by Liz Crowe
I shook my head in frustration. All I could see was a giant ugly purple mark that proved just how close she’d been to getting her heart punctured with lead. I was happy it was me and not her. Having this warm, perfect angel in front of me, as if she were sent by God himself was worth it. Almost as if she was meant for me to save, to protect.
Why I felt so strongly near her was astounding. It didn’t make sense, but neither did the energy that buzzed just under the surface. It filled the space around us, bringing us closer to each other. I didn’t even know her, but it didn’t matter. I wanted her. Wanted her to be safe. Wanted her to be mine.
Leaning forward, I placed gentle kisses along the entire surface of the bruise. It was out of line but I couldn’t help it. Her skin drew me in. I wanted — no, needed — to make it better. Her fingers twined through my hair as I worshiped her skin with small kisses.
“Hank … ” My eyes met hers, her voice thick with emotion. “That pipe would have pierced through my heart. If you hadn’t been there, done what you did ... ” Her eyes filled with tears, and then large, wet drops ran like a waterfall down her cheeks.
That’s all it took. The need to taste her thrummed heavily through my veins, the tension so fierce it sizzled and popped around us. One-handed, I pulled her against my chest and crushed her lips with mine. She opened eagerly and my tongue, lips, and teeth devoured her like a starving man devoured a steak.
There was no holding back, no room for nice dates and sweet pecks on the cheek. No, this was carnal desire. A man who needed a woman and a woman who needed to be kissed. I had to have her. By the way she kissed me back, her fingers tightening at my scalp holding me to her, she was just as taken.
My fingers tunneled through her hair, over her back, pressing and keeping her near. My mouth slanted over hers and my tongue delved deeper, taking without request. Her pink little lips nibbled and gave just as much as they were getting. Her hands cupped my head on each side, giving her the control. My mouth ripped away from hers, needing air but still needing her.
I trailed wet licks and kisses down the sweet column of her swan-like neck. She tasted like a warm, juicy peach. My right hand clenched her waist, keeping her close. My wounded shoulder screamed in agony against the brutal way I held her to me, but I didn’t care. Fuck it. My very own angel was panting and moaning against me. There wasn’t anything that could pull me away from her skin at this moment. The building could catch fire and I’d still be worshiping her with my hands and mouth.
Those plump lips found mine and licked my bottom one before sucking it into her mouth. My dick was rock-hard and tenting the blanket proudly. Her hand brushed against my erection as she leaned deeper into the kiss, mindful of the pressure against my bandaged shoulder. I moaned and she stopped. Our breath mingled as she hovered close. Her fingers traced the ridge of my shaft through the blanket.
My breath hitched. “Darlin’, you better not start something you can’t finish.”
His lips were addictive. I couldn’t stop tugging and nipping at the sensual tissue. Pulling back, I smiled and watched his face contort as my hand circled his cock, squeezing rhythmically. He groaned and it sent a wave of heat to my core, desire pooling between my thighs. It made me bold, wanton. Free.
“I can give this to you,” I whispered against his open mouth then licked along the curve of his lip. God, the man was sexy. Everything about him screamed fuck me. And boy did I want to.
Looking behind me, I made sure the door was shut and that the blinds of the window were closed. The doctor had just been here. It was unlikely that Hank would need to be seen again so soon. We had a little time but not much.
“Don’t you think we’re moving a little fast, Angel?” His voice was laced with desire. I could tell suggesting we slow down was hard for him, but so charming and chivalrous. It made me want him more.
I closed my eyes for a moment, weighing the options, but continued to stroke his cock up and down in slow, calculated movements. He groaned and I searched his eyes.
“Do you think I’m a whore for wanting to pleasure you?” I wasn’t sure if I’d asked for his benefit or mine. Wanting to please him so quickly, after only knowing him a short time was unlike me. It was bold and daring in ways I’d never been before.
His response was immediate and righteous. “Hell no! You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen and your kisses taste like fucking candy. I can’t get enough of you. You want to touch me Darlin’, I’m all yours.”
Holding back would be too much. My entire body thrummed and quaked with lust, with the desire to please him. I needed to feel him in my hand, in my mouth. Kissing him hard, our tongues tangled as we drank from one another. He tasted of mint tea, refreshing and delicious.
His large hand cupped my breast through my blouse, thumb sliding along the tight peak, making it pebble and ache. He swallowed my moan with his mouth as I arched into his palm. I dug my hand just under the blanket to get closer to his heat. When my hand met bare naked skin a fresh rush of desire shot straight to my core. Hank’s cock was quite possibly the softest thing I’d ever touched and as smooth as satin. All rational thought was leaving my brain, hell leaving the building. Right now all I could think about was getting closer, getting my hands on more of his body.
“Jesus, Angel,” he groaned and sunk his teeth into my lip.
His kisses turned my insides to jelly. With slow strokes of his thick length we continued to kiss at length, learning what one another liked best. Just as the knobbed crown of his head wept and I’d swirled my thumb around the sensitive tip to drive him crazy, my phone started ringing.
“Fuck!” Hank cursed.
The incessant noise was like a beacon, calling back my sanity. What the hell was I doing? The professional in me scoffed at what I was doing, had done, in broad day light with a man I’d known for two seconds.
Dazed, I jumped off the bed and away from Hank’s warmth. Distance between us right now was a good thing. With one hand I righted my clothing while the other fumbled for the phone. Heat suffused the skin of my cheeks and I knew they would be bright red. Regardless of my embarrassment I couldn’t control the huge grin that split across my face. Giddiness swept through me in waves. It was official; I had lost my ever loving mind.
“Aspen, are you still at the hospital?”
“Yes.” Lying would never work with Ollie. He knew me too well.
“It’s almost eleven and you have a meeting with the stakeholders for Bright Magazine to discuss the issue from yesterday. Remember, the possibilities of a setback on the project?”
“There will be no setback. That building will be done as promised. We’ll do whatever it takes. I’ll discuss it with Hank; determine what our next steps need to be in his absence.”
Hank’s gaze followed me as I paced the room. “Are you going to make it here on time?” Oliver asked.
I looked down at my watch. It would take fifteen minutes to discuss the concern with Hank and at least another twenty minutes to get to AIR headquarters. “My driver’s here at the hospital. I’ll have him take me shortly. I’ll be there for the meeting. Just make our guests comfortable until I arrive.” I rang off with Oliver.
“What’s the problem with the project? Saw my guys yesterday. They said the accident was contained.” Hank’s concern was evident.
“Depends on how confident you are in your crew’s ability to continue without you. Do you have any idea who will serve as foreman in your absence?”
He lifted his hand to his chin and scrubbed it across his face. The sound of those callouses connecting with the newly grown stubble was intoxicating. I craved to run my tongue along its rough edge.
“If you keep looking at me like that, Angel, you won’t be making it to any meetings today and I’ll discharge myself against medical advice.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” The man was insane!
“Oh, but I would. I’ve been sweet on you for a lot longer than you know.” His grin was dangerous. Made me believe he was serio
us.
“That won’t be necessary. I think we can both behave like civilized human beings.”
“Is that what they call it when a sexy woman jacks off a man in a hospital bed … civilized? Well almost jacked me off. Seems as though we got some unfinished business to attend to.” His laugh echoed through the room as he pumped his hips in the air. He was still hard as a rock and oh so tempting.
No! Not going to happen. Not now. I have to go. I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the smirk on my face. He had a point. Instead of rationalizing what we did I made an agreement with myself to not psychoanalyze it and just go with it. If I thought about it too much, embarrassment and shame would ruin the uninhibited moment we’d shared.
“Hank, seriously, I need an answer.” He had to realize that it was my responsibility to assure the stakeholders that the project would continue unchanged, even after the accident. “Do you think your crew can handle the job without you to stay on top of them?”
“I do. I told Mac yesterday to serve as foreman on the project in the interim. In the next week I’ll check on the guys, make sure everything is going as planned. Mac is a good worker and I trust him.” His tone was firm and confident.
“Okay, sounds good. Do you think the project will be set back from the break in the crane and the pipes falling?” I shivered visibly at the memory of those metal spikes falling through the sky like acidic rain.
“No, we have backup options for cranes and I’d ordered plenty of materials. I’ll work with Mac to determine any delays and touch base with the architect. My men will work overtime to pick up any slack.” I could see the wheels turning in that beautiful head of his. A rush of admiration swept through me as I took in his tired face and bandaged body. He was here because of me. My heart swelled, bringing forth feelings I had no business having about this man.
I grabbed his phone off the side table and programmed in my phone numbers. “Please call or text me when you’ve heard from your contact. I’m going to meet with the stakeholders for the magazine that’s going to be housed in that building when it’s finished.”
“A magazine, eh? What about?”
“Fashion, movies, television.”
“So, a smut mag then?” His face screwed into a grimace.
“No, not like a tabloid rag. This magazine will take readers to a thirty-thousand-foot view of making movies, the actors playing in them, television producers, writers, fashion designers and their newest trends, the up and coming hopefuls in each category. Things like that.” He looked bored already. “Probably not your taste.”
“You’re my taste.” He licked his lips seductively. Damned if another rush of heat didn’t pulsate through my body, landing right between my thighs. His words did things to me. The sultry grin on his face proved he knew the affect he had.
“You’re bad, Mr. Jensen,” I grinned and tried to pretend I didn’t love every second of his crassness.
“Oh, so we’re back to formality, I see. As long as you remember that you just had your pretty little fingers wrapped around my cock but good.” His lips twisted into a grin and he gripped his manhood over the blanket for emphasis. “You think about that while you’re meeting with the suits today.” He flashed a wicked smile. I inhaled deeply, thinking back to my hand firmly gripping his manhood.
I wanted more. To see, taste and suck every inch of his thickness. Moisture slicked my sex and I knew I had to get out of here and off to work before I did something worse than palm his goods. It was impossible to leave without one more taste of him.
His eyes were as green as the finest emeralds as his gaze looked me over. I could imagine we were both thinking the same thing. Sauntering over to him I covered his mouth in a deep kiss, biting then sucking his tongue. I nipped each lip, tugging on his full bottom one, and then pulled away. It released with an audible plop. He chased my mouth with his as I stood out of reach.
“And you think about that for the rest of the day, Mr. Jensen.”
“Oh Angel, I’ll think of nothing else,” I heard him say as I sashayed out the door, swinging my hips a little more than usual.
Chapter Four
“Thank God that’s over.” For the last five hours I survived off Starbucks and the memory of what I did with Hank this morning to keep me going. No breaks, no lunch just meeting after meeting. I hated to admit it, but I missed my cowboy.
My cowboy. Shit. Thinking of the man with the word “my” anywhere near it was not good. My mother was going to have a conniption when she found out the man was staying in my home. If she only knew what her perfect little socialite did today, in a public hospital room, she’d be mortified. If she found out the dirty things I planned on doing with Hank, it would be worse. The part of my body governing my actions wasn’t my mind right now, it was centered further south. The emptiness I felt not being in his presence messed with my head. Getting back to the hospital was priority number one.
We made our way back through the cubicle farm to the long row of offices. Mine was at the end and took up a tenth of the entire floor. Oliver’s space was also large. He had a huge antique u-shaped desk that cut in front of the double doors to my office like a sentinel. No one got through to me without him knowing it. Ever. I preferred it that way and he took the role very seriously.
Each member of our team knew Oliver had the second most important position in the company. Even my Chief Operating Officer knew his place when it came to Oliver. He may have the professional second-in-command title, but Oliver held my loyalty and trust. He just had a way with people. He knew what every department was doing, kept me posted on the inner workings, ensured the relationships internally and externally were on par with my corporate philosophy, and was well respected in his role. “You never cease to amaze me, Pen,” Oliver praised.
“How so?” I asked.
“You just own it. All those powerful men in that room, you being the only female. You weren’t the slightest bit intimidated. Didn’t even faze you.” He shook his head and smiled.
“It helps when you have more money in your bank account then all of them combined.” I grinned, appreciating my wealth for what it was: a means to get what I wanted in life. Of course now I wanted something a little more visceral, and tall, with skin the color of brown sugar.
“Yeah, but the way you handled Grant Campbell — that was priceless. I wish I could have taken a picture of him when he cornered you and said he missed you and you nailed him,” he chuckled.
“Heard all that, huh?”
“Oh yeah. I also heard you ask him how his skank of the week was doing. I did a mental touchdown dance on your behalf.”
“I did no such thing. You’re putting words in my mouth.” I sighed. This was the longest day in history. Memories of my fingers firmly locked around Hank’s cock flashed through my mind like a wicked porno reminding me of where I wanted to be right now.
“Okay, maybe I’m embellishing a bit. You did ask him how the tart was doing.”
“That I did.” I smiled remembering Grant’s smug look when he told me he missed me, and couldn’t get the image of me under him out of his head. That’s when I asked him how Cynthia was doing.
“Yeah, but you sold it when you came up and mentioned that Hank’s things had been completely moved into my penthouse.” I nudged his elbow with mine. Grant looked like he’d been stabbed. The mere thought that I had moved on from him, a self-proclaimed “amazing catch” brutalized his ego. I enjoyed every second of his tortured disgraced face.
“I thought that was a nice touch.” He blew on his knuckles then rubbed them across the lapel of his blazer.
I rushed into my office to grab my things so I could get back to the hospital. The prickling twitches to be near Hank, to see him on the mend, was at the forefront of my mind. If I didn’t get to the hospital soon, I would most definitely explode from the tension. Just his text earlier stating that everything was set with the new foreman sent butterflies through my belly.
“Aspen! You’re okay!�
� I heard the words two seconds before the life was being physically crushed out of me. A sheet of dark hair smacked against my face. The smell of cinnamon encompassed the space, leaving no doubt as to who held me in a bone-crushing embrace.
“London, what are you doing here?”
My sister’s gray-blue eyes searched mine, tears welling in her beautiful gaze. “You could have died!”
“Who told you?” My eyes darted over to Oliver’s.
His answering fake whistle indicated his guilt. He swayed from heel to toe and back again looking everywhere but at me, then suddenly down at his watch. “Looks like that’s my cue. See you in the morning, Princess.”
He scampered out of my office so fast I could almost see the tail tucked between his legs. Right then and there he earned a solid payback for this and the white lie about the donation to the children’s ward the other day. He knew not to share details like yesterday’s accident with London. She didn’t do well with emergency situations or accidents.
London’s fingers slid all over my face, her eyes assessing me rapidly, looking for any nuance, anything out of the norm. They landed on my shirt and her fingers tugged at the blouse that covered the ugly bruise, the only remnants that I was in an accident at all.
Her hand went to her lips at the sight of the black and purplish mark, her mouth opened into a gasp, tears filling her eyes like a water balloon that had been overfilled. “Oh. My. God. Aspen, you were hurt.” The tears fell down her face and she pulled me into a tight hug. I soothed my hands up and down her back letting her connect with me, giving her time to realize I was here and just fine. Her history with accidents didn’t have a happy ending like mine.
“I’m fine. A man jumped in front of me. He saved my life, but not without paying a price. He’s in the hospital now and I need to get to him.”
“Oh my, yes of course. Is he okay?” She still held my biceps and smoothed her hands up and down my arms.
“He received the brunt of the damage. A pipe pierced through is shoulder when he tackled me. He saved my life.” The enormity of the situation, hearing my voice tell her what happened shot more anxiety through me. I needed to get to Hank. Confirm once more that he was okay.