Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
I’d never been so relieved to see someone before in my life. When Josh and I pulled into the parking garage, I spotted Tisha’s little red car nestled in the head of security’s spot. I schooled my features when I caught Joshua’s eyes on me in the rearview mirror, then that fucking smirk of his.
“She’s back,” he said in a singsong voice.
I grunted, but as soon as the car was in park, I marched toward the elevator. When Josh caught up with me, I raised my hand, halting him.
“Take the fucking stairs since you want to be funny,” I said, letting the doors close. That shit was satisfying as hell.
My heart was racing. I hoped she would be waiting for me in my office. It’d been three long days since I’d seen her. I couldn’t wait to lay my eyes on her. I didn’t know what the fuck was happening between us, but as long as she didn’t run from me again, we were good.
The elevator couldn’t reach the damn lobby fast enough. Once the elevator reached my office floor, I stepped out, colliding with my personal assistant. He wasn’t Donavon and a little conniving, but he was capable.
“Oh. Sir, when you get a moment, I need you to sign off on some purchase orders.”
I nodded but focused on the mahogany beauty standing at my office door.
“Bring them in two hours,” I ordered, not tearing my eyes from her.
“Yes, sir,” he said, then walked down the hall.
As she approached, I took in Tisha from head to toe. Her hair was down today, something she rarely did when at work. She looked different, lighter. She pulled out her keycard and fanned it across the keypad, opened, then held the door until I stepped into my office. She let it close behind her.
My first instinct was to devour her lips and wrap her in my embrace and never let her go.
But that wasn’t who I was, and Tisha wouldn’t appreciate it.
I sat behind my desk and booted up my computer while she sat in the chair in front.
I leaned back in my chair while I waited for my computer to come online.
“How was your trip?” I asked, scrutinizing her.
“Enlightening.”
“Oh, really?” My eyes narrowed. “How so?”
I had a sinking feeling I wasn’t going to like what she said. But I stayed quiet, my heart beating so fast I could hear the blood swooshing in my ears.
“For the longest time, I blamed myself for my attack not even realizing it,” she explained, eyes locked on mine. “However, I realized it was on Tristan the moment his brother barreled down on me at the funeral.”
“You went to that fucker’s funeral?” I couldn’t believe it. It was hard not to yell. “That’s why you left?”
“Steven, shut up and let me finish,” she said, exasperated with me. No one had ever spoken to me like that, and she was the only one who could get away with it. I took a calming breath and blew it out, sitting back in my chair.
“He said some things to me that clicked. Helped things fall into place about who was really to blame for Tristan being in prison. It was the closure I needed.”
I stared at her. She had what she needed, and despite the way she got it, that was all that counted. However, I still didn’t let the fact that this fucker’s brother confronted her slide. I wanted his name.
“What did the brother say to you?”
“Nope.” She shook her head. “Not doing it. I promise if you go looking for trouble where there isn’t any, I’ll leave for good.”
I couldn’t let her leave again, so I pushed the urge to hunt him down to the back of my mind.
“Very well, but Tisha, if you leave again, I’ll come after you.
” I rose from my chair, stalking slowly around my desk, stopping before her.
“I’m always going to be who I am, so if you don’t want that violence, don’t leave for an extended time without telling me.
Don’t come back and tell me some motherfucker threatened you, then expect me to not want to kill him. ”
When I finished, I was inches from her lips and crashed mine into hers, stifling the gasp she let loose.
I coaxed her to her feet, engulfing her in my embrace.
I relished the feel of her curves against mine.
I’d gotten used to having her magnificent body in my bed.
Not having her for a few nights was maddening.
I wrenched my lips from hers. “What are you doing to me?” I asked between breaths.
I trailed kisses down her neck. My hands found their way to her full, heavy breasts.
I gave each a squeeze, smothering the groan from her lips.
My hands trailed down from her breasts to her sides, then her hips, pulling them hard against my erection.
Nothing mattered. It was me, Tisha, and the almost uncontrollable desire we had for one another. I ground into her, the friction and pressure enough to make me groan, blocking everything out, including my desk phone ringing.
“Your phone is ringing,” she whispered
I kissed her harder, not wanting the moment to end.
“I don’t care,” I said once I pulled back from her.
“It might be important.” She pulled away from me, nipping my bottom lip.
I snatched up the phone, my eyes never leaving her as she walked backward to the door. “What? I hadn’t had a chance to look at it yet,” I said as Tisha slipped out. “Okay, I’ll open it now.” I guess our playtime was over, and it was back to work.
I couldn’t wait to get home. Since this morning in my office, I hadn’t talked with Tisha more about her trip.
I looked forward to spending time with her tonight.
I’d been contemplating the entire day whether or not to introduce her to my sexual appetites, or at least see my darkroom, then let her decide for herself.
I looked forward to seeing what pleasures I could wring out of her.
Usually, we headed to my bedroom and did nothing more than fall into each other, but I had something different planned. I’d asked my chef over to make dinner.
“Good evening, Mr. Smith,” George greeted.
“George.”
I put on coffee as he worked. George had been with me for six years.
He was wise and often spoke of things he liked to do, like gardening and of course, cooking.
His conversations settled me. They kept my mind off the unsettling things I needed to deal with.
I enjoyed George’s father-like personality since I never had that in my life besides my grandfather.
“Expecting someone special tonight,” he probed.
The grin I quickly wiped from my face was enough for him to find out an answer without me having to say it.
“Smells good,” I said.
“Thank you.” He chuckled and shook his head. “It will be ready in a few.”
The front door slammed, grabbing our attention. “I’ll see you in a few.”
I made my way to the foyer. She was beautiful. Her hair was pulled in a high ponytail, no makeup, in a T-shirt and leggings.
“Hi.” She hugged me. “Why are you so dressed up?”
I looked down at my casual slacks and dress shirt. Compared to our normal sweats, I could see why she would think that.
“Because I have a surprise for you.” She looked at me like I sprouted an extra head. “Yeah, surprised me too.”
I grabbed her bag, guiding her out of the foyer into the family room.
The family room was the one room in the house without expensive paintings and rugs.
It was the only room in the house that I didn’t allow anyone in because I kept my family heirlooms, or what little we had, in here.
I wanted Tisha to learn where I’d come from.
She walked around the room, perusing the pictures and trophies, finally settling on my favorite picture.
“Who is this?” she asked, holding up a picture of my mother holding me.
“My mother and me.”
She chuckled as she ran her hands down the picture. “You were a cute baby. Are you and your mother close?”
My mother was a sore topic. I didn’t know if she was dead or alive, and neither did my grandparents before they passed away.
“No. That’s the only picture I have of her. I don’t know where she is.”
Sorrow threatened to take hold, but I refused to let it. This was the point of bringing her in here, so she’d learn things about me.
“I’m sorry.” She placed the picture back.
“No need. I barely remember her.”
Silence fell between us until George called over the PA system that dinner was ready.
Tisha’s eyes jerked to mine. “Dinner? This is new.”
“And a part of the surprise,” I said, grasping her hand and pulling her out of the room toward the dining room.
“Your dinner, madam.” George placed our appetizers on the table. He gave Tisha a bright smile, and I chuckled at his silliness. I wanted her to see a side of me beyond the ruthlessness, although all of that was genuine, too.
“Thank you, George.” I gave him a glare. One that I hoped said, “beat it.”
He smiled and shuffled back to the kitchen.
“That was charming.” She grinned.
I all-out laughed. It felt good to do it. “He’s trying to impress you.”
She dug into the stuffed mushrooms he placed in front of her with a Cobb salad. She wiped her mouth. “It’s working.”
There was a nice, easy banter between us.
I’d never taken the time to talk to any of the women I slept with.
But none of them intrigued me beyond my pleasure.
I not only wanted to fuck the shit out of her, but I also wanted to know how she worked.
What made her tick? Once dinner was done, we took a pleasant walk in my gardens off the side of the house.
“Back there, beyond the tree line, is a luxury cabin. That’s where Joshua lives.”
“Joshua lives here too?”
“He’s my cousin. We’ve lived together all our lives. Our grandparents raised us.”
“Hmm,” she commented as we walked along the white roses.
“What?” We stopped as we approached the edge of the gardens.
“Nothing, just explains something he said to me once. He’s very protective of you.”
I nodded. We always had each other’s backs.
“He was the only one of my security team who didn’t betray me.” I gazed at the sky as night waned; it was time to go in and show her my dark side.