by Brooke Page
He was playing with the wrapper in his hand as he hovered over me.
“Are you sure you want this?” he murmured into my lips.
“Yes,” my voice was raspy with anticipation. I never wanted anything so badly. This man could unravel me, and at that point, I knew I would do anything for him.
He opened the packet and his hand disappeared briefly and then came back up to my face. He looked into my eyes pressing his forehead against mine.
“Becca, please touch me,” his eyes were pleading. I wrapped my hands around his back and down to his backside, urging him into me. He gasped as we were finally in that place we had both desperately wanted. His lips were all over me, my neck, collarbone, jaw. His hands held my head as he kept his pace deliciously slow.
Remembering his plea, I ran my hands through his hair and down his back, savoring every touch. His body was trembling and the feeling of goose bumps on his skin made me wild and needy. He moved his hands from my face and laid them flat on the mattress, tilting himself up so he could get a better angle. I pulled him into me harder, basking in the new feeling of the different incline, my breathing becoming difficult to control. I screwed my eyes shut and let out a loud moan when he moved one of his hands to my thigh, pulling it upward, driving into me deeper. A low groan escaped his throat as his pace picked up, knowing he was close to unraveling me. He tilted his hips to hit my sweet spot as he buried his head into my neck. The ache in my belly was rising as I met his every thrust with my hips, digging my nails into his back. I couldn’t take the build any longer; I was so close to that final wave of ecstasy.
All of the caressing and touching led to this, this one feeling my body had begged for ever since that first kiss on the beach. I didn’t care anymore if he wanted to keep our relationship a secret. Being so close to him was worth it.
His breathing became more ragged as he met my hips. “Becca… I’m so close… I want to feel you… please… let go…”
His moaning plea was all I needed to unravel. He groaned and landed one last thrust into me. I could feel him pumping inside of me, causing my orgasm to ripple on. He relaxed his body on top of mine as I felt his warm breath graze my chest. I kept my hands on his back, wanting him to still feel connected, knowing my touch was what he was craving.
Tyler rolled to his side pulling me with him. He brushed my cheek and gave me a lopsided smile. I looked down to his chest trying to hide my blush.
“Why are you blushing?” he asked trying to hide his amusement. His grin was huge, causing me to blush even more. I buried my face into his chest, hugging him tighter. He squeezed me tighter as well, letting out a chuckle and kissing my hair.
“Well I am naked lying next to my boss’ boss.”
I could sense his smirk. “That is one way to move up in a company.”
I pulled my hand off his back to slap his chest.
He pulled me even closer to him so my hand was pressed between his chest and mine. Sighing in exhaustion, I drifted to sleep in his arms.
Chapter 13
I awoke to an empty bed and a bright sunbeam cascading through the window. I heard the faint sound of water coming from the bathroom. Tyler must be in the shower. The thought brought a smile to my face. We had spent a wonderful evening together, talking, cuddling, and making love… I sighed and hugged one of the throw pillows. Was it possible to make love if you weren’t sure if you were even in love? He was very special to me that was for sure. I could only hope he felt the same. He had to, considering he was apprehensive about sleeping with me, worried about me thinking he would take advantage of me.
I stretched as I stood up, feeling sore. It had been a while since I felt this type of sore. It made me blush. I decided to go downstairs and make us breakfast. It was only 7:30am, and I would have time to make us breakfast and get ready within an hour. I grabbed my T-shirt and shorts and threw them on, racing down the stairs to raid his kitchen.
I found some eggs in the fridge and started to scramble them in a frying pan. By the time I was about to put the eggs on two plates Tyler came walking down the spiral staircase knotting his tie. He was dressed in all black and looked sleek and sexy with his chin down and his eyes focusing on the knot of his tie.
“Good morning,” he said as he reached the bottom of the stairs.
“Hi,” was all I could manage to say. I bit my lip as I studied his physique. His dazzling teeth flashed me a smile as he sat down at the breakfast bar.
“You didn’t have to make breakfast,” he said in awe.
I shrugged my shoulders and put the plate of steaming eggs in front of him. Taking my plate I sat beside him. “It wasn’t too hard.”
“I was going to wake you when I got out of the shower. I thought I would let you sleep for a little bit longer, since I kept you up late last night,” he said without skipping a beat. I blushed at his reference, unable to look at his face. “I hope you don’t mind, but I have a meeting at 8:00am, so I called a cab to have them come get you at 8:15am. I didn’t want to make you come early with me.”
I shook my head at him. “It’s fine. Either way would have been fine. I’m sure I could have found things around the office to do for a half hour. I have to revise those blueprints for your father and pass them on to plumbing.” Shit, I had to work on Ashlynn’s prints too. Come to think of it, I don’t even think she sent me her ideas.
He looked a bit contrite. It made me nervous. Hiding his uneasiness he quickly smiled at me. “Maybe next time.” I bit my lip trying to contain my glee. He wanted to have a next time.
He shoveled his eggs and brought his plate to the sink, and then walked back over to me. He nudged his way in between my legs and cradled my head with his hands.
“Can I see you again tonight?” The words came off his lips in a hush. His eyes were doughy with wonder. I took a sharp breath in, his gaze was hypnotizing. I nodded my head, unable to speak. A sly smile came across his face. “Until tonight,” he said kissing me tenderly. I kept my eyes closed as he pulled away. He walked to the door and pointed to a key rack. “Here is my spare key; you can take it to lock up.” Giving me one last mega-watt smile, he opened the door and left.
I hunched over the breakfast bar unable to wipe the ridiculous grin off my face. While sitting in a daze I noticed the clock. I only had 30 minutes. Shoot! I ran upstairs to get ready to go.
~
I shockingly got myself in order in the nick of time. Just as I was walking out of Tyler’s building the cab pulled up. I felt new and regenerated after last night with Tyler. He wanted to be with me, he just didn’t know how. It was something I was willing to work through for him.
I looked in the mirror on the back of the caBs seat and checked out the sassy red lipstick Jamie hid in one of her heels. A note was wrapped around it.
This will knock him to his knees. Get it baby! I don’t think I could ever live without her.
I had a very exotic look to me with the red heels and necklace. I almost felt like I should have been wearing leopard print instead of black. No, that would have been too much; I already didn’t look like myself. I even went a little heavier on the eyeliner. Nothing could touch me today. My phone chirped just as I was finished checking my makeup. I looked down at it and saw it was Ashlynn. She wanted to bring her ideas to me and thought that would be easier. Whatever. Maybe Tyler would want to hang out again Friday, and Saturday…
Stop it Becca!
I shook my head. I couldn’t let him control my life. I had to keep them separate, and not be taken over by a man. That’s where I went wrong with Connor.
I walked into the Conklin building and headed for the elevators. I was distracted by someone calling my name.
“Becca! Hey! How’s it going?” I squinted my eyes. It was Mitch. I was shocked he remembered my name. I was more shocked he remembered what I looked like.
“Hi, what are you doing here?” was all I could bring myself to say. I felt a bit embarrassed considering I was very drunk when we had met.
“Ah I had to meet with my dad at 8:00am to get some revised prints for a job site. Way too early if you ask me. I normally don’t show up to the job site until 10:00am.” He grinned lazily at me. He was wearing dark khaki’s and a button up stripped shirt. At least it was tucked in. I could see why Tyler had said he wasn’t an in the office type of guy. He was attractive though, just like all of the Conklin men. I bet both Tyler and Nathan were meeting with his dad and that was why he was here.
“Did you meet with Nathan and Tyler, too?” I asked, trying to make it sound like I just wanted to make conversation.
He shook his head, “No, Nathan is in Chicago. I saw Tyler in the break room with Sawla a little after 8:00am. I was running late and needed to get some coffee and couldn’t stop and get some on the way to speak with my dad.”
“Oh.” I thought he had a meeting at 8:00am? That was why he wasn’t going to drive me. Then it hit me. He didn’t want anyone to see us coming to work together. Now I know why he was being so contrite when talking about the cab. Why wouldn’t he just tell me? Maybe his meeting was with Sawla? Ugh, that woman. I pang of jealousy came across me.
“Yeah, Dad and I were just talking about the Enterprise Yachts account. Your name came up actually.” His green eyes were shinning. Where was this going? “He thinks you are going to do well here. What are you doing for lunch today? Can I take you out?” And there it was, that same Conklin mischievous grin. It took everything in me to not roll my eyes at him.
“Sorry I can’t today, maybe some other time,” I said giving him a wry smile.
“Okay, well I’m going up to see Tyler. I have to give him shit for not letting me use the suite last night at the Griffins.”
He took off to the elevator and flashed me a smile. I was trying not to fume. He definitely didn’t have a meeting. I stormed to the elevators, following Mitch. He smiled when I tried to catch the same elevator as him.
I said goodbye to Mitch as I got off on my floor and headed to my desk in a huff. He didn’t need to lie to me. He could have told me the truth. I would have understood. Yeah it was stupid, and it did make me feel like he didn’t want to be seen with me, because he didn’t, but I wouldn’t have let it bother me.
It does bother you.
I shook my head. Why can’t he be normal? Why can’t he be comfortable enough to be seen with me at work? If we kept going out, people would eventually see us. I’m surprised Mitch didn’t notice how close Tyler and I were on Saturday, but then again, he seemed very into himself and probably thought I was just being friendly.
I sat down at my desk and threw my bag in the corner. Trying not to think about Tyler and how I was going to react about the situation, I opened my email and started working on the few side projects I had while I waited for Will to come in.
The day drug on, and finally it was lunch time. I decided to pay Tyler a visit. My anger had subsided a little, so I thought I would be able to talk to him rationally about this morning.
I stood in front of the door to Tyler’s office. I was afraid to knock. What if I was wrong and he did have a meeting, and I just wasn’t putting the pieces together correctly? I needed to stop doubting myself. If Mitch saw him in the break room just after 8:00am and went up to see him at 8:30am, there was no way he had a meeting at 8:00. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
“He is on a conference call right now; he should be done in about 10 minutes if you want to wait.” It was Cooper. He was just coming back from somewhere to sit at his desk outside of Tyler’s office. My jaw dropped. What was I going to say?
“Oh, it’s not important, I can just come back later,” I said feeling silly.
He smiled down at his screen. Not taking his dark brown eyes from his screen he said, “Becca, I’m sure he would love it if you waited. He has had a rough morning.”
I was thrown back. Why would Cooper say that? Did he know about us?
“I don’t think my stopping in would turn his day around,” I said impassively. I was starting to sound like Tyler. If he didn’t want people to know about us, I was going to have to play along too.
Cooper’s lips slowly quirked up, “I think you should stay.” His smile was dazzling against his dark skin. When he removed his dark brown eyes from his screen, I realized he was very attractive. Jamie would totally dig him.
Confused, I took a seat on the couch just outside of his office and waited. I was trying not to be mad at him. I just needed him to explain, and I needed him to be honest with me.
“Cooper, what the hell, I thought I told you I was on a conference call?” His voice was low and stern. He must have been talking about my knock at the door. I had the urge to hide under the cushions.
Cooper looked at Tyler, then to me, as though he wanted Tyler to follow his eyes. Tyler furrowed his brows at Cooper then followed his eyes to me. He quickly straightened and seemed a bit shell shocked.
“Hey Becca. Did you need something?” he said very professional and business like. I was intimidated by him. He was standing so tall and looked so alpha male. I wanted to run back downstairs to my office.
I slowly stood up, “Do you have a minute? Otherwise I can come back another time?” I was losing my confidence.
His eyes scanned my body as I stood up. Clenching his jaw he said, “I have a minute, come in.”
I slowly walked by him through his office door. I could smell his cologne on him as I went by. It made me think of memories from last night. I shook my head trying to remember what I was going to talk to him about. Oh that’s right, I’m mad at him.
He closed the door before I could sit down. I felt his arms come around my waist and his lips in my hair. “Baby doll, what are you doing here?” His voice was sultry.
I relaxed back into him. It felt so nice to have him hug me.
His lips went from my hair to my neck, gently teasing me. I flipped around in his arms so we were facing each other. His eyes were alight with humor.
“You look very exotic today,” he smirked bringing his head down to kiss me. I closed my eyes in anticipation, but before he could put his lips on mine, I tried to start talking about what I had originally come to confront him about. “I saw Mitch this morning…” His lips brushed mine as his hands trailed down my back.
“Mmhmm… so did I,” he whispered against my lips. Oh he tasted so good.
“He said he saw you just after 8:00am in the break room with Sawla.”
His lips stopped moving on mine. Attempting to come out of his trance, I opened my eyes, keeping my mouth slightly opened. Did I really want to stop this special lunch meeting with him?
He was staring intently at me. “Yes, I was getting coffee.”
“Before your meeting?” The words came out faster than I intended them to and were a bit accusing.
He tilted his head and loosened his grip on me. I closed my eyes. His expression answered my question. “You didn’t really have a meeting, did you?” I whispered.
He dropped his hands from my waist and sighed. My eyes sprung open. He was no longer looking at me. “Why did you lie to me?” My voice was low and harsh.
“I… I don’t know. I didn’t want to hurt your feelings…” he stuttered. It was true. He didn’t want anyone to see me coming into the building with him. My heart sank.
“Tyler, I don’t know if I can do this then,” I croaked. Now I couldn’t look at him. “I told you before I can’t be with someone who is ashamed of me. I know you say you’re not, but not being able to bring me to work in your car and walk in the building with me makes me feel otherwise.”
“Becca, it’s not that simple,” he exasperated.
“I don’t see how it isn’t. My whole life I let people walk all over me and use me, and I didn’t come back here to start over with a relationship with someone who I have to sneak into his office to receive any type affection,” I said, trying to hold back tears.
“I’m not doing that!” He took my wrists and brought his face down to my level. “Pl
ease Becca, we can make this work. Last night was the best night of my life,” he begged.
I tore my eyes from the floor to the ceiling trying hard to stay strong.
“I’m not going to be your secret girlfriend. I’m not going to make this type of relationship work.”
He glanced over at his computer screen and rolled his eyes, “Dammit. I have a meeting and you really need to go… please, please, can we talk more about this tonight?” His eyes were almost glassy when I finally got the courage to look at him.
“I don’t think there is anything to talk about,” I whispered nudging past him.
I opened the door and kept my head down. He didn’t follow me; my heart felt like it was going to explode in my chest. I suddenly felt ridiculous. So ridiculous because I was all dressed up for him, and because I wanted him so badly that I was debating being his dirty little secret. Just as I got to the elevator the door opened up.
“Becca, sweetheart, I thought you were at lunch?” said a familiar gentle voice.
I looked up and wanted to cry even more. My loving father was stepping out of the door. I wiped under my eyes and kept my eyes to the ground. “Hi Daddy, what are you doing here?” I said trying to gain my composure.
He gave me a big bear hug. “I stopped by your department to say hi but the receptionist said you left for lunch 20 minutes ago.” He pulled back giving me a look over. “Are you all right?”
I put on a smile. “Of course, I just had to run some prints up here.” I lied.
