by Ravenna Tate
Chapter Thirteen
Julianne had both stories finished by the time Kane poked his head in the door and asked if she was hungry. She glanced up, frowning, then cut her gaze back to her laptop. “I’ve been in here five hours?”
“Yes. I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“I’m starving.” She laughed. “I get like this. I just type and don’t move.”
“I totally understand. Would you like to go out to eat? I don’t do that very often because it’s expensive, and the food is usually not worth the over-inflated price, but I’ll take you out if you want to go.”
Julianne shook her head. “Spoken like a true financial genius. I’d rather cook something here.” She stretched. “Afterwards, I’m sure we’ll think of something to do.”
He grinned. “Did you know there’s a rooftop pool?”
“You’re kidding. And here I thought I’d seen the entire apartment.”
“You did, but the pool was being cleaned so I didn’t take you up there. It’s enclosed, heated and completely private. We can see out the windows but no one can see inside.”
She rose and stretched again. “Pity I didn’t bring a swimsuit with me.”
He chuckled. “You won’t need one. Shall we get started on making dinner?”
“Let me email these stories to Patti and then I’ll join you in the kitchen.”
“You’ve finished both?”
“Yes. Once she looks them over and suggests changes, I’ll let you see them.”
“I’d appreciate that. Thank you.”
“Did you speak with your father?”
The light left his eyes. “Yes. We’re keeping Isabelle on for now to watch her.”
He said nothing else, and the silence was suddenly awkward. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen then as soon as I finish the email.”
Kane nodded once then left the room. Julianne watched the space where he’d been standing for a few seconds, wondering what else he and his father had talked about. The air in the room was suddenly chilly. Perhaps it was better she didn’t know what had happened between them? Obviously they didn’t have a good relationship.
Dinner consisted of baked chicken and veggies, and it was delicious. Julianne asked him why he didn’t have a housekeeper to help with such a large apartment.
“I do, but she only comes in once or twice a week. I prefer to do the cooking myself, but she buys groceries and other items I need.”
“I have a tough time imagining you scrubbing toilets or buying eggs and milk.”
He smiled. “I could if I had to, you know.”
“That’s good to know. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I really did want to take you out, Julianne.”
“I know you did, and thank you for that. I’m happy just to be here with you right now.”
After dinner, they took bottles of water and a pitcher of margaritas plus glasses to the top floor. Julianne whistled as Kane flipped on the lights in the room. They had been designed to look like Tiki torches, and they filled the space with a soft, flickering glow that she could almost pretend was real. The palm trees were real, as were the flowering bushes. “Who takes care of the exotic plants?”
“My housekeeper.”
“Do you also have a pool boy?”
He laughed. “No, but I do have maintenance performed on it every quarter.”
The pool was a decent size and was marked off at depths from three feet to six feet. The water looked inviting, and there were even cushions to float on. She gazed out the windows at the fake setting sun and skyline of the city stretched out below. “How is it no one can see inside here even with the lights on?”
“Magic.”
“Try again.”
“It’s called privacy glass. My friends introduced me to it before any of us moved underground. When the cities were constructed, most of the higher end apartment complexes and office buildings had it installed.”
“It’s ingenious.” She walked around the perimeter of the rounded pool. “We could swim buck naked and fuck like bunnies but no one would see us.”
“That’s the idea, Julianne.”
She shivered. “I see. Do you bring all your girlfriends up here?”
Kane placed the drinks on a table and moved toward her. He cupped her face, his expression serious. “The only woman in my life is you.”
“You’ve known me less than a week.”
“I’ve known you for five years.”
“Kane—”
“Julianne, I’m not a player.” His words cut her off. “You’d be shocked how little I date anymore. Women don’t see me for who I am inside. They see my money and my company, and they can’t get past it.”
“I’m not after either your money or your company.”
The tender look in his eyes surprised her. “I know that, and I know that’s not what you want now.”
“It’s not.”
“What do you want, Julianne?”
She swallowed hard. Good question. The truth was that she had no clue, but she did know one simple truth. “You. I want you, Kane. Not the billionaire who owns Bannerman Investments, but the man standing before me right now. The one who has a wicked sense of humor, and enjoys kinky sex, and kisses like nothing I’ve ever experienced. The man who makes me laugh, and keeps me on my toes, and who won’t let me get away with any shit.”
“I’ve wanted you for five years now.”
Her breath caught in her throat. Why hadn’t she known that before now? “You have me. All of me.”
Kane kissed her, softly and tenderly, but the effect was the same as his rough and tumble kisses. Julianne wrapped her arms around him and pushed closer, rubbing her body against his erection. When he released her mouth, he trailed a line of liquid fire over her collarbones and down one arm.
He removed her top and bra in one fluid motion, and then he took off his shirt and jeans while she watched. When he was down to his birthday suit, she slid off her shorts and panties. “I’ve never gone skinny dipping.”
He grinned, taking her hand. “Now’s your big chance.”
The water was warm, and she sighed as they stepped in. Julianne swam out to the deep end, wishing they were on the surface years ago, in the ocean he loved, where there had once been white sand and blue skies. Would they ever see that again?
Kane swam next to her for a few laps, and then Julianne pulled one of the cushions into the pool and climbed onto it. She lay on her back, hands behind her head, staring up at the fake night sky painted on the ceiling. “This is wonderful. Who designed it?”
He climbed onto a cushion next to her. “Damien Rivera, the same man whose designs you wrote about.”
“So, he doesn’t only design shelters?”
Kane chuckled. “No, he doesn’t. When this building went up, it had a pool up here, but it was open. I wanted it enclosed and private.”
“So you could float naked on cushions?”
He gave her a molten look of lust. “That, and other things.”
She closed her eyes and absorbed the soft sound of lapping water below them, the scent of Kane’s shampoo, and the aura of being this close to him, naked. No matter what happened Monday morning when they both returned to work, she’d have this weekend. No one could take that from her.
Julianne heard Kane roll off the cushion into the water, and then he was there, standing in chest-high water next to her. She opened her eyes and smiled as he grasped her breasts in strong hands. “I will never tire of touching your body.”
“I’m glad, because I like it when you touch my body.”
He bent his head and licked her nipples. How she could still be this horny after all the sex they’d had during the past twenty-four hours amazed her. He truly must be as magical as he kept teasing her about. Or maybe it was simply that she’d had too many dry spells, and was now making up for lost time? She’d fantasized about this man for five years, but this wasn’t a dream. He was real. He was here.
Jul
ianne rolled off the cushion and wrapped her arms around Kane. He kissed her, and this time it wasn’t tender or gentle, but she loved it. When he released her mouth, he picked her up and carried her to the deck. “Wait here a second.”
“Like I’d go anywhere.”
Kane retrieved the cushion she’d been floating on and flopped it onto the pool deck next to her. “Much more comfortable than the tiles.”
“Wetter, too.”
“The dry ones are too far away.” He crawled onto the cushion and took her hand, pulling her down with him. “Besides, I like things wet.”
“I’ve noticed that.”
“Get on your hands and knees.”
How could she fail to obey that sexy, dominant voice? She did as he asked, and then he brushed his hands over her body, eliciting loud moans from her as arousal built once more. “You’re so fucking sexy.”
“So are you.”
“Thank you.” Kane slid his dick into her pussy from behind, and Julianne cried out loudly. He slipped a hand underneath to tease her clit, and that was all it took. The climax was insane. How does he do that so damn easily? She rode the waves, not minding that the cushion was really difficult to balance on, especially because it was so water-logged. It made things more interesting.
He thrust in and out with more strength and stamina than she could comprehend. When a second orgasm began to build, she closed her eyes and let it happen.
“Oh, Julianne, I will never stop wanting you. Never.”
I hope not. When she came a second time, he did, too, and then they both collapsed onto the cushion. Julianne didn’t want to leave, but Kane crawled off her and turned her over. He took her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Let’s swim some more.”
“Are you human?”
“Why do you keep asking me that?”
“Because I’ve never met anyone who had so much energy.”
He pulled her close and stroked her damp hair. “It’s a holdover from my childhood. We weren’t allowed to relax, or play games, or do anything that wasn’t directed toward a goal. I’ve been learning the family business since was I was twelve. This is all I’ve ever known. So now, when I have the chance to let loose and do something fun, you know, like swim naked with a beautiful woman, or make love as many times as possible in one weekend, I do it.”
Despite the words, there was something sad and poignant in the tone of his voice, and deep in those gorgeous hazel eyes, that made her heart flutter. She’d never imagined that Kane Bannerman lived anything except a charmed life. She saw him as a carefree person who did what he wanted, when he wanted to do it.
Julianne realized she’d not only oversimplified his life, but she’d also assumed a great deal that simply wasn’t true. He worked very hard, no doubt about that, but when it came time to play, he put as much passion and energy into that as he did his work. He wanted to share that passion and fun with her. It was too much to take in right now. Her head swam with everything that had happened since she’d walked into his office again on Monday.
She smiled at him, and then she waded into the pool with him behind her. It was time to let go a bit as well, and enjoy this enigmatic, sexy man. The fact that she might not be walking straight by Monday was incidental. Walking was overrated anyway.
Chapter Fourteen
Julianne felt like she was living a fairytale during the next two weeks. She hadn’t spent a night in her own apartment since Friday, and only saw the inside of it when she returned there to pick up more clothes or personal items. She did her laundry at Kane’s apartment. Or rather, his housekeeper did it. They ate dinner together each evening, and either swam in the pool afterwards or watched a movie, if they didn’t go out.
Kane took her to the symphony one evening, where he had box seats of course, and she loved being able to dress up and pretend she was royalty for the evening. He did indeed look the part in his tux, and in the way he simply told people to bring them things and they did. What she especially loved was the way he treated everyone, however. He wasn’t smug or demanding. He was polite and appreciative, and she hadn’t expected him to be that way.
He also took her to the city park, where they walked and admired the exhibits of local artists and craftsmen. There was a fountain in the center of the park that he told her a fascinating story about, which included the tricky mechanics of getting it to work in the first place.
Apparently when the city was built, the underground plumbing schematics hadn’t originally included piping into the downtown area. Kane told her it was still a running joke among the Weathermen that anyone needing to use the bathroom in downtown NorthEast was supposed to simply piss in the street. She’d laughed until she almost had to excuse herself to the bathroom when he’d told her that story.
Every evening they made love, and sometimes they didn’t make it into the bedroom to do so. By the end of two weeks, Julianne realized there were only a few rooms in the apartment where he hadn’t fucked her. Her entire body was sore, but she didn’t care. She’d never had so damn much fun, or so much incredible sex, in her life. She loved it, and it was becoming more difficult with each passing day not to fall head over heels for Kane Bannerman.
Patti had loved the stories, and they would both be published in the coming months. Kane had promised her an exclusive interview with each of the Weathermen, with the understanding that she stay focused on each of their companies and the contributions they made to the world of technology.
She was allowed to focus somewhat on the angle of taking back control of The Madeline Project, and finding those responsible for the Tommy Twister virus, but she had to stay away from writing about secret teams. She’d easily agreed to that condition, and when she told Patti about the upcoming interviews, Patti had practically drooled. The Weathermen weren’t known for granting interviews very often.
On a Friday afternoon, two weeks after the hockey game, she was updating her notes on the interviews. She’d already interviewed Ace Easton, Emmett Radcliffe, and Damien Rivera. Dominic Greco and Addison Carlyle were scheduled for the following week, and Barclay Hampton, Grayson Jensen, Oliver Fairchild, Atticus Yates, Viggo Ingram, and Blaine Parker had all confirmed their interview times during the next three weeks.
Julianne was working in Kane’s apartment, and he came into the room to ask her how things were going. She showed him the calendar she’d just finished updating. “It seems no one has scheduled anything for this week.” She pointed toward the last week in the following month. “Is there something going on?”
“That’s when Ace and Harper are getting married. We’re all attending, of course. By the way, would you please come along as my date? You could meet all of them in person that way.”
A shiver ran down her spine, but not because he’d asked her to attend with him, or because it was a wedding. “I’d love to. It’s in NorthCentral, right?”
Kane nodded.
“Where Rob and Olivia Marin live.”
“Right again.”
He hadn’t mentioned them or Isabelle in two weeks, and she hadn’t asked, but now she wanted to know. “Have you fired Isabelle yet?”
“I have not. I’m still monitoring what she’s doing.”
“What is she doing? Can you share anything? Strictly off the record, of course.”
The corners of his mouth turned up as he perched on the edge of her desk. “It’s actually quite amusing to watch. I never noticed before because I wasn’t paying attention, but she pulls HR work out of the queue first, even if she has to scroll down several pages to find it.”
Julianne frowned. “Why hasn’t anyone noticed this?”
He shrugged. “Too busy, and too many of them to watch. As long as the queue stays current and each of them does the same number of tasks, or close to it, no one tracks what specific tasks they do.”
“What is she looking for?”
“More of what she gave you, I imagine, only she won’t find it. It was an oversight that allowed her to find out about t
he new teams to being with, but that won’t happen again. None of the correspondence for them or for the hacker team goes through HR now. Not even when they’re first hired. It comes through me and Agnes only.”
“Do you trust Agnes?”
“Completely. She might not be a pleasant person, but she’s loyal. I’d stake my life on that.”
“How long will you let Isabelle search?”
He sighed. “Not too much longer. Has she contacted you again?”
“Nope. Not so much as a text message, which is odd. I’d have told you if she had.”
“I have to figure out a way to let her go without outing you.”
“Didn’t you talk to your father about that?”
“Not that detail. He’d leave it to me regardless. My problem, and all that goes with it, you understand.”
There was that tone again. The same one he’d used when he’d given her a glimpse into his childhood the first time they swam in the pool. “Is it that he can’t be bothered with day-to-day details?”
“Something like that.”
“You’re lucky in that respect. I’m sure you’ve noticed how many times a day my family texts me. I know everything about them, down to what they each had for lunch.”
His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’ve never known that kind of closeness with my parents.”
“You’re an only child?”
“Yes.”
“That’s why, then. They probably treated you like an adult most of your life.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched. “That’s true. They did.”
She rose and walked around the desk to stand in front of him. “Do they love you? I mean, do they say it or show it?”
His gaze grew hard. “Depends on how you define ‘love’.”
“How do they define it?”
“By how much cash you earn them, how often you do exactly as they say, and by the number of times you don’t embarrass them or the company.”
She swallowed against the sudden lump in her throat. “I’m sorry, Kane. I find it difficult to imagine growing up like that. My parents were the opposite of driven. They’re happy each of us ended up employed, period. It doesn’t matter to them where we work, or what we do for a living.”
