Chapter 33 Lucien
LUCIEN
“Thanks for jumping on this call first thing Monday morning. Or should I say…Sunday for you?”
It was hard to think of a more mind-numbing combination than the drab walls of my temporary home office and a chatty, overly enthusiastic colleague.
“It’s Sunday afternoon here,” I forced out.
That’s right. You interrupted my weekend. Apologize and show remorse, you incompetent worm.
“Christ, they better be paying you overtime!” Tim chortled.
Chatty, overly enthusiastic, and completely tone-deaf.
“You wanted me to approve a transaction?” I said flatly to the pixelated turnip on my screen. No, that was unkind. He couldn’t help the shape of his head. I don’t know why he didn’t turn off his camera when he saw I didn’t have mine on and continued to subject me to his face.
Okay, so I was irritated. I had several reasons for it, and every second added more.
I’d been pulled away from Summer’s family party.
Tim, a general manager from our Sydney office and the aforementioned turnip, thought it was appropriate to open our meeting with small talk. And my sabbatical was going terribly.
The last one I already knew. There had been drastic changes at Stratton Capital since I’d left, thanks to a corporate restructure. No one seemed to know the scope of their job anymore, and things were falling through the cracks every day.
So here I was. Catching one of the dropped balls.
“Well, it’s appreciated. Won’t keep you long.
” Tim cleared his throat. “We’re going to the board this week to acquire a new head office.
” The screen filled with his report. “We’re looking to purchase this site for fifty million dollars.
Fully fitted, so no additional costs after acquisition. All we need is your approval.”
How was this urgent? Jennings could’ve easily handled this as CFO. Not only that, this had clearly been in the works for a while, and Tim should’ve brought this to us much sooner.
“Why do you need a new site? Don’t you already own your existing location?” I asked, continuing to scan his report.
“Well, the current office requires a lot of upgrades and—”
My door slammed open and I reflexively hit the mute button. Summer stood at my door like hell incarnate. Furious, fiery, and glorious.
“Why are you working?” she demanded.
Great question. Too bad my answer was milquetoast. “Budget approvals for Sydney,” I explained weakly.
“Fascinating that in that entire, illustrious company of yours, not a single other person is able to do this instead of you.” She advanced upon me, hunting down my excuses for sport.
Even if I wanted to lie to her, I couldn’t. The only thing that didn’t constrict my throat was the truth. “I’ve gotten used to it,” I confessed.
“Used to what?”
“Taking on responsibility.”
Summer reached my desk, just out of sight of the oblivious Tim. “When was the last time you did what you wanted instead of what you thought was best for everyone else?” she asked, her soft voice cutting deep.
When I felt you beneath me.
Her pointed question struck right to the heart of who I was. Of course I’d taken the call—it was a simple thing for me to handle when everyone else was overwhelmed, so it made sense for me to do it.
But I knew she wasn’t asking about my work.
Summer’s ordinarily sweet scent was acidic and harsh on my tongue.
My lack of interest had wounded her. I hadn’t meant to.
I’d seen what it meant to Jae to reconnect with her and the change in Mercer as they grew closer.
They needed time with her so I stepped back.
Ignored the dark undertow of need from my alpha about to sweep me under.
“Now, Lucien, we did crunch the numbers on a full refurbishment of the space, but it didn’t make sense, factoring in the year-long disruption to the workforce.”
I unmuted myself. “Run me through them,” I said, never taking my eyes off Summer.
“W-What?”
“Explain why it’s fiscally irresponsible. In detail.”
“Okay, well, er—”
Then I muted us both.
Summer gave me a tilted smile. “Why did you do that?”
“Because it’s what I want,” I said directly. I never got to tell her how lovely I thought she looked today. Denim shorts and a pretty white top short enough to bare a sliver of skin at her waist. I wanted to tuck my thumb underneath it, lift, and kiss my way upward.
My heart stalled when I reached for her and she sidestepped me.
Summer walked over to the rack where I kept my suit hung up and picked up my silk tie.
She tested the tension of it between her hands several times, making a hushed whipping sound in the quiet room.
Her calculated, unbroken stare stirred awake a dormant hunger.
“Hang up,” she ordered me.
New synapses lit up. Summer ushered me into a game of a different nature. I wasn’t used to being told what to do. But that loss of control gave me an undeniable rush.
Tim was still rambling. I clicked the microphone icon on screen again. “Something’s come up,” I said brusquely. “Send me your presentation, and I’ll mark up my suggestions tomorrow.”
Summer shook her head, her expression hardening. Her hands wound another rotation around the fabric and pulled it tight. Thwck .
Jesus, was I getting hard? I was definitely getting hard.
“Actually, Tim, you should talk to Jennings.” A ghost of a smile touched Summer’s lips, and I kept going, wanting more. “I’m unavailable until…well, September.”
“Wait, did you say September?”
I hung up. Electricity hummed and crackled in my veins. My breathing shallowed as Summer sat herself on the edge of my desk. Her sweet scent was swimming between us, mirage-like, leaving me clamoring for a taste.
“You left Winnie’s party to work.”
“I did.”
“In fact, you’ve been working almost anytime you haven’t been renovating the house.”
“I know.”
Summer looped the tie around the back of my neck.
I grunted as she tugged me forward sharply.
“I’m going to need you to stop doing that,” she whispered, all vapor and smoke.
“If work survives without you, that’s a good thing.
” Another pull and her lips were almost touching mine.
“And your brothers are doing just fine without you having to deny your own needs.”
If she didn’t kiss me, touch me, fuck me soon I was going to lose my mind.
“Please,” I begged.
“Please what?” she asked.
We were on the precipice of something we both wanted. All I had to do was jump.
“Let me show you I can be good,” I breathed.
Free fall .
Summer released one end of the tie, letting it pool into her palm. “Hold out your hands.”
I wondered if Summer had done this before as I watched her bind my wrists together. Jealousy surged, irrational and hot. I only wanted her to show this side of herself to me.
“If you want this to stop at any time, no questions asked, what will you say?” Summer prompted me.
I’d never been in a position like this before. It took me a moment to pick a safe word. “Passionfruit.”
“Well done.”
Her praise only left me desperate for more of it.
Summer checked that her knots were secure and took the long end she had left loose.
She pulled my hands up over my head and tied me to the headrest of my chair.
I was stretched back. Riding the fine line between pleasure and discomfort, harder than I’d ever been in my life.
It became impossible to hide as she carefully undid my shirt buttons and lightly raked her nails over my chest. Summer sank to her knees and undid my zipper. Agonizingly slow, with a lick of her lips. I exhaled raggedly as she released me, my cock smacking against my abdomen.
“Is this all for me?” she asked archly.
I hissed low as her fingers encircled me. “All yours,” I promised. She stroked me, her movements fluid and teasing. Harder around my shaft, a lighter rotation over my head. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying not to come from the sight of her eager for my cock.
Wetness dribbled down my length and I groaned. She had let a long trail of spit fall and quickly spread it all over me. My hips slipped forward as I sank deeper into my chair, boneless and unraveling.
“Don’t come yet.” Summer was soft, dangerous, and completely in control. “I have so many plans for you.”
“I’m trying not to,” I bit out.
“I know you can do it,” she said, even as her thumb massaged right beneath my crown. “Now stay still.”
“Oh fuck.”
Her mouth was on me. Lips forming a tight suction, her tongue flickering and wet.
I strained against my bindings, clenching my fists to the point of pain just to give myself another sensation to focus on.
Panic shot through me when I felt my cock twitch against the roof of her mouth. Shit, I’m nearly about to—
Summer released me instantly. Leaving me squirming and muttering gibberish into my bicep.
“I said not yet, didn’t I?” she said, delighting in how easily she had broken me down.
The reprieve didn’t last long before she took me down her throat again. I didn’t know how long I lasted each time before she would stop. Always watching me with knowing eyes and lips flushed crimson from sucking me off.
I felt like I was floating. Summer was going to decide when I got to come. All I had to do was surrender.
The next time felt different. Stroking me harder and faster. Determined. She was bobbing hungrily, her fist working her saliva up and down my length. I swore as her other hand grasped my knot. She was all in. Lips and tongue and hands and that unholy squeeze around my swelling base.
“ Hngh .” A broken sound left me as I hit the point of no return.
Summer let the first spurt of cum shoot all over my stomach. I could feel it dripping even as the next wave came, stroked onto her protruding tongue. I had never come this hard before. Vertigo and dizziness. The release of pressure was so immense it left colors splashed across my eyelids.