by North,Leslie
“It’s not that simple,” she whispered.
“Then let’s make it simple. Only feel.” Grabbing her, he hoisted her up onto the counter and kissed her until she was whimpering. Snagging the edge of her t-shirt, he ripped it off her and pressed the palm of his hand to her bare back. Flexing his fingers, he reveled in the warmth and softness of her body. She bowed her back and pressed her chest against him.
Leaning down, he ran his lips over the curve of her throat. “Feel this,” he whispered as he unsnapped her bra and pulled the straps down her arm. Softly feathering his lips over the slope of her breasts, he darted his tongue out to lick her.
She cried out, and he smiled. He loved that even something so small could make her cry out his name as if he were the only man for her. She was perfect.
He moved his lips down her abdomen. She squirmed, and he lifted his head and smiled at her. “Ticklish?”
“I would never tell you where I am ticklish,” she said hotly.
“Then I will have so much fun finding out for myself.” She squealed with laughter when he played his fingers down her sides. God. That laugh. That made two things that did it for him. Fueled by his urge to be inside her, he unsnapped her jeans and pulled them down. “You and these damn jeans. They drive me up the wall. Seriously. No one looks this good in jeans.”
“You would look good in jeans if you ever wore them,” she murmured with a wicked smile. “I dream of you in jeans. That ass would look so good.”
She continued to chuckle, and he shook his head. “I’ll teach you to laugh at me.” Pulling aside the wisp of lacy fabric between her legs, he pressed his lips to her hot center. Her laughter immediately turned into a moan, and she clamped her thighs around his head.
Running his hands along her soft thighs, he realized that there was nowhere else he wanted to be. Making her happy did things to him that he had never imagined. For maybe the first time ever, he wasn’t thinking about his family or his job. He wasn’t thinking about tomorrow or yesterday. He was in the moment and so thankful that the moment included Daisy.
When her body finally shuddered, he leaned up and pulled off his shirt. “Not laughing now,” he murmured darkly as he licked the curve of her neck.
“You need to be inside me right now, or I’ll make sure you never laugh again,” she threatened as she bucked her body against him. He’d never been harder in his life as he fought with his pants.
“I said, now,” she muttered as she reached down to help him. Their hands tangled until he finally stripped and dove deep inside her.
“Your demand is my pleasure,” he moaned in her ear. “Fuck, Daisy. Do you have any idea how perfect you feel? You fit me.” She moaned and tangled her fingers in his hair, but it wasn’t enough. “Say my name, Daisy. Tell me how you feel.”
Stilling himself, he watched her lids flutter open. Gently, she cupped his face. “Gabe. No one has ever made me feel the way that you do.”
“Oh yeah?” he grinned.
She wrapped her legs around him and bucked her body so he drove even deeper. “Do not stop.”
“Like I said. Your demand is my pleasure.” Planting his hands on her hips, he held her still as he pulled himself forward leaving no space between them as his pelvis smacked into hers. The whimper she made had him groaning in response, loving how much he could affect her. How much she affected him.
Shifting his hips, he pulled back before driving himself forward again. Each forward motion rocked Daisy back on the counter and he tightened his hold on her to keep her from getting away from him. He didn’t want her to move an inch as he set up a punishing pace.
He knew she agreed when she squeezed her legs, digging her heels into his back. Their moans gave way and soon there was nothing but the sounds of sex wrapped around them like a heavy blanket. Keeping them together as they both spiraled higher and higher toward release.
Daisy called out his name, her body tightening around him, as her orgasm tore through her. Lifting her hips, she rocked her hips with each spasm.
When he found his release, he stared into her beautiful eyes, picturing her being like this forever.
Right after she stopped trembling, he lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed. After an hour of rest, he woke her and they did it all over again.
Sometime in the night, after a few hours of sleep, he woke up again and turned to her. He’d sated them both twice already, but seeing her naked in his bed made him stir all over again. He’d pulled out her braid, and her hair spread out over his pillow. She looked like a woman who had found pleasure.
And he’d been the one to deliver it.
Licking his lips, he realized that his throat was as dry as sandpaper. Instead of waking her for another round, he carefully eased out of the bed. Grabbing a pair of sweatpants, he pulled them up and shuffled over to the kitchen. After pouring a glass of water, his eyes slid to the mound of papers that Daisy had brought in.
Curious, he flipped on the lamp and opened the folder. Inside, he found some old documents about Duncan Enterprises. As his eyes roamed over the information, he saw the same name pop up over and over again.
What do you know about Greenman’s Corp?
It looked like Daisy wasn’t asking random questions. Obviously, she’d been looking into Greenman’s Corporation and its connection with Duncan Enterprises.
“Shit,” he whispered. Apparently, there was quite a big connection between the two companies. It was ten years ago, but Greenman’s name was still well enough known that the association could be damning. The question was how did Daisy get this kind of intelligence? She’d have to pour over the files for weeks to go back this far and find this.
Someone gave her a tip.
“Gabe?”
Her sleepy voice drew his attention away from the files. She shuffled to the doorway with the sheets wrapped around her, and he could only stare at her. She was so beautiful. And she could bring Duncan Enterprises to their knees.
“What is this, Daisy?” he said softly as he lifted the paper.
There was a flicker of sorrow as she lowered her eyes and wrapped the sheet tighter around her. “That’s what I came here to talk with you about,” she whispered. “It’s extensive information about the relationship between Duncan Enterprises and Greenman’s Corporation.”
“I can read,” he said coldly. “So you came here to seduce me before you dropped the bomb? Is that it?”
“Seduce you?” Shaking her head hard, “I came here to find out if you knew about this, and the next thing I know you’re turning my head with all this sweet talk. I tried to talk to you about this yesterday.”
Gabe shook his head and ran a hand over his face. “I told you before that I didn’t know anything about Greenman’s Corporation. This was ten years ago, Daisy. Duncan Enterprises has changed a lot since then.”
“Really? Look again, Gabe. You’re using the same marketing language they used to cover up their deceitful practices. It’s as if you lifted it direct from their corporate materials.”
Balling his fist, he hit his desk as she jumped. “Did you think that I seduced you to keep you quiet?” he demanded, as he went to confront her. “Maybe you seduced me so that I’d be on your side when the shit hit the fan. Duncan Enterprises has enough money and lawyers behind them that we could…” he bit his tongue before he finished.
Daisy turned away from him and began hurriedly dressing. Slipping on her shoes, she turned to him, tears in her eyes. “So that you could what?” she asked softly, her voice cracking as she spoke, betraying her emotions. “Make me look like an idiot? That won’t be hard. I trusted Jordan and Restore Eden because they said they wanted to change. I trusted you because you said you were interested in my ideas. I guess I really am an idiot.”
Passing in front of him, she went to his desk to retrieve the papers he had strewn about. Gathering them together, she shoved them into her bag. “I’m leaving.”
Clenching his jaw, he rested his head against th
e wall and closed his eyes. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m trying to do something good. This is what I’ve wanted to do my whole life. As a high-ranking member of Duncan Enterprises, it’s your job to make sure that you’re a good role model. You said it yourself.”
“Daisy, it’s not that simple.” Hearing her words in his mouth made him cringe, but there was nothing he could do or say. It was all true.
“You’re right. It’s not that simple. Changing is hard, but sometimes it’s the only way. I’m fighting for our future. Everyone’s future. “
“It was a mistake, Daisy. We fell into bad habits. Give me a chance to make this right before you go public. Quietly.”
“Quietly.” Daisy shook her head. “You mean bury it so deep that no one will find out about the company’s shady dealings.”
“There was nothing shady about our practices back then. We were simply doing what everyone else was doing,” he practically roared, as she backed toward the door, tears now flowing freely down her face. Even he knew that what he said was wrong as she looked at him.
Shaking her head, sadly. “Don’t villainize me, Gabe. I’m not the bad guy, here. And I’m sorry that you don’t see it that way.” She paused at the door, turning to look at him one last time. “Goodbye, Gabe.”
For a long time, he stared at the door. Fifteen minutes ago, he was thinking about a future with her, and now he was in danger of losing everything. His job. His family.
His woman.
19
Stephen was the first to call him. Gabe had stayed up for hours tossing back Scotch, but by the time Stephen called, his buzz was long gone.
“What the fuck is going on?” Stephen demanded. “I told you to handle Daisy. Now, I find out from Nathan that she has files that show we’re just like Greenman’s Corporation. Do you have any idea what this could do to our credibility?”
“Stephen,” Gabe said tiredly. “Now is really not a good time.”
“Not a good time? When is a good time, Gabe? After Daisy takes her findings to the press? After we are demolished by public opinion? When, Gabe?”
“What the fuck do you want me to do?” Gabe shouted suddenly. “You and Angie told me to give her whatever she wanted. Angie gave her the files. Angie approved the agreement for her to go to the media. Angie had to know that she would find this information.”
“She thought all Daisy wanted was Nathan. She thought she was doing something good for our family,” Stephen roared back. “Don’t you worry; Angie and I have already been through this.”
Great. Gabe cradled his head in his hands. Stephen and Angie were fighting. Sure, they bickered all the time, and usually it was in front of everyone, but they didn’t fight.
“Stephen, I’m sorry. There’s really nothing I can do,” Gabe muttered.
“Go back to Plan A. See if Nathan is what she really wants. Christ, maybe we can pimp out our own brother and…”
“Really?” Gabe said with a dry laugh. “That’s your plan? Daisy gives us damning proof of something we’re doing wrong, and you want to pimp out our brother to cover it up? You are more like Duncan than you will ever know. Besides, she doesn’t want Nathan. She made that very clear.”
“What?” Stephen grumbled. “You already tried it?”
“She doesn’t love Nathan.”
Stephen must have heard the strain in his voice. He heaved a sigh. “Gabe, please tell me that you didn’t sleep with Daisy.”
“It’s early, Stephen. I need some time to figure out what to do.” Gabe didn’t even listen to Stephen’s response as he disconnected the call. He already knew what Stephen would say anyway, and his eyes slid to the bottle of Scotch again.
It would be so much easier to push the blame onto someone else. This wasn’t his problem. This wasn’t even his damn idea. Everyone thought they knew what was best for everyone else, and no one actually listened to anyone.
And now, no one wanted to face the consequences.
It was always his job to clean everything up. When they were younger, he covered for Stephen. He protected Nathan. And now that hell was breaking loose, everyone assumed that he would be able to clean it up as usual. Gabe. The good son.
“Fuck that.”
“Drinking by yourself and talking to yourself. I guess you do feel guilty.”
“Speak of the devil,” Gabe muttered as he turned to see Nathan standing in the doorway. “I don’t remember giving you a key.”
“The door wasn’t locked. Angie called. I guess you didn’t handle Daisy like everyone wanted. Rather, it seems like you handled her in your own special way.”
“Well, it couldn’t have been Stephen who told you, because I only just told him,” Gabe sighed and reached for the Scotch. Nathan was faster. Snatching the bottle up, he turned and smashed it against the wall.
“Daisy told me that you tried to seduce her. At first, I couldn’t believe it. You’re a stuffed shirt. You’re the most uptight person I know, and you seduced my ex-girlfriend to keep her from spilling company secrets? That’s the kind of thing Stephen would do.”
Gabe ran a hand through his hair and swiveled his chair around to stare at his enraged kid brother. Physically, the Maxfield brothers didn’t look all that much alike.
“I slept with Daisy before I found about Greenman’s Corporation,” Gabe said with a sigh.
Before Gabe could even react, Nathan moved like lightning and swung. Gabe moved with the punch, but it wasn’t enough. He fell from the chair and sprawled out on the floor, but Nathan wasn’t done. He straddled Gabe and raised his hand for another punch, but Gabe was taller and heavier. Just like when they were kids, Gabe easily got the upper hand and rolled them over. He raised his fist back before realizing that he had no reason to hit Nathan.
Unfortunately, his younger brother didn’t feel the same. When Gabe hesitated, Nathan took advantage and kicked out with his foot. His knee landed dangerously close to Gabe’s groin, and Gabe growled and slammed his palm against his brother’s chest. “Dammit Nathan, stop. I know you’re pissed, but beating me doesn’t change things.”
“It makes me feel better,” Nathan growled as he kicked out again. “I may not be with Daisy anymore, but that doesn’t mean you can use her!”
“I’m not using her!” Gabe scrambled off his brother, but Nathan swung his fist and hit him again. They continued to grapple on the floor, but they weren’t really hitting each other anymore. “Dammit Nathan, I love her!”
Nathan dropped his fists and stared at Gabe. “What the hell did you just say?”
“I said that I liked her,” Gabe said as he blew out his breath heavily. Seeing that his brother wasn’t going to swing at him anymore, he dropped his head against the floor. When he had planned his day, it didn’t actually include getting into a physical fight with his youngest brother.
“You didn’t say, like,” Nathan muttered as he got up and brushed himself off. “Fuck, I need a beer.”
“I had Scotch, but thanks to you it’s now all over the floor,” Gabe said as he also picked himself up. “There’s beer in the refrigerator.”
Nathan snagged a bottle and tossed one in Gabe’s direction. Gabe caught it easily. “You think I’ve seduced your ex to keep her quiet, and you’re ready to kill me. I tell you how I feel about her, and it drives you to drink. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to take this.”
“It’s been a weird few weeks. My ex shows up and threatens to take the company down, and my sister-in-law comes up with a plan to give her access to all the files. Then Daisy finds something and calls to warn me what’s going to happen, and she’s mostly yelling about you. Now, you’re telling me that l…er you, that you have feelings for her. I think that warrants at least one beer.”
Gabe nodded. “Probably two.” Nathan shook his head and chuckled, and Gabe almost felt sorry for him. Nathan had been protected his whole life, and here he was smack in the middle of a huge scandal. “In Angie’s defense, she thought she was helping you
. She thought that Daisy wanted to get you back.”
Nathan nodded. “Well that’s nice of her. I guess. Anyway, what exactly does Daisy have on Duncan Enterprises? I’ve been working on all aspects of our company. We’ve made quite a few changes, and as far as I know, we’re not doing anything that the media would deem dangerous.”
“It’s not what we’re doing but what we’re saying,” Gabe said tiredly. “I’m sure you’re aware of Greenman’s Corporation. Apparently, Duncan and Greenman’s were in each other’s pockets at one time. When Greenman’s went down, Duncan made sure that his company was completely uninvolved with them, but he didn’t change our policy on how we handled the media. We touted total change, but we didn’t really change all that much. Usually, we did whatever was trendy. When they went down for how they dumped their waste, we showed everyone the steps we took to recycle our products.”
Nathan closed his eyes and shook his head. Now he was beginning to understand. “But we only showed them one department.”
“Exactly. We recycled from the design department, but we dumped everything from the construction sites. It was a classic diversion tactic.”
“But I’ve made some big changes within the company. She can talk about our policy all she wants. We put our money where our mouth is,” Nathan protested.
Gabe shook his head. “We’re implementing some of your policies, but it’s slow.”
Nathan shook his head. “Duncan Enterprises will survive. We’ll be in the spotlight for a bit, but it won’t kill us. Any press is good press. Unless you’re hiding something else that I don’t know about. Of course, the lawyers can bury Daisy. She says one wrong thing and we can sue her for slander. But I’m sure you already know this.”
“I don’t know what Angie will want to do. If it weren’t for Daisy, we’d be doing that. And I warned her about it. She thought I was threatening her.”
“She doesn’t know how you feel?”
Gabe tipped his beer bottle. “I’m not sure I know how I feel.”
“So you don’t love her?”
