The Merger

Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

C arys

“Come in,” I shout, giving myself a final glance in the mirror. After all the fuss, it didn’t turn out too bad.

I woke up this morning with a great plan. A breezy brunch and long bath were supposed to set the stage for a fantastic evening. My body would be shaved, plucked, waxed and bronzed before Gannon picked me up. I had time. I was prepared … until I noticed how haggard my fingernails were from digging in soil all day.

Even if it meant rushing around, I got a manicure and pedicure. Thank God.

The front door opens and closes quietly.

“I’m in here,” I call out, applying a final coat of gloss on my pout. I tuck the tube in my purse and turn but freeze when my gaze locks with Gannon’s in the mirror.

My mouth goes dry.

He’s standing in the doorway looking nothing short of edible.

Five o’clock shadow. Hair styled perfectly. He slides a pair of Aviators off his face as he assesses me.

His body is wrapped in a slate-gray suit with a crisp white shirt beneath the jacket. He has foregone a tie and left the top of his shirt unbuttoned. A white pocket square and brown shoes tie it all together in a delicious, sophisticated but semi-casual way.

And in his hand is a bundle of bright orange peonies.

Oh my God.

“I haven’t seen you all week, and you warn me we’re on a tight schedule. And you have the audacity to show up here looking like a snack?” I ask, lifting a brow. “That’s some nerve, Mr. Brewer.”

He takes my hand and jerks me across the bathroom until I’m in his arms. His mouth is on mine before I can take a breath. Kissing, licking—his tongue exploring as if he’s reclaiming me for his own.

And. It’s. So. Hot.

I wasn’t sure which Gannon I’d get tonight. Restrained? On fire? Casually cool?

I’ll take super sexy, dominating Gannon any day.

Finally, he pulls away, and I suck in a hasty breath.

“That’s one way to say hello,” I say, grinning.

“Your door wasn’t locked.”

I flinch. “What?”

“Your door wasn’t locked.”

“No, that’s why I yelled for you to come in.”

“I could’ve been anyone, Carys.”

I roll my eyes and grab my purse. “Except, you weren’t. You said you were five minutes out, so I unlocked the door and raced in here to finish getting ready because someone keeps reminding me that we don’t have time to waste.”

He laces our fingers together and steps back, his gaze traveling the length of my body.

“You are literal perfection,” he says softly.

I laugh, blushing. “Stop it.”

His eyes lift to mine. “I’m afraid I can’t. Here.” He hands me the beautiful bouquet. “These are for you.”

“Peonies. I love them, Gannon.” My heart swells. “How did you have time to get me flowers?”

“I get done what needs to get done.”

I study his beautiful brown eyes and the emotions swimming in them. He’s nervous, I think, that I won’t like the flowers—which is silly. They’re gorgeous. But, most of all, I’m gobsmacked that he prioritized getting me flowers.

Who does that?

A ghost of a shy smile slips across his lips.

Gannon. Gannon does that.

“I love these,” I say softly. “It means a lot to me that you did this. Thank you.”

His smile grows. “You’re welcome. Now, we need to go.”

“Let me get these in water. I’ll be fast.”

I quickly find a vase and arrange the flowers. Gannon leans on the doorframe with his hands in his pockets, observing me quietly. Having him in my space is comfortable, maybe because he’s been here once before. I’m not sure. I only know that it feels nice.

Once I’m finished, he leads me through the house and waits patiently on the porch as I lock up. Then he takes my hand as we walk toward a large SUV at the end of the walkway leading to the road.

“This isn’t the vehicle you usually drive,” I say, distinctly remembering the car he drove me home in from Courtney’s was smaller.

“I had work to do from the airport home, and from home to here. So Gray is driving, and I’ve been working from the back seat.”

“Oh, I like Gray,” I say, waiting as Gannon opens the back door. “He saved me from drowning in a river once.”

Gannon’s eyes darken. “Is that so?”

“I was tubing with Tate and some of our friends. Thank God that Gray was on Tate’s security detail that weekend. Otherwise, I would’ve been fish food. Callum would’ve probably watched me drown.”

As I climb inside our ride, he mumbles something I can’t make out.

“Good evening, Gray,” I say as I snap my buckle.

He nods, meeting my eyes in the rearview mirror. “Good evening, Miss Johnson.”

Gannon climbs in, moves a stack of papers into the third row, and then gets situated.

We ride quietly for a few miles with soft classical music playing through the speakers. His shoulders are tight and his jaw flexes back and forth. Something is bothering him.

“Hey, are you all right?” I ask, squeezing one of his fingers.

He nods, turning to me. “I don’t know why I agreed to do this damn thing.”

“Why did you?”

He sighs but doesn’t answer.

Did he feel an obligation to do this? Is he nervous about it? Is he just so exhausted that he just wants to go home?

I don’t know, and the fact that I don’t know him well enough to understand is frustrating.

“How was your trip?” I ask, hoping it will lift his spirits.

“Busy. Little sleep. Lots of things to go over now that I’m back.” He taps his fingertip against my palm and a faint smile crosses his lips. It’s as if touching me gives him a bit of peace. “Things will be better once this is over.”

His tone is tight, and I can hear the stress. I can’t imagine running a major corporation and having so many obligations that I can’t rest. And while he pretends to be a man on an island, and in many ways, I think he is, he never fails to answer the phone if Tate calls him. He always texts me back. Heck, he didn’t even eat yesterday.

Who takes care of him?

I glance around the car and notice a tube for a privacy curtain on the ceiling behind Gray’s seat.

“How do we block us off from Gray?” I ask.

Gannon’s brows wrinkle. “There’s a button in the front. Why?”

“How long do we have until we get to the event?”

“Fifteen minutes, maybe.”

That’ll work.

“Gray?” I say.

“Yes, Miss Johnson?”

“Can you please lower the privacy curtain and turn up the music?”

The corner of his mouth lifts. “Of course.”

“What are you doing?” Gannon asks, curious, as I unbuckle my seat belt.

The volume increases through the speakers and the curtain falls in place, sealing us away in our own compartment.

I slip off my heels and gather my dress before dropping to my knees before him.

“We don’t have time for this, baby,” Gannon says as I begin working his button and zipper. His cock is already swollen, straining against his pants.

“You can’t come in fifteen minutes?” I ask.

The heat in his gaze lands in my belly, flooding me with need to be touched. God, I want this man. But that will have to wait.

“I can’t reciprocate that in fifteen minutes,” he says.

“No, you’re right.” I tug on his waistband. With a wary look, he lifts his ass so I can shimmy his pants down far enough to free his cock. “You will absolutely take longer than fifteen minutes when you reciprocate this later.” I rise on my knees. “But right now, this isn’t about me.” I run a hand up and down his velvety shaft. “ Let me take care of you .”

I place a kiss at the base of his cock, dragging my tongue from the root to the tip. The bead of precum waiting for me is warm and thick as I suck it into my mouth.

Gannon hisses, reaching for my hair and then thinking better of it. He grips his arm rests so hard that his knuckles turn white.

“I missed you this week,” I say, flicking my tongue gently across the underside of his length. My free hand finds his balls and I give them a gentle tug. “I dreamed about you every night.”

“Did you get off while you were thinking about me?”

I nod before taking him into my mouth, rolling my tongue around the head of his cock.

My core burns with the fire smoldering there.

“Your mouth feels so good,” he says, groaning as I take him deeper. “I’ve waited for this for days.”

I hum against him before sucking the tip and then blowing across it.

“How did you know I needed this?” he asks, carefully holding the sides of my head. His eyes are dark with lust as he stares down at me. “I’m going to worship your pussy as soon as we’re alone. There won’t be an inch of it left that I haven’t touched, licked, or come all over.”

I moan, tightening my grip on him.

“Do you like the thought of that?” he asks, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “I do. You’re my very own playland.”

My hand slides up and down his shaft faster as my spit trickles down to his balls.

“We’re about there,” he says softly. “Are you ready for me to come?”

I nod as best as I can.

He guides my face up and down with his hands, thrusting gently into my mouth. I hold still, playing with his balls, as he finds his desired rhythm.

“What a lucky fucker I am,” he groans, his head tipping back as his body starts to tremble.

His cock swells as he pumps it into my mouth. Faster. Harder. More urgently.

A low rumble rolls past his lips, and then his fingertips dig into the sides of my head. He shakes, quivering in his seat as his thick fluid explodes down my throat.

I moan, squeezing my eyes as he drains himself into me. My pussy is on fire, throbbing for relief.

He growls as he guides my head up and his cock pops free.

I wipe my mouth, smiling up at him. “Is that better?”

Gannon holds my gaze, twisting his lips into a sexy grin. “Not yet.”

“Really?”

His tucks his cock back in his pants and then reaches for me. Grabbing my waist, he pulls me onto his lap with my back to his front.

My heart pounds as he presses soft kisses to my neck and his hands slide down my body.

“What are you doing?” I whisper as he bunches my dress up at my waist.

“I will never be satisfied until you’re satisfied.” He presses a kiss behind my ear. “Try not to scream.”

I sag against him as his fingers find my soaked flesh.

“That turned you on, didn’t it?” He chuckles against my shoulder. “Could you be any more perfect?”

I grip the armrests like he did moments ago as the build in my belly grows heavier.

The pad of his thumb presses slow circles around my clit and two fingers are inserted in my pussy.

“That feels so good,” I say, fucking his fingers.

His mouth hovers over my ear. “Does it?”

“Yes.”

“Does it feel as good as when you dreamed of me?”

I chuckle, finding it hard to concentrate. “Better.”

“Good. Then come for me.”

He bites lightly on my earlobe and presses harder against my nub. The shock of both at the same time lifts me and throws me over the edge of my orgasm.

“ God ,” I moan, my head resting against his shoulder. I shudder violently beneath his touch. “Stop. You have to stop.” I sink my nails into his arms, trying to pry his hands away from me. “I’m going to die if you don’t stop.”

“No, you aren’t,” he says, kissing down my neck. “Relax and let go. Give me all of it.”

Another wave hits me hard. I shriek as the intensity rips through me, nearly tearing me apart.

“There you go,” he says, encouraging me. “Come all over my hand, beautiful.”

I cry out, feeling like my body’s falling apart.

“Watching you like this makes me hard all over again,” he whispers.

I grip his wrists and slow my movements. Gannon eases, too, taking his cues from me. I float back gently to reality with a smile.

The vehicle slows as we enter a packed street lined with cars.

“We’re here.” Gannon helps me back to my seat before digging around in a bag in the back. He hands me a moistened towelette and a dry washcloth. “I’m going to get out and give you time to put yourself back together, okay?”

I sigh. “I’d appreciate that.”

“Unless you want me to do it for you …”

“If you touch me again, this car is going home.”

He bursts out laughing, and the sound is music to my ears. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m drowning in post-orgasmic bliss, or if his laughter is so rare that it’s such a treat when it happens.

But, really, who cares? I get to enjoy it in my blissed-out state and that’s all that matters.

“Knock on the window when you’re ready.” He leans over and kisses me sweetly. “There’s no rush.”

“Okay.”

He straightens himself before opening his door and stepping onto the street. I watch him chat with Gray through the tinted glass. I can’t help but wonder what they’re saying.

But the biggest wonderment is the way Gannon holds himself. Shoulders relaxed. Lips soft. Almost a smile on his face.

I did that for him.

That makes me grin.

But he did this for me, too.

What a wild night this has already been … and we’re just getting started.