by Alexa Riley
“Come inside me, Oz. Fill me up with you,” I cry out, and he does. Thrusting deep, his fingers finally give me what I need and he sends me over. He jerks behind me as I clamp down around him, my orgasm taking me. His warm release fills me and my desire deepens from the sensation.
I don’t know how long I lie there, enjoying the aftermath of our pleasure while he places soft kisses along my neck. Since I hit this bed last night, I think at least one part of him has been touching me nonstop. Almost like he can’t help himself.
“You didn’t leave,” he finally says, making me giggle. I don’t think I could’ve gotten out of this bed even if I wanted to.
“I could barely move with how you were wrapped around me last night.” I was lucky I could breathe at a few points.
“Sorry,” he mumbles against my neck, and I don’t believe for a second he’s sorry at all. I wiggle against him and he tightens his grip, proving my point.
“I really do need to use the bathroom.”
He sighs, reluctantly letting me go, and I shyly stand. The curtains in the room are pulled back and the morning sun fills the room, exposing every inch of me. Once on my feet, the moisture of our night together runs down my thighs.
“Fuck, I like seeing that.” Oz’s eyes are trained between my legs, and after a second he lunges for me. He pulls me back toward the bed, saying he wants a better look. My cheeks warm, which is silly because Oz has seen me there more than a few times now. He runs a finger up my thigh into the wetness, and damn him.
“Bathroom,” I whisper, making him look up at me.
He nods. “Don’t shower. I’ll cook for us, then we’ll shower,” he says, pulling himself from the bed and giving me a quick kiss. I try to deepen it, but he pulls back. “You’ll end up back in the bed, sweetheart,” he warns, making me smile. I like how I seem to test his control.
He walks over to a closet, pulling out a shirt and handing it to me. “You can wear this.” He slides it on over my head, not really giving me an option. But it’s not like I’m about to put on the dress from last night. It’s in a pile on the floor, and I’m not sure I’m ready to walk around naked, so I let him dress me.
“Scrambled eggs and bacon?” he asks, before giving me another quick kiss.
“Yes.” He kisses me on the cheek this time before turning to grab his boxer briefs off the floor and sliding them on. He walks out of the bedroom door, and I can’t help but watch him go. He’s got a great ass.
Pulling myself together, I make quick work of taking care of business in the bathroom, but stop to look at myself in the mirror. Leaning in closer to the mirror, I see something on my neck that makes me gasp.
I turn, storming out of the bathroom and toward the kitchen. He left a hickey on me! It might be light and I’ll probably be able to cover it with makeup, but still. A freaking hickey like I’m in high school or something.
“Miles!” I snap, making him turn from the stove, spatula in hand and a stupid, perfect smile on his face. No one should look that good in the morning, or while cooking. Who cooks in their underwear anyway? He’s trying to kill me.
“Yeah, baby?” he says easily, like he’s not worried about my temper.
“I’m about to yell at you, so stop smiling,” I snap again, which only makes him smile more. He turns, flipping off the stove and putting the spatula down before turning to look back at me. Still smiling.
“Hard not to smile when you’re standing in our kitchen, in my shirt, looking like I made love to you all night. As long as you’re not trying to slip out on me, I don’t think there’s anything you could be doing in here that won’t make me smile.”
I ignore his sweet words because, well, because they’re too freaking sweet. Like everything that comes out of his mouth. It’s utterly mind-blowing how he does that, so I choose to ignore his words and to keep my anger. I don’t savor any of his words. Especially not the one about our kitchen.
“You gave me a hickey.” I point to the spot on my neck. The same spot he attacked last night in the limo.
He lets out a breath, like he’s trying to stifle a laugh.
“This jealousy thing you’ve got going on isn’t going to work,” I tell him, putting my hands on my hips and standing my ground. We haven’t even been together that long and he’s lost it multiple times when guys have gotten too close to me.
He moves toward me, and I don’t budge until he’s right in front of me. He picks me up, and I can’t help but squeal. My butt lands on the kitchen counter, and his hands bracket my thighs. He drops his head and I watch his movements as he breathes. I can’t stop myself from running one hand into his hair, finally making him look up at me.
“It’s hard,” he finally says. “I’ve wanted you so fucking long. You have no idea. So fucking long,” he says. “Then when I see someone trying to move in on that, well, I slip. I get pissed, and something takes over. I know it’s crazy, but I can’t seem to stop it, no matter how hard I try. I can’t.” He says the last part like he’s pleading with me to see it, too.
“How long have you been waiting?” I ask the question that’s been sitting with me for days. I know for sure he’s been waiting since I started college. I have a good feeling it was before that with how Osbourne Corp had been a part of my life before then.
“I first saw you when you were in high school competing in the state math competition. I was in college at the time and was asked to be one of the judges.”
I try to think back to that day. So many names and faces, but I can’t believe I would have missed him. I try to count the years. How long ago was that?
“Five years,” I mumble to myself, trying to wrap my mind around this piece of information. “You’ve been watching me for five years.” I shake my head at the words, still not believing it, even though I know it’s true. It all adds up.
“Sometimes it feels like longer. I can’t seem to remember a time before you, really.” His words are soft and sweet and filled with something I don’t understand.
“Why?” It’s the one thing I really don’t understand. I’m not a terrible catch, and I know I’m pretty. I’ve never had problems with men asking me out, but Oz is in a completely different league. I saw so many girls throw themselves at the guys with money around campus, and I have no doubt Oz’s bank account would get him the same attention. Even more so because not only is he rich but he’s also not bad on the eyes. At all.
He stands up a little taller, my hand dropping from his hair so he’s now looking down at me.
“I’d gone to the competition because sometimes you have to rub shoulders with the right people to get places. Back then I had to do it a lot more because I was still making a name for myself. Trying to make my empire bigger and better.” He shrugs like he doesn’t really worry about that anymore. He’s done that already, in the past five years. Everyone knows what Osbourne Corporation is.
“Mainly I was trying to be around some of the people I knew my father was close to. He went to Yale and so did a lot of the people he chose to work with.”
“You hate him, too.” Just like Paige, but he doesn’t seem as angry as she does.
“Since I was eighteen and my mother told me all the horrible things he’d done to her.” His jaw clenches and I wonder what his father did to his mother. He’d killed Paige’s. “I wanted to be like him. He was so smart and seemed like he knew what he was doing in the business world. I was intrigued and I always tried to make him proud. I wasn’t seeing what was right in front of my face. How could I have not noticed how he’d treated my mother? She sobbed when she told me what he’d done to her. And there was nothing I could do that day to make the tears stop. I never knew about how he abused her. I hadn’t seen it before then, or maybe I could have done something sooner. But I sat there and listened to her tell me about their years together and that she was leaving him. And then I fo
und out what he was truly capable of.” He shakes his head like he still can’t believe it. “There’s so much about him you don’t know. And I don’t know if I can tell you. I don’t want his dirt to get on you, Mallory. I promised myself I’d never be that man, and even talking about it makes me fear I’m pulling you into that world.” His eyes close, and I think about him listening to me cry. How close to home that must have felt for him. How he listened to his mother cry, feeling helpless.
“Oz.” I reach up, placing my hands on his chest. “It’s not the same. You know that, right?” I can tell by the look in his eyes he doesn’t believe that.
“I told myself I’d never be like him. I’d never hurt the people I love. I’d be better. I’d give my mom a better life than he ever did, then I’d make him regret ever making her cry even one of those tears, and that’s what I did. I took my trust fund and poured my life into making sure he never hurt anyone again.” His mouth turns up at one corner, like he’s remembering. “Then you walked into my world.”
He reaches out, tucking a piece of stray hair behind my ear.
“Revenge wasn’t the only thing I wanted anymore. For the first time I felt like I’d come alive watching you. But you were so young, so I told myself I’d stay away. I found out who you were, and then I wanted to make sure you’d get into a good school. Then I wanted to learn more and more about you. The more I found out, the deeper I kept falling into you. It was one thing after another. I kept sliding down this hill. I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Every time I’d go to a dark place, I’d think of you and it always pulled me back. That’s when I knew I couldn’t let you go, because you were the only thing that really shone light in my life. You were a part of me that wasn’t fueled by revenge, so I told myself it was okay. That I’d be good for you. That I wouldn’t be like my father. I’d give you everything and build a perfect life for you. That I would be the one for you when the time was right. That I’d never make you cry.”
His words rain down on me, and I try to take it all in.
“You paid someone to be my friend,” I remind him.
“I’m not saying what I did wasn’t a little much, but I was going insane worrying about you. Without knowing someone was watching you, I don’t think I could have stayed away from you for as long as I did. I would have cracked, I know it. Paige kept me sane. At least then I knew you were okay. She was making sure nothing could hurt you at a time when I wasn’t there to do it myself.”
“No one is trying to hurt me,” I try to tell him, but he doesn’t really hear me.
“Mallory.” He says my name with so much emotion it makes my heart clench. I don’t think anyone has ever said it with so much tender need. “I know I’m a little crazy when it comes to you. Trust me. I know I’m not great with reason, but I can’t control it. I’ve tried. I’ve fucking tried, but it is what it is.”
“What if I don’t like it?” I ask, shifting under him. His eyes roam over me as he moves in a little more.
“I think you don’t want to like it, but a part deep inside of you does, or you wouldn’t be here right now.”
I let his words sink in because I can’t think of an argument against it. I do like his overbearing, controlling ways, although my head thinks I shouldn’t. It makes me feel important to someone. Maybe I’m a little bit crazy, too, wanting and liking that kind of attention. Attention I’ve never had from anyone. The only person other than Oz to give a shit about me is Paige.
“I like parts of it, but, Oz, you can’t control everything. I have to have a little of my own life. Like my job. You’ll stay out of that, right?”
A smile spreads across his face, but I point my finger at him.
“I know I’ve gotten where I am today because of you.”
“That’s not true,” he interrupts. “You’re incredibly smart and would have gotten into any school in the country. I wanted to make sure your path led to me.”
Part of what he’s saying might be true, but I wouldn’t have gotten a full ride to Yale or gotten a job at Osbourne Corp without him. Osbourne Corp didn’t even have internships before last year. I have a suspicion that program was created for me.
“That said, you’re still going to let me do my job and stay out of it,” I tell him, holding firm on this.
“I have to have a guard on you, sweetheart. When word gets out we’re together, that puts a target on your back, and not just for my father, who knows I’m after him. I’m worth a lot of money, and if people know I have a weak spot, they’ll go after it.”
“I’m your weak spot?” I’m not sure how I feel about that. Should I be offended?
“You’re my everything,” he says simply, making me smile.
“It’s hard to be mad at you when you say the sweetest stuff to me.”
“It’s better to give in, baby. I won’t stop coming for you until you do.”
“Promise you won’t interfere with my job,” I ask him, wanting his word.
“I promise to try my best.”
“Miles!” I snap.
He shrugs. “I’ll stay out of your way, but if someone fucks with you.” He shrugs again, like anyone who does fuck with me is fair game.
I roll my eyes because in this moment I see a flash of Paige in him. That’s something she’d say or do. Even she wouldn’t be able to help herself if someone were to fuck with me. But it’s a freaking office internship. I don’t think anyone will be fucking with me in the way Oz is referring to, so I let him have that one.
“I’m still mad at you,” I tell him, folding my arms over my chest.
“Good,” he says, picking me up off the counter and carrying me over to a sofa. “I can work on you not being mad at me for the rest of the weekend.” He drops me onto the sofa and falls to his knees in front of me, then spreads my legs with a hungry look in his eyes. “I’ll start by eating your pussy until you come in my mouth, and then I’ll finish making you breakfast.”
I want to protest, telling him that it won’t work, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is his name.
* * *
“What’s with you?” I look over at Paige, who looks like she’s got lipstick on as we walk into work. Oz is behind us, giving us a little space. I slipped downstairs early this morning to get ready for work, reminding him that I was walking to work with Paige today, something we’d agreed on after I stayed the night on Sunday—the third night in a row.
Now we’re in the Osbourne building, and I’m trying to get answers from her.
“What?” She shrugs one of her shoulders like she has no idea what I’m talking about. I glance back to see Oz stopping at the front security desk and talking to one of the guards. He gives me a wink as I get on the elevator with Paige.
“You have lip gloss on.”
“My lips were chapped and it’s all I had,” she says defensively. I give her my yeah right face, then I hit the button for my floor and almost hit hers, but she stops me.
“I have to make sure you get to your desk.” She gives me an apologetic smile. “I’m on your service until the end of the day, depending on your night plans,” she finishes.
“Well, my night plans are going home since Oz has already annoyed me.”
“I was told you agreed to have security on you, since you and Oz...” She trails off, clearly not wanting to talk about my banging her brother, and I don’t want her to say it either.
“I did. I did. It seems weird, but I’d rather it be you.” The elevator dings and we both exit. “Lunch?” I ask her, making my way to my desk.
“I’ll text you, but I should be good for lunch unless something comes up. Either way, the cafeteria, right?”
“Yeah, that’s fine,” I tell her, dropping my bag at my desk. “I told Oz I wouldn’t leave the building without letting you or him know.” I’m tempted to call Paige “mom,”
but I can tell she’s a little uneasy that this whole security thing might upset me. But really, when I think about it, it doesn’t bother me. I’m just not used to it. A little security won’t hurt if it makes Oz and Paige both feel better.
I have no idea if their talk about me being a target is really accurate, but I’ll do this for them. Besides, it’s not like I go anywhere without them, anyway. Paige and I used to be connected at the hip, but now it looks like Oz is trying to connect himself.
“Cool. I’ll text you,” she says, and heads back toward the elevator. I glance over at Skyler’s desk, then to Eric’s. My stomach does a flip. I totally forgot about what happened on Friday night. When I take a step closer, I look down over the cubicle wall and see his desk is completely cleared out.
“Shit.” I hated that little weasel because he never did his share, but that doesn’t mean he should get fired for hitting on me. Shuffling through my bag, I find my phone, pull it out and send a text to Oz.
Me: You fired Eric! That’s so not staying out of my career.
Oz: I’d be more than willing to talk to you about this matter in my office right now if you’d like. I’ve been trying to guess all morning what color panties you have on. I want to see if my guess is correct.
Me: Oz, I’m being serious.
Oz: I was thinking blue.
Me: OMG! You better not have a camera in my bedroom!
I fire the text back because I do have blue panties on.
Oz: I wish, but if you’ll let me, I’ll have some installed today. Or you could move in upstairs and I could watch for myself each morning. That way I’ll always know what color they are.
Me: I’m trying to yell at you and you’re asking me to move in with you?! Focus. Eric.
Oz: Eric was drug tested and failed after he flipped out on Ryan. That’s the last time I care to talk about the man who I caught trying to fuck MY woman.
Me: Who the heck is Ryan?
Oz: The security guard who’s with you when Paige and I aren’t.
