by Sienna Grant
On the way home from Reagan’s office, I stop by the grocery store and grab some steak and potatoes for our dinner. I know Reagan needs some attention; she’s had a shitty day and I don’t even know the half of it yet. I know there’s definitely some tension between her and Margie—you could cut it with a knife. And for that reason, I am not going to tell Reagan she made a pass at me. I’m not sure how she’ll take it, and with everything that’s going on right now, she’s liable to fire her.
Reagan and I have come so far in the last few weeks; she’s everything I didn’t think I needed or, where a relationship was concerned, wanted. But I’m not sure where I stand on the whole no relationship now. Reagan has changed me, that’s for sure, and all I can see is her.
Going into my bedroom, I strip out of my suit and change into some sweats. I throw on a tee and go back into the kitchen. I was hoping to get a shower, but I know I’ll be able to grab one with Reagan later. For now, it’s time to show my girl some of my culinary skills. I know she thinks I’m only good at ordering takeout, but she’ll see.
I wrap two potatoes in foil and put them in the oven, setting the timer, then cut up some salad and mix up some ranch dressing.
That part of dinner prep done, I lean back against the counter and look around the penthouse. I wonder what Reagan thinks of this place.
Should I keep it?
Or should I buy a house?
Why the fuck am I thinking about houses?
What’s going on with me?
I shake myself. That was way too domesticated. I decide to go back to preparing dinner. I wash my hands and take the steak from the paper it was wrapped in and season it.
By the time Reagan arrives, the steak is almost done and I’m just putting the salad on the plates.
“Is that steak I smell cooking?” Reagan’s eyes light up as she steps through the door. Her warm hands on my bare skin is enough to say fuck the food, but I hold myself back. I do, however, lean in and kiss her. “Wow. I could get used to this, Mr. Brooks. Coming in from a shitty day at the office to a full meal already cooked sounds like heaven.”
“Almost cooked.” Tugging her into the apartment I close the door and guide her to the bedroom. “You go wash up and get out of those clothes and into something more comfortable while I finish getting dinner ready for us.”
She spins around to face me, the smile still on her face. She holds my arm for balance as she takes her shoes off one by one. She instantly loses five inches and is soon only just reaching my chin with the top of her head. I place my lips on her forehead and kiss her. She smells so good. She always does. I inhale her scent for a minute longer before hooking her chin with my knuckle and kissing her again. “I’ll leave you to it. Your steak will be burned if I stay here too long.”
“Is it bad to say I don’t care and that I just want you?”
Our gazes meet, her blue to my green. I’m so ready to say fuck it. “No, but let’s eat first. I really want you to enjoy this meal.” I smile as I take in her features. It’s right on the tip of my tongue to tell her I’m feeling so much more for her, but I’m not sure that’s what she wants. Instead, I bite the words back and save them for another day. “Come on. Hurry up and get changed.” I spin her back around by her shoulders and kiss her head, letting my lips linger. With a sharp smack to the ass, I send her off into the bedroom and go back to the steaks.
I’m dishing up our dinner as she walks into the kitchen in the shortest pair of shorts I’ve ever seen. She has a tank top on and no bra. She wraps her arms around my waist, hugging me from behind. “This looks amazing. I can’t wait to eat. I’m so hungry.”
I grin. “I’m hungry too, but I’m not sure steak will satisfy my hunger. My hunger has a name…”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah, and it goes by the name of Reagan.”
She moves away from me and sits at the kitchen island. Once everything is set out, I take my seat beside her.
She cuts into her steak, spears it with her fork, and wraps her lips around the metal, pulling the meat off with her lips. As she begins to chew, she lets out a groan which goes straight to my dick. “This is so good.”
“You did say you were hungry.”
“Starving.”
“Then you need to stop making those noises, because otherwise, it won’t be the steak you’re wrapping your lips around.”
“Mmm, Ev, it’s so good.” She licks her lips for extra effect, and I shake my head, laughing at her boldness.
“You’re so gonna pay for that later.”
Her eyebrows raise, a different kind of hunger clouding her gaze. Her thumb touches my lips as she bites down on her bottom lip. I sigh as desire courses through me. Pushing out my lips, I kiss the pad of her thumb before pulling it into my mouth and sucking. Her breath turns heavy. “Eat. Your. Food.” I’d love nothing more than to push these plates aside and fuck her right here on this counter, but I know she’s hungry. “Believe me, Rae, when you’re done, I’m going to fuck you into next week.”
“Good. I could use a distraction from thinking about this week.”
“We’re going to talk about all that later too.”
“I can barely wait,” she says sarcastically.
She turns back to her food and we eat our dinner in a comfortable silence. Is that what we’ve become, comfortable with each other?
The cutlery clangs against the plate as she sets them down, finished with her dinner. “That was amazing. Thank you.” She leans across and kisses my cheek. Cupping her chin in my palm, I squeeze softly and take her mouth with mine, licking across her lips. Not breaking our connection, I tug her stool closer to mine. “I thought you wanted to talk,” she mumbles against my lips.
“Later. I have much better ideas.”
“The kitchen needs cleaning…”
“Fuck the kitchen.”
With her legs parted and her thighs sitting comfortably on mine, I drag her as close as I can until my dick is sitting comfortably against her core. Her arms fling around my neck, her fingers teasing my neck as she rubs her core against my length.
“How much do you want me?” Thrusting upward, she groans loudly.
“So fucking much.”
“Hold on.” With my hands cupping her ass, I lift her up and carry to the opposite side of the kitchen and sit her on the counter. “Lean back and lift.”
She does as I ask, just like every other time. I drag her shorts down to see no underwear and tug her towards the edge. My hands slide up the silky skin of her thighs until I reach the apex of her groin. My fingers find her opening and I push them inside her. I can’t wait to be inside her heat. Her head drops back in pleasure as I find that sacred spot and rub. “Fuck, you’re so wet for me.” Pulling out, I push her thighs up and lower my head to suck her clit between my lips and feast on my dessert until she’s almost ready to come, clenching her thighs against my head. I drop my shorts, and my dick juts out, wanting in on the action.
I drag her from the counter and move to the wall, setting her against it, and slide inside her. I kiss down her neck, biting and sucking gently.
Reagan groans again. “Oh yes, Ev, fuck me. I need you so much.” I don’t have to be told twice, ever.
I pound into her over and over again until we’re both ready to fly over that cliff. My lips mold to hers and my tongue plunges into her hot mouth. I kiss her like I never have before. It’s hot, heavy, and desperate. Our teeth clash as my thrusts get quicker and harder.
“Are you ready, Rae?”
“Fuck yeah.”
Gripping her hips, I drive into her until we’re both shouting through our climaxes. My legs shake from the aftershocks after coming so hard and Rae drops her forehead to mine. Her heartbeat thunders against mine as we begin to come down from our high.
Fifty
Reagan
Everett carefully pulls out of me and guides my feet to the floor. My legs are so shaky I’m not sure
I can walk.
“You will actually be the death of me I think.” He laughs, the deep tone resonating through me as his forehead rests on mine.
“What a way to go though.”
“You think?” he asks, grinning.
“I know.” I hang onto him for a bit longer. I’m not ready to loosen my hold yet. “I think you may have to carry me; I don’t think my legs work.”
“Hang on.” He lifts me back up and carries me back to the counter, placing me on a stool.
“Better?”
Nodding, I don’t take my gaze from him as I stare into those beautiful green eyes. I’m not sure if it’s the right time to tell him I love him. At least, I think I do. I’m not sure whether he’d even want to hear that. He’s not a long-term kind of guy. I guess I’ll just suck it up and keep it to myself for now. With everything that’s been going on lately, Everett has become my constant.
“What is it?” Everett asks out of the blue.
I frown, not sure what he’s talking about. “What’s what?”
“What’s going through your head, Rae? I can almost see the cogs turning up there.”
“Nothing, I’m good.”
He’s smooths his thumbs across my cheekbones, holding my face in his hands, his lips just an inch from mine. My heart stutters like it almost forgets to beat. Our lips meet and rather than the desperate kisses we usually share, this is sweet, gentle, and almost loving. A lump develops in my throat as his tongue slides alongside mine, tangling and tousling before he nibbles my lips softly. Moisture springs to my eyes and all I know is that I can’t let him see. He’ll want to know what’s going on with me and the other shit with work. I haven’t cried since my dad died. The only person who’s seen me cry other than my family is Ruby. I’m not about to become weak in front of Everett.
He gently pulls away and looks at me. There’s no hiding my tears when he looks at me the way he is right now. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.’ I smile and make myself sound more upbeat than I am. “I think my legs are okay now, stud,” I joke, trying to distract him from the sight of me nearly crying. I slide myself from the counter, our bodies touching. “I’ll be back.”
I go to the bathroom and stand in front of the mirror to check my eyes. They’re a little glassy but that’s about it. I rub the tips of my fingers softly underneath and turn on the tap. Cupping my hand beneath the flow of water, I splash some on my face. My hands rest on the sink as I look at my reflection. My cheeks are flushed from not too long ago and my lips are red and slightly swollen from his kisses. Grabbing the towel, I dry my face off and clean myself up before heading back to Everett.
Before going into the kitchen, I stop a moment to take in the scene in front of me. Everett’s back is resting against the counter and his arms are slightly bulging as they cross against his bare chest. There are two glasses and an opened bottle of wine sitting on the island. Smiling, I walk to him, stopping just an inch away.
He passes a glass of wine to me and winks. “You okay?” His eyes narrow as he asks.
“I’m great, I told you.”
His arm hooks around my waist and he tugs me forward until I’m clashing with his hard chest. “You would tell me if something was wrong? Right?”
I nod to appease him, but a sigh leaves his lips anyway and I take a sip of my wine. He takes my glass from me and puts it back down.
“What happened at work? And what the fuck was that message about?”
“Nothing, really.” My gaze flits everywhere but to him.
“Why won’t you tell me?”
“Oh, for Christ’s sake, Ev. Are we really at the stage where we tell each other everything?”
“I think so, yes.” I glance at his face, and he almost looks hurt. “Let’s just remember, Rae, that you wanted more in this relationship. I’m just trying to give you that.” He shrugs and I turn away. I can’t handle his intensity at the moment.
Picking my glass up, I drink half of the fruity wine down before turning back to him and giving in after the guilt trip he’s just sent me on.
“Okay, so, I’ve probably lost the company a quarter of a million dollars after somehow ending a contract with a client. I think someone is out to get me and I have someone sending me roses. Oh, and on top of all that, I’ve probably lost my job and my name won’t be worth shit by the time Terry has finished blackballing me in the industry. No one will employ me or even want to work with me.” I drink the remaining wine in my glass and put it down. “I’m done for, Ev. And I don’t even know what I did. I was out sick.” Tears begin to fill my eyes again, but I push them back again. This is why I didn’t want to tell him.
“Baby…” His jaw tenses and his green eyes darken as he tightly grips my shoulders. “I promise we will get to the bottom of this. This is not your fault.”
“Try telling Terry that.”
“You won’t lose your job. He needs you.’
“Well, he told me if I can’t resolve the issue and get the account back, I’ll find myself in the unemployment line.”
“Fucking Terry Hicks…piece of shit.” He loosens his grip on my shoulders and turns away from me, his fists clenching.
“Ev, stay out of it. There’s nothing you can do. It’s not fair to you. I can fix it on my own.” I wonder if I should tell him about Hayden and Margie. He thinks we need to tell each other everything.
Turning back to face me he kisses my lips, then pours more wine into my glass. “Drink this and wait here.” When I have my glass back in my hand, he leaves the room.
I go to my bag and take out my cell phone. A message from Ruby sitting on my home screen: Hey fucker, how are you, have you calmed down yet?
Not really. I tore my team a new asshole.
I know one person who would see the hugeness of all this, and that’s my best friend.
I do have something to tell you. And you’re not going to fucking believe it. Hayden and Margie are together.
I quickly pressed send and lock my screen.
I hear Ev come back, and as I turn to face him, he takes my glass and phone, and puts them down before scooping me up into his arms. “Everett, what are you doing?”
He plants his lips on mine to shut me up and carries me into the bathroom. He pushes open the door with his foot to reveal the bathtub full of bubbles and candles lit all around it. It’s beautiful.
“Ev. Holy shit. Is this for me?”
“Yep. Here we can talk, no interruptions.” He puts my feet on the floor and strips me of my clothes before following suit and dropping his sweats to the floor. “In you go.”
I step carefully into the water with one foot, then the other. The water almost comes to my knees and I lower myself down into the bubbles. I move to the middle of the bath and wait until Ev is sitting behind me. I lean back until my skin connects with his chest.
“Do you remember earlier when you said I wasn’t a heart and flowers kind of girl?”
“Yes…”
“Well, I didn’t think you were a sharing a bath kind of guy either. This seems a little too romantic for your preferences.”
His hand cups my chin, turning my face up so I can look into his eyes. “You got me. Really, I just wanted your body slithering all over me. It makes me as hard as a fucking rock. Feel.”
Grinding his hardness into my back, I smile and relax against him. He kisses my cheek and wraps his arms around my front, holding me close. “You never said how the meeting went.”
“I ripped into all of them. But no one had an answer for me. I called out accounts I called out sales. Nothing. I’m still waiting on IT to see if there was something wrong with the system. I don’t understand why it’s taking them two fucking days to find out.” I heave with frustration and close my eyes before speaking again. “I’m fucked. I may as well go in and clean my desk out.”
“No, you fucking won’t. You’ll stand there and defend yourself. You didn’t do this…”
>
“No, but someone did.”
“Rae, I don’t think it’s the time for your conspiracy theories, sugar. And you need proof.”
Springing up, I turn in the water and shift to my knees. “Proof? Are you fucking kidding? I’m being accused by Hicks and he has no proof. Or is it one rule for you owners and another for us?” I roll my eyes and try to reign in my temper. It’s not Everett’s fault.
“Hey. I know you’re angry, but I’m on your side.” His voice is soft, I know it’s to appease me. “Now…”
His hand cradles the back of my head and he draws me forward until our lips are barely touching, and whispers, “No more talking. Fucking kiss me.”
Closing the small gap, I press my lips to his. His arms wrap around me up and he drags me on top of him.
Fifty-one
Everett
I’m not sure how long I lay there and watched her sleep last night. All I know is that I’ve never gotten so close to a woman that I’ve shared a bath with them. A shower is different. But for some reason a bath seems much more intimate. I can feel myself getting more attached to Reagan every day. She crawled into bed and although I wanted nothing more than to devour her body, I just held her in my arms while she snuggled into my side.
I have no idea what’s going on at her work, but I do know that Terry Hicks needs to watch himself; I don’t give a fucking shit who he thinks he is. Reagan is strong, though; she’ll get through this, I’m sure of it.
When I woke up, I left Reagan to sleep for a little longer and put the coffee maker on. I debated with myself on whether or not I should go for a run. After peeking into the bedroom to see she was still dead asleep, I went with yes. If anything, at least it will clear my head, and right now it’s exactly what I need.
I kiss her forehead before I get dressed and leave.
Once I’m out of my building, I press play on my playlist. Once Guns ‘n’ Roses is screaming “Welcome to the Jungle” in my ears, I head down the block. This song feels appropriate, especially looking at the traffic that’s lining the roads and the people that are already milling around at 6a.m.; it is most definitely a jungle out there.
