“What?” His fingertips rubbed against the skin across my belly.
“I think you’re finally moving on. I think you’re finally letting the past go. I think you’re finally starting to feel things again. It’s been slow progress, but you’ve changed a lot since we met. That never would have happened if you weren’t ready to move on.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
“You spent time with me for a month before we finally had sex. You’ve never done that before.”
“So?”
“I think that means you’re changing. You say you can’t trust anyone again, but you obviously want to.”
Instead of taking my words as a compliment like they were meant to be, they seemed to irritate him. “What did I tell you about analyzing me?”
“I’m not analyzing you—”
“That’s exactly what you’re doing. You’re overthinking my behavior. The truth is, I don’t know why I gave up a month of my life to take you to dinner and spend time with you. I wanted to sleep with you, and maybe having to work for it made it better. Now I paid for another three months of your time because I haven’t stopped thinking about that cunt since the last time I had it. Maybe that means something…but maybe it doesn’t. Maybe you’re just the best sex I’ve ever had and that’s the end of the story.”
I didn’t want to believe that. After the three months passed, we would have been seeing each other for nearly five months. That was a long time to be with the same person, especially for someone like him. He could pretend I meant nothing to him, but eventually, he would realize that wasn’t the case. “I didn’t mean to anger you.”
“You didn’t. I’m just frustrated. I hate it when people tell me how I feel.”
“Sometimes it’s hard to be objective when we’re stuck in our own heads.”
“And sometimes we see things that aren’t really there.” He gave me a look full of accusation.
It turned quiet, our romantic moment zapped away by the tensions between us. It wasn’t my intention to stir up trouble. I just wanted Slate to realize he was letting go of his past, that he was moving forward with me without even noticing it.
Maybe he didn’t want to realize it.
The tension only heightened until it became unbearable.
Perhaps I’d sabotaged our night. “I think I’m going to go…” I turned away to crawl out of bed.
He snatched me and pulled me back. “No.”
“Really? I don’t feel welcome here.”
“Just because you piss me off doesn’t mean I want you to leave.” He hiked my leg back over his hip. “And when I piss you off, which I will, I hope you don’t take off either.”
“Depends on how pissed I am.”
“Well, I’ll try not to piss you off too much…even though I think you’re cute when you’re mad.”
“Then you haven’t seen me truly mad,” I threatened.
He rubbed his nose against mine. “How about we stop talking about the future? How about we save this conversation for three months from now?”
It seemed like every time I brought it up, I made the problem worse. “Alright.”
His fingers moved between my legs, and he rubbed my lips with his fingers. “Are you sore?”
“A bit.”
“It’ll get easier.”
“Is it normal to be sore for a while?” I always thought it would hurt the first time, but then after that, it would feel normal. The second time hurt as much as the first.
“I think you’re just really tight…and I’m larger than average.”
“Sounds like we’re a terrible match.”
He continued to rub my entrance, soothing the pain with his touch. “No…I think we’re perfect together.”
23
Slate
MY BROTHER WAS GETTING MARRIED in two days.
In two days, he would throw his life away—and half of his portion of the company.
I knew she would divorce him quickly, take half of his income so she could have the glamorous life she wanted—without a husband. If she killed him, she could have half the company entirely.
I knew she was a bitch—but she wasn’t that extreme.
The only reason I was going was because I had to. I wasn’t in the wedding, thankfully. That would have been even more awkward. It was just my brother and Simone and two friends, along with my mom and Simone’ parents. It would be on the beach in the Hamptons, a short drive away. Simone probably didn’t want a big wedding because she wouldn’t be married to him longer than a year, and that would just be bad publicity for her. Plus, it would be a waste of money. Maybe she would go big with her second marriage—with my brother’s money.
I stared at the paperwork on my desk, stuff I was bringing to the meeting I had in fifteen minutes. Coen and Simone would be there, wrapping things up before they went on a short honeymoon in the Bahamas.
When they returned, it would be hell.
Jillian spoke into my intercom. “They’re ready for you, sir.”
“Thanks.” I continued to sit there anyway, thinking about the woman who was occupying my bed. I never had women spend the night, but it seemed appropriate for her to stay there until morning. When she cuddled with me, she didn’t make me hot. She didn’t snore. And it was nice seeing her first thing in the morning.
With the exception of the way she analyzed me, she was wonderful company.
Now that she was back, I felt whole again.
Jillian spoke into my intercom again. “I apologize, sir. Miss Simone is getting—”
“I’ll be right there, Jillian.” I snatched the papers off my desk and left my office. Simone hadn’t even married my brother yet, but she was trying to run the company like she was some kind of CEO.
Bitch.
I marched into the conference room and saw her sitting beside Coen, dressed in a black suit with large buttons in the front. She had short hair that was so short she couldn’t pull it back, so she always left it down.
Once I stepped into the room, her smile disappeared, and she gave me an overtly disgruntled look. “Took you long enough.”
I slammed the papers onto the desk before I took a seat. “I was working, not marching down the halls trying to pretend I was working.” When I looked at my brother, I gave him an even angrier look, unable to believe this woman had turned him into the biggest pushover in the world. Men and women could be equals, but Coen let her run with the ball like some kind of idiot. She was the alpha—and he was the beta. It was fucking pathetic. “Running this company is about more than showing up to meetings with color-coded tabs in your folder. Never rush me again.”
Simone twirled her pen in her fingertips, wearing a stoic expression but with a hint of rage in her eyes. “Coen, you’re going to let him talk to me like that?”
“You bet your ass he is,” I said before my brother could say anything. “Because he’s the biggest pussy in the world—and we both know it. The man I used to know had a real sac and a tough spine. Now he’s just a pathetic pushover.”
Coen rose to that insult. “Shut the fuck up—”
“You shut the fuck up.” I slammed my fist onto the table. “In two days, this cunt is going to have you by your balls—for good. I don’t even want to help you anymore because you don’t deserve it. When she rips out your heart and humiliates you in front of the whole world, I’ll be laughing. I’ll be laughing like everyone else.”
Coen balled his hand into a fist as the cords in his neck thickened. He clearly wanted to strike me, but since I was much bigger, that would be a waste of time, not to mention, humiliating.
“Let’s just do this shit.” I opened my folder. “I’ve started negotiations near Jackson Hole. The property is ideal because it’s within the national park at Yellowstone, and it also has stunning views. There’s a lake nearby, so guests can look out their windows and see the buffalo with the naked eye. The property isn’t nearly as expensive as some of our other resorts. If we sta
rt right away, we could have construction completed in eighteen months.” I only looked at my brother because I refused to include her in the discussions.
“You think many people go to Jackson Hole?” Coen asked as he slowly started to calm down.
“There’re limited resorts there, and every time I check availability, there’s almost no vacancy—at any time of year. It’ll be perfect for a cozy lodge, especially in the fall. In the summer, it’ll do just as well because that’s when it’s the most popular.”
Simone took notes as she listened.
I wanted to snatch the pen out of her hand and stab her in the neck with it.
Coen considered it for a long time. “It’s not what we usually do, but it’s not a bad idea.”
“It’s a great idea because it’s guaranteed to do well. Acquiring land is difficult because it’s a national park, but they’ve given us permission to build. We have to adhere to the environmental guidelines for clean energy and proper disposal, but that shouldn’t be difficult. One of my architects found roof tiles that are solar panels. You can’t even tell they’re solar panels.”
“But aren’t they more expensive?”
I shrugged. “They require it.”
Simone kept scribbling notes.
“I think it’s a good idea,” Coen said. “We should do it.” He turned to Simone. “Babe, what do you think?”
I had to swallow the insult sitting on my tongue.
“Yes,” Simone said. “I think it’s a great investment and something we can promote to our existing clientele.”
Our clientele? Fuck, I hated her. She took my virginity, my brother, and now she was trying to take my company. She did nothing to build it into the empire it was, but she got to call it hers, like she had ownership of it already. “Great. I just need a few signatures, and I’ll get everything started.” I pushed the pile of papers toward him, which were marked with tabs so he knew where to sign.
Like an idiot, he didn’t read anything he was signing. He just added his signatures and the date.
Fucking stupid.
I pushed the paper to Simone. “Sign in the same places.”
“Why?” Coen asked. “If we aren’t married?”
“You’ll be married in two days,” I said. “We’ll just have to go back and add her signatures later, and it’ll be a pain. May as well just do it now.”
Like she’d scored a victory, she smiled then added her signatures underneath Coen’s.
She was also stupid.
The papers were returned to me.
I quickly placed them in the folder. “I guess I’ll see you on Saturday.”
“Bringing that brunette?” Simone asked as she watched me rise from the chair.
“Why?” I asked. “Jealous?”
“I think you’re the one who’s jealous.” She moved her hand across the table and rested it on Coen’s.
He squeezed her hand in return.
Why was my family so fucked up? “Yes, I’m bringing her.”
WHEN I LEFT THE OFFICE, I went straight to Monroe’s apartment.
She opened the door after I knocked, wearing a pink dress with a white cardigan. Summer was officially over, but she dressed like she wasn’t ready to say goodbye. “What a nice surprise.”
I stepped over the threshold and kissed her on the mouth, greeting her the way a man greeted his woman. I sucked her bottom lip then gave her some of my tongue, wanting to blow off steam after the shitty day I’d had.
Her hands immediately unbuttoned the front of my shirt and got my belt undone. “You’re frisky today.”
Just pissed off. “My brother is getting married on Saturday. Would you like to come with me?” I hadn’t intended to bring her because the thought hadn’t crossed my mind. Mother would ask a million questions and pry into my personal life. But I didn’t want to give Simone the impression I was alone and lonely. I had a woman a million times better than she ever was. Not only was Monroe beautiful, she had a heart that dwarfed everyone else’s.
“Really?” she asked, clearly surprised by the request. “Yeah, sure. I just hope I have something to wear.”
“It’s on the beach, so anything will be fine.”
“But you guys are like billionaires…”
“Trust me, anything is fine.” My hands peeled her cardigan off her body then I moved to the slender straps over her shoulders. I pushed them down so the thin material would slide off her body, revealing her boobs with taped-down nipples.
I eyed them and tried not to smile.
She quickly covered them and pulled the tape loose. “You didn’t catch me at my finest hour.”
“I’m not judging you.” My hands palmed her free tits, and I swiped my thumb over her nipples, feeling them pebble at my touch. “So, you’ll come with me?”
“Of course. Isn’t your mom gonna be there?”
I nodded. “Yes. And she’ll be obsessed with you. She already asked me a million questions about you.”
“How does she know about me in the first place?”
“She knows I took you to that charity event.” I backed her up toward the bedroom in the corner, where her small queen bed had rumpled sheets because she hadn’t bothered making the bed that morning. When we reached the foot of the bed, I pulled her thong down. After dealing with bullshit all afternoon, I just wanted to fuck pussy.
Her fingers finished my buttons before she removed my tie. She looked me in the eye with a slight smile on her lips, her fingers working my clothing until most of it was on the ground. She popped the button of my slacks and undid the zipper so they would fall to the floor. “You seem stressed.”
“I am.”
Her hands moved up my bare chest as she rose on tiptoes to give me a kiss. It was soft and sweet, full of her vanilla innocence. Her lips moved quicker, and then she gave me her small tongue, keeping the pace slow even though the passion had increased.
Then she abruptly pulled away…and lowered herself to her knees.
I stopped breathing once I saw her face right in front of my dick
“Maybe I can help you relax…” She gripped my thighs and then pressed her lips against my sac. She dropped her kisses everywhere, sliding her tongue across the textured skin as she felt my balls intimately. She kissed and sucked, giving them the same attention my cock always received. Then she grabbed my shaft and pointed the crown right at her mouth. She stuck out her tongue, flattened it, and then started to move in.
Jesus Christ.
Her throat slowly covered my length, her tongue acting as a buffer to keep me slick and protected. She moved as far as she could go without coughing and then slowly pulled me out again. Like she wasn’t in a hurry to speed this up, she kept moving at that pace, letting her throat get used to having a huge dick inside it.
“Look at me.” My hand moved into her hair as I slowly thrust into her mouth.
Her eyes flicked to mine.
I wanted to deep-throat her good and hard, but this woman was too inexperienced for that. She liked things slow and gentle—for now. And I wanted her to keep breathing, so I let her do most of the leading. But when I saw those eyes look into mine, I wanted to come on the spot. “Yes…just like that.”
COEN AND SIMONE were getting married at sunset, so I didn’t need to leave my penthouse until Saturday morning. Since it was a beach wedding, I intended to wear slacks and a collared shirt with sandals. They couldn’t expect me to wear a suit and tie under such conditions.
I picked up Monroe next.
She wore a beautiful purple dress with her hair in big curls. One side was pinned back, so most of her curls were situated on one side of her head. It was a hairstyle I hadn’t seen her wear before, but I liked it. She wore a gold necklace around her throat and flats that would be appropriate for the sand.
“You look beautiful.” I kissed her before I opened the back door for her, taking her bag from her.
“Thank you. You do too.”
“I look beautiful?” I sai
d with a chuckle.
“Yes,” she said with a straight face. “You’re a very beautiful man.” She got into the car.
Once I was in the back seat beside her, we left Manhattan and began the drive toward the tip of Long Island. After we were out of the city, the traffic cleared up, and we started to cruise.
She looked at the ocean, her eyes lit up with joy. “At least it’ll be a beautiful wedding. It’s perfect weather.”
“Yeah.” I didn’t give a damn about the weather. It could rain for all I cared.
“So…what do I tell your mother?”
“About what?” I asked.
“Us. What if she asks?”
“She’s not gonna ask that. I mean, she’ll ask me that but not you.”
“You said your mother is nosy…”
“Then if she does ask, just say we’re seeing each other casually.”
“Alright.” She crossed her legs and looked out the window again, looking stunning as the sunlight hit her just right.
It was unlike me to bring a woman to a family event since I’d never done it before, but having Monroe there would make this trip less of a nightmare. I would watch karma punish my brother for what he did to me—even though it seemed like too harsh of a punishment. We would have dinner, and I would be on my best behavior because I was obligated to keep my mouth shut for twelve hours. Having Monroe there would help with that. When I was the most irritated, she could soothe my rage. And that night, my cock would be balls deep in her pussy, so I had something to look forward to.
“Are you doing okay?” she asked.
“Yes. I’m fine.”
“When your jaw gets tight like that, it either means you’re turned on or angry.”
“Well, you’re in the car, so I would say I’m turned on.”
She glanced at my lap. “If you were, your hard-on would be unmistakable. So you’re just pissed.”
“I’m not looking forward to this. I’ll leave it at that.”
“Because of her? Or because of him?”
Because of everything. I hated my brother for what he did to me, but I didn’t think he deserved this betrayal. Simone was evil, and it shocked me that she’d made it this far in her life. She managed to keep tricking and manipulating people. When would her lies catch up to her? “Both.”
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