by Cassie Cross
Marley, a pretty brunette who was the office’s leading shit-stirrer, leaned toward Abby and said, “Fraternization is against the rules here, isn’t it?”
Abby’s breath caught in her throat. How could they possibly know already? Her face was hot, and she had to put the cup down in order to wring her hands together, just to stop them from shaking. Don’t panic, Abby. Whatever you do, don’t panic.
Abby cleared her throat. “I’m not really sure,” she said, her voice shaky. “You should probably check with someone in HR.” Trying to look as innocent as possible, Abby’s gaze moved from Marley to Paulette. “Why, what happened?”
They grinned at each other, trying to stifle a laugh, and for the love of god Abby just wanted them to get on with it.
“Brianne got drunk at happy hour last night and had sex with Tom at the bar,” Marley said, her eyes practically bulging out of her head with excitement. Abby breathed a long sigh of relief, thankful that there weren’t any rumors about her. Marley was the last person in this office Abby would ever want to have anything to hang over her head.
“Tom.” Abby searched her memory for a face to put with that name, when suddenly it hit her. “The guy from the mail room?”
They both nodded enthusiastically, trying not to laugh.
“You two shouldn’t be spreading something like that around.” Poor Brianne, having to look at herself in the mirror this morning. “She’s probably embarrassed enough as it is.”
“Hey, Abby,” said a male voice from the other side of the room. Abby turned to see Jake Neal, one of the senior associates.
“Hey, what can I do for you?” she asked.
“Cole wants to see you in his office.”
Immediately Abby felt a tremble inside of her, like all of her vital organs were trying to figure out the fastest route to escape from her body. She kept telling herself not to panic as she followed Jake out the door and walked in a quick clip toward her desk. Surely Cole wouldn’t have sent one of his associates to find me if we were going to have The Talk, right?
Abby hurried to her desk and opened the top left drawer, frantically searching for a compact. She checked her hair and blotted some powder on her nose, then shoved the compact back in the drawer, grabbed her pen and paper, and headed for the door. It wasn’t lost on her that the last time she walked in here was right before she and Cole had the best sex of her life.
Abby hesitated for only a second before she turned the doorknob and walked in.
She didn’t know whether she was expecting him to look at her longingly or to smile at her like they shared a little secret, but he did neither of those things. In the past Cole would usually greet her with a steely gaze, but today he looked unsure, and that was more jarring than any other expression Abby could’ve seen on his face.
She stood in front of his desk. “Jake said you wanted to see me.”
“I just wanted to make sure that the presentations I asked you for are ready.”
“They are. Ten copies each, like you asked.”
An awkward silence. Abby got the feeling that Cole was expecting her to leave.
“Should I go?” she asked, feeling slightly stupid.
Cole regarded her for a moment, looking amused. “Were you expecting something more?”
Abby’s cheeks grew hot and she looked down at her shoes. “I don’t know, I just thought…” She wasn’t quite sure how to finish that sentence.
Cole stood and Abby’s eyes met his. He was definitely amused now. “You wanted me to fuck you again,” he said mischievously as he rounded the desk and walked behind her.
Just the sound of his voice, all seductive and low, made Abby wet. She shifted her weight, trying to relieve the growing ache between her legs.
“Answer me, Abigail.” His chest was pressed against her back, his breath on her cheek as he twirled a strand of her hair around his finger.
“Yes.”
Abby could feel Cole’s smile against her cheek. “When you came in here, you wanted me to run my hand up your leg.”
“Yes,” she replied breathily. She wanted him to do whatever he wanted to her.
Cole reached down and slid his fingers up the back of Abby’s thigh and instinctively she bent at the waist and splayed her hands out on the desk. “You wanted me to touch you here,” he said. After pushing her panties to the side, his fingers slid up and down her slit; her wetness the evidence of her desire.
“Yes.”
Cole leaned down and said, “You wanted me to make you come.” He pulled his hand away, and Abby missed the feel of it immediately.
She couldn’t help but sound disappointed as she replied. “Yes.”
“Soon, Abigail. Very soon. I do have a business to run, and I can’t let my cock start making all of my decisions for me. Although I can’t deny that I thought about you this morning. How tight you were, how good it felt to be inside you. Tell me, if I make you wait, do you think that will make you want me more or less?”
“More,” Abby said, her voice breathy.
“I guess we’ll see.”
Frustrated, she huffed. “You really get off on delayed gratification, don’t you?”
Cole grinned. “I get off on many things, Abigail. You’ll find out very soon.”
As if the moment wasn’t tense enough, it was interrupted by a knock on the door. Abby pulled at the hem of her skirt, making sure it was as far down as it was supposed to be.
“Come in.” Cole said, staring at Abby.
She turned to see Keith McCall smiling at her as he walked into the room.
“How are you this morning Abby?” he asked.
“I’m fine, thank you.” Abby sounded falsely cheerful, but Keith didn’t seem to notice.
As Abby walked out, Cole reminded her about his meetings. “I’ll be leaving in twenty minutes.”
As if she could forget. She knew his schedule better than he did.
COLE WALKED out of his office at ten forty-five on the nose, and Abby was standing there, proposals in hand. She followed him out to the elevator so she could brief him on his way to his car, as usual.
“Here are the Brighton proposals,” Abby said, handing Cole one stack of folders before he slid them into his briefcase. “And the Pyncorp proposals.” He slid the other group into a separate pocket as they stood together waiting for the elevator.
“Liam’s going to have the car waiting out front of the Brighton offices at quarter after one; make sure you’re out there. You know how much that tight ass at Pyncorp hates tardiness,” Abby said as the doors opened and she and Cole stepped inside. Cole pressed the button for the first floor, and Abby continued her list of commands. “I’ve marked your proposals with red flags, make sure you take those. I left room in the margins for you to doodle in when one of the directors gets long-winded.”
“I have my best ideas when the directors get long-winded,” Cole said, looking at his watch.
“I know. And I never get any bonuses for providing you with the space to come up with those best ideas. Typical stingy CEO.” Just as Abby finished speaking, Cole reached over and pushed the emergency stop.
The alarm was deafening, but Abby didn’t care about that once Cole dropped his briefcase and pressed his chest against hers, backing her up against the far side of the wall. Her mind couldn’t process what was happening fast enough, so she gripped the railing behind her as Cole’s hand slid up the side of her neck until it cupped the side of her face. Cole’s eyes were the brightest blue as they searched hers.
Then Cole kissed her, completely consumed her. His fingers slid through her hair, pulling her closer to him and his other hand slid up her thigh, bringing her leg up to rest on his hip as she balanced herself against the railing. Abby couldn’t get enough of his taste, the feel of his weight against her. She wanted more. More of this feeling, more of his lips. Too soon, Cole pulled away from her, resting his forehead against hers.
And then, even over the wailing elevator alarm, Abby heard Cole�
��s words so clearly, so loudly, that she will never forget them.
“You were the best I ever had,” Cole said. He was breathless, and he kissed Abby quickly before he spoke again. “And you’ve ruined me for all other women.”
Dumbfounded, Abby stood there. Disheveled, in complete disbelief. Did that really just happen?
Cole straightened his tie and combed through his hair with his fingers, then released the emergency button and the elevator continued its descent. When they reached the ground floor, he strode out in his confident manner, leaving Abby behind, completely confused and wanting him more than ever.
CHAPTER SIX
THE FOLLOWING night, Cole was in his office changing into a new suit as the sun began to set. Abigail sat at her desk outside his door. Cole hadn’t asked her to stay late, but there she was. He had been out of the office most of the day, stopping by for only a few minutes at lunch to pick up a few sales reports. Those few minutes had been the very best part of his day.
Now, even though she was on the other side of the door, he liked the safety of that wall. The distance from her kept his mind clear, bridled his hormones. He needed to be so careful in how he proceeded with her, but his overwhelming need to touch her was making that difficult.
Cole regarded himself in the full-length mirror behind his closet door, brushing the sleeves of his jacket. Abigail had complimented him on this suit once, and he was hoping she’d feel the same way about it this evening. As he fumbled with his tie, Cole realized that Abby probably wouldn’t feel much of anything if he couldn’t get the damn thing on correctly. He did this every day; he had no idea why he was having such an issue with it now.
He was interrupted by a knock on the door, followed by Abigail’s sweet voice.
“Your car’s downstairs. If you don’t hurry, you’re going to be late.”
Cole turned around and looked at her, so stunning there in his doorway. He wanted to slide his hands beneath her ass and pull her close to him, to taste her sweet lips.
Control yourself, Kerrigan.
“If it doesn’t affect my bottom line, then punctuality is of little concern to me,” Cole replied, turning back toward the mirror and focusing on his tie. If he didn’t look away from her, he was going to ravage her here, right on the spot. He had to be careful with this.
“How can you not care about punctuality when the bottle-nosed pelican fish is in desperate need of your fifteen-thousand-dollar-per-plate donation?” Abigail teased. Fuck, she was going to test his will in every way imaginable. She walked over to him and Cole watched her carefully as her delicate fingers reached out and clasped around his tie. She looped one side under the other and worked her magic until the fabric was twisted into a perfect knot. Abigail smelled of berries and vanilla, the most intoxicating scent. Cole closed his eyes briefly and breathed her in.
“Bottle-nosed pelican fish are very near and dear to my heart,” he replied, gently grazing his fingers along the underside of her wrists. He saw the gooseflesh rise on her skin and smiled.
You do the same thing to me, Abigail, he wanted to tell her.
“There you go, just right.” Abigail smoothed her fingers over his lapel, meeting his gaze. Her eyes were like jewels; a perfect muted green. He could get lost in them if he wasn’t careful. He wanted to kiss her so badly. All he could think about was the feel of her lips on his in the elevator yesterday. He needed more, like a junkie. He didn’t think he could ever get enough.
Cole kissed Abigail, fiery and fierce, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, running her fingers through the hair on his nape. He nearly moaned; that was a sweet spot for him, and of course she found it. Caution be damned, he could have a little taste of her tonight. His lips trailed down Abigail’s neck and nimbly undid the first button, then the second, then the third. He gently pushed her shirt back, revealing the lacy cups of her bra. Just looking at her made him hard. He grinned, admiring the view, then kissed her again and trailed his fingers along the edges of the lace.
“Did you wear this for me?” Cole asked, his voice husky with want.
“Yes,” Abigail breathed.
The tips of Cole’s fingers circled Abigail’s nipple and her head lolled back, offering her neck for more kisses.
God, how he wanted to lave his tongue along her neck, and take her taut nipple into his mouth. He wanted to make her moan and beg and scream his name. But he had to wait. Just for tonight, he had to wait.
You have to be careful with her, he reminded himself.
“It’s a pity I can’t stay to enjoy this.” Cole’s arms circled Abigail’s waist, pulling her against him. His erection strained against his pants, and realizing this, Abigail pressed her thigh against him. Tease. “I have to think of the poor pelican fish.”
“Fuck the pelican fish,” Abigail replied.
Cole reached down and ran his fingers along the inside of her thigh, pushing her skirt up until his hand came to rest between her legs. Abigail bucked against his hand, wanting more friction, but Cole’s touch was feather-light. His fingers slipped beneath the lace on her panties, circling her clit as she moaned. He pressed one finger inside her, only for a second. Abigail’s hands found purchase on Cole’s back, and he laughed, taking her earlobe between his teeth before pulling away.
Then Cole ran his fingertip—still wet with Abigail’s desire—along her full, pouty bottom lip. And he kissed her once more, even deeper than before, his tongue sliding against hers.
Cole had never been so turned on in his life, but he had to walk away. At least he hadn’t lied when he told her he was going to make her wait. Delayed gratification, indeed. If only she could understand that it was more to help him keep a level head than it was to torture her.
Cole leaned in close to her and whispered, “Soon.”
Abigail shivered in response.
Cole walked toward the door, then turned to Abigail before he left.
“Abigail?”
“Yes?”
“I want you to make some travel arrangements for me,” Cole said. “I cannot stress to you how important it is that you keep this confidential.”
Abigail nodded. “Okay, I’ll contact your pilot. Where are you headed?”
“Chicago. I’ll leave this Sunday and return Saturday morning. Call Maeve at the Peninsula. She’ll know which suite to book for me.”
Cole could see the apprehension in her eyes, and waited for her to speak.
Ask me, Abigail.
“Will anyone be traveling with you?”
Cole grinned as he opened the door. “You will.”
The story continues with
The Billionaire’s Desire #2: The Billionaire’s Seduction
CHAPTER ONE
FEELING LIKE a creep, Abby watched Becca from behind a rack of separates in the women’s department of Macy’s Herald Square. She dragged Becca here under the guise of needing new work clothes, but the truth was that Abby needed to talk to someone about what happened between her and Cole yesterday. The confidentiality agreement Abby had signed when she started working at Kerrigan Corp. made it impossible for her to tell Becca exactly what had happened, but she thought there had to be a way around that. Becca wouldn’t know who Abby’s boss was, only that she’d slept with him. Abby wished she had a friend who was a lawyer and could help navigate the tricky legal waters of what a girl should do when she had slept with their boss and just had to tell her best friend about it.
This was the first large chunk of time Abby had spent with Becca since last night, and she wasn’t used to having to walk on eggshells around her. Becca could usually spot a person who’d recently had great sex from miles away, and even though Becca had been asleep when she snuck in last night, she was surprised she was able to hide it from Becca this morning.
“Abby Waters, if you keep standing over there and staring at me like a stalker, I’m going to call security,” Becca said, sounding highly annoyed. Abby side-eyed Becca for a few moments while she pretended to be looking at a b
lazer. It didn’t take very long for Becca to give up the ruse of looking at clothes; she knew something was up. She walked over to the rack Abby was using for cover and began her interrogation.
“You’re hiding something.” Becca’s eyes narrowed as she pointed at Abby. “You’ve been acting strange since you got home, and I know you stole my lipstick.”
She is not messing around.
Still not quite sure what or how to tell Becca, Abby bit her lip and decided that the coat hangers on the rack of shirts she was looking at were entirely too fascinating.
Becca put her hand on Abby’s arm and when Abby looked in Becca’s eyes, she knew she was busted.
“These aren’t even your size, Abby. Spill.”
“I can’t tell you here,” Abby said, looking around as if there were cameras and/or corporate lawyers hiding out amongst the racks. Becca grabbed Abby’s hand and led her to the escalator, where they headed to the cafe on the eighth floor.
Becca got a cappuccino, Abby got an herbal tea. At a small table in the corner, Becca sat and watched Abby while Abby watched billowy clouds of cream swirling in her drink.
“You know I’m not going to judge you, right?”
Slowly, Abby dragged her gaze away from her tea to look at Becca. Abby had known her for years, and if there was anyone in this world Abby could trust, she knew it was her. Still, she was hesitant to tell Becca what she had done, even though there wasn’t a single part of her that wished she hadn’t done it.
Abby exhaled a calming breath before she spilled her guts to the best friend she’d ever had.
“I slept with my boss.” Abby’s voice was barely above a whisper, and she flinched when the words came out. She braced herself like Becca was going to throttle her. She knew she probably looked ridiculous, but it took forever for her eyes to meet Becca’s after her confession.
Becca’s eyes lit up as she smiled. “What do you mean, slept with him? Like, you went to a hotel room and did it, or he fucked you up against his desk?” Of course she hit the nail on the head on her first try. Becca had great intuition and she loved a good scandal, so this whole situation was right up her alley.
