Chapter Seventeen
The office door burst open and I jumped back so violently, the chair tipped and I tumbled to the floor. Heavy footsteps echoed as two shiny leather shoes appeared in my eye line. Standing up hurriedly, I frowned as Finley raised his eyebrows at me. Only seconds before, I'd been deep in a book, mesmerised by the fast-paced action of the two lovers... who had been going at it doggy style...and now…
Getting up from the floor, I backed towards the desk, grasping the edge of it as my heart pounded.
“Finley. What are you doing here?”
His smirk made me glance over my shoulder to search for my phone. The energy behind his glassy eyes made my stomach churn.
“You ruined me,” he slurred, taking a wobbly step towards me, “and embarrassed my family name. ”
Frowning, I felt for my phone on the desk, snatching it up and holding it in front of me. “Joe is on his way.”
It was bullshit, I hadn't spoken to him all day. He'd told me he would be at an important meeting, so I'd not even bothered to reach out, knowing that he'd contact me when he was free.
“He's at his famous men's night.” Finley sneered, glancing towards my window and shaking his head. “I miss belonging to somewhere,” he said, tilting his head to the side, “all because you called me out, bitch.”
“Men's night?” I stuttered, trying to discretely unlock my phone.
Bringing it back down to my side, I prayed that my many years of typing skills would help me to navigate my phone without looking. My heartbeat resounded in my head as I stared at Finley, trying to process what was happening. I hadn't seen, heard or even thought about him for a while. I'd been too engrossed in my newfound excitement with Joe.
“Oh wait,” Finley frowned, “you don't know about his world?”
A sly grin split his lips as he came closer and reached for me, running one finger down my cheek. I'd pressed the screen on my phone, hoping that it dialled the same number it had yesterday. Joe was the only one who could stop Finley right now. Wait, what was he talking about?
My bastard curiosity sprung up and begged to know what he meant. Yet, I ignored him, not replying to the man who had attacked me. I didn't want to encourage him to stay and talk, or even worse, hurt me.
“You're his precious new play thing and you don't even know what you're getting into,” Finley said with a chuckle, “I love it!”
Slapping his leg, he stepped closer, his tall frame blocking me from the door. Fuck him, I wasn't going to take it this time.
Lifting my arms, I shoved my fists into his chest and pushed hard. He stumbled backwards and I managed to step around him with just enough space to rush for the door. He somehow found his footing and grabbed my wrist, wrenching me back. I opened my mouth, about to scream, when his fist thumped into my head, knocking it to the side.
“Listen to me, little girl,” he breathed, grabbing my hair and pulling it hard. “I'm going to defile you so that your precious designer man doesn't want you anymore.”
Inhaling, I prepared to shout, only getting out a squeak before his hand came over my mouth and he dragged me to the floor, face down.His hand slipped up my skirt, his fingers fumbling for the hem of my tights as I thrust and bucked, trying desperately to get him off me. My muffled scream vibrated against his hand as my whole body grew frantic and he struggled to get a grip on me. He gave up trying to pull my underwear down and wrapped both hands around my neck.
The squeeze of his fingers crushed my windpipe and I fought harder, using all my strength to dislodge him from where he pinned me. My lungs burned as air was blocked from entering them and the panic grew, making my stomach churn. Stars started to dance in front of my eyes before my neck was suddenly released and oxygen flowed back into my lungs. The weight of Finley was gone from my back and I checked to see where he was as I choked.
Joe held Finley by his hair, pulling the bastard back and throwing him against the wall. Finley grunted as he slammed into the plain hard brick. Before he could fall to the floor, Joe grabbed his shirt and threw his fist into his face. Panting, I pushed up into a sit, tugging my skirt down and pushing my hair out of my face. Joe punched Finley again... and again... and again.
The grunting stopped and blood spurted up the wall. As much as the man deserved what he got, the sickening thud of his flesh made me jump to my feet and approach Joe from behind.
“Stop!” I shouted, reaching for Joe's arm, which was still flying through the air.
He paused when I caught his elbow, turning to me and glaring. His eyes were wild and spittle flew from the corners of his mouth. I cowered as he dropped Finley and stepped towards me, his huffing loud and his cheeks red when he looked down at me. A strange glaze covered his eyes as if he were looking straight through me.
“Joseph,” I said weakly before coughing, “It's me.”
Rubbing my sore neck, I looked up at him and swallowed hard. He shook his head and blinked several times, clearing the weird mist away from his eyes.
“Lola,” he breathed, glancing at Finley, who was out cold on the floor, “I want to kill him.”
His husky voice made me shiver as he turned back to me and stroked my cheek. I grasped his wrists as he held my chin and lifted my head, bringing his lips down to mine. The kiss was deep and desperate, our breathing loud as he wound his arms around me and I clung to him. The smell of his sweat and the race of adrenaline sent sparks of desire down to my pussy.
Pulling away, he kissed down my neck. “When I heard your scream,” he muttered, “I ran as fast as I could.”
His lips found mine again and I slipped my hands into his hair, holding him tight as our tongues danced together. “You heard me?” I said, breaking contact, “How?”
“I was already on my way over from the club.” Holding my head, he stared into my eyes, “I had to see you and when you rang me... shit, he almost fucking...”
A film of water slipped into my eyes and I blinked in an attempt to clear it. “Thank fuck you rescued me,” I muttered, laughing to cover the shake of my voice.
His eyes narrowed and he picked me up, his breath heavy as I wrapped my legs around his waist. He shoved me against the wall as we kissed desperately, only breaking apart when he ripped my top off over my head. I clung to him as our mouths sucked and licked, glued to one another.
His hand came under my skirt, pausing before I grabbed his arm and urged him to touch me. He ripped my tights in one strong pull, making my pussy flood and pulse. His strength had been used to save me, his blood splattered hands protecting me from those who would hurt me.
“I need you,” he rasped, his hand fiddling with the button on his smart trousers.
I held him, still kissing his neck, his chin and his mouth as he released himself. His hands took my arms and moved them above my head, where he pinned them.
I froze, just for a moment, until he put his mouth next to my ear and whispered, “No one else gets to touch you. You're mine.”
My body melted against him as he pressed me firm against the wall, opening my legs wider. I gasped when he thrust, his penis slipping straight into my soaking wet pussy. The power of his hips bounced my spine against the hard wall and I threw my head back, unable to reach for him, yet turned on by his dominance over me.
He held my thigh with one hand and my wrists with the others as he plunged again and again, stretching my vagina wide. His wild bucks had me panting as he groaned, long and low. My swollen walls gripped him as waves of pleasure pulsed, building into an orgasm that started slow.
“Fuck. Me.” I almost shouted as he did, in and out, his hard length hammering to my deepest depths and hitting my g-spot.
“Always,” he replied, his chest heaving as he squeezed my wrists tight and pinched my thigh.
His hips sped up and I stopped trying to match him as tingles erupted, spreading from my pulsing vagina and flowing through my whole body. Joe's roar echoed in my ears as he thrust deep and stopped, his body shaking hard against me, almost in unison to mine.
As our orgasms died down, our loud breathing echoed around the room. I kept my head buried in his neck, too afraid to face the reality of what had happened in my office.
“I lost control,” Joe murmured, moving his head to rest against my neck, “in more ways than one.”
Nodding, I bit my bottom lip, not wanting to look at the state of the office. Being in his arms, revelling in the bliss of orgasm, was my happy place. But that was about to come crashing down.
“Is he alive?” I spoke so quietly, I almost didn't hear myself.
Releasing my arms, Joe slipped himself out of me and tucked himself away. I inhaled as I straightened my clothes with shaky hands, still leaning against the walls so my legs didn't give way.
“I fucking hope so.” Joe's reply sent a chill over my skin.
Shit, our life would be over if he'd killed Finley. And we'd just fucked against the wall instead of checking to see if the man was still alive. What was wrong with us?
Joseph stepped towards the young man and leaned down to feel his neck. Glancing back at me, he scowled as his gaze traced my neck. My hand came up to the sore area where Finley had squeezed.
“He's alive.” Standing, he took his phone out of his pocket and pointed at me as he dialled someone. “Collect all of your paperwork. Yeah,” he said, turning away and putting the phone to his ear, “I need your help. Now.”
My gaze darted around as I tried to process what he'd ordered. He wanted me to collect all of my paperwork? Did he have any idea how much I had?
When he looked at me with a hard stare, I jumped over to my desk and started to gather everything into a pile. Opening my drawers, I took out my designs as well as his rough drafts, trying not to screw them up with my shaky fingers. I understood that we needed to leave, but why would he make me take everything? This was my office and Finley had attacked me. Joe had only hit out in self-defence, surely the police would see that.
“Thanks, I'll catch up with you later.” Hanging up, Joe grabbed up a box and helped me to pack it with my files. “This is why we need to digitalise everything going forward,” he muttered.
“What? Just in case someone else tries to attack me?” My voice hitched as the reality of what had happened set in.
Yet again, I'd been vulnerable, unable to stop Finley from hurting me. Yes, Joe had got there in time to stop any real damage being done, but if he'd have been any longer, I could have been as floppy as Finley was right now... without a heartbeat.
“I need self-defence lessons.” Swiping at a stray tear, I swore violently. “Fucking fuck.”
“Listen,” Joe snapped, taking my elbow and forcing me to look up at him, “you are vulnerable and there's nothing wrong with that.”
Ripping away from him, I clenched my hands at my sides. “Yes, there is.... I need to be hard as fuck because apparently, everyone wants to fucking attack me!”
His gaze softened and he reached for me, his arms gentle as they wrapped around my shoulders. “I'm here, now,” he said, pressing my head into his chest, “I'll always protect you.”
The lump in my throat was so big, I couldn't quite push my words past it. Instead, I hiccupped and swallowed continually, trying to hold back the tears.
Pulling back, Joe blinked slowly and licked his lips. “Lola,” he said, “it's about time I introduced you to my world properly. I'm part of a society of protectors. So, if I can promise you one thing... I will always take care of you... and if anyone ever dares to touch you again, they’ll end up dead. I promise.”