by Liz Crowe
“Alex and I agreed upon this concept after a great amount of research had been done on the productivity of workers who have access to natural light and fresh air through windows and plants, versus working in a cubicle farm. The statistics on creativity and productivity in the employees that had regular access to nature’s gifts were staggering.”
The men spoke among themselves, but overall, the staunch, rich businessmen looked pleased with their investments. I couldn’t have been more proud. The only thing that would have made it better was if Hank was seeing their excitement in what he and his team built.
Alex spent the next thirty minutes walking the group from room to room, highlighting specific features of the design. His excitement was contagious. I actually looked forward to hitting the books with these men and making some decisions on the HR firm we needed to hire, the business plan, and the design aspects of the offices, cubicles, and conference rooms. Of course, I was hiring London to design the space. Not because she was my sister, but because she was brilliant and could fit her vision into a specific budget. The stakeholders all knew we were hiring my sister to do the work; they agreed after they’d seen her portfolio, but before I’d told them my relation to her. Grant had a few choice words to say about the decision, but in the end, majority ruled.
We made our way back to the Sky Conference room at the top of AIR Bright. It was on the sixtieth floor and almost completely surrounded by glass windows. Everyone found a chair and settled into their preferred locations around the table.
After two hours of discussing the ins and outs of the building, we agreed upon an HR firm and some of the story board designs that London had provided detailing the seating and artwork in the reception area. We also confirmed what an average office would look with the style desks, file cabinets, and bookcases she chose to suit the space. Her designs were really quite beautiful. We had agreed that we wanted to go contemporary and sleek with the space, but with an organic, rugged edge to pay homage to the old-school magazines and news-style media rooms that had come and gone in the past.
“Does anyone have anything else to add before we conclude the meeting?” I asked, happy but drained physically and emotionally. This excruciating month had definitely taken its toll.
“I actually have a guest I wanted to introduce to the stakeholders, if you all don’t mind. This man made the build possible with only one accident to speak of. His company and his crew beat the odds, met all deadlines, and finished the project a week ahead of schedule.” Oh good God, no. There’s only one man that could be behind that door.
He opened it with a flourish. “Hank Jensen everybody, from Jensen Construction. Now, you remember that name because he’s just expanded and opened a new branch of his firm here in New York City,” Alex gushed.
My mouth hung up in shock. He’d expanded his business. Oliver slid his hand over mine, his eyes downcast and pleading. He’d known about this, was probably in on it from the get-go. He was a dead man!
Hank shook the hand of each of the stakeholders, even Grant, though you could tell he’d squeezed his hand a great deal harder. Caveman! The thought sent a chill down my spine. He clapped Oliver on the back with an affectionate, man’s man gesture.
“How she doin’, buddy?” he asked Ollie conspiratorially. I just sat there, trying to take everything in: his larger than life presence, his musky citrus covered scent, the color of his eyes … oh, God, I could drown in those honey green depths.
“But how?” I whispered.
My Angel was stunned stupid. I grabbed her hands and pulled her up straight against my body. She melted into me, confused, as if she’d been dreaming.
“Where there is a will, there is a way, Angel. You’re my will. And the way, well, there’s only one way: the direction that leads to you.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but I took the moment to cover her lips with my own. Sliding my hands up her delicate spine, I tunneled my paws into her perfect golden locks, deepening the kiss. She came willingly. It had been too long. My hands, body, and mouth physically ached for her. Her tongue tangled with mine. She tasted of coffee and sweet vanilla. I needed more.
Her hands intertwined behind my neck, pulling and pressing me into her. It was if she couldn’t get close enough either. My Angel was greedy for my kiss, swallowing me whole. Her lips tugged and bit at my lips then her wet little tongue dipped in for more. I groaned and then pulled away when I heard an annoying man clearing his throat from behind us. Her entire body went stiff as she realized that we’d had an audience. She pulled back, but I wouldn’t let her go far.
Her breath came in heavy pants as she took in the shocked faces of the men in the room. Alex smiled like a loon and Oliver wiped at his face with a hanky, tears leaking out the corner of his eyes.
“Sorry, y’all. Me and my girl haven’t seen each other for a month. We have some making up to do.” A couple of the men nodded their heads. I could see that most had shiny wedding bands on their left hands. Yeah, they understood.
“Hank, I … we need to take this somewhere private,” Aspen said as she tried to pull away.
I shook my head. “Nope, not on your life are you gettin’ away from me now. Not when you’re in my arms where you should be.” I held my girl firm. She squirmed a bit, then it dawned on her.
“Alex said you expanded Jensen Construction?” She looked confused and uncertain.
“I did. You see, I contacted your pops; he introduced me to some investors. Actually, one of ‘em’s right there.” I pointed to Mr. Jackson. He smiled and nodded. Small world. Looks like we’d both be dealing with Mr. Jackson in our business ventures. He was a good guy; I couldn’t complain.
“Jackson? Really?” She shook her pretty head. “What is going on, Hank?”
“Everyone, you done with your meetin’ here? I’d like some time alone with my girl, if it all suits.” The men each hopped up and made their way out of the room. Several good jobs and a great work were thrown over their shoulders as they left. Grant sat in his chair, waiting for the show to commence. My eyes narrowed at the bastard.
Oliver went over to Grant’s chair, pulled it away from the conference table, and pushed with all his might right out the conference room door on its roller wheels. Grant hooped and hollered all the way out. Bet he didn’t expect the little fella to get one over on him. Ollie shut the door hard, giving me a thumbs-up over his shoulder.
I turned to Aspen and kissed her once more. Her surprised gasp turned into a moan and I got caught up in her all over again. The woman had the power to turn a man into a jelly donut with her sharp tongue, her quick wit, that smokin’ hot body, and her grace.
I turned her around lifted her up and set her on the conference room table. I forced her thighs wide open, then yanked her legs around my hips. Why the fuck was she wearin’ pants? I needed to talk to my little buddy about her wardrobe. She needed to be wearin’ more skirts and dresses. Easy access. I pressed my erection hard against her center.
“Oh, God, Hank. We can’t do this. Not here. Not now. You haven’t even told me what’s going on,” she whispered against my neck, then proceeded to suck and bite, making me damned near crazy.
“Can’t wait, Angel. Been too long.” I unbuttoned her pants, lifted her with one hand, and tugged the fabric down her thighs. Her pointed stilts fell to the floor with a loud clunk. She leaned back and let me pull her pants down and off her body. She was wearing red lace panties and I could just see the faint line of her pussy through the damp fabric.
My mouth started to salivate. She quickly pulled them down before I tore them to shreds. Smart cookie. I ripped at my khakis and shoved them and my boxers to the floor. She gripped my dress shirt and undid the buttons as I stared at her heaving chest.
Those blue eyes of her were almost black, laced with need. I sent up a small prayer to the good Lord above that she wasn’t pushing me away. She wanted me. Wanted this, right here, right now. If she hadn’t I’d have spontaneously combusted on the spot.
It wasn’t enough. More. I needed more.
“Hank, I … ” she said as I lined up my cock, pulled her ass cheeks, and forced her down hard on my length, impaling her in one hard thrust. “God!” she screamed.
I stilled, holding us both quietly, letting my body calm. It had been starved for her touch for over a month, and I didn’t want things to be over before they ever really even got started.
“Angel,” I kissed every inch of her face. “It’s good to be home.” Tears fell down her face and I kissed them away and started to move in and out of her body in measured, slow strokes.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispered against my lips, her eyes closed.
“Open your eyes,” I begged on a particularly hard thrust. She gasped and opened her eyes. They were filled with love, pain, and something else … hope. “I love you. You. Aspen Isabel Bright-Reynolds.” I punctuated her name with a fierce thrust. “No one else. There will never be anyone else,” I promised as I picked up the pace and started pounding into her.
“What about … ” she started. I leaned her back to lay on the conference table, completely vulnerable and open to me. I pulled back and shoved my cock so far into her she orgasmed fast and quick.
“Only you. I’ve fallen for an angel and there will never be anyone else. You’re mine from here on out, until the end of time. You hear me?” I roared then slammed into her over and over. Her body coiled tight in orgasm, but I could tell she was already building into the mother of all releases. If she didn’t want to listen to my words she’d listen to my body. I’d fuck her into believing the truth.
“God, yes, Hank. I love you. I love you so much,” she cried. I pulled her up, holding her face-to-face.
“You feel that, Angel?” She nodded on a particularly deep thrust and tipped her head back in a moan. “That’s me, inside you. Inside the woman I want to spend my life with. Inside the woman I’m going to marry.” Her eyes went wide, mouth opened to lick her lips. “That’s right. You’re going to be stuck with me. You don’t have a choice. This is real … this is real love.”
I clenched her body tightly against mine and pumped my cock into her, my release shooting deep within her tight channel. The corresponding orgasm pulled and sucked at my length, a dizzying, unbidden pleasure the likes of which I’d never had before and would only have with her. I knew that I would end up worshiping this woman until the end of my days.
She held me to her, our breath coming in heaving gulps of air. “Never again, Angel. We’ll never be apart again.”
She nodded. “Hank, we have a lot to discuss. So much has happened.” She worried her plump pink lip and I swooped in and kissed her worry away, lapping at the tissue, claiming it for my own.
“Yes, I agree.”
Silently we both pulled on our clothes. A brief knock rang out on the conference door just before Oliver entered. He took in our rumpled clothing, Aspen pulling on her blazer, me buttoning up my shirt. A wide grin broke across his face. “So, it looks like you two made up. You ready to go home? The limo is waiting.”
Aspen looked nervous, but I clasped my hand with hers. “Yes, Oliver, we’re ready to go home.”
My Angel’s eyebrows knit together. “But where are you staying?” she asked as we walked toward the elevators.
“At my home away from home. Where my Angel lives is where I live.”
“You can’t be serious. We haven’t seen each other in a month.” Her rational brain was about to screw up all my well-laid plans.
“Doesn’t matter. I’m going home with you. I’m movin’ all of my stuff in, too.” Oliver snorted. “What?”
“All your stuff.” He laughed. “Like what? All three boxes of it?”
“Shut up, pipsqueak. I’m talking to my fiancée. ” Two stunned faces and gaping mouths stared at me. “What?”
“Your fiancée?” Aspen whispered.
“Oh, yes, you will be my wife. Sooner rather than later. I hate waitin’ and we’ve lost a month as it is.” I pulled on her hand and yanked a shocked Oliver into the elevator.
We took the drive back to the penthouse and I was happier than I ever thought I’d be a month ago. Aspen was quiet—too quiet—but I had time to get her to warm to the idea of being a Jensen. Before that, though, we needed to eat, and I needed to be home with her where I could explain everything that happened and clear the road to our future.
Oliver left us, exiting on the thirtieth floor. I had no idea the little fella lived in the same building. That sure explained how he was always able to get to her so fast. Or intrude on some private moments with such ease. We got out at the penthouse and the doors were open. I had worked with Ollie to plan a private romantic dinner at home where we could reconnect.
Rose petals trailed along the floor of her home leading to the dining room. “Did you do this?” she asked, awe in her voice.
“I did. But my little buddy and Gusto helped. I wanted our first night back together to be special. A homecoming.” She nodded and smiled.
A familiar clicking noise could be heard barreling through the rooms. Gusto’s thick accent quick on the heels screaming something in Swedish. I braced Aspen’s shoulders and stopped cold as Butch came around the corner and slammed into us.
“Hi Butchey! Did you miss me? I missed you so much boy, so much!” Aspen petted and hugged my dog. Her watery gaze lifted to mine. “I’m so glad he’s here.” Butch was happier than a pig in a mud puddle on a hot day. His long tail smacked against me repeatedly as he spun for Aspen’s pleasure.
“Yeah, poor fella missed you somethin’ awful. You’d left a shirt back at the ranch and he found it. Kept it on his bed the whole time we’d been apart.”
After a few more scratches and hugs for Butch, we made our way to the dining room, where Gusto had outdone himself. The tables were dressed with flowers, lit candles, and golden dinnerware.
“It’s beautiful, Hank. Thank you,” she said and sat when I pulled out her chair.
Gusto brought our matching dishes of filet mignon, veggies, and couscous. I requested that special since we had it one of our first nights together. She noticed my shy smile when she took a bite.
God, I was a lucky man. She hadn’t said she’d marry me, but I didn’t really ask properly yet. The biggest step forward was that she hadn’t run away. We were here together, and earlier that day I’d made love to her. However impromptu and unplanned it was, our bodies just needed to be united in that moment. It had been too long. Now, I needed to connect with her emotionally. She needed to understand that Susie was my past and that she was my future.
After dinner, I lifted her and carried her into the bedroom. She didn’t say a word. I pulled back the covers, laid her down, and then slowly pulled off her suit, piece by piece. She sighed as I caressed each new expanse of bare skin, placing a kiss here and there while disrobing her. She’d lost a good ten pounds her curves slight and less soft around the edges.
A pang of guilt slithered into my subconscious knowing that she’d lost the weight because of me. Didn’t take care of herself properly because I’d hurt her something awful. I planned on fixin’ it all no matter how long it took. I removed all my own clothes aside from my boxers, and then got into bed next to her. She immediately laid her head onto my bare chest and sighed.
“It’s time to talk, Angel. There are some things you need to know about. Just promise me you’ll hear me out.”
She kissed my bare chest. “Okay, I promise. I’m ready.”
Chapter Nineteen
Hank’s body was warm against my
cheek. His musky citrus scent filled the space around us. I felt at ease for the first time in a month. We hadn’t discussed what happened at his parents’ back in Texas. The sound of him kissing Susie may never leave the deep recesses of my brain. Even though it needed to be discussed. Hank had said things that were just plain bat-shit crazy. He’s moving in? Called me his fiancée, but didn’t bother to put a ring on my finger.
Nestled against Hank’s solid chest, I ran my fingers through the small tufts of hair along his abdomen heading down into the boxers that held one fine piece of male equipment. My mouth watered thinking about reacquainting myself with Hank’s member once more. As my hand started to creep down Hank’s tight muscles, one large hand captured me at the wrist, stopping further explorations down south.
“Darlin’, you start that and we’ll never get to talkin’. Believe me. I need to be balls deep in you something fierce, but I promised you we’d clear the air for good. I want nothin’ in the way of us movin’ on the right path.” He leaned down and kissed me softly, then settled me against his chest once more, lacing his fingers with my wandering hand.
He took a deep breath and spoke. “I was just about to turn twenty-four. Susie was two years younger. She was a smart one—skipped a couple grades in school, so we ended up in high school at the same time. We dated all through high school. With the age difference, we waited to be physical until she was seventeen. Even then I was worried her old man would kill me.” I laughed lightly, thinking fondly of what he must have looked like back then.
“After high school I went on to college a couple hours away, and she stayed back home to help her family out at their farm. Her mama was sick and needed her to take care of her younger siblings. We’d see each other on the weekend, catch up with friends, fuck. It was hard being at college and her being home. So over some time, my visits home started lessening. Our relationship was in trouble, but I still believed I loved her. Was faithful to her.”