand. I am not Theo and I will not baby you like he does.”

  “Theo doesn’t baby me, asshole, nor do I allow him to talk to me the way you are right now. I’m not going to apologize to you or anyone else for the way I run my team. If you want something different, then say the word. I’ll give you my notice, and you can bring in someone you feel is better suited for your needs. Just like I’ve told Theo, this is my team. You are owner in name only. So step the fuck off.” I stand and head inside, ready to punch something.

  “Watch your tone,” Reid snarls, grabbing my arm and spinning me to face him. Pushing my back against the wall, he moves within inches of my face. “I told you in the beginning, I run this.” He motions between us.

  “Fuck you, Reid.”

  “Trust me, Elise. You’re about to.” His lips clash hard over mine in a battle for control. When I won’t give him access, he bites my lip in a way that causes the pain to shoot directly to my sex. I open for him, and his tongue glides over mine.

  “I can smell your sweet little pussy, Elise. Wet and ready for me. Fuck.”

  His fingers slide into my sweats and through my slickness before drilling them in and out of me. After the shitty morning I’ve had, there is nothing more that I want than to give up control for a while. To not have to be anything to anyone other than Reid. And at this very minute, he wants what I want.

  “On your knees, Elise, and I won’t say it twice.”

  Fuck me standing. Elise actually does as she’s told and lowers to her knees. Before I have a chance to make a move, Elise pulls my shorts just low enough to free my swelling cock. She is the most infuriating woman I have ever met. I saw the pain in her eyes when she realized she had hurt her team. I just couldn’t let her shoulder that burden. Not when I could carry it for her. I know exactly what she needs.

  “Put your hands on your thighs.”

  She obeys immediately.

  “You just couldn’t stop yourself from protecting me, could you? You had to take responsibility for not telling them, even though I had already addressed it.” I edge the tip of my cock over her lips. Her tongue skates out and pushes into the wet slit. “You and your big mouth. You just couldn’t keep it shut could you? Well, I think it’s time you showed me how deep your mouth really is.”

  When she looks up at me, my heart melts at the trust and desire she is giving me. As rough as I want to be with her right now, I can’t stop myself from touching her and running my thumb across her cheek in a moment of gentleness.

  “Open for me, Dove. I’m going to fuck your sweet little mouth.”

  When she does, I begin to move my hips forward in little strokes. Enticing her. Letting her get used to me. She starts to bob her head, taking me deeper with each movement.

  “Don’t even think about it. Hands on thighs, Elise,” I command.

  She growls in frustration, and I feel it in the bottom of my balls. Christ, this girl is so many things: unexpected, challenging, smart, sexy, kind, protective. When has anyone ever been protective of me other than my family?

  I grab her hair, using my other hand to brace myself against the wall. In this position, I’m able to thrust at an angle and, fuck me, it’s amazing.

  “I told you, Elise. I run this.”

  My hips lunge forward and I feel it, the minute this woman I’ve fallen head over heels for shows up and shows me whose boss. Before my hand can even guide her, she takes me to the back of her throat, and I can feel her lips against my pelvis. Slowly and with more control than anyone I’ve ever known, she eases, millimeter by millimeter, to the edge of my cock before she lets it pop out of her mouth. Her tongue glides just over the tip before she takes just the head in between her lips and applies a suction that has my knees buckling. My hand leaves the back of her head and finds a place on the wall with the other one. With her hands still on her knees, her eyes never leave mine as she takes me to the root again, this time twisting her mouth in circles as she moves. Sliding her tongue along the underside of my dick, she slips me out of her mouth. Bending down, she dusts her tongue across my balls before she sucks one into her mouth. Moving my hips closer, she has to lean back slightly to adjust to the new closeness. My cock jumps as she kisses her way up my shaft before taking me between her full lips. The sound of her desire vibrates down my cock, and I feel the electricity map across the nerves in my body as the currents move through me and I come down her throat.

  I pull out slightly to finish coming on her tongue, letting her swallow. She runs her mouth over me, cleaning me before her full lips slide off the tip of my cock. She leans forward, placing a light kiss to the middle of my thigh. The gesture is so sweet and unexpected. I am so screwed.

  I run a thumb over her lips before helping her off her knees.

  “Holy shit.” That’s all I can get out. I can taste myself when my tongue sweeps across hers.

  “I need to go see my team,” she says before sliding out of my hold.

  It unsettles me that she can easily move on to the next thought after what we just shared. “Give them time to take it in, Elise. Coddling them isn’t going to change anything.”

  “I care about them, Reid. I care how they are feeling. I care when they are upset. You see that as a weakness in my management skills. It’s not. It’s one of my greatest strengths.”

  And just like that, she leaves me standing there, wanting more. By the time I arrange myself and walk back into the chalet, I see one of the black SUV’s pulling off.

  “Ross wants to go into town for some things. Why don’t you go with us?” Theo says from behind me.

  “Nah. I’ll let you two hang out.”

  “He’ll be shopping the whole time. You and I can grab some lunch and talk business.” He pushes me towards the door.

  “I’ve got a ton of work—”

  “You’re going,” Ross insists, grabbing the keys off the counter.

  I slide into the backseat of the other SUV, and the three of us ride in a comfortable silence into town.

  It’s really beautiful here. I can see the appeal to having a second home in this area. The town square is quaint and appears to have been updated. There are a few restaurants, a hotel, several boutique stores. We pass a used bookstore that I would like to get lost in for a while. I foll
ow Theo to a grassy section in the middle of the square that has games etched into the tables. He takes a seat at a chess board, pulls open a drawer attached to the bottom of the concrete table, and pulls out the pieces.

  We each set up our game pieces. Theo makes the first move and hits his button on the chess clock. We’re several moves into our game before either of us says a word.

  “Did you tell Elise?” Theo breaks our silence.

  “Did I tell her?”

  “That you love her.”

  “No.”

  “Because?”

  I hit my button and look up. His attention is on me and not the game.

  “I’m not sure she’s ready to hear it. I don’t know if she would believe it.”

  “Have you given her a reason not to believe you?” he asks coolly, but the twitch in his eye lets me know he’s anything but.

  “No, I haven’t. And even though I know her very well—”

  He clears his throat and gives me a look of warning.

  “—We are still getting to know each other. You know her better than I do. Has she given you any idea what she is thinking?”

  Theo makes another move and sends the clock back my way. “Elise is straight forward. What you see is what you get. She doesn’t play games. She truly doesn’t care what others think, unless it’s someone she loves. She trusts her gut and goes with it. Give her some time. It’s been less than a week.”

  “When did you know Ross was it for you?”

  “The minute I laid eyes on him, I knew. It was instantaneous for me.”

  “And Ross?”

  “That fucker made me work for it. It was six months after I told him I loved him before he finally said it back.”

  “Jesus. That sounds painful.”

  “Consistency.”

  “Consistency?”

  “Yes. Consistency. I was consistent with him. I wanted him to say it back, but I didn’t need him to say it back. I knew. I knew he was my love and I was his. I just had to give him the time to catch up with me. I was even. I was his soft place to land. I made sure he knew I would always be there. Consistent.”