by M. K. Gilher
I suck in a sharp breath. How did he… I didn't even mention Bryn. I should've known his military intellect would suss out my motives.
He turns his head and focuses his solemn gaze on me. His eyes darken and glint. "Not intentionally."
Oh god. He let me see! In that brief flare in his eyes and those two words, I caught a glimpse inside. Determination. Integrity. I believe him. He's a good man. He won't hurt my Bryn.
I look down and finish my descent from the monster machine. My garter and the top of my stocking peek out as I walk into the elevator and press the eleventh-floor button. Oh boy, I'll need to do something about this rip in my skirt. I turn and wave at Shane.
He watches me stoney-faced. A split second before the doors close between us, he flashes me a grin. No teeth, but definitely more than a smirk.
Yep, I'm making huge progress with him.
Ping.
The elevator doors separate as I hunt for my keys in my clutch. My heel catches on the rug, and my skirt tears more.
Fantastic.
The frosted glass windows on the office door welcome me to normalcy.
With one push, the unlocked door opens. Aunt Helen and Uncle Bernie's impassioned voices filter to me. Why are they here this early?
I tiptoe into the waiting room, careful my feet aren't visible underneath the gap in the employee door.
"C'mon, Ellie. What's wrong?" Uncle Bernie's voice.
"Don't call me Ellie. It reminds me of Vera."
I wrap my arms around my stomach. Did my mother call her Ellie?
I've never heard Aunt Helen bicker with Uncle Bernie like this. They're usually all lovey-dovey when I'm within earshot.
"Bernard, give me the truth. None of your silver-tongued crap."
"Fine."
"In the hospital, Gerry whispered in my ear. He said that you're… that you're…"
"I'm what?" His pitch rises. "Jesus, Helen. Just say it!"
"That you're gay." The defeat in her voice slashes my spirit.
Uncle Bernie snickers but doesn't counter.
"Tell me it isn't true." She pleads with him.
"Stop. We're not discussing this here," Uncle Bernie snaps.
"When are we going to talk about it? You're rarely home. It's been bothering me for weeks." Aunt Helen's voice cracks. "Bernard, are you sleeping with… men?"
"Shut up, Helen. You're talking fucking nonsense."
My hand flies to my chest, and my heart thumps under my fingertips. I can't believe the belligerence in his voice.
"You don't deny it?" Aunt Helen whispers.
She's right. He didn't deny it. Be straightforward with your wife, Uncle Bernie.
Whoosh!
A rough hand covers my mouth and spins me around.
Jacade! Fuck, you scared me. My heart pounds in my throat.
He holds his index finger in front of his lips. His arm wraps around my waist and lifts me. He steps back and settles us on a chair with me sitting in his lap. I try to catch my breath without being heard.
"Your crazy is showing, Helen. Look at the source. You'd believe Gerry Boothby of all people?"
Jacade's hand wanders down my thigh and lingers over the tear in my skirt. His finger skims under the rip and explores the tip of my stocking. He swallows and licks his lips against my neck.
His other hand tickles my waist. I squirm in his lap and tug at his hands. Do you mind, Dr. Wandering Hands Jordan? I'm trying to eavesdrop here.
"Are you unhappy with me? Do you want to be with men?" Aunt Helen asks.
Jacade's lips press a warm, wet kiss to the nape of my neck.
Uncle Bernie's voice thickens with malice. "It doesn't matter what I say, Helen. You're not gonna believe me anyway. You have to control everything and everyone around you!"
"You're getting defensive and I was only—"
"You were only pushing your authority around. Just because you're Ray's daughter doesn't mean you can go around accusing me of shit."
"This has nothing to do with my father."
Snap!
Ow! Pain stings my leg. What the… Jacade snapped my garter on my skin. Dang him!
I scowl at him over my shoulder while I rub my thigh with the heel of my hand.
He bites his bottom lip.
"Be direct with me, please. That's all I've ever wanted."
He's lucky they didn't hear the snap.
"Haven't I always given you the whole story, Ellie?"
Aunt Helen growls. "I'm not sure anymore, Bern."
I dig out my cell phone and text Jacade.
Me: I'm going in there.
His phone vibrates in his pocket. He pulls it out, and his fingers glide over the screen.
J: Your outfit is hawt.
Me: Stay focused, Dr. Jordan.
J: I'm focused on the slit in your skirt.
"I can't believe you're having an affair with a man," Aunt Helen says.
"There is no affair," Uncle Bernie responds offhandedly.
Me: There is totally an affair.
J: Let's have an affair right here on the floor.
Me: Jacade! He's lying to her face!
J: Do not get in the middle of this.
He pins me with his eyes. I scrunch my face at him.
Me: Why not? She deserves to know.
J: Because then I'm in the middle of this.
I drop my phone and break away from him. I stomp to the employee door and shove it open.
Aunt Helen turns to me and fiddles with her collar. "Oh, Ivy. Hello. You're uh, back."
Uncle Bernie coughs and focuses on the check-in desk. Can't look me in the eye, huh?
"Morning, Ivy." Uncle Bernie paints a warm smile on his face that I now know is a practiced lie.
Deceitful swine.
I stand next to Aunt Helen and face Uncle Bernie. Jacade waltzes in behind me and leans his shoulder on the doorframe with his hands in his pockets. He frowns at me because now he's involved.
"I heard you guys talking." They glance at each other then back at me, their faces blank. I wait till Uncle Bernie looks me in the eye. "Tell her you're cheating on her."
Uncle Bernie's eyes flare. He takes a step to the left and talks directly to Jacade. "You told her about Chowder?"
Jacade clears his throat. "No. She heard it through my cell phone." Jacade smirks at Uncle Bernie. "But you just told your wife."
"Chowder? Trip's friend?" Aunt Helen glances between Jacade and me, her jaw hanging open.
Uncle Bernie's body goes rigid. Where are your smooth lines now, dear uncle?
"Yep." Jacade stares at his fingernails. "She also heard all about Viktor." Jacade speaks casually without looking up.
The air in the room turns to cement, and we all stand frozen like ice sculptures.
Aunt Helen is the first to unthaw. She inclines her head toward Uncle Bernie. "Viktor?"
She takes a stunted step toward him. "Viktor?" Her hands tremble and her voice shakes.
"Helen. Calm down. Of course not."
"Viktor?" Her shoulders rise, and her back stiffens. "He's been causing Ivy trouble for years. He nearly killed her. And you had"—her voice lowers to a hiss—"sex with him?"
Uncle Bernie's face puffs up and turns red. He marches past me and stops in front of Jacade. "You piece of shit!" He launches his right fist at Jacade's face.
Jacade catches his punch without moving from the wall. His fingers tighten, and he wrenches Uncle Bernie's arm back at an awkward angle.
"Fuck!" Uncle Bernie winces and throws his left arm. Jacade blocks it and stands up from the wall. With a fluid swipe, Jacade works his arm under Uncle Bernie's shoulder. He presses down and Uncle Bernie buckles forward.
"Is that all you got, pops?"
"Jacade." Aunt Helen warns him to stop, but I think it's too late.
Uncle Bernie struggles to break free, but Jacade tightens his hold and Uncle Bernie grimaces in pain. Jacade presses his lips together and jams his knee into Uncle Bernie's stomac
h. Oh no.
"Ugh!" Uncle Bernie groans and collapses.
Jacade drops him to the floor. Aunt Helen pushes her way between them. Jacade holds his shoulders back and breathes fire down on Uncle Bernie at his feet.
"I don't care who you are now, Trip. Back off!" Her astringent order startles me.
Jacade glares at Aunt Helen and huffs out a harsh breath. Uncle Bernie sits back on his ankles and coughs. His breathing is short and ragged.
I wish I felt pity for him, but I don't. He's lied to all of us at some point.
"Maybe you can borrow your woman's balls when you come at me again," Jacade sneers as they stare each other down.
"Aunt Helen…" I reach one hand out to her.
"Ivy, not now." She holds her palms up to me. Her crimson face emphasizes the grooves in her forehead. "I need to get out of here." She scans the room.
I should tell her I'm sorry. I didn't intend to wreck her marriage. But she needed to know.
Jacade seizes me by the shoulders and pushes me toward his office. His hands squeeze tight, and his breath heaves in my ear.
He locks the door to his office and faces me with clenched fists, a storm brewing in his eyes.
"When I tell you to stay out of it." His chest rises and falls with harsh movements. "You stay out of it."
"What was I supposed to do?" I shrug and drop my arms to my sides.
"You're supposed to listen to me the first fucking time!" He marches to the desk. He kicks the office chair to the side, crashing it against the wall.
"Why are you mad? I'm the one who'll have to deal with the family drama."
He tents his fingers on the desk and glares at me. "When the fuck are you going to get it, Ivy?" His nostrils flare. "Do I need to drill into your skull and scream into the open cavity? Your actions affect me. My actions affect you!"
He yanks the drawer open and rummages through the mess. He tosses a box of staples onto the desk.
Umm, staples? Why does he need those?
I cross my arms over my chest. I understand why he's irritated, but he's not my warden. He doesn't get to tell me what I can and cannot do.
"I texted you what I was about to do."
He pauses and stares at me. "And I told you not to do it." A wood knob protrudes between his index and middle fingers. "Fuck, Ivy! You just ruined his marriage."
"I didn't ruin it. He did."
He slams the desk drawer, and I jump back.
"Come here." He grinds his teeth.
No way. Uh uh. Not going over there.
"Ivy, don't make me come get you." He enunciates his words.
Shoot. I've roused the panther.
"Come here."
I press my lips together and stay rooted.
He growls and stalks to me. If I run, he'll catch me. I can't fight him, he's too strong. He hovers over me. I cower under the blanket of his wrath.
"You say you want me and this life." His eyes are on fire. "You've agreed to my terms, so when I tell you to do something, you do it."
"This is about my family, Jacade."
"No. I'm your family. From this point on, it's only about you and me."
There's nothing I can say to that. I chose this life. He gave me time, and my decision was to be with him.
"Put your hands on the desk."
My mouth drops open as I stare at the sea of flames in his eyes. Sweat beads on my trembling thighs. My incensed beast focusing all his ire on me kindles a dangerous ember deep in my belly. What's he going to do? He wouldn't hurt me, would he?
I pivot on my heels and fan my fingers on the desk.
His palms skim up my calves to my knees. He hitches the hem of my skirt above my hips, baring my garter and thong. The cool air kisses my bare skin.
"Jesus, Ivy."
I hold my breath as his warm hand caresses my ass.
Smack!
A painful thwack lands on my left butt cheek! The sting radiates down my leg. I gasp and shoot up. I angle my chin over my shoulder and scowl at him.
"What do you think you—"
He pinches his thumb and index finger into the back of my neck and forces me back down to the desk.
Smack!
"Ow! Jacade!" Fire flares on my right butt cheek, the bite much more intense than the last hit. I grunt and wait for the pain to dissipate. His hand lingers on my ass. Something hard presses into the flesh. What the hell?
Smack!
He hits my left butt cheek just south of the previous impact site. The unfamiliar press to my skin follows again. What is he—
Smack! Then a press.
Smack! Then a press.
My fingers squeak on the varnish. He grunts and breathes heavily behind me. His strength, his silent intensity, being bared before him like this. There's no humiliation here. He's in command and I'm taking it. My clit throbs against the thin lining of my thong.
I lower my head to the desk and rest on my elbows, my behind bent high in the air.
Smack! Press.
Smack! Press.
Inhale. Exhale. A bonfire blazes on my ass. Nothing else exists except the scorching conflagration on my backside.
"Never disobey me. Understood?" God, the rasp in his voice is so sexy.
I nod.
"Words, Ivy." He sighs.
"Yes, Sir."
"Ah, good girl."
Smack! Press.
Smack! Press.
The rough fabric of his dress pants scratches my backside. His fingers dig into my hips like torches. He yanks me up against him and wedges his erection into the crack of my ass. Our bodies lunge forward over the desk with his powerful thrust. He pulls me back into position, jamming the cold metal of his belt buckle into my spine. His hand caresses my burning behind, easing the pain and fueling my desire.
"Please. Touch me, Jacade."
He slides his hand around my hip and into my thong, smashing my clit with his palm. His long middle finger teases my entrance.
"Ugh!" I moan and my breaths evaporate.
He slides his hand deeper, shoving two fingers inside me. He drags it back up and mashes his palm into my clit again.
God. Heaven.
My knees buckle, but he catches me with an arm slanted across my chest. His hand on my shoulder tugs my body back against him.
"I've got you." He growls in my ear and softens his touch. A shocking, gentle touch compared to the aggressive swats and rubbing he just doled out.
He pulls his hand out of my panties, and I whimper.
"Just a second, baby. I know."
His leather belt skims my ass as he loosens it. He drapes the belt over my shoulder, the cool buckle on the small of my back. The smell of warm leather emits from the pointed end near my face. Slippery oil drips down my backside and into my crack. I gasp when his fingers trace down the crack of my ass and wiggle inside.
"Oh god."
"That's right."
He removes his fingers, and his tip presses at my back entrance. He groans and stretches me as he slides inside.
"Fuck, so tight."
He pushes my shoulder blades down so I'm flush with the desk and my hips angle higher. With a primal moan, he jabs his rock-hard cock into me. His hips scrape against my glowing ass.
"My god!" It's too much. I can't take it.
"Hush."
He returns his hand to my front and presses my clit with his palm. His long fingers reach deep and sink inside my pussy. He's got me pinned from all sides. All I can do is relax and experience the new sensations. He grunts as he rocks into me from behind, rubbing my clit with brutal precision and reaching into my sex. Prisms of light explode in my brain. My orgasm flings me off a bluff and into freefall.
Jacade sucks in a sharp breath and exhales a long, deep moan in my ear. He pumps into me as he comes. He slows and stays rooted. He bends over my back and kisses my ear, my shoulder. I turn my head and catch his lips and he kisses me, hot and wet over my shoulder.
God. Yum.
He pulls o
ut and lowers me to the desk. My harsh breaths mist on the polished wood. He massages my backside with tender strokes.
He turns me and gathers me into a bear hug. His hooded eyes warm my soul. The panther has vanished and peacefully snoozes.
"Look at you. Red cheeks and ass, your hair wild, your face satisfied, trusting, in love. I'll always remember you like this. Sated, stunning, full of my come." He bends to kiss me, grabbing my butt cheek and pressing his forehead to mine.
"Uh, wow," is all I can manage to say.
"You did well." He sucks on my bottom lip.
"I need to use the restroom." I extract myself from his embrace. As I walk away, I shake my tushie at him, and he growls.
In the bathroom, I collect myself and inspect the damage on my behind. I stand on my tippy toes and look over my shoulder into the mirror.
Oh. My. God.
My butt cheeks are fire-engine red with fine writing speckled all over. What the hell?
I swivel from side to side. He spanked me with his signature stamp in his hand!
Smack! Press.
He branded me!
I yank open the door. He stands in the doorway with a sly grin and lazy eyes. He raises a rubber stamp with a wooden handle in his right hand.
"You trademarked my ass!" My shrill voice resonates off the tile.
"I prefer to call it declaring my property." The corner of his mouth quirks up.
I flail my arms in the air. "I'm not cattle, Jacade! You can't just…just… You can't mark me!"
He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me to him.
"Be thankful I didn't use ink," he mutters in my ear.
I bury my head in his chest. "Oh my god."
He lifts the stapler in his left hand. "Hold your skirt together. I'll fix it."
Clip, clip.
I giggle as two staples fall to the floor.
I do as I'm told. He drops to his knees in front of me and staples my torn skirt closed. He puts the stapler on the floor and pulls me to him by my butt cheeks. He kisses my navel and squeezes my ass. The rawness is wearing off, but the tingles remain. My god, this man. I wrap my hands around his head, throw my head back, and laugh.
He stands and smiles at me. "Let's go for a walk. Not safe to talk here."
He grabs my coat off the rack in my office and guides me with his hand on the small of my back. We both smirk as we trek down the elevator to the street. We've left our mark all over this place, and something as simple as walking outside creates a cacophony of illicit encounters.