Chapter 29
Noah
Dread sets in like quicksand, slowly engulfing the integrity I held on to like a trophy. I know it’s right to tell Liv everything, but something’s niggling at the back of my mind that it’s too soon, too dangerous, too careless to involve her at this stage.
She’s an ally to everything I stand for, but she’s also the boss’s daughter. My son is his grandchild. If I march into Mr. Bancroft’s office with accusations, I’ll be fired. Starting a war with the Lowes and her father will make her susceptible to the charges I’ll be waging against them.
If they go down, they’ll drag her with him.
They might even let her take the fall altogether.
She did as she was told and had no reason to question her father’s involvement in laundering the money.
So it would be easy to frame her. She’s in accounting.
Did she miss what I found? Yes, but after hearing the stories about her father, I know what she was doing—accepting him at face value.
She questions his morals, his love for her, and even his role in her life. But when it comes to business, he’s considered an upstanding member of society. He’s won awards and works with established and wealthy clients from all over the world. There was no reason to question his ethics.
As I stare at the numbers, the money that’s been paid, a million in the past year, to a subsidiary that traces back to Chipper Lowe, I’m thinking exposing this information, which was right in front of everyone’s eyes, is best kept under wraps for a while.
I need to consult a lawyer before confronting the bosses.
There’s also a matter of making sure Liv is safe. The only way I know to do that is by keeping her out of the details.
I pull up my schedule and cancel the meeting with her this morning.
My phone rings . . . my personal phone, her name flashing on the screen. “Hello?” I shouldn’t be grinning, but she brings it out in me.
“Why did you cancel our meeting?”
“It’s been put on the back burner, so I don’t need to meet anymore.”
“Couldn’t you have kept the meeting, though?” A wisp of hope threads her tone.
I’m not usually this slow, but I finally catch on to what she’s implying. Kicking my feet up on my desk, I stare out into the yonder of the cityscape, enjoying every moment of hearing her voice. “Do you still want to meet, Ms. Bancroft?”
“I was looking forward to it, so if you’re not busy . . .”
“Since both of our schedules are free, I could fill your time slot if that will make you feel better.”
“It would.” Not a second of hesitation. The woman’s not holding back. I approve.
Dropping my feet to the floor, I say, “Be right there.”
I swing my door open, making eye contact with Leanna. She says, “I saw you canceled the meet—”
“It’s back on. Please block out the next hour.”
I’m already one desk closer to Liv when Leanna asks, “Do you want me to take notes?”
I wave my hand over my shoulder. “No need. I’ll handle this alone.” I round the corner, saying hello to one of the other assistants who passes me with a smile and greeting and then a guy from design before I round the next corner. My pace picks up until I’m standing outside her office and knocking.
“Come in.”
I’m coming in alright. I open the door and close it behind me. Our eyes catch just as the sound of the lock snaps it into place. “Hello.”
She smiles. “Hello. Please, have a seat.’
I come around the desk and lift her out of the chair. Sitting down, I set her on my lap. A giggle escapes as she wraps her arms around me. “Why did you cancel our meeting?”
“I had something come up.” I probably didn’t need to cock my eyebrow, but it went up on its own.
“Oh my,” she says, teasing . . . er, I mean wiggling on top of me. “You sure did. How can I help you with that?”
“Should we brainstorm some ideas?”
“No.” She gets to her feet and says, “I know just how to handle the situation.”
When she begins to kneel before me, I try to stop her descent. “Hey. You don’t have to do that. We’re just messing around.”
She lands on her knees, then reaches back to take off her shoes. Placing her hands on my legs, she slides them higher. “I know. I want to.”
I tried . . .
Resting back, I watch her gaze, following the slow glide of her hands over my dress pants. Her pace remains the same when she reaches my belt, savoring every part of the process.
She lifts as she unzips, and says, “I’ve never done anything like this.”
“I’m not saying I don’t want to watch you fuck me with your mouth.” I sit up, stroking the side of her head and then lift her chin. “I’m just wondering why now?”
“Because I’m tired of following the rules. They don’t get me anywhere anyway. Because this connection we share has me wanting to please you. Maybe that makes me sound weak, but I feel strong in my desire for you. And because I want to live life on my terms. Lift.”
I lift, and she yanks my pants down. Holy fuck. She demands my boxer briefs next. I oblige. I’m happy to give her what she wants.
Her hands stack on top of each other, wrapped around my dick. There’s plenty of length left for her mouth to take ownership of, and she does. Without pause, her tongue sweeps across the head and then dips to lick around the edge.
Gripping my thighs, Liv possesses the brazen nerve to look me straight in the eyes before going all the way down. My eyes close, my head dropping back against the white leather. A wave of heat crashes over me as I sink into the pleasure of what she’s doing to me.
What the fuck am I doing?
I open my eyes, wanting, needing, to watch her take me like she’s never had anything so delectable in her mouth before. Grabbing hold of my erection with one hand, she strokes the base while her mouth takes my head repeatedly.
When her hair cascades around her and lands on my legs, I shift it over her shoulders to lock this image into my memories. “So good, babe. Can you go deeper?”
She covers half of me, her teeth scraping lightly as she retreats before going deeper each time as if it were a challenge she intends to beat. A moan escapes, the vibration of air causing my dick to twitch. But the way her hips thrust tempt me to take her over this desk.
My body tenses as my head rolls back, my orgasm striking before I have a choice. Grabbing her head, I still her as I pump in and out of her mouth, my release colliding with her throat. “Oh fuck.”
The intensity of the high drops me back in reality, and I take a breath. I open my eyes to find her still consuming all of me. I rub her cheeks with my thumbs as she slides off and then dabs the corner of her lips with the tip of her ring finger.
The shine to her eyes causes me to ask, “Are you okay?”
A gentle smile plays on her mouth as she nods. “I’m good. How was that?”
My eyes narrow as confusion takes hold of me.
“What do you mean how was it? It was the best fucking orgasm of my life.” Leaning forward, I lift her from under her arms and situate her on my lap.
“That’s the fastest I think I’ve ever come.
” I kiss her swollen lips and hold my head against hers. “Incredible. That’s how it was for me.”
Although she closes her eyes, I keep mine open to watch as her smile grows, and then whisper, “You’re incredible.
” Kissing her again, I savor the pillow plushness of her lips, soak in the heat of her tongue, and fall deeper into my feelings for her.
Pulling back, I watch her eyes open, and I swear I see love written in the pupils of her eyes. It’s intoxicating, like she is.
I swallow the words I want to say, knowing damn well this isn’t the time for confessions of that sort. Hearing I love you after a blow job doesn’t lend itself to romance.
Oh fuck . . .
That’s the first time in my life the words entered my head outside of a mere reference. She’s also the first woman I’ve ever had the desire, much less the inclination to even say them.
“What are you smiling about?” she asks.
Her eyes shine only for me this time. “I’m happy.” I’ve never spoken truer words in my life.
She scoots off my lap and straightens her skirt. “I should say so—”
“No.”
“No?” She raises an eyebrow.
I stand, pulling my underwear and pants up.
As I zip, I come face-to-face with her. “Don’t get me wrong.
I meant it when I said that was incredible, but when I said I’m happy, it’s because I have you in my life.
I’m not a guy who needs to be in a relationship.
I’ve never been one to pretend to get laid.
When I was with a woman, the cards were on the table.
” I caress her jaw, lifting just a hint, and run the pad of my thumb over her bottom lip.
“I vowed not to hurt you. I also won’t lie unless it’s to protect you.
It’s not a sex act that makes me feel this way.
So when I tell you I’m happy, what I mean is you make me happy. You and Max make me happy.”
Her lips part, but I move in and kiss her until pink floods her cheeks.
Leaving her breathless, I tuck in the tails of my shirt and then buckle my belt.
She touches her lips and then rests her hand over her heart.
“I’ve never had feelings like this for anyone.
You make me happy, Noah. And I know you make Max feel the same. ”
“That’s what matters, right? We can be happy together, Liv. I want that with you.” But to cover my bases, I add, “And more blow jobs because those make me happy as well.”
Laughing, she holds the desk as she puts her shoes back on. “Duly noted.” Her gaze reaches mine again, and she adds, “And same when you pleasure me.” She lifts to kiss my cheek but grins when she drops back on the heels of her shoes. “How’s your schedule looking tomorrow?”
“I’m free.”
“Same time?”
“Same place.” I give her a wink.
As soon as I open the door, though, she says, “Noah?” I look back. “Don’t lie to me to protect me. I would rather handle the truth than sort through deceit. Okay?”
The lie about the money scheme comes to mind, but I still nod. “Okay.”
As soon as I near my office, I tell Leanna, “Block off ten o’clock for meetings with Ms. Bancroft the rest of the week in the scheduler, please.”
“Will do.”
I open my door and go in, but before it closes, she’s behind me. “Noah?”
Sitting down, I angle toward my computer. “Yes?” She doesn’t say anything, so I look up. “What’s up?”
Swirling her finger at her face, she closes the door behind her and then whispers, “You have lipstick on your chin.”
Oh shit.
I drop my head down like it’s possible to hide it at this point. “We’re friends,” she says, “remember?”
Lifting my gaze back to hers, I say, “Friends.”
She smiles. “I have a mirror if you need it.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
Working with the woman I’ve fantasized about for years, the goddess mother of my child, and the person who captivates my mind and soul, will be harder than I thought. It’ll be impossible to stay focused, knowing she’s across the office from me.
Good thing I’m up for the job!