I could hear Elizabeth’s voice in the next room and afterward she came out with a scrap of glossy white paper. Handing it to me. I reflexively folded it and stuck it in the back pocket of my jeans.“Can I see her?”“Of course, you can be with her up until she goes into the actual surgical room. Then if you stay outside, we’ll give you regular updates.”My throat constricted and I could no longer form words, so I just nodded.One of the clerks walked me to her room.“Mom.” I said. Rushing to her.“Hey, Baby Girl.”I didn’t know why she still called me that. But it made me feel precious and loved. “Are they treating you well.”“They always do, Honey.” She caught my hand and gave it a tender squeeze.It was hard to imagine that this was the same woman who’d given up her College Master’s to raised me and spent many lonely nights working two jobs to raise me by herself after my dad was killed in a drunk driving accident.Even while she was grieving, she was strong for me.I remembered only
It’d begun to rain, and the cool, heavy drops fell over me. Feeling like a balm over my skin and hiding how hard I was sobbing.Thankfully, I could let the tears run and no one passing me was any wiser.Cars jetted by now and again but a particularly loud one slowing down behind me, drew my attention.I looked over my shoulder and saw an expensive looking silver car with sharp lines.It growled as it veered over the passenger door was tossed open.“Get in.” He ordered. Leaning over the console to talk to me.“I’m soaking wet.” I gestured down my length. Objecting to ruining his fancy seats.“I see that. I said get in.”I was too exhausted to argue. Giving him a pensive look, I slid into the seat.“Probably going to ruin it.” I muttered, working hard not to look at him.“It’s leather. It’ll be fine.” He was staring through the rivulets of water rolling over the windshield. Casting shadows over his hard features.He was wearing a leather button up with the sleeves rolled. Unbuttoned to
“Doesn’t seem like you’re struggling.” I remarked.“Perhaps not like that. But as far as sympathy and sensitivity, I’ve been told I can come off rather…”“Harsh?”“Thanks.” He frowned. “But, yes.”“You are harsh.”“I don’t intend to be.” He defended.“I don’t think you do, I just think you’re incredibly direct and most people don’t know how to take that.”“I suppose not.” He grumbled. Walking away. He rounded the kitchen bar. “You hungry?”Starving.“No.” I said slowly. “I’m okay.”My stomach gave a drawn-out growl in objection. The mere idea of food making it holler. I tried to recall what I’d eaten earlier today and realized I hadn’t.It’s been a weird day.He leaned across the counter. Propping his chin on his palm to give me a pointed green-eyed stare.“Fine.” I conceded. “I’m hungry.”***“I noticed.” He straightened. The hint of amusement tingeing his tone. He washed his hands in the sink and moved to find a pan.“There’s one in the box here.” I lifted it out and handed it to hi
He grinned and didn’t look up. “That you knew. But why I dropped her may be a little less known to you.”He’d said she cheated with Logan. I remembered his words from the club.Does he really know that? I wondered. Still somehow hoping it wasn’t. My mind’s way of trying to protect me from my own humiliation.I shrugged. “I’d assume the same ol’. One of you cheated?”Was Susan really the only one that cheated? I hadn’t really realized that I’d crossed my arms disapprovingly. Suspecting that he might be just as guilty. Because like Logan, women tended to flock to him.“Yes. It is the classic tale.” He admitted.“Did you do it too?” I couldn’t help the note of accusation.He turned his head to me, eyes wide at the sound of that note. “Not me.”“You sure about that?”“Pretty sure I’m present where my dick is.” He said a bit harshly. My brows went up. “You think I’d do that?”“I’ve seen the way women respond to you.” I began.“You don’t.” He cut me off.I’m not entirely immune. I mentally
“Full?” He asked after swallowing a bite of his food.I looked at my plate. The pretty strawberry salad was gone. All that was left was a hearty chunk of the buttery steak. “More than.”“You mind?” He aimed his fork at the remaining half.“Not at all.”Please take it, before I try to eat more.He stole it and helped himself to it.“Quite an appetite.” I remarked.He nodded.It seemed surprising he could down so much and still have that trim narrow shape.I glanced over at that wall that was lined with hand weights.He must work out a lot to eat that way.“You never eat at work.” I noted.“Don’t do anything but sit there.”I thought about that. Probably true.This version of Porter struck me as being very active. When he was at Chase & Walker he was sitting doing accounting. Seeming entirely at peace doing nothing but scribbling in ledgers and typing notes on his computer.But when he’s not there, he’s like this.“Do you make more as a bouncer?”He nearly choked. “Definitely. But we pr
MONDAYThe couch truly was terrible. Getting off it was more like flopping over on my stomach and crawling toward the bathroom until the feeling returned in my legs.I didn’t know if Teresa and Rita were staring at him in their usual longing way. I couldn’t tell because I seemed to be too busy doing it myself.Why do I keep staring?Because he was wearing a pinstripe gray suit today. With a cream-colored button up underneath. Looking comfortable as the accountant with the wide-brimmed glasses he kept pushing up that straight nose.Nothing like the muscled bouncer in tactical pants I’d watched dressing a few days ago.I blew a long breath. I’ve got to get away from him.Staying in his apartment was going nowhere good.This morning after I’d evolved my plan, I’d followed the scent of coffee to a pot he had on the kitchen counter. But when I’d turned to try to find my thermos in the box I’d packed, I found it sitting on the counter.I twisted the lid and peeled it open. Seeing the milky
I should’ve noticed it before.What if that meant it wasn’t Logan’s account?But it was opened the same day. I told myself. Shaking my head slightly.It’s not though…Then who’s is it?“Can you open the account registry?” I asked.He sent me a sharp look. “Why? You know what day it was opened and by who.”“But I…” I eyed him and realized that I couldn’t explain it.Not without seeming even more careless and self-involved.I’d already claimed that I thought I was justified in stealing from Logan. But if it’s not even Logan’s…Then I’ve just been stealing. Period.I decided in that moment it was better if he didn’t look. I chewed my bottom lip.What would he think if he realized it wasn’t even Logan’s?I was just robbing clients… I was sweating and breathing raggedly.He leaned forward, the chair squeaking beneath him and his sandalwood cologne filling my nostrils as he peered at me. “Everything okay.”No!Whose account is this? I wanted to yell.“Yeah.” I straightened. “I’m good.”“Alr
I need to check the bucket.I went in and saw that the bucket was indeed nearly spilling over. I quickly dumped it. Lugging the heavy thing to the bathroom and dumping it before returning it to the Living Room under the leak.I dialed the manager again leaving him another message that I was still waiting on Maintenance to check the roof.“Uggh.” Groaning in frustration. I turned around and went to round up some of my brightest towel and washcloths. Piling them on my couch so I’d remember to take them when I left.I was already envisioning Porter’s face when he saw them in his bathroom. Quietly replacing his black and white towels.But thinking of Porter had me thinking about how he looked in those rolled up button ups and those tightfitting tactical pants.My eyes shifted to my room.I lifted my phone and checked the time. Thinking Porter wouldn’t even be heading back to his apartment for another forty minutes.I flopped onto my bed and let my mind wander. Feeling the arousal climbing
“Well,” Nita slapped my desk. “My work is done.” She stood and rounded on Kane. “This one is going to cost you.” She pointed at him. He smiled fondly at her. “Slow barbecued ribs, I remember. Long as you make some of that potato salad.” She slapped his shoulder when she was next to him. “Of course.” She stretched sideways to give his cheek a light peck as though he were a brother before smoothly exiting the office. “She’s a pitbull.” I shook my head in wonder. “You should’ve seen her in the courtroom.” Kane shook his head in disbelief. Settling his suit jacket over his chest. “It was so brutal, I was uncomfortable for Logan.” “Well, I’m glad someone was. Because he certainly wasn’t.” He nodded grudgingly at that. “Well, he’ll have plenty of time to think about it, with his wages cut and sitting at home, trying to find other ways to access beautiful, capable, women.” He walked over to stand befor
I was standing next to my desk, not wanting to be sitting when Logan came in. I didn’t want him to catch me off-guard. I was as prepared as I could be for the awful confrontation. But Logan never came. Instead, I saw the legal team carrying boxes, escorting him down the hall like a flock of busy blackbirds. Chirping different things while he talked to them in a clipped, annoyed tone. With boxes? I watched them. Turning my head to follow their progress past the glass walls of my office. It was only a few minutes after that, while I was still standing there bemusedly, that Kane entered the office in his fine suit. But his mouth was tight and he looked a bit saddened. Nita’s face was unreadable. At least for me. I don’t know her well enough yet. “What happened?” I asked quickly. Afraid to move. Afraid something bad was going to happen. Kane stopped just inside the office. B
His warm weight was along my back. His legs molding my legs as he slid his erection along the crack of my ass. Stroking himself in the warm crease. Getting harder by the second. He swept one arm beneath my ribs to lift me slightly. The other was along the front of my chest, just below my neck. Holding me where I was while he kissed my ears and cheek. When he lowered enough to straighten his cock and slide it into my entrance it was that warm, stretching relief. The feeling of satiation that only he could offer. My body superheated. And he stroked into me. Holding me to him as though he intended to never let me go. Eventually his hands molded along my biceps so he could lean up. Holding me there while he angled in more deeply. “Ahh.” I cried in surprise, feeling the sudden depth of him touching me more deeply. He rolled his hips forward, testing his length in my channel. Finding the objecting barr
“You don’t have to go, you know?” “I do.” Kane said flatly. I said nothing. Unsure what to say. “It is absolutely about protecting you.” He read my thoughts. “But it’s more than that.” I waited. Intrigued. “The way he treats people in this office is deplorable. Threatening, groping, demeaning. Now woman deserves that.” For the first time, it dawned on me that he was right. I’m not the only one he sexually harassed. It was how Logan had often coaxed women to his bed. But not every woman in the Chase and Walker departments was a whore. So, how many could he have tried to bully into his bed. My eyes widened and my stomach got a little sick. Perhaps, I was to blame for that. My silence, for fear of Logan kicking me out of the company, might’ve exposed other woman to Logan’s shit treatment. Kane was reading my features. Something he was getting rather good at. “Don’t you dare
“To think, I once thought you…Safe.” I said ruefully. Safe…I was shaking my head at myself. How many times had I thought how silly that word was, in application to him? He lifted his head in surprise. “I am safe.” I searched his face. Sensing the severity in his meaning. “For you.” He vowed. “I will never hurt you, Angel. If you stay by my side, I’ll give you everything.” I nodded. Sensing the deep sincerity. As if he was now offering me everything he’d yearned to give me back then. “You were enough then too, Kane. You know that?” It was something that really needed saying. His brow furrowed. As if in doubt. I felt the immediate need to reassure him. As he would me. “When you were, K.P.” I explained. “You were enough. I was just too young and dumb to see it.” He laughed and dropped sideways over me. “Isn’t that the story of everyone’s life?”
I licked my lips but found this even harder to admit. He leaned over me, pushing that finger in further as he began to move it with his hips, simulating what he’d soon be doing to me. Now he could whisper into the shell of my ear. “All tied up and whimpering. Unable to stop me while I take you…” My back jerked upward and I nearly came, but he pulled that finger away. Making me growl in frustration and writhe furiously. But before the sound had even reached completion, he’d replaced that finger with his long pulsing member. Which was starving to intrude into my tight channel. Pulling my walls apart as it delved into my very center. Reminding me how powerful he was in this moment. How easy it would be for him to hurt me if he stretched just a little too far. He’s long enough to do it. He could destroy me. Hurt me irreparably. He could scratch me, bite me. Things I’d always feared Logan might try to do, every tim
I almost couldn’t believe I’d admitted out loud. That I want to belong to him. I could imagine life with Kane being just what he’d shown me so far. Pleasant evenings in his blue jeans making dinner together, drinking sweet wines, going for drives in his fancy blue spider that smelled of leather and his woodsy cologne, even him going off to do what was needed at the Red Tar while I waited eagerly for him to return. Keeping his bed warm. Then waking to blearily watch him pull on his shorts to go for his run. Then falling back asleep until my alarm blared. Then rising and going to the kitchen to get my thermos, already full and warm and steaming with the fresh brew, he made me every morning. Walking into that office and seeing his handsome features across from me. Knowing he’s mine. And I’m his. That was getting me wet. All of it. I swallowed the lump in my throat. Watching his f
My wrists strained at the bit of Velcro and buckles, wanting so badly to touch him. I was finding it incredibly hard to track all he was saying. “Wh-what do y-you want, Kane?” “You. No resistance, no distance. You. Bare, vulnerable.” He caught my breast and squeezed its shape in a sensual motion as he finished. “Mine.” He was watching my face intently. Parting his lips as I parted mine. Watching each nuance of my expression. His lips nearly against mine as I writhed and tipped my head back. Trying to escape the intensity of the situation in tiny increments. Both aroused and resistant to being so exposed. “Stop.” I laughed. He growled hungrily and dipped his head to kiss me. A deep, probing kiss. While he moved his finger in slow circles inside me. I moaned uninhibitedly and he swallowed the sound. Twirling my tongue, with his. A reflection of the motion his finger was doing. Stretching me and warming me. Making me moister by the minute as I ye
I caught the stool and turned it. Pointing his knees at me. I swept my hair back into a ponytail and began lowering before him. He set the fork down and turned slightly to offer me more. His eyes riveted on me. His lips parted and I looked up, observing his face as I wrapped my lips around the knobbed tip of him. Letting my soft lips glide over the tip and take him fully into my cheek. Tucking my teeth and rubbing along the side of him with my tongue. He gave a long groan of pleasure. “Holy shit.” “You like that?” I lifted my head to whisper. “I fucking love it. More.” He caught my head and guided me back down to him. I obediently put my mouth back on him. Drawing him in further, until I felt him just brushing the back of my throat. The chair creaked as his ass flexed. Straining to push him deeper into me. “It’s so hot.” He panted in objection to the raging temperature combining with what I was doing to him. I c