Tame Me

by Natalie Rios

  “I suggest you figure it out. If I have to waste my time interviewing so much as one fraud, you’re fired.”

  My jaw drops. I thought we had made some strides, reached some sort of understanding. He’s trusting me with the phones and the summer party planning. Not to mention his whole spiel on second chances. I thought we were on the same page. But clearly, I missed an entire chapter of this book.

  And as I watch him turn to walk back into his office, something inside me snaps.

  I refuse to be his punching bag.

  Reaching out, I snag his arm and yank him back towards me. The element of surprise works in my favor, otherwise there is no way I could have moved a mammoth like him.

  “What’s your problem?” I demand, standing up so I can get in his face. Or as close to in his face as possible given the eight or so inches of height difference. “One minute, you hate me. The next, everything’s peachy. Now you’re back to hating me.

  “You run hot and cold more than a damn faucet and I want to know why. What the hell have I ever done to you, huh?” I jab a finger in his chest to punctuate my frustration. “I get it, I’m not your first choice for an assistant. Probably not the second or third either. But I’m trying. I’ve done every single assignment you’ve thrown at me, even the ones we both know were just bullshit busy work. I’ve gone above and beyond planning the summer party, using every connection in my arsenal to get as many freebies as possible. Fallon keeps telling me we’re coming in way under budget for the first time in years. And, on top of all that, I’ve lasted longer than most of your previous assistants.

  “So, please, enlighten me. What I have done to you?” Stretching out my arms, I make a wide sweeping motion. “What could I have possibly done to the great Brody Connors to merit getting mind-fucked on an almost daily basis?”

  I’m out of breath and panting by the time I finish. It’s then my brain registers he’s moved. Standing across the office, he closes and locks the front door.

  Locking us in.

  Gulping, I watch him move back toward me. He looks...primal. Nostrils flaring and eyes burning, though not in anger, I don’t think. His jaw is ticking and he keeps clenching and unclenching his fists.

  My feet move of their own volition, backing away from him out of instinct. He’s the predator, I’m his prey. And I have to get away.

  My back hits the wall and I can only watch, my heart slamming against my chest with his every step. But I’m not afraid. No, I’m excited, eager to see what he will do next.

  I don’t have to wait long.

  His hands come up to cup my cheeks. And then he devours. Absolutely devours my lips. It’s the only word I can think of to describe the way his mouth attacks mine. The kiss is hungry, like he’s a starved man feasting for the first time in years. Nipping, biting, and teasing until my mouth opens on a moan. Demanding and taking, taking everything I have until I start to worry there’s nothing left.

  Have you ever had your panties get completed soaked from just kissing? Me either. Not until Brody’s tongue dove inside my mouth. Sucking and stroking and...oh, god. I’m shivering – no, shuddering – in his arms, quickly turning into a mountain of goo that would have been splat all over the floor if his large frame wasn’t pinning me against the wall.

  And then I feel it.

  He presses into me, grinding his cock against my stomach. And its rock hard.

  Oh.

  Oh.

  My attraction to the beast hasn’t been entirely one-sided after all.

  But I have little time to process this fact. Because while Brody’s mouth is busy assaulting my mouth, his hands are unbuttoning my shirt. One hand slides inside, sneaking past my bra to cup my breast, squeezing it until I let out a moan. My skin is hot all over, my nipples straining against the fabric of my bra even as he teases one by running his thumb over it. Pinching it between his fingertips.

  I close my eyes and give in to the pleasure. My hands thread through his hair and I wrap my legs around his hips, clamping on for dear life. This is officially the hottest moment of my life.

  I whimper in protest when his hand leaves my breast, only to gasp when I hear him unbuckling his belt. Opening my eyes, I find him watching me, his dark chocolate orbs studying me with an almost frightening intensity.

  “What are you doing?” I ask, even though I damn well know. Even though I’m already helping him by unhooking my legs long enough to push down on the waistband of his pants.

  “Not fighting it anymore,” he answers. He doesn’t even bother trying to get my panties off, just pushes them to the side so he can explore my folds with his fingers. We both hiss at the contact, feeling good but not good enough. Luckily, I’m already soaked down there thanks to the most erotic make out session of my life.

  I hear him fumbling with something, the telltale tearing sound declaring a condom had been opened. Pressing my face against his neck, I plant a wet kiss there and inhale, allowing his scent to wash over me. He smells of woods and spices, like coming home from an afternoon stroll in the fall.

  And let me tell you, fall is quickly becoming my favorite season.

  He reaches down between us, gripping himself. Guiding his tip closer and closer to my wet core. Entranced, I watch as he teases me, sliding his cock between my folds until he’s completely covered in my juices.

  “Look at me,” he demands. I have no choice but to obey.

  Eyes locking, I suck in a breath. Holy shit, this is intense. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the look on his face. He pushes in, ever so slowly and smoothly, as if he’s in no rush. Letting me feel every inch of him as he stretches me.

  Not that I’m complaining. The friction is phenomenal, hot and perfect and amazing. And for a moment, we just stare into each other’s eyes, savoring the moment. Basking in the pleasure of him entering me.

  Tightening his grip on my ass, he drives into me. Slamming his hard cock deep inside. Biting my lip, I moan, feeling myself grow wetter around him. Him fucking me hard into this wall is...

  Amazing. Oh my god, this feels amazing.

  Tightening my thighs around his hips, I’m begging. Begging him to pump harder and harder until he’s hitting that spot. Over and over again, building me up fast. I’m heaving, taking in a lungful of air each time. With each rocking motion, I feel myself tighten around him, as if my body’s trying to keep him as close to me as possible.

  And then he moves his hand between us to rub my clit. Strumming it like a fucking guitar, actually. But I’m into it, gasping and moaning, taking everything he’s giving me. My sex involuntarily clenches around him and he hisses, gently gripping my neck so we’re staring at each other again.

  Oh god, oh god, oh god. A fire spreads across my body and I’m burning, smoldering into a pile of ashes.

  My back arches against the wall and I whimper. Breathing fast and heavy, I’m beyond control. Clawing my hands up his arms, I wrap them around his neck. My nails are probably going to leave a mark, but fuck.

  This feels. So. Damn. Good

  And just when I think it’s over, he powers into me. Changing the tempo, his thrusts turn erratic. Back and forth, faster and harder. He rams in deep one last time before he leans into me. There’s a growl, one that sounds suspiciously like Charlotte, while I feel him spill inside of me.

  We stand there for... I don’t know how long. Minutes? Hours? But we’re just standing there, both panting, our mouths a breath away from each other, while he holds up my lifeless body with his much larger frame. I can feel his hot breath fanning across my neck and this feels...nice. Cozy.

  Closing my eyes, I sigh, feeling relaxed for the first time since my father cut me off.

  I don’t want the moment to end, but I know it has to. So much as I would love to stay plastered against this wall with him for the rest of eternity, I don’t protest when he moves away first. I watch as he tucks himself in, then runs a hand through his hair in a useless attempt to tame it.

  What happens now? I want to ask
him, but I don’t, suddenly feeling shy.

  At least I’m not alone on that front. Brody can’t even look me in the eye when he says, “You’re dismissed for the day.”

  Adjusting my skirt, I laugh when he literally runs back into his office, making sure to close the door behind him.

  Fine. As much as I want to talk about what just happened, I agree we need a little break from each other. Because the sex? Man, oh, man. I definitely need time to decompress after that. With one of BFFs of course.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Eleanor!” I chirp hours later. After going home and showering, I decide my cousin Ellie would be the best sounding board. She’s the only one who will understand just how monumental having sex with Brody is.

  “Well, hello to you too, Char,” she laughs on the other end of the line. “It’s great to hear you’re still in good spirits after the whole picture scandal.”

  “Picture scandal?” Flinging myself onto my bed, I groan as I remember this morning’s text shit-storm. “Sugar honey iced tea! I completely forgot about that!”

  “Really? Because Uncle Marlon’s been texting me every hour asking if I’ve heard from you.”

  Ugh. I’m going to have to text my father back later. As much as I would love to avoid another lecture, I know he just wants to make sure I’m okay. And I’m not selfish enough to deny him that knowledge.

  “Well, you can report I’m totally fine. A minor incident involving the local mean girl. The pictures are whatever. It’s not like there aren’t already nudes of me floating around the internet.”

  “Ah...Well, then,” Ellie chuckles. “I take it you called for something else then?”

  “Yup.” I lower my voice in case the roommates get home early. “I had sex with my boss up against the wall of my office.”

  There’s a slight pause, an infinitesimal moment of silence before the squeaking begins. “Wait, what! Up against the wall? In your office? With your boss? The man you call Satan?! What? How? Why? I can’t even!”

  “I know! I know!” Too excited to sit still, I jump off the bed and pace the length of the room.

  “Was it good?”

  “Oh, yes.” Licking my lips, I’m practically panting into the phone from the memories. “Very good.”

  “Tell me everything,” she demands. “Every tiny little detail, from the beginning.”

  “Aye, aye, captain. Though there really isn’t much to tell. He was a grouch all day, complaining about every little thing I did. Even the volume I was talking on the phone. It was the weirdest thing because we’ve actually been getting along for the past few weeks.”

  “Were you talking loudly? On the phone?”

  Frowning, I think back to my conversation with Robbie. “No. I mean, I don’t think so. Probably the same volume I always talk in. Am I usually loud?”

  “No. Don’t worry about it. I was asking to see if it was a valid complaint or just him being an ass again. He’s being an ass. Continue.”

  Words can’t even begin to describe how great it feels to have someone taking my side for once.

  “Well, by late afternoon, I had enough. I went off on him, demanding to know why he keeps flip flopping on me.”

  “Look at you, standing up for yourself! About time. Go, Char!”

  “Thanks! Anyway, instead of answering me, he closes the door. Locks it. Next thing I know, he shoves me up against the wall and kisses me. Things just sort of...happened after that.”

  “Charlotte.” Ellie doesn’t say anything else, but she sounds worried and I know why. She’s one of exactly three people in the world who know the truth about my sexual experience. I won’t go into the nitty gritty details, but suffice it to say, it’s not nearly as exciting as the media would have you think. In fact, with one major exception, it’s pretty boring.

  But because Ellie knows the truth, she worries.

  “No, no! It was good, El. So good. I loved it! Every single second of it. It’s like, finally! A guy I feel comfortable with who doesn’t treat me like a china doll. Seriously, no regrets.”

  Ellie sucks in a breath. “None?”

  “Not a single one. This was pure hot sex and I needed this. You can’t be the only Kensington woman having office sex,” I tease.

  Though I can’t see her face, I know Ellie’s probably blushing. Prior to marrying Drew, she was a total prude. Absolutely zero interest in sex. Then she marries Drew and BAM! She’s an overnight nympho, banging him anywhere she can.

  Including the Executive Suite of their casino, with Drew’s assistant sitting right on the other side of the door.

  Like I said, if anyone understands my current predicament, it’s cousin Ellie.

  “We’ll talk about that some other time. Right now, I want to know where you and Satan stand. Or am I supposed to call him Brody now?”

  “I don’t know where we stand,” I admit.

  “What do you mean, you don’t know?”

  “I just don’t.”

  “Well, what did he say when you were done?”

  “Nothing. He dismissed me for the day.”

  “He dismissed you? Unbelievable! And you just left?”

  I roll my eyes. “Well, yeah. I wasn’t about to hang around for awkward post-coital bullshit. Especially when he didn’t seem to want me to stay.”

  “I don’t know how you put up with it. His mood swings are giving me a headache.”

  “Tell me about it,” I groan. “I wish I understood him more. It’s like he’s playing games, going hot and cold just to test my reactions.”

  “Maybe.” Ellie goes quiet. Which means she’s holding something back.

  “What is it? Tell me! Tell me!”

  “Well...I could be wrong.”

  “It’s better than what I’ve got, which is a load of nothing.” I wait, knowing the silence would do more to sway her than any words on my end.

  “What if he’s trying to stay away from you? He’s attracted to you, but he doesn’t want to act on it. So instead, he acts like an ass to push you away.”

  “But why wouldn’t he want to act on it?”

  “Well, technically you’re his employee. Pursuing anything could be viewed as sexual harassment. And maybe the company has a non-fraternization policy.”

  “What’s that? Like a rule against dating?”

  “Dating, sex, marriage. All the above. Did you read the employee handbook? It should list all company policies.”

  “Not yet.” But thanks to his useless project earlier in the month, I know exactly where I can find a copy or two. And I’ll definitely be reading it ASAP. “God, Ellie. I’m not even sure I want you to be right.”

  “Really? Even if it means more fantastic office sex in the near future?”

  “Oh, I definitely wouldn’t turn that down. I just meant he’s not like any man I’ve ever met before. He’s big and rough and irritating. But he can be so sweet, too. Like the other day, my chest tightened and I felt like I couldn’t breathe-”

  “You had a panic attack?” Ellie interrupts. “When?”

  Fuck. “Um, it wasn’t exactly a panic attack-”

  “What happened? And when?”

  So I tell her about Tanner. And how he grabbed me and said those awful things after the staff meeting. I tell her how Brody cut in and got me away from the crowd until I calmed down. And just so she wouldn’t threaten to send her brother and husband over to whoop Tanner’s ass, I add in his apology at the pool party.

  “See? No big deal,” I finish.

  “Fuck. That’s the first panic attack you’ve had in, what? Five years?” Telling her about the one with Neil will probably have her on the first flight out here so I stay quiet. “Please tell me you’re seeing someone, Charlotte.”

  By someone, she means a therapist.

  Fucking therapy.

  It took me three years of therapy to learn how to deal with the panic attacks. Three fucking years of breathing exercises, coping strategies, and opening up about past events I don’t
even like to acknowledge. Those years were long and painful, but it worked, leading to five whole years without a single incident.

  Seeing a therapist feels like a step back, like I’m regressing. I don’t want to go back to being the scared, lost little girl I’d been. The girl who depended on medication just to get by.

  No, I need to convince Ellie I’ve got things under control.

  “It wasn’t really a panic attack, just some anxiety. It could have become a full blown attack, but I did my breathing exercises and brought myself back. That was the whole point of going to therapy, right? To learn strategies to help overcome the attacks?”

  “But you haven’t had one in such a long time,” she points out. “Don’t you think it would be a good idea to talk to someone? Just to be sure...”

  “To be sure of what? That I haven’t relapsed? I’m not an addict and I’m not sick, Ellie.”

  “I know, I know. I just...” She trails off, blowing out a long breath. “I worry about you, you know? And you’re going through so much right now: being cut off, staying put in one place, sleeping with your boss...I want to make sure you’re okay and it’s hard to do that when I’m thousands of miles away.”

  My cousin means well and she loves me, I know both of these things. But I don’t want her worrying about me. She has her own family to worry about. “We all have our share of problems and part of being an adult is learning how to deal with them. I need you to trust me when I say I have things under control.”

  There’s a slight pause before she sighs. “Okay. But let me know if things get to be too much. You don’t have to carry your load all on your own, you know.”

  “I know. Thank you.”

  “And we’re overdue for a visit. Maybe in a couple of weeks, Drew and I will fly down. So you can see Ben,” she quickly adds. Ah, Ben. Ellie and Drew’s two-year-old son. I love that little munchkin more than traveling, my shoe collection, and chocolate combined.

  “Sneaky, sneaky. Adding the rugrat to distract me from the fact you want to check up on me,” I tease.