by Opal Carew
The elevator arrived at his floor and they stepped off into his stunning penthouse apartment. Everything about this place—the expensive furnishings, the spectacular view through the huge windows, the high ceilings, and the sheer size—reminded her that she and Storm came from two very different worlds.
“I thought you’d understand this,” he said. “It’s about family. About building a relationship with my brother. My family life was never great, but now I have a chance at a real relationship with my brother, without the destructive influence of our father interfering. When we were younger, he used to praise everything Dane did and beat the hell out of me for every little infraction. It made me pull away from Dane, too, and I’m only now realizing my brother was just as much a prisoner as I was.”
She nodded. “I know. I get it.” It was true. Storm needed to be here. At least for a while. Dane had worked hard to incorporate Rafe’s ideas into the company, making it greener and more employee friendly. That had made Rafe very happy, and he wanted to continue to build Ranier Industries into a company he could be proud of, not just because it was his family’s legacy, but because it made the world a better place.
“What prompted this discussion?” he asked.
She stared at her fingers. “I talked to Travis yesterday.”
Fire blazed in his eyes. “What did he want?”
She pushed back her shoulders. “Actually, we went out shopping together.” When his jaw clenched, she continued quickly. “When he took me to lunch that first time,” she gazed at Storm, “when you confronted him … he had only asked me to join him because he wanted to talk to me about Jessica. He asked me to help him pick out a gift for her.”
“That’s not the only reason he asked you to lunch.”
Ignoring his comment, she continued. “That’s why we went shopping together yesterday. And … we got talking.”
Storm’s eyes narrowed and she knew it was not a good time to mention Travis’ offer. If ever.
“It’s just … he said they’d love to have you back in the band, and going on tour with them.”
“So they’re trying to get to me through you?”
She planted her hands on her hips. “Make up your mind. Would you rather Travis be pursuing you or me?”
Surprisingly, Storm chuckled. “Actually, he’s not my type.” He stepped toward her and slid his arms around her waist, then drew her close. “I’d rather be pursued by you.” His lips brushed hers. “And caught.”
She laughed. “Actually, I think it might be pretty hot if Travis caught you. Man-on-man action. Yummy!”
His eyes widened and he stroked her shoulders. “Well, aren’t you the little pervert?”
“Really? And you’d say no to watching me with another woman? Why do you think women don’t have the same fantasy about watching two hot guys together?” She grinned. “Or more?”
She slid her hands up her torso and cupped her breasts. “In fact, just the thought of you and Travis, naked and touching each other’s hot hard bodies…” She giggled. “I’m getting hot just thinking about it.”
In fact, she was quivering with need. She stroked her nipples until they were so hard they practically burst through her shirt, Storm’s gaze locked on them.
“And I’m getting fucking hot just watching you.”
She grinned as she pulled off her top.
She’d started to regret bringing up her conversation with Travis, and had been worried about how to turn things around so they could enjoy their evening together, but she shouldn’t have.
Men were just so easy.
* * *
On Monday morning, Melanie decided to pay Rafe a visit at his office. He came to visit her frequently, and she wanted to turn the tables. In fact, she had a surprise for him.
It was odd entering the big lobby of the office building again. She hadn’t been here in almost three months. Her high heels clacked against the marble floor as she walked to the elevator. When she got off the elevator on the executive floor, she glanced around at the reception area and she realized she missed it. Not enough to want to return to work here, but there were a lot of good memories in this office.
Mostly ones with Rafe, but also with Jessica once she’d begun to work here. Melanie walked to her old desk, which was empty at the moment.
“Hey, stranger, what are you doing here?”
Melanie glanced up at Jessica’s voice. Jessica stood in her teal business suit and white blouse, holding an armful of folders.
“I thought I’d say hi to Rafe.”
“Oh, sure. Go ahead in. You don’t have too long, though. He has a meeting with the marketing department in fifteen minutes.”
“Okay, thanks.” That didn’t give her much time.
As Melanie walked toward his office, she saw the door was open. Rafe glanced up from his computer screen as she walked in, then smiled.
“Melanie. This is a nice surprise. Come in and sit down. I’ll just finish this e-mail.” He glanced back at his computer and tapped at the keyboard.
She closed the door behind her and locked it discreetly.
He finished typing and glanced up, pushing his chair back. She walked toward him, and his gaze flickered to her upswept hair, then down her smart, tailored blazer to her short skirt.
“Are you going to a job interview?” he asked.
She shook her head, continuing toward him. “I’m here,” she said in a deep, seductive tone, “to beg for my job back.”
* * *
Rafe watched her as she continued around his desk toward his chair. Startled, his gaze flicked to hers, but the glitter in her eyes told him this was a role.
“Well, I don’t know. Why would I consider hiring you back?” he asked, turning stone-faced.
She took his hand and pulled something from her pocket, then placed a scrap of lace in his palm. He glanced down and realized they were panties.
Her panties.
God, she was naked under that short skirt. His cock twitched.
“Because I will do anything you want,” she murmured, her voice dripping with sexual innuendo.
She leaned back against his desk, her thigh pressing against his knee and she tugged the panties from his hand and tucked them into his breast pocket. Then she drew his hand to the hem of her skirt and guided it underneath. At the feel of her warm, naked thigh—God, no pantyhose—his cock twitched again. Then she pressed his fingers against her folds and—fuck, she was soaking wet.
She released his hand and he stroked her slick flesh. She shifted around, then pushed on the armrest of his chair to turn him toward her. His fingers slipped from her slickness as she knelt in front of him, then stroked over the hard bulge in his pants.
“I think I know what you’d like right now.” She smiled, and slowly drew down the zipper, then unfastened the button.
Her delicate fingers stroked over the light cotton that covered his hot, aching flesh. Then she reached inside. He sucked in a breath as her fingers wrapped around him. She drew him out, then gazed at his long, hard cock with wide eyes.
“Why, Mr. Ranier, you are so big.”
As she stroked him, his heart thundered in his chest. Fuck, he hoped she’d locked the door.
She leaned forward and her sweet lips brushed against the tip of him. He stifled a groan.
Then her hot mouth surrounded him and the groan escaped. Her gaze locked with his as she glided down his hard shaft. With her dark blonde hair pulled tight on her head and her conservative business suit, he could almost believe she was his secretary again. And she was in his office sucking his cock.
Fuck, this was hot. He closed his eyes as she glided deeper, imagining this was an ordinary workday when she was still his secretary and he’d called her into his office just to give him head.
She drew back, then glided deep again. Her soft fingers stroked his balls, which turned up the heat several notches. As her lips hugged him tightly, gliding up and down, his head started to spin and his groin tightened.
“Fuck, I’m so close.”
She squeezed his base, then drew her lips from his erection, an impish grin on her face.
“I forgot to tell you, Jessica told me you have a meeting in ten minutes.” She stood up. “Maybe I should stop now.”
“Oh, fuck, woman!”
He pulled her onto his lap, and his mouth captured hers in a crushing kiss. His hand found her breast and he fondled it roughly, loving the feel of her nipple pushing into his palm through the thin silk of her blouse.
If he was going to make that meeting, he couldn’t take this where he wanted it to go. But he also couldn’t go into the meeting with his cock rock hard and aching.
He drew his lips back and murmured against her ear, “Well, you’d better get on with it, then. Now kneel down and suck my cock.”
He rested his hand on her head and pressed downward. She sank to her knees in front of him again, then took his cock lovingly in her hands and stroked it. He groaned at the feel of her delicate fingers around him, then again when she captured his cockhead in her mouth.
“Oh, yeah.” His fingers curled around her head as she glided deeper, taking his cock down her throat. Then she slid back and glided deep again.
Oh, God, he would come any second, but feeling the moistness of her delightful mouth around him made him crave even more. He wanted to be inside her sweet pussy.
Her fingers tucked around his balls and pleasure shot through him. She caressed them as she glided back and forth, taking him deep each time.
“No wait, I’m going to … Fuck!” He shot down her throat, his pelvis jerking forward, intense pleasure pulsing through him.
She drew back and licked her lips. Damn it, he hadn’t wanted to come in her mouth. He wanted to be inside her hot, sweet body.
“Stand up and turn around,” he demanded.
She stood up and faced the desk, as instructed.
“Now show me what’s under that skirt of yours.”
He watched in anticipation as she wiggled her skirt up, baring her perfect, round ass.
God, it was so appealing. His fingers itched to glide over the firm, round flesh. Then to smack it, enjoying the sharp connection of flesh on flesh.
The urge to spank her, again and again, became overwhelming.
He stood up and cupped her ass, loving the feel of her smooth skin against his palm.
“You dare to come in here after you walked out on me. After I was a fair and generous boss. And now you want your job back?” He tightened his fingers around her firm flesh. He leaned closer and murmured, “The only thing you deserve from me is to be punished.”
“Please, Mr. Ranier. Don’t punish me.” But she gazed over her shoulder with longing in her eyes, belying her words.
“Silence,” he snapped.
He slid his hand over her smooth, round ass, then slapped it. Her fair skin blushed pink. He smacked again, then again, the sharp sound filling the office.
God, his cock was stiffening again.
He smacked a couple more times, then stroked her reddened flesh. He wanted to be inside her, pumping his cock until he exploded.
He stepped back.
“Open yourself to me and beg me to fuck you,” he commanded.
His breath caught as she reached behind her and grasped her round cheeks, then drew them apart, revealing her glistening folds.
“Please fuck me, Mr. Ranier.”
God damn. Her invitation acted like an electric prod. He grasped his aching cock, almost drooling at the sight of his secretary bent over his desk, her pussy exposed and glistening. Ready for him.
He positioned himself behind her and pressed his cockhead to her slick flesh, blood thundering through him. God, he thought he’d die with need. He thrust forward.
“Oh, yes,” she whimpered.
Fuck, she was so hot and welcoming.
“Fuck me hard, Mr. Ranier.”
He drew back and thrust again, knowing he was dangerously close.
“Oh, please, more,” she begged.
He grasped her hips and kept thrusting. Suddenly, intense heat rushed to his groin and … God he tried to stop it but … The flood of pleasure spiked and he groaned as he released inside her.
He kept on thrusting as he filled her hot passage, then finally collapsed against her, his cock still nestled in her warmth.
But, damn it, she hadn’t come.
He drew back and she stood up, smiling at him.
“Don’t think you’re getting away that easily.” He pushed her back against the desk, then reached under her skirt and stroked her slick flesh, his finger finding her sensitive nub.
Her eyelids lowered and need filled her big, green eyes. He flicked it and she moaned softly.
He started to crouch down, but she grasped his shoulders.
“You really do have a meeting now,” she said halfheartedly.
“I know.” He captured her lips and plunged his tongue inside, thrusting the way he wanted to again in her pussy.
He lifted her onto the desk and knelt in front of her, then licked her flesh, slick with both their fluids. He drew her pink folds apart and drove his tongue inside. But his cock twitched and he realized he needed to be deep inside her again.
“Rafe, really. You’re going to be late.”
As his secretary, she had always prided herself on ensuring he was never late for a meeting.
He stood up and lifted her from the desk, then spun her around and pressed her to the wall.
“Fuck it. I’m in charge here.” Then he drove his cock into her again.
She gasped, staring up at him with wide eyes. He grasped her wrists and held them over her head, then thrust into her again, driving her hard against the wall.
“Oh, yes.” Her whispered words drove his need higher.
He rammed into her again. And again. Her slick passage massaged him as he filled her over and over. She whimpered and moaned softy, her eyes glittering with desire. Every beautiful, feminine sound of need she uttered, drove his need higher.
He wanted to know she was going to come. He wanted to hear her say it.
“Are you going to come this time?”
She nodded, her gaze locked on his as she pushed against the grasp of his hands, her body arching against him.
“Tell me,” he said forcefully. “Say it.”
“Yes, Mr. Ranier, you’re—” She gasped as he drove in hard, slamming her against the wall. “You’re making me come.”
He thrust and thrust again, loving the sound of her whimpers. Then she arched against him and her whimpers turned to a rising moan. Her face glowed and her eyelids fell closed as she rode the wave of pleasure. He reached between their bodies and his calloused fingers found her clit. She gasped and moaned louder.
Then, incredibly, he erupted inside her. He lurched forward, crushing her to the wall. But she just kept moaning. His pelvis ground against her and she gasped, then collapsed against him.
They stood together like that for several moments, their erratic breathing slowly calming to normal. Finally, he drew back and gazed down at her.
“You’ve got your job back.”
She laughed. “You’d be crazy to hire me back. I just made you late for your meeting. Probably the first time ever. What will the marketing department think?”
He chuckled. “Fuck them.”
Then she grinned and raised her eyebrows. “Is that an order?”
He pulled her from the wall and smacked her bottom. “You are really bad today.”
She giggled as she pulled her skirt down over her delightful cheeks, then headed to the door of his private bathroom.
“And that’s why you love me.” Then she disappeared inside.
His smile faded as he realized there was more truth to that than he wanted to admit.
Fuck, he did not want to fall for her. He’d just had a disastrous experience with Jessica, where he’d been so sure he was head over heels for the woman, only to realize it was just wishful t
hinking. He didn’t really trust his interpretation of his own feelings these days.
And he didn’t like what had just happened between them. At least, the way he had acted. Clearly, he still had issues to work out.
* * *
Melanie was nervous as she dressed for work on Friday morning. Today she had her three-month evaluation. She knew she’d been doing a fine job, but that didn’t matter to Karen. The woman hadn’t liked her from day one.
She took the bus to work, chiding herself that there was no reason to be nervous. The worst-case scenario was that she’d lose her job, and then she’d simply find another one. Still, she hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
As she got off the bus, she saw Sue heading down the street.
“Morning.” Sue tilted her head as Melanie fell into step beside her. “You okay? You look distracted.”
Melanie shrugged. “I guess. I’m just nervous about my review today.”
“Oh, right. Well, don’t worry about it. You’ve been doing a great job.”
Sue pulled open the door and Melanie followed her in.
The worst part of the whole thing was the waiting. Karen had scheduled her review for three in the afternoon, right at the end of the shift, which Melanie took as a bad sign. But when Karen arrived at noon, she seemed in a good mood, and the next few hours flew by as customers came and went at a steady pace.
Finally, the time arrived and Melanie followed Karen to a quiet table in the corner. Melanie sat down and Karen opened a file folder, reviewed whatever was inside, then glanced up at Melanie again.
“So, you started working here three months ago and, as you know, you’ve been on a probationary period during that time.”
Melanie nodded.
“And you know that anytime during that probationary period, we can let you go without cause.”
Melanie’s stomach quivered. “We” meant Karen. She was the store manager and the only one who made the decision.
“For instance, if we find that you just don’t fit in with the other staff.”
Melanie knew the whole staff liked her. Except Karen.
Karen closed the folder and clasped her hands together on top of it. “Unfortunately, we have decided not to keep you on.”
