by Hamel, B. B.
Pretend for Daddy
BB Hamel
Contents
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1. Ruby
2. Knox
3. Ruby
4. Knox
5. Ruby
6. Knox
7. Ruby
8. Knox
9. Ruby
10. Knox
11. Ruby
12. Knox
13. Ruby
14. Knox
15. Ruby
16. Knox
17. Ruby
18. Knox
19. Ruby
20. Ruby
Also by BB Hamel
Copyright © 2019 by B. B. Hamel
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Cover design by Coverluv Book Designs
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1
Ruby
I yawn and stretch and dig myself deeper into the little nest I’ve built for myself on my boss’s couch.
It’s a little past five in the morning. I know he won’t be here for at least another hour, maybe more if I’m lucky, but I can’t press my luck. I sit up and rub my eyes, exhaustion sitting heavy in my skin.
I look around blearily for a second. The room is large, dominated by a huge wooden desk. Bookshelves line the walls and a little bar is tucked into the corner, Mad Men style. The couch I slept on last night is covered in blankets and some of my discarded clothing, and I’d better get it back into shape before he arrives.
Knox will kill me if finds me here.
I don’t know my boss that well. I mean, I’ve been his secretary for a year now, but he keeps to himself. He’s reserved but not quiet and has this strange, almost magnetic quality about him. He’s a dominating presence and almost hard to be around, at least too closely.
He’s also the most handsome man I’ve ever met. He looks more like a movie star than a business person. Honestly, if I didn’t know any better, I’d guess that he’s a male model.
That doesn’t change the fact that he’s strict, and if he knows I slept on his couch without permission…
I’d probably get fired.
And I can’t afford to get fired right now.
I stretch and let the blanket fall down. I’m wearing only a thin white t-shirt and a pair of boy shorts. They’re a little too small for me now, which is why I only wear them to sleep. I glance at the floor where my jeans are tucked away beside a sweatshirt, and I know I should pull them on, but I’m still barely awake.
Getting fired would be the worst thing in the world. Not because of the money, which would be bad enough.
But right now, I’m not safe anywhere… except right here.
I clench my jaw as I remember what I saw last night when I got home. Knox had me working late, like always, and when I finally got back to my tiny little apartment over a bakery, the smell of bread already starting to fill the space, I nearly screamed.
Everything was ripped apart.
The couch was torn to pieces, my kitchen trashed, my bedroom ransacked. Nothing was stolen…
But everything was destroyed.
Staring at the mess, I knew what it meant.
I just knew.
It was a message.
So I got out of there. I ran as fast as I could and came to the only spot I thought might be safe.
That’s how I ended up on my boss’s couch last night.
I barely slept. I kept waiting for the guys that broke into my apartment to find me half-naked, curled into a little ball, snoozing on my boss’s couch.
That didn’t happen, obviously.
I groan and put my hand on my head.
What the hell am I going to do? I can’t go home. I got away with sleeping on the couch for one night… but for two?
Three?
I’m a mess, I know it.
I stand up, ready to put my pants on, when I hear a noise. I’m not sure what it is at first, but then I hear it again.
Someone humming.
Fear lances through me. I practically dive for my pants, but it’s too late, I know it’s too late. I grab them, shove my feet in the holes…
And promptly fall over. My shoulder slams into the floor and I let out a groan of pain. The humming gets closer… and the door opens.
My boss, Knox Reed, gorgeous beyond sensibility, rich beyond my wildest dreams, stares down at me with an almost bored expression.
Slowly, he switches on the light.
I’m lying there on my side, pain in my shoulder, pants down at my ankles, and I just freeze. I stare up at him in total, abject terror.
But he doesn’t look angry. Instead, his eyes roam my body. I feel my skin flush, red coming to my cheeks, as his eyes linger on my skin. It takes me half a second to realize that my shirt came halfway off in my tumble. Fortunately, it’s covering my breasts…
But barely. And of course I don’t have on a bra.
“You’re going to have to explain to me why you’re lying half naked on my floor,” he says finally after an agonizingly long silence.
The barest hint of a smile flashes across his lips.
“I swear I have a good reason,” I manage to say.
“Go ahead.”
I roll over onto my butt and look at him for a second. “Can I, uh, get dressed first?”
“No.”
I don’t know what to say. He’s staring at me with this look in his eyes and he’s clearly amused…
But he also clearly likes what he’s seeing.
“I, uh—”
“I’m kidding,” he says softly. “You can put your pants on.”
I smile uncertainly and manage to get to my feet. I start to pull them on but he stops me by clearing his throat.
“Turn around,” he says softly.
I blink rapidly, blushing all over. But slowly, I turn, and finish pulling my jeans up. They’re tight and they cling to my body as I pull them up over my ass. He watches carefully, desire clear in his expression. When they’re on, I button them and turn back to him, adjusting my shirt.
My nipples are hard and clear through the thin white cloth.
I’ve never been more embarrassed in my entire life. I should probably be angry that my boss wants to look at my ass and stare at my body like this, but I’m honestly just so relieved that he’s not yelling. I’d let him stare at me naked if he just doesn’t get angry.
Okay, maybe not literally. I do have some dignity left, after all.
“Now,” he says softly, glancing over at the blankets on his couch, “tell me why you slept on my couch last night.”
He finishes coming into his office. He puts his bag down beside his desk and sits in his chair.
He’s a big man, tall and broad and muscular. I think he’s forty, but he doesn’t look a day over thirty. His eyes are green and sharp and his cheeks always have that perfect amount of stubble, even this early in the morning.
“I’m sorry,” I say quickly. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know where else to go.”
He holds up a hand. “Please. Just sit down and gather yourself for a second, okay?”
I nod, trying to shove back my tears. The embarrassment and fear come flooding back now that he’s not trying to eye fuck me anymore. I walk over and sit down in one of the chairs in front of his desk.
He looks at his computer idly, clicking and logging in as I gather m
yself. Finally, he looks in my direction.
“Okay. Ready?”
I nod. “I’m sorry,” I start again, this time without the tears. “I really am.”
“That’s fine. Just explain why.”
He still doesn’t sound angry. And that’s not like him.
Then again, Knox isn’t the kind of man that needs to yell to express disapproval.
He’s hard to please. He always has been, at least as long as I’ve been working as his secretary. Those first few weeks were hell as I tried to learn his system and get everything down the way he liked it. Things have been good now for a few months but every once in a while, I do something incorrectly…
And he lets me know it. He arches an eyebrow, frowns slightly, and shakes his head. “Try again, Ruby,” he says. I hate those words with a passion.
Sometimes I wish he would yell at me.
But he’s not giving me that look right now.
Instead, he just seems…
Curious.
“I don’t feel safe at home,” I finally manage to say.
That makes him frown. He leans toward me again, his eyes flashing down toward my breasts for the briefest of moments. I’m very aware of myself and feel that flush return.
I wish I could say that I don’t like it when he looks at my body, but I’d be lying.
He’s my boss and twice my age. I should want to keep my distance. But instead, the idea of him looking at me like that…
Well, it sends a thrill down my spine.
We’ve never so much as hinted at anything beyond a professional relationship, so this is very…
Surprising.
But I don’t have time to analyze that right now.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
“I think so,” I say quickly. “I got home last night after work and my apartment had been broken into.”
He leans back. “Did you call the police?”
I hesitate, grasping for words.
No, I didn’t call the police. I can’t call the police. I don’t want to get them involved, if they get involved, things might get more complicated, and…
There’s a reason I’ve been running.
I want to say all that. Explain to him the truth.
But I can’t.
“I was too afraid,” I finally say. “I wasn’t thinking. I just… freaked out.”
“So you came here.” He frowns slightly.
Halfway to that disapproving look.
“It was the safest place I could think of. I just had to get out of that apartment. I’m so sorry, I didn’t meant to, I’ll never do it again, I’ll—”
He holds up a hand and sighs. “Enough. I understand.”
I stop talking and chew on my lip. I can feel the tears again but I push them back.
I’m not going to cry in front of him. He caught me off guard once, but I won’t let that happen again.
“I can forgive you,” he says softly. “But you’re going to have to do something for me.”
I nod once. “Anything.”
That little smile comes ghosting back onto his lips. “Are you sure about that, Ruby? Anything?”
I nod once. “I value our relationship, Knox. Our, ah, working relationship.”
The smile spreads a bit. “Do you?”
“Yes. You’ve been good to me. I don’t want to take advantage of that.”
“How have I been good to you?”
I glance down at the floor. Carpeted, plush and dark gray.
“You gave me a job when nobody else would,” I say. “I dropped out of high school, didn’t go to college. I don’t have a lot of options. So just hiring me… that was taking a chance.”
“You’ve lived up to that chance,” he says.
I look up at him, a little surprised. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him praise me before.
“Really?”
“Absolutely. Ruby, Ruby, Ruby. I’ve had so many secretaries and assistants come through here, and you’re the first that I’ve actually liked.” He finally gives me a real smile and warmth floods through my body.
“Thank you,” I say.
“But if you’re really willing to do anything…” He trails off and stands. I watch as he comes around the desk and hesitates next to me. He puts his hand on my shoulder as I look up into his green eyes. “Come finished getting changed.”
I only hesitate the barest of moments. I slowly stand and drift along beside him, over to where my clothes are throw in a pile on the floor. He nods down at them.
“Go ahead,” he says.
I meet his eyes. I know what he wants.
And god, the flood of desire that’s coursing through my veins, the dripping wet between my legs…
I think I want it too.
Without a word, I pull my shirt off.
His eyes drift over my skin. He licks his lips, almost absently, as he looks at my breasts. My heart’s hammering so fast in my chest I think I might pass out but I manage to bend down and pick up my bra. I hesitate a moment, letting him look at me…
Letting him get his fill.
Slowly, I put my bra on. He doesn’t say a word as I pick up the button-down shirt I grabbed from my closet. I pull it on over my bra and slowly button it up.
“Are you wearing jeans to work?” he asks softly.
I shake my head. I find the slacks I planned to change into. I glance back at him and he’s still watching, his face placid, his eyes burning.
I take the jeans off. I let him stare at my ass, barely covered by the boy shorts. I know I’ll have to change them sooner rather than later… especially now that they’re dripping wet.
I pull the slacks on. I do it slowly… I let him watch.
When I’m done, I tuck in my shirt and turn to him.
“How’s this?” I ask.
He cocks his head and steps toward me. He pushes a stray lock of auburn hair back over my ear. “Beautiful,” he says softly. “Clean up your mess and head to your desk.”
I nod once. I bite my lip and stare into his eyes…
And he steps closer to me, kissing me softly on the lips.
I nearly fall over. The kiss slows, soft and simple. His lips feel incredible against mine. I think I might pass out…
But he pulls back, lingering for just a short moment.
“You’re dismissed, Ruby,” he whispers.
Before walking back to his desk and sitting down. He looks at his computer screen like I’m not still rooted in place, blinking rapidly, trying to get myself under control.
After a moment, I find myself, and manage to grab all my stuff. I shove it into the bag I brought, hurriedly grabbed from my closet. I run out of his office, heart beating wildly.
In the bathroom, alone again finally, I lean against the sink and stare into the mirror.
I’m blushing like crazy.
I can’t believe he kissed me. Knox Reed kissed me. He looked at my body like that, like he wanted me so badly he could almost scream, and I wanted him to take me. If he told me to get down on my knees, to suck his cock, to swallow his cum….
To let him fuck me into submission…
I would’ve done it without question.
I wanted it.
Instead, he only gave me that kiss.
“Shit,” I whisper and splash water into my face.
Home isn’t safe for me right now. And I’m afraid work is quickly becoming even worse.
2
Knox
As soon as I sit back down at my desk, I have to take deep breaths to keep myself in check. Ruby practically runs from my office and I watch her go, desire coursing through my veins.
God damn, that was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.
I wanted her. Right there, right on that couch. The moment I walked in and saw her in that… compromising position… I wanted her.
Splayed out on my couch, legs spread, pussy dripping wet, my cock sinking deep inside of her sweet spot while she gyrates, sweat falling on
her gorgeous porcelain skin…
I wanted her badly.
But I held back.
I clear my throat and hum softly to myself, thinking. I know I hum, I do it all the time. I can’t help myself.
It helps me think.
Finally, I pick up my phone and dial.
“Mitch here,” the man grunts on the other end of the line.
“Mitch, this is Knox,” I say.
“How are you? Early for a call.”
I glance at the clock. “Sorry, you’re right.”
“It’s fine. I’m up before dawn most days, anyway.”
I glance down at my desk for a moment. “I need you to do some digging.”
“Yeah?” He grunts something and curses. “Sorry. You still there?”
“I’m here.”
“Who’s the target?”
“My secretary.”
He’s quiet for a moment. “Pretty girl, red hair?”
“Auburn,” I correct.
“Sorry?”
“Her hair. It’s reddish brown.”
“Right.”
“Sorry. Not important.” I clear my throat, kicking myself. “Yes, I need you to dig into her.”
“I recall I did some brief work on her when you hired her, like you do with all your employees.”
“That’s right.” I close my eyes for a moment. “And you found nothing.”
“Nothing at all,” he confirms. “She was like a ghost. Never seen it before. She’s got a legal identity but it’s like…”
“Like it was just created.”
“Yeah.” He clears his throat again. “You want me to look into that some more? Wasn’t that a year ago?”
“Just about. And yes, if you wouldn’t mind.” I consider telling him about what just happened, but I decide against it.
He’s quiet for a moment. “Usual price,” he says. “I’ll let you know if I need overtime.”