Man of Strength: An older alpha male and younger woman short romance (Filthy Rich Love Book 5)

by Sadie King

  “Alarm codes are written here above the register. You’ll have thirty seconds to get out and lock up.”

  “Good luck with your wife,” I say as he heads out the door.

  I’m stacking chairs to sweep around when I notice Carl’s denim jacket hooked over the back of one of the chairs. It’s a warm night, but he’ll probably want that later. I take it out back and hang it on the coat hook where he’ll be able to find it easily.

  I go back out to the restaurant and continue sweeping the floors. A few minutes later, the door jingles as it opens.

  “I wondered if you’d come back for your jacket,” I say, turning around. I stop mid-sentence; my blood freezes. Standing in the doorway is Darren. He’s got a smirk on his face and a sparkle of triumph in his eyes.

  “Hello Jamie. Or is it Zoe now?”

  I’m frozen to the spot. The color must have drained out of my face. All these months of keeping in shape and running practice in preparation for this moment. But all I can do is stare at him with my mouth open.

  “It took me a while to track you down.” He pulls down the blinds on the diner door. Then he moves to the next window and slowly lowers the blinds there.

  “Good thinking with the name change. It took us a few more months than I would have liked to find you.”

  He moves to the next window, and as he talks casually lowers every blind until we’re closed off in the diner. Anyone walking past can’t see in.

  “But I knew I’d find you eventually.”

  My mind is screaming at me to do something while he’s still talking. I’m holding the broom so tightly my knuckles are going white.

  “How did you find me?” I ask, my voice coming out croaky.

  “It wasn’t easy. My brother told me I should give up. It wasn’t worth it for the money you owed.”

  “I can give you the money,” I tell him, taking the cash out of my pocket. “That’s half. I can get the rest out of the register.”

  He’s coming closer, his eyes darting to the wad of cash in my hand.

  “Oh, but there’s interest on top of that. Nine months of interest. I doubt there’ll be enough in the register of a crummy place like this.”

  “How much do you want?” My mind’s racing. I know where Carl keeps his safe with the big bills inside. I hate to do this to him, but I don’t see any other choice.

  Darren chuckles. “It’s not about the money.” He steps closer. I can see his yellow teeth now and the pores of his greasy skin. “What my brother didn’t understand and what you don’t seem to have grasped is that it’s really not about the money.”

  I put the cash on a table and take a step back. He eyes it hungrily and takes another step closer. My hand clenches around the broom. I’ll only get one swing at him, and I need to make it count.

  “You humiliated me,” he hisses, and I smell bourbon on his breath. “You, a girl, gave me a black eye and got away.”

  Somewhere inside I’m pleased to hear I gave him a black eye, but it doesn’t help my situation. It was a lucky shot, and I don’t know if I could do it again.

  “You won’t get away this time.” He lunges forward. I dodge to the right, sending a bar stool toppling to the floor. He grabs my arm and spins me around.

  “You won’t—” I bring the broom up with all my strength, and it connects with his jaw with a satisfying thwack. A tooth flies out and bounces on the linoleum floor.

  “You little bitch.” He lunges at me, and I run for the door. An intense pain fills my scalp as he jerks me back by the hair. I drive my elbow backward and feel it connect with his ribs. His grip on my hair loosens as he doubles over in pain.

  I spring for the door and grab the handle just as it swings open. I collide straight into Tyler’s bulk.

  “What the...?”

  Tyler’s arms close around me as Darren crashes into us. In one quick move, Tyler has him by the neck.

  “You okay?” he asks me as Darren squirms in his grasp.

  I’m so stunned all I can do is nod.

  “Is this the guy?”

  I nod again.

  “Good, ‘cause I’m going to beat the shit out of him.”

  He releases his hold on me and brings his fist around to pummel Darren, his anger thrown into every punch.

  I put my hand on his arm. He stops mid-punch and turns to look at me. His eyes are full of fury, but they change to concern when he sees the way I’m looking at him.

  “I think he gets the message,” I say.

  “You sure, sweetheart? Because I’ll finish him off if you give me the word.”

  I shake my head.

  “Okay.”

  He releases his hold and Darren slumps to the floor.

  “You touch my girl again, you come anywhere near my girl again, and I’ll kill you,” he says.

  Darren nods, sending a clot of blood onto the floor.

  Tyler gets a wad of cash out of his pocket. “Here’s the money you think she owes you.” He counts off a stack of hundred dollar bills. I’ve never seen so much cash altogether. “And some extra for your medical bills.” He throws the money on the ground, and Darren scrabbles around for it.

  “Now get the fuck out of here.”

  Darren scrambles to his feet and bolts out the door. Tyler turns to me and without saying a word scoops me into his arms and carries me out of the diner.

  “We’re going to my hotel,” he says. “I’ll call someone to clean up the diner.”

  I sink into the plush leather seats of his car and let him take care of me.

  7

  Tyler

  I could have killed that motherfucker. Trying to hurt my girl. Luckily she’s tougher than she looks.

  I’m angry at myself for leaving her unprotected. Now she’s shaking like a leaf and I want to calm her down, but every time I touch her my dick gets hard and I want to run my hands over her body so bad.

  I lead her into the hotel and up the elevator to the top floor. Her eyes go wide when we walk into my suite. There’s a double living area, a massive bedroom, and a bathroom that’s almost as big as the shared one at the gym.

  “Did he hurt you?” I ask when I’ve got her seated on one of the sofas.

  “He pulled my hair,” she says. “After I smashed his face with the broom.”

  “That’s my girl.”

  She’s got some of his blood on her blouse.

  “You want a shower?” I ask

  “Yeah, please.”

  I lead her around to the bathroom. There’s a walk-in shower with a duel shower head. A clear screen separates it from the tiled drying area.

  I hand her a fluffy white towel from the heated rack.

  “I’ll be in the living area when you’re done.”

  She nods at me, and I leave her to it. My dick's getting twitchy at the thought of her naked, but I take some deep breaths and make myself a coffee.

  I hear the shower start and imagine her stepping into it. Damn, I’m going to have to distract myself for the next twenty minutes. I open my laptop and stare at it for a few minutes. She’s probably soaping herself down, lathering up over her tits.

  There’s a noise behind me, and I spin around. Zoe’s standing in the doorway that leads to the bedroom wearing nothing but the white towel. Her hair is slicked back, and she’s dripping water on the floor.

  “Will you join me?” Her voice is croaky, and she’s looking at me nervously like she’s afraid I’ll say no.

  I’m across the room in an instant, pulling my shirt off as I go. I lift her chin up to me and kiss her hard, claiming her mouth. She opens her lips, and her tongue darts around my mouth.

  She reaches up to lock her hands around my head. I feel the towel slip off her and land between our feet. I press myself against her wet body. My dick instantly hardens at the feel of her soft flesh pressing against me.

  I run my hand down her back ‘til I get to her ass. Soft and pliant, and I grab a handful of flesh and pull her into me, pressing my hard-on against
her.

  She feels fucking amazing to hold, but I want to see her. I take a step back, and my breath catches in my throat. God, she’s beautiful. Small perky breasts, tanned skin, and toned, defined muscles. It’s a combination of strength and vulnerability, and it’s driving me crazy.

  “Get back in the shower.” My breathing’s coming hard and fast, and I want to explore that tight body.

  She turns to walk back to the shower, and I get a look at that round ass. My God, I want to bend her over right now and take her like an animal. But I hold myself back. My girl’s gone through enough tonight. I have to make sure I treat her right.

  I pull off the rest of my clothes and pull her into the shower with me. The hot water trickles over my body, making my skin tingle.

  “I have to tell you something,” she says nervously. “I’ve never been with a man before.”

  My fucking God. She’s a virgin.

  “Good,” I tell her.

  “But I’m not experienced. I might not please you.”

  I pull her close. “You already please me. And knowing I’ll be the first and only man to have you pleases me more than you can know.”

  She smiles at me, and it’s so good to see that smile back on her face. I lean in and kiss her gently this time. It’s her first time, and I’m going to take it slow for her, make it good for her. Then I’m going to fuck her hard until she screams my name.

  I pick up the soap and run it between my hands until it starts to lather.

  “I’m going to wash you clean,” I tell her, running it down her front between her breasts. The soap makes my hands glide over her. I start with circles of her stomach and move upwards to her breasts.

  I’ve got a good lather now, and I run my hand over her breasts until they’re slick with soap suds. I brush the nipple with my thumb, and she moans. It’s the sweetest sound, and I want to make her do it again.

  “Turn around,” I tell her. She’s facing the glass panel, and she reaches up to rest her hands against it. I’ve got her soapy breasts in my hands, and I’m rubbing my palms against her nipples as my cock's brushing against her ass.

  I part her ass cheeks and press my dick in. It’s warm and inviting, and I’d only need to bend her over a little to fuck her like this. She quivers under me.

  I take a big breath and let it out slowly. I need to hold myself back, satisfy her first. I let my hands slide down to her hips as I sink to my knees.

  “Spread your legs.” She does, and I pull her hips back so her pussy's over my face. I dart my tongue out, and she gasps. She tastes like sweetness and sweat and fucking heaven.

  I pull her hips down and sink my tongue into her. It’s fucking great, but I want more. I nudge her around so she’s facing me again. She looks fucking incredible from down here.

  There’s a small patch of dark hair above her sexy pink folds. I run my hand over it and move down to her pussy. I lean in and kiss her pink lips.

  She opens her legs for me, and I slide my tongue into her crease. She gasps as I find her clit. I flick my tongue over it, tasting her salty sweetness.

  My dick’s longing to join the party but I focus on her, licking her up ‘til I feel her climax building. I slide a finger slowly into her pussy. It’s wet and tight, and she whimpers as I glide it in and out.

  She’s close now, and I pick up the pace. Her hands grab the back of my head, and she pulls me towards her, pressing my face into her. I grab her ass with my spare hand and press against her clit. A gush of wetness floods over me as she cries out. Her pussy pulses against my finger.

  I don’t wait for her to stop before I start licking her again. It doesn’t take long for the second orgasm to course through her. I wait ‘til she stops trembling before standing up.

  “That was incredible,” she says. She’s flushed from sex, and her eyes are half-hooded. She looks down at my cock which is pointing straight at her.

  “Your turn,” she says. I don’t complain as she takes the soap and lathers me up. She starts on my chest and works down over my stomach.

  “I’ve been wanting to touch this body ever since I saw you in the shower,” she says, running her fingers over my abs. She has soft hands but a firm touch. It’s driving me crazy.

  She lathers the soap and takes my cock in her hands. Her grip is firm as she strokes me slowly, letting the soap glide her along my shaft. The water trickles out of the shower, and she lets it wash the soap away as she kneels before me.

  She looks up at me with dreamy eyes as she takes my cock in her mouth. Oh God, her mouth is warm and wet, and she slides her lips down the length of my dick.

  She’s naked in front of me sitting back on her heels, her thighs spread so I can see her pussy. Water runs down her shoulders and trickles over her perky tits. It’s a glorious sight to watch as her full lips slide up and down my cock. A hand reaches around and cups my balls as her hungry lips keep their rhythm.

  “I’m not going to last long,” I warn her. She picks up the pace, which I take as a green light. I grab the back of her head and pull her mouth towards me.

  She opens her throat and takes in my whole length. I keep my eyes on her tits bouncing up and down as I fuck her mouth. It’s so fucking good I’m about to explode. At the last minute, I pull out of her mouth and spray cum all over her tits, claiming them as mine with my seed. When I stop shaking, I pull her to her knees and pull her towards me into a hug.

  “That was amazing,” I tell her. “You’re amazing.”

  “So are you.” She smiles up at me, and I take her hand in mine and kiss it, thinking I must be the luckiest man in the world. Her hands are getting wrinkly from the water.

  “You’ve been in here too long,” I tell her. “Go dry yourself off. I’m just going to wash my hair.”

  I spend an extra few minutes in the shower. Then I towel myself dry. I’m whistling to myself as I walk to the bedroom, thinking of all the ways I’m going to fuck her and claim her properly as mine. She’s lying on the bed on her side wrapped in a bathrobe. I climb up behind her.

  “Ready for round two,” I say, nuzzling into her neck. There’s no response. I lean over to see her face. Her eyes are closed, her mouth slightly open. She’s completely crashed out.

  Round two will have to wait, but I don’t mind. I’ve got a feeling we’ll have the rest of our lives to fuck. Instead I get quietly off the bed and switch out the light.

  I go back to the other room and pull out my phone, making a quick call to my assistant. I give her the address of Carl’s Diner and ask her to go around, clean up, and bring over all of Zoe's things from her apartment above.

  She’s not happy about having to drive up here on a Saturday night, but I offer a hefty bonus and she stops complaining. With that dealt with, I sit down at my laptop.

  There are a few emails waiting for me. I open the first from a Mrs. P. Jones and start to read.

  By the time I’ve finished the third email, my fists are clenched and I’m pacing the room. I’ve found out what’s going on at the club. Now I have to figure out how to deal with it.

  I pick up my phone again and make another call.

  8

  Zoe

  I wake up to sun streaming through the window. For a moment I don’t know where I am, and then I remember last night. The attack. Tyler beating the shit out of Darren, and then the shower. Oh my, the shower. It was the most delicious experience, and just thinking about it sends a thrill between my legs. I roll over and Tyler’s facing me, already awake.

  “Morning, sleepyhead.” His hair is ruffled, and there’s stubble on his usually clean-shaven face. It’s bed-head hotness and definitely a sight I could get used to every morning.

  “Morning,” I say, stretching lazily. My body feels stiff in a few places and still tingling in others.

  “Coffee?” he asks. I nod, and he rolls out of bed. He’s naked, and the sight of his toned back and ass retreating to the other room sends a rush of heat and happiness coursing through me. It’s over. My da
ys of running are finally over, and this big, beautiful man is to thank.

  “How do you take it?” he calls through to me.

  “A little milk, no sugar.”

  He comes back into the room wrapped in a robe and holding two steaming mugs.

  “I’m going to grab a shave,” he says. “There’s something I need to take care of this morning.”

  I must not be good at hiding my disappointed pout, because he leans in and gives me a kiss.

  “I won’t be long, and then we can spend the rest of the day together.”

  “I have to work,” I say.

  “No you don’t. You just quit.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve spoken to Carl, and you’re not going back. I’m going to look after you from now on.”

  “I don’t need looking after.” I’m caught between feeling elated that this man is taking care of me and defiant that I don’t need anyone to. He must sense my thoughts, because he takes my chin in his hands.

  “I know you can take care of yourself, but I want to take care of you. You’ll never have to work again unless you want to. And if you do, I might just have the perfect job.”

  I’m intrigued and confused. All I can do is frown at him. He chuckles at me and heads to the bathroom.

  “Order some breakfast from room service,” he says. “I’ll explain later.”

  Realizing I’m not going to get an answer or a chance to touch him again, I order some eggs, go to the other room, and switch on the television.

  When he comes out of the bedroom, I almost spill my coffee. I hardly recognize him. He’s wearing an expensive suit that’s tailored to his big frame. He looked imposing before, but now he looks powerful. And my God, it’s sexy as hell. I must be staring, because he gives me one of his deep chuckles which sends a shock of heat right to my pussy.

  “What’s the matter? You prefer me in the PT uniform?”

  “I prefer you naked,” I say. “But this is a look I could get used to.”

  “Good.” He plants a kiss on the top of my head. “I have to go,” he says. “Meet me at the gym in an hour. You won’t want to miss this.”