Chapter 23Valerian
23
Valerian
I pace the length of my office for the hundredth time. The tablet’s screen casts a cold blue glow across my desk, and I catch myself checking the security feed yet again. Twenty cameras, all stationed around the perimeter of my estate, and not one shows Claire’s black Range Rover pulling through the gates. I should have gone with her to her gynecology appointment.
“Where are you?” I mutter, pressing my fingertips against the mahogany windowsill. The setting sun paints the manicured grounds in shades of amber and crimson, but the driveway remains empty. My jaw clenches as I glance at my watch—a Patek Philippe that cost more than most cars. Another minute ticks by, each second feeding the growing unease that coils in my gut like a serpent.
The tablet chimes with an incoming message, and I snatch it up so quickly I nearly drop it, but it’s just Viktor with his daily report. I dismiss it with an irritated swipe, my attention returning to the security feeds that mock me with their stillness.
“Valerian, we need to finalize these merger details,” says Alexei, his voice sharp with barely concealed frustration. He slaps a thick folder onto my mahogany desk, the sound echoing through my cavernous office. “Steele Industries won’t wait forever. We’ve been dancing around this for weeks.”
I glance up from my tablet, where Claire’s appointment schedule glares back at me in accusing black and white. Alexei’s usually impeccable appearance is slightly disheveled—his tie askew, with a faint sheen of sweat on his forehead. He’s been trying to get my attention for the past hour, but my mind keeps drifting to thoughts of soft blonde waves and warm brown eyes.
“I hear you,” I say, running a hand through my hair. The strands, usually slicked back in a perfect coif, stand up in messy spikes. I can feel my carefully crafted image crumbling, just like my focus. “But Claire’s appointment?—”
“Is not more important than a multi-million-dollar deal,” Alexei cuts in, his green eyes flashing with a mixture of concern and irritation. “What’s gotten into you, boss? You’ve never let a woman distract you like this before.”
The truth of his words stings, but I push aside the feeling. “You don’t understand,” I mutter, tightening my fingers around the edge of my desk. “This isn’t just about a woman. It’s about—” I stop, unable to voice the unfamiliar emotions swirling in my chest.
Alexei sighs, his shoulders sagging. “Look, I get it. She’s special, but right now, we need Valerian the ruthless businessman, not Valerian the lovesick teenager.”
His words hit home, and I force myself to take a deep breath. He’s right, of course. I’ve built an empire on cold logic and merciless decisions. I can’t let myself be derailed now, no matter how much I want to.
“You’re right,” I concede, straightening my posture and smoothing down my hair. “Let’s go over those merger details, but first, I need to make a quick call.”
Alexei nods, a relieved smile tugging at his lips. As he starts laying out documents on my desk, I step away to dial Claire’s number, my heart racing with each ring. I need to hear her voice, just for a moment, before I can fully immerse myself back into the cutthroat world of business.
She doesn’t answer, though I try three times, each one accompanied by a progressively louder sigh from Alexei. At my last attempt, and his latest sigh, I turn to glare at him. “I should have gone with her.”
Alexei sighs, setting down the stack of papers he’s been holding. “I understand you’re worried, but the details of this merger need to be settled to ensure it goes through on time. We can’t afford any delays.”
“I don’t give a fuck about the Steele merger right now,” I snap.
Alexei’s mouth snaps shut, and he takes a step back. The room falls into an uncomfortable silence, broken only by the soft hum of my computer.
I close my eyes, taking a deep breath to calm myself. “I’m sorry, Alexei. I know this merger is important. It’s just—” A soft chime from my phone interrupts me. I snatch it up, relief washing over me when I see the notification from the security system. The SUV is back.
I move to the window, watching as Claire steps out of the vehicle. Even from this distance, I see the tension in her shoulders, and the way she clutches her purse close to her body. Something’s wrong.
“Valerian?” Alexei’s voice pulls me back to the present. “We really need to go over these numbers.”
I tear my gaze away from Claire’s retreating form, forcing myself to focus on the papers Alexei is holding out to me. “Right. Let’s get this over with.”
We dive into the financial details of the merger, but my mind keeps drifting back to Claire. What happened at that appointment? Why does she look so shaken?
“These profit projections seem optimistic,” I mutter, flipping through the pages.
Alexei nods. “That’s what I thought too. I’ve asked for a more conservative estimate, but…”
He keeps talking, but I tune out. Claire consumes my thoughts, and there’s no help for that. I finally wrap up the meeting with Alexei, my mind still churning with thoughts of Claire. As soon as we’re done, I stride out of my office.
“Anatoly,” I call out, spotting my butler near the staircase. “Where’s Claire?”
He turns, his weathered face creasing with a gentle smile. “Miss Claire is in her room, sir. She returned about an hour ago.”
I nod. “Thank you.”
I take the stairs two at a time, unaccountably nervous. When I reach Claire’s door, I pause, taking a deep breath to compose myself. I knock, and the sound is sharp in the quiet hallway.
“Come in,” she calls out, sounding strained.
I push open the door, the hinges whispering against the carpet. Claire sits at her desk, papers rustling as she shoves them into a drawer. Her laptop screen snaps shut with a too-quick click. What secrets is she keeping?
My shoes whisper against the plush carpet as I cross to her in two long strides. Before she can rise, I pull her into my arms, crushing her soft curves against the crisp fabric of my suit. The scent of her jasmine shampoo fills my nose. “You’re back,” I murmur into her hair, my words rough with relief and something deeper I’m not ready to name.
Claire goes rigid against me, every muscle coiled tight as a spring. The seconds stretch, filled with the sound of our uneven breathing, and I brace myself for rejection, but then she softens, her arms sliding around my waist, fingers curling into the back of my jacket. Through the layers between us, I feel the slight quiver in her frame, like a leaf trembling in the wind.
I tilt up her chin, searching her eyes. There’s a guarded look there, a distance that gnaws at me. I want to ask her what’s wrong, what happened at the appointment, but I hold back. Instead, I lean down, capturing her lips in a tender kiss.
The kiss deepens quickly, my restraint slipping away as heat rises between us. Claire slides her hand up my chest, tangling her fingers in my hair. I groan, pulling her closer, until there’s no space left between our bodies. I need to feel her, all of her.
I grip her shoulders while ravaging her mouth. My fear lingers, and I need the reassurance of her body and presence. As I press my tongue through the seam of her lips, I move my hands to the buttons of her dress, undoing them one by one.
My cock hardens when I reveal more of her creamy skin. Her breasts spill out of the top of her dress, and I cup them greedily, teasing her nipples with my thumbs through the silky blue bra. Claire moans, arching her back, pressing herself against me. She seems more sensitive than usual and moans when I flick my thumbs across the hard tips.
Her dress falls to the floor, pooling around her feet while I continue kissing her deeply. I slide my hands down her sides, tracing her curves. She feels so good, so right, in my arms.
I turn her around, pushing her toward the bed. She stumbles, falling onto the mattress with a gasp. I stare at her hungrily, taking in every inch of her exposed flesh. She looks up at me, her eyes wide and dark with desire. She parts her thighs, revealing silky blue panties that match her silky blue bra.
I growl, reaching for her, desperate to taste her sweetness. I hook my fingers in the waistband of her panties and tug them down roughly. They fall to the floor, joining her dress. The scent of her arousal fills the air, making my cock throb painfully. I bury my face between her legs, inhaling deeply.
Her bra briefly brushes my head as she strips it off and tosses it without care for where it lands. I barely notice, so engrossed in her scent and the feel of her blonde curls against my chin as I nuzzle her labia.
She whimpers, squirming beneath me. I spread her folds with my fingers, exposing her glistening pink center. I lick her clit slowly, savoring her flavor. She tastes sweet and salty, like honey and saltwater taffy.
I lap at her eagerly, drinking in her juices. She writhes and moans, clutching at the sheets. I can’t get enough of her. I suck on her clit, flicking my tongue over it rapidly. She cries out, bucking her hips as I bring her closer to orgasm.
I plunge my tongue inside her, fucking her with it. She screams, her pussy clenching around my tongue. I keep licking and sucking until she comes again, gushing into my mouth. I sit up, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. Claire lies panting on the bed, her cheeks flushed and her eyes glazed with pleasure. “You squirted,” I tell her with a hint of awe. “That’s a first for me.”
She blushes. “Me too.”
I grin wickedly. “Let’s see if you can do it again.”
I reach for her, pulling her into my lap. She straddles me, grinding her wet pussy against my aching cock. I groan, gripping her hips tightly. She aligns my tip with her entrance and sinks down onto me, enveloping me in her tight, wet pussy. We both moan as I fill her completely. She’s so hot and slick, it takes everything in me not to come immediately.
I count to ten, trying to regain control before I start moving, thrusting up into her. She rides me, matching my pace. Our bodies move together in perfect sync, as if we were made for each other.
“God, Claire,” I gasp against her throat, my lips trailing down the delicate curve of her neck. Her skin tastes of salt and something sweet, uniquely her. She writhes above me, her fingers digging crescents into my shoulders.
“Valerian, please,” she whimpers, her hips rolling faster. Her breath comes in short pants against my ear. “I need...”
I grip her waist, guiding her movements. “I’ve got you, solnishka .” The endearment slips out between kisses along her collarbone. Heat coils in my core, threatening to explode, but I focus on her pleasure. My thumb finds her clit, circling in time with our thrusts.
She throws her head back, exposing the elegant line of her throat. Her breasts bounce with each movement, and I capture one pink nipple between my lips. Her walls flutter around me as her movements become erratic.
“Come for me,” I murmur against her breast. “Let me feel you.”
Her whole body trembles. “I’m so close,” she gasps, grinding down harder. “Don’t stop.”
“Come for me, baby,” I whisper in her ear. “I want to feel you come all over my cock.”
Claire shudders, crying out as she reaches her peak. Her pussy clenches around me, pushing me to the edge. She doesn’t squirt again, but it doesn’t matter. Just feeling her come is enough to drive me wild. I explode inside her, filling her with my seed. We collapse in a heap, spent and satisfied.
Afterward, we lie together in silence, enjoying each other’s company. There are no words needed because our actions speak louder than any language could convey. This is what true intimacy feels like, a connection beyond mere physical pleasure. It’s something deeper, more profound, and it quiets the chaos of the world, at least for now.