My Cruel Lover (Wicked Poison Book 3)

by T. L Smith

  “Do you want to come and stay with us?” Rylee appears, and I turn to her and try to stop the tears that leave my eyes, but I can’t. They fall, and there’s nothing I can do to stop the torrent. Her arms wrap around me and hold me tight.

  We are very unlikely friends. I’m not even sure how it happened, but I’m glad it did. People are drawn to her, and I am, for sure, one of those people.

  “No, no, I will be fine. I’ll call the police if he comes back.”

  Rylee pulls back and goes straight to August. “He isn’t stable. You never know what he’s going to do,” Rylee says.

  “I know, I get it. But I’ve lived enough of my life running from him and hiding. I don’t want to do that forever.”

  “Okay, well … you know where we are if you need us.” August kisses the top of Rylee’s head, and he sniffs her. It’s as if he has to embed her smell into him. It’s subtle and cute, and I love how much they mean to each other.

  “Thank you,” I say, and I mean it.

  “Now, can we talk about my brother?”

  “What about Beckham?” August asks, looking between us. “Is he being an ass at work?” I avert my eyes. “Oh, okay, I get it. I’m going to head inside now.”

  When I look at Rylee, she’s smirking.

  “Do you like him?”

  “No.” I know she means her brother. “He’s a damn asshole,” I tell her.

  “That he is,” she agrees. “But he is also pretty amazing if he lets you in.” She shrugs.

  “That will not happen. And what happened between us will never happen again,” I say more to myself than to her.

  “Okay, that’s fine. If you want to transfer, just tell me. It’s got to be awkward for you, right?”

  “No, not really. If he can act professional, I can, too.”

  Rylee raises an eyebrow. “I’m going to not comment on that. I guess we will see how it goes?”

  “Yep.”

  “Okay, well, Shandy and I are having a girls’ night out this Friday because she needs it after her break up. Would you like to come? August already said he can have Oliver if you’re keen?”

  I look back to the house.

  “Sure.”

  “Good. Come over after work, and we can get all done up, feed the kids, then go out.”

  I nod as we walk back inside. The last time I went out with the girls, I met Anderson and fell pregnant.

  Yes, that’s how boring my life is.

  And the time after that, I got drunk with a few girls, and I slept with my boss.

  Damn, my track record for drinking doesn’t look good.

  Chapter 15

  Beckham

  Jacinta’s at her desk when I walk in. She’s sitting there in a tight dress that hugs all her curves. And believe me, under that dress are perfect curves. Curves that I traced with my hands.

  I like a woman with hips.

  Her hazel eyes shoot up to meet mine, and she smiles, but I don’t return it.

  “Good morning,” she sings.

  It is not a good morning.

  This morning I woke up with a fucking hard dick that I had to pull in the shower just to get it to soften.

  And that shit’s all because of her.

  I hate her.

  But I would like to bend her over her desk and fuck her again.

  The struggle is real.

  “Why are you here early?” I bark.

  “Because you sent me a message last night asking me,” she says, the smile still on her face is driving me crazy.

  “Why the fuck are you smiling?”

  She shrugs, the smile not leaving. “It’s a good day.”

  Somehow, I contain the eye roll.

  “Nothing is ever good about Monday.”

  “We have two meetings straight away, your coffee is on your desk, and the first client should arrive at any second.”

  I eye her. “Bring him in when he gets here.” With a quick spin, I walk into my office, and just like she said, my coffee is on my desk along with the paperwork needed for today.

  Not long later, the client arrives, and Jacinta laughs at something he says before they sit. I keep my eyes off her while she sits there and takes notes, and when we’re finished, she stands and escorts him to the door with her hand on his shoulder as she giggles. Dammit! I have to remember not to call her out. To act professionally. But when she continues to walk with him, I call her back. She says goodbye, and when she returns, the smile that was on her face is still there.

  “What can I do for you, sir?”

  “Stop trying to fuck my clients for one?”

  Her smile falls and fast. “What did you just say?” Her hand goes directly to her hip.

  I get out from behind my desk and walk over to her. “Did I stutter?”

  “Beckham.”

  We both turn at my name being called. Archie walks in, and he smiles at me, and when his eyes fall to Jacinta, I see the glint of admiration in them. He likes what he sees.

  “Do you not know how to knock?” I ask.

  Jacinta’s eyes go wide, and she pastes a welcoming expression on her face, playing it off when Archie looks at her.

  “No, not when I pay you what I do. Now, where the fuck is my money?”

  “Where you left it! In the bank, in a trust account. How much have you fucking smoked today?”

  “I’ll just head out,” Jacinta says quietly while pointing to the door.

  “No need, sweetheart. I’m just here to pull his balls. Someone needs to since it seems the only people who like to give him a taste of his own medicine are his sisters. Everyone else is too scared to tell him how it is.” Archie smirks.

  Archie and I went to school together. Our lives took different paths, mine on the straight and narrow, Archie’s not so much. Archie’s mother went bankrupt after we finished school, and while I was drowning in my own pain, Archie decided to create his own business.

  Boosting and selling stolen cars.

  He’s good at it too.

  Among other things, I’m sure.

  “She can leave,” I snap at Jacinta, Archie doesn’t get to say if she stays or not.

  “Yes, yes, I will. Seems you don’t need me for the rest of the day since you seem to think I have ulterior motives anyway. I’ll be on my way. Have a good day, sir.” Jacinta goes to leave, but I catch her before she can, my hand circling her wrist. She’s angry from my earlier comment, I like it.

  She pulls it back, and her eyes zoom in on me. “Don’t you fucking touch me again,” she says with venom coating her tongue.

  “You didn’t seem to complain last weekend,” I reply with a smirk. “Speaking of that—” She puts her hand up in front of my face, effectively halting where I was going. “No, we shall not speak of that. That is the last thing I ever want to think about again. Good day, Beckham. I’ll see you tomorrow when you decide to come to work with a bit less attitude.” She stalks off, and I hear laughter behind me. Archie is sitting in a seat in front of my desk with a cigar to his lips and smoke drifting up like billowing clouds, one leg crossed over his knee.

  “I like her,” he says. “Keep that one around.”

  “Did you simply come here to annoy me?”

  “No, I’m your next client. You would know that fact if you bothered to check your itinerary.”

  Shit, I forgot to check my client list.

  Jacinta takes care of it, but for some reason, I didn’t check the list she left on my desk this morning as meetings were one after the other. Usually, Jacinta lets me know, but I guess with everything happening, she either forgot or was so angry she didn’t care.

  “So, who’s the hottie, and have you fucked her yet?” Archie is smiling, and his eyes are sparkling with mischief.

  “Fuck off.”

  “Oh, so you did.” He rubs his hands together. “Mixing business with pleasure. Never thought I would see the day.” The laughter is deafening, and his whole body is shaking with the power he has put behind it. He is, of c
ourse, laughing at my expense.

  “This is something you’re familiar with?” I question, knowing full well how many personal assistants he has lost over the years due to his indiscretions. “And how does that usually work out for you?”

  “Well, the last mechanic I tried to fuck, let’s just say she chased me around with a wrench, and when she couldn’t catch me, she threw a hammer at my head. Just missed, but the Maserati wasn’t so lucky.”

  “Yeah, so now you understand why I take no advice from you.” I sit back in my chair as he puffs on the cigar, billows of smoke wafting around my office space. “Put that damn cigar out before the alarms go off,” I growl.

  “Personally …” he smirks, his bottom lip tips up as he does, “… I think you need to put out another fire, one that has nothing to do with my cigar and more to do with a hot secretary.” He laughs, and I throw the nearest thing I have at hand right at his head, only this time it doesn’t miss.

  Chapter 16

  Jacinta

  “He isn’t always an ass.” I jump at the voice behind me as I stand in line at the café. “No, actually … come to think about it, he is.” It’s the guy from Beckham’s office, his friend and client. He holds out his hand, and I’m inclined to give him mine. Not only because he’s good-looking, but he scares me a little. He has that whole brooding gangster look down pat. “The name’s Archie.”

  It isn’t in the way he’s dressed because he dresses well—suit, black button-down shirt, white tie, and the shiniest black shoes I have ever seen. Honestly, I could use them as a mirror to apply makeup. There’s a tattoo peeking out of his collar weaving up his neck, but that’s not necessarily the reason he gives off this persona. No, it’s in the way he holds himself. It makes me want to look the other way, even when he smirks at me.

  “Jacinta.”

  Archie nods and shakes my hand, gripping it softly but using force as well. I pull away and turn back in line to order my food before I need to leave to pick Oliver up from school today instead of sending him to afterschool care.

  “He’s about to walk in, you know, just in case you want to run,” he whispers as I start to order. I look back over my shoulder and see Beckham. “He caught you, so I guess you can have lunch with us.” Archie steps up next to me. “I’ll pay for whatever the lady wants,” he says, then proceeds to order his own. After he pays, we both step away for the next person, and I blindly walk to where Beckham is sitting. Archie pulls out my chair, and I take a seat and cross my legs as Beckham’s dark eyes lock onto mine.

  “Thought you had to run?”

  “Play nice. I invited her,” Archie says. He sits as our coffee comes out, and as they do, he takes his and stands again. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Jacinta. I’m sure we’ll see each other again.”

  “Where the fuck are you going?” Beckham says.

  Archie smiles down at me, fixes his tie, and gives Beckham a friendly glare.

  “I have needs to be met, and it appears you two do as well. Enjoy.” He saunters off after those parting words, and when I turn to look at Beckham, he’s watching me.

  “You’re a real dick, you know that? You can’t even keep it professional at work!” Crossing my arms over my chest, I sit back and wait for him to speak.

  He says nothing, just glares at me.

  “Really?” I bark, then shake my head. Standing and gathering my things, I don’t even bother waiting for my food. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Any more of what happened today, and I will quit.” I walk out and feel him behind me. I don’t look back, though. I keep walking until I get to my car. Using the key, I open the back door and toss my bag inside, then turn around to find him standing there. “Did you just stalk me?” I ask him incredulously. “You know that’s illegal.”

  “Hmm,” is all I get in response.

  I watch as his dark eyes darken just a fraction before he reaches out and grips my hip with a strong hand. I should be stopping him, pushing him away, but I’m a slave to his touch. When he has his hands on me, I seem to forget the world even exists because all I can feel is him. Before I can push him away or even think rationally, his other hand grips my face so his palm is covering my cheek, and he leans down and kisses my lips pushing me into the back seat of the car.

  I feel his body rub up against mine, feeling every inch of his hardness. I shouldn’t want this or even need this.

  The two of us?

  We are bound not to work.

  We are bound to explode.

  I didn’t see that with my other relationships, but for some reason, with Beckham, I do. And let me point out we are not in a relationship, and I don’t want that. I’m enjoying being single, being me, doing what I want to do. My life is my own right now, apart from my beautiful boy, who I adore having around.

  My hands reach for his sides, and I grip onto his shirt for dear life as he kisses me.

  I wish he would stop kissing me.

  No, I don’t.

  Not really.

  But I do.

  Beckham pushes me back and lifts one hand to cover my head as he ducks me further into my car, so my back hits the backseat, and he’s hovering over the top of me. His hand sneaks between us and slides up my skirt until he reaches my panties and rubs my clit. He applies pressure, kissing down my neck, taking his time as he does. Due to our position, my hands are stuck, and I’m forced to remain clutching his shirt.

  I start breathing heavily as he slides one finger under my panties and inside me while he bites my nipples through my shirt. How he knew the exact spot that turns me on, I may never know.

  I hear a car, and my body freezes.

  My hands clutch him, but he doesn’t stop moving.

  And because he doesn’t, I have to try even harder to fight the orgasm from building, even though I’m afraid any second now we will get caught. Fuck, someone could be watching me get my rocks off right now.

  “My body is covering every inch of you. Knock it off,” he growls into my ear before he bites it.

  This is so unfair.

  “You are an asshole,” I say, my back arching into him.

  “Yes, I may be. But you are the bitch beneath me about to come.” He chuckles, and I can’t even argue with him about the fact he just called me a bitch. Because his hands are working faster, he’s grinding into me at the same time, and my senses are going into overdrive with how much I’m feeling right now.

  “Fuuuck.” The word explodes from my mouth with so much emphasis, and as it does, his hands leave me and he grips my face, kissing me, shutting me up. The breath that I need to catch now is his breath. And Beckham doesn’t seem to mind at all.

  He takes a deep breath and then he’s off me.

  No more kisses.

  No more hands touching me.

  I try to sit up and pull my skirt down, and when I finally manage it, I see him fixing himself in his trousers before he looks down at me, turns, and walks away.

  What on earth am I doing this for?

  And the bigger question?

  Why is he?

  Beckham’s already closed off in his office the next day when I arrive. I slept like a baby last night thanks to him, but I would never tell him that. Actually, ever since we had sex, I’ve been sleeping well. Maybe I needed to release some stress. I just didn’t realize I would use my boss to do so.

  We don’t talk, apart from me letting him know when his appointments arrive.

  And the rest of the week goes by exactly the same.

  He makes no smart-ass comments. His eyes don’t wander to what I’m wearing. He keeps it all to himself and remains lost in work.

  It’s Friday, and I’m going out tonight. Oliver is so excited to spend the night with August and Winter. I’m getting ready to leave the office for the weekend, slipping my heels back on, when I notice Beckham is standing at his door.

  “Come in here for a minute and shut the door.” I grab my purse and do as he says. He’s standing in front of his desk, leaning on it, his legs cross
ed in front of him as he watches me.

  “Shandy has invited Archie and me tonight.”

  Well, shit. I nod, but my body tenses. I can’t help it.

  “I’ve declined.”

  “Okay.” My body instantly relaxes, and I take a deep centering breath.

  “Have a good night, Jacinta. See you on Monday.” He smirks, and I turn to walk to the door, more than a little confused. When I pull his office door open, I glance back at him and see his smirk hasn’t dropped from his face. I offer him a small smile as I shut the door behind me with a click. Grabbing my things, I head to Shandy’s work area only to find she’s already left for the day.

  Rylee walks out of her office, paperwork in her hand and a pen between her lips. “You leaving?” she mumbles, and I nod. “Okay, good. I should be home in the next hour or so … I just have to finish a few things. I’ll see you at my place, though, right?”

  I give her a nod and continue to the elevator. Pressing the button to go down, my phone dings, so I retrieve it from my bag.

  Shandy: Don’t hate me …

  I press call, not knowing what the hell she’s going on about and she answers straight away.

  “Why would I hate you?” I ask, confusion causing my eyebrows to pull together tightly as I step out of the elevator and make my way to my car. Now, every time I look at the back seat, I see him there, on top of me, doing things with his hands and mouth.

  Dangerous.

  Risky.

  Precarious.

  “Well, because I invited Beckham. He’s one of my best friends, but I didn’t realize until after how it might affect you. So, I’m sorry.”

  I smile, even though she can’t see me through the phone. “It’s okay, he told me,” I reply. “Look, I’ve got to go. I’m about to get Oliver and find something to wear. What are you wearing?”

  “A dress. I need a new wife.” She giggles. “Make sure it’s short and hot. You need to find some arm candy, too,” she sings into the phone.