by Tara Rose
He thrust hard and deep, and she relaxed her throat muscles so she wouldn’t gag. The other man caressed her arm, and she felt safe and protected. When the man inside her mouth came, she struggled to swallow every tasty drop. Before she barely had time to catch her breath, the other man held her head with both hands and shoved his dick into her mouth.
Once again, he fucked her roughly, but she loved it. He came within moments, and she couldn’t even swallow all the cum this time. They took off the blindfold and uncuffed her, and then each man held her close and kissed her hair again and again, thanking her.
After she used the bathroom and cleaned off her face, Kade carried her over to his bed once more. He gathered her into his arms and held her close, kissing her gently and caressing her hair and face. Elliot lay behind her, and caressed her sore ass cheeks and her upper back, planting tiny kisses on both areas.
Giselle drifted off to sleep, completely sated, sore all over but not caring, and certain she could never, ever be happier than she was at that precise moment.
Chapter Fourteen
The next few days passed by in a blur for Giselle. Her mother called Tuesday morning and apologized for the evening before, and Giselle told her everything was fine, but that she wished she knew what was really going on.
“Nothing is going on. I just don’t want you hurt, honey.”
“I won’t be.”
They moved on to other subjects and ended the conversation on a light note, but Giselle couldn’t help believing there was a huge piece of this puzzle she was missing. The guys ate lunch with her outside each day, and Giselle ignored the stares and sly looks some of the other workers gave them.
Several times she wanted to ask if they’d found out anything further concerning her mother’s reaction, but decided not to. They’d tell her if they did, and she didn’t want to dredge up bad memories.
By Wednesday after work, she might as well have moved into their homes because most of her clothes and hair and skin products were in either Kade’s or Elliot’s house. She hadn’t spent the night in her own bed since Sunday.
Norm continued to watch her too closely at work, and on Thursday morning when Giselle took a break, she phoned her mother to ask the question she’d completely forgotten to ask earlier in the week. “Do you remember back in May when Norm Antonio was in the bar for like a week straight with a tall, skinny blonde, and we were all wondering who she was?”
“Oh yeah, I do. Funny you should ask about her. She’s back on the island. Several people have asked me who she is, and I heard Fiona Bancroft say her name was Staci Wanamaker, the woman who tried to seduce Asa during an interview.”
The hair on the back of Giselle’s neck prickled, and she gripped her cell phone tighter. “How do you know she tried to seduce Asa?” She hoped her voice sounded as casual as she tried to make it.
“The employees at that place talk, honey. That’s why I’m worried about you getting hurt. Word got around about the interview, and people started talking about her. She hasn’t come into the bar since May, but now she’s been spotted in town with a dark-haired man.”
That must be Paolo. It’s too bad she hadn’t taken a closer look at him and Dean the day that Kade and Elliot introduced them, but she’d been too focused on watching them throw the floggers.
“I think Fiona said his name is Gregory.”
Giselle frowned. “Are you sure?”
“Well, I’m sure what Fiona said, but since I don’t know the man, his name could be anything. Why?”
“Just curious. My break is over. I have to get back on the floor.”
Were there two men on the island with Staci? What on earth was going on here? She made a mental note to relay the conversation to Kade and Elliot as soon as the three were alone.
Later that night as they grilled shrimp outside, Giselle told them what her mother had said. Elliot dropped the skewer he’d been holding onto the grill, and swore as he tried to retrieve it without burning his hand. When he finally had it again, he glanced toward her, his blue eyes dark and full of worry. “How reliable is that info?”
“Do you know Fiona Bancroft at all?”
“Only by reputation.”
“Then you know she’s a notorious busybody and knows everyone’s business. I imagine if this second mystery man’s name is Gregory, then that’s what it actually is. She’s lived next door to my parents since before I was born, and I don’t think she’s ever been wrong about gossip that she’s passed on.”
He and Kade exchanged a glance she couldn’t interpret, and she put down the salad tongs. “All right. What’s going on now?”
The corners of Kade’s mouth lifted. “Not very subbie of you, is that?”
“I guess not, Sir. But you two look pretty upset at the name. Please tell me why.”
“We’re not entirely sure yet. Elliot and I have been digging for information on Staci and Paolo, and we think we’ve uncovered some information that Tim and Asa need to know, but we’d rather not say anything, even to you, until we have our facts straight. Because it could be nothing, and we could be dead wrong.”
She watched their faces carefully, but saw no sign they were covering up anything, so she finally returned to tossing the salad. “All right. But you know you can trust me.”
“We know that, love.”
“I like it when you call me that, Sir.”
Elliot handed the skewer to Kade and put his arms around her, pulling her close and kissing her hair. “I like saying it. And I’m not purposefully trying to change the subject, but speaking of your mother, are things okay now between you two?”
“I guess so. Nothing else has happened. Did you two find out anything more about why she was so upset that you can tell me?”
“We’ve found nothing.” Elliot returned to his grilling. “But I promise you if we do, we’ll let you know.”
* * * *
Friday at work, Kade knew Elliot was still searching for a connection between Staci and Paolo, but ever since last evening, when Giselle had mentioned her mother passing on the gossip that the mystery man’s name was Gregory, Kade began to suspect Paolo and Gregory might be the same person. He relayed this suggestion to Elliot who told him he’d had the exact same thought.
Asa had been bugging Elliot twice a day all week for more information, and he was tired of it. They decided it was time to find out what the hell was going on, once and for all. Elliot said he’d concentrate on Staci and who or what was directly connected to her, while Kade agreed to dig into their families’ pasts to try and find out why Laila had reacted that way to Giselle.
“Her parents have been friends with Tim and Asa since before we were born,” said Elliot. “Something happened, or is still happening. Or they have dirt on Giselle’s mother. Why else would she react that way? Justin was thrilled when we told him, so whatever is going on only concerns Laila.”
“Laila and Justin both have never been anything less than gracious and welcoming to the four of us in that bar.”
“I agree,” said Elliot. “Hell, we used to spend as much time in their house as our own homes when we were kids. Giselle’s mother never gave us sideways looks, or gave us the impression she’d rather not have us there.”
“Then whatever set her off must have something to do with Tim and Asa. Giselle said she specifically mentioned them.”
Elliot frowned. “We need to be careful. We could be way off base here. I know I said I’d ask Asa directly, but each time I tried to find the right words, I thought better of it.”
Kade shook his head. “I don’t think we’re off base because nothing else makes sense. But I can definitely understand your reluctance to go directly to Asa, although I still believe he’d tell you straight up. But just the same, let me dig around in Laila’s past. That way if I uncover anything, you’ll have ammunition to use in case Asa gets sideways with you.”
Elliot clapped him on the back. “Good idea. Thanks. I like that. In the meantime, I’ll concentrate o
n getting what Asa needs concerning Staci and her husband. If I confront him about Laila, it would be good to have the information he wants first.”
Kade had to stop several times and take care of company matters, but by eleven in the morning, after finding nothing on Laila’s background to give him a hint why she’d reacted that way, he was in Taj’s office, along with Arizona, Asa’s son.
Arizona was only three years older than him and Elliot, and he headed up the marketing department with Dallas Raleigh. The two men were good friends with him and Elliot. Despite the fact Arizona and Dallas were next in line to run the company, they were nothing like their fathers. Kade knew he could trust Arizona and Taj.
He filled them in on what he and Elliot suspected about Staci and Paolo aka Gregory, and then relayed what had happened with Laila and Giselle. “I know I might be asking you to break a confidence here, but if you know something, I’d appreciate hearing about it as well. We’re all family.” He glanced toward Arizona. “And I know Asa is your father. But Elliot and I really care about Giselle, and if there’s something standing in our way of being with her, we need to know about it.”
Taj shrugged. “I honestly never heard anything about that, but you know how Asa is.” He glanced at Arizona. “No offense.”
“None taken.”
“For all we know, it’s something as innocuous as the fact that Asa has never paid his bar tab. And don’t forget how proud the families of most of the original inhabitants of this island are. We’re the enemy. Our ancestors came here and stole the island from them, at least in their eyes. Giselle’s family was here before the Raleighs and Durantes were. Laila might simply be trying to protect her daughter from getting hurt.”
Kade shook his head. “It was more than that. You didn’t see the look in her eyes. Elliot and I were part of their family when we were kids, but Monday she looked at us both like she didn’t even know us. Like we were going to use Giselle and then throw her away when we were done having our fun.”
Taj raised his brows. “Maybe that’s what Asa did to her?”
“What makes you think it has something to do with Asa and not Tim?” asked Arizona.
“Because Asa can’t keep it in his pants.” Kade figured he might as well put it out there.
“Fuck. You don’t think…” Taj shook his head. “No. Never mind. I won’t even go there.”
Kade had already gone there, so he decided to just be straight with the men. “Do I think Asa or Tim might be Giselle’s father? No. But I will admit I considered it for a few moments. But if you knew the family as well as me and Elliot do you’d also realize that’s not it. Giselle looks so much like her sisters, and all three girls look like their parents. They have Justin’s eyes and Laila’s hair. So that’s not it.”
“But maybe Laila had a fling with one of them?” asked Taj. “Or with both?”
Arizona nodded. “Anything is possible, although if that’s true, my money is on my father rather than Tim. Let me ask Lucie. She’s a ruthless bitch. If she knows something about Asa or Tim and Laila, she’ll tell me. I’ll have to promise her something in return, but at least we’ll find out the truth.”
Kade shook his hand. “Thanks. I owe you one.”
Arizona clapped him on the back. “Don’t mention it. I understand where you’re coming from. When Dallas and I got together with Celina, Lucie acted like we’d committed the worst crime of the century.”
“Because of her family?” Celina Vallee used to work as a research assistant and paralegal for Lucie, who was an attorney in charge of the legal department, but now she worked for Arizona and Dallas in the marketing department.
“That, and the fact she’s an employee. Nothing like a little hypocrisy to keep things interesting around here, eh?”
The men chuckled, and then Kade returned to his office. When he caught up with Elliot just before lunch, he filled him in on the conversation with Taj and Arizona. “Is Giselle eating with us today?”
“Yes. She’ll be up in a minute.”
“What have you found out this morning?”
“Lots of very interesting things. I’ll tell you when she gets here. We might as well keep her in the loop now.”
Giselle joined them, and they’d just begun to eat their lunch when Tim poked his head in the door. He glared at Giselle, which Kade thought was completely unnecessary, and then he asked to speak with Kade and Elliot alone.
“Can it wait until after lunch?” asked Elliot.
“I’m afraid not.”
Giselle stood and gathered her sandwich and fruit. “That’s all right. I’ll go outside and see you two later.”
Kade and Elliot both kissed her, right in front of Tim, and she smiled at them with gratitude in her eyes. Fuck it. Kade didn’t care who knew and who didn’t. He wanted to send out a company memo. Arizona and Dallas were Asa’s and Tim’s sons, and they were now Doms to Celina, who worked for them. Taj and Jeff were Doms to Alaina, who was a VP in sales. It’s not like it was forbidden in this company to become involved with an employee.
Tim closed the door once Giselle left, then leaned against it and glared at each of them in turn. “You need to keep a closer eye on Norm Antonio.”
“Why? What’s he done now?” asked Kade.
“He was in my office half an hour ago.”
Tim’s and Asa’s offices were nowhere near this department, and Norm would have absolutely no business being in Tim’s office, regardless. “Doing what?”
“He said he was looking for Carmen, and someone told him she had come to talk to me. But that’s bullshit. I haven’t spoken with Carmen all week, and Norm wouldn’t tell me who had supposedly told him he could find her in my office.”
Kade took a bite of his sandwich. “Why don’t you fire him then?”
“You know I can’t do that.”
“So what do you expect us to do? Put a cowbell on him?”
“No. I expect you to keep him from wandering into my office.”
Kade had to bite back a laugh. “Tim, we’re not his keepers. We can’t watch the floor all the time. Have you spoken to Carmen about this?”
“No. I thought I’d come to you two first.”
“Well, I suggest going to Carmen and finding out whether what Norm told you could be true. That he was looking for her. And then if it’s BS like we all believe it is, fire his ass.”
“We’ve had this conversation before,” said Elliot. “He’s a fuckup. But you and Asa both have told us we can’t let him go. But if he’s snooping in private offices, that’s a violation of company policy. Even you can’t argue with that one, so fire him.”
The hair on the back of Kade’s neck prickled. Tim looked more uncomfortable and conflicted than he’d ever seen him. What was really going on here?
“I don’t want to see him in my office again.”
“And we can’t promise you that won’t happen. Seriously. We don’t have time to keep tabs on Norm.”
“Maybe if you weren’t fucking Giselle, you would?”
Kade stood the same time as Elliot, and when Tim took several steps sideways, his eyes large, Kade contented himself with making fists. But he kept his arms pinned to his sides, just in case. Losing this job wasn’t worth punching Tim, although he really deserved it. “That is none of your business and you know it. Giselle has nothing to do with Norm other than the fact that she reports to him.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
“What the hell does that mean?” asked Elliot.
“You should be careful with that family.”
Elliot advanced toward Tim, but stopped as a knock on the door sounded. Tim opened it, and ushered in Valerie Taylor. She was a line manager who oversaw the production of paddles. “Oh. I’m sorry. Did I interrupt something important? This can wait.”
“Not at all,” said Tim. “I was just leaving.”
Kade stared at the door a long time after Tim left, and had to ask Valerie to repeat what she’d just told Elliot. Even as she out
lined her immediate issue for them again, Kade’s mind wandered back to Laila’s reaction on Monday.
Maybe it was a connection between Tim and Laila he should be digging into, and not one between Asa and Giselle’s mother?
Chapter Fifteen
Friday night after work, Giselle, Elliot, and Kade went to Lady of The Night and had dinner. Giselle had gone to Kade’s house first to change into a new sexy summer dress the guys had helped her choose earlier in the week, and she was wearing new sandals and earrings as well. It was so much fun to be a patron tonight instead of working behind the bar, and she didn’t allow herself to feel one ounce of guilt when Neeva came over to take their order, sulking the entire time.
“It’s official,” said Kade, watching Neeva walk toward the bar. “She hates you with a passion now and always will.”
“Like that’s anything new?” Giselle pushed her chair back slightly and stretched out her legs. “And it’s not like I’m goofing off or being lazy. I do have an actual job.”
“You don’t have to defend it to us,” said Elliot, eyeing her legs. “We’re on your side.” He glanced around. “And it looks like your parents hired a few new people. There’s plenty of help here.”
“That’s what my mom said when I talked to her the other day. She also assured me they’re not upset with me that I’m no longer here on weekends.”
“Well, that’s good.” He and Kade exchanged a quick glance, and then Elliot leaned closer. “We had an odd talk with Tim after he basically kicked you out of my office during lunch.”
Neeva returned with their drinks and plopped them down, splashing some liquid over the sides. Giselle held her chuckle until her sister left the table again, and had to bite her cheek to keep from laughing out loud as she watched her bring over the basket of mozzarella sticks. She slammed that down as well.
