Control

by Ali Parker

  "You don't know that." She got up and walked to the door as I moved back into the room and glanced around, looking for my badge.

  "Yeah, I do. I know his kind, and if you'd look past his big blue eyes and spiky blond hair, you'd recognize him too. He's every greedy dick we fucked in college." I chuckled and turned to find her giving me the look. "What? He's just a frat boy with a real job and a paycheck now. Nothing else has changed."

  "I still think it would be fun to spend a night or two with him." She walked out toward the living room, and I found my badge, grabbed it, and followed her.

  I tried to ignore the nerves tearing up my stomach as I thought about the fact that I'd have to come face to face with Cole. I couldn't shake off the idea that he would ignore me, treat me like I didn't exist, or that our night never happened. Nothing would be worse than him acting like we hadn't spent an amazing night together, even if on some level I deserved it for being so fucking cold.

  "I disagree, but do what you want to. You're going to do it anyway." I grabbed my purse and computer bag. "You ready?"

  "Yep. Let's go make some money and score a date in the process." She closed the door behind us and locked it as I bit my tongue. She was still stuck in our old college mentality, and where it had been fun for the time we'd spent exploiting it, it was over. Long over for me.

  *

  "Don't you look incredible today?" Tucker glanced up from the conference room table as I walked in and sat down. I'd stopped by my office briefly to drop off my stuff and check my e-mail, but should have waited for Heather to join me before coming down to the meeting.

  Tucker's dark blue eyes moved down the front of my dress as he smiled.

  "I'm up here, buddy." I leaned down a little and gave him a shit-eating grin as he chuckled and leaned back in his chair.

  "You can't fault me for wanting to stare at a beautiful woman." He shrugged and dropped his hands into his lap. "You free tonight? We could grab a burger and maybe a movie?"

  "What makes you think I'm at all interested in going out on a date with you?" I lifted my eyebrow and crossed my arms over my chest. Heather was obviously running behind on “making her move” or had simply decided against it.

  "You're kidding, right?" His smile faltered a little. "Clint told me that you had the hots for me."

  "Well, Clint lied." I shook my head and looked back as Heather and Jackson walked into the room.

  Jackson moved to the podium at the front of the table and smiled. "I'm so excited. Cole should be here any minute, and he's decided to stay two days with us instead of one. The man is not only a genius, but so gracious as well."

  "Yay!" Heather sat down beside me and smirked as I narrowed my eyes on her. "What? More time to figure things out."

  "Figure what things out?" Tucker lifted his eyebrow and studied me.

  "How to move my mountain." I made fun of Cole's motto and stiffened as the sound of him laughing behind me caused me to turn.

  "Brilliant. You almost have it down. You looking for a job?"

  Chapter 10

  Cole

  Such a cheeky bitch.

  I'd gone through a million extremes over the last week after leaving the convention center. My mind wouldn't stop buzzing with the possibilities of having another chance with Alexis, and yet she'd been so fucking harsh when she left that night, I wasn't sure it was worth my time to exploit them. The battle between my head, my heart and my cock was something fierce. To say the least, my head stood alone. The other two parts of me were beyond ready to recreate the last night we had together and take it so much farther.

  "I was kidding." She gave me a shy smile as her cheeks turned pink.

  "It wasn’t funny." Jackson Markham gave her a stern look as he walked over and extended his hand to me. "Cole. Good to see you again. We're honestly so appreciative that you'd be willing to give us an extra day. Have a seat and take a load off. The rest of our team should be in here shortly. I figured we could just do the introduction today and let you do individual interviews with some of the staff, and then tomorrow we'll have the large auditorium set up for you to talk to us about overcoming fear and pushing toward the type of work-life and careers we're all after."

  "Sounds amazing. Is there a cup of coffee around here that I can grab?" I tried to keep my eyes focused on Jackson, but the subtle hints of Alexis’ perfume distracted me horribly. I could almost taste her on my tongue again.

  "Alexis can show you where it's at," Heather spoke up and waved at me from around Jackson.

  "Hey Heather. Good to see you again." I gave her a warm smile and moved over to run my eyes over Alexis’ beautiful face. She had nothing more than a few subtle hints of color from her makeup, and the rest was natural beauty. I couldn't help but notice the way the frat boy across the table was eye-fucking her and damn if I didn't want to catch his attention and give him a less-than-subtle warning. "You showing me to the coffee?"

  "Sure." She got up and walked stiffly to the door.

  I followed in silence, letting my eyes move down to the perfect swell of her ass. The need to reach out and claim what already felt like it was mine wrapped around me tightly. Damn. I wasn't going to make it through the trip with my logic intact and my hands to myself. Every inch of me wanted to be pressed tightly against her.

  "How was your flight?" She walked into the small kitchenette and pointed to the coffee maker.

  "It was good. I slept most of it, but that's what red-eyes are for, right?" I walked over and grabbed a cup before shifting a little so I could see her better. "How have you been?"

  "Good. I feel like I owe you an apology." She glanced down at the floor, softening me. "I shouldn't have been so crude the last time we saw each other."

  "No, it was good." I pressed the button on the coffee pot and moved over to stand in front of her. I left just enough space to remind her that we weren't together, but should be. "I think if you would have stayed, I'd have offered you a ring. It would have been embarrassing to be turned down."

  A smile lifted her lips as she glanced up at me. "You're incorrigible. You know that?"

  "I'm also working on not getting hard at the sight of you." I reached out and touched the side of her face. "Every night since you left me laying there I keep imagining a different ending."

  "Oh yeah?" Her eyes darkened a little. The woman had far too many parts to her personality. I could spend forever trying to figure her out and never scratch the surface. Such a beautiful complexity had my heart constricting in my chest.

  "Yeah. I wish you would have crawled back up on the bed and ridden my face before leaving me there hard and bothered all night. I had three or four more condoms with your name on them." I shrugged and turned back to get my coffee.

  The sound of her soft laughter caused me to smile.

  "You're not going to let me get by over the next two days without feeling this overwhelming need to bend over the closest structure for you, are you?" Her words drove a stake of desire through me and caused my cock to grow thick and hard.

  I turned and adjusted myself as I tilted my head and smiled at her. "You're such a bitch. You can hide how wet your little tight pussy gets when I walk into a room, but you know I can't hide this monster."

  She took two steps toward me and reached out, stroking my dick and adverting her eyes down to it.

  "I can't stop thinking about this. How badly I want it in every opening in my body." She licked at her lips and dragged her eyes slowly back up to mine. "You wouldn't deny me, would you?"

  I smiled and leaned down, nipping at her lips. "Never. Now, fucking behave and let’s get through this morning together. After that... you're mine for the night."

  "Maybe." She stroked me once more and turned to walk out of the coffee bar.

  I turned back toward the counter and picked up my drink, taking a tentative sip and letting out a long sigh. The fear that she would treat me like a stranger was all but gone. There was only excitement to take its place. Every wicked fantasy I'd had
over the last few days had her front and center, wet and shaking for me in various positions. She might think herself a recovered whore, but I was praying I could get her to act out a few things for me that might put her body at ease and fuck up her mind real good.

  After taking a few more minutes to get my heart to stop racing, I picked up an empty folder and walked back to the conference room, holding it in front of me.

  "So, Cole, we thought we would assign you a buddy for the next two days. Someone who could take you around the city and make sure you were taken care of while you were here with us." Jackson crossed his arms over his chest and watched me inquisitively.

  "I like that. Can it be Alexis? I was going to pick her brain about a couple of things we talked about at the conference in our spare time anyway." I glanced down at her before taking the seat to her right.

  "I could do it." The blond frat boy raised his hand. "I mean, if Alexis is busy. I know she's been working on a few new projects and just didn't want her to overdo it."

  "I'm right here." She raised her hand and waved it around, looking far too fucking cute for her own good. No wonder frat boy was tripping over his dick to get her attention.

  "It's your call, of course." Jackson turned his attention to her, and I did as well.

  "Yeah, no worries if you're too busy." I leaned back in my seat and picked up my coffee. "I can traverse the city myself too. I love Seattle."

  "I'll watch over you, Mr. Alexander, and make sure you don't get yourself into trouble." Alexis gave me a cheeky grin, which started the process of my erection rising back up and forcing me to scoot farther under the table.

  She might not let me get myself into trouble, but she sure as fuck was going to do it for me if nothing else.

  Not that I was complaining.

  Chapter 11

  Alexis

  What the fuck was the matter with me? Teasing him in the kitchen and now agreeing to show him around the city for two days? The plan had been to not fall for his tricks again. I wanted to growl out loud, but instead turned my attention to the front of the conference room as a group of executives filled in behind me. I was lucky for the invite at all, and I had the young leadership program to thank for that, or maybe I didn't. Thanks to graduating at the top of my class, I was given a chance to experience a few things at Vandrake that most people would wait twenty years to see. Heather and Tucker were part of the program too, though I had no clue how Tucker had gotten in. I'd accidentally seen his resume and transcript and no fucking way were his grades good enough to have him at the top of his graduating class.

  He was sleeping with someone, or his father had paid off the executive team. Either way, we were stuck with him.

  "All right, Cole. You want to come up here and introduce yourself and explain what we'll be doing for the next few days together?” Jackson clapped his hands and moved back as Cole stood up.

  My eyes moved down the long length of his body, and I was glad to see his erection had calmed down enough not to draw massive amounts of attention. The thick bulge at the front of his slacks did that all on its own. It didn't need much help.

  "You bet." Cole walked to the front of the room, and I couldn't help but notice the way some of the other women around the table watched him. He was beyond gorgeous, but it still irked me that he was more of an object than a person. As if I'd treated him any differently.

  "Welcome! We've heard a lot about you, and I've read all of your books, but seeing you in person is just... wow." One of the board members gave him a warm smile as everyone chuckled and agreed with her comments.

  "Thanks. I'm glad to be here." He rubbed his hands together and glanced around the room as his expression turned from calm to warm and exciting. I couldn't help but be drawn into whatever he was up to. Maybe I did need to read his story. "So tell me this. What do you love most about working here at Vandrake? Be open and honest. It's something I need to understand as we move into the next two days together. Just yell out your response."

  "I feel like a valued contributor," someone commented from the back of the room.

  "I'm given great opportunities." Heather lifted her hand and smiled as I glanced over at her.

  "I enjoy the people."

  "I like the management team. They care about what we have to say."

  "I love the food in the cafeteria and the gym membership." Tucker shrugged as everyone chuckled at him being cheeky.

  "Anyone else?" Cole looked around the room, but didn't seem to be willing to call anyone else out.

  I stayed quiet, not wanting any more attention than I deserved from him. Something inside me was wilting... melting as he continued on with his opening spiel about finding the center of life for us as individuals. How if we could just find that thing that wakes us up in the morning and drives us forward with anticipation and lust... we can have a better life, a better tomorrow.

  "Sometimes that's your job. Sometimes it's your kids. Your father." He glanced over at me. "A love interest that drives you mad with a combination of lust and adoration."

  A resounding chuckle echoed around me as warmth rose up my chest and coated my cheeks and chest. Was he talking about me? Did he want something more than to tear my panties off of me and hear me moan his name a few times later that night? I couldn't fathom anything so far-fetched.

  "So let's pretend it's your job and start there." He glanced up as Jackson walked around the table and handed out a pen and tablet of paper to everyone. "Write down three things right now that excite you beyond belief."

  I glanced down at the paper and couldn't force a cognitive thought to form. All three of my things would have been him or various parts of him. Maybe I needed to look into his past, to see what his story is. Maybe I could stop acting like a bitch in front of him and show him the woman I wanted to be, the one that lurked below the surface of the alpha in me. I was scared too, but maybe with a little more research, I'd be willing.

  "You gotta write something." He stopped beside me and pressed his hands to the table as he glanced down at me. His dark blue eyes stole my breath for a moment. "Alexis?"

  "Sorry." I turned my face away from him and jotted down three things as he hovered beside me.

  Love. Lust. You.

  *

  "Hey. Wait up." Cole moved up behind me as I walked quickly toward my office.

  "What's up?" I glanced over toward him and tried to ignore the way my pulse spiked when he was near.

  "Did you mean what you wrote in our first session this morning?" He stopped at my door and slid his hands up the frame as I walked in and turned around to face him.

  "Hmm?" I tried to play it off.

  "Did you mean what you wrote this morning?" He pulled a sheet of paper from the folder under his arm and walked in my office, dropping it on my desk.

  I picked it up and gave him a cheeky smile. "Oh, this? I just had to put something down. You were hovering over the top of me. I felt like an idiot."

  "Right." He turned and walked to the door.

  "Cole." I didn't want him to go just yet. I was lying, and we both knew it. Why the hell was I working so hard to protect myself? I'd been hurt a million times in my short life. What was one more?

  He closed my door, locked it and moved over to pull my blinds down. "Yeah, baby?"

  "What are you doing?" My nipples budded as he turned and licked at his lips.

  "Just giving you a little bit of what you're after. That okay?" He set his folder down on my desk and moved around to my side of the office slowly, taking his time.

  My hands were shaking by the time he reached out for me and slid his hands over my hips to grip my ass.

  "How do you know what I want?" I pressed my hands to his chest and moved closer, unable to stop myself.

  He leaned over to his left a little and squinted. "Let's see. Love, lust and me. Right. That's how."

  "Bastard," I whispered and pulled him flush against me. "You drive me crazy with your sexy smile and your smoky voice."

  "S
moky?" He smiled and leaned down, kissing me hard and squeezing my ass again. "Don't moan and get us in trouble."

  "We're not fucking in here."

  "Can we make love?" He brushed his lips by mine and licked softly along my jaw, down my neck to the top of my breasts.

  "No," I breathed out and rubbed myself against him. "I'm not getting fired for you."

  "I make a lot of money. You really don't need this gig." He smiled and stood back up before cupping my face and leaning down to kiss me repeatedly. "You smell so good. Tell me you're wet."

  "Find out for yourself." I kissed him again and lost my train of thought for a minute as he growled and ran his hands down the front of my dress only to tug it back up.

  "Where have you been all my life?" He moved one hand back up to get lost in my hair and slipped the other into the side of my panties, brushing his fingers down into the sticky wetness I'd been dealing with since the moment he walked in. I might be playing hard to get, but my body was an unruly whore and its favorite toy was too close to refuse.

  "Not in here," I moaned against his lips and he turned his hand and slipped a finger deep inside of me.

  "Yeah, in here. Get on your desk and lean back." He nipped at my lips and turned me carefully as I climbed up on the desk and slid my hands behind me. "Open your legs, Alexis. Wide.”

  Chapter 12

  Cole

  She was beyond beautiful in her compliance. She talked a tough game, but she was more than willing to beckon to the slightest suggestion I gave her. I couldn't help but wonder how many men she'd let touch her. Was I just the next one in line, or was she opening up for the first time in a long time? Was it really my business?