Chapter 24
Riley
“What? No… no, I’m not doing this.” I tried to step away from Deacon, glaring at him when he caught my arm just above my elbow.
He smiled at the sales associate. “We need a minute.”
“Of course,” he said and walked away.
Deacon glanced around the store before tugging me to a quiet, more secluded section between a wall of glasses and a spinning rack of sunglasses. He pressed me up against the space of bare wall next to the rack and placed one hand on the wall next to my head, penning me in.
“You need glasses, Riley,” he said.
“I know I do,” I snapped in a low voice. “But I don’t need glasses that are…” I checked the tag on a pair of the frames closest to me and nearly fell over at the price. “Holy shit… I’m not buying glasses with six hundred dollars frames, Deacon.”
“You’re not buying them. I am,” he said.
“No,” I said.
“Yes,” he said.
I glared at him. “I can buy my own glasses.”
“Then why haven’t you?” he asked.
“Because I… my car broke down, and I had to use the money I saved up for glasses for the repairs. But I’ll have the money in a few weeks and -”
“You can’t go another few weeks,” he said. “I know you’re getting headaches from squinting, Riley.”
I looked away. “It’s not that bad.”
I bit down on my bottom lip, but Deacon tugged my lip free of my teeth with his thumb. “Baby, I want to do this. Be my good girl and let me buy you glasses.”
My need to please and make him happy surged forward with astonishing speed. “Stop it.”
“What?” he asked.
“You’re using my kink against me,” I said.
He grinned shamelessly. “I am.”
He leaned closer, and my hands clutched his suit jacket when he brushed his mouth over mine. “Don’t you want to be my good girl, Riley?”
“Yes,” I said in a low voice, holding back my urge to hump his leg. We were in public, for God’s sake.
“Then let me buy you glasses,” he said.
My fingers still clamped on his suit jacket, I said, “Fine. But can we go somewhere cheaper? I can pay you back much faster if we go somewhere more reasonably priced.”
“You’re not paying me back.”
“Like hell I’m not,” I said indignantly.
He pressed even closer, and I made a soft squeak when he slid his hand behind me and gripped my ass, giving it a rough squeeze. “This is a gift for my good girl.”
He brushed his mouth against mine again, and I suddenly didn’t care that we were in public. “Deacon, please.”
I could feel his erection against my stomach, and I squirmed restlessly. “I need you.”
“I need you, too.” His breath was warm against my cheek as he leaned down and placed his mouth against my ear. “But fucking you in a public place isn’t what I had in mind for the first time I let you have my cock.”
I moaned when his tongue flicked out to trace my ear. “You want me to fuck you, don’t you, Riley? You want that tight cunt of yours filled full with my dick.”
“Yes,” I whispered. “I want that so much.”
He took a shuddering breath before straightening. He glanced around, and for a moment, I had the crazy idea that he would take me right there. Just lift my skirt, push aside my panties and give me his cock. The thought made my pussy gush.
He stepped back, putting some space between us. His nostrils flared as he stared down at me. “Fuck, Riley, you make me lose all control.”
I cleared my throat. “Deacon, I…”
“Come on.” He took my hand and gave me a tense smile. “Let’s get you some glasses.”
* * *
“Riley,can you grab the monthly reports from Richard’s desk and bring them into my office?” Deacon’s low voice sent all sorts of distracting thoughts racing through my brain.
“Of course, Mr. Cross.” I hung up the phone and hurried down the hallway to Richard’s office. I grabbed the reports, smiling at Amanda as I passed her in the hall.
Deacon had bought me an absurdly expensive pair of glasses, and because my prescription was fairly simple, they would be ready by tomorrow. Although part of me was embarrassed by Deacon buying me glasses, it was almost buried by my delight at the prospect of not having a nightly headache.
I knocked on Deacon’s door and stepped inside. Richard sat across from Deacon at his desk, and I smiled at him as I brought the documents over. Once I was done here, I needed to remember to send out an email to the finance team, and I needed to export the document Deacon had sent me into Excel before -
Deacon’s hand caught my arm. I stared at him in confusion before horror washed over me. I was halfway to my knees beside Deacon’s desk, and Richard was staring at me with a puzzled look.
Holy fuck. I was trying to kneel at Deacon’s feet right here in the goddamn office. I stared mutely at Deacon as he stood and helped me stand straight. “Do you feel faint, Riley?”
He gave me a pointed look, and I nodded immediately. “Yes, I’m sorry. I’m feeling a little, um… unsteady.”
“Sit down.” He guided me into his chair and handed me the half-full glass of water on his desk. “Drink this, please.”
“Should I call 9-1-1?” Richard asked.
“No, no,” I said hurriedly, sipping Deacon’s water. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine,” Richard said. “You almost collapsed at Deacon’s feet.”
Colour rushed to my cheeks as Deacon said, “Did you not eat enough at lunch, Riley?”
Thanking God that one of us could think on our feet, I said, “I didn’t. That’s why I’m lightheaded. But I feel better now, and I have a protein bar at my desk that I’ll eat right now.”
“Good,” Deacon said.
I stood and smiled at Richard, who was still giving me a worried look. “I’m perfectly fine, Richard. I promise.”
He glanced at Deacon. “All right, but make sure you eat that protein bar right away.”
My stomach was full of lasagna and cheese toast, and there was zero room for a protein bar, but I nodded and said, “I will.”
* * *
Deacon
I studied my car engine,not even sure why I’d bothered to pop the hood. I knew nothing about cars and had no idea why my car had started and then abruptly died. I sighed and rubbed at my forehead, my breath steaming out in the cool air of the underground parking garage.
I was annoyed as fuck, and I could only blame my car’s engine problems for part of it. I’d had a phone call that ran late, and by the time I finished, Riley had left for the day. I’d missed my chance to say goodbye and see her one last time.
You’re being ridiculous. You’ll see her on Sunday afternoon.
I reached for my phone to Google a tow truck. I’d have the car towed to a mechanic and then Uber home. I heard a car stop behind me, and I turned, helpless to stop my happy grin when I saw Riley in her crappy car.
She rolled down her window. “Hi.”
“Hi,” I said. “I thought you’d already left for the day.”
“I was helping Amanda with something at her desk. It took us a little longer than we thought. So,” she leaned her arm against the window and smiled cheekily, “your new and expensive car is giving you some trouble, huh?”
I laughed. “Yes. It started but then died, and I have no idea about cars and their possible reasons for mechanical failure. Do you?”
“Nope,” she said. “Did you call for a tow truck?”
“I was about to,” I said. “Then I’m Ubering home and drinking a lot of beer. Unless you’d like to be a knight in shining armor and offer me a ride home?”
She laughed. “You called Marvin a death trap. Are you sure you want a ride from him?”
What I really wanted was Riley to ride me in my large and comfortable bed, but I’d settle for sitting in a car with her - even if it were a rolling death trap.
“I’m willing to take the risk,” I said.
She patted the side of the car. “Well, hop in then, and I’ll ferry you home, good sir.”
“So kind, m’lady,” I said as I slammed the hood shut, grabbed my briefcase from the front seat, and climbed into her car.
As Riley drove toward my place, I called a tow truck and a mechanic and arranged to tow the car first thing tomorrow morning. I tucked my phone into my coat pocket as Riley turned down the road to my house.
As her car chugged up the steep hill just before my house, I said, “I’m even more worried about you making it to my house for play sessions now that I’m in your car.”
“Don’t listen to him, Marvin.” Riley patted the dashboard. “He’s just jealous because you’re so cool.”
“Oh yes, I definitely wish I had a,” I squinted at the dashboard, “tape deck in my car. Christ, how old is this car?”
She laughed. “There’s been a tape stuck in it since I bought him. You’ll never guess what it plays on repeat.”
“On the road again,” I said.
She snorted laughter. “No, you dork. ‘I Will Survive’.”
Now, it was my turn to laugh. “That seems appropriate for Marvin.”
“Doesn’t it?” She patted the dashboard again as the car crested the hill with a laborious whine.
Despite my trepidation about whether we’d make it to my house, we pulled into the driveway five minutes later. She stopped in front of the door, smiling cheerfully at me. “See, I told you Marvin would get you home safe.”
“Sure, but will he get you back home?” I asked. “You should probably come in for a while. Give Marvin time to rest and recuperate before he drives you home.”
Her soft smile was barely visible in the growing gloom. “It does seem like it might be a bit much for him.”
“It is,” I said. “So, come in, and I’ll make you dinner.”
“I’m still stuffed from lunch,” she said.
“I’ll make something light.” I took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Say yes, Riley.”
“Yes, Riley,” she said before grinning and shutting off the car.
We climbed out, and I hustled her into the house, partly because of how fucking cold it was and partly because I didn’t want to give her the chance to change her mind.
We removed our jackets and boots, and Riley followed me into the kitchen, sliding onto the stool like she belonged there as I took off my suit jacket, draped it over a stool and opened the fridge. “Would you like a beer?”
“No, thank you,” she said. “I don’t like to drink if I’m driving, and besides, it’s too cold for beer.”
“Coffee?” I asked.
She grinned. “You might be fine with the caffeine hit at this time of day, but I’ll be bouncing off the walls until the wee hours. I know it’s a little kid’s drink, but do you have hot chocolate?”
“I do,” I said, “and it’s not a little kid’s drink.”
She just shrugged and watched as I stuck a hot chocolate pod into the coffee machine on the counter.
“You have an espresso machine and a coffee machine,” she said.
“Indulgence at its finest,” I said. “I love coffee and am a bit of a coffee snob. I usually bring my own coffee to work, but thankfully, Aiden is as big of a coffee snob as I am.”
I made myself a hot chocolate and brought them to the island, grinning at her expression. “I like hot chocolate, too.”
She laughed and sipped at her drink. “It’s good. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I’m sorry about earlier in your office. It won’t happen again.”
“It’s fine,” I said. “Honestly, I barely remembered to stop you from kneeling.”
She half-laughed and half-grimaced. “Acting like I was about to faint was a brilliant save. Thank God you think quickly on your feet. Could you imagine what Richard would have said if I’d knelt at your feet and rested my face on your thigh? There’s no explaining that.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, and she grinned at me. “We would have traumatized him, Deacon.”
“And caused a scandal at the office,” I said. “Any thoughts on what you’d like for dinner?”
“I really am still full from our lunch,” she said. “But I’m happy to sit and visit while you eat.”
“Nah, I’m not that hungry either,” I said.
“So, how did your first week go?” she asked.
“Good. Rainer didn’t do as much review of the year end as I would have expected, but Richard and the finance department are highly skilled, and I have no concerns about finishing the year end in time.”
“That’s good news,” she said.
We sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes before I said, “Do you have plans for the weekend?”
“Not really. Just an appointment Sunday afternoon.” She grinned at me before sipping at her hot chocolate again.
My dick went half-hard just thinking about Sunday. I couldn’t wait to have her naked in my arms, listening to her soft cries as I made her come.”
“How about yourself?” she asked.
“Dinner with friends tomorrow night,” I said. “Last weekend, I was in Vegas for a friend’s birthday, so I plan on having a quieter weekend. There’s a new Lisa Gardner book out that I want to read.”
Her face lit up. “I love Lisa Gardner! I’m on the waiting list at the library for the new book, but I’m something ridiculous, like eighty-seventh.”
“She’s one of my favourites,” I said. “I’ve even read all her romantic suspense when she wrote as Alicia Scott.”
“Me too!” Riley gave me an excited look before drinking some more hot chocolate. “I’m a total bookworm, and suspense is my favourite genre, so you probably shouldn’t get me started. I’ll talk your ear off about it.”
“I’m a bit book obsessed myself,” I said.
She smiled happily at me before sliding off the stool. “Excuse me. I need to use the restroom.”
She left the kitchen, and I pulled out my phone and quickly ordered another paperback copy of Lisa Gardner’s new book. It would arrive tomorrow, and I couldn’t wait to see Riley’s face when I gave it to her on Sunday.
She returned to the kitchen and sat down, her finger tracing the rim of her mug. “You have a beautiful home, Deacon. It’s very… comforting.”
“Thank you,” I said. “Why don’t I give you a tour?”
“I’d love that,” she said with genuine enthusiasm.
I took her around the bottom floor first. She’d seen the family room, but I pointed out the formal living room, the dining room, and my home gym. We walked upstairs, and I showed her the three guest rooms with attached baths before we passed by my office.
“I like your decorating style,” she said as I stopped in front of my bedroom.
“Thanks, but I can’t take any credit for it,” I said. “I have a good friend whose wife is an interior designer. She helped me nail down exactly what I was looking for and then executed it.”
“She did a great job,” Riley said, following me into my room. “Holy smokes.”
“You like?” I asked with a grin.
She stared at the large room with its king-sized bed, French doors leading to the balcony overlooking the forest behind my home, and gas fireplace with a cozy seating area.
“It’s beautiful,” she said, her voice hushed. “It’s also bigger than my entire apartment.”
I laughed. “I overindulged with the primary bedroom, but I have no regrets. But you haven’t seen the best part yet.”
She followed me to the primary bathroom, a soft squeak of delight escaping her perfect lips when she saw it. “Oh my God!”
She pushed past me, stopping next to the soaker tub to stare happily at it. “Look at this tub! And the walk-in shower… are those multiple showerheads?”
“Yes,” I said.
She studied the tub. “I would spend hours in here.”
“I do,” I admitted.
“Gorgeous,” she murmured under her breath.
We returned to the bedroom, and she smiled at me. “Thank you for the tour. Your home is lovely, Deacon.”
“I’m glad you like it,” I said. “Are you hungry yet?”
She shook her head, her gaze slipping to my chest and then my dick before bouncing back to my face. “No.”
“Are you sure?” I stepped closer, backing her up until her legs hit the side of the bed. “I don’t want to be a terrible host and keep my guest hungry.”
I circled one nipple through her shirt, momentarily surprised to feel her bra before remembering this wasn’t a play session.
“Why do I get the feeling you want to feed me something that isn’t food?” she said with a tart smile.
I grinned at her. “Would you have any objections if I did?”
“Not one, Mr. Cross.”
I leaned down and brushed my mouth against hers. “That’s my good girl.”
She gripped my shirt, tugging me down again until our lips met. Her tongue flicked out against the seam of my mouth, and I parted them so she could explore. She tasted like sweet chocolate, and she made one of those soft moans I was so addicted to when I cupped her ass and pulled her against me.
I could deny it all I wanted, but I’d offered the tour and ended it with my bedroom for precisely this reason. I wanted Riley and didn’t care that I was breaking every agency and personal rule. It was worth it to have her sweet taste in my mouth.
You could text the sisters and set up a last-minute play session with Riley. They don’t have to know she’s already here. Then you’re not breaking any rules.
I could, but I didn’t want to. Right or wrong, I wanted Riley here tonight because she wanted to be here, not because I was paying her.
Riley sat on the bed, and I sucked in a harsh breath when she ran her fingers over my dick before reaching for my belt.
“Riley,” I said, my voice hoarse, “you don’t have to do this.”
She paused in unbuckling my belt, staring up at me with those pretty brown eyes. “I want to do this. Don’t you want me to?”
I reached out and smoothed my thumb across her cheekbone. “So fucking much, baby.”
Her smile was adorably cheeky. “Then be my good boy and take off your pants, Mr. Cross.”