At His Warning: The Billionaire’s Beck and Call, Part 8
By Delilah Fawkes
“Maybe you didn’t hear me, Lex? I said, let her go.” Chase Drake stood still as a statue, his eyes blazing with dangerous intent as he surveyed the scene before him.
Lex held me tight for a moment longer, then let out a nervous chuckle and eased his grip.
“What’s the matter, Chase? Can’t keep track of your girl?”
I jerked my arm away and stumbled away from him, staring daggers at the man who may just have ruined one of the best things to ever happen to me when he grabbed me and kissed me. What was his game? Why would he do this to his partner? Hell, why would he do this to me? I’d barely met the man, but here he was trying to destroy one of the best things to ever happen to me.
My head still swam from that last shot of whiskey, but I braced myself against the wall of the hallway. The shock of the past few minutes had helped clear away some of the spinning queasiness, but I didn’t trust myself not to swerve on my heels just yet.
“It seems it’s you I can’t keep track of,” Mr. Drake spat. “Why, Lex? Why must you always try to ruin me? All the women I’ve dated, you’ve tried to steal away. Didn’t you realize it just showed me how fickle they all were instead of breaking me? How they were only interested in my wealth if you could tempt them away so easily?”
Lex’s eyes narrowed, the muscles in his jaw tightening. “Is it so hard to believe that someone would choose me over Chase Drake, golden boy?” He spat the last words, his lips pulled back in a snarl.
“I was never the golden boy, Lex. I just wasn’t an asshole like you.”
Lex made a noise like a growl deep in his throat. Things were definitely getting out of hand. I edged slowly away from him, hoping to escape his notice.
“What makes you think she’s any different? Maybe she likes a man who takes what he wants, huh? Not some fucking boy scout...”
“Keep your hands off her,” Mr. Drake said, his voice calm despite the fire in his eyes. “I won’t ask you again.”
“Or what? What are you gonna do? What’s Chasey gonna do about it?”
Lex lurched toward me, trying to grab my wrist again, but I shrunk away. What the hell was going on between these two?
I screamed as Mr. Drake’s fist connected with Lex’s face.
For a moment, time seemed to slow down. I saw Lex’s eyes go wide, his arms shoot up too late, just before his head snapped back with the impact. I backed up fast, giving the two men space just as Lex lashed out, his fist swinging toward Mr. Drake’s stomach. Chase batted his hand aside and connected again with a vicious uppercut.
“Stop it!”
I covered my mouth with my hands, unable to look away, worried that this would get out of control, and maybe already had. Should I call for help? Or should I move in and get a couple of kicks in before the fight was over?
My head throbbed. Everything was happening so fast.
Lex landed a glancing blow on Mr. Drake’s face before he was tackled into the wall. The men were grappling now, grunting and straining as each tried to gain the upper hand. Mr. Drake pushed away and squared his shoulders, ready for the attack. Lex’s fist jabbed forward, but Chase was too quick for him, stepping aside, then following up with a blow to the face. Lex cried out and held a hand up, his fingers shaking. Blood poured down his chin.
“You broke my fucking nose!”
Mr. Drake bent down and ripped Lex’s pocket square out of his jacket pocket. “Go clean yourself up, Lex.” He tossed the handkerchief in his face. “It’s over.”
Lex Smith straightened up, holding the cloth to his face. Red blossomed onto the fabric as he stared at us both in a way that made my skin crawl. Then, he made a lewd gesture and slunk down the corridor, disappearing from view around the elevator banks.
I stared at Mr. Drake, not quite believing the scuffle that had just occurred between two grown men. I was torn between being appalled and impressed, especially since Lex had gotten a well-deserved beat down.
“Come, Isa. You’ve had a long night.”
He opened the door of the penthouse suite and gestured for me to enter. I shook myself out of my state of shock and made myself move, planting one foot in front of the other until I was safely in the room and deposited on the edge of the bed.
Mr. Drake sat beside me, breathing heavily. A cut above his eye was starting to trickle red.
“You’re bleeding.” I grabbed a tissue from the bedside table and dabbed gently at it, stopping when he winced.
“I’ll be fine.”
I lowered my hand, crumpling the blood-stained kleenex. “I’m so sorry.”
I looked down at his blood, staining my fingers, and noticed my vision beginning to blur as the tears welled up.
“You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Mr. Drake’s hand cupped my chin, bringing my eyes up to his. A hot tear rolled down my cheek, and he brushed it away, the rough pad of his thumb more tender than a kiss.
“He... He just grabbed me. I tried... I tried to knee him, but...”
“Shh, Isa. I know. I believe you.”
His hand found its way into my hair, wrapping a loose curl around his fingers, caressing my neck. His gaze softened as he touched me, each stroke of his fingers through my hair releasing my tension until I felt like putty in his hands.
“Why does he hate you so much?”
The question was out before I realized it, my thoughts spoken aloud when I’d meant to keep them private.
Mr. Drake’s eyes narrowed, then focused out the window, over the twinkling lights of the city.
“He and I have known each other since prep school. Did you know that? As boys we were always together, our families close from summering in neighboring cabins by the lake.”
He ran his hand absently over my shoulder and down my arm as he spoke, making me shiver.
“Lex and I had so much in common, even though our personalities were so vastly different. We were both ambitious and bright, but Lex had a knack for getting into trouble. He loved pulling pranks and seeing how far he could push people before they reached their limits. His father was a hard man. An authoritarian with a penchant for drink.” He looked at me and cocked an eyebrow. “Let’s just say, they didn’t get along.”
His hands covered mine, his warmth calming me like a soothing balm.
“I was the opposite, focusing on working hard and lending a helping hand to my classmates. My mother used to say I saw the best in people... and that was the only reason Lex and I were close, but I don’t know. I just thought he went too far at times. His father used to praise me in front of him, talking about the two of us to my parents like we weren’t standing right there with them... Saying he wished Lex had my grades or my discipline.”
He paused, sighing, and I could see how the memory still pained him.
“It got to him. How could it not?”
“That would be terrible for any child. Being compared like that.”
Mr. Drake slipped his fingers through mine and squeezed them. “He pretended that he didn’t care, and for a while, I believed him. I was young and foolish. I thought we were as close as brothers when we founded this business together.”
He brought my hand up to his lips and kissed it softly. “But, as you know, things change. These problems always have a way of coming to the surface.”
I looked up and brushed my fingers over his jaw line, tracing the lines that gave him such masculine beauty.
“Thank you,” I said.
“For what?”
“For believing in me. For believing
I wouldn’t betray you.”
He leaned in, kissing me in a way that stole my breath away.
“Isabeau, you don’t have a cruel bone in your body.”
“And how would you know that?”
“Just the way you are. How you took care of your family. How you take care of me,” he said. “I’ll always believe in you. You make it easy.”
I kissed him back, releasing my fear and doubt in that moment, letting the feel of his lips on mine wash away my worries. He believes in me...
I moaned, opening my mouth to him, my tongue exploring his languidly as the kiss deepened. I was lost in a haze of sensuality when he pulled away.
“Not tonight.”
I leaned in, trying to capture his lips again, but he held me by my shoulders.
“Why not?”
He chuckled low in his throat. “You’re drunk.”
“I don’t care.”
His eyes flashed in warning. “I’m going to bring you some aspirin and a glass of water. Take them and hydrate, then get some sleep. That’s not a request.”
“But, I-”
I closed my mouth at the look on his face. He would not be disobeyed, even though I could tell by the tenting in his pants he wanted me as much as I wanted him. I wanted nothing more than to reach over and stroke him through the fabric, to unzip him slowly and reach in, wrapping my hand around his hard length. Instead, I nodded, sighing. It would do no good. Chase Drake had made up his mind.
After the water and the pills, he undressed me and lay down behind me, spooning me to him.
“You know I want you, too, Isa,” he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. “But I won’t make love to you when you can’t properly consent.”
I snuggled back against him, his words making me feel desired. Protected.
He believed me. He took care of me. He held me close to him when I needed him by my side.
I was safe in the arms of Mr. Drake.
And I knew I always would be.
***
Morning arrived, bringing with it a dull, thumping headache and a whole new batch of problems.
I rolled over and rested my head on Mr. Drake’s chest, breathing in the delicious mixture of his spiced cologne and the musky smell that was all him. I ran my hand lightly through the sprinkling of hair over his pecs, listening to the steady sound of his breathing. If I could have stayed in bed with him all day, I would have, maybe watching old movies and ordering room service to ease my hangover. But I knew we still had investors to please and tasks to accomplish. I sighed with longing and pressed a kiss to his skin.
Despite the throbbing in my skull, I still wanted him, wanted to tease him and stroke him before feeling him inside of me. I ran my hand lower, skimming over the hard planes of his abdomen before sliding below the sheets.
A rough hand grabbed my wrist, Mr. Drake’s low laugh rumbling through his chest.
“And just what do you think you’re doing?”
I laughed, too, then touched my head and winced. Too loud. Mr. Drake pulled back and smoothed my hair away from my face.
“Headache?”
I nodded. “Mmm hmm.”
“Aren’t you supposed to use that as an excuse not to make love, Isa? You seem to be doing this all wrong.”
I stretched back on my pillow, letting the sheets fall off my full breasts. I smiled as his eyes traveled downward, his pupils darkening.
“But what if making love will cure me? Isn’t it worth a try?”
He looked like he wanted to pounce on me, but then furrowed his brow. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Maybe we could... go slow?” I pulled the sheet lower, letting the cotton slide down, revealing the curves of my body.
He groaned as he watched, his hands soon wandering where his eyes had traveled. His fingers grazed my sex, lightly playing over my folds as I gasped. Our lips met as he stroked me softly, his tongue sliding across my teeth.
“I don’t usually do it like this,” he said. “But right now, I just want to make you feel as good as possible.”
I grinned, thinking of his dungeon. No kidding.
But I groaned as he leaned down and kissed his way around each breast, stopping to lap at each nipple until it tightened into a peak. I loved that he could be as tender as he was rough, drawing pleasure out of me the way a master musician draws beauty from his instrument.
When he entered me, it was slow and steady, his hips rocking forward and back, letting me adjust as we began our slow dance together. He looked into my eyes as we moved, the rhythm of his body matching each hitch of my breath, each small moan escaping from my lips.
When we came together, he kissed me, stealing my cries away, making me feel like we were part of one whole, one body, each part moving in perfect unison.
We lay together intertwined, tasting one another, touching and whispering, until the shriek of the hotel alarm clock brought our intimate moment to a halt.
It was the last day with the investors, after all.
We had work to do.
***
The morning activities were almost underway, but instead of facilitating, Mr. Drake wanted me to go back to the office ahead of him and gather the company’s financial records from the last ten years. In secret and alone.
He gave me the master key to the CFO’s office and sent me on my way with a look that sent chills down my spine.
“These losses are not a coincidence, Isa. We have to find out what Lex did before he ruins this company. People are depending on us.”
I nodded, my fists clenching by my sides. Could I do this? Sneak into the offices and get the documents while he distracted the investors?
As if he could read my mind, he said, “You’re the only one who can help me. Now go.”
So, I went.
The CFO’s office wasn’t as large as Mr. Drake’s, but it felt vast as I fumbled for the light switch, the rows of filing cabinets rearing up as looming shadows against the curtain-covered windows. I found what we needed and began moving stacks of files onto my boss’ desk, almost jumping out of my skin when the air conditioning switched on with a rumble. The building was, thankfully, empty, and I scurried from office to office without seeing another soul.
I made a pot of coffee and made a nest of files on the floor of my boss’ office before getting down to business. At 5 p.m. I heard footsteps outside and tensed, my hands still full of photocopied receipts. The cadence of the steps became clear, and I relaxed. It was him. My Mr. Drake coming to help me at last.
Keys jingled and the heavy door swung inward.
“Isabeau.”
My breath quickened at his outline in the doorway. He was wearing jeans and a soft, grey sweater that stretched neatly over his broad shoulders. It was something of a shock seeing him in anything but a suit or tuxedo, but my pulse pounding in my veins confirmed my thoughts. He was gorgeous, an air of elegance around him even in this relaxed state.
“Do you remember how I want you when we’re in this office together?”
“Yes, Sir,” I breathed.
I sat up on my knees and pushed them apart, putting my hands behind me. The slits of my skirt strained against my thighs as I assumed the position, and I cast my eyes down, even though all I wanted to do was meet that piercing green gaze.
“That’s my good girl.”
His voice was low, lustful, as he moved toward me. His shadow covered me, and I sighed, calmed by his presence, despite the coffee coursing through my veins.
“Have you found anything in the files?”
“Not yet, Sir,” I said. “I’ve been going through the transaction records from the last quarter, but nothing’s jumped out at me so far. The earnings figures are on your desk.”
“Very good, little slave.”
He wound his fingers in my hair and pulled, forcing me to look up into his eyes. “You’ve made your master very happy, Isa. Thank you for everything.”
I blushed under his scrutiny, not expecting the com
pliment when we were behaving... well, like this. The lines between work and play were blurring, and what’s more was, I didn’t mind.
He cupped my face with his other hand, caressing my cheek. His fingers traveled down my neck, making me tremble, before tracing the line of my collarbone. I didn’t take my eyes off him while he held me like this, didn’t want to even if he’d let me. His hand dipped lower, popping the top buttons of my blouse until I knew the swells of my breasts were exposed. He sucked in a sharp breath.
“Fuck.” He broke eye contact, and I knew he was enjoying the view. “Stay right here, little slave. Close your eyes. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir.”
I did as he asked, sitting back on my heels as I waited to see what he would do. There was the sound of the storage room door opening in the back of his office, then a scraping, like he was dragging something heavy over the carpet. There was a loud thump, then the sound of his footfalls returning.
“Open your eyes, Isa.”
I opened them and was immediately more confused than enlightened. What was I looking at?
Sitting before me was a strange, and more than a little scary-looking, device, consisting of a black metal frame, wrist and ankle cuffs, and an ominous looking dildo-on-a-piston. Oh, dear...
Despite my hesitation, the thought of what Mr. Drake may want to do to me sent shivers of anticipation straight to my core.
“I want you.” Mr. Drake’s voice was hoarse with longing. “God, I always want you... But we need to figure out what’s going on.” He reached down and caressed my breasts through the silk, making me moan. “Lucky for us both, I do my best thinking when I’m sexually frustrated out of my mind.”
He bent down and removed my diamond choker, replacing it with my black leather one. I smiled as he buckled it into place. The thought that he carried it with him was interesting, to say the least.
“Strip down, little slave, and get on all fours above the frame here.”
I stood, slowly unbuttoning my blouse and unhooking my bra, loving the way he eyed me, his gaze all hunger and need. When my skirt and panties were folded on the floor next to me, I lowered myself down next to the cuffs, waiting for my next command. Mr. Drake knelt next to me and fastened me in, making sure I was comfortable, but secured in place. He lifted a bar off the frame, bringing it up under my chin. It had a padded rest in the shape of a U that he asked me to place my neck onto, and fastened the d-ring on my collar to the stockade.
At His Warning: The Billionaire's Beck and Call, Part 8 Page 1
