Marian
“Drayton.”
Dreams. Sleep. Moans. My body was rocking. Unconsciousness didn’t last for long. Drayton was insatiable. If I wasn’t waking to his kiss, his cock, or his tongue, I was waking to my name. He couldn’t get enough of me, and I couldn’t let go of the man who should have loved me this way to begin with.
“Drayton.”
My mouth opened wider as I rocked against his fingers. Back and forth, his tongue flicked over my clit. I could feel myself already getting close to my orgasm as wakefulness beckoned.
“I was dreaming of this. It’s real. We’re married now.”
Suction to my pussy had me crying out, but it was gone so fast as Drayton shifted, stretching me with his cock.
My eyes opened, and I arched as he pushed deep.
How many times was this since we’d come back to our room?
Four? Five? The man didn’t seem to sleep.
Not for long, and not very well. He was restless, pulling me in.
Coming back to me. Taking me every way he could.
Every part of me ached and screamed with pleasure at the same time.
“Husband.”
The title had Drayton thrusting harder.
“Say it again, Marian.”
“Husband.”
Faster, he thrust. Harder.
My legs drew up, and my orgasm was right there as he latched to the side of my neck, sucking hard.
The grinding of his hips sent my legs kicking out as spasms shook me.
My nails dug in, and Drayton slowed, but he didn’t stop.
He turned torturous, building me up through the minutes again.
Changing my position as he placed me on my knees and forced my head down.
I felt every inch of his cock as he made me walk the edge of shattering.
My face was turning back and forth across the sheet.
My skin was on fire. I hurt. I ached. I had never felt more alive or right.
Drayton’s cock swelled, and I cried out as he reached to tease against my clit.
“Fuck. Marian.”
A deep moan left him, but I was already burying my face as screams joined the new spasms. Cum pumped into me and Drayton was curling around my back, pulling me to him, holding to me as he pushed to depths that only had me becoming louder. We both were trying to catch our breath as we came down.
“Too good. God, too fucking good.”
Drayton pulled out, more falling to the bed as he pulled me down with him. I laughed, turning and burying my face in his chest as I held around him and closed my eyes again.
“Don’t you sleep?”
“Not lately, and that’s not good. I’ll figure it out.”
“I don’t want this to end.”
There was hesitation as he let out a deep breath. “All good things end, Marian. But only temporarily. We have a lot to do today. I have to meet Quinn and Elec. You want me to carry you to the shower again?” His hand buried in my hair as he held me close.
“Not yet. I feel like we were just there.”
“We were,” he laughed. “About three hours ago.”
I groaned, laughing too. “I want to lay here a little longer. I’ll get in after a bit.”
“You sure?”
At the nuzzling of his face in my hair, I smiled. “I’m sure. Go ahead. They’ll be waiting on you.
“Alright. I’m going to jump in, and then I’ll call and have your breakfast brought up.” He paused. “You mentioned last night merging our companies.”
My head tilted back, and I pushed away enough to meet his gaze.
“I should have asked you first. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s the right move, and it would have been the case regardless. Call who you need to. Prepare them. It’s time for our takeover.”
I swallowed hard, too afraid to speak. Our… our takeover. Not his. Both of ours. If that had been a slip, I wasn’t going to bring attention to it. Had the doe-eyes really helped? Had they influenced him, even if a little? I had no idea, but he had said “our” and that was everything.
“I’ll get right on that.”
Drayton kissed my forehead, turning, only to roll back and kiss my lips. His eyes searched mine just for him to quickly get up and head for the shower. I let my head drop to the bed as I tried to hold in the happiness. The hope.
Our takeover…
Water cut on in the distance, and I reached for his phone, turning it on.
Notifications immediately began going off.
My brow drew in, and I didn’t want to think about how everyone would soon find out the truth.
My parents were dead. They were traitors.
And me, I was married to a man I ruined.
No, I couldn’t think about that. I wouldn’t.
I was a victim too, and I had to put my attention on my love for Drayton and prove to everyone where I stood.
I was Marian Pennington now. I was a Pennington, whether they liked it or not.
I dialed my company’s number, hitting Cassandra’s extension. I sat up, hugging my knees to my chest.
“LaRoe Industries, Cassandra Williams for Marian LaRoe.”
Tears came, and I wasn’t sure why.
“Cassandra, this is Marian.”
“Marian, oh, hi. I was told you were taking an extended vacation. How may I help you?”
“I don’t have my phone. I need you to put me through to Mr. Auster. First, I’m going to need you to make a list.”
“Right. Absolutely. I’m ready when you are.”
I brushed back my hair, trying to get my thoughts in order.
“You need to call a moving company. You’re to have them pack up my office and my apartment. I’ll send you the address by tomorrow morning.”
“Moving?”
“Stay with me, Cassy. I need you to focus, this is important.”
“Of course, Ms. LaRoe.”
My mouth opened to continue, but a smile replaced it.
“Actually… it’s Mrs. Pennington now.”
“Oh. Oh, wow. You’re married. And not to Mr. Allard?”
“We had our differences. It wasn’t working. We parted ways in Miami. So, my stuff. I’m going to need it, and I’m going to need you to keep my secret until the news gets out about the company. We’re merging, Cassy, and we’re about to get a lot bigger.”
“Congratulations, Mrs. Pennington. This is great news. What else do you need me to do?”
I glanced towards the bathroom, still hearing the shower going.
“There’s only one more thing. The most important thing.
I need you to go to my apartment, and I need you to leave Penny a letter for me.
I’m not sure if she’ll be back, but Agent Katia Marchase has a key to get her belongings.
I need you to put this letter with her things.
Do you understand? It is vital she gets my new information. ”
“I understand. What would you like this letter to say?”
“Start it with, Penny, I’m so happy I got to see you before my wedding.
I want you to know that I am always here for you.
I realized after we left that I didn’t leave you a way to contact me.
Please call if you ever need anything. I love you, and I miss you already.
Your friend, Marian. Underneath that, I want you to write the name Drayton. Do you see the number I called from?”
“I do.”
“Good. Write that down for her.”
Scribbling from the pen sounded and the shower cut off. I glanced over but continued.
“You have my key. Put that letter in an envelope along with a book called Blake. It’s in my library. It’s on the back wall, far left, top shelf. You can’t miss it. Now, go ahead and patch me through to Mr. Auster’s personal line.”
“I’ll do that. Congratulations again, Mrs. Pennington.”
“Thank you, Cassy.”
The line went to hold and within seconds a deep, grouchy tone was coming through.
“Yeah.”
“It’s nice to talk to you too, Mr. Auster.”
“Oh… Marian?”
“It’s me.”
“I thought it was Florence again. The woman has been bugging me all morning.”
“If you took your cholesterol pills the first time she asked, she wouldn’t bug you.”
He made a grumbling sound.
“What can I do for you, Marian?”
“Well… you can pack up your office.”
“What? Are you firing me?”
“No. Look at the number I’m calling you from.”
Silence.
“You’re still in the US. I don’t understand. You closed with Dodge Corp. It went down brilliantly. Why would I need to pack my office because of that?”
My throat tightened. “Have you talked to my dad lately?”
“… No. He hasn’t returned my calls for weeks.”
“Because he’s gone, Thomas. There was an accident.
I’m still trying to get details, but the facts are solid.
My family has sadly passed. I meant to switch over to different companies when I married, but LaRoe Industries is mine now, and with my elopement yesterday, I’ve decided to merge it with my husband’s. We’re merging with Pennington.”
“Pennington? But I thought you were engaged to—Pennington? Formerly Penn-Croft?”
“That’s right.”
“Oh. Oh. You married Edward Pennington?”
I laughed. “No. I married his son, Drayton Pennington. He’s in control of the businesses now. His father is retiring, and his brother is stepping down. We’re taking over.”
“I see.”
“So, I need you to call the team and distribute them how you see fit. And pack your office, Thomas. You need to move into mine. You’re going to take my place in London.”
“Ms. LaRoe—Pennington. Mrs. Pennington, I don’t know what to say? T-Thank you.”
“Thomas?”
“Yes?”
“Not a word to anyone if they ask. You know nothing. You’re just doing as you’ve been told.”
“You have my word.”
“And Thomas?”
“Yes, Mrs. Pennington?”
“Take your damn pills.”
“Right away.”
I smiled, hanging up. Drayton was getting dressed, watching me.
He was stoic. The ivory button-up shirt he had on was open, exposing his defined chest, and the navy slacks and belt were undone as he fastened his watch.
I was almost afraid to ask, but I braved the question as I placed down his phone.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“No.”
He came forward, but I could tell something was different.
“Are you mad at me?”
His forehead creased.
“No.”
“Do you regret marrying me?”
Drayton lowered to sit on the edge of the bed, meeting my eyes. Searching them with such longing.
“The only thing I regret was considering leaving this room without you. Elec and Quinn can wait. Take a shower and get dressed. From here on out you’re at my side. You’re my wife now. We face everything together.”
My lips parted in surprise. I should have been happy.
I should have been elated. All I could feel was fear.
Elec was dangerous, and I was afraid with how different Drayton was acting that he’d think I had something to do with it.
Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t. But if Elec suspected anything, I was in more trouble than facing Drayton’s wrath.
Elec killed my mother. If he knew I held even a little of her power and I was successfully using it, he might want to kill me too.
Knowledge was one thing. If I held power, I was a threat.