Chapter 22
22
God, her head was throbbing.
She just needed to get rid of her headache so she could focus. Reaching into her handbag, she rooted around for some painkillers.
Fudge knuckles.
She must have run out.
“Hey, Faith.”
She glanced up with a smile to see Lou walking in.
“Hey, Lou.”
“Got some food for the big boss man.” Lou held up the bag.
“Thanks. You didn’t have to bring it up; I’d have come down.”
Lou shrugged. “I wanted to check in on you. How did you like that last scone flavor?”
“It was interesting,” Faith said hesitantly.
“Just give it to me straight,” Lou said. “It was gross, huh?”
“I’m just not sure that blue cheese and lime is a good combination.” Although it was actually better than the lemon and ham one.
She reached into her handbag and grabbed her wallet to give Lou a tip.
They chatted for a few moments until the door to Reuben’s office opened and he stepped out.
Lou startled, giving Reuben a worried look. “Hey, Mr. Jones. Here’s your, um, your, um, your . . . ”
“Food,” Faith supplied.
Yikes. Had she ever acted that nervous around Reuben? That was just embarrassing.
He reached out and took the food as poor Lou started to back away. “It took you a while.”
“Thanks, Lou,” Faith said pointedly as she glared up at Reuben.
He just raised an eyebrow, then reached into his pocket. He drew out twenty dollars and passed it to Lou.
Okay, at least he tipped well.
“Oh, t-thank you.” Lou rushed off.
Huh. She’d just been tipped twice, but she deserved it for putting up with Reuben.
“You could try being a little less . . . scary,” she told him.
Jeez. She really was getting braver, wasn’t she?
It probably wasn’t a good thing.
“Why?” He gave her a look filled with confusion.
Dear Lord.
Sometimes, he could be such hard work.
“Come,” he commanded.
Standing, she winced the throbbing in her head got worse. What she really wanted was a nap. Still, she followed him into his office.
“What can I get you? Coffee? Do you need me to do something?” she asked.
“Yes, I need you to sit.” He gestured at the sofa.
Putting the bag on the coffee table, he started to pull out containers.
Her stomach grumbled, and she placed her hand on it. That was embarrassing. She’d forgotten her lunch today, but she figured she should work through anyway.
Actually, she’d forgotten to have breakfast as well.
That could be another reason why you’ve got a raging headache.
Most likely.
“You haven’t eaten lunch, have you?” he grumbled at her.
“Um, no. I was going to work through my break,” she said without thought.
“That’s unacceptable. You need to take your breaks and eat.”
She gave him a surprised look. “But you often work through meals.”
“That’s me. And I always eat. You will stop and eat every lunchtime.”
Right. She better not tell him about breakfast, then.
He eyed her for a long moment.
Oh, shoot.
“You didn’t eat breakfast, either, did you?”
How did he know? She swore he could read her mind sometimes.
“Why bother asking if you know the answer?” she grumbled.
“Don’t get sassy with me. No skipping any more meals and you need to drink water regularly. I don’t want you to get dizzy.”
It wasn’t that she purposefully skipped breakfast. She liked food. But it was hard to eat in that house. She’d started keeping food downstairs since she hated going upstairs. Plus, Eric ate everything she bought anyway.
“I’ll try not to.”
“You won’t just try, Little Blossom,” he said as he handed her a container.
She stared down at the stuffed potato. How did he know that was her favorite? She didn’t get it very often. In fact, she’d only gotten it twice. But it was so yummy.
“I, um . . . this is for me?”
“Of course it’s for you.” He sat back in his armchair with his chicken salad.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Eat.”
Right. She would. She started to eat. God, she was so hungry. He reached out and slid the food away from her.
“Hey! Mine!” She reached for the container. Then she realized that she’d just acted like a toddler who’d had their juice box taken away.
Oops.
And now she really wanted a juice box.
“Slow down, baby. You’re going to make yourself sick.”
Oh. She felt herself blushing.
“Sorry.” She’d obviously made a fool of herself.
“Here. Eat slower.”
She nodded. But now she was too embarrassed to eat in front of him. She picked up the fork and prodded at the potato. It was so good too. But her stomach was tied up in too many knots to eat.
To her surprise, he sat next to her and took the container.
“Oh, did you want some?” she asked, looking up at him.
He stuffed a forkful of potato into her mouth. She just stared at him, her mouth still open.
“Eat, baby. With your mouth closed, preferably.”
How embarrassing!
She closed her mouth.
“Chew,” he commanded.
She chewed.
“Swallow.” There was clear amusement in his voice now. It actually helped lessen her embarrassment
She didn’t think he ever smiled much.
“Good girl.”
Yikes. Those words were her kryptonite.
They made her go weak.
Yes. She was well aware that she had several things that were her kryptonite. She should make a list.
He fed her another bite, moving the fork away when she tried to reach for it. Finally, she shook her head.
“No more. I’m full.”
He eyed her for a long moment. “Very well.”
“I, um . . . I should get back to work.” It was too much, being here with him, having him take care of her like this.
Standing up, she fled to her office, breathing deeply. She trembled as she attempted to figure out what she was meant to be doing.
Urgh. The food actually made her feel better, but she still had a headache. She tried to answer some emails, but the words kept blurring.
This wasn’t working. She needed to go get some painkillers.
Wait. The first aid kit. Getting up, she moved into the kitchen and found some painkillers.
Then she gulped down some water and rubbed at her temples again.
“You’ve got a headache.”
She let out a gasp, jumping into the air. Turning, she found Reuben standing there, watching her. “Um, yes. Can I . . . can I get you something?”
“Yes. Come with me.”
Faith followed him back into his office. She came to a stop as she found the food had all been cleared off the coffee table. And there was now a blanket and pillow on his sofa.
Where had those come from? Did he keep a pillow here? Did he sleep at the office often?
She hoped not, because that wasn’t healthy.
“Nap time. Take off your shoes. Pants and bra, too, if you want. I know sleeping in a bra can be uncomfortable.”
Torture.
But what was he talking about?
“Uh, nap time?”
“Nap time,” he said firmly. “You’re exhausted. You barely got any sleep last night. So you’re having a nap.”
She couldn’t nap. She had too much to do. And she’d already spent the morning shopping.
Although she had found the most amazing dress, it was a deep blue that almost looked black. It had a sweetheart neckline with capped sleeves and a slightly poufy skirt. It made her feel like a princess.
Cammie’s friend was a miracle worker. She’d just seemed to know what would work for Faith. Sometimes, it was hard to find something when you were taller than average, but this dress just worked.
“Reuben, I have to get back to work. There’s too much to do.”
“Who is the boss?”
Dear Lord.
“You are. But that doesn’t mean the work disappears.”
“Are you too overworked? Do I need to get you some help?” he asked.
The scary thing was that he looked absolutely serious.
“No, I don’t need help. My workload isn’t too much.”
“Then this argument is just for arguments sake? Because I don’t like that.”
“It doesn’t feel right to nap here.”
“Of course it’s right. I want you to nap. Now, pants on or off?”
She kept her pants on.
And her bra. Which she was starting to regret. Because . . . torture.
This wasn’t going to work. There was no way she could go to sleep like this. It felt awkward. What if someone came through that door?
What if she fell asleep and made noises in her sleep?
What if she drooled?
Yep. Impossible.
Although this couch was really comfortable and so was the pillow. She hated to admit it, but they were far better than her bed in the basement of Cammie’s house.
Well, not that you could call it a bed.
“I can hear you thinking from here.”
Great. Now she was interrupting his work. This wasn’t going well.
“I really think I should go back to work. I’m annoying you.”
“Did I say you were annoying me?” Reuben sat on the coffee table, facing her.
“I can’t sleep like this,” she whispered. “I . . . I just can’t.”
She thought he’d scold her. Order her to sleep. So she was surprised when he nodded. Getting up, he hit the button to drop the blinds.
She sat up slightly. What was he doing?
Then he turned off the lights.
“You won’t be able to work,” she protested.
“But you’ll be able to sleep.”
“Reuben . . . ” Just when she thought he was all bossy commands, he showed her a caring side that was almost impossible to resist.
Who are you kidding? It’s definitely impossible to resist.
“I can work. My computer provides enough light. And I have a lamp.”
She knew she wasn’t going to win this argument.
“Lie down, baby,” he said in a soothing voice.
Faith lay down as he returned to kneel beside her. Reaching over, he started to massage her scalp. A small groan escaped her.
That was freaking heaven.
“You don’t have to.”
“Hush. Think of it as your reward for last night. Although I did have something else in mind.”
“That’s it. Just relax. Close your eyes. Good girl. Breathe in and out. No one needs anything from you right now. You don’t have any jobs, you don’t have anywhere you have to be, there is nothing for you to do. All you have to do is listen to me and do what I tell you.”
“That would make you happy.” It was supposed to sound sarcastic.
But it came out in a soft sigh.
“It would make me happy. And that’s what you want, isn’t it, my baby? To make your Daddy happy.”
“Yes, Daddy.” The words came from her mouth without thought.
All she wanted was for him to be happy.
And her.
A finger prodded at her lips as he continued massaging her scalp with his other hand. She parted her lips and he pressed two fingers into her mouth.
“Suck, baby. That’s it. You’re doing so well. Remember, this is all you have to do. Just relax for Daddy and rest.”
To her shock, her body started growing heavier, her mind drifted, and she sucked until sleep took her.
Reuben watched her sleep as she sucked on his fingers.
Fuck.
This was another delicious sort of torture. The feel of her mouth around his fingers.
It should be his dick.
Crude, but true.
He wanted his cock inside her mouth while she slept. Fuck. What he would give right now to be able to spread her legs and eat her pussy.
He knew she’d taste delicious.
One day soon, he promised himself. Soon, he’d have no barriers between them. He’d be able to fuck her whenever he wanted. Wake her up in the mornings with his tongue in her pussy.
He’d put her on her knees so she could suck on him while he worked.
She was going to be his fully.
All he had to do was wait a bit longer.