Mafia Rules (Mafia King #1)

12. ASH

12

ASH

E ve's curves and her loud moans infiltrate my thoughts all morning. I needed to spend time on this presentation for the new club today, but all I could think about was her taste still on my face, and her tardiness.

My phone buzzes. I flip it over, hoping to see a text from Eve to see why she wasn't in the office yet. Instead, it's another fucking text from Sasha. We've been done for three years. Why the fuck does she keep reaching out?

Sasha: I need to talk to you, Ash, sooner rather than later.

I wasn't wasting any of my time on her. She'll soon get the hint.

I pick up the desk phone and buzz the front desk. "Stella, has Ms. Stone come in yet?"

"No, sir."

"Can you send her to my office when she does?" I don't wait for her reply before ending the conversation.

I look at my call log. I've already called her seven times this morning with no answer. "Where are you, Eve?"

I try to focus on the mountain of files on my desk. I was unprepared for this meeting; these people weren't to be messed with. But my mind stays on Eve. Why wasn't she replying? Shit, now I can’t concentrate.

With one swipe of my arm, I clear everything off my desk. While that felt good in the moment, I've just fucked myself over more. I grab my phone and call Eve again, only for it to ring and go to her voicemail.

I text her, for the fourth time.

Me: Call me, or I'll come find you.

A few seconds later, my phone rings.

"Eve!"

"Sorry, I'm on my way in. Just having car trouble." Her voice sounds different, shaky.

"Did something happen?"

"Yeah, I broke down, and I'm waiting for CAA," she says with a cute chuckle at the end.

I feel my racing heart calm down at the sound of her calm voice. "Where are you? I'll send my driver."

"I have to wait for the tow truck, Ash," she pleads.

I'm not convinced she's being truthful, but I'll know when she's in front of me. I needed her with me. "Are you sure it's not me?"

"Did you break my car?" Eve giggles. "Oh, he's here. I'll grab a taxi and be there soon."

Eve hangs up before I can offer her anything more. But I can breathe again. What that girl does to me? I pick up all the papers on the floor, not wanting Eve to know I had a mini breakdown. She couldn't know the full me yet. I'm scared I might be too much for her.

"I thought I heard something," Stella interrupts me while I'm on my knees cleaning up my mess.

"It's been a day, Stella," I grumble.

"It's only morning yet, Mr. McKenzie." Stella picks up the last of the papers by her feet. "What do you want me to do about the girl? I know you don't tolerate lateness. She is young."

"I’ll have a talk with her.” I avoid the look Stella is likely giving me right now. I once fired a new hire for being three minutes late. Eve is two hours late. “Car trouble.”

Stella nods with raised eyebrows. “Is there anything I can do before she arrives?”

“Can you confirm my afternoon appointment?”

“Yes. I’ll do that now,” Stella says, already leaving.

What the fuck was wrong with me? I had to focus on this client. If I can’t close this deal, I’m fucked.

I hear the door swing open and heels rushing into the lobby. “Eve?” I call out and meet her at her desk.

“Sorry Mr. McKenzie—”

Before she can say more, I grab her face with both my hands and kiss her lips, my tongue moving between them. At first, she doesn’t react, maybe I’ve caught her off guard, then she leans in, and I let her take over before she resists once more.

She pulls herself away from me. “Ash.” Her face is flushed red. “Stella.”

“I don’t care. I was worried about you. Why didn’t you answer?”

She sighs. “Because I knew you would want to rescue me, and I had everything under control.” She pulls off her scarf and jacket to reveal one of the outfits I bought her. A light-blue wool sweater that hugs her curves perfectly and a dark-blue skirt with brown knee-high boots.

“Let me,” I practically beg her, taking her jacket, breaking my own rule of getting to close.

She pushes me away and sits at her desk, turning on her computer. “We have to prepare for our meeting this afternoon.”

Her voice is formal, and she opens her e-mail and scans the new ones.

“That’s a me meeting,” I say, fully aware she knows she doesn’t meet with that client.

Her cheeks blush, and I see her eyes water a little. She clears her throat and starts typing with one finger. I stand beside her, not moving, waiting for her to pay attention to me.

I lean down, with one hand on her chair and another on her desk. “When will you tell me what’s going on?”

Her back straightens, and her lips move as if she is going to talk, but there’s only silence between us; then she finally says something.

“I looked at your phone.” Her head hangs low, her gaze on the floor. Her voice shakes as if she’s on the verge of tears.

“What did—” I start, but she interrupts me.

“Who is Sasha?” she blurts out.

I kneel in front of her. “She’s no one you need to worry about.” My hand covers hers, but she shakes it off. “She’s an ex.”

“How long ago?”

“Three years. She started texting me about two weeks ago.” I pull out my phone, find Sasha’s texts, scroll up to her first contact, and hand the phone to Eve. “I’ve never responded. And my phone is always available to you.”

She doesn’t take the phone right away, so I place it in front of her and stand up. “I’ll be in my office when you’re ready to talk.”

I walk back to my office and sit at my desk, where Eve is out of my view. My heart pounds, afraid of what she would find on my phone. Nothing after her, but I’ve not exactly been the boy next door. The feeling of unease is one I’m not used to.

Eve steps into my office with my phone in her hand. She hands it to me; the screen is black. I go into my settings, change my password to her cell number, and show her the screen. “My phone is always available to you.”

“You barely know me.”

I nod my head in agreement, acknowledging that she is correct. It's strange, but it feels like I've had a connection with her for years. I understand her emotions, what she’s thinking, how she likes to be pleasured. “Eve, yes, it has only been a minute, and yes, we are opposites, there’s no denying that. You calm me. And I think I could be a good influence on you.”

I sounded political. I may struggle with words, but our connection speaks volumes, and I can sense that she feels it too. She fits perfectly against my body, like she was meant to be there.

“In time, maybe.”

“Ash, I’ve enjoyed these past few days, but I don’t expect you to give it all up for me,” she says, but her eyes betray her. “I don’t have the right—”

“But you do have the right,” I interrupt her. I didn’t play games. I want her, and she wants me. Her eyes beg for it.

“But I don’t.” Confusion crosses her face. Is she testing me?

“I don’t want to see anyone but you.” I put my hands in my pockets; otherwise, I would pull her close to me again. I hate being so close but not close enough to her. “What do you want, Eve?”

Her mouth hangs slightly ajar, yet no words escape her lips. Maybe she didn’t feel what I did. But surely…

“I want you too,” she mutters.