Chapter Twenty-Seven
Nathan
After the taillights of Arya’s car disappear, I walk back inside my house.
The soullessness clinging to the walls and the pin-drop silence instantly wears off the high of the orgasm.
As much as I wanted to bring Arya inside and lose myself in her willing body, I couldn’t let her see the pathetic mess that is my life behind closed doors.
The empty liquor bottles littering the living room and overflowing ashtrays. The entire space reeks of both. Like a dead person resides here.
She wouldn’t have seen the cocky man hell-bent on driving her crazy. She would’ve seen a drowning man, using alcohol like a lifeline. It’s the only vice that shuts off my overthinking brain.
Until I’m too weak to stand on my two legs, making darkness my friend.
Had she shown up any later, I probably wouldn’t have heard the doorbell.
I surely would’ve been promoted to an even bigger asshole in her eyes.
Losing the chance to ever be with her. Because my gut says if we hadn’t seen each other tonight, she would’ve made her body off-limits and built her walls high.
The determination was in her brown eyes when she gave the ultimatum of walking out on me if I didn’t say yes to her dangerous proposal.
Till the very last second that she took off her coat, I was resolute on resisting and sending her away. But then she looked at me with those hypnotic eyes and uttered ‘Please’.
I was a goner.
Do I regret giving in to her lure? No.
Am I second-guessing my decision? Abso-fucking-lutely.
We’re heading toward a disaster of epic proportions. I should pick up my phone and send her a text that I’ve changed my mind. But I can’t summon the strength. Because I’m selfish for the refuge I find when I’m with her, around her, and inside her.
Not even Iris’s presence achieved that.
And she was the woman I loved.
The only solace in Arya and my coworkers-with-benefits relationship is that it has an end date. And if I can make her get me out of her system sooner by bringing her insurmountable pleasure, even better.
She won’t be another person whose life I ruin.
Grabbing the half-empty bottle of whiskey, I drag myself upstairs. The silence in the hallways is deafening, the walls threatening to close in on me as I reach the master bedroom.
Like every night, I place the liquor bottle on the side table and lie down on the bed. Staring at the ceiling for a beat, I close my eyes, thinking… hoping that maybe tonight I’ll find a reprieve from the demented voices.
My mind is quiet at first.
A trick it loves to play.
The calm before the storm.
One second passes.
Two.
Three.
The voices return with vengeance, becoming louder and louder by the second. The tragic memory of every mistake I ever made and the disappointment I caused in people replay in my head until I’m sweating out.
I shoot upright on the bed and snatch the bottle, taking a long swig. The alcohol doesn’t even burn anymore as it travels down my throat. I gulp it down in one go and throw the bottle away. Despite it, the chaos in my head hasn’t died down.
Opening the bottom drawer, I grab the scotch I keep in there. Twisting the cap, I drink it.
Then I continue until I pass out.
***
ANGEL: When are you returning? I wanted to meet and update you regarding the freelance investigator.
I read Arya’s text she sent three days ago as I walk into the building of her PR firm. It’s been ten days since she showed up at my door to seduce me. She hasn’t asked outright, but I can sense she’s dying to know when I’ll invite her over to meet.
I want to test my restraint as much as keep her on the knife’s edge of lust. To remind myself I am not as affected by her as I like to believe.
I guess I’m also torturing myself a little bit by making us both wait.
Plus, there’s an undeniable thrill of sneaking around while everyone around us remains oblivious to the truth.
Sauntering to the reception desk, I ask directions to her office. The last time I was here, we met in the conference room.
The receptionist flusters a little peering up at me before answering softly.
I don’t react, immune to the effect I have on women, and move on after thanking her. There’s an urgency in my steps as I march to the elevator.
Why am I so eager to see her?
It’s bad enough that the image of her kneeling and choking on my cock has been imprinted in my brain twenty-four seven. Even during meetings, I wasn’t forsaken.
Stepping out onto her floor, I easily find her corner office. The door is halfway open. When I get closer, I catch a flash of shiny brown hair. The strands were like silk in my fist that I never wanted to stop stroking. My fingers twitch, clamoring to run through them.
There’s no one around. My feet make no sound as I stop right outside and don’t alert her of my presence.
She stands with her back turned to me, bent over her desk while she works.
My starving gaze travels over her feet wrapped in high stilettos, her mile-long legs disappearing underneath the skirt of her burgundy A-line dress stretching around her round ass. Tempting me to take a bite or spank those cheeks until they bounce.
I force myself to continue my slow perusal after feeling my pants tighten around my half-mast dick.
Dragging my eyes upward doesn’t help my state because the material of her dress cinches around her slim waist and wraps around the rest of her body like a second skin.
Arya’s figure is that of a supermodel. A wet dream of every designer.
A tall mirror hangs on the wall opposite her desk, giving me access to her reflection. My heart pumps faster at the sight of her beautiful face after going without seeing her for days. It’s as mesmerizing in the bright lights as it is under moonlight.
A concentrated frown mars her temple, her bottom lip folded between her teeth as she scribbles on a thick document. One of the shorter strands sticks to her high cheekbone. Yet she makes no move to push it away, too lost in whatever notes she’s writing.
Always giving her all. Her ambition to succeed shines through her actions.
I never got a chance to reply to her and decided to come straight here after I landed in the city early this morning.
A part of me wanting to see how she’ll react when caught off guard.
Will her eyes light up at my presence? Will she be nervous? Mad that I showed up unannounced? Annoyed I never returned her text?
Or will she jump into my arms and whisper in my ear how she saved her orgasms for me? Beg that I reward her for being my good girl?
Unlocking my phone, I shoot her a text.
ME: Is that the only reason you wanna meet, angel?
The buzzing of her phone, which is resting nearby, rips her attention away from the document. Stretching her arm, she picks it up.
My gaze is glued to her in the mirror. So, when she drops everything and stands up straight, her entire face lightening up, I don’t miss a single thing. A teasing smile grazes her lips as she stares at my message.
I swear my stupid heart does a fist pump. As if I’ve won a war single-handedly.
After what feels like forever, she types a reply.
ANGEL: Of course. I’m nothing but professional.
I suppress a laugh. Glancing up, I notice she’s abandoned her task and is giving me her full focus, waiting for my reply.
It brings an addictive rush to my chest.
ME: Is that right?
ANGEL: Uh… huh.
ME: So, I should keep my hands to myself?
ANGEL: Up to you.
ME: You know me. I’m nothing but a gentleman.
Grinning, she shakes her head while looking at her phone.
ME: What about your hands, little minx? Have you behaved like an obedient girl while I was gone? No slipping them between your thighs while lying alone in your bed in the middle of the night?
Her cheeks go crimson, her throat bobbing as she shifts restlessly on the spot. Putting the phone down, she clutches the edge of the desk and gulps in shaky breaths.
I can sense her arousal from here.
The need to have my fingers inside her cunt and relieve the ache.
Gathering her composure, she slowly picks up the phone. Biting the corner of her mouth, she responds.
I look down just as her message pops up, sending a blaze of lust through my body.
ANGEL: I would never disobey your orders.
ANGEL: So, I used my vibrator instead.
“You’re a terrible liar, angel,” I taunt, entering her office.
She jumps at my voice and whirls around.
Closing the door, I lock it behind me.
“N-Nathan, what a-are you doing here?” she stutters, pressing a hand to her chest. It’s rising and falling rapidly.
“Did you steal an orgasm after I told you they all belong to me?” I arch a brow, stalking toward her. “Do I need to punish you?”
We both know she was bluffing a second ago. Had I not been watching her raptly, I might’ve believed her.
“Punish me?” Curiosity drips from her raspy tone.
I stop before her, caging her against the desk. “Yes, punish you for being a bad girl.”
“How?”
“Turn around and bend over.”
“What?”
“I’d rather show you.”
The brown flecks in her eyes turn black with desire. Yet she resists. Nervously glancing around, she murmurs, “You can’t be serious. We’re in my office.”
“I’m well aware, Ari.” I dare her with my eyes to follow my command. “I’m not asking you to take your clothes off.” Yet.
“What if we get caught?”
“It’s a risk you’ll have to take.” Tilting my head, I taunt, “Are you always this uptight at work?”
“I am not!”
“Yet here you are arguing.” Sighing disappointedly, I say, “I thought you said I can have you anytime and anyplace I desire. Did I make a mistake saying yes?”
Straightening, I move to take a step back.
Her arm swings out and she grabs my suit jacket, bringing me back. “Don’t go. And stop blackmailing me like that.”
“Turn around and bend.”
Dropping her hand, she twists around. A noticeable shiver coursing down her spine. I allow her enough space to bend over the desk.
“Arch your hips and lay your palms flat on the desk.”
Another tremor and she does what she’s told, pleasing me to no end.
I fight a groan at the delectable view of her juicy ass. God! It’s divine. And it isn’t even bare. I imagine digging my fingertips in those cheeks while I ride her tight back hole. I won’t let her go until I’ve claimed her asshole.
Shuffling closer, I press a hand on her lower back while raising my other one. “This is how I punish brats, Ari.”
I bring my palm down hard on her ass, the echo resounding in the room.
“Ahh!” Arya yelps.
“Quiet. We don’t want people running in here, do we?”
“No.”
“Let’s try again.” Spank.
“Oohh,” she whimpers, her arms lashing out and spilling stationery onto the floor.
“I can still hear you.” I squeeze the sore spot, eliciting a small cry. “Again.”
Spank. Spank. Spank.
I am merciless as I rain down slaps. With each one, she goes quieter. The only visible sign is her squirming and heels shuffling.
“You did so well, angel,” I praise, gently massaging her ass. I flick my gaze toward the mirror, staring at her parted mouth as she pants. A telltale flush darkens her cheeks, betraying how much she enjoyed being disciplined. “Did I satisfy your curiosity?”
She nods.
Slipping my hands to her waist, I make her stand and face me. Tipping her head back, I caress her swollen bottom lip where she bit to hold back her cries. “If you lie or disobey me again, it’ll be your naked ass I spank.”
I see her eyes widen a fraction before I crush my lips against hers. I coax them open with my tongue and thrust inside, starving to taste her sweetness.
Kissing her is the opposite of keeping her at arm’s length.
Yet I can’t resist.
When she shyly flicks her tongue against mine and sucks, I almost go feral and deepen the kiss. Allowing myself one more taste, I force my lips away.
Her long eyelashes flutter open, revealing insatiable brown eyes, and it takes all my willpower not to ravage her whole.
We stare at each other for a beat before she cuts the sexual tension.
“Who knew you’d be this strict?”
I chuckle, unable to help myself. “You loved every second of it.”
“Maybe.”
“Definitely.”
Shrugging innocuously, she teases, “You’re a bad influence, Mr. Singhania.”