He yawned and shot Kade an annoyed look. The other man nodded. He glanced at Derek, who did the same.
“Wrap it up, Mark. We’ll discuss your suggestions and figure out where to go from here,” Lucas said.
The other man, one of their young, brilliant talents, summed up his pitch and left the room.
“Thank God,” Lucas muttered. He wanted nothing more than to head home.
“I couldn’t agree with you more. Lexie’s home waiting.” Kade grinned.
“I really don’t need to know you’re going to get laid,” Derek muttered.
Lucas coughed.
Kade shot Derek a nasty look. “Hey, that’s Lexie you’re talking about.”
Derek held up one hand in apology. “Right. I got it.”
“No, you don’t. But someday I figure you will.” Kade rose to his feet, and both he and Derek made their way out, shutting the door behind them.
Lucas began to pack up his laptop along with some work to take home when his desk phone rang. He picked it up quickly. “Yes, Tessa?”
“You have a visitor,” she said.
“Whoever it is, I’m done for the day. And you can get going too,” he told her.
Lucas might not have a woman waiting for him the way Kade did, but he got to see Maxie at the end of the day, and that was enough to lure Lucas away from work.
“Okay, boss. I’m sorry, Ms. Sullivan, Mr. Monroe isn’t seeing anyone today,” Lucas heard Tessa say before she disconnected their call.
Maxie was here?
He jumped up from his seat and nearly vaulted across his desk in an effort to make sure she didn’t leave before he could get there.
He swung open the door, catching sight of her standing beside Tessa. Dressed in the same work clothes from this morning, she wore a simple black skirt that hit above the knee, heels, and a cream-colored blouse that showed off her luscious curves. Her hair, clipped off her face, fell over her shoulders in sexy waves.
His breath hitched just looking at her. “I’ll see her,” he called out to Tessa, who stared at him as if he’d lost his mind.
He’d probably burst through the door like a lunatic, and this woman was to blame.
“Maxie, come on in.” He gestured for her to join him, and she walked around Tessa’s desk and brushed past him as she entered.
He shut the door behind them and, because he didn’t want to be disturbed, locked it with a press of a button.
He wondered what she was doing here. He’d texted her after lunch, asking about the storage unit, and she’d said not to worry, all was fine. She hadn’t answered his reply, so he figured she was busy and he’d see her when he picked her up from work.
He walked to his desk, turned, and leaned against the aluminum, meeting her gaze. “Hey,” he said lightly.
She stood a few steps away from him. “Hi.” Her lips lifted in a smile.
He folded his arms across his chest. “So, this is a surprise.”
She inclined her head and nodded. “If you’re busy, I can see you at home later.”
“I’m never too busy for you. What’s up?”
She swallowed hard. “I had a revelation.” Her cheeks flushed at the admission, piquing his curiosity.
She placed her bag on the chair Kade had been sitting in earlier and stepped closer.
“What kind of revelation?” he asked, knowing it could be good or bad.
She clasped her hands tightly in front of her, obviously gathering her courage. “Would you agree that we’ve been… on hold?” she asked. “Since that night when we were together?”
His breath left him in a sharp rush. He hadn’t expected her to go there. All he’d been able to think about was them together, his cock deep inside her, and repeating that night. Hell yes, they’d been on hold. And his body wasn’t happy with being deprived of what it wanted, especially when she was in the room next door.
“I agree. Although I made it clear that’s not what I want,” he reminded her.
She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth, and his cock jerked in his pants.
“Well, I realized I don’t want us to be apart anymore either.” She stepped closer, her fruity scent an arousing addition to his inhale.
He waited for her to continue, because as far as he was concerned, this conversation could go anywhere.
“I backed off because I needed to know I could stand on my own. But I realize now I can do both. Be independent and be with you.” She glanced up at him through thick lashes. “And you proved you understand what I need. I mean, today, you let me handle the storage unit without insisting you needed to come along. You respect me.”
“I do.”
She lifted a finger and let it trail down his chest, but he didn’t respond to the bait. Instead he waited, because his gut told him there was more to this turnaround, and he needed to hear it all.
“So I know we can … have sex and I won’t lose myself in any way.”
And there it was.
And though her eyes shone bright in her face as she admitted the reason she’d come to see him, her words didn’t bring him the relief he’d have thought.
And he knew why.
“Sex,” he said, repeating her word choice. “You’re here because you want to fuck again?”
He was deliberately cold and crude, and she blinked at his harsh tone, her hand dropping from where she’d been touching his shirt. “Lucas, I didn’t mean—”
“Yes, you did. Or you would have said it differently. So let’s be clear. You aren’t here because you want a relationship.” Which he did.
With Maxie it was all or nothing, at least for him. Clearly she had other ideas.
“I thought you understood. I’m barely out of my marriage, and I’m dependent on you for where I live. So no, I’m not ready for a relationship. But I don’t see why that means I have to deny us what we both want.”
On the surface, he understood her point. He, too, wanted her to be the self-respecting woman he knew she could be. And would be soon. But she was demeaning what he felt for her… what they could be together. And yet again, he understood.
Still, he ought to be offended that she was turning to him for sex… but he wasn’t. The fact was, Maxie was feeding herself a line of BS. They already were in a relationship. If you defined one by confiding in each other, sharing meals, sharing living space—and once they crossed this next line, they would be sharing a bed. He’d see to it. To him, that was a relationship.
If she wanted to delude herself into thinking they were just having sex, he would let her go on thinking that—hence his use of cold words—until she was ready for more.
There was just one more box he needed to check off in the non-relationship/relationship department, at least in his own mind.
“This sexual relationship has to be exclusive. That’s nonnegotiable.”
She nodded. “Of course.”
He held back a grin. She didn’t know what to make of his responses, and that was good. She was off-balance. Unable to think too clearly. She’d come here wanting to take that next step, but their conversation hadn’t left her in seductress mode.
Fine with him. He had no problem taking over.
Chapter Seven
Lucas’ wolfish expression was enough to cause a near-orgasm, his grin and the yearning in his gaze were that potent. Everything about the man was sexy, from his smile to the tattooed, muscled forearm peeking out from his tee shirt to how good he smelled.
She wanted nothing more than to be in his arms, but her head spun from their conversation about sex. She’d intended to approach him and hopefully seduce him again. She hadn’t expected such a frank talk, nor had she anticipated somehow hurting his feelings when she expressed her desires.
“Maxie?” he asked.
She blinked at the sound of his voice. And yeah, that, too, was hot. “Yes?”
“Quit worrying so much,” he ordered. “And come here.”
“I’m that obvious, hmm?”
&nb
sp; He nodded, that grin widening. “But it’s cute.”
She blushed at the description. “I’m not sure that’s the word I was aiming for.”
He crooked a finger at her. “Get over here and let’s seal our deal.”
Now that she could do. “With pleasure.”
She stepped closer, not realizing her arms were folded over her chest until he grasped her elbows and pulled her against him, his lips coming down hard on hers.
She gasped and wound her arms around his neck, her legs wrapping around his waist. With a groan, he spun her around and backed her against the desk, his groin hard and thick against her sex. She wriggled against him, attempting to get even closer, letting the waves of desire wash over her as his cock hit just the right spot.
“Lucas,” she murmured, the sensations rolling through her.
“I’ve got you,” he said, setting her down on top of the cool desktop. He stepped between her thighs. Meeting her gaze, he cupped her face in his hand. “You want sex?” he asked.
She couldn’t let him go on thinking that’s all there was between them, but she couldn’t get involved any deeper. “I want you.”
“I want you too, beautiful.” He stood her up and undid her skirt, sliding it to the floor.
“There are people in the office,” she squeaked.
“And I locked the door from the inside.”
Privacy was all she needed. When he hooked a hand in her panties and drew them down her legs, she shifted her hips to help him, then kicked the skirt and panties to the side, struggling as they caught in the heel of her shoe.
He stepped back and looked her over, his dark, heated gaze devouring her from head to toe. “So damned sexy,” he muttered.
Beneath his heady gaze, she felt sexy. And wanted.
Without warning, he spun her around. “Hands on the desk.”
At his gruff tone, she grew wetter between her thighs. She did as he asked, bracing her hands against the cool surface.
From behind her, she heard the sounds of him undoing his zipper. She looked over her shoulder as he dropped his pants and boxer briefs to the floor, kicking them off.
Then he was behind her, hands on her upper back, leaning her over the desktop. Her breasts pressed against the aluminum, a surprisingly arousing sensation of cool metal against her silk-covered nipples.
He cupped one ass cheek in his big hand and squeezed so hard she might have his fingerprints there the next day. But not only did his touch feel good, tomorrow she’d be reminded of this moment and of Lucas. She purred at the thought.
“I dreamed about this,” he said as he slid one hand between her thighs and captured her slickness in his fingertips, spreading the moisture over her sex. “You, bent over my desk, me taking you from behind.”
The next sound she heard was the crinkling of a condom package. He stepped back and soon returned, nudging the head of his cock inside her. She gasped at the initial breach, sighed at the pulsing sensation of him gliding home, hitting deeper than he had the last time.
“Oh God.” She cried out, and he cupped his hand over her mouth.
“Do you want the whole office banging down the door to see what’s going on?”
She shook her head hard. I’ll be quiet, she thought, but couldn’t say the words out loud. Instead she licked at his hand, nipping at his salty flesh.
He groaned and pulled out. She felt the loss for a split second too long before he tunneled back into her again. Her fingers clawed at the desk as he began to take her at a steady pace. One that, with each thrust, brought her body higher, had her soaring beyond anything she’d experienced in her life.
He pulled at her hair, tipping her head back so he could nuzzle at her neck with every push into her. “I’m close,” he said, the words coming out like a groan in her ear. “And I’m not coming alone.”
He reached around and slid one finger over her clit. Thunder roared and light flashed behind her eyes as her climax hit. He slammed into her once, twice more, coming with a roar and her name echoing around her.
She breathed heavily, her cheek against the desk as he collapsed against her, his big body pinning her down, his breath rumbling roughly against her.
Finally, he stood up. Pulled out. And she felt the loss. Between her thighs, she felt a sweet ache. Though she heard the rustling sound of his pants behind her, she couldn’t move.
Not until he lifted her up, brushing her hair out of her face. “You okay?” he asked, his expression concerned.
“Never better,” she murmured, but she was suddenly aware of the stickiness on her legs and being half-naked in his office.
She started for her clothes, but he beat her to it, scooping her skirt and panties off the floor. “Here.” He knelt down, holding them for her to step into.
Her skirt followed, and she tucked herself in, fixing herself though she knew it was going to be perfectly obvious what they’d been doing in here.
Which brought a flush to her face. “Well, that was…”
“Great sex?” he asked, winking at her.
It was. But they both knew it had also been so much more.
Lucas called ahead and ordered dinner for them to pick up on their way home. When they arrived at the apartment, she announced her intention to shower before dinner, and he said he’d do the same. There was no awkward discussion, and she was grateful for the escape and the chance to catch her breath. Still, she didn’t overthink things, instead rushed to get ready for dinner. They ate pizza and a salad and cleaned up together. Again, casual, relaxed, and easy.
He was obviously going to respect her boundaries, and she breathed out a sigh of relief. She refused to wonder why a part of her was disappointed he wasn’t pushing for more.
She turned in for the night, changed into her favorite comfy tee shirt, brushed her teeth, and settled in to read. Twenty minutes later, a knock sounded on her door.
Knowing it was Lucas, her stomach flipped in excitement, and her body softened in anticipation. Darn it. She couldn’t even think about him being on the other side of the wall without wanting him.
She put her reader down, slid out of bed, and opened the door.
He stood in a pair of gray sweats hanging low on his hips and nothing more. She came face-to-face with the sexy razor stubble on his beard and the ink down his arm and across his rib cage.
God, he was hot.
“Hi,” she said, her voice hoarse.
“Hi.” His gaze slid down her body, his stare focused on the words on her shirt: Let’s kill all the lawyers. “Shakespeare. Cute.”
She blushed. “I wasn’t expecting company.”
His grin turned to a frown. “You weren’t?”
“Umm, no.”
“So you thought after committing to wanting to… have sex, you were going to sleep alone.”
She blinked in surprise. “Well, I didn’t think we’d be sleeping together.”
He let out a long-suffering sigh. “Well, if I’m going to be in an exclusive sexual relationship, I definitely want to enjoy the perks of that.”
She frowned at his stark reference to how he’d decided to define their situation. At least he hadn’t called them fuck buddies, she thought irritably, knowing she deserved it but not liking the feeling anyway.
“So? Your room or mine?” he asked too cheerfully. “Yours is nice, but I should mention that I have a king-size bed.”
She leaned on the doorframe. “You’re welcome to sleep in your large bed by yourself.”
“Really?” he asked, not even looking wounded. “Because I think having you in it would be so much more fun. Your bed or mine? Decide. One… two… three.”
When she didn’t immediately respond, he bent and picked her up, hefting her over his shoulder, holding her still with one hand on her barely covered backside. “Mine it is,” he said, and headed for his room.
“Lucas! Put me down!” She clung to the top of his sweat pants, well aware her knuckles were brushing his bare ass.
&nbs
p; “Okay.” He flipped her over, her back hitting the mattress, and she shut her eyes to get her bearings.
“You’re insane!”
“I’m just clarifying how things are going to be.”
She narrowed her gaze. “Didn’t I say I wanted to be in charge of my own life?”
He grinned. The one that showed all those white teeth and was impossible to resist. “You are most definitely in charge of your own life. It’s just that I’m in charge in the bedroom. Did I forget to mention that during our negotiation?”
“Negotiation? You’re making me crazy,” she muttered.
He dove onto the bed and rolled on top of her. “That’s the point. Can’t you just shut down the worry and enjoy?” He kissed the tip of her nose. One eyelid. Then the other.
“Can you do that for me?”
“Mmm. You make it sound so easy.”
“That’s because it is.” He rolled to the side and she did the same. “Go with the flow.”
“It’s been years since I’ve had that luxury.”
“Then let me give that to you.” He rubbed his cheek against hers. “Okay? Can you do that?”
“Yeah, I can.” Because she wanted to be with him, and for now that’s what mattered.
He yawned and she smiled. “Tired?”
“You have no idea.” He hooked their legs together and curled his big body around hers. “You wore me out earlier today.” He wrapped an arm around her, pulled her tighter, and began to breathe easily in and out.
Sleep didn’t come as quickly for Maxie. She wasn’t used to sleeping with someone else. Not even when she’d been married. Keith had been a take what he wanted, roll over, and go to sleep kind of guy. At first it had hurt her feelings but as things degenerated, she’d been grateful for the distance.
Lucas, it seemed, had no intention of allowing her space.
* * *
A week later, the assistants, Tessa, Becky, and Kade’s wife, Lexie, had called a morning meeting, asking the three bosses to attend. They’d plied the men with coffee before giving their pitch.
“I’m not doing a Halloween party here,” Derek said with a shake of his head.
Going Down Fast (Billionaire Bad Boys Book 2) Page 9
