Chapter 15
Hannah
Dave throws his arm around my shoulder, laughing loudly at Senator Ryans’ bad joke. No, bad doesn’t even begin to describe what he just said. Awful. Offensive. Would get him cancelled in a minute.
And Dave is laughing. It’s disgusting.
My head throbs. I need another drink, but I’ve already had too much. My gaze dances around the room and lands on Brooks, who’s staring at me with an intense look on his face that takes my breath away. I used to pray that I’d see him looking at me that way again after we broke up, even though I knew it wasn’t good for me. Hell, I would put myself to sleep making up stories where we were still together. And the way he’d look at me? Was just how he’s looking at me right now.
I turn to Dave and the Senator. “Excuse me. Someone is calling my name.”
Dave nods, barely even looking my way as I leave. It says a lot about his character that he’d rather rub elbows with someone like Senator Ryans than to ask if I’m okay. If I wasn’t already done with him, I would be after tonight. This is definitely the last time I’m going to speak to him.
Renee grabs my hand, pulling me to the side.
“You okay? You look like you’re going to be sick.”
“Just listening to Senator Ryans prove that all the stories in the press about him are true.”
“Ugh. Isn’t he running for the republican candidate spot against Grant Carter?”
“That’s the one. Turns out, Dave is just as bad.”
“Want me to toss them out?”
I think. “Yes, but discreetly.”
Because I don’t want there to be any bad press with my event, even if the offending parties are pieces of shit.
“On it.”
“Thanks. I’m going to hide out in my office for a bit and catch my breath. Maybe kick off these heels for a bit.”
We part ways.
I take three steps before someone else stops me. And then another. And another. By the time I get away from the crowds and head to the hallway where my office is, I’m fighting a panic attack. I haven’t had a panic attack in over five years, and I know it’s because of Brooks. I never had the chance to heal from the trauma he left behind. Should I have gone to counseling? Sure, but I wasn’t in the right headspace to hear hard truths at that point in my life. So, I healed on my own, which apparently wasn’t good enough since I’m running out of my event to go to my office to pull my crap together before I burst into tears.
In my office, I leave the light off and move to the window, looking out.
I hate Brooks, but only because I can’t love him. My stupid little heart can’t seem to get the message that he didn’t choose us. That even now, when he’s single, he doesn’t want me.
“Fucking idiot,” I mutter.
“Me? I agree.”
My damn heart misses a beat as I turn to face Brooks.
“You’re not supposed to be in here.”
“I disagree.”
“But you agree that you’re a fucking idiot?”
He moves toward me, slowly, which adds an element of sexiness since we’re in the dark. I shove the thought aside. No! I will not fall prey to his charm.
He says, “Yes.”
“Well, at least you can recognize it.”
“I’ve known for the past five years that I was an idiot, Angel.”
I shake my head. “No. We’re not doing this. Not at my party.”
“That’s fair, but we need to talk.”
“There’s nothing we need to talk about, Brooks, except about what pattern of China you want at your wedding dinner. Or what color of suit you want for your ceremony.”
“I want you, Angel, but I know we won’t be able to move on until we lay it all on the table.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“You doubt me?”
“Let’s just say that I have a hard time trusting you.”
“Let me make it real fucking clear. I want you, Angel. I never stopped wanting you. That was never the problem.”
“No, the problem was your wife.”
“Yeah, it was. But there’s so much more to the story that I need you to know.”
I say, “Knowing it isn’t going to change anything, Brooks.”
“It might.”
The look in his eyes is so earnest that I finally nod.
“Fine. But not tonight.”
“Because you need to run out to your boyfriend?”
I smile sweetly. “Why, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were jealous, Brooks, which is hilarious since you’re fucking engaged. You have no right to be jealous.”
“I am jealous,” he says as he moves even closer. “He has the woman I love at his side, and it fucking kills me.”
Love? My damn heart melts a little, but I shake my head.
“You don’t get to throw around words like that, Brooks. Not when we both know you don’t mean them.”
“I mean every fucking word, Angel.”
“Well, regardless, it doesn’t matter. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
“If you walk away from me, I’m going to chase. I’ll keep chasing until you see just how serious I am.”
I roll my eyes and walk away from him. I’ve taken three steps when I hear him growl.
“Angel, you’re testing me,” he says from behind me. “You’re not walking out of here to stand next to him.”
He’s so close that I can feel his erection pressing into my back.
A dark thrill spreads through me. It would be so easy to give in to temptation. To push Brooks’ buttons until he gives me what I want, the way I want it. But that’s a road I shouldn’t go down. Even though I desperately want to.
“He’s here as a friend, Brooks. Nothing more.”
His hand goes around my waist, pulling me close.
Hot breath fans my ear. “Does that mean you broke up with him?”
I spin to face him, which is probably a bad idea.
“We were never serious. I was just dating him, hoping to get off.”
Heat flares in his eyes. “Getting off? Angel, I can help you with that.”
I hate the rush of heat that goes right to my core.
“You’re engaged, in case you’ve forgotten.”
“True, but we both know this engagement is a sham. I’m only marrying her because I have to.” He moves closer, pulling me against him. “But we’re not going to speak of her anymore. And if you can’t keep your mouth shut, then I’ll gladly give you something to fill it.”
“All talk, Brooks. That’s always been your biggest flaw.”
“All talk, eh? Get on your knees and I’ll show you just how serious I am.”
I’m going to hell because I lower to my knees, looking at him with a challenging glint in my eyes.
Brooks exhales and then reaches for his belt. Slowly, he unbuckles it and then unzips his pants. I groan when his cock springs forward. Guess he still doesn’t wear underwear. He reaches for his dick, pumping it. I’ve forgotten how big he is.
“Open up, Angel.”
There’s a moment when I wonder if I’m doing the wrong thing. But I’m so freaking desperate to be with him that my lips part. He smiles down at me as he guides his cock past my lips. The crazy thing? This feels like I’m right where I’m supposed to be.
“Damn,” he breathes out. “Angel, this feels so fucking right.”
I hum my response, making him groan.
“Are you ready for Daddy?”
I nod once because I know what he means. He’s about to go hard and fast, and I am ready. Too ready, really. Like, it shouldn’t be this easy to fall into old routines with him.
He grips my hair, making me tilt my head back. The first arch of his hips has him sliding to the back of my throat. I gag, but he doesn’t stop until he’s all the way in.
“Fuck. Look at my angel taking my cock like such a good girl.”
His words send a rush of heat to my core. God, I want to touch myself so badly, but I don’t. Because I know he’s going to make me feel good. He always does.
Brooks pulls out and then slides back in, using my mouth to get off. We were always so good like this. That was never our problem.
His grip tightens in my hair, bringing me into the moment. I meet his gaze. He knew I was lost in my thoughts and remembered that sometimes I need a bit of pain to get out of my head. He’s the only person I’ve ever felt comfortable doing this with, too. Something I’m not going to look too much into.
“I’m close,” he rasps out. “Fuck, your mouth feels so fucking good, Angel.”
I knew he was close before he said anything. His thrusts have become uncontrolled. More intense. Punishing. And, fuck, it feels so good to be used by him.
He stills.
“Does my angel want me to paint her throat with my cum?”
I knew this question was coming. It always does. Lord, help me because I know what my answer is going to be.
I shake my head.
“No? Your chest?”
I shake my head again.
“Ah. My sweet angel wants me to fill her pussy with my cum.”
I groan, nodding. He pulls out of my mouth and a trail of saliva strings down my chin.
He brushes it with his thumb and says, “So fucking pretty. I love seeing you ruined like this, for me. Now, stand. Because I need to be inside of you.”
My legs are wobbly as I stand. Not because I’m scared or worried, but because I want this so freaking much. Too much.
“This is the only time this is going to happen,” I say.
He spins me and pushes me, so I’m bent over my desk. Air kisses my skin as he hikes up my skirt, pulling my panties aside.
“We both know this is just the beginning, Angel.”
He thrusts in me, and we both groan. I glance at the door. Shit. Did we lock it? I don’t think we did. But all thoughts fade when he pulls out, thrusting again. A whimper works its way up my throat.
“Shh,” he says as he rocks into me. “We don’t want everyone at your gala to know what a dirty girl you’re being.”
His hand moves to cover my mouth as he fucks me harder. I moan against his hand, and he presses harder.
“Fuck, I’ve missed this. I’ve missed how well you take me, Angel. No one feels as good as you.”
I can only groan in response because I know exactly what he means. No one feels as good as him.
“Are you close?” he asks as he nips the side of my neck. “Because I am.”
I nod. He pulls out, spinning me so I’m facing him. Before I can process how sexy he looks with his cock out, he lifts me, putting my butt on the top of my desk.
“Lie back, because this is going to be hard and fast.”
“I want you to choke me,” I say, as I lie back.
His nostrils flair as he pulls me to the edge of the desk. A moment later, he’s inside of me and his hand is around my throat, pushing my head back.
I know the moment he sees the tattoo.
“Fuck,” he groans, his grip tightening. “Is this for me, Angel?”
I’m so close to my climax that it’s hard to think. He stills and I whimper.
“Is this for me?” His thumb rubs the script tattoo on the underside of my chin.
“No, it’s not. Now, fuck me.”
Something flashes in his eyes right before he slams into me. We both grunt, but he doesn’t slow his pace. Fiery pleasure shoots through me right before I come, shattering around his cock. He rocks into me a few more times before stilling, filling me.
“That’s it, Angel. Take all of my cum,” he whispers against my ear.
He holds me down with the hand around my throat until we’ve both stopped shaking. Finally, he pulls out. And I miss him right away.
All I can do is lie there. My limbs literally feel like jelly.
“I wasn’t too rough, was I?”
I snort and push myself to a sitting position. Our combined juices run out of me, making me cringe. Shit. How could we be so reckless?
“Angel?”
“No, you weren’t too rough.” I stand. “You can see yourself out.”
I don’t wait to hear his reply as I make my way to the attached bathroom. The woman in the mirror looks like a version of myself that I haven’t seen for a very long time. She’s happy even if her lipstick is smeared and her skin is flushed. All because of Brooks.
Hot tears fill my eyes. Opening the closet door, I grab a washcloth. While the water warms, I use the toilet. When I’m finished, I wet the cloth and then wipe between my legs. I’m already tender, which isn’t a surprise. Brooks is well endowed, and we weren’t exactly gentle with each other. My body tingles at the memory. No! I can’t do that to myself. This was a one time deal.
Tossing the washcloth in the trash, I make sure I look decent before leaving. I’m shocked to find Brooks sitting behind my desk, my phone in his hand.
“Dave has called a few times. I’m sure he’s out there, wondering where you are.”
I feel like ice douses me. Fuck. Dave might not be out there, since Renee was going to throw him out, but there are potential clients who could have come looking for me. What was I thinking?
“Give me my phone.”
He does, and I tuck it in the pocket of my dress.
“You need to go out there first. I’ll follow a few moments later. If anyone asks, you were in here discussing a surprise for your wedding, understand?”
“I’ll only agree to that if you agree to see me later tonight. My hotel or your house. I don’t care. Just somewhere we can talk.”
“Brooks, this is a bad idea.”
He crosses his arms. “Then I’m not moving. You can tell Jacqueline that I’m in here, and she’ll smell our sex lingering in the air the moment she enters.”
My lips part because he’s right. Anyone who comes in here is going to know what I was doing.
“You’re an asshole.”
“Never said I wasn’t. Now, do we have a deal?”
“Fine. You can come to my house later so we can talk.”
He stands, moving closer. “Send me your address.”
Glaring, I dig out my phone. “What’s your number?”
“It’s the same as before.” He waits a beat. “Do you still have me as a contact?”
I nod.
I hate that I still have his number in my phone. I should have deleted it years ago, but couldn’t bring myself to do it. There was always a little part of me that hoped he would reach out, even though he never did.
I find his name and send him my address.
“There. Now, go.”
He tips my chin. “Thank you.”
There’s a moment when it feels like no time has passed between us. But then I remember how he nearly destroyed me and the smile fades from my face.
“Just go.”