Tryst with the CEO (Cottonwood Falls Book 9) Read online

  “Yes. All the time. And before you ask me if I masturbate to them. I do that as well. A lot. I close my eyes and wish it was you and your fingers thrusting deep. Or your cock instead of my vibrator.”

  “Christ,” he rumbled, his warm chest against hers as his hung open from the chest. “You’re going to make me come.”

  “That is the idea.” She flexed her internal muscles, loving the deep throated growl that he emanated.

  “Neela.”

  That was it. Her name. A single word but the way it fell from his lips it was the sexiest sound she’d ever heard. And just like that, her body responded. It sent her over the cliff she’d been teetering on.

  Clamping her lips together so she didn’t scream, she allowed that wave of pleasure to roll over her.

  “I want to hear you scream my name,” he muttered. “I will hear you scream my name.”

  He came seconds after that. And that set off mini orgasms within her. He continued stroking as they came before he took her lips once more.

  Arching into his hands and body, she twined her tongue around his as it invaded her mouth. That had only taken off the edge, she wanted so much more. Unfortunately, it sank in where she was at this time.

  Wrapping her arms around him, she broke the kiss. “I have to go. Do you have somewhere I can clean up so I don’t smell like sex and you when I go back down?”

  She nearly whimpered when he backed up, pulling free of her pussy, leaving her bereft. I’m lying on his desk no better than a common whore. And our first time was in a boardroom.

  Yeah, not her finest moments but damn it all, this man was worth all the shame that would come later. She sat as he moved farther away, hesitating a second as she allowed her gaze to drift over him once more. Body of a god, perfectly tanned, dark blue eyes that pierced her soul. As she stared his cock twitched, thickening as it once again began to lift.

  “You wake him, you’re not walking out of that door for a while.”

  She shimmied off his desk, yanking up her panties and jeans, although she didn’t fasten them. “Bathroom?”

  He pointed to the right, and she slipped in, made short work of cleaning herself up, then backed out again as she buttoned her jeans. Jack took her place and was to rights in a short time as well.

  She backed away and put the desk between them.

  He cocked an eyebrow. “Because that worked so well for you the previous time?”

  Ignoring his comment, she crossed her arms, trying her damnedest to convince her body it didn’t need his touch.

  I can do this. I can stand here and ignore the fact my body craves him like it does oxygen. I can demand he stop meddling in my work life. Then I will march out of here head high and get back to work.

  She backed toward the door. “I meant what I said earlier. Don’t meddle in my work life. I’m not coming up here to be your fuck bunny on call. I’m staying down there in the mailroom where I happen to not only be good at it, but I enjoy it.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “So then you should be happy to work up here where the money is much more.”

  She mimicked his action. “If you know the money in the mailroom sucks, then give raises to all the people down there. We work hard too.”

  “We’re not done talking about this,” he stated as she curled her hand around the doorknob.

  “I disagree, Mr. Perrot.” She opened the door. “I want no part of being your personal assistant, I’m quite happy in the mailroom.” She spun on her heel, closed the door behind her and hurried away, doing her best not to look at Ms. Donna as she scurried to the elevator.

  She didn’t head back to the mailroom right away, instead, she detoured to the women’s bathroom and sagged against the first sink she came to.

  Her body still humming from her rendezvous with Jack. She stared at her reflection and reached for some paper towels. Getting them wet, she dabbed her face and neck, trying to cool herself further. She sniffed herself, hoping that the scent of Jack was only in her mind and the others wouldn’t know she’d just shagged the boss.

  Once she believed she was composed and ready to face her friends and co-workers, she made her way back to the mailroom. Timothy looked at her in shock as she moved toward her typical spot.

  “What?” she called out.

  “Why are you here?” he gestured with his hand. “I thought you would have started today.”

  “Where are you going?”

  Looking at Paulson, she shook her head. “Nowhere.”

  “What’s he talking about?”

  “Mr. Perrot felt like he could dictate where I would be working. He tried to demand I was going to be his personal assistant.” Casting a look to where Timothy was doing his best to overhear without appearing to be eavesdropping, she added in a loud enough voice so he would be sure to hear without any issues, “I told him I had no plans to be his personal assistant.”

  Paulson grabbed her hand. “What about the money, Nee? I know working for him would be earning you much more.” A slight shake of his head. “So much more.”

  She shook her head. “I know but the tradeoff isn’t worth it to me.”

  “Which is?”

  She kissed Paulson on the cheek and stepped back. “I know what a personal assistant does and I’m not about to be at any man’s beck and call. I don’t do skirts or dresses unless it’s a special event but I’m not about to go purchase an entire new wardrobe for a job I know I wouldn’t want.”

  “What if he fires you for turning him down?”

  She shrugged. That would be a bridge to cross when and if it came to that.

  “Not something I can worry about right now. I have work to do.”

  Four hours, stressful hours for she’d be lying if she didn’t expect him to show back up down there, she and Paulson walked out of the building into the afternoon. Her sigh came up from her toes and her limbs were a bit shaky.

  This wasn’t easy nor would it be going forward but she was determined to hold her ground on her decision. Together they headed for Paulson’s truck and she smiled at him before hopping up into the cab of his jacked up black vehicle.

  “Are we picking up dinner or cooking at home?”

  She stretched out her legs as she buckled herself in. “I think we should cook. And by we, I mean you.”

  “You bake the dessert?”

  Wriggling her toes within her boots, Neela bounced with excitement. “Absolutely. I have a new recipe for chocolate pecan pie with a bourbon cream I’ve been wanting to try.”

  He started the engine. “Well, hell, let’s get going then. We’ll pick up Bonita and Carina then head home.”

  He called his nieces Bonita and Carina whereas she called them Mik and Mac. Turning on the music, she nodded her head to the music as he pulled out. She thought she saw Jack as they drove away but she refused to turn around to see if she was correct or not. Even so, she couldn’t forget how that man made her body hum.

  Chapter Three

  Jack paced his office, emotions ranging from shock to anger. Shock at finding her once more to anger that she fucked him yet again then vanished. Sure, he knew where to find her but she was content to leave. Add into that, she flat out turned him down.

  He’d been witness to her climbing into a truck with a man from the mailroom. That alone ramped up his anger once more. The fact she’d gone from sleeping with him to getting into a vehicle with someone else.

  With a low curse, he stomped to his computer and pulled up the employee records. Searching for Neela, he scanned her information, noting her address as well as her marital status. He breathed a sigh of relief to read it was single. Granted she could have gotten married since but he didn’t want to believe that.

  There was something about her, he didn’t want to lose.

  “Not that I have her yet. But that will change.”

  He got up from his desk and strode to the door, pausing to swipe his jacket as he went. Donna had already gone for the day so the area before his office was qu
iet. All good in his mind as he really didn’t want to face her questioning looks as she’d been leveling at him since Neela had left his office earlier in the day.

  Stepping into the elevator, he pulled out his phone and scrolled through to call his friend.

  “What’s up, Jacques?” Toby’s question hit him seconds after he called.

  Checking his watch, Jacques left the elevator and headed for the door. “Hey Toby, I think I’m in trouble.” I know I’m in trouble.

  This was the only man he would ever admit anything of the sort to. His best friend and business partner.

  “Trouble? How are you in trouble? What happened?”

  As he made his way to his car, he pressed the fob to unlock his car.

  “You remember the woman I told you about when I was in Georgia?”

  “Yes, the one who rocked your world and ran away. Wait a minute, is she pregnant?”

  “What? No, no.”

  “Okay, then what’s the problem? She’s not threatening to sue you for anything is she?”

  “No, that’s not it either.”

  As he climbed into his car, he realized that during their tryst today, he’d not used protection. He had been so focused on being back inside her hot pussy he’d neglected something he never forgot. Until now. Until Neela.

  “Jacques?”

  “She works for me. Us.”

  Silence before Toby cleared his throat. “Did you know that at the time? I’m assuming you didn’t because that would be a lawsuit waiting to happen.”

  “I didn’t know then. I know now because I saw her.”

  “And?”

  The powerful engine purred to life at the touch of a button and he shook his head.

  “I did something stupid like you did in regard to Melinda.”

  Toby cleared his throat. “I’m coming up there. This I have to see for myself.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  His best friend tsked. “Don’t play dumb now. You know damn well I’m talking about a woman who’s made you lose all sense of control and when you look at her, you think to hell with any and all ramifications.”

  “Fuck,” he uttered.

  Toby’s chuckle turned into a full belly laugh.

  “I’ll see you soon.” His friend hung up.

  Jacques rubbed the back of his neck and left the parking garage. This wouldn’t do. He couldn’t be so focused on her he was unable to do his job.

  And you think it will be better if she is right beside you day in and day out? Smelling sweet and tempting while wearing dresses that make you want to shove your hand beneath it and shove your cock deep inside her as you take her against a wall. Or a bed. Or hell, anywhere?

  While he didn’t require his mind’s commentary, he could at least appreciate it for there were some valid points. He was this much of a mess now, how would it be if she were within touching distance?

  Merging with the rest of the city traffic, he wove around the cars, trucks, and motorcycles like they were standing still. Right now, he had one destination in mind.

  Twenty minutes later, he slowed and rolled before an apartment complex, easily picking out the large black truck that she’d climbed into this afternoon. Pressing on the accelerator, he continued on his way. Maybe they just shared a ride into work.

  Right and the fact they have the same address on their application has nothing to do with anything.

  Another fact that was neither here nor there. Mr. Torres didn’t work tomorrow and Jacques was confident he would be the one bringing her home. When he finally made it back to his place, he was greeted by his automated system.

  Good evening, Jacques. I’ve begun your evening cup of coffee and the television is showing the news.

  “I don’t suppose you’d be okay with me calling you by a different name, would you?”

  You can call me whatever you like, Jacques. I have no feelings about it one way or the other.

  He smiled. Of course she didn’t. “Right. I’m going to shower first.”

  The water will be to your optimal temperature in three minutes.

  “Thank you.” He stripped as he headed for the bathroom, eager to step beneath the multi-headed shower sprays, and relax.

  True to her word, his shower was at the hot temperature he enjoyed. For a short time, he just stood there and let it wash away the tenseness in his body as the numerous streams of water thrummed into his muscles.

  He tried to work it out in his head. He was an extremely wealthy man. Had damn near any woman he wanted, all he had to do was pick up the phone and call.

  “None of which explains why I’m after a woman who has turned me down.”

  As he shampooed his hair, he came to realize she’d not turned him down but the position he wanted her to have. Time to create a game plan.

  He had a quiet meal alone and thought about all the times Toby told him about the fun dinners he shared with Melinda.

  “I must be getting old, because that’s what I want. Someone to talk to at the end of the day. Someone to share my life with.”

  But none of this had happened until Neela came back into his life.

  No matter how he had planned for it to go the next three days were extremely busy for him and kept him out of the office. It pissed him off but on one hand he was pleased as it gave him a moment to clear his head from the intoxication of the woman who had taken up residence in his mind. It was late evening on day three and he rose the elevator up to his office, brushing a piece of imaginary lint off his coat as he did so. The door slid open in silence and he stepped out, noting that Donna wasn’t there. He didn’t mind, he hadn’t wanted a secretary, anyway.

  Donna wasn’t bad, she didn’t interfere in his life, just did her job and made his a bit easier in the process. Swinging open the door to his office, he pulled up short. Toby sat in his chair, a plate on the desk and fork in hand as he ate.

  “What are you doing here?” He shrugged out of his wet coat and hung it on the rack. “And what are you eating?”

  “I told you I was coming. Since you were gone, I filled in and I’m eating pie.” He waved his fork around.

  Jack’s stomach rumbled reminding him that he hadn’t eaten since seven this morning. “Where did you get pie and how’s Melinda?”

  Toby rocked back in the chair, sucking on the fork. “Mellie is just fine, resting. I will head back tomorrow. And I got the pie from Neela.”

  He snapped his gaze to his friend. “Neela gave you pie?”

  “Listen to you being all suspicious. Not just me, she brought the leftovers into work and I happened to be down in the mail room while they were eating and she offered me a piece.”

  “Just happened to be down there, did you?”

  Toby’s smile didn’t set him at ease. “I did. And this pie is fucking awesome. I actually had her make me one. Chocolate pecan with bourbon cream.”

  Emotions he didn’t like skipped through him and from the knowing gleam in his friend’s eyes, he understood exactly what he was experiencing.

  “Welcome to the world of jealousy.”

  “I’m not jealous.”

  Toby took another bite of his pie and moaned in pleasure. “Of course not. And Mellie’s not pregnant.”

  “Sarcasm doesn’t become you, Latner.” He strode to the desk. “Give me some of that.”

  Toby jabbed at him with his fork. “There is more on the table over there, get your own.”

  Jack did and barely found a way to contain his moan of appreciation for the pie. Not something he typically ate but damn, this was amazing. Toby just nodded with a smile on his face but didn’t say anything else allowing him to finish his own piece in relative silence.

  “Now that you’ve eaten, I have some things to go over.”

  They worked long into the night and he opted to just sleep in his office, not the first time it had happened. When he woke and went into his bathroom to clean up. Tie loose around his neck, he returned to the main part of his office and
froze.

  Neela stood there in a pants suit. Lust slammed into him and he gulped, fingers tightening on the towel he held.

  “I don’t have to wear skirts, pants suits are fine. You do not get to call me at all hours of the day or night. There will be boundaries. I expect to be treated with respect and not as your current fuck. My off time, is that. Mine. If all of that is fine, then I will be your assistant. So long as Ms. Donna still keeps her job.”

  He blinked as a small smile turned up his lips at the corners. “Come in and close the door behind you.”

  Her expression said it all. At that moment she believed herself to be prey.

  And you are, my sexy woman. Come in.

  Seconds later the tables had turned on him for he had a flash of the two of them, a big ass rock on her hand which held the smallish one of a little boy. It hit him so hard he had to lock his knees.

  “You okay?”

  He blinked and took another breath. Important yet again, potentially a mistake for her intoxicating scent rushed through him, giving him another reason to be weak-kneed.

  Neela watched him cautiously. For a moment there, she thought he would pass out then that moment of weakness blew by, and she was again faced with the cold CEO that people talked about. Yet behind that mask, burning, always burning her was the heated passion of his stare.

  “I’m fine. We need to discuss what will be expected of your job.”

  “I’m a personal assistant. I think I can figure it out. I don’t work in the mailroom because I’m stupid and can’t be anywhere else. I’m there because I enjoy the people I work with and the job.”

  He held up a hand as he tossed the towel over his shoulder and walked to his desk. “Sit down.”

  “I’m also not staying the night here, it may be your fun times to crash on a couch but I’m going home every night to my bed.”

  “To a bed,” he muttered.

  She paused before she took a chair. “What was that?”

  “Nothing.” He glanced pointedly to the chair behind her.

  With a sigh, she took it, hooking her ankles and leaning back.

  “I can’t have you mouthing off to people.”