Hunger (The Seductors Series)

by B. L. Wilde

  I could hear Mrs. Davis humming in the kitchen as I descended the staircase in one of Oliver’s shirts. I’d need to think about an overnight bag next time I stayed. He was more organized than me.

  “Good morning, Mrs. Davis,” I called, nervously entering the kitchen.

  “Miss Gibbs! Oh, I was wondering when I’d finally see you again,” she smiled warmly. “Can I get you anything?”

  “I was just getting a cup of coffee for Oliver and myself.”

  “Here, let me.” This kitchen always smelled heavenly. Whether it was coffee, fresh bread, or even bacon, Mrs. Davis looked after Oliver well. “I’m glad you came back to him, Jade. Oliver hasn’t been the same man without you. You left quite an impression on him,” she commented, handing me the drinks.

  “I’m sorry I left in the first place,” I admitted, dropping my head.

  “This is all a lot to take in. I think anyone would be frightened by it.” Why was she so understanding? “I’m about to head out to go shopping now. I’ve left some fresh fruit and yogurt in the fridge. There’s also some pancake mix in the cupboard if the two of you wanted something more filling. Is there anything I can get you while I’m out?”

  “No, I’m fine, thank you.” I smiled shyly before taking the cups of coffee upstairs. Oliver was almost dressed when I walked into his bedroom. “I thought you might like a cup of coffee?” I smirked, taking in his bare chest before he covered it with a shirt.

  “You’re wearing one of my shirts again.” His eyes were hooded.

  “I need to leave an overnight bag like you, I guess,” I giggled, handing him his coffee.

  “Um…you already have some things here,” he winced, moving over to his walk-in closet. I frowned until he pulled out the luggage I left in Macon.

  “You kept it? Why?”

  “I couldn’t bare to throw it away. If I had, it would have been like losing you for good.” Oh my! “I think a part of me always knew you’d come back to me.” He pulled me into his embrace. “Mrs. Davis washed and pressed everything.”

  “You do think of everything.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I’ll have my shower alone then,” I teased suggestively. “Why didn’t you wake me earlier? We could have scrubbed each other’s back.”

  “You looked too beautiful to wake up, and it means I can make a few work calls while you get ready.”

  “Work on a Saturday?” I pouted.

  “You know my office never sleeps,” he chuckled, pecking my lips. “Anyway, wasn’t last night and twice this morning enough for you?”

  “It’s never enough,” I smoldered, twisting my fingers into his hair. “You know that.”

  “What have I created?” he laughed, moving his hands to cup my panty covered butt. Oliver had changed me—that was for sure—but not in the way he was thinking. “Go and have a shower. I’ll be in my office…and stop tempting me. My cock needs to rest occasionally,” he grinned. I pouted, nodding my head. His dirty mouth was making me wetter. “Go!” he snorted. “We’ll have time for more of that later.” With a sly smirk, I slowly began to undo each of the buttons on my shirt. Happy, for once, that I could seduce a man with just one look, I peeled the shirt off my body and let it fall to the floor. Oliver was taking a shower with me—I wasn’t taking no for an answer.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to join me?” I asked innocently, running my hands down my body. He swallowed hard, his eyes raking over my figure, then zooming in on my nipples when I began to tease them with my fingers. “I have an ache, Oliver. Are you really going to make me satisfy it myself?” Within seconds, he was pulling his shirt over his head and dropping his pants. He stalked over to me, lifting me up and swinging me over his shoulder.

  “Let’s go and see what we can do about that ache.” His voice was husky as he raced into the bathroom, closing the door behind us.

  “It all seems pretty organized,” I mused, smirking at Oliver. “Alicia may have been a flirt, but she knew what she was doing in this office.”

  “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?” he snorted. “I was never interested in her in the slightest.”

  “I can just picture her dropping something by your desk and having to lean down to give you an eye full of her cleavage,” I snapped, turning in his seat to look at him as he leaned against his desk next to me.

  “You’re good at figuring people out, aren’t you?” That means she did! “Although, if you’re planning on giving me an eye full of your cleavage, I wouldn’t be opposed to that.”

  “I told you, while we are working together, there will be boundaries.”

  “Like what?”

  “Firstly, no sex in this office,” I replied sternly, crossing my arms. “To be honest, I think we need to be completely hands off when we’re at work.” Oliver titled his head, pouting. “Don’t give me that look. If you want me to work for you, these are the rules.”

  “Do you really think I’ll be able to be completely hands off? We’ll be working closely for almost ten hours a day.” Damn, he had a point.

  “Okay, rules don’t apply on our lunch break.”

  “Including sex in the office?” he mused, leaning in to try and kiss my lips.

  “No sex in the office at any time!” I giggled, pushing him back with my leg. Oliver grabbed my ankle before I could put my foot back down.

  “What about right now? You’re not working for me yet.”

  “No,” I laughed, shaking free. “I don’t want to walk into this office and think about when you made me cum on your desk.”

  “I do,” he smoldered, trying to get in between my legs. “You seduced me this morning in the shower. It’s only right I seduce you here.”

  “Oliver,” I giggled, trying to fight him off. He was impossible sometimes. “That was different. This is your office.”

  “You’re really saying no?” he pouted, running his hands up my legs.

  “I thought you were going to go through your client and employee lists with me? I need to know who I’m talking to on Monday.” Oliver groaned, backing off.

  “Okay, no sex in my office,” he sulked. It was kind of adorable.

  “Except on your birthday,” I compromised, turning back to his computer.

  “That’s only three months away,” he whispered in my ear, his fingertips skimming my neck.

  “I probably won’t be working here then. Now, are you going to show me these client lists or not?” I ordered, trying to change the subject. He was making me horny. Luckily, he finally let it go so we could both concentrate.

  First days at work—I’d had my fair share of them since joining The Seductors, but none had ever been like this. I had to keep reminding myself that this wasn’t my real job. I was on a mission…one that I had to complete.

  Oliver’s staff were all very welcoming, offering to assist me in anyway they could. Sylvia, Oliver’s receptionist, was a Godsend at helping me settle in.

  “How’s it all going?” Oliver asked as I walked into his office to find out what he wanted for lunch.

  “Good. Have I been screening the right calls through to you? Sylvia has been helping me.”

  “You’re doing great, Jade,” he beamed. “I’ll email you all the changes to my calendar. It looks like we might be taking a trip to Macon at the end of the month.”

  “Business or pleasure?” I questioned.

  “A bit of both,” he winked, and when he licked his lips, I had to hold my legs together. We hadn’t touched for almost six hours, and my restraint was starting to fail. I was amazed at how well Oliver had done on my first day, but then I knew he respected me and his company. He was always professional when it came to his work.

  “I came to ask you if you wanted anything for lunch.”

  “That depends. What’s on the menu?” I knew exactly what he was thinking.

  “Food, not me,” I scolded. “For a CEO, you’re easily distracted, Mr. Kirkham.”

  “I’m Mr. Kirkham now, am I?” he chuckl
ed, shaking his head. “And for your information—you are the only one who has ever distracted me at work.”

  “Maybe you should find a replacement as soon as possible, then?” I suggested innocently, batting my eyelashes.

  “Until I know the results of Alicia’s test, there’s no point. And besides, I like you distracting me.”

  “Did you want anything for lunch?”

  “It would seem what I want isn’t on the menu,” he grinned. “Why don’t you send Sylvia out, anyway? You don’t have to get my lunch.”

  “I want to.”

  “Surprise me, then,” he challenged. Oh, I loved a challenge.

  It was nice to get some fresh air. I went for the healthier option for both of us with a grilled chicken salad. It was good brain food, after all.

  When I walked back to his office half an hour later, I heard a familiar female voice just as I approached.

  “We can’t talk here, you know that!” Oliver sounded stressed.

  “You do realize what this means, don’t you?” I was sure it was Macy. As I entered Oliver’s office, I saw that I was right. Both of them looked alarmed to see me.

  “I’m sorry—have I interrupted something?” I frowned. “I can go and sit with Sylvia if you want?”

  “No, Macy was just leaving!” Oliver glared toward her. She was going to respond, but something in his eyes made her stop and leave without even saying goodbye.

  “What was all that about?” I frowned, placing his lunch down on his desk. “I got you a grilled chicken salad.”

  “Thanks,” he sighed, running his hands through his hair. “It’s nothing for you to worry about. Macy is putting pressure on me about receiving more funding for her and Dylan.” I knew I had to press for more.

  “Funding for what?”

  “Their research. They are extremely close to a breakthrough,” he muttered, picking at his food. I could tell his mind was miles away, and I had one guess as to why—Macy and Dylan were behind this power core, and it seemed they’d almost achieved it.

  “A breakthrough is good though, right?” Oliver gazed up at me perched on the side of his desk and smiled sadly.

  “Not always, Sweetheart,” he exhaled, moving his food away before pulling me onto his lap. “I’ve been dying to touch you for hours,” he breathed, inhaling my skin, trying to calm himself. I braced myself, holding his shoulders.

  I had no idea how long Oliver held me in complete silence. My hands ran through his hair rhythmically, but I could feel the tension in his body and only wanted to hold him tighter.

  He knew the dangers this power core was going to cause, and it burned me from the inside to know his problems were only just beginning and that I was going to be the route of them.

  Now that I was working for him, it would only be a matter of time before I found out if the power core existed or not, and the location if it did. I was more or less convinced it was Dr. Reynolds making this power core, simply by Oliver’s body language right now. He had the world in his hands and didn’t know which way to turn. Time was ticking faster than I wanted it to, and a part of me worried about our future.

  Georgie had gotten inside my head more than I realized. Could I lie to Oliver for the rest of my life, knowing I was the reason his power core had fallen into the wrong hands? Miles wasn’t even sure our client was trustworthy. If it was Imogen Windom, he had reason to be worried.

  Did I even want to complete this mission for her? If I wanted to keep Oliver and me alive, I had no choice. I was trapped with nowhere to turn. Either way, I was going to hurt the one person I loved more than my own life.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Oliver made everything effortless. I’d been working for him for almost six weeks already. We’d even been inseparable in the evenings, too. I was practically living at his luxury apartment, which didn’t bother me in the slightest. My past was catching up with me this month through vivid dreams and memories, and I’d never needed him more. If anyone could chase my nightmares away, it was him.

  “So?” I asked, trying to gage his reaction. His office was finally complete, and I had no idea what he thought of it. “Oliver,” I stressed. “Tell me if you hate it. I can redesign it!”

  Slowly, he turned around and smirked at me. “Jade, I love it! It’s so light and calming. It’s just what I needed.” Thank Christ for that! I’d gone for relaxing pale blues, remembering how much he loved harbors, and added texture with the paintings he’d purchased when he visited me in St. Petersburg.

  “Don’t do that to me,” I scolded, slapping his arm. “I thought you hated it!”

  He chuckled, pulling me into his arms and running his hands down my back. “Jade, you designed it. How could I not love it?” I forced a blush before he crashed his lips against mine. It might have been against work policy, but right then, I’d never needed his lips so badly. I was overjoyed that I could give him this—a part of me that wouldn’t ever leave him.

  Working closely with Oliver these last few weeks had confirmed my suspicions about Dr. Reynolds and Macy. Oliver was at breaking point with the whole situation. There had been countless secret telephone conversations, meetings, and code names when I passed messages back and forth between Dr. Reynolds and Oliver. It would only be a matter of weeks until he confided in me, I was sure of it. I could feel the stress and tension when we made love. He was trying to lose himself in me, and often did, but when he came back down to earth, I could see it in his eyes. Everything was on his shoulders, and he had nowhere to turn. I wanted him to turn to me, and not just for the sake of the mission.

  “I thought this was against the rules,” he purred against my mouth, kissing down my jaw.

  “We’re celebrating you liking your office—I’ll make an exception,” I giggled, feeling his hands go straight for my butt. “Mr. Kirkham, are you molesting a member of your staff?”

  “No,” he purred, pulling at my bottom lip with his teeth. “I’m molesting my girlfriend.” Why did I love that word so much? I gripped his hair, deepening the kiss before a male throat being cleared interrupted us.

  “I need to speak with you alone, Oliver,” Richard glared as we broke apart. I still wasn’t in his good graces, and making out with Oliver in his office wasn’t going to help.

  “I’ll get back to those emails,” I muttered, dropping my hand from Oliver’s concerned face. I didn’t want him to start another argument with his uncle because of me, but I could already see it in his dark eyes.

  “You need to let this go, Uncle!” I heard Oliver snarl before I closed his door.

  “I don’t want to argue. You know that was unprofessional,” Richard sighed.

  “What is your goddamn issue with Jade and me?”

  “I feel as if you confide in her more than me. Oliver, I know you’re keeping things from me. I’m being kept out of secret meetings, denied access to secure files, and you still haven’t explained what project you are funding for Dr. Reynolds!” I shouldn’t have been listening, but I couldn’t move. “I thought we made big decisions together.”

  “That was before you held a secret meeting with Imogen Windom behind my back!” Richard did what? How could he be so stupid?

  “I only wanted to see what Imogen was offering. Do you have any idea how much power you’d have if you joined forces with her?”

  “You are talking complete madness. Do you have any idea what effect that would have on the world’s warfare? Imogen Windom isn’t the kind of person you’d give any control to. You know this! My father warned you so many times!”

  “Your father could have been wrong. He wasn’t as perfect as you think. He was only human, Oliver. He wasn’t infallible.”

  “Your insecurities toward my father have nothing to do with me. I’m the owner of this company, you are my advisor. You’d do well to remember that, Uncle! You advise! You don’t dictate.”

  “Well, Oliver, you certainly are your father’s son. He was always quick to put me in my place, too,” Richard sneered. I c
ould hear Oliver yelling back, but I knew I needed to take a step away. This conversation was private between the two of them. I’d often wondered why Richard only had a small claim to Kirkham Industries. I’d recently learned that he was Oliver’s father’s half brother. Oliver’s grandmother had had an affair, and to be honest, Oliver’s grandfather had been more than lenient with her and the illegitimate child. Richard grew up thinking he was a full-blooded Kirkham until he was sixteen. I did wonder when or if Oliver would bring it all up, though.

  “What do you want, Beautiful?” Oliver cooed, licking down my rib cage. My skin was clammy from the relentless lovemaking. He was really trying to lose himself tonight, which meant the argument with Richard earlier must have gotten even worse after I stopped listening. They’d been in his office for hours.

  “You—I just want you!” I yearned, arching up to him.

  “You have me. You know that, right?” he whispered, moving up my body, his nose skimming my hardened nipple. I nodded, running my fingers through his hair.

  “I do.”

  “I need to ask you something, but I’m worried it might scare you away.” I was taken aback at his statement. What did he want to ask? Oh, God! Was he going to ask me how I felt about him? Was I ready for that? Yes I loved him, but I would also be leaving him for a few years in the near future. We had so much to overcome first.

  “Just ask me,” I breathed, swallowing hard. Go with your heart, Jade. Oliver has a right to know how you feel about him. Deep down, I knew I was ready.

  “Who is Mina?” What the fuck!? How did he know about Mina? I could feel the blood drain from my face. He knew! Oliver knew everything! Had Richard discovered who I really was? Was that why they’d been in Oliver’s office for so long today? “Jade? Baby, you’re trembling,” he stressed, caressing my face. “I’m sorry. Forget I asked. Just breathe,” he cooed while I tried to control myself. I moved onto my side and then sat up, hugging my knees to my chest while feeling my world begin to fall apart around me.