by Sadie Jacks
She slapped a hand to the wall, casting the room into brutal light. “It was perfect. No sound but the unit running. No heat. All the sweat would just evaporate. My own little igloo heaven.” She rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “And right now, it’s empty.” A frown tugged at her mouth.
Lifting her face, she shook her head. “That just won’t do. It needs to be full. Full of love and joy and smiles and happiness and laughter and giggles. Moments that help celebrate a lifetime. Moments that bring together two halves into a single whole. Moments that etch themselves onto hearts and become beacons of hope. Moments that remind us of better times when life is hard.”
I shook my head, marveled at her spirit. “That’s what you give to people.”
Her cheeks pinkened. “That’s what I hope I give people.”
“Then it seems you need to get back to work, Ms. Chase-Future-Penn.” I wiggled my eyebrows at her.
Her chuckle was the sweetest music. “I’ll plan on that, Mr. Penn-Future-Chase.”
I wrinkled my nose. Shook my head. “I’m not sure that’s going to work.”
She laughed. “As soon as I said it, I didn’t like it.”
I snagged her hip, dragged her against me. “Good. As long as I own your heart, mind, and body, you can keep your last name or take mine.” I kissed her.
Her lips tipped up under mine. “Considering I don’t want to be affiliated in any way, shape, or form, with my parents, it’s either your name or Amatucci.”
“Penn. Penn will look great,” I rushed to answer. “I’m not sharing you with that family any more than I have to.”
She tipped her head back, a sulk on her sexy mouth. She glared at me. “Rude.”
I rolled my eyes. “You know what I meant. I actually like most of them. Even Nico. But if you’re changing your name, it will be to Penn. Not Amatucci. Besides, Papa Amatucci is going to be getting a rapid influx of Amatucci members of his family if the guys all claim their girls. I’m stealing from the Amatucci family this one time.”
Her lips curled. “Stealing from the Amatuccis can be hazardous to your health.”
I pulled her into my chest. “Then I guess I’ll be living on borrowed time. You’re mine and I refuse to share you.” I slid my hands down her hips, cupped her ass. “Now, we should probably leave. My balls are trying to pull up into my body for warmth.”
She laughed against my mouth as she kissed me.
**
“Mr. Penn, how good to see you back in the office,” my executive assistant said as he rose to his feet when we exited the private elevator. A distinguished looking gentleman who’d introduced himself as asexual, I never had to worry that he was going to try to hit on me or slack off because of a pretty face. The man was efficiency personified and the best hire—other than Nik—I’d ever made.
“Thanks, Anthony, it’s good to be here.” I pulled Willow up beside me. “This is Ms. Willow Chase. You’ll be seeing her around from now on. She’s to be given priority clearance and open access to me.”
Willow gave a little wave. “Your name is really Anthony?” she asked, a smile on her face.
Anthony smiled. “Yes, ma’am. Kismet.”
Willow chuckled. “Indeed. Nice to meet you officially. Feel free to call me Willow.”
Anthony bowed his salt and pepper head slightly. “Yes, Ms. Willow.”
They both laughed.
“Have you heard from Baxter?” I asked before they could get even more tickled at our shared name.
Anthony straightened, shook his head. “Should I have?”
“No. I was just checking. Put him through immediately if he calls.” I turned Willow in the direction of my office.
“Of course, Mr. Penn.”
I raised a hand in the air to let him know I heard him. We walked down the hall, our shoes squeaking slightly on the brushed marble floors. I slid my arm around Willow’s hips, so fucking happy to have her in my space again.
The day she’d brought me cupcakes broadcast through my mind in full technicolor 4K detail. She bitten her lips so much they’d looked red and bruised. But the fire in her eyes…that’s what had drawn me in. That hunger and challenge to be better. To be good enough for her.
I pushed open the door, let her walk through first. I took in my space, tried to see it with fresh eyes. Much like my home a couple floors above, it was done in subdued tones of blues and green.
My father had been the one to need the flash of chrome, the sharp edges of glass. My ass was stuck in that chair enough hours of the day that I wanted something comfortable and cozy to look at and feel. Chrome and glass had no warmth.
My oversized desk probably looked like I was trying to compensate for something, but I really did use all of the real estate on a fairly regular basis. When one ran a tech company, one was usually surrounded by various computer parts. The wood was raw edged, shined to a high sheen with resin, and looked like a mountain man’s wet dream.
The rest of the furniture was oversized and overfilled. Comfortable enough to stretch out on if I was pulling an all-nighter, but not so inviting to keep meetings longer than they needed to last. One whole wall was privacy-coated glass that flooded the room with light.
The look and feel was a bit like me, I imagined. Oversized, raw, a bit in your face. I shut the door and leaned against it as I watched Willow take in the space. I studied her face as she took in each corner.
If anyone ever asked, I would deny it with every breath, but I was the slightest bit nervous as I waited for her to speak. For all that we’d crashed into each other’s lives, this was one part that hadn’t overlapped. I’d been in her space, but this was her first time in mine.
She spun another lazy circle as she took everything in. She walked to the far wall, danced her fingers over the books on the shelves that lined the wall. “Have you read all these?”
I snorted. “No. Mostly they’re for show. My mother thought I needed them to make me look more cultured. They’re from her and William’s library. When I get down time, I usually watch sports or a movie at home. Or reread Harry Potter.”
She tucked her hands into her back pockets, turned back to face me. “Thank the goddess. I’m not much of a reader, so I didn’t want to look like an idiot if you’d read all of these.”
I laughed, crossed my arms over my chest. “Never an idiot. At least not to me.” I bit my lip. “So?”
She blinked. “So what?”
I rolled my eyes and growled. “What do you think?” I waved a hand at the space. “You’re killing me here.”
Her giggle brought a smile to my face. “Is self-proclaimed bad boy Mr. Ryker Penn nervous about my opinions of his private office?”
“If I say yes, will you come give me a kiss to make me feel better?”
Her lips quirked. “Maybe.” She walked to my desk, ran her fingers over the edge. “I like your desk.”
She moved around it, sat her sexy butt in my Big and Tall executive leather chair. She moaned a little when she leaned back. “This chair is amazing.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. My girl was up to something. I didn’t quite know what it was yet, but I was fucking excited to find out.
“And?” I asked as I walked to the desk. I towered over her as she reclined.
“And, what? Can’t I enjoy your chair?” She wiggled her butt in the seat. “Can I have one of these for home? Sketching will be so much easier with this cradling my ass.”
“Sure, cupcake. I’ll get you one.”
She looked up at me through her lashes. “Yeah?” She took her lower lip between her teeth.
If I wasn’t mistaken, my girl was trying to seduce me in my own office. “Yeah. I’ll get you one…if.”
She blinked up at me. “If, what?”
I crooked my finger at her. As she stood up, I took her spot in the chair. “If you tell me what you think of my office.”
Easing her ass to the edge of the desk, she leaned forward. Braced herself on the arms of my chair.
“I like your office, Mr. Penn.” She edged towards me. Flicked her tongue out against my lips. “I really like your office.”
Before I could react to her tongue, she sank to her knees between my legs.
“Sweet fuck, cupcake,” I breathed as all of my remaining blood flow traveled south. I slapped at the button that would lock the doors to my office. “If I’d known you would like it this much, I’d move you in here with me. We can share the damn space.”
Her husky chuckle danced fingers of sensation down my spine. She looked up at me. “You might not think so before I’m done with you.” She attacked my zipper like a Delta Force team against enemy insurgents.
My dick was free and in her mouth before I could even think of a reply. She hummed as she sucked. Flicked her tongue over the vein on the underside of my cock. Taking a big breath, she slid all the way to the base before she gagged. She found that perfect depth and then, ringed my dick with her fingers, she started fucking my dick with her mouth.
I threaded my fingers through her hair and just hung on. She was the perfect study. From no blow job experience to getting me hard in five seconds flat, I was almost embarrassed that she played my body like a finely tuned instrument.
All thoughts of embarrassment faded when she scooped her hand into my pants and gently cupped and massaged my balls. My head fell back against the seat as a long groan purled from my mouth. Sweet fuck.
Just as she was finding her rhythm, just as I was getting into the zone, she stopped. She pulled off with a loud pop. She raised her head, looked at me with a glint in her eyes.
“You okay?” I asked, my breath panting slightly.
She nodded. She dipped her chin, blew a stream of cool air over my wet dick.
I shuddered. “Fuck, cupcake.”
Her chuckle was sin wrapped in smoke. “Guess what time it is, Mr. Penn?”
“Time to fuck you into next week.” I moved to grab her under the arms.
She leaned back out of reach, a smile on her face.
Joke was on her. That was exactly what time it was. I was going to rip those jeans off her body and feast on her cunt. Give her enough orgasms to make her pussy tighter than a glove as I pushed my way inside her.
She shook her head. Her hair brushed over my legs and groin like a sigh. “Guess again.” She leaned forward, swiped her tongue up my cock from base to tip.
“Time for me to eat your pussy.” I reached for her again. Growled low in my throat when she evaded me again. “What time is it, cupcake?”
She stood up. “Time for the girls to start arriving for girls nights!” She did a little dance.
“No.” I shook my head, turned my wrist up to look at my watch. It’s numbers mocked me. I snarled. “You can’t leave me like this.” I grabbed the base of my cock and shook it at her.
She laughed. “Oh, but I’m going to. I’m wet enough to have drenched panties. We’re both going to suffer.” She slid her hand over my dick, squeezed her fist tight. “Then, tonight…we’ll fuck like bunnies.” She tilted her head to the side. “Or teenagers. Either way, it's going to be amazing.”
I shook my head again. “I can make it amazing now. I just need two—five minutes.” I winced. “Fine, ten. The girls won’t mind. They won’t even know.” I reached for her.
She laughed and darted away. She moaned as she slid her hand down to her cunt over her jeans. “I’m so wet I can almost feel you inside me. But I’m still so empty.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “You really want to play this game with me, cupcake? Catch and release?”
She giggled. “I’m not a fish to throw back, Ryker.”
I stuffed my hard dick back into my pants. Zipped up. “No, baby. You’re not. But you forget I played these games for years.” I looked up at her.
Her face had lost the rosy glow while her eyes widened.
It was my turn to smile. “Let’s make this fun. You game?”
She shook off the surprise. Narrowed her eyes. “What are the terms?”
Fuck, I almost shot my load right there. I swallowed. “No touching yourself. Whoever comes first can’t come for twenty-four hours.”
Her mouth ticked up in a smile I’d never seen before. “I agree with that. Any stipulations?”
Well, shit. My mind tripped over itself trying to come up with ways to up the ante and we could both still have fun. A single thought shot forward. I nodded. “You’re disturbingly good with innuendos. We have to call or text each other every hour. In front of the others. Without using any words specifically related to sex, we have to tease each other.”
As soon as I heard the words leave my mouth, I knew I was going to win. My little cupcake didn’t know who she was playing against. But I’d finally get to show her who held the power in this little duo.
Chapter 21 – Willow
My pussy clenched. Crap, I probably should have given this more thought. He had a lot more experience than I did.
My inner bitch flicked her hair. But we’ve got more experience with…baking. And what are we doing tonight? BAKING! We’re going to bake enough treats to make the Amatucci soldiers need a diet program. Then we’re going to tease our man until he begs. He’ll come first and he’ll finally know who holds the power in this relationship.
This was in the bag. I smiled. Pushing up to my toes, I pressed my lips to his. His hands came around me, fingers biting into my hips. I moaned.
Shit. He was playing dirty already.
I wiggled out of his reach. Shook my finger at him. “That’s dirty pool, Mr. Penn.”
His grin was all teeth. “I said nothing about playing a clean game, Ms. Chase.”
I raised a brow. “Then let the games begin.”
He groaned behind me as he followed me to the door. “We’re either going to be dead or ...yeah, just dead tomorrow.”
I laughed as I waited for him to unlock his door. “Yeah. But it will be fun.”
He laid his palm against a biometric plate I hadn’t noticed before. My brow furrowed. “Why do you have a hand plate to get out of your office?”
“If I engaged privacy mode—which I did when you attacked my dick like a my own private sex kitten—then I have to manually unlock the door.”
Some of the happiness leaked from inside me like a balloon with a hole in it. “So this is just old hat to you?”
He grabbed my chin, forced me to look up at him. “No. I’ve never allowed any of my previous –” he waved his hand in the air vaguely “flings in here. I use privacy mode, which is more than just locking the door, when we’re examining new hardware or software. Most of the time we have a prototype spread out on the table.” He pointed to his desk. “One of the reasons the damn thing is so big. But I have never played a game like this. Not where I got to play to. Not like this.” He studied me in silence for a long moment. “We good?”
I licked my lips, tried to organize my thoughts. Sift through my feelings. The wrenching mix of disappointment and inadequacy swamped through me. “So this is something new for you too?” I could have bitten my tongue off. I hadn’t even known that need was inside me. To stand out. To be different. To wash all of his other women from his mind. His heart.
His brow furrowed slightly as his eyes pinched at the corners. “Yes. The women I…” his voice trailed off. He licked his lips, tried again. “My past encounters—because since meeting you I can’t even call them relationships—were empty. Cold. A simple exercise in seeing what I could get away with, what I could get them to do.”
I felt my nose wrinkle.
His chuckle was aimed more at himself. “Exactly. In many ways, I was just like my father. I might have used orgasms and consensual touch, but the end game was the same. I was in control. I could rule their bodies and minds. I was the most important thing, the biggest thing, of their lives in those moments.”
I heard the ache that threaded his words. The disgust that shaded them into sorrow instead of conquest. I grabbed his hands. “You’re not your father. Even in
those moments. They chose to come back to you. You had no option but to return to him.”
He squeezed his eyes closed. When he opened them, I could see his heart. His soul. “And that’s why you’re different. You see me how I wish I could see myself. I want to live up to the person I see in your eyes.” He lifted my chin, pressed his lips to my forehead. “Anything we do together, I see it as brand new. Because with you, I am.”
I nodded. I wrapped my arms around his waist, laid my head against his chest. “I like who I see when I look at you. I love who you are, exactly as you are.”
His arms tightened around me. “I love you, too, cupcake. Sometimes it scares me how much I love you.”
I tipped my head back. “Thank you for telling me. Sorry I ruined the mood.”
He chuckled. “Any time you’re in my arms, I’m in the mood. I’m sorry my past ruined your mood.” He was quiet for a second. “I could throw you on the desk, eat your pussy until you almost, then leave you high and dry.”
I laughed. “That is kinda what I did to you, huh?”
“Yeah. But, let’s be honest, I kinda liked it.” He wrinkled his nose. “Not to say I want to be left high and dry every time. Just so we’re clear.”
I nodded sagely. “Of course. Just…sometimes.”
“Exactly.” His smile was breathtaking. “Games can be fun.”
I tapped out a rhythm on his chest with my fingers. “So, if I offered to get back on my knees?”
His low rumbling growl had the heat sliding back through me. It washed away the chill as if it had never been there. “You do that, you’d better finish me off. I’m not sure my heart could stand two catch and release in one day. Hell, in an hour!”
I smiled. “Then I guess we’ll just have to seduce each other over the next handful of hours.” I pushed to my toes, kissed him with all the love I felt for this broken man.
With a nip to my lower lip, he had me up with my legs around his waist before I could take my next breath. His denim covered cock fit against me as if we were actually two halves of a whole. Perfection.
