by Harper West
And after I dropped the phone back into the receiver, Becca piped up.
“This food isn’t poisoned, is it?” she asked.
I rolled my eyes as I sat back down. “Bonnie breathes down my neck every time I don’t work the finance department as hard as everyone else. She’s a fucking stickler, but she saves me millions of dollars a year, personally and professionally.”
“Ah, the dream job.”
I grinned. “And one day, you’ll be suited for it.”
She quirked an eyebrow. “Did you just give me a compliment?”
I crossed my leg over my knee. “No. I stated a fact.”
She giggled. “Uh huh.”
I didn’t let my face waver. “Does this look like a face that gives compliments.”
The smile fell from her face quickly. “No, sir.”
I nodded. “Good. Now, I’m going to go through all of these files you and Bonnie finished. Rest until the food gets here. Then, once I know you’ll be okay to get home, you can go.”
“Fair enough.”
Her outfit left much to be desired. In fact, it looked like she hadn’t quite grown out of the styles she wore back in high school. She still wore those cardigans that were two sizes too big on top of ruffled blouses that made her look much bigger than she actually was. Her skirts left absolutely nothing to be desired and draped around her legs like a fucking mu-mu, giving her no shape whatsoever. She didn’t wear any jewelry, it didn’t look like she had on any sort of makeup, and her hair was piled high on top of her head with chopsticks stuck between the knotted ends to hold it all together.
No wonder she never dated in high school.
“Question,” I said as I picked up the last file.
“Hmm?” Becca hummed.
“I’ve been thinking about the encounter you had with Tommy in the garage that night.”
She straightened up a bit. “And?”
I peeked over the folder at her. “Have you heard from him at all? He hasn’t given you any trouble since he left the company?”
She blinked. “I thought he had gotten fired?”
I shrugged. “He did.”
She nodded slowly. “No, I haven’t heard from him.”
My eyes dropped back to the file. “Good.”
Then, a knock came at my office door. “Delivery for Mr. Ryker?”
Becca stood. “I’ll get it.”
I signed off on the last file before closing it. “Thanks.”
While she set up our food on my desk I walked the files personally over to Bonnie’s office. I slid them into the file keeper on the outside of her door before feeling a massive weight lift off my shoulders. I hated being late for tax season. Granted, the tax deadline was always a bit more cushioned for big businesses like my own, but I still hated every second past April 15th that the taxes weren’t submitted.
And with it being the beginning of May, I felt so much relief that my dick hardened.
“You ready to eat?” Becca asked.
I shoved my hand down my pants as discreetly as possible and readjusted myself. “Yep. You get started. I’ve got one more errand to run and then I’ll be back.”
“Suit yourself.”
I rearranged myself before I leaned against the wall. Things couldn’t have ended better for my day. Taxes were submitted, Tommy had finally left Becca alone, and there was a clear path between my body and hers.
Which meant I was clear to enact Phase Two of my revenge.
Time to seduce Maggie’s sister.
“You know what?” I asked as I walked back into my office. “Let’s eat over here on the couch. It’s more comfortable than the set-up at my desk anyway.”
She peered over her shoulder. “Sure, that’s fine with me.”
I walked over and picked up my food. “So, tell me about your weekend trip home to see your family.”
She froze. “You really want to hear about that?”
I sat in the middle of the couch. “Sure, if you want to talk about it. And don’t forget to grab the sodas.”
“Uh, y-yeah. Sure, I can—uh, yeah, hold on.”
And after she was done with getting all of her shit as well as the drinks over to the coffee table, she sat off to my right.
With her thick, luscious thigh pressed against my own.
16
Jospeh
I woke up with a rejuvenated spirit.
Luck was alive and well in the air and today was my day. I had plans. I had expectations. And as I slipped into my navy blue power suit with a crisp navy button-front and a skinny white tie, I blew myself a kiss in the mirror.
“Today’s a good day to get her on her knees.”
I winked at myself before I headed into work and I felt lighter than air. After enjoying dinner and gossip with Becca last night, I had the perfect pathway to cut through the bullshit so I could get on with my own purposes.
And after getting settled into my office, I pressed the intercom button on my desk.
“Lexie, please get Miss Becca into my office at once. And make sure my morning is cancelled.”
My intercom bleeped. “Are you sure, sir? You’ve got a meeting you’ve pushed off--.”
I pressed the button on my end to cut her off. “Do as I say or I’ll find someone that will.”
I heard her sigh outside before the intercom bleeped again. “Yes, Mr. Ryker.”
I grinned as I walked out in front of my desk. I perched against the front of it, sliding my hands into my pants. I couldn’t wait to back her into a corner. She always let me do it, and I swear to fuck it was her way of teasing me.
Well, she’d get exactly what she bargained for this morning.
“You wanted to see me, sir?” Becca asked.
I held out my hand. “Come and sit.”
She stepped into my office and closed the door behind her.
Good girl.
“Did I do something wrong?” she asked as she sat down.
A smirk traveled across my face. “You know, I’ve been thinking.”
She nodded slowly. “About…?”
“About our dinner last night.”
She smiled softly. “It was nice, wasn’t it?”
I tilted my head off to the side. “Sure, if that’s how you want to see it. But you kind of owe me now.”
Her face paled. “Wait, huh?”
I shrugged. “I mean, I ordered for you. I paid. I tucked in the attitude a little bit because you were clearly down and out. And believe me, that takes effort.”
She swallowed hard. “I—I’ve got cash on me if you just want me t--.”
I pushed off the front of my desk and stood directly in front of her. “Actually, I’ve got something else in mind.”
The way she looked up at me beneath those thick, long lashes of hers stirred something within me. I slid my hand out of my pocket, itching to bury my fingers into the thick tendrils of her wild hair. My cock tented my pants, and the second her eyes dropped to the protrusion I saw her cheeks flush.
All the way down her fucking neck.
“So, why don’t you tell me what I had in mind? I love a good guessing game, Miss Becca.”
She shook her head. “I—I, uh—I just—I don’t—.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Becca. Do you really believe that you can soar through life expecting everything to be handed to you? Is that how your parents really raised you?”
Anger flashed behind her eyes. “Don’t you dare mention how I was raised when you were just as barbaric.”
“Ah, a bit of spunk. I love it when my women have a bit of spunk.”
She shot to her feet. “I am not, nor will I ever be, your woman. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
My hand shot to her neck and I wrapped my fingers around her soft, malleable skin. “On your knees or firing you will be the least of your issues.”
I brought her face close to my own and for a split second, I thought I saw her cave. She blinked her eyes and weakness filled them, but yet another bl
ink and that anger was back. Good. At least she knew how I’d been feeling for the past ten or so years. Angry, and frustrated, and blinded by an itch I couldn’t scratch.
And as the warmth of my touch flushed her skin a deeper shade of maroon, I knew how to make her more comfortable.
“I’ll do you a favor, though,” I said as I released her.
She rubbed her hand along her neck. “And what kind of favor is that?”
I turned and walked back to my seat before I sat down. “You can hide beneath my desk since you forgot to lock the door. That way, if anyone comes in? You won’t be seen.”
She scoffed. “Some fucking favor.”
“And yet, I don’t see you running for the door.”
How in the hell could I love something I hated so much? His cheekiness knew no boundaries. His domineering nature was almost laughable. And yet, the more my eyes dropped to his swollen dick the more I wanted to taste it.
I’m pathetic.
“So,” JoJo said as he relaxed in his office chair, “here here, little kitty.”
I thumbed over my shoulder. “I have a lot of work that Bonnie dropped onto my desk this morning.”
He clasped his hands behind his head. “Very well. If you want to take your break later, that’s fine. But you’ll still be on your hands and knees eating something else for me to repay me for the free food you ate in my presence last night.”
I wanted to tell him he was just like Tommy. Pretentious, and bold, and way too horny for his own fucking good. But I felt my nipples puckering against my bra and I sure as hell didn’t want him to see that he had crawled beneath my skin. For far too long in my life, I’d felt weak. I felt subservient to the people around me, like my presence was only good when useful.
But, while he massaged his dick through his pants, I felt a wanton lust rise up within me.
It’s been so damn long since I’ve tasted a man…
And before I knew it, I felt my feet carrying me toward him before I knelt between his legs.
“Oh, you look so good down there, pretty girl.”
A shiver ran down my spine. “Are you sure this is how you want to do this? Because there’s still a way out.”
He chuckled. “What? You going to report me like you did Tommy?”
I winced at his comment. “Do you really want to be like him?”
His hand thrust its way into my hair before his grip held firm. “Do you really want me to show you why I’m not?”
Yes. “No.”
“Then, get to it.”
I didn’t want things to happen like this. Sure, I had some sick fantasy of bedding the bullshit boss I had to deal with on a regular basis, but not like this. Like this, I was nothing but a piece of trash. A cum dumpster, serving only to clean up his mess once he was done pouring himself into my mouth.
I wanted more than that.
I deserve more than this.
“Here, I’ll help you this one time,” JoJo said.
And I swear to hell on high, when he pulled that thick, rigid cock out from beneath his pants, I’d never seen something more holy. His cock was damn near perfect, with an aching tip ready to release his load. I licked my lips as I felt myself caving to his desires. I scooted closer to it, marveling its beauty and the way the veins on the underside of his dick throbbed with need for me.
Or, maybe just a need, in general.
“JoJo, I-I-I--.”
He pulled my face closer. “It’s ‘Mr. Ryker’ to you now. Don’t you dare call me anything differently.”
I looked up at him from beneath my eyelashes. “Okay, Mr. Ryker.”
He grinned. “Ready when you are.”
I looked around with my eyes, trying to find some way to get the hell out of this. Not that I didn’t want it, but I was confused and needed time to sift through the sick part of me that wanted this more than anything. I didn’t want to be that woman. I didn’t want to be the woman that got beat up by men and enjoyed it. I wanted someone to cherish me. To protect me. To regard my own sense of self-worth as important as his.
“Well?” he asked.
I stretched my arms over my head. “Let me find a more comfortable position than this.”
And when I eased my arms up above my head, I felt my elbow knock against something.
Before a jar of pen ink spilled right into his lap.
“What the fuck!?”
He stood so quickly that his knee connected with the underside of my chin. It slammed my teeth into my tongue and instantly, my mouth filled with this metallic flavor. JoJo growled and cursed as he stormed across his office, rummaging through something as I slipped out from beneath his desk.
Then, I rushed to his trash can to spit a mouth full of blood into it before I raced out of his office.
“Miss Becca, is everything--?”
I waved at Lexie. “Hi there! Bye there!”
The pain that ricocheted through my mouth brought tears to my eyes. I ran down to my office and slammed the door behind me, locking it in the process. And I swear to God, I heard JoJo cursing and screaming above my head.
I need a damn mirror.
After digging through my purse, I found one down at the very bottom. With my lower lip covered in blood, I took a chance and stuck my tongue out.
Only to see that my teeth had punched holes in the underside of it.
“Fuck, I need a doctor,” I groaned.
“Knock, knock!” Brit sing-songed.
When she tried to open my door, though, she couldn’t get inside.
“Everything okay, Becca?” she asked.
I quickly typed a note into my schedule and put in for a sick day, though I didn’t give a shit if it was accepted or not. Because if JoJo didn’t want me opening my mouth and telling everyone about this sick dance we were doing, then he wouldn’t part those lips of his.
“Just not feeling well. Don’t want you to get sick,” I called out.
“You need me to take you somewhere?”
I acted like I was vomiting before I answered. “No. Just give me some space. I’m about to get myself to a doctor.”
“Well, if you want me to bring anything by your place later, just let me know.”
I closed my eyes. “I appreciate it.”
After hearing her backtrack to her desk, I gave myself a few minutes to catch my breath. My tongue was still bleeding, and I couldn’t keep swallowing it, so I spat another mouthful into the trash can beneath my desk before I packed my hand full of tissues. I held it up to my mouth to soak up the blood and spit combination that kept dripping from between my sore lips, quickly making my way to the elevator.
And the second I hit the safety of my car, I sped out from beneath that building.
“Come on, Urgent Care. Where the hell are you?” I murmured.
After driving around for almost twenty minutes, I found what I had been looking for. I made sure I had everything in my wallet necessary to get an appointment, then I walked myself inside. I tried to come up with the best excuse possible in my head as the front desk nurse grimaced and checked me in.
And after promising me she’d get me in as soon as possible, I sat there for another half an hour before my name got called.
“Rebecca Loren?” the nurse asked.
I raised my hand. “That’s me.”
She looked at the bloody tissues in my hand. “Come with me. Let’s get you patched up.”
I followed behind her and didn’t pay attention as she took my weight and height. The last thing I needed was a stranger berating me about my fucking body, so I tuned out while she took my blood pressure. I answered all of the obligatory questions and felt relief flood my gut when no one asked me how the hell I had done this to myself.
Then, the doctor came in.
“Hi there!” the chipper woman said. “My name is Dr. Lambert, and I hear you’re in need of some stitches.”
I moved the tissues away from my tongue. “Yeah, I sort of bit down too hard.”
She gripped my lower lip and used a set of miniature tongs to pull my tongue out. “Wow, you really did. Those are deep. You’ll certainly need dissolvable stitches to help it heal.”
I sighed. “Let’s go ahead and get it over with.”
She rolled over to the rubber glove box hanging on the wall. “Mind me asking how this happened? It’s an odd place to have such a bad injury.”
I tried to giggle it off. “You’ll never believe me if I told you.”
She started preparing the numbing solution. “Oh, trust me, I’ve heard some doozy stories. I used to work in an E.R. before I took a position here.”
“What made you leave the E.R.?”
She snapped the gloves onto her hands. “You wouldn’t believe the number of battered women that come through Los Angeles’ E.R. doors. I simply couldn’t handle it any longer.”
Oh, boy. “I’m sure that’s rough.”
She slid her glasses down the bridge of her nose. “Uh huh. Yeah, your bottom teeth almost busted through the top layer of your tongue. But I can patch you right up.”
Maybe she’ll leave it alone. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Did you knock your chin against something?”
I snickered. “I’ve taken this new job, right? And they’re working me like a dog. So, I’m at my desk and I drop my pen, and I swear I just plop my body down to get it because I’m sore all over.”
She nodded slowly. “I hate overbearing bosses.”
I rolled my eyes. “Right? Well, my chin caught the edge of my desk and before I know it, blood’s filling my mouth.”
She hissed. “Ooooh, my daughter did that once. It wasn’t quite this extensive, but it did still need a couple of stitches.”
Oh, thank fuck for that dodged bullet. “Well, take your time. I’ve got the day off, so I plan on going home after this and falling asleep.”
She smiled as she grabbed my tongue with her tongs. “Then, I’ll have you out of here in a jiff.”
And as she began numbing my tongue, only one thought kept crossing my mind.
This is war, JoJo.
