by Ravenna Tate
When sleep finally settled over him, he fought to stay awake so he could plan the perfect night out with her. That’s when he would tell her. Not in this apartment, where the sole focus of their time was this project. He’d make their date romantic and as far away from Rob’s laptop as possible. He’d say the words, and damn the consequences.
****
Barclay had known the owners of Eden’s Garden since before everyone had moved underground, when the restaurant had been called by the same name. It looked different now, but no less luxurious and expensive. He led Rissa to a private table near the back, smiling as she gawked at everything along the way, from the rich décor to the string quartet, playing quietly on an elevated platform.
She looked incredible. The royal blue dress she’d worn brought out the color of her eyes, and he loved the short length because it showed off her toned legs. She’d worn dressy heels with tiny straps that were perfect because he could see her pretty feet and her new pedicure. Every man in the place stared at her as they made their way to their table, but he couldn’t fault them. She was a stunning woman.
He fought hard to keep from imagining her wrapped around his body, wearing nothing but that dress and those shoes, as he ordered an appetizer and a bottle of wine for them. Her skin glowed, and her eyes were alive and bright with happiness. He’d never seen any woman look more beautiful.
Once their server left, he took her hands. “Well? What do you think? Did I plan this well?”
“Oh my God. You are so getting laid tonight.”
He shivered. “I’ll take that as a ‘yes’ then.”
“Yes. Seriously, this is amazing. Thank you.”
He kissed the back of her left hand. “You deserve it.”
Their appetizer and wine arrived, and after he’d tasted the wine and they both had a glass, he lifted his and she did the same. “To us.”
“And to this project.”
Barclay shook his head gently. “No. Not tonight. Tonight is for you and me alone.”
The delighted twinkle in her eyes nearly burst his heart. He was so in love with this extraordinary girl.
“I like that. Okay, then. To us.”
Barclay waited until they’d ordered their entrees, and then he told her how beautiful she looked tonight.
“Thank you. I’ve had this dress forever and never had a place to wear it. You look great, too. I haven’t seen you in a suit since before we started this project.”
“I kind of like working at home and not having to dress up. Maybe I’ll do it all the time from now on?”
“You own the company. You can do anything you want.”
“That’s right. I do.” Barclay put down his wine glass and took her hands again. “Rissa, there’s something I want to tell you.”
“Okay.”
“And I didn’t want to say it in the apartment. I wanted this to be special.”
He watched the apprehension on her face and was suddenly filled with doubt. Was this a huge mistake?
“I have to tell you this, no matter what your response.”
“Barclay, you’re scaring me. What is it?”
Just tell her, you ass. He’d never been afraid to say anything to a woman before, but Rissa wasn’t merely some girl he was dating. She was the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
“I’m in love with you. I am so in love with you, Rissa.”
She blinked a few times, and then she grinned. “Are you sure?”
He exhaled loudly. “Yes. More than I’m sure of anything.”
“Oh, God. Barclay, I love you, too. I never thought I could feel this way again, but I was wrong. I’m so in love with you.”
He didn’t care who was watching. He didn’t care that they’d already had their picture taken at least three times tonight. And those were merely the ones he’d noticed. This was the happiest moment of his life, and Barclay Hampton didn’t hold back his emotions when they bubbled up like this.
He stood, leaned across the table, and kissed her, tongue and all, right there in Eden’s Garden. Anyone who didn’t like it could simply look away.
Chapter Seventeen
Rissa could barely finish her meal because her face hurt from smiling so much. The food was incredible, but she hardly remembered the taste of it as they walked back to his apartment, their arms around each other, laughing and talking.
Once inside, he led her to the pool room where she gasped. He’d filled it with floating candles, and there were rose petals scattered around the deck. “Oh…” The candles were scented, and the musky aroma filled the air. The light they gave off was the only illumination in the room, and it cast a soft, flickering glow against the tiled walls and ceiling.
“You like it?”
“It’s heavenly.”
“I thought we could go for a swim. We haven’t had a chance to do that yet.”
She hugged him hard around the waist. “This is the most special night I’ve ever had. Thank you so much.”
The tender look he gave her took her breath away. “I’d do anything to see that look in your eyes, Rissa.”
“I can’t believe this is real.”
“Neither can I, baby.” He kissed her, and she moaned into his open mouth as shivers ran up and down her spine. He moved his hands up and down her back, and then he pulled her dress off. She’d only worn panties underneath, and as he knelt in front of her, he grasped the edge of them with his teeth. “These are very pretty, and yes I did notice they match the dress, but they have to go.”
Rissa cried out in pleasure as he teased her clit through the panties with his teeth and fingers. He took his time sliding them off, and then he helped her step out of her shoes. He stood and shed his clothes, chuckling softly as she helped him, his laughter turning to groans as she licked his body.
When she knelt on the floor and took his dick into her mouth, he cried out and grasped her head. “Baby, I don’t want to come before you do.”
She didn’t care about that right now. All she wanted to do was pleasure this perfect man who loved her. She hadn’t believed this could happen for her again, but it had. She loved Barclay so much, and he loved blowjobs, so she was going to give him one.
“Rissa, baby … I seriously can’t stop it this time.”
She sucked harder, reaching around to grasp his ass cheeks. He groaned loudly, clamped his hands around her head tighter, and pushed more of his cock into her mouth. When he came, she swallowed every tasty drop, and then he slid to the floor and gathered her into his arms.
He held her for long moments and then kissed her on the lips. “You are the most amazing lover. Thank you.”
“I’ll expect an equally intense orgasm after we swim.”
“You shall have it, my love. More than one, if I have anything to say about it.”
He picked her up and carried her down the steps into the pool, then placed her on her feet. The water was almost too deep for her, but Barclay was only in it up to his chest. He lifted her up, and she wrapped her arms and legs around him.
“At least it’s easy to do this in water,” she said.
He narrowed his eyes. “What did I tell you about calling yourself fat?”
“I didn’t call myself fat. I merely remarked on how easy it is to hold someone in water.”
“All right. I’ll give you that one, but only this once.” He kissed her again, and she was lost in a sea of erotic sensations as the warm water swirled around them. When he released her mouth, Barclay placed her on her feet once more, then moved the candles out of the way, rearranging them on the pool deck.
They swam a few laps side by side, lazily, and Rissa was certain she’d never been happier in her life. He climbed out of the water and pulled two floating chairs into the pool. They got into those and held hands, letting the current of the pool jets move them around the pool.
“Maybe we should bring our laptops in here and work,” she said.
“Yeah. Just like this. Without any clothe
s on.”
“Oh, right. Especially on Fridays so you can have one of those naked Weathermen video chats.”
He laughed, giving her hand a squeeze. “You might not believe this, but I’ve never been able to joke around like this with most of the women I date.”
“Why not?”
He shrugged. “I guess I’ve been dating the wrong women.”
“I’m glad you have been or I might not be here right now.”
He pulled her closer and kissed the back of her hand. “That would be a fucking tragedy, because you are the woman I was always meant to be with.”
Her heart skipped a beat or two at the look on his face. “You make me believe that.”
“I hope so. I mean it.”
“I know you do, Barclay. I love you.”
He reached over and pulled her off her chair and into his lap. His chair bobbled a bit and at first she wasn’t sure it would support them, but then it leveled out again. He kissed her, and then he stroked her hair.
“You ever make love in a swimming pool?”
“Um, no. Can’t say I have.”
Barclay moved her again so that she straddled him. Once more, the chair bobbled, but then settled down. “Want to try?”
She giggled, her entire body on fire for this man. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t try if you asked me to.”
He raised his brows. “I’ll make sure to remember that.”
“I mean it.”
He kissed her roughly, shoving his tongue into her mouth. She rubbed her soaking wet pussy against his dick, now hard again. There’s nothing she wouldn’t give this perfect man. He lifted her up slightly, and she grasped his cock in one hand, guiding her pussy over it. It stung a bit despite her wetness inside, but once he was in there, all she felt was the most delicious sensation.
Barclay moved her up and down slightly, but the chair rocked too much, so he pulled out and they rolled into the water. He waded to the shallow end, picked her up, and guided his dick into her pussy once more, then walked slowly until he was in chest deep water again.
When he resumed thrusting, this time the water carried them both on waves of pleasure until their cries filled the room, echoing off the tiles. Rissa came in seconds, which didn’t surprise her at all, and by the time Barclay came as well, she’d had another orgasm.
They stood there for long moments, breathing heavily, until he gently withdrew. Then he kissed her again and held so tightly against his body she could barely take a full breath.
“You’re going to have to clean the pool.”
“Not me. Fred does it.”
She giggled. Then it became a full blown laugh, and when they finally climbed out of the pool they were both still laughing. He scooped up their clothes and shoes, and Rissa didn’t feel the least bit self-conscious walking upstairs with him butt naked. She never wanted to leave this apartment again.
****
Barclay’s cell phone woke him up. It was still dark, and he wasn’t sure how long he and Rissa had slept after their poolside adventures. He grabbed the phone and tried to crawl out of bed without waking her, but she sat up.
“Yeah,” he barked into the phone. “What it is?”
“Um, are you near your laptop?”
It was Grayson. Barclay was wide awake now. “No. Why?”
“Go there now. I just emailed all of you something Zania found.” Zania Meeker was the lead IT person in Grayson’s company.
“Hang on a sec. Need to put something on.” Barclay put the phone down, but he caught Grayson’s laughter. Rissa heard it, too, and she rolled her eyes as she reached for her robe. Barclay donned his, and then picked up his phone and headed for his office. Rissa followed.
He put the phone on speaker, refreshed the browser, and opened his email. Rissa scooted next to him and read along with him.
“What the fuck is this, Grayson?”
“It’s an IM we found on Dante Herrera’s work machine between him and a person named Mindy Tesserone. I believe you know her, because she works for you.”
“Oh holy shit.”
She whispered it, but Barclay was sure Grayson heard her anyway.
“Rissa, is that you?” Grayson sounded surprised, and Barclay wondered why.
“Yes. Grayson, Mindy is an analyst. She does the same thing I do. Well, what I used to do.” She shot Barclay a confused look.
“Did you know that Mindy and Dante know each other?” asked Grayson, his voice sharp.
“I don’t know much about her at all, to be honest. We’re work friends, nothing more.”
“Take me off speaker and give the phone to Barclay, okay?”
Rissa frowned and moved away from the desk slightly. Barclay would address Grayson’s rude request later.
“Okay,” he said. “The phone is off speaker.”
“How well do you trust this woman?”
Barclay got up from his desk. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me, Barclay.”
“With my life.”
Grayson didn’t say anything for a few moments, and Barclay wondered if he’d lost the call. “Did you read what I sent you?”
He’d only scanned it. “Yes. Dante and Mindy know each other. Why are you and Zania looking on Dante’s work machine?”
“Because you discovered that he’s Rafael’s cousin, and he’s worked for me all this time and I never fucking knew that. Are you in front of your laptop?”
Barclay sat down again, flashing Rissa what he hoped was an apologetic look. “Yes.”
“Read it. Slowly. The entire thing.”
He put down the phone harder than he needed to, hoping it hurt Grayson’s ear, and returned to the email. Rissa kept her distance, and he wanted to die when he saw how hurt she was. He knew she hadn’t heard Grayson ask him if he trusted her, but she wasn’t an idiot. She could read between the lines.
The email appeared to be several IMs between Dante and Mindy. Harmless shit, although he did wonder how the two had met and why they were communicating via IM while at work. It wasn’t until the last snippet that his blood ran cold. It was dated two days ago.
Dante: “Rob’s laptop was stolen. Did you hear?”
Mindy: “Yeah. He thinks my boss did it, or yours, or one of them.”
Dante: “Well, did he?”
Mindy: “How the hell would I know? All I do know is one of the analysts, who by the way happens to be friends with Sallie Pease, Olivia’s cousin, is now on some super secret project with the CEO. She’s tight-lipped, though. Hasn’t said shit to anyone about what they’re doing, but the speculation is running rampant around here.”
Dante: “Oh, really? Did you let Rob know?”
Mindy: “Meant to ask you and the others about that. How did he become part of the inner circle?”
Dante: “LOL! He’s a pretentious little shit, isn’t he? I’ve been feeding him information for years through Rafael. We get a kick out of how he eats it up.”
“What kind of information?”
“Relax.”
“You know he knows three people from NSSL, and when I say knows them I mean he’s friends with them, right?”
“Yeah? So?”
“So who did we get the inside information from? DUH.”
“Doesn’t mean they’re the same people.”
“You never wondered how the pretentious little shit, as you call him, knows so much?”
“Okay. Point taken. Don’t say anything else to Rob. Let him sweat it. What is this project your coworker is on with the CEO?”
Mindy: “Let’s take this to a more private place and I’ll tell you what little I do know.”
Dante: “Yeah, wouldn’t do to have your IT department decide to monitor your PMs and see me calling you Tess. LOL!”
Mindy: “SD, you’re an ass at times. I’m off here.”
Dante: “Me, too. Sorry.”
Mindy: “Don’t sweat it. But delete this and the data file. Now.”
Dante: “Yes, ma’am!”
/>
Barclay didn’t have to ask. Rissa had read it over his shoulder, and now handed him the sheet with the user names of the five hackers on it. She pointed toward his phone, and Barclay picked it up, his hands shaking.
“Now we know how Rob knows so much and why,” said Barclay. “Dante and Rafael have been fucking with Rob, feeding him this shit, because he eats it up like candy. Sick bastards, aren’t they?”
“Well, let’s face it,” said Grayson. “The bastards who did this are sick. So, we have that much. And we know Dante used to work at NSSL. We already know the hackers got inside info on real time tests, code used for The Madeline Project, and how to access it in the first place from people who worked on it, or had access to that information.”
“And we know the thirteen names are likely former NSSL employees,” said Barclay. “Whether they worked directly on The Madeline Project or not remains to be discovered. They obviously knew enough to do real damage. We know that Rob is friends with three former NSSL employees, and from this conversation it appears these three had inside information on the project. That also explains why he knows so much about what the hackers did, and who they are.”
“But we don’t know who all of them are,” said Grayson. “Nor do we know the fucking real names of the former NSSL employees Rob knows, or whether they’re part of the thirteen names we intercepted on that satellite.”
“I think we can safely assume they are,” said Barclay. “As for Tess, did he mean Tess, as in TornadoTess?”
“I’d say so,” said Grayson. “And SD is SDCowboy.”
“Mindy Tesserone is one of the hackers.”
“So is Dante Herrera.”
Barclay stared at Rissa, whose eyes were now filled with tears. All he wanted to do was hold her.
“What are you going to do?” asked Grayson.
“Ah, fire Mindy for starters.”
“Don’t.”
“What?”
“Not yet. Let’s talk to everyone first and decide how to proceed.”
Barclay nodded slowly. “Yeah. You’re right. Okay. Are they all up still?” He still had no clue what time it was.
“Doesn’t matter,” said Grayson. “This can’t wait. I’ll set up the call right now.” There was a pregnant pause, and Barclay braced for it. “Are you going to let Rissa stay in the room?”
