Chapter 26
CHAPTER 26
K acey
“If you don’t answer that goddamn phone, I’m going to rip it out of your hands and do it myself.”
“He’s calling again,” I told her. Now I was thankful I’d parked my rental car on another block. I didn’t want the off chance he’d see and remember what I drove to work. I wouldn’t put anything past the man.
“Well, maybe he wants to apologize.”
“I doubt it. Men like Sebastian Winfield do not apologize.”
“Don’t underestimate him.” Stephanie sat down on the couch, immediately reaching for her wine.
I had barely taken a sip of mine since we’d gotten back to her house. I’d done nothing but fume. Even my father had attempted to call me twice. I’d also ignored those. I had no idea what to say to either one of them. But I’d need to figure it out before the morning, I’d left like an impetuous child and that wasn’t like me at all.
No matter how I felt about Sebastian, I did have a job to do. But I wouldn’t do it over the phone. “You’re right. I know you are. I’m just trying to shut down my heart, so it doesn’t get hurt. Maybe it was just too soon after the asshole in New York, who will remain nameless.”
She threw up her hand. “I’m not saying anything except…”
“Here we go.”
“You could do a lot worse than Sebastian Winfield. Let’s do the pros and cons. Pro. He’s hot as sin, filth on a stick, yummy in the tummy.”
“Good God, girl.”
“His brother isn’t too bad either. I could do him.”
“Who are we talking about now?”
She laughed. “I’m just saying the family has good genes. A plus. He’s charming and has excellent tastes.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because he picked you.” She leaned over, knowing exactly how I would react.
We both said ‘aw’ at the same time.
“I’m serious though. You said he’s romantic. Right?”
I nodded. “He acts like he doesn’t want to be, but he is. Okay, another plus.” The night had been so romantic and to have it tossed into the limelight without context was sickening.
“And get this. He’s rich! Like holy moly rich. What’s not to love? You never need to work another day in your life.”
“But I want to. I aspire to so many things. That’s another reason his possible betrayal hurts so much. He promised me a vice presidency position.”
She choked on her wine. “You’re kidding.”
“No, I’m not. At the new company of course.”
“Another plus. What are the negatives?”
“He’s my boss,” I told her.
“There’s that, but if true love is involved, the working relationship could easily be rectified. Don’t allow that to stand in your way of happiness.”
“Ugh. I know.” I threw my head back, placing my hand over my eyes. “I just don’t like feeling used.”
“No one does. Call him on the carpet and see how he handles it. The measure of a man isn’t just in the size of his dick, but in his ability to grovel.”
I snorted. “That is the most profound thing you’ve ever said.”
“Thank you very much.”
“How good of a hacker are you?” I asked on a whim.
Her sly smile didn’t surprise me. Nothing about her talents did any longer. “How deep do you want to dive?”
“There has to be a paper trail of some kind. Drake was acting very weird when I tried to take files.”
She shrugged. “Easy peasy. As long as his passcode isn’t a million letters and numbers long. I checked that hotel for you.”
“You did?”
“I’m not just a pretty face.”
“And?”
“And if he was meeting someone in a room, he used a different name. Dead end there.”
“Shit,” I growled. “Following him sounds like a plan.”
“Unless he’s too cagey for that.”
She was right. Drake knew Sebastian was breathing down his neck. “Maybe there’s some odd connection with Waterhouse Industries to World Hospitality Corporation. Doesn’t the state keep records of the registered agent and the boards of directors?”
“Yeah, but they could easily lie.”
“And I wouldn’t put it past him. There’s too much money at stake.”
The doorbell was jarring and I immediately snapped my head toward the door. “I can’t be seen by anyone.”
“Well, put your wig on. I’ll get the door. Run and hide in the kitchen, scaredy cat.”
I replaced the glass of wine in my hand with the wig, scampering around the end of the coffee table into the kitchen.
“Hi,” I heard Stephanie say less than a minute later.
“Is she here?” The deep and demanding male voice sent shivers down my spine.
“Who are you talking about and who are you?”
“Stephanie, you know who I am and why I’m here. Now, answer the question. I need to see Kacey.”
“Only if you apologize,” Stephanie insisted. “You hurt her tremendously and that woman doesn’t deserve it. She’s a kind and loving person and for some crazy reason she’s fallen hard for you. I’m appalled a man of your stature and I’m not talking about inches here would treat anyone the way you have.”
I knew I should have stopped Stephanie in the middle of her tirade, but I couldn’t help myself. I longed to hear his comeback. If he flew off the handle, I’d have my answer and do my best to remove myself from dealing with him ever again.
“You’re right, although I didn’t intend to hurt her. She is the most incredible person I’ve ever met in my life. She’s the kind of light that allows a man to flourish even in the blackest of nights.”
I slunk around the corner into the living room, slowly removing the wig. “You really think that?”
Stephanie’s expression was one of awe.
“I do,” he said in a soft and rugged voice.
“I think I’ll go shopping. Or maybe I’ll go hunting for a romantic man myself.” My bestie grabbed her keys and purse, gathering her laptop and giving me a mischievous smile before walking out the door leaving us alone.
He was absolutely the hottest man alive. “You should be modeling,” I said.
“You think?”
“I do.”
Sebastian inched closer. “It’s worth a thought.”
“Any news?” I asked, still nervous around the man.
“Other than there’s a mandatory board meeting at nine in the morning, no.”
“Oh, shit.”
“Don’t worry, Kacey. I have a few tricks up my sleeve.”
“But what about solid evidence?”
He chuckled. “I have enough.”
“I can help you. I tailed him earlier. He was talking to someone and mentioned it had to end now.”
His eyes flashed and he pointed his finger at me. “You will not get involved. Do you understand?”
“But I can help.”
“You are perfectly capable of doing anything you set your mind to, but that’s what worries me. You’re going to dig yourself a grave and I refuse to allow that to happen. Remember, my rules. And you will obey me.”
I gave him a funny look. “Why, yes, sir.”
“I’m not kidding, Kace. You have no understanding of how ruthless Drake can be.”
“But you’re merciless.”
He grinned as he allowed his gaze to fall. “Interesting outfit.”
“Changing the subject on me?”
“There’s no need to discuss it any further. You’re going to do nothing. My orders.”
“You like pink and purple?” Orders, shmorders. I wasn’t the kind of girl to play by anyone’s rules.
“On you I’d like anything, but it’s even better when you’re wearing nothing.” He inched even closer until we were only a foot apart.
I tossed the wig onto the end table and tugged at the pin holding my long hair in place. “We were doing a little sleuthing. I didn’t want to be recognized.”
“You were? Not a good idea. I don’t want my baby hurt.”
“I’m your baby?” I took a small step closer until the scent of the man wafted into my system. As always, around him I was on fire.
“I hope so.” He folded his fingers, brushing his knuckles across my cheek. “What you heard wasn’t all of what I was saying.”
“I just didn’t…”
“You didn’t trust me because you felt you couldn’t.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have run off. That was childish of me.”
“Well, Daniel and I made things even worse by getting into it. That should never have occurred. I’m sorry you had to overhear something that wasn’t meant to hurt you and I’m furious with myself for losing my cool. Daniel is my friend and I hope this will blow over, but I don’t want to lose you over the anger or the worry about the company. But I’ll understand if you need to take a step back. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t like it, but I will understand.”
He’d already lost the jacket and tie somewhere along the way, his shirt unbuttoned and his sleeves rolled over his elbows. Just the way I liked him. I fiddled with a button on his shirt, darting a few glances into his soulful eyes.
“You apologized to me?” I asked, giving him a wicked look.
He half laughed and grabbed a handful of my dress, yanking me against him. “I did. Do you need me to do it again?”
“Oh, yes. I believe I do.” I pressed my palms against his chest, already swooning because of being in his arms.
“I’m sorry that you had to hear a tirade, but I’m not sorry you learned how important you are to me. And you are. More than you know.” He slid one hand around the back of my neck, squeezing possessively. With the other, he swept his fingers down to the edge of the back of my dress, brushing his hand up along the inside of one thigh, gripping my butt cheek. “But right now, I couldn’t care less about the politics or semantics of the office. I won’t be refused what I want by anyone.”
There were times being in his arms allowed me to lose control. This was one of those times. As he captured my mouth, holding our lips in place, we both seemed frozen in time. But that didn’t last long. Yes, I was worried Stephanie would return, catching us in the sinful act, but my needs outweighed any concept of common sense.
He thrust his tongue inside and that was an awakening for both of us. The kiss lasted only a few seconds before we were ripping at each other’s clothes, barely breathing as our frantic need to feel the heat of the other’s body took over.
I was crazed with desire, no longer able to focus. I heard buttons popping on his shirt as I struggled to free him. I needed the touch. I craved the sizzle on my fingers. Panting, I ripped it from his shoulders and he took over, jerking it aside. But he wasn’t going to allow me to have any control.
Sebastian pulled the dress over my head, taking time to gaze down the length of me while growling like some beast in the wild. But the tights were a hindrance and he yanked at them, refusing to allow me time to remove the thin material properly.
I giggled when they were ripped from the force he used, making note to myself I’d need to buy Stephanie a new pair. He wasn’t troubled in the least, pulling the remnants off my feet before taking a step away.
He slowed just enough to allow me to bask in his good looks while unfastening his belt. I licked my lips to torment him just as he liked. And hated… I took one long stride toward him, squeezing his muscular arms while pressing heated kisses on his chest.
“Careful, little girl. I’m hot and bothered tonight.”
“And I’m not?” I licked his skin and he jerked down his trousers, barely kicking out of his shoes and the linen material before sweeping me into his arms.
When he drove me against the wall, I threw my arms out, knocking off a picture. We both laughed before he consumed my mouth all over again.
The taste of him fueled every dangerous longing, shoving aside all my remaining inhibitions. I scratched his back, rolling my fingers up and down. I’d leave marks. Good. I wanted everyone to know he was mine.
All mine.
He wasted no time, driving his throbbing cock deep inside. I moaned into the kiss, which he caught, every muscle tightening, my pussy clenching and releasing.
A few seconds later he broke the kiss, both of us panting wildly while he pulled one of my arms over my head then the other, easily grasping my wrists with one massive hand. I wiggled and moaned, tossing my head back and forth.
I wrapped both legs around him, intertwining my feet as he pushed me further up on the wall. A dark chuckle rumbled up from his chest as he rolled onto the balls of his feet, pulling out then plunging into me again. The force drove me against the surface, knocking the wind out of me.
And I loved every second of it.
He had full control over me, thrusting harder than he had before. We were wild together, our needs insatiable. I tried to look in his eyes, but the pleasure was intense, so much so I knew I was losing my mind. Stars in bright colors appeared, shifting back and forth in a powerful dance.
He wasn’t stopping, the thick cords in his neck strained, every muscle in his body tense as he fucked me. He was a creation of beauty I could stare at for hours. The brutal pounding against the surface continued jarring everything on the wall.
A loud thump coming from other room made me laugh. We were likely going to destroy my friend’s house.
He nipped my lower lip, pulling it into his mouth and sucking. All I could do was undulate against him and moan, the sound as dark as his had been.
He wasn’t finished, jerking me away from the wall, cradling me against him as he took three long strides toward the couch. I could tell the coffee table was scooted aside, the man stronger than any I’d been with.
As he dumped me onto the cushions, I scrambled onto my knees, reaching for his cock. The moment I wrapped both hands around the massive shaft, he threw his head back with a roar unlike anything I’d heard in the wild.
Dark.
Demanding.
Delicious.
I was lightheaded, a single bead of perspiration trickling down the back of my neck, the moment was so explosive.
As if I weighed nothing, he removed my hands and flipped me around, pushing me over the back of the sofa while crawling onto the cushions. His beautiful cock easily found my tight channel and he began fucking me once again, the sound of our coupling filtering into the air.
He intertwined his fingers with mine, holding me in place. The crush of his body was incredible and within seconds, I knew I was going to have a powerful orgasm. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to fall into a sweet dreamland as my body tensed.
I let off a strangled scream as the climax swept through me. There was nothing like the feeling of his cock driving me to the very edge of my sanity.
We rocked together for several minutes, one orgasm turning into a second. The vibrations dancing through me were crazed, my body on fire. Together we were molten lava.
His breathing changed and I knew he was close, so close. I squeezed my muscles tightly, digging my fingers into his palms as his breathing became more labored.
I wanted him to come deep inside, to fill me.
“Fuck. Yes.” His words were husky, barely audible.
He dropped his head into the crook of my neck, still breathing heavily and as he erupted deep inside, I heard his strangled whisper.
“Forever mine.”