Chapter 36
THIRTY-SIX
Leaning into the wall, I watch Mackie work, unable to help myself.
He spent last night with Conan, and even though jealousy is weighing my heart down, I don’t let it show.
How could I when he bounded in here this morning looking so happy?
It helped that he kissed me hello in front of everyone before he got to work.
I guess it’s something I’ll just have to get used to.
He’s still here, though, and he’s staying with me and Starfire, so that’s great. I refuse to let anything ruin my good mood . . . until I see Amanda.
The sight of her ruins my day before she can even open her mouth.
She prowls through my garage like she owns it, her eyes locked on me.
I glare at her, my arms crossed as she stops in front of me.
I feel everyone watching us, and I know Mackie is one of them.
I want to reassure him, but not with her looking at me like that.
Her eyes are sharp and vicious. She didn’t come here to play, and I won’t let Mackie be in her sights, even for a moment.
“Noah,” she greets. “We need to talk.”
“No, we don’t,” I inform her, my eyebrow arched as I dismiss her.
“Either we talk out here or in your office. Your choice,” she responds, refusing to back down.
My jaw clenches as I debate how to throw her ass out, but despite my insistence on her not being in my life, being rude will cause issues for our families, so I jerk my head toward my office with about as much glee as if I’m about to have a rectal exam.
My eyes lift to find everyone watching, but they quickly turn away when they realize I’ve noticed them—all but Alek, Skylar, and Mackie, who are staring at me intently.
Skylar looks like he’s ready to murder either me or her, and Alek is right there with him.
I want to explain, but that will only give her ammunition, so I promise them with a silent look that I will later before I glance at my boy.
My expression softens, and I wordlessly vow to sort this when I’m done.
Amanda stares at Mackie, who’s looking between us, a dark expression on his face, and her smile is cruel, as if she won by hurting him.
I follow her into my office, where she makes herself comfortable on my desk, which only irritates me more. The only person who should be comfortable in here is my boy.
Shutting the door behind me out of habit, I hesitate before turning back and opening it slightly, leaving it ajar in case Mackie is close and listening.
I don’t want him overthinking this or getting jealous.
I won’t hide anything from him. I’ll tell him everything, but I don’t want him second-guessing us or worrying needlessly.
I have nothing to hide from him when it comes to Amanda.
“We have nothing to discuss. I have told you, and now your parents, multiple times. I will not be engaged to you. I will not marry you,” I begin as I sit heavily in my chair.
“So why are you here, Amanda? I made it very clear. I always have. I have no intention of listening to our families, not even for the greater good of our respective companies.”
“Noah . . .” Amanda sighs, running her pointed nail along my desk and looking disgusted when it comes away covered in grit.
She looks at it intently as she waits for me to listen.
“I have no intention of letting you decide my future for me. I have let you play your games and have your tantrum, even your family has, but we will marry.” Her eyes land on me.
“I always get what I want. I’ve been nice up until now, but obviously that isn’t working, so I won’t be anymore.
Our business needs this marriage, and when I’m done with you, so will you.
” She rubs her fingers together to show me the dirt there.
“You really should be more careful about keeping things like this hidden.”
My eyes narrow at her veiled threat, and she smirks.
“You know I hate word games, Amanda. Spit it out,” I snap.
Rolling her eyes, she slides from her desk, banging her designer bag on top before she opens it.
“Always ruining my fun. Fine, then let me make this very easy.” She pulls her phone out, typing in her password quickly, her nails clicking on the screen.
She flips her screen, and everything in me goes cold.
It’s a picture of Mackie and me kissing in my garage the other morning.
She slides her finger across the screen, and another picture comes up of me helping him into my house.
She keeps sliding, showing snapshots of our life.
How the fuck did she get these?
“Are you having me watched?” I snarl.
“My future fiancé? Of course. Even between married couples, knowledge is power, and I will never be on the losing side. Your family is traditional, Noah, and they want grandchildren as successors. If you refuse to marry me, I’ll show them your dirty little secret.
I’ll ruin your reputation and your family.
” When I just stare, she smiles. “I’m so glad we are finally understanding each other. ”
“You only want this because of my name and money.”
“Of course I do.” She laughs. “I don’t want you, Noah.
I just want to own you. I didn’t give up my identity and hope of happiness to be pushed aside.
I will be the best CEO this world has ever seen.
I will take my family name to new heights, and to get there, I need your name and connections, and I will get them.
Nobody will get in my way, not even you and your feelings for that boy out there.
I tried to be kind, but that wasn’t working, so now we are going to do it this way. You will walk away from him.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Don’t test me, Noah. I’ve been playing meek and coy all this time, but there is a reason my father chose me as his successor. I will do whatever it takes, and I don’t care who I have to ruin along the way,” she promises with a shrug as she drops her phone into her bag.
The door slams open, and I leap to my feet as Mackie steps into my office, looking furious.
My stomach drops out, terror clutching at my chest as I beg him with my eyes not to misunderstand.
The idea of losing him makes me want to throw up.
“Baby, listen, it isn’t what it sounds like.
” What if he leaves me? What if this breaks his heart and he walks away?
I can’t live without him. I can’t.
“Sit down,” he snaps, and I lower my ass into the seat as he rounds the desk. His hand rests on my shoulder as he glares at Amanda, and despite the circumstances, desire rolls through me at that soft, innocent touch.
“Ah, the plaything. You have some fire, but the adults are talking.”
“I wasn’t finished,” he growls, and her eyes widen.
“I heard everything, but one look at you was enough to tell me what I needed to know. You’re nothing more than a spoiled rich girl who’s used to getting her way, but let me tell you something: that won’t work here.
Starfire has been built from the ground up, hard work—”
“So sad. Save me the sob story,” she scoffs. “Half of Starfire will be mine anyway.”
“Your parents apparently never taught you manners, since you keep interrupting me,” Mackie retorts, and her eyes narrow.
Nobody speaks to her like that. I tug on his hand in warning, but he pulls it away, sitting where she was, blocking her from me.
“I’m not letting him go anywhere, never mind marry you. ”
“It’s cute that you think you have a choice.” She sniffs. “You’re just his dirty little secret. I have to thank you, really. Before you, Noah never had a weakness to exploit.”
“You see me as a weakness, but I know differently, and what you don’t seem to understand is that I have and always will do anything for Noah and his happiness.
You’re fighting for money and power, but I’m fighting for someone I love.
” My heart clenches, and I want to tug him into my arms and tell him I love him too, but he’s focused on her, and she’s staring at him. Neither of them is backing down.
“Amanda, just leave. You’ll never get what you want,” I respond tiredly, trying to break them apart.
“No? I think I will.” She grins. “That’s the difference between you and me, Noah. You have everything to lose, while I have nothing. He’s a weakness, one I will carve from your life until you bleed. I’ll tell them. I’ll show them everything—”
“Fine,” Mackie interrupts. “Tonight, at his parents’ house. Let’s finish this once and for all.” He stands and turns her toward the door. “Now get out. You aren’t welcome here, and if I see you in my boyfriend’s office one more time, I will toss you out on your stupid designer heels, little girl.”
She spins to give him a response, but he slams the door in her face. Her eyes widen and she reaches for the handle, so he locks it, waving at her through the glass before tugging the blinds down.
He doesn’t look at me, but his back is heaving.
I stand. “Baby,” I murmur softly.
He turns, his eyes on fire, and I shrink back under the fury I see on his face. “I was going to tell you. I promise. I’d already told them multiple times that I have no intention of marrying her. Even if I didn’t have you, it was always you,” I blurt, rushing the truth out in fear.
His eyes narrow, and before I know it, my chair is slammed back into the wall. My eyes widen as he pushes me into it and drops to his knees, yanking my pants open. He grabs my cock, and it hardens despite the fear I feel.
“Baby—” I say, but it ends in a groan as his lips wrap around my length. My eyes roll back into my head as I reach for him. “Mackie, Mackie . . .”
His mouth releases my hard as hell dick, and he meets my gaze. “I’m going to remind us both whom you belong to. Is that a problem? Or would you prefer I brought her back in here to watch? It might make her realize.”
Shaking my head, I grip his hair. “I’m yours, Mackie. I promise. I’ve never been and never will be hers. I’m sorry.”
“You can be sorry tonight and show me how much. For now, either I’ll go out there and kill that bitch or I’ll do this. Your choice.”
“You’d look good in a jumpsuit,” I admit, breathing heavily under the fierce anger in his gaze. Fuck, he’s beautiful. I don’t like hurting my boy, but I always loved fighting with him. “But then I’d have to commit a crime to get in there with you.”
He simply smirks as he drops his mouth to my length, sucking me to the back of his throat and holding me there. The sight and heat has my eyes rolling back as I grip his hair, mussing it as I fist the short locks and tug him free then back down. I take over, using his mouth.
His hand snakes up my thigh and higher, cupping and rolling my balls in his fingers before squeezing to the point of pain, yet pleasure slices through me, making my cock jerk. Moaning, he takes me deeper, saliva and precum dripping from his pretty mouth as I fuck him faster.
“Jesus, baby, your mouth is heaven,” I growl, uncaring who can hear. My pleasure is overwhelming me, and I know I won’t be able to hold out long. “It was made to suck me, wasn’t it? Fuck, you’re going to make me come and you’re going to swallow it all, aren’t you?”
He nods his head around my length as his other hand slides up under my shirt and grips my pec, squeezing at the same time he squeezes my balls, and it sends me over the edge.
I cry out his name as I come, forcing my length down his throat until all he can do is swallow. I watch his Adam’s apple bob with the movement as he sucks every last drop from me before sliding his swollen mouth from my length and kissing the tip of my softening dick.
“You’re mine. You better remember that,” he warns, and I swear I fall in love all over again.