Chapter 17
Chapter seventeen
Kate
That piece of shit asshole.
I was going to kill him. Wrap my hands around his stupid throat and choke the life right out of him. Then I was going to punch air back into his lungs just so I could do it all over again.
“Ma’am.” Joshua, the doorman whose name I finally knew, tipped his head and opened the door. Because I was reserving all my wrath for Tristan fucking Blake, I gave him a sweet smile and walked, as opposed to stomped, into Blake Tower.
Today, I hated this place even more. It was pretentious and over the top...like the idiot owner.
Ezekiel was in his normal spot. But instead of stopping by the desk to say hi, I poked my index finger in the air. He gave me a quick nod and a very concerned look. I ignored it and marched my ass to the elevator.
Of course I had to wait for it. And of course, standing there only fueled the rage already burning a hot path through my veins.
I still couldn’t believe he’d left like that. Didn’t even say a damn word. I’d finally calmed Millie when she’d asked where Tristan was. Confused, because I knew he’d been right behind me, I’d looked toward the entryway, only to find it empty.
We’d gone through the entire apartment and when there hadn’t been a single sign of the man, Millie’s bottom lip had started to wobble a second time.
I’d wasted no time in phoning Izzy and asking her to watch Millie.
“Fucking asshole.”
The angry words rolled off my tongue just as the elevator slid open. And wouldn’t you know it, the older couple from the other day stepped out again. This time though, when they pinned me with their disapproving stares, I lifted my shoulders to my ears.
“What?”
The woman hugged her husband’s arm tighter, and the two of them increased their pace as much as their elderly legs allowed them.
I felt bad for being rude. This wasn’t who I was. It was one more thing that was Tristan’s fault. With a heavy sigh, I slumped against the back of the car. I’d known this play-pretend thing with him would be a mistake. I’d just stupidly hoped to be wrong.
An annoying ding broke through my thoughts, signaling my arrival on the top floor. The doors slid open, and just like that, my anger renewed.
How many times had I strode down this hallway, only to find the man half-naked entertaining some bimbo he’d picked up from who knew where? Too many damn times. Maybe once I’d given him a piece of my mind, I’d hand in my resignation as well.
Yes, I think I’ll do that.
It didn’t take long for my fury-filled strides to carry me to the door. Curling both hands into fists, I slammed them against the wood over and over again.
It hurt. Pain shot from the bones in my fingers up my arms. I didn’t care. Didn’t care if he was buried balls deep, I wouldn’t stop until he opened the damn door and heard what I had to say.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
I kept going, pulling my hands back, ready to deliver another blow. Only instead of connecting with the door this time, my fists landed on hot, hard, sweaty muscles.
“What the fuck?” Tristan growled.
Oh, I could growl too.
Striking my palms against his naked pecs, I shoved him inside and kicked the door shut.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I poked my finger in his chest. “If you had other plans, you should’ve said so.
Instead, you got a little girl all happy and excited only to break her damn heart.
” Spearing my hands through my hair, I tugged hard at the ends.
“I knew this was a mistake. I should’ve never let you into her life.
..or mine.” I stabbed his chest again. “I’m done with this arrangement, and I’m done with you. ”
I glared at him. He glared right back. Ugh. Damn him for looking all kinds of sinful with those dark, wet strands falling over the side of his face and his gym shorts riding way too low on his hips.
And damn him to fucking hell for making me feel things I hadn’t felt in a really long time.
“I quit,” I spat. “I want a divorce…or annulment…whatever. I just want to be done with you.”
Without second-guessing the words, I stomped to the door. Three steps into my dramatic exit, a big hand clamped on my upper arm and spun me around.
“No.” His voice held an edge to it I hadn’t heard before.
His jaw ticked fast, and those dark eyes pierced straight through me. It would’ve been intimidating if it weren’t for the idiotic butterflies flapping away in my belly or the delicious shiver skating over my skin.
I ignored my body’s reaction and lifted my chin, meeting his intense stare. “I. Quit.”
“No,” he snapped as if I hadn’t heard him the first time.
“I wasn’t asking for permission, you Neanderthal.”
His hold on my arm tightened. Fingers digging into my skin with so much force, I was certain there’d be bruises. It should’ve scared me, maybe even freaked me out a little. But those were absolutely not the feelings swirling through my veins.
My blood burned hot, too damn hot, and a long forgotten ache deep inside my core made itself known.
The harder he squeezed, the more effort it took to get air into my lungs.
Because all I could think about were those long fingers wrapped around my throat, applying the same amount of pressure while he moved between my legs.
Oh, for shit’s sake, I’d lost my damn mind.
Furious and annoyed with myself, I tried to pull free from his grasp. He didn’t let go, keeping me trapped with not only his grip but that stupidly hot, intense stare. It was enough to melt any woman into a puddle at his feet.
However, I wasn’t any woman.
And I’d be damned if I fell for this man’s charms. Even if that’s exactly what every cell in my body begged me to do.
Bringing my free hand up, I shoved his chest...hard. I ignored the feeling of his hot sweaty skin and rippling powerful muscles beneath my touch. Ignored the itch in my fingers to feel if he was as hard and defined everywhere else.
Mostly, I ignored the dull throbbing between my legs and the fierce need to beg him to take care of it.
“Let go,” I sputtered through gritted teeth.
Silly of me to think he’d actually listen. I shoved him again, with more force this time. He staggered backward, and after what felt like a damn lifetime, I was finally free.
My freedom was short-lived.
Moving faster than any man of his size was allowed, he bounded forward and grabbed my arms. Driving my back against the wall, he pinned my wrists on either side of my head.
“I fucking said no,” he ground out.
He was so freaking close, the warmth of his breath fluttered over my lips and the heat of his body warmed my skin. So close, I could see the gold flecks in his eyes I hadn’t noticed before. The stubble creeping over his jaw and that stupid mouth I wanted to smack and kiss at the same damn time.
“This isn’t over.” The delicious rasp of his voice sent goosebumps skittering over my skin. “And you’re not done.”
His words were so...final. No room for argument. It pissed me the hell off.
“Fuck you, Tristan. Fu—”
His mouth crashed onto mine. The kiss hard, his lips unyielding as he shoved his tongue inside, twisting and curling it around my own.
It was brutal, almost punishing and…such a damn turn-on.
Wait, no.
This was wrong. I wasn’t supposed to kiss my boss, and I sure as shit wasn’t supposed to like it.
And since he still had my wrists trapped in those iron fists of his, I dug my teeth into his bottom lip and chomped down.
A deep, angry growl rumbled through his chest. Snapping his head back, he pinned me with an intensely dark stare.
Seconds, that felt like minutes, ticked by before he loosened his hold on me.
Those eyes though, they held me captive.
Even more so when he touched a finger to the spot where I bit him, then slowly traced over it with his tongue.
“Fuck yes.”
He smiled that stupid crooked smile, and it was enough to send my last brain cell packing. It was the only explanation I had for surging forward and picking up exactly where we left off.
He kissed me harder than before. Punishing me by sucking my bottom lip into his mouth and sinking his teeth into the swollen flesh. Not as hard as I did to him but enough to feel a sting of pain.
A desperate, needy moan tore from the back of my throat, and holy hotness, it just fueled the man. He sucked my lip deeper, bit harder while his hands deftly slipped under my shirt.
He didn’t tease or caress. He simply curled his fingers into the cups of my bra and pulled them down. Then his hands were on my breasts, kneading and massaging in the same merciless way his mouth assaulted mine.
I loved every damn second of it.
Arching my back, I pushed deeper into his touch and was rewarded with a growly hum.
“Ah,” I moaned again when those clever fingers tweaked both nipples at the same time. It was sensation overload, and I swear if he kept doing what he was doing, I’d be freaking done for.
He must’ve realized.
In one swift motion, he lifted me off the ground. Without breaking our kiss, he moved us farther into his apartment. I was soon pressed up against another wall.
With my legs wrapped around his waist, he covered both my hands with one of his and stretched my arms high above my head. Using his free hand, he lifted my shirt enough to expose my breasts.
“Fucking gorgeous,” he murmured as he lowered his head and drew my nipple into his mouth, giving it the same delicious attention he’d given my lip earlier. Sucking and nipping on my sensitive skin to the point of pain, then soothing it with a few hot swipes of his tongue.
He drove me out of my damn mind.
It was too much. Not enough.
I needed more.
Rolling my hips, I rocked against his incredibly hard erection nestled between my legs. It felt so good, I almost whimpered. And when I did it a second time, his hold on my wrists tightened and his teeth around my nipple sank deeper.
A sound I’d never made tore from my lungs. Something between a cry, a gasp, and a moan, it was loud and embarrassingly needy.
He must’ve liked it. Doubling his efforts, he covered my other breast with his free hand, working me into a frenzy while his hips pistoned forward, again and again.
I could come like this, and it wouldn’t even take much. A few more of those precise moves and I’d see freaking stars.
“Mmm.” I wanted that. Wanted an orgasm that wasn’t induced by my own hands or toys. “Make me come.”
“Fuck yes.” His voice was as breathless as mine. “I need you on the bed.” He started walking. “Need you spread out on my sheets so I can see every fucking inch of you while you scream my name.”
Oh, yes please. Holy freaking hotness did I want that.
Until his words registered.
He wanted me on his bed. The same bed where he’d had countless women before me. Where he’d undoubtedly have more women after me. Because Tristan Blake was a one and done kind of guy.
A bucket of ice over the head would’ve had the same effect. The ground disappeared beneath me. This wasn’t who I was. I didn’t do quick hookups.
“Wait. Stop.”
He did. I wiggled in his arms, and without me telling him to, he set me on my feet. I’d never righted my clothes so damn fast.
“Kate?” He said my name with so much concern. A tiny crack sliced through my ribs.
“I can’t do this.” I said softly. “Not here.” There was an almost unbearable ache inside my chest. “Not with you.”
This time, it was my turn to run.