Chapter 16
Pippa doesn’t engage. She stays nestled in my arms, but she’s quiet.
What the hell happened?
I take a deep breath in her hair.
“Did you just sniff me?” she asks.
“Guilty.”
She laughs, but it’s not a real Pippa laugh. It’s half-hearted and it worries me. “What did they do?”
She says nothing, and I turn her around to face me. There’s a smile on her lips that doesn’t reach her eyes. “I’m fine, Deacon.”
I shake my head. “No. Mallory said she thought something happened in the bathroom, and just then you two were deep in it, so I want to know.”
Pippa shrugs. “Adeline was complaining that I’m in the way of her hooking up with you. She’s not sure who I am, so she … said some stuff.”
“What kind of stuff?”
“That you’ll dump me, so why delay the inevitable.”
I grit my teeth. All this time I’ve known Adeline’s been interested, but my image is very different to the real me. While I haven’t had any serious relationships—not since before college—I’m also not big on anything casual. Hook-ups have been few and far between.
And I’ve never been interested in her. I didn’t choose her as the model to represent our company, and she’s just not a nice person.
The way she’s treated Pippa? That’s the last straw for me. I’ll be talking to Garrett, Victor, and Mallory about moving on from her once we get this launch out of the way.
I grab Pippa’s hand. “Come with me.”
Her eyes widen, but she follows me, moving fast-paced to keep up with my long strides. We walk out of the conference room and into another, empty one where I close the doors. The muffled sounds from next door carry through, but here I can be alone with her, even for a moment.
With my hand still in hers, I turn and press her against the wall. Her eyes widen.
“Do you remember when I told you I was addicted to your pussy?”
She gulps and nods, uncertainty in her eyes.
It kills me it’s there. I want her to know in no uncertain terms how much she means to me. “I’m addicted to you, Pippa. Obsessed with you. I don’t know what you’ve done to me, but I want to drown in you.”
She blinks rapidly.
“You’re all I think about whether we’re together or not. You occupy my thoughts. You occupy my dreams. You’re in every single moment, and I am never, ever going to get enough.”
“Deacon,” she whispers.
“Don’t you ever let anyone make you feel like you’re not good enough. You are perfect, and I love you.”
“You love me?”
“With everything that I am, sweetheart.”
Her lower lip trembles. Pippa feels everything so deeply. I didn’t want to tell her like this—I think I’ve loved her since I saw her again, but if Mallory’s right, she’ll have been hurt by whatever the bitch squad said in the bathroom. There’s no reason for me to hold back anymore.
“I love you too,” she whispers.
Pressing my forehead to hers, I take a deep breath. “Those women out there? They are nothing compared to you, Pippa. I wouldn’t touch them with a six-foot barge pole.”
She giggles, tilting her head up slightly. I press my lips to hers before deepening the kiss, savouring the taste of her.
When I let her come up for air, I brush my lips down her neck. “God, I just want to fuck you now.”
“I’m not sure we’re in the right place for that.” Her breath tickles my skin.
“I’m not sure I care.” I slide my hand up her thigh, up under her dress.
She gasps as I brush my fingers across to the waistband of her panties and slip my hand in.
“Deacon,” she whispers.
“What did she say at the table?”
“Huh?” Her eyes are glazed over as I sweep my fingers over her clit.
“What did Adeline say to you?”
Pippa moans. “Does it matter?”
She’s breathless. Just the way I want her.
“Tell me.”
“She said she wouldn’t touch the food because she didn’t want chunky thighs.”
Stroking her clit, I run my tongue up her neck. She lets out a sigh and rests her head against mine.
“I fucking love your thighs.” With my free hand, I squeeze the fleshy part of her thigh to drive my point home. “Come for me, baby. I want to hear you.”
Her breath is hot against my ear, and she’s trying so hard to be quiet, but I don’t care if anyone hears us. For the first time in my life, I’m in love and as far as I’m concerned, Pippa’s my endgame.
“Deacon,” she cries out, panting as I draw my fingers back out of her and over her clit.
She falls apart in my arms, shuddering as her legs go out from under her, and I catch her because I’ll never let her fall.
When she straightens up, I keep hold of her while she steadies herself.
Not dropping my gaze, I raise my fingers to my lips and suck on them. “I need to get you home.”
She looks at me from under her lashes. “I’m not going to argue.”
Linking my hand in hers, I give it a squeeze. “Let’s say goodbye to everyone and get out of here.”
She beams, pressing a kiss to my shoulder.
Leading her out the door and back into the launch party, I cast my gaze around the room.
Garrett’s on stage, and everyone’s eyes are on him.
Except for Simone.
She marches toward us, one eyebrow arched high. “Where have you been?”
I grin. “Just gave Pippa a come to Jesus moment.”
Pippa’s eyes are wide, and Simone snorts. “I do not want to know what that means. Garrett’s giving his speech, and he says you won’t want to miss it.”
A crowd is gathered around Garrett, and from what I can hear he’s listing facts and figures for the year. He’s a details man, who sometimes forgets not everyone else is.
“I’d also like to announce that …” Garrett lets out a sigh. “This will be the last product release with our current face of Infinity Drinks, Adeline Walsh. In the new year, we’ll be running a Face of Infinity competition to line up with our new health drink products aimed at a younger demographic.”
To my left, there’s a gasp and I don’t need to look to know it’s Adeline.
“Did you know about this?” Simone mutters.
“Nope. Garrett’s making this up on the fly.”
She snickers. “I never did like that woman.”
Pippa’s stiff as a board in my arms, and I press a kiss to the back of her neck.
“So, I’d like to thank Adeline for all the work she’s done these past five years.” Garrett nods toward her.
“This wasn’t planned?” Pippa whispers.
I shake my head. “I knew nothing about it. Garrett has a habit of going rogue from time to time, but given he’s the genius behind all this, we let him roll if it’s not going to hit the rest of us.”
“But why?”
I tilt my head. “If I had to guess, it’s because she overstepped with you.”
Pippa’s brows knit in confusion. “Me?”
“Garrett knows what you mean to me, Pip. They all do. You’re family as far as they’re concerned.”
Her expression softens. “I didn’t know.”
“Garrett and Victor and Mallory—they are my family. They know what I went through with my mum, and the four of us have been together through thick and thin. And now you’re part of our family.”
Pippa slides her arm around my waist. I wrap my arms around her shoulders and close my eyes, breathing her in.
Adeline’s gaze is fixed on Pippa, and I glare at her until her eyes reach mine. She flinches before turning to one of her friends, and while I don’t hear what she says, it’s not good. But I couldn’t care less. She had her claws out for my girl, and while I had no idea Garrett would do this, I’m not unhappy about it.
I’ve never been in love—never told a woman I love her. Not until Pippa.
She’s it for me.