“Sorry to disappoint, ladies, but it’s more like this,” I say inching Amber’s hands closer together until they’re only a few inches apart. I can see the look of shock on their faces; I don’t know if it’s over the size or the fact that I’m an authority on Nate Baldwin’s dick. Truthfully, I couldn’t remember how big he was, that one fact is something I so wish I could remember, but for the sake of my mental health and agony, I’m glad I’ve forgotten.
Nate watches as I move the girl’s hands closer together, and her mouth pops open as her eyes jerk in his direction. He’s completely distracted, standing in front of his very full blender. He doesn’t even register that he didn’t put the lid back on when his finger drops down to the power button and presses it on. The blender roars to life, sending bits of milk and chopped fruits and vegetables all over the ceiling as well as Nate’s face and shirt. He scrambles to turn it off, but it’s too late: the chunky concoction is dripping off the tip of his nose as the bimbos scurry out of the room laughing.
I stand back with a smile on my face as Nate walks closer to me, slowly removing his tie and unbuttoning his oxford. I move with him until my back hits the wall. He pulls the shirt down his perfectly sculpted shoulder and firm biceps, balling it up and wiping off his face. He plants a hand on either side of my head as he leans in. I want so badly to reach out and touch his abs. I’ve never seen a man in real life that has an actual eight pack. His skin is pulled taut against his rippling muscles, and his chest expands with each breath.
“You are playing with fire, Miss Taylor. Don’t think for one minute that I don’t plan on punishing you for this.”
I feel like I’m about to melt into an actual puddle, but I play it off. “For what? Pretty sure I had nothing to do with this,” I say casually, refusing to let my eyes drop down to his chest. I can feel a bead of nervous sweat run down between my breasts. I just pray it doesn’t show through my silk blouse.
“You’re lucky I’m not into frigid brunettes.” His eyes drop down to my neck, focusing on the dip at the base where my skin moves with my pulse.
This game has gone too far, and I’m completely out of my element. I try to swallow down my nervousness, but it’s getting the better of me. I reach out and plant my hands on his chest and push him, but he barely moves. I brush past him with both my middle fingers raised in the air, “You wish, Baldwin.”
6
Nate
I stroke myself faster, harder, my breath coming out in jagged intervals as I get myself closer to the edge. I imagine her legs wrapped around my waist, my cock buried in her tight, wet pussy as I make her apologize to me. She’s panting, begging, gasping for release, but I won’t give it to her, not until I hear my name tumble from those supple lips.
I groan as I cum all over the floor of the shower, resting my head against the wall as the warm water cascades down my body. Shit! This marks the third day in a row I started my morning off by beating it to images of Elise fucking Taylor. I finish washing off, then step out of the shower.
It’s been this way since the first smart-ass comment that fell from her mouth. Actually, it’s been this way since I saw her at her interview. The curve of her ass, those full round breasts that I’d kill to suck on. I can’t get her out of my head, but at the same time, I can’t deny that I have plotted her murder a few times.
She’s the type of woman that always knows exactly what to say at exactly the wrong time. Can’t ever let a smartass remark go. A grin pulls at one side of my mouth as I think about her, for as much as she drives me bat-shit crazy, she’s also so quick witted, it keeps my head spinning. She’s hilarious, beautiful, and wicked smart…a deadly combination. I snap out of it, realizing I might start to like the woman if I give it another thought.
I whip my Audi S7 into the garage and wave to Raymond, the attendant. I round the corner a little fast, tires squealing, when I suddenly slam on the breaks. “What the fuck?” I mumble to myself as I look at the small black and red Fiat parked in my spot. The sign above my parking spot is clearly labeled with a red and white metal sign that reads ‘RESERVED FOR NATE BALDWIN, CFO CASTILLE HOTELS.’ I angrily pull around until I find a regular empty spot and grab my suit coat and a pen and napkin before marching back over to where I should be parked.
I glance at the car again as if staring at it will help me recognize who the owner might be. I pull the napkin out of my hand and scribble a note on it.
Dear Fiat owner, in case you missed the clearly marked sign above this parking spot, it is reserved for Nate Baldwin. Last time I checked, I don’t drive a Fiat. Please do NOT park in this spot again. Sincerely, NATE BALDWIN.
I smile in satisfaction as I place the note beneath the windshield wiper. That should teach them. The one thing I demanded when I came on board with Vincent’s plan to start this hotel chain was a reserved parking spot. I know, it sounds ridiculous, but it’s one of those status things I’ve always wanted. Now that I have it, I refuse to let some Fiat-driving asshole take it from me.
“Good morning, Josie,” I say walking into my office.
“Good morning, Mr. Baldwin. Your nine o’clock is running late. Mr. Stafford’s secretary called this morning and said he got a flat tire on the 294 this morning. Should I reschedule it? She said he would probably be about an hour late.”
I glance at my watch. “No, it’s okay if he’s late. I have some paperwork I need to go over anyway, and Vincent mentioned something about a trip to Denver for that acquisition. I’ll be in my office.” I point toward the double doors as I make my way through them.
I shut the doors and walk over to my desk, seeing that my green smoothie is already there. Josie must be gunning for a raise going the extra mile like that. I pick it up, taking a long sip as I settle in to start my day.
“Vince?” I knock on his half-open door as I let myself in. He’s chatting with his assistant as he waves me in.
“Hey, Nate, thanks for stopping by. I wanted to discuss the Denver acquisition with you really quick.” I make my way toward his desk as I hear footsteps behind me. I turn around just in time to see Elise waltzing in with her perfectly styled curls bouncing in time with her steps. She blatantly ignores me, giving Vince and his assistant a sweet smile and a cheery ‘good morning.’
She’s wearing that god damn blue dress again, with bright red lips. It’s navy blue and hits just above her knee. I don’t know what kind of material you’d call it, but it’s the type that clings to her skin, accentuating every curve. To most men, it would probably just be a dress, nothing provocative or over-sexualized, but it teases me just enough that I can feel myself start to harden and my mouth go dry. She crosses her long legs as she takes a seat and I can smell the sweet scent of vanilla waft up. I hurriedly sit down before I make a tent in my pants so big Boy Scouts could camp under it.
“So, I know you both saw the vague email I sent, but I needed to finalize a few things before I officially sent you both to Denver.”
I glance over at Elise just as she glances at me. “Both?” I say with a raised eyebrow.
“Yes, both. Will that be a problem?” He steeples his fingers like he’s a dad scolding us.
“Nope, not at all.” I shake my head.
“Anyway, I have a previous engagement in Canada, but I need you both to go meet with the board there and finalize some financials and contract stuff. Very basic stuff you both can do in your sleep. It will only be for a few days.”
We finish up the meeting, and I glance at my watch as I make my way toward the elevator. Mr. Stafford should be arriving at any minute. “You enjoy your smoothie this morning?” Elise asks as she sidles up next to me, looking me up and down. The doors open, and we both step inside.
“See something you like?” I ask, ignoring her question. I figure she’s referring to the episode that occurred the other day in the lunchroom when she distracted me, causing the smoothie to explode all over me. I clench my hand at the thought. I’m still pissed at her for that one, but I wouldn’t mind
bending her over, pulling up that god damn dress, and anger banging the hell out of her right now.
“Hardly. I’d just hate for you to miss your morning smoothie. You know what they say: fruits and vegetables help keep us regular.” I scrunch my face in confusion at her remarks as the elevator opens to our floor.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I look down the hall towards my office, seeing that Mr. Stafford has arrived and is talking with Josie. I give him a smile and wave as I turn to finish my conversation with Elise, who is halfway down the hall toward her office. Then it hits me…she’s the one who put my smoothie on my desk.
I sprint down to catch her. “What the hell did you do, Elise?” I whisper-shout, trying not to cause a scene. My stomach rumbles and lets out an unnatural, animalistic sound.
“Good luck with that,” she says with a syrupy fake grin before shutting the door in my face. I slam my fist against it as a sharp pain radiates up my arm, and I turn to make my back to my office for my meeting.
For the next hour, my stomach feels like it’s on the verge of bottoming out and turning my ass into a very unpredictable volcano. Drops of sweat bead on my forehead as I try to listen to what Mr. Stafford is talking about. I nod and glance over the financials in front of me. He is the Senior Director at Bender & Wallace Wealth Management, a Certified Exit Planning Advisor and a Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor with over 27 years of experience. The man knows his shit, but all I can’t focus on is just trying not to shit my pants.
Finally, the meeting concludes, and I shut my door, locking myself in my private bathroom for the next hour. I’m done playing nice…Elise Taylor is about to meet her match. I walk back to my desk to find the napkin I had left on the Fiat earlier this morning. It has a response written in bright red lipstick.
Dear Mr. Baldwin, last time I checked…nobody gives a shit.
7
Elise
“Things going better at work?” Tessa plops down on my bed as I pack up my things. I finally found a great apartment in the city that not only checks all my boxes but is a quick twenty-minute commute to work.
“A little. This month has flown by, and I think I just might have taught Nate a lesson, so he’s been keeping his distance.” Truthfully, I kind of hated that he had been avoiding me, for as much as he annoyed me to the point of homicide, I still got butterflies when I saw him walking down the hall. That man in a tailored suit could make an angel fall.
“Taught him a lesson?” Tessa props herself up on her elbows, so she can see me sitting on the floor.
“Uhhh, yeah. We kind of had this prank war going on, and let’s just say I won.”
“Oh god, what’d you do?” I can’t help but burst into laughter as I tell her how I laced his smoothie with a laxative. At first, she’s appalled, but soon she’s rolling around in laughter with me. It feels like we’re back in college again. I’m going to miss this.
“You’re an evil genius, you know that? It’s a good thing you’re a lawyer or you’d probably be in prison yourself.”
It’s Thursday morning, and I’m rummaging through my desk drawers in search of the stylus for my iPad. I glance at the clock, “Shit, I’m late!” I finally find it in the bottom drawer, grabbing it, I run to the conference room for our weekly staff meeting. I scurry into the room and realize the only seat left at the large oval table is all the way in the front. I make my way to the front and place my items on the table while I take a seat.
I glance up and notice a few people staring at me with quizzical looks on their face but ignore it. Waking up my iPad, I notice a large, black smudge on the screen, what the hell? I glance at the front of my white blouse and see that it has transferred all over the front of it. I let out a sigh of frustration; no wonder everyone was looking at me. I grab a napkin from the pile on the table next to the donuts and try to rub it off my screen but it’s thick and greasy, only making it worse.
“Pssst.” I glance up to see Cheryl from accounting pointing to her upper lip and then to me. I look at her confused; I don’t have time right now. I ignore her, but she repeats the gesture, so I pull open my iPad and flip the camera around. My face has large black streaks on it! The thick, greasy substance is now all over my iPad screen, my blouse, fingers, and a large spot above my eyebrow and upper lip.
I audibly gasp before gathering my things. Vincent looks over at me, stopping his speech and giving me a perplexed look as I hear the very distinct chuckle of Nate Baldwin.
I put my head down and dash out of the room and straight to the bathroom. I’m so angry and literally scream as I slam my things down on the counter. I quickly check under the stalls before locking the door and trying my hardest to scrub this shit off myself.
My face is red and angry from the furious scrubbing it took with a bathroom paper towel to get the substance off. My shirt is completely ruined; it’s now wet and see-through with a massive grayish-black muddied stan all over the front of it. I gather my things and make my way back to my office.
I slam the door to my office and lean my back against it, letting out a large audible exhale. “I can’t work like this.” Tears prick my eyes and slam my fist against the back of my door. I’m angry. Angry that I let Nate get the best of me, and angry that I care so much. I would love to hate him, but the reality is…I want him. I can see he’s the same fun-loving, charming guy I knew and fell in love with in college. More than anything, though—I would love to sit on his gorgeous face.
I toss my things on my desk and get to work on the contracts I need to go over. I have so much to get done before my trip to Denver. I try to focus, glancing at the clock several times over the next few hours until I can’t take the tension any longer. My shirt is now dry, but the smudgy mess is a dull, dried stain that is scratchy to the touch. I smooth down the front of it anyway and straighten my skirt. I reach for the mirror in my desk drawer and double-check the makeup I reapplied after the redness and irritation from earlier had subsided. I slick on a fresh coat of gloss, add a touch of perfume, and fluff up my hair. “Moment of truth,” I say as I walk out of my office and march towards Nate’s.
“Mr. Baldwin, Miss Taylor is here to see you. Can I send her in?”
“Uhh, yes.” I could hear the shock in Nate’s voice, most likely since I actually waited outside of his office this time and spoke with his admin instead of busting in to take my revenge on him.
I smile sweetly at Josie as I make my way through the door. Nate is sitting at his desk with the palms of his hands lying flat against the wood. “To what do I owe the pleasure, Miss Taylor?” He still has the same cocky smirk he had from this morning when I ran out of the conference room. Remembering that makes my rage bubble up again and I’m tempted to say fuck it and launch myself across his desk to claw his fucking eyes out. Instead, I take in a deep yoga breathe and let it go.
“May I?” I ask, motioning to the chair to my left since he didn’t offer me a seat.
“Please.”
“So,” I fold my hands in my lap and look him square in the eye. “I’ve been thinking, and I feel like this—situation between us,” I motion with my finger, “has run its course. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a good rival, and I certainly am not one to back down from a competition, but it’s just getting a little out of hand. Don’t you think?”
He’s eyeing me skeptically. “Is this some kind of trap?”
“Nope. Just an old-fashioned truce. I’m not saying we need to be friends and braid each other’s hair or anything, but maybe we could pump the brakes on the pranks? What do you say?” I give him my sweetest smile.
“I’m a little taken aback, Elise; I gotta be honest. After this morning, I fully expected you to come in here, guns blazing. Ready to rip my balls off and maybe throw a fire ant farm down my pants.”
“So you admit that was your handiwork this morning?”
“Uh, no, I didn’t say that, just that I figured you would assume it was me.” He gives me a toothy grin before standing up. “Elise T
aylor, I officially accept your truce,” he says, thrusting his hand out towards me.
I reciprocate, standing and taking his hand with a pursed-lip smile. “Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Baldwin.” I spin on my heel and walk out of the office.
I glance at the clock and realize it’s almost seven already. I lean back in my chair and stretch my stiffened back while letting out an exaggerated yawn. I stand up and start gathering my things when a soft knock on my door startles me. I look up to see Nate leaning against the door frame.
“I’m surprised to see you here this late. Vince got you burning the midnight oil on something?” God, he looks like a walking wet dream standing there. His hair is disheveled like he’s been running his hands through it. Like freshly fucked hair. I snap out of it, realizing I’m staring at him with my mouth hanging open.
“Something like that. What has you here so late?” I say, continuing to shut down my laptop, slipping it into my bag.
“I was just trying to get some things done before our trip to Denver,” he says, glancing nervously at his shoes. “Hey, so I actually am glad I caught you. I uh…I wanted to apologize.”
That catches my attention. I stop what I’m doing and fold my arms across my chest, the signal for keep going.
“Yeah, I just thought a lot about things after you left this afternoon and honestly, I felt like a complete asshole. I was behind the shoe polish this morning.”
“Ah, shoe polish,” I said, my question about what the substance was answered.
“Yes. It was totally out of line and below the belt and every other analogy. Thanks for being the bigger man, er, woman in this situation and being willing to—”
Hate That I Love You (Castille Hotel Series Book 0) Page 4
