by F. C. Clark
My strides are long and my attitude is implacable. I stand in front of his desk, ready to fire my words at him – threateningly. I pass him the printout from the cashpoint.
‘What’s this?’ My face doesn’t mirror his pleased expression.
‘A bank receipt,’ he replies nonchalantly.
‘No shit, Sherlock – look at the bottom.’
He scans the receipt.
‘Luke, it’s not a “phone a friend” question; you don’t win a bloody prize. So, would you care to explain your sorry arse?’ I stand, tapping my foot and my arms folded. ‘I’m waiting, and this had better be good.’
‘Kate, I will deal with you in a minute.’ His tone is deep and authoritative; also it’s directed at me through clenched teeth.
‘What! Deal with me… Are you bloody joking?’ Oh my God, this man tests my thoughts on humanity.
Luke turns and looks at the far corner of his office, where several people are seated at a boardroom table.
Oh shit.
‘Would you all excuse me?’ He turns to look at me. Oh fuck – his eyes have changed. Dark and pissed off meets dark and linguistically out of control… I think brazen Harper has left the building. I now need to find the strength to stand up to the sex god standing in front of me.
I turn to see his employees exiting the room, scurrying away like mice. Obviously, they heard my speech or request – either way they can feel the tension in the room. Stella also stands at the doorway.
‘Stella, hold my calls. It would seem Kate has an issue that needs addressing.’ Luke’s dark eyes bore into me with contempt.
‘Certainly. Anything else, Luke? Kate?’
I shake my head; maybe an exit strategy is the only thing I will need after I’ve kicked the hornets’ nest.
Luke locks the door of his office. This is not a good sign. He turns to look at me.
‘You have an issue that you need to discuss with my sorry arse, I believe.’
Here we go, he’s repeating my words – the human memory box is with me once again.
He moves closer, making me back up. The desk is behind me; I have nowhere to go – stalemate.
‘May I make a suggestion for the future? Make sure my office is fucking empty before you come barging in here shouting at me.’ He closes the gap between us. He’s closing in on me.
I begin to feel a little anxious and cross. ‘That’s not my fault – I didn’t see them sitting in the corner. Besides, you’ve put a lot of money in my account, and you know how I feel about your money.’
‘Yes, I deposited it on Friday.’ He is close. Actually, he is within kissing distance – in the danger zone.
‘I don’t want your money; you can keep it.’
‘No, I don’t think I will. You see, I put that money in your account for many reasons.’ I can feel his breath on my face, as he pulls me to him. His eyes are dark and pissed off, but his erection digging into me confirms his hunger. ‘First, I need to know you’re safe. Second, if I need you to get to me anywhere in the world, you have the funds to do so.’
‘Oh. Well, I don’t like that you did it. I want you, not your money.’
‘Looks like you have me; now you will have to deal with my money.’
The tension is beyond its normal sexual charge. This is a power game for Luke, needing total control in his place of work.
His hand moves up my leg as he slides his fingers inside my knickers, reaching my clit. With his eyes pinning me to the edge of the table, I can’t move, only groan at his touch on my sensitive skin.
‘You make me so fucking mad. You need to control your mouth, do you understand me?’ His mouth makes contact with my lips, silencing me.
His hands now run up to my shoulders, removing my jacket, discarding it onto the floor. Sensing his urgency, I tug at his hair to deepen the kiss. He pulls away from me.
‘I need to fuck you.’ His voice becomes hoarse; he’s not asking me but telling me of his intentions.
He removes my top and slides my bra straps down my arms, almost pinning them to the side of my body. He turns me. My back now rests against his chest. He pushes me forward across his desk, my exposed breasts hitting his paperwork. My arms held in place by the straps of my bra, and Luke pressed hard up against my arse, I have no room to move. The Adonis, and his desire, has me cornered.
Gathering my short skirt to my waist, he rips my underwear from me. Wow – so fucking raw and yet so erotic. I hear the sound of his zip. He pushes his fingers inside my sex, distributing my juices from my clit, then towards my arse. Holy fuck. I have no time to think as he guides his erection to my sex and impales me. At the same time he inserts his thumb into my arse.
‘Luke!’ Fuck… I wasn’t expecting that.
His hips thrust against me, while he manoeuvres his thumb, slowly, sliding it in and out. How can I be enjoying this? His hips flex, riding me, while his thumb remains active, and his free hand begins to manipulate my clit. Shit. This has to be multitasking at its best.
My self-control snaps with the intensity of the pleasure Luke is giving me. He drives his body hard and fast into me as his thumb becomes more aggressive.
‘Luke, I’m going to come.’ My words are barely audible.
‘Fuck.’
Small groans escape from my throat. My body bucks against the first wave of my orgasm, shocking me. The intensity is greater than usual. My body is awash with sensation. Luke slams into me as he comes, giving himself to me.
Afterwards, he removes his thumb and fingers, just his erection remaining deep-rooted in me. He lowers his head to my back as his breathing slows.
‘This is what you do to me. I need it this way when I get angry.’
Since I’m trapped, I think it’s time to tell him something.
‘Is this a good time to tell you I’ve transferred the money back into your account?’
The silence is only broken by the sound of heavy breathing. He remains inside me. His mouth moves to my ear.
‘No, it fucking isn’t.’
He manoeuvres himself, gently sliding his erection in and out of me. In the blink of an eye, he releases himself and turns me to face him. Grabbing my legs, he spreads them wide and takes hold of his dick, sliding his hand up and down the shaft. Holy fuck, this is such a turn-on. There’s no time to lose myself. One quick thrust and he’s back inside me.
‘Fuck, Kate.’ His eyes close momentarily. ‘Do you realise what you do to me?’
I nod.
‘No, I don’t think you do.’ His face becomes intense evidence that he’s still pissed with me. Ding-ding. Round two.
He slams into me hard, making me cry out. I bite my lip to muffle the sound. He pushes me back on the desk and yanks my arse close to the edge, almost making me slide off.
‘I don’t think I should let you come… Maybe I should pull out now… But you wouldn’t like that, would you? I’ll tell you what else you won’t like. I’m now going to double the deposited amount in your bank.’ I can hear him, but I can’t answer back, except to groan.
His body works hard, grinding me, hard and fast, delivering every ounce of his anger through his sexual desire, and ultimately taking revenge on my body. He ferociously pumps into me, while his thumb matches the pace and rhythm on my clit. My body begins to shake with the onslaught of my next orgasm.
‘Fuck.’
We come together. Thankfully his look of tension begins to leave him. This time it’s over; he has nothing left to give. We both wait for our breathing to return to normal. Luke guides me up from the table, but we remain connected, his hardness still buried inside me.
‘This is how you make me behave – in my office, my place of business. It’s not acceptable.’
‘You started it! You shouldn’t have put money in my account.’ I nibble at his jaw, then move to meet his lips.
>
‘Is that so? Always ready with an answer.’
‘I’m always ready for you – however, I wasn’t ready for your thumb to disappear up my arse.’
He laughs. ‘You, young lady, are very lucky it was only my thumb.’ I feel my face flush with embarrassment. ‘Judging by your gasp, I take it that’s never happened before.’
He makes me feel inept and gauche.
‘No, it hasn’t. Never had a request for an arsehole until now.’
Luke laughs at my words.
‘My impertinent Kate.’ He kisses me. ‘I suppose I need to pull out of you.’
‘Unless you want to come with me to meet Kiki and Henry.’
He shakes his head at my wit.
‘Don’t push me.’ He pulls out and I am amazed he’s still semi-hard. I’m not sure I could take round three.
‘Look at the bloody state of me – how can I meet Kiki now? I have come running down my leg, my knickers have been ripped to shreds, and you’ve messed my hair up.’
He holds his hand out. ‘Come with me.’ I follow him to the en suite – a room I had the pleasure of visiting some weeks ago. He runs the shower. ‘Strip.’
‘I don’t want to get my hair wet.’
‘You won’t; now strip.’
I remove the few items that remain on my body. Within seconds Luke is naked too. He takes my hand and walks me into the shower.
‘Stand there and I’ll wash you.’
He lathers up a sponge and begins to wash me all over. Washing my arse, he looks at me. ‘It shouldn’t be sore.’
‘It’s not.’ I’ve never been this intimate with another human being.
He washes himself quickly and steps out of the shower, collecting towels for us both. He pulls me to him for a kiss.
‘Kate, I love exploring your body.’ He kisses me again, explaining his need to discover unknown orifices.
What do I say? Nothing. I have no reason to debate with him – I want more.
‘Now then, you need an outfit for lunch. I have something that may help.’
Luke takes my hand and walks us through his office and towards his dressing room. He passes me a clear bag.
I giggle at the sight. ‘Are you kidding?’
‘I had them dry-cleaned, hoping one day to return them to their rightful owner.’ Luke smiles, remembering our first encounter – a piece of our history.
I laugh at the love of my life as I pull out my underwear I left in his bathroom the day we first met.
‘Not quite Cinderella!’
* * *
The lunch date was great. Henry always takes us somewhere uber-posh and uber-expensive. However, Kiki and I make far too much noise, making Henry regret his choice of restaurants. On this occasion he joins in the fun, happy to see his daughter relaxed. He knows that this week is always hard for her.
Afterwards, I arrive back at the palace and prepare a meal for Luke, before I prepare to go and tell Pete I’m leaving. Wanting to relive our past, I indulge Luke with a note.
Dear Luke… the love of my life.
This evening I have prepared lamb cutlets with new potatoes and fresh vegetables.
There’s also chocolate cake – please note the EAT ME sign doesn’t refer to the cake, but your girlfriend!
I have made one for Jerry and another for Max. I know you have no concept of sharing – or is that just with me?
Don’t forget to collect me around eleven-ish.
I love you.
Kate – your insatiable girlfriend
(And, yes, you do possess me. You have done since the moment you said hello.)
Six twenty arrives and so does Max. My controlling boyfriend assumed I would be grateful of a lift this evening. Secretly I am. Will I share this information with Luke? Hell, no!
* * *
That night, I lie tucked up in bed, Luke’s arm around my waist holding me close, after yet another rollercoaster of a day.
‘Do you feel better?’
‘Yeah. I can’t believe I got so emotional about leaving the bar. I know I made the right decision, what with my new job starting soon.’
‘You always wear your heart on your sleeve – being sensitive is part of your DNA.’
‘New chapters. I guess I’ve never thought about not working there.’
‘They’re good people.’ Luke kisses the top of my head.
‘They are. Fiona liked you.’
‘What’s not to like?’ Luke laughs.
‘Oh my God, you’re so self-assured, Sutton.’
‘I take what I want.’
‘I’m beginning to see the bigger picture.’
‘You rock my world, baby.’
‘Don’t say that, I’m already an emotional wreck.’
‘Thank you for my note.’ I can feel him smile.
‘I miss writing you notes.’ I stroke his arm, which is lovingly wrapped around me.
‘I do too, but then I never had you, just your words. Now I have your body and your words. After today, I think just your notes would be a wiser choice.’
I tap his leg. ‘Hey, you wouldn’t have it any other way. I know how much you love my opinion. Maybe I should work with you – just think how much fun we would have.’ I giggle as my thoughts drift back to this afternoon and the desk.
‘Working together would have catastrophic consequences, mainly on your body.’
‘That’s what I mean – how fun.’
‘Kate Harper, you’re trouble. I believe it’s midnight. Happy birthday, baby.’
24
I’m not sure what wakes me, the excitement of my birthday or the smell in our bedroom. My eyes open to see an explosion of pale pink roses covering the room. I bolt upright.
‘Happy birthday.’ Luke looks at me. He’s sitting at the foot of the bed dressed in a white shirt and chinos.
‘I don’t know what to say.’
He moves closer to me.
‘I waited for you to fall asleep last night. That’s when I became a florist extraordinaire.’ His face wears a heartfelt smile, proud of his efforts.
I look around the room. There’s not an empty space without a bouquet.
‘How much…?’ He places a finger over my lips, hindering any monetary questions.
‘Let’s not approach the issue of money right now.’
He removes his finger.
‘Fine, but…’
‘No.’ He raises his brows. ‘Evidently you have flowers on your birthday, many flowers.’ He strokes my face. ‘Will you allow me to spoil you for one day?’
I nod.
‘Good. First things first – you need to get ready.’ He rubs his nose along mine. ‘Your bath is waiting, and there is a dress hanging in the closet. Presents will come later.’
‘So, you’re not working today?’
‘No, Kate. I have an entire day planned for us both.’
I clasp my hands around his neck and kiss him.
‘Thank you, I’m still in shock with the flowers.’ I turn to scan them – there are too many to count.
‘Bath, now. I want you relaxed.’
Luke stands and guides me to the bathroom. I sink into the hot water. Relaxation has begun, starting with the Sutton scent.
Luke’s phone bleeps and he checks the message. ‘I’ll be back shortly.’
I lie in seventh heaven, enjoying the start to my morning. I’m shocked at the quantity of roses, and the fact that Luke’s cleared his diary for me. I close my eyes and wonder where I would have been today, if not with Luke. I open my eyes to see the man himself, with a towel.
‘Time is ticking; you need to get out.’
‘I was enjoying the soak – your plan is working.’
Luke wraps the towel around me tightly.
‘I w
ould love to take you right now. However, we don’t have time.’
Hmm, there is a fundamental flaw to his careful plan.
‘I did wonder when my hot morning sex was going to happen.’
‘As ever, you have a point. I will exchange hot morning sex for a night of hot sex.’
‘I may question your bargaining skills, as I’m sure that was probably part of your plan anyway.’
‘Do you think you know me that well?’
My knowledge of him appears to be growing, nearly as much as his erection.
‘It would seem you do… You need to get ready. I repeat, time is not on our side.’
I enter the closet and see a new outfit hanging there: a cream silk halterneck shift dress with a thin gold belt – very elegant. I know Valerie provided the outfit, as there is a stunning cream lace underwear set, gold strappy sandals, not too high, and a smart cream leather biker jacket. Last, there is another amazing bag: good old Chanel, sophisticated and simple. It’s safe to argue this day is already pushing my ability of accepting his gifts.
Hair straightened and make-up completed, I check my appearance. Valerie’s understanding of my clothing likes and dislikes is spot-on. I walk into the bedroom, where Luke has been waiting patiently to see my birthday transformation.
‘Thank you for the outfit – I love it.’ I twirl, in order for him to see the full effect of the dress.
He stands and moves towards me.
‘You look beautiful, although something is missing.’ He reaches into his trouser pocket and passes me a purple box, the words Asprey London inscribed across the lid.
I recognise the name.
‘Luke.’ I look at him; he offers me a beaming smile.
‘Remember what I said – accept everything I give you.’
I remove the lid to reveal a beautiful diamond pendent and necklace.
My hand covers my mouth. ‘I don’t know what to say.’ Tears prick at my eyes and slowly fall down my cheek. ‘Oh my God, Luke, it’s beautiful. You really shouldn’t have.’
‘But I did. Let me put it on you.’ He nimbly clasps the necklace. Using his index finger he traces the line of the pendant, while his dark eyes remain locked on mine. My hands immediately gravitate to his hair, drawing him close as his lips make contact with mine.
