Chapter Twenty-Nine
Kian
They say when it rains, it pours.
After a rough month of watching Iris mourn her grandfather and have bad days, she’s just gotten her spark back. She’s smiling and laughing, dancing to Spanish songs in the kitchen while cooking.
Last night, as we lay in bed—me reading and Iris binge-watching her nerdy scientist show—halfway into it, she crawled into my lap and sweetly begged me to make love to her with my glasses on. So, I gave my beautiful little siren what she desired—slow and sweet until we came together.
Today is her first day back at work. Instead of being a peaceful and boring day, everything has gone off the rails.
“Hey, is everything okay?”
I drag my gaze away from the worrisome text I received from Zenith and focus on Iris as she enters my office. Her face is etched in concern, so I soften my expression. I don’t want to alarm her, which she inevitably will be once she finds out. I’d rather have a plan in place before I tell her.
“Yeah. Just a small hiccup with a merger.” Putting my phone down, I rotate my chair as she rounds my desk. Tugging her between my thighs, I roam my hands up the backs of hers and toy with the hem of her flowy skirt. “How is my girl? Are you feeling good?”
The blue color of her eyes deepens when I call her mine. Her small hands perch on my shoulders, fingering my collar as she replies, “I’m happy to be back and busy. I have so many tasks to catch up on.”
My phone buzzes twice in a row, interrupting us. I sigh in frustration and stand up. I need to be downstairs in the conference room. Silencing my notifications, I focus on Iris as she smiles in understanding that I’m needed elsewhere.
“It’s fine, Kian,” she assures me. “I actually came to tell you that I need to go see my mentor at Sahara . I’m having Seth drive me, so you don’t need to worry. I’m not sure how long the meeting will be. I’ll text you once it’s over.”
“If it runs late, have Seth drive you home.”
“Okay.” Leaning against my desk, she curiously prods, “Do you have to be at The Mirage tonight?”
I used to go regularly, but lately, I’ve taken a step back. Unless a game night is happening and I have to show my face to the patrons, I let Zain manage it. “No. I’m all yours, baby.”
“Perfect.” Excitement lights up her face. “Rosalie suggested a new restaurant for a dinner date. I was hoping we could go out. We never got another chance since Seattle.”
My mind replays the text, making me hesitate to say yes. But as I gaze at her joyful expression, I don’t have the heart to postpone our date. I’ll share the news with her tomorrow after I have more information.
“I’d never say no to a date night with you, Rainbow. Text me the name and I’ll make a reservation.”
“Will do.”
“I can’t wait to see you dress up for me.” She blushes. Giving her a quick peck on her cheek, I walk into the adjoining conference room to grab my jacket. “I’m sorry I have to go. It’s a last-minute meeting.”
“I understand.”
She watches raptly as I unfold my sleeves and do the cuff links. Her feet are rooted to the same spot while her thighs press together. I recognize the need rushing through her plain as day, even as she tries to bury it when her eyes lift to mine.
She’s aching to kiss me, with the same authority and passion she did the day she was high with her friends.
What’s stopping her? Can’t she see I crave it too?
Is a small part of her still intimidated by me? Does she think I’ll brush her off? It isn’t the first time I’ve caught her holding herself back. I assumed it was because our relationship was a secret. It’s not anymore, so why is she behaving this way?
Shrugging on my suit jacket, I finally say in a desperate voice, “You can touch and kiss me anytime and anyplace you want, Rainbow.”
She goes still after a sharp intake of breath. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she says, “Don’t say it unless you mean it.”
“Everything I say to you I mean with every fiber of my being.”
“It’s a dangerous power to give me the freedom to touch you as I please.
I’m a very affectionate person, Kian. I’m needy and clingy and everything in between.
So, you better think twice because once I have the power, I’m not living without it.
You’ll be stuck forever with my clingy ass.
I’ll be the human version of a koala bear. ”
My lips twitch at her little speech. She’s the only woman on the planet to make affection sound like a disease or a menace. “Are you done threatening me? Because I’m still waiting for my kiss.”
Her mouth opens and closes several times before she squints her eyes. “So, any time?”
“Yes.” I sigh, wondering why she isn’t already in my arms with her pouty mouth on mine.
Her head tilts, her lips tugging to the side before she wets her Cupid’s bow temptingly and innocently, like she always does. Coming closer, she rasps, “Even if you’re in a very important meeting?”
“Yes.”
“In front of your staff?”
“Yes.”
“They’ll think you’re being unprofessional. You hate that, Kian.”
“A small price to pay.”
“They’ll also think you’re giving me special treatment.”
Patience turning to dust, I close the gap and yank her flush against my chest. “Wrong. They already know you’re special to me. That no workplace rules apply to you. Do you want to know why?”
“Why?” Her voice is small and breathless.
“Because you’re mine,” I growl, lifting her and placing her on the table. “Now fucking kiss me already before I lose my mind.”
Yanking me down by the lapels of my jacket, she presses her lips against mine and licks the seam teasingly. Her soft little moan snaps the thread of my control and I take over, plundering my tongue inside and licking the roof of her mouth.
Wrenching her ass to the edge, I deepen the kiss, parting her lips wide. Digging her feet into my back, she grinds her hot pussy against my hardening cock.
Fuck! I’ll end up ravaging her in a second if I don’t stop.
Neither of us has the time now, though.
Gentling my nips, I kiss her softly and pull back. Our foreheads touching, I circle her throat and wait until the lusty haze passes her eyes.
“Next time, don’t think too hard or make me wait.
You’re the last person I want to be nervous to show care or touch me.
There are no walls between us. If you’re needy, then I love being needed.
You’re clingy, then I’ll hand you the glue myself so you’re permanently attached to me. Is that clear enough for you?”
“Yes.” A pleased curve tilts her lips. “Very clear, love.”
“Good. I’ll punish your ass if you forget it.” She jolts, gaze going hooded at the promise. Smirking, I shake my head and straighten. “Go. Now.”
Stealing another kiss, she slides off the table and skips away.
I wait for a couple of minutes until I’m certain she’s left for the day before going up to my desk. Typing a text to Zenith, I invite him upstairs instead. As I wait for him to arrive, I sit in my chair and contemplate the disaster that struck today.
Two more girls have gone missing. One of them being none other than Iris’s childhood friend, Yukta.
How the fuck am I going to tell her without making her panic?
The situation with the unknown kidnapper has become dire. It’s escalated to degrees I didn’t predict. No matter how much I wanted to avoid involving the cops, I no longer have a choice. It will be impossible to keep the news under wraps, especially after what Zenith informed me at our last meeting.
I cannot neglect my responsibility to my female staff and must provide them utmost protection. It just as easily could’ve been Iris being kidnapped had I not kept an eye on her. She’s already the target of this deadly person.
The knock at my door has me steeling my spine. “Come in.”
Zenith, dressed in a blue button-down and black slacks, steps inside and shuts the door behind him.
Walking over to my desk, he sets down a small drive and lowers himself to the seat across from mine.
“The list of your father’s assistants. Quite a lengthy one.
If you shared who or what exactly you’re looking for, I could help you narrow it down. ”
“That’s not necessary,” I reply, taking the drive and putting it in the top drawer. “When did these two go missing?”
“The lobby receptionist on the weekend. She was on leave. It was her parents who filed a missing person report. Yukta has been unreachable for a day. Her friend, Vicky, who also works here, noticed her gone.”
“So, they’re no longer sticking to targeting girls from a single department,” I angrily say. “Or with no families.”
“Mahesh can’t be behind this. He wasn’t friends with either of them. I’ve been hanging out with the guy, so I’m sure.”
“So, we have no leads. It can be anyone in my company.”
“Or perhaps it’s an ex-employee.”
“The fact is that the case has escalated out of our control. If I don’t go to the police, it’ll make me appear suspicious. Every girl was an employee of mine.”
“It’s wise if you approach them. Give all the info that you have and let them investigate. As soon as the culprit hears about it, he is bound to panic and make a mistake. It’s our best bet to catch him.”
He’s right. If they’re becoming cocky in choosing girls with families, they will slip up, especially when they’re under scrutiny.
“I still need you to keep working here to guard Iris.” He nods. Curious, I quirk a brow. “No longer suspecting her?”
For the first time, mirth reflects in his dark eyes. “You seem to like her stalker tendencies just fine.”
“Stalker tendencies?” I act clueless.
I’m not fooling him, though. “The public parks and streets have cameras. Just saying.”
“How long have you known?”
“Longer than you have.”
That stuns me. “And you didn’t think to mention it to me?”
“I’ve seen the way you look at her. It’s the one I’ve seen on countless men. Once it’s there, the woman is it for them. There’s no swaying you, no matter how crazy her ass is. So, I didn’t bother wasting my energy.”
“Fair enough.”
Nothing more to discuss, he leaves.
I pick up my phone to make some calls and fix the mess before any more lives are in danger. Whether it’s the police that catches the man responsible or Zenith, justice will be served by me.