She’d been rifling through her purse until my words hit her. She stopped, dropping her satchel when her stare bore into my eyes. Her lips barely made a sound as I strained to hear her. “What the hell does that mean? So you want to have a relationship with me? Or is this your attempt at some sort of weird love triangle?”
“No, I want to get to know you. That’s all. Don’t worry, I’m not going to cheat on Daimen. I’d never do that. You need to know you’re special, and I look forward to learning all there is to know, though I remember what you look like naked.”
“Rewind, please,” she pleaded, leaving her purse on the floor. “I’m not following you?”
“We’ll continue a working relationship, but I’m me. That means I’ll be playful as normal. Don’t get your panties in a bunch over it.” I walked toward her. When she didn’t pull away from me, I tipped my head to her forehead, kissing it lightly. Before she could ask anything, I was out the door.
On the run back to the house, I realized the precise care I had to use with Daimen if I was going to win him over to the idea of Elliot being ours. He could tell me until he was blue in the face that he didn’t want anything more than a working relationship with our sexy architect, but he was falling for her. He might be in denial, but it was as obvious to me as the nose on his face. I mean, I wasn’t a fool. I knew exactly what it looked like to fall for Elliot Arnold.
* * *
His voice filled the room at first when I entered Daimen’s office later in the morning. He held his index finger up, telling me silently to give him a second, yet the smile that floated on his face still sent shivers up my spine. Loving a man as much as he loved me would always be the biggest turn-on between us.
“Really? Oh, fuck, Lang. Shit, is there anything I can do?” My eyes met his. Lang, his cousin from his mother’s side of the family, had a childhood just as shitty as Daimen’s. It was unfortunately the bond that linked them. But like Daimen, he’d found his own success with not only a world-renowned sports agency, but also a new technology—called Sophie—we were showcasing in our residential condos. “Oh, yeah, no problem, cuz. We’ll be sure to send you some ideas too. But take care of your girl. Okay. I’m a plane ride away if you need me.” He paused. “Yeah, you too, bud.” When he smiled at me, relief had me breathing again. Beside his sister and brother, Lang was the only other biological family member Daimen gave a rat’s ass about.
“Good old Lang okay?” I asked. Memories of Lang coming to Chicago to escape his own hell as a boy had me worried for him too.
“Yeah, now. But guess what? Lang found his one and only.” I stopped in my tracks; Lang was a playboy most single men aspired to be. “But his girl was hurt. It was touch and go for a while. Been a week.” He stood, walking toward me. “When I didn’t hear from him about the progress of SOPHIE, I called him.” He snaked his hand around my neck. “And Iz got that contract he wanted and needed to secure a penthouse in some of the major cities, Chicago being one. He wants us to hook him up.” His lips found mine, greedy for me.
“The plans call for a penthouse below us. How about that? I’ll send Lang the plans. It’s the most secure building too, so it’d work for what someone like Israel Laita would need.”
“Good idea, babe.” He leaned back, and with an eager aggression, he pulled at my pants. “Now that we’ve broken my number one rule, let me fuck you.” When he searched my eyes, he stopped at my belt buckle. “Babe, you okay?”
Here, this was the final test to see how he’d take the news. “Um, gotta tell you something, hon, and you won’t be happy about it.”
His groan told me he was not one to be toyed with. “Fuck, don’t tell me this is more about your play to get the architect between us.”
I pulled his hardened body to the sofa in his office. As I sat down, a snort of dismissive laughter entered the room. “I guess I was asking for too much,” he mewled, tapping his index finger against his knee.
Rubbing my bottom lip, biting it with my teeth, I yielded to the truth. “Hon, I know her.” He opened his mouth to talk, but nothing came out. “Um, you remember the one girl in Savannah at the design conference I went to …?”
“You mean the girl you wished had given you her number? Hell, her name at that?” Flushed molten skin covered his beautiful body with the awareness of what I’d just said. “Elliot Arnold is that girl, and you let her work here?” Though it was a question, he didn’t need my answer. His large body was off the couch too quick. “And you knew?”
Sure, this was the reaction I’d expected. “I only realized after the first time I saw her again,” I promised.
“No wonder you want her in our bed. You know what she’s like inside and out.”
Now, he’s being a dickwad, and I had no intention to be the victim of his dickwad ways. “When you’re done being an asshole, come find me,” I said as I stood and walked through the door, pulling it closed behind me, and that was that. He wasn’t wrong. I’d had a taste of her, and I wouldn’t give that up, not after she was back in my life. Nor would I let him cheapen our time together with his fucked-up comment, but then again, right was right at the end of the day.
16
Elliot
In the month that I’d worked with Arden and Daimen, I’d become more comfortable with both men. I’d eat lunch most days with the funny man, though sometimes Mr. Grumpy would join us. It was a bright spot in my day that I coveted. Daimen had finally gotten over the fact that Arden and I had a past.
He and I still sparred with the best of them, though it was more playful than territorial. I never wavered from challenging him. I could ruffle his feathers like no one I’d ever known. His deep, brooding eyes only fueled the passion in my own work, and for that reason, we brought out the best in each other.
Though it’d been a month, coming to a decision concerning the project could still cause a storm between the two of us. Stomping back to my office, I slammed the door to my entrance when Andrew peered through.
“You okay, Ell?” he asked.
“Fuck no!” I yelled, and poor Andrew didn’t even bat an eye. He was so used to my attitude from dealing with hot and cold Daimen.
“Hey, so what are you disagreeing on now?” He didn’t have to ask who. He knew.
“It was about money. I called him a tight ass.”
Andrew only laughed, and my raised eyebrow told him silently to spill it. “Oh, believe me, even though he’s taken, he has a fantastic tight ass.” He continued to laugh, and I couldn’t help but join. Andrew was right. Daimen did indeed have a tight ass.
“Nice one, Andrew.” And with that, my mood changed. How was it that thinking of a man’s ass I would never see bare had me happy? But it did. “By the way, Arden invited us over for dinner again.”
“Good,” Andrew replied. After working together for a month, Arden was a bright spot in my life.
* * *
I’d been at my drafting table all afternoon. After the blowup with Daimen, I canceled my lunch plans with Arden. I wasn’t avoiding him, per se, but I guess I was. When we publicly disagreed to the point that the entire floor heard, I chose to research some new options for material. It was fruitless, but at least I was armed with real-life ammunition to prove to the cheapskate the reason for the supplies he claimed were overpriced.
With my head buried in my designs, I didn’t hear the knock on my door. “Elliot.” I barely heard him when I popped my head up from my work to see the twinkling eyes of a man I was coming to rely on too much for affection.
“Hey.” It was all I said, looking down at my sketch.
“You okay, hot stuff?” His concern and the way his voice hitched made my heart sink. This man was everything I could want, and I couldn’t have him. What was I doing? Through his hints, I knew he wanted more too and I wasn’t into what he was subtly suggesting.
“Yeah, just working, Arden.” I tried to keep my face buried and my eyes averted from him.
“I heard about the fight. Well, it was m
ore like, I heard the fight from Daimen’s office.”
“He has to know I wouldn’t ever sign off on subpar materials. All morning, I tried to research different ideas, and every time, my findings were the same—the original assessment.”
I still hadn’t looked at him, but I knew him well enough to feel his smile on my skin. But when I didn’t continue, he began, “Our other partner, Spencer Alders, is riding his ass on this project. I know we have the budget, but with Spence … Let me just say if you think Daimen is controlling, then Spence …” He sounded like he was about to tell me more, but he trailed off.
“Someone more controlling than Daimen? Fuck me.” Those words slipped from my mouth, and of course, they meant more to Arden.
“Well, are you asking?” he teased, which caused me to drop my pencil and bring my face up to look at his smirk.
Something was on the tip of my tongue when he spoke. “Well, my job is done for now. I made you smile. See you later, hot stuff.”
He disappeared out of my office so quickly, but his words were with me for the rest of the day.
17
Daimen
I couldn’t work, not after the words spewed between her and me. Her calling me an ass certainly had me spinning off my axis. Me calling her a spoiled little girl who just was throwing a tantrum because she wouldn’t be getting her way this time had her slamming the door as she exited. But even with all of this, I couldn’t get over the hurt plastered on her face as if I’d physically slapped her.
Knocking a couple of times, I let myself into her office when her head popped up from behind a design book. “Daimen, hey, I wasn’t expecting you.”
I could watch her all day, immersed in her world—a world within her job she loved. There was so much beauty in Elliot Arnold, and I was coming to learn that it went farther than skin deep. “Hey, Ell, listen, I spoke with Arden, and he agreed with your recommendations. He also mentioned you did further research only to arrive at your original estimation. I appreciate you double checking.” Her eyes narrowed at me. “Look, Elliot, I know I can be a bit demanding, and well, I’m …” I stopped when a smile formed on her face. This amused her, so I might as well continue. “I’m sorry.”
Her loud audible laughter filled the room, and somehow, it seemed to reach my heart. However, she finally asked, “How much did that hurt to admit that I was right?”
“More than you know,” I admitted, accompanied with a little wince.
I understood a person liked to gloat when they were right, but this was not the impression I’d grasped from Elliot. In the awkward silence, I was about to make idle chitchat with her when her sweet voice filled the air. “Honestly, Daimen, I feel I owe you an apology too.” I did a double take. This woman didn’t seem like the type to apologize often. “I mean, I don’t have one clue about the pressure you’re under, so I shouldn’t have assumed you were just being a jerk to spite me.”
I bit the top of my lip and looked at the ceiling to find some clarity. With a deep exhale, I sat on her chair close to her drafting table. “Arden told you our asswipe of a partner was riding my ass?”
A small nod was her answer. I’d leaned forward with elbows on my knees as she waved me off. “I didn’t say this to make you uncomfortable, and I wasn’t asking for an explanation. I just sometimes can’t see past my own wants or the fact that I think I’m always right. Which, don’t freaking quote me on that. For the record, besides what I said, I’m always freaking right.” A smile played with her words, and my heart softened at that moment with her.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ve heard you say fuck before, but you say other words as a replacement. Why is that?” I’d found this little piece of her so cute.
“Um, that’s a good question.” She put down her pencil and leaned back in her chair. “The truth is, it really boils down to double standards. Men, in general, can be assholes all day long, and it’s okay, but the second a woman is assertive, she’s a bitch.” Like Ell, I leaned back in my chair, already amused by the direction of this conversation. “So,” she continued, “when I say the F word, which I used to all the time, it made me unapproachable. Andrew says the word a lot and so does Arden. I notice you say it too, quite a bit. Not that I won’t ever say it, hell, I do when I need to make a point, but where no one bats an eye at a man saying it a lot, for me, as a woman, I’d be known as crude and crass.”
“Wow, Ell, that is quite the explanation, and unfortunately, there’s some truth to it.” I was very comfortable just shooting the shit with her, and I didn’t want it to end.
“But don’t worry, you can say fuck all day long, and I won’t think of you any differently than I do now.”
She let a large chuckle escape her lips. “I’m not sure if that’s good or bad, quite honestly.”
“It’s a good thing. Believe me, it’s a really good thing.” Now silence filled the room again when her face flushed at my words. I didn’t want to stop the progress we’d just made, so I continued. “I hear you’re heading over to our home to make changes to some of the wasted space, then staying for dinner?”
She nodded but instead of talking about changes to our condo, she began, “Hey, I gotta be honest with you, Daimen. Arden is flirting with me more than I know what to do with. Part of me loves it. It makes me feel desired, which any woman would love. I mean, Arden, he’s—well, you know. But the other part knows he’s a taken man, and I would never come between you and him.”
I cocked my head to the side. Arden had never deceived me. He was very honest concerning Elliot and their past. Sure, I’d seen him flirt with her. But more so, he’d been honest about wanting Elliot with us, together. If I was jealous, it was only because he’d been able to connect with her in a way I had not. Plus, he’d already had her pussy—one I wanted now.
“You know what?” I replied. “He’s a flirt. I’m not worried about him cheating on me, but I appreciate the heads-up.” I kept telling him I didn’t want her, but I was only lying to us both. It was time to come clean and work together toward a goal we both wanted. I turned to Elliot and gave her a smile. It was time to find my man. Two men working together were much better than me fighting the inevitable, and that was making Elliot Arnold ours.
* * *
I didn’t knock, not on Arden’s door, and not for this. We had an open-door policy. But now, it was about our future, one we’d wanted for so long. How could I not barge in and make this happen? It was my way.
But I stopped because sitting behind his desk, he had on his glasses and was working on a sketch. Him in his glasses always brought my lust to the surface, not that it had far to travel. When he curved his lips into his signature cocky grin, he stood but didn’t meet me halfway. I loved when he thought he was in control. My cock strained against my pants, and it almost hurt.
“What is this?” His tone was even more defiant as I took four long strides to close the distance between us.
I cupped his chin, harder than I normally did, but the fire behind his eyes told me what I already understood. He always loved when I manhandled him this way. “I have good news, but you can choose. I fuck you into submission, then tell you. Or I tell you now and no fucking?”
“No mid-afternoon fuck session if you tell me first?” he questioned, his lips parted.
“Nope,” I said as my hand found his growing erection.
“But you will tell me?” he asked, threading his fingers through my hair, landing on my neck. With his leverage, he stole a greedy kiss, and I allowed it.
“I’ll tell you after I fuck you over your desk,” I whispered, licking his earlobe and unbuckling his pants.
“Then,” he began, “I’ll take the fucking first.” We both chuckled. Was there ever really a choice?
Reaching into his drawer, he must have placed a tube of lube there after we messed around last time. “You cocky bastard,” I began, but as horny as I was, I was happy for his preparedness.
Again, this was not about foreplay; it was about fu
cking him so hard, maybe just maybe he wouldn’t say I told you so. But who was I fooling? I’d still fuck him like this.
His desk was not quite the height as our fucking table at home in our secret room, but it would do. Leaning over him, I began to thrust so deep, I was able to hold his own cock and pump it. My need to get my man off as much as have a mind-numbing orgasm myself only ramped up my pace. My eyes were plastered to his ass, so I didn’t hear the door open at first. But I sure as hell heard the gasp as we both looked up. Watching us fuck in our office—as though it was as normal as sketching a design or proposing a budget analysis for a project—was Ell standing with the door open.
“Um, hot stuff, can you come in and close the door if you’d like to stay. Which we both would enjoy,” Arden offered as though it was an everyday occurrence. “But we don’t want to share this with the rest of our employees,” he added.
She shut the door quickly, turning away from us. “She’s shy,” Arden announced as my pace increased.
Elliot sighed when at the same time her voice hitched an octave higher than normal. “No, hell no. I just got scared and shut the door really quickly to respect your privacy. And it’s my fault I didn’t knock, though you could’ve locked the freaking door.” Her head remained in the corner. “Is there any way you can stop, so I can leave?”
“Nope, he’s almost done. Not stopping him now, hot stuff. Sure you can appreciate coming to a conclusion,” Arden moaned, and I let out a deafening chuckle at Arden’s play on words. But he was not done. “Seriously, we love to be watched, hot stuff.”
I was still pounding my man’s ass. After the decision had been made on my part to attempt to bring her into our fold, she could watch us all day long. Sure, she had her body turned from us, but every so often, she would twist her head around, taking us in.
Foundations: The Power of Three Love Series Page 8
