by Selena Kitt
“Because you were with me.” I feel a sickening wave of guilt threatening to take me under, but I have to stay strong for him right now. This isn’t about me, and I have to do everything I can to avoid making it about me.
“My mother woke up and heard him trying to beat down Cadence’s bathroom door. He knocked her unconscious when she tried to stop him. I got home and we fought. I knocked him out and tied him up. I locked him in a closet while my mom, my sister, and I all grabbed what we couldn’t bear to leave behind and fled.”
“Oh, Jesus Josh. I didn’t know.” I said on the brink of tears. The pain he must have been holding in all of these years is astonishing.
“We all left our phones behind so he couldn’t track us. Cadence and I only came back here because I paid my father to leave. She wanted to be near where our mother is buried, so I offered him a big chunk of the inheritance to leave the country. I don’t know why he’s back, but it can’t be good. He’s a monster, Zoe. That’s why his father, my grandpa, wrote him out of his will. He left everything to me so I could take care of my family. I couldn’t save my mother, though.” He says and I see a tear form in the corner of his eye. Josh wipes it away quickly and clears his throat.
“What happened to your mother, Josh?” As soon as I asked it, I regretted it. “I’m sorry, you don’t have to answer that. I’m being insensitive.”
“It’s okay, Zoe.” He put his other hand on my knee. “She killed herself a couple of years after we left my father. She blamed herself for what he tried to do to my sister, and for all of the other women he’d hurt. She beat herself up for not getting us out of there sooner. My mom died feeling useless, hopeless, and worthless. I wish I could have made her understand that we didn’t feel that way about her at all. The only person responsible for my father is my father.” He says and squeezes my hand hard.
“Is your sister alright?”
“She’s doing well now. I mean, as well as can be expected. I’m pretty protective of her. I’d do anything to prevent her from hurting ever again. Cadence is the one of the strongest people I’ve ever known. Not once has she ever let the bad things that have happened to her change her sweet personality. She’s never used it as an excuse to treat people badly. She’s so much better than me.” He says and hangs his head. “She reminds me so much of you. You’re both so strong. I bet you’d get along well.”
I take his chin and lift it up so that he’s looking in my eyes again. The corners of his mouth turn up in a slight smile, and a weight lifts off my chest. I lean in and close some of the space between us before I speak.
“I wish I could have comforted you back then. I can be here for you now. I will help you now, Josh.” I say a little more confidently than I feel.
“It would have been so much better for us, for me especially if I could have told you about this when we were younger. I felt like I had to protect you Zoe. I could let you into my life because I was afraid of my father getting to you. I think it’s one of the reasons I was so awful to you sometimes. Part of me wanted to believe I was just teasing you, but I had to keep you at arm’s length. That was almost impossible because of how much I adored you. Ever since I could like girls that way, it was always about you. If only I could have let you in.”
“There’s always now, Josh. I’m here now. Whatever you need. I know you’re with Annabel, but we can be friends. I can’t be physical with you anymore, though. I don’t share. I won’t share.”
“Zoe, there isn’t any helping me. I’m as bad as they come, and I don’t deserve your comfort. One thing I’m not is a cheater. I don’t know what Annabel told you, but I’m not with her. We had a casual thing a while back, but that’s been over for some time. I would fire her devious ass in a heartbeat if I didn’t think she’d sue me. I assure you that I am available and that I don’t share either.” Then the sadness leaves his eyes, and I see bad boy Josh come back. “But, I sure will enjoy wrecking you. Now, I’m going to mark you as mine.” He practically growls.
And, just like that, he’s on me. “Since you liked this so much the last time.” He says and pushes me against the wall again.
He’s on his knees and yanking my skirt and panties off while I’m desperately trying to unbutton my blouse. I can’t get the damn buttons undone, so I just tear it off. Buttons go flying everywhere.
“Wow. Kittens got claws.” He says and flicks his tongue against my exposed center.
He licks and sucks me until I’m shaking and crying out his name. I should be quiet, but neither one of us can hold back. This has been a long time coming, and I’m almost frightened of what we’re going to do to each other.
“You realize I can’t let that little stunt the other day go unpunished.” He says menacingly.
“What do you mean?” I pant out as I try to calm my breathing.
“Walking around this place with no panties on. You’re mine, Zoe, and I better never catch you doing anything like that again. I don’t even want other men near you when your panties are off. You belong to me now. Bend over and put your hands on my desk.” He commands.
I obey, and the first smack against my ass makes a sound that resounds loudly through his office. I moan as the pain mingles with pleasure and shoots straight to the apex between my legs.
“Quiet.” He says, and another blow lands on my buttocks.
Josh continues his spanking until my flesh is red and each smack feels like fire. I’m want to beg him to stop, but I want him to keep going too. I’ve never felt anything like this, and my only choice is to surrender to him. When I don’t think I can take another second of the sweet torture, he stops and runs his hand gently over my swollen skin.
“Good girl.” He says softly. “Get on the desk with your ass on the edge. Pull your feet up and put your heels on the edge too. I want you spread wide for me.”
My skin tingles and my heart pounds so loudly that I think he can probably hear it. This is it. He’s going to take my virginity. I’m nervous and aroused at the same time as I climb on the desk.
When I’m in position, Josh strips off his clothes, and I get the first full look at his amazing hard body. There is not one inch of fat on his perfectly sculpted chest and stomach, but he does have enough ink to give him an edge that makes me whimper with anticipation. I’ve seen his body before, but he’s bigger, badder, and it’s like getting to see him the first time all over again.
When he pulls off his pants and boxers, I get another look at his monstrous manhood. He steps forward, lines himself up with my nether lips, and starts to rock against me. His head rubs against me where I am most sensitive and before he penetrates me, I climax again.
“That’s two for you, baby. Now it’s my turn.” He says and positions himself at my opening.
Josh pushes himself into me until he reaches my barrier, and then stops. “Take a deep breath, Zoe. This is going to hurt, but I promise I’ll make it better as fast as I can.”
One of his knuckles rubs against my clit as he thrusts forward. The sharp pain makes me gasp, but it quickly melds into a pleasure like I’ve never experienced before.
I claw his back as the climax coils up inside of me, and Josh’s breathing grows short and ragged. His thrusts become faster and more desperate as he tries to bury himself deeper inside of me.
“Cum for me, baby. I want to feel it.” He says and then covers my mouth with his.
A few more seconds of the intense sensations is all it takes, and I lose it. I cry out his name, and when my body tightens down on his shaft, it pushes him over the edge too. I hear him whisper my name into the hollow of my neck as he finishes.
When it’s over, I wrap my legs around his waist and rest my head against his strong shoulder. He runs his hands up and down my back and it makes me shiver. After we’ve been wrapped in each other’s arms for a few minutes, I lower my legs and start to pull away from him slowly. He crushes me against his chest and strokes my hair.
“No, baby. Not yet. Just let me have this a little bit l
onger.” Josh says and kisses my forehead.
Chapter 10
Josh
Over the next few weeks, I go back to teasing Zoe the way I used too. Only now, she knows it’s playful, and she starts to pick on me right back. It feels good to have things back the way they were when the world was a little brighter. She adds a light and laughter to my life that I’d thought was gone forever. Zoe can be feisty, and that keeps me on my toes.
“You’re a filthy animal.” She says as after we’ve gone at it in my office again.
Her butt is up in the air and I smack it hard. “Oh yeah, baby. What does that say about you? You just let a filthy animal bend you over a desk and have his way with you at work.”
“I can’t stand you.” She says as she pulls her skirt back down over her ample bottom.
“I love you too, baby.” I say, and she freezes.
“Don’t you fucking dare.” She says and glares at me.
“That’s not the response I was expecting.” I say and chuckle. She is so adorable when she’s furious.
“Don’t you dare say that if you don’t mean it.” She says and picks up my penholder like she’s going to throw it at me.
“Whoa, baby, whoa. Of course, I mean it. I would never say something like that if I didn’t feel it with every part of me. You’re it. You’re everything. And, a big part of me hopes I just put my baby in your belly.” I say and wink.
I mean it. I do. I’ve loved her since we were kids, and I’ve done some messed up things trying to fill the hole Zoe left in me when I ran away. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to her. She’s going to be my wife, I just haven’t figured out the right time to tell her yet.
Zoe drops the penholder and throws herself into my arms. She presses herself against my chest, and my heart melts a little more. Every time I hold her, it’s like she becomes even more a part of me.
“You wanna try again to make sure it takes Big Daddy?” She says and then bites my bottom lip. “But make it quick, I have to meet with a client in twenty minutes.”
“How can I say no to that?”
She doesn’t have to answer. I can’t.
Josh
Two Hours Later
I walk back into my office after my afternoon meeting with the other partners and Annabel is sitting in my chair completely naked. Her feet are on my desk, and she spreads her legs just a bit when I walk into the room. I’m not sure how to react at first, so I close the door behind me and take a step into the room.
The old Josh would have jumped at the chance to have her again. I mean, no one has to know. Just a quickie and then I send her on her way. I have all of this tension building up inside of me because of my father being back and because of my new relationship with Zoe. From experience, I know that having a go at Annabel will be just the thing to get rid of that tension. I’ll feel more relaxed and focused once it’s over. It doesn’t mean anything. It’s just one more time.
No.
My stomach suddenly turns at the thought of touching another woman. My body, mind, and heart all belong to Zoe now. Fury starts to build in my chest at the presumption of this bitch. First, she tried to tell Zoe that she and I are dating, and now this? This crazy shit has to stop. I’d fire her if I didn’t think she’d sue me for sexual harassment. There must be a way to get Annabel out of my firm and out of my life.
I’ll start with getting her skanky ass out of my office.
Chapter 11
Zoe
I feel like I’m going to be sick when I open the door to Josh’s office. The door didn’t make a sound when I opened it because I wanted to surprise him. I figured I’d slip in before he got back from his meeting and wait for him naked in his chair.
It looks like somebody beat me to it.
I can’t figure out why he’s standing there looking at her instead of throwing her out of his office. There is only one possible explanation that I can think of, and it fills my heart with a pain that only Josh can produce in me.
He is a lying snake, and he played me.
I rush out of the office, and Josh never turns around. My secretary asks me what’s wrong, so I tell her I have a family emergency and that I’m going home for the day. After grabbing my purse, I get out of the building before I have the chance to run into anyone else I don’t want to talk to right now.
Can you believe he said that he wanted me to have his baby? He kept talking about how I belong to him and how there is no other woman for him, and it was all some cruel, sick joke. I wonder how much of what he told me about his dad and his sister is a lie too. Maybe I was right about him having his fun and taking off all along.
At home, I grab my overnight bag and pack enough for a couple of days. I’m going to the airport, and I’m going to get on the next plane that goes somewhere tropical. I fully intend on being on a beach with a margarita in my hand by tonight. Halfway to the door I hear a knock, and I groan. Please, please don’t let it be Josh. I am not in the mood for his shit right now.
The next knock is louder and more urgent, and I don’t see any way to get to the airport without dealing with whatever problem is knocking at my door first. I’m shocked when I open it, and Andrew is standing there. Fear makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
How did he know I was here? I’ve been home for ten minutes at the most. I get sick to my stomach when I realize the he’s probably either been following me or having me followed. I guess Josh was telling the truth about something, too bad it wasn’t about the good parts.
“I’m going to talk, and you’re going to listen.” He snarls at me and pushes past me into my apartment.
“You need to leave, or I’m going to call the police.” I try to sound confident, but I’m terrified.
“You’ll do no such thing, or I’ll make sure you regret it. Now, listen up you little money grubbing whore. You’re either going to help me get my daughter and my fortune back, or I’m going to make sure you disappear. You work for me now, or you had better never show your face at my son’s law firm again. I’ll ruin you right along with my good-for-nothing prick of a son.” He says and takes a step towards me.
“Get out.” I scream at him and reach into my purse for my can of pepper spray.
“Wrong choice.” He growls but he does step back towards the door. “Oh, and if you even think about telling Josh about any of this, I’ll make sure they find him and his little cock tease sister floating in the river.”
I take a deep breath and collapse onto my sofa when he leaves. I’ve got to stay calm and figure out what to do next. Josh may be a lying sack of shit, but he wasn’t lying when he said his father is a dangerous man.
I’m done with both of them. I should go to the police, but I don’t know how connected Andrew is. Going to the authorities could be more dangerous than just walking away from everything. I no longer feel like going on a mini vacation.
I just started my new life, but it looks like I’ll have to start all over again thanks to Josh Allen and his crazy father.
Chapter 12
Josh
“Get the fuck out of my office Annabel. I’d fire you right now if I didn’t know that you’d find a way to turn this around on me. But, you’ve been warned. I’ll find a way to get rid of you. So, just stay out of my way. As of tomorrow, you’ll be moving down to the garden level to act as Jack Humphry’s assistant.” I seethe.
“The garden level? You mean the basement. You’re sending me to the basement?” She gets up and starts to get dressed.
I turn my back because I don’t even want to look at her. Finding a reason to get rid of her is my new priority. As soon as she’s out of my office, I’ll call one of my private investigators and have them start the process of finding the information I need. Everybody has dirt, and with the way Annabel behaves, hers shouldn’t be too hard to find.
“Get your desk packed up this afternoon. I want you in the basement where you belong as soon as possible. The less I see of you from now on, the better
things will be for both of us.”
She stops out of my office and slams the door behind her. I don’t care, though. That was some class-A bullshit. I just told Zoe that I love her. Can you imagine how bad things would be if she’d walked in on that scene? I’d probably lose her forever. I’m angry with myself for even considering it, but I’m also proud that I’ve made the right decision. Maybe I’m redeemable after all.
After I call Derek, my best private investigator, I call Zoe’s office. She doesn’t answer, so I call her secretary. I’m told she left for the day due to a family emergency, and I try her cell phone. The call goes straight to voicemail. I leave her a message and shoot her a text. Whatever she’s dealing with must be important, but it can’t be too bad or she’d have come to me.
