Burning Up

by Marie Coulson

Reaching down, he grasped my hand and yanked it up toward him. I stood abruptly and panted as excitement and adrenalin rushed through my veins. His hands slid up my dress and in a rough and ruthless movement, he thrust my legs apart.

  I gasped as his hands slipped around to my behind and squeezed firmly on my cheeks. Still in his seat, he pushed me against the edge of the desk. Sliding his strong and eager hands gently around and down over my thighs, he breathed heavily in my ear.

  “You drive me crazy in every possible way. You’re a madness I can’t and won’t cure. The affliction brings me too much pleasure. You make me weak and that’s not something I’m used to, Layla. My heart pounds like a drum, my body aches with withdrawal when you’re not around, and my stomach churns with worry when I think that I could lose you … how I almost did.”

  Lifting his hands to my face, he cupped my jaw and gazed into my eyes.

  “I love you, Layla. I don’t make rules to hurt, restrict, or deprive you of your freedom. I make rules to protect you and keep you safe. I love you.”

  His eyes glistened as the sunlight streamed through the vast windows of his office. The bright and hypnotizing blue pools were staring into my soul, as his words reached inside my chest and clutched my heart with their deep and powerful meaning. Grabbing his tie, I wrapped it around my palm, pulling him to me. His lips parted, and I could feel his warm breath on my lips. I gently brushed my tongue along the bottom, succulent lip before sinking my teeth into it.

  “I want you, Jared. I need you. All of you. I love you, too.”

  It was all the encouragement he needed. Releasing my face, he kissed me deeply as his hands moved down my body slowly. I could feel his cock pressing against my thigh and reaching down, I stroked it gently, teasing him. He moaned as his tongue caressed mine. Jared’s kisses had the power to leave me breathless, and as his lips left mine, I panted and gasped for air.

  “I’m going to make you scream my name, Layla. Make you beg for me to make you come. You want this?”

  Seizing the opportunity to take my breath away once again, he took my hand from his cock and held my wrist in his hand before slamming into me.

  “Oh, God, yes! Please, Jared. Do it again. I want you so much. I need you.”

  A smirk played on his lips as he plunged deep and hard inside me and I cried out with pure, unadulterated pleasure. I was aching for him. The desk shook and rocked as he continued to thrust hard and deep. His hand reached for my other wrist and holding them both tightly he lifted them above my head and slowly lowered me back onto the surface of the desk. Lying on my back, I stared up at him.

  “Beg me, Layla. Beg me to give this to you.”

  I bit my lips anxiously as he slowly withdrew, teasing the opening of my sex with the very tip of his sweet, tempting cock.

  “Please, Jared. I want you deep and hard, over and over again. Make me come. I wanna come for you.”

  Closing his eyes he moaned deeply. “Oh, baby. You say the sweetest things to me.” Staring into my eyes he grinned and in a quick, hard jolt, he rocked his hips against me, pushing and pulling in and out, fiercely. I was beyond turned on, I was in a state of constant arousal, and every touch, lick, and caress was sending me spiraling out of control. The room was disappearing, and my senses knew only touch, ecstasy, and the sound of Jared’s hungry and erotically charged moans. I closed my eyes a moment, trying to regain my equilibrium and opening them, I gazed up at the man I love with lustful desire.

  His mouth was making that perfect O that it always did when he was in ecstasy. His hands left mine and travelled down my arms to my chest. Unfastening the three small buttons on my dress, he slipped his hands inside and massaged my breasts. His lips sought out my nipple, taking it in his mouth, and rolling his tongue over it. His teeth nipped gently, followed by a gentle kiss from his tender lips.

  I writhed around, arching my back and begging him to do it to me again. Obliging, he took my other nipple between his teeth and massaged my other breast while he pushed me further and further over the edge of my orgasm. The tip of his cock brushed against my sweet spot, and I reached up and hung on to him tightly. His arms tensed and I could sense he was close; I wanted him so deep inside me that we almost became one person. Hooking my feet on his behind, I held him between my thighs tightly, urging him to thrust harder.

  His breathing quickened as he grunted, slamming into me. I lost control, and as my orgasm hit me like a bolt of lightning, I released him from my grasp and tried to grip onto the desk, sending papers, ornaments, and picture frames onto the floor.

  Jared chuckled and snaked his hands around to my back, lifting me up to face him. I gazed dreamily into his eyes as I gasped for breath. His lips pressed firmly against mine as he thrust once, twice, and one more time inside of me. He shouted, growling deep in his throat as he came hard. “Fuck!”

  Falling against me, we both collapsed on top of the desk. I could feel the pounding of his heart against my rapidly rising and falling chest. His head rested on my shoulder and he took a deep breath. His hand reached for mine and pulled it gently to his lips. Placing a gentle kiss on the back of my knuckles, he smiled. “That was long overdue.”

  I giggled a little and nodded. “Agreed. So much for abstinence.”

  He lifted his head to look at me, and I couldn’t help but gaze at him, mesmerized. The slight glitter of sweat was on his forehead as he arched a brow at me. “I think you played the game well. But eventually, all games must come to an end. In this case, I feel both teams came out victorious. Congratulations on your astounding win, Miss Jennings.”

  I laughed and kissed him gently. “And to you also, Mr. Garrett. Well played.”

  Lifting himself off the desk, he stood, pulled up his pants, and straightened his suit. He gave me a half smile and held out a hand to assist me up, too. A little dazed, I looked around at the damage. The contents of his desk were strewn all over the floor, and I couldn’t help but giggle at it. Jared regarded me with a bemused expression. I shook my head and shrugged, hopping off of the desk and sorting my dress that was now creased and looked as though, well, exactly what had been happening. It looked as though I’d just had it around my waist and my hair was now the thoroughly fucked look. Getting onto all fours, I began collecting the scattered papers and trinkets off of the floor. Jared let out a delicious moan from behind me.

  “You realize, you have no underwear on and if you continue to crawl around my floor that way, I may have to fuck you again. It would be a crime not to take advantage of you at this angle. I’m still pissed at you for ignoring my rules, and that ass is begging for another spanking.”

  I instantly sat back on my heels, concealing my ass from his view. Turning around, I began to slowly crawl toward him. His eyes sparkled with delight and just as I was about to reach for his belt, his intercom buzzed loudly. Rolling his eyes, Jared indicated I give him a minute and answered.

  “Yes, Stephanie, what is it?”

  She cleared her throat and sounded a little hesitant. “Um, I’m sorry to disturb you, but I hadn’t seen Miss Jennings leave and there’s a gentleman on line one who is asking for her. Apparently he’s waiting for her downstairs.”

  Jared’s eyes darted to me and he raised a brow in question. I held up my hands and shook my head fiercely. “Don’t give me that look, Garrett. The man she’s referring to is Daniel.”

  His expression softened a little, but I could see he was still mad. “Put him through, Stephanie.”

  There was a pause before Daniel’s voice came echoing over the phone. “Mr. Garrett. I’m sorry to disturb you, but I was wondering if Miss Jennings still required the car?”

  Staring at me, Jared answered for us both. “No, I’ll be taking her back to the apartment myself. And, Daniel, my place in an hour, please. I have some things to discuss with you.”

  Damn it. My day trip sightseeing had not only landed me in a heap of trouble, but now Daniel was, too. Agreeing, Daniel hung up and Jared continued to stare at me coolly.


  “Do we really have to go over this again, Jared? You said I couldn’t go wandering around the city alone, and I didn’t. I went with Daniel. I saw the Statue of Liberty, had a nice lunch, saw his apartment …“

  Reaching down, Jared caught my arms and lifted me to my feet so that we were now face to face. “You did what? You were in his apartment? Alone!? What the hell, Layla!”

  I gave him a confused look. “Hey! Don’t make it sound so seedy and underhanded. I told him to change because I wasn’t walking around the city with a suit!”

  His eyes widened and he was practically spitting feathers as he yelled at me. “He was undressed!?” Holding his hands in the air, he let out a loud groan. “Jesus Christ, Layla. Don’t you ever think about what you’re doing? What if you were seen going into his place? What if you were followed there? What if people think the two of you are …“

  Was he serious? “Who cares what other people think? You know I’m not cheating on you, and that should be all that matters. Don’t you trust me?”

  He snorted and it irked me. “Asks the girl who had sex with me, ran back to her boyfriend, and then broke my heart.”

  I held my hand to my mouth as tears filled my eyes. It was a low blow, and judging by the hurt on my face, Jared knew it, too.

  “Layla, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that.”

  Grabbing my purse from the floor, I strode fast toward the door, but he caught my elbow and spun me around, forcing me to look at him.

  “Let me go, Jared.”

  “Layla, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it. I just …“

  “You just don’t trust me. Even now, when I’ve traveled here, left everyone, and chosen you, you still don’t trust me. Well, maybe if you didn’t have so many of your own secrets, you would find it easier to have some faith in me.”

  He shook his head in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

  Yanking my arm from his grasp, I swiped my tears away angrily. “The apartment in Daniel’s building. The cozy little sex penthouse you have set up there. Ya know, the one that Daniel begged me to stay away from. The one that, if he hadn’t been there, I would have been standing in!”

  Holding his head in his hands, Jared growled in frustration. “Why, why must you be so damned nosey, self-righteous, infuriating, and persistent? That apartment isn’t my ‘cozy little sex suite, okay? Yes, I used to … entertain there. But, that was a lifetime ago. You have been the only woman in my life and my bed for almost a year now. Please, have a little faith in me.”

  Taking my hand, he held it to his chest, and I could feel the gentle thud of his heartbeat against my palm. “I love you, Layla. Only you. That apartment is just something I own now. I haven’t been there in months. If it bothers you so much, I’ll sell it.”

  I gazed up at him and thought for a moment. Would I really make him sell it or maybe it was time for me to make a leap of faith. “Don’t sell it because of me. It’s your place and you can do whatever you want with it. I trust you.”

  He smiled down at me and brushed a strand of hair from my face, grazing my cheek with the back of his hand.

  “Thank you. I mean it though. I would give it all up for you. The business, the money, the lifestyle, it’s all worthless if I don’t have you to share it with.”

  He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my fingers sweetly. His thumb rubbed over my ring finger and he frowned. “Did you call the girls about that ring?”

  I shook my head. “I will later, though, I promise. Right now I just want a hot bath and some R and R.”

  He chuckled. “Come on. I’ll take you home.”

  Picking up my shredded panties from below the desk, Jared stuffed them into his back pocket and grinned.

  “Memento.” He held out a hand for me, and laughing, I took it gladly.

  As we left the office, I glanced at Stephanie who had clearly heard our little session inside as she was blushing ferociously.

  “I’m taking the rest of the afternoon off, Stephanie. Please take any messages and forward them to me via email. I’ll check them later.”

  She nodded and quickly busied herself making notes and typing on her computer. Jared gave me a small smile.

  “I think some R and R sounds wonderful, but I was thinking a little more … S and M.”

  My eyes widened and I had to bit my lip to hide my excitement as we walked down the hallway to the elevator.

  “Shhh. Keep your voice down. Don’t you ever get tired? After everything in the office, haven’t you had enough?”

  The elevator arrived quickly, and pulling me inside, he pressed me against the far wall. The doors closed and his arms caged me in like a wild animal.

  “I can never get enough of you, Layla.”

  Chapter 7

  Talking In My Sleep

  Lying on the bed, I stared at the ceiling. My legs were weak and my wrists were still a little sore from the handcuffs. Jared’s fingertips glided gently up and down my arm, and a soft sigh left his lips.

  “You are quite possibly, the most beautiful creature on God’s green Earth.”

  I smiled and rolled onto my side. “I don’t know about that. You’re pretty special yourself, Mr. Garrett.”

  He kissed the tip of my nose and this time, he sighed loudly. His brow furrowed, and I could see something was bothering him.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  He shook his head and rolled onto his back.

  “I have to go to Paris.”

  I gave him a confused look. “Already? But we were supposed to be going in a few more weeks. I thought I’d still have time to …“

  He cut me off, placing a finger on my lips to silence me. “I have to go. The company has hit a snag in the project, and I have to fly out to oversee things. But only me.”

  Sitting up, I clutched the sheets to my chest and stared at him. “You’re leaving me behind?” My voice was shaky and from the instant worry I saw spread across Jared’s face, I got the feeling that my own expression appeared as heartbroken as I felt.

  Pulling me into his arms, he held me tightly to his chest. “No. God, no. You’ll fly out to meet me a week later, but for now, I have to focus on the job. I don’t expect you to stay here alone, either. I’ve made some arrangements. I fly to Paris on Saturday and I’ve organized a seat for you on a plane back to L.A. I thought you might want to spend a week with your family before we head to Europe. But, if you’d rather be here …“

  Pushing away from him, I bounced up and down excitedly. “Really? I get to go home?” He looked a little upset at my reaction. Throwing my arms around him, I kissed him passionately. “Thank you, Jared. You have no idea how much that means to me. Not that I won’t miss you terribly, I just really miss my parents and the girls. When did you even have time to get all of this done?”

  Smiling, he lied back down and opened his arms to me. Snuggling into the crook of his arm, I breathed his scent in deeply. Vanilla, sex, and Jared.

  “While you were in the tub, I checked my emails and realized I couldn’t put the trip off any longer. I knew you’d be upset, but I thought it would be a good time for you to make a trip back home and visit your folks. Are you mad?”

  I shook my head in a definitive no. “How can I be mad? Jared, I get to go home! Oh, I can’t wait to see the surprise on their faces.”

  Grinning, I squeezed him tightly gently running my fingernails up and down his silky, smooth skin. His arms were folded around me, enveloping me in a warm and strong embrace. I would miss this while he was gone. The elation of seeing my family was suddenly dwindling as a slight ache began to settle inside my chest. It would be the first time we’d been apart in over a month and I was already dreading our goodbye.

  Lifting my chin, he rested his nose against mine and shook his head. “Stop it. It’s only for a few days, and I’ll call you all the time. You’ll be sick of me by the time you arrive in Paris.”

  Giggling, I placed a quick kiss on his lips. “I could never be sick of you.
”

  Releasing him, I sat up and began removing the plethora of plush quilts from my body.

  “You should keep that in mind when I’m calling you at ridiculous hours just to hear your voice.”

  Swinging my legs over the edge of the bed, I turned and shot him a smile. “I will as long as you keep in mind that this girl needs her beauty sleep.”

  A loud laugh echoed around the room as Jared’s booming chuckle reverberated off of the pale blue walls. “Layla Jennings, if there is one thing you absolutely do not require, it’s beauty sleep. You were born stunning and will be taking my breath away for years to come.”

  “Well, we’ll see about that when I’m old, wrinkly, and have an ass like a dried-up prune.”

  Rolling onto his front, Jared laughed hard into his pillow, hitting his fist on the mattress as he roared. Picking up my own pillow, I struck him with it playfully. I was about to strike him a second time when he rolled over, grabbed the pillow, and pulled me down onto the bed. In a quick swoop, I was on my back with him firmly pressed on top of me.

  His lips pressed against mine as his tongue slid inside my mouth giving me another one of his heart melting kisses. I closed my eyes and surrendered to the sensation, savoring every touch, caress and roll of his tongue. After all, I would soon be desperate for just a taste and unable to quench my desires. Paris was a world away from L.A.

  Pressing my hands against his chest, I sighed heavily. His eyes wandered from my eyes, to my lips, then back again. “These lips are something a man could become truly addicted to, and these eyes are hypnotic. You’ve bewitched me, Layla Jennings. I am completely under your spell.”

  I bit down on my lip and smiled back at him. “Bewitched, huh? Well, I would certainly agree there is something magical about us, but I can’t take all the credit. That glass door played a crucial part.”

  Chuckling, he held his fingers up to his nose and winced. “Love is painful. And speaking of pain, I have another very dull meeting today. Of course, we could always make it more interesting with a repeat of yesterday.”