Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
GIDEON
“W hat good are you if you can’t get me one fucking phone number?” I’m not usually one to curse at people. Hell, I don’t normally even raise my voice. But something about not being able to get in touch with Emerson is driving me to the edge.
“Gideon, I can’t make a number appear when there is no number. I’m telling you, the woman doesn’t have a phone.” Taylor sighs like he’s done with my shit. Deep down, I don’t blame him, but on the surface, I’m not in my right mind.
“You’re the best investigator I’ve got.” I pinch the bridge of my nose and try to calm down. “Sorry, I just know that if you can’t find it, then it’s hopeless.”
“I’ll send over everything I’ve found so far, and keep looking. You okay with me casting a wider net?”
“Dredge the fucking ocean if that’s what it takes. I want to know everything about every person she comes in contact with. If someone changes her toilet paper roll, I want their family tree.”
“Honestly, if she doesn’t do it herself, I’m not sure she’s worth the hassle.” Taylor laughs at his own joke while I stay silent. “Relax, I’m on it.”
“Thanks.”
“Oh, and one last thing.” Taylor hesitates, and I stop pacing, anticipating bad news. “Can you patch my call back to reception before you hang up?”
“Why?” My brows draw together in confusion as I look out the glass wall of my office toward the front where Scout is sitting. When she sees me, she ducks down in her seat and disappears from view.
“Um, just a few clerical things I wanted to clear up. What was her name again?”
Taylor hasn’t been in our offices before.
When we’ve hired him in the past, we’ve always met him in discreet locations to protect his identity.
I doubt he’s ever seen Scout before, so why would he want to talk to her?
The invoices are paid through our accountants, and I’m the one that runs most of the numbers.
Deciding to distract myself, I walk out of my office and to the reception desk. When I get there, Scout is on the floor, and I lean over, looking down at her.
“It looks like she’s away from her desk. Something I can help you with?”
Scout’s head snaps up before she quickly pretends to search for something on the floor.
“No, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.” He clears his throat, and his nervousness makes me grin. Does Taylor have a crush on our receptionist?
“You’ll email me when you have something?” I say, offering him a change in subject.
“Absolutely. We’ll talk soon.”
Taylor ends the call before I can say anything else, and that’s when Scout magically pops up.
“Dropped my pen.” She’s flushed and avoiding eye contact.
“So you know our investigator Taylor?” I ask, and her eyes widen.
“No! He called in, and that was the first time I’ve heard his voice.” She swallows hard before straightening the already straight papers on her desk. “He sounded nice.”
“Does your cousin know you like the sound of his voice?” Scout narrows her eyes at me, and I hold up my hands defensively. “Don’t worry, I won’t say a word to Spencer. Your secret is safe with me.”
“It’s not a secret.” If possible, her cheeks flush a brighter red. “So there’s nothing to tell.”
When Spencer, Landon, and I started the law firm, Spencer suggested his cousin as a receptionist. Scout has been great so far, and the clients love her. And it sounds like so does our special investigator.
“Understood.” I nod and take a few steps back. “Has anyone called for me?”
“You mean since the last time you asked?” Scout looks at me over the top of her glasses, and I guess I deserve the jab. “No, and no one has come by for you either.”
I flex my fingers at my side and try not to get frustrated. Emerson said she would come here today. If not, I told her I’d come to her, and it sounded like she really didn’t want that option.
“Well, if anything changes, I’ll be in my?—”
The elevator chimes, and I turn around and see the metal doors part. Standing there, looking utterly breathtaking, is Emerson.
I’m filled with a surge of relief, desire, ache, and gratitude all at once. I’m not sure if she comes running at me, or I’m the one running at her, but the next thing I know, I’m lifting her into my arms.
“Took you long enough,” I say against her hair as she buries her face against my neck. I’ve got one arm around her waist and the other on the back of her head, holding her tightly to my chest.
She lets out a small laugh, and I can feel her warm breath against the exposed skin right above my collar. “Believe it or not, I got here as fast as I could.”
“I think I’ll take my break now!” Scout announces loudly before grinning at the two of us and hopping on the elevator. “Everyone else is out to lunch, so you’ve got the place to yourselves.”
She waves at us, and as soon as the doors close, I stare down at Emerson. “Remind me later to give her a raise.”
“Why?” Emerson asks, her fingers tracing the edge of my collar.
“Because the sounds you’re about to make are for my ears only.”
My hand grips the hair at the nape of her neck, and I cover her mouth with mine.
This kiss isn’t like the first one. This time it’s claiming and possessive.
I’ve tasted her sweetness, and now that it’s my drug of choice, I’m selfish.
The thought of another man having a claim on what I desire most makes me want to mark her.
I kiss down her neck as I carry her back to my office, and when I suck on the tender skin below her ear, she moans.
I do it harder, knowing I’m going to leave a hickey and not giving a shit.
I want her betrothed to know another man has tasted her innocence.
In fact, the thought of the whole world knowing she belongs to me makes my dick rock hard.
Would fucking her against the window of this skyscraper be enough?
“Gideon,” she whimpers when I press her against the glass and move between her legs. “What if we get caught?”
I pull back to see her eyes are hooded, drunk on a desire as strong as my own. My hands slide up her thighs and under the skirt of her dress. I keep going until I reach the edge of her panties, and then I drag my thumb down the center of the wet cotton.
“Do you think that would stop me?” The soaked material of her panties clings to her before I press against her clit.
“No,” she gasps and then rocks her hips forward, desperate for another touch.
“Do you want me to stop?” I have to swallow hard because my mouth is watering at the thought of tasting her.
“No.” The one-word answer is final, and that’s all I need to hear before I drop to my knees.