Authors: Kate St. James
Zach glanced at their father, who now spoke to L.G. by the open boardroom door. “It’s amazing how highly Dad still thinks of Mom after sixteen years without her. He never let us forget her, Eth.”
His brother nodded. “It’s just as incredible that Olivia doesn’t resent his feelings. Remember Joan What’s-Her-Face? That Dad fondly remembers Mom drove her batty.”
“I think Joan was batty. Olivia suits him way better.” A widow with her own good marriage behind her, Olivia Trent brought out the same gentleness in their father that their mother had evoked.
“I’m glad they’re happy,” Ethan said.
“Me, too.” Zach walked his brother to the door.
Their father’s eyebrows lifted. “Boys, a moment?”
“Hey, Dad.” Zach nodded. “L.G.”
“Excellent presentation, Zachary,” L.G. remarked.
“Thanks.” Zach smiled.
Dad clapped Zach and Ethan on the shoulders. “You boys did a wonderful job. I love to see my two sons working side by side. Of course, the best situation is when all three of us pull together as a team.”
Zach’s smile waned. Soon, his work for Floretta House would surpass his involvement in Halliday Enterprises, which would shrivel to zilch. Unfortunately, the news of his departure would disappoint his father.
Floretta House was another matter. Zach would bust his ass for the charity until he died.
A funny look pinched Ethan’s face. “You know what they say, Dad. There’s no I in TEAM.”
“In certain cases, son, someone needs to take the lead.”
“If that someone gets their butt burned, let’s not say somebody else didn’t warn them.”
Zach held up a hand. “Now, you two, whatever’s happening at Halliday, leave it there,” he said in the same tolerant tone their father had employed hundreds of times with him and Ethan. “Tonight was about Mom and every woman in B.C. fighting the cancer battle.”
His father tugged in a breath. “Zach, you’re the voice of reason tonight.”
“I’ll pass the project back to the event planner. It’s a great fundraiser for Floretta House.”
His father nodded. “Your mom would have been proud of the work you boys have done.”
Ethan said stiffly, “Zach, I’ll walk you out.”
They headed for the elevator. Alone with Eth in the compartment, Zach flexed his fingers on his briefcase handle.
“Want to get a drink?” he asked. He had time to kill before seeing Tess.
“Thanks, but I’m wiped.” Eth jabbed the button for the Halliday parking garage, and the elevator swooped downward.
“I’m worried about your stress levels, bro. What happened back there?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean. With Dad.”
“Nothing. Just Halliday bullshit.”
“Since when have you called Halliday business bullshit? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You work too hard. You need to—”
“If you say get laid—”
“Why, do you have something against sex?” Tess certainly didn’t. On Sunday, they’d actually accomplished the two rounds of phone sex before dinner. And, when she’d arrived at his place, he’d feasted on her first, as promised. Then had made fast, hard love to her, which had drained them both…until phone sex round number three after she’d returned home.
His dick twitched at the memory. He’d never met a woman with such an active sex drive. It practically surpassed his.
Ethan scowled. “Of course I have nothing against sex. Don’t be an ass.”
“Sorry. Just looking out for your welfare.”
Silence swelled between them. The elevator slowed to a halt.
As the door opened, Ethan blew out a breath. “To tell you the truth, I’m thinking of seeing someone.”
Zach flung him a glance. “For what?”
“A
woman
. Christ, Zach, I’m thinking of seeing a woman.” Eth strode out of the elevator.
“Shit, by the ominous sound of your voice, I thought you meant a doctor.” They walked toward their parking stalls. “Who are you into?”
Ethan’s upper lip curled, and Zach laughed.
“Let me guess. You don’t
want
to be into this chick.” The dusty scent of the garage hung in the air as his voice echoed off concrete.
“She’s not my type.”
“Remember what you said in Danver’s. You and your type never work out. But you and this woman might.”
Ethan sighed. “That’s what worries me.”
Zach sat behind the uncluttered desk he rarely used, reviewing Floretta House documents. At 11:20 p.m., the Halliday building was empty aside from the night cleaning crew, which was scheduled to remain on the floor below his for the next two hours. The fluorescent light competed with the lamps glowing on the end tables flanking the small visitor’s sofa against one wall, providing an intimate touch in the midst of the stark corporate setting.
The stage was set. All he needed was Tess.
Minutes later, a light rap sounded at the door. Zach shoved the Floretta House file into his desk drawer and flipped open the latest issue of
Business Mogul
. “Yes?”
“Zach?” The door creaked, and a vision of beauty and grace entered. “The key card and number-pad combination worked,” Tess whispered. “You’re certain you can fix the security recording?” She blinked. “You’re wearing a suit?”
“You may come in,” Zach responded in an authoritative tone. “However, Ms. Sheridan, as your superior, I don’t believe it’s in your best interests to ask questions when I haven’t given you permission to speak.”
She smiled. “I’m your employee?”
“If you can’t even recall that you work in my secretarial pool, we have a bigger problem than I anticipated.” A big problem, indeed. His cock stiffened in his trousers, and the damn tie choked him. However, he wouldn’t remove one stitch of the hated business suit until he had her writhing beneath him.
She set her purse on the sofa. “Mr. Halliday, I apologize. I forgot my place.”
He grunted. “Shut off the light.”
She thumbed the switch. Aside from the flickering lamps, darkness shrouded his office.
He loved how she eased into the fantasy without a lot of coaching. After their hot lovemaking over the weekend, he’d wondered if she’d welcome a little sexy role-playing.
He pushed out of the chair. “The last time I saw you in this office, you were under this desk, allowing some cretin to touch you through your panties.” All right, it had been her office. Close enough.
Her eyebrows rose. “That wasn’t you?”
“I’m your boss. How dare you accuse me.” He strolled toward her. “No, Ms. Sheridan, you lowered yourself by getting it on with some mail-room lackey. However, now that you mention it, from this point forward, if anyone touches you in this office, it
should
be me.”
She stepped back. “I’m sorry, Mr. Halliday. I’ll never let another man touch me again. Will you punish me?” Excitement glittered in her eyes.
Zach fought a smile. “I certainly won’t reward you.” Depending on one’s perspective.
Reaching her, he unbuttoned her blouse with rough movements and parted the silky panels on either side of her breasts. Her nipples puckered against her flimsy bra, and desire socked him in the gut.
He pinched her pert nipples through the lace. Her eyes half-closed in the lamp-lit darkness.
“I didn’t lock the door,” she murmured.
“Planning your escape?”
“No. I’ll take what’s coming to me.”
“Good.” He pinched her nipples again, and she moaned.
He unclasped her front bra hook. The lingerie fell away, revealing her round breasts.
“Play with your tits.” He stared at the taut peaks until she placed her fingers on them.
He looked up. Her bottom lip caught between her teeth, she gazed deeply into his eyes and rolled her stiff nipples.
His chest clenched. “Perfect.”
Moving behind her, he unzipped her skirt. Bare flesh seared his hands—she wasn’t wearing panties.
“Laundry day?” he muttered. “Tease.”
Hands still on her breasts, she tweaked her nipples. “Forgive me, Mr. Halliday. I—”
“Quiet.” He whisked her skirt off her hips. As the fabric sagged at her feet, he thrust a finger into her pussy from behind…and found her dripping. She groaned.
His erection strained against his pants. “God, you’re wet. What were you doing before coming here, huh? Who were you thinking about? Answer me, Ms. Sheridan.” He shoved his finger in and out of her hot pussy.
She gasped. “Mr. Halliday—you, sir. I was thinking of you.”
His jaw clenched. “Go on. And it had better be the truth.”
“All these years I’ve worked for you, I’ve wanted you to fuck me.” He stroked deeper, and she panted. “I dream about it every night. I get myself off thinking about you. I’m not ashamed to admit it.”
“Very good.” Abruptly, he withdrew his finger. She released a tiny cry.
Heart booming beneath the restrictive business suit, Zach moved around to her front again. He lifted her hands off her breasts then peeled back her blouse and bra. Her clothing plopped onto the floor. Legs trembling, she stepped out of the skirt.
Backing up, Zach glanced over her from head to toe. Naked except for her high heels, his beautiful Tess was sex personified. Her pink mouth glistened, and her strawberry curls tumbled down her back and over her full breasts. Red-gold strands grazed her erect nipples.
His authoritative demeanor fled. “I can’t believe how beautiful you are,” he whispered.
“I feel the same about you.”
Two weeks ago, in her office, he’d said he wanted hot, messy desk sex. However, with the soft light of the lamps suffusing the room and the mesmerizing scent of her faint perfume and honeyed arousal, he wanted to make love with her slowly and tenderly.
Zach Halliday going for the romance. How unlike him.
“Follow me.” He tucked her hand in his, and they stepped to the side of his desk. He swept the business magazine onto the floor.
“Aw, I thought you’d spank me with it.”
He chuckled. “Maybe another time.”
She hesitated. Then bent and picked up the magazine. She passed it to him. “Mr. Halliday, I don’t mean to question your authority, but how else will I learn?”
His dick bucked. She really wanted him to spank her?
Without speaking, she leaned over the desk, her face to one side, her arms above her head and her legs parted. Her pale ass quivered.
He adjusted his erection in his pants. Jesus, the woman took her role-playing seriously.
He rolled the magazine into a firm tube. “How hard do you want it?”
“I’ll leave that up to you. Just keep in mind, Mr. Halliday, I’ve never done this before.”
He’d play it light and teasing, then. He wasn’t into pain.
He moved closer. His trouser leg grazed the back of her lightly freckled thigh. Her ass trembled again, and he cupped her mound with his free hand. Hot moisture dampened his palm.
He slipped two fingers inside her and slowly slid them in and out.
“Ohh,” she breathed. “That’s one nice spanking.”
He removed his fingers. He rubbed the rolled magazine between her legs and along her wet slit. She moaned. He trailed the glossy-paged tube along her ass crack. Pages fluttered open, and he fanned them over her cheeks and pussy. Her juices drenched the pages.
He flicked the magazine against one cheek then the other. Her ass lifted toward the gentle sensation, and he repeated the flicking motions over and over.
“Zach…I’d like you to punish me another way now.”
“With a quick, hard fuck?”
“Please.”
So much for slow and tender.
He tossed the magazine onto the office chair and unzipped his trousers. Boxer-briefs confined his aching erection. He shucked the pants and underwear to the carpet.
Another moment later, a condom hugged his stiff cock. Still wearing the suit jacket, dress shirt and tie, he plunged into her from behind.
She cried out.
Damn it! He stilled. “Tess? Was I too rough?”
“No, I love it. I love how deeply you fill me.”
Fantastic. Because he loved it, too.
Cock buried to the hilt, he gripped her hips and stepped back a few centimeters, coaxing her ass off the desk edge with their bodies joined.
Her tummy rested on the desk, gaining him finger access to her lubricated clit. The urge to stroke her to orgasm barreled through him. He would indulge himself. Soon.
Holding her hips, he withdrew his erection until only the engorged head remained buried in her. He paused a second then slammed home.
“Ah! Oh! Yes!”
He repeated the maneuver, dragging out his cock to the tip then plunging it back in. With a slowness that tortured him at first. Then faster and faster.
Every time his dick pumped to her womb, she gasped. Every time he slid the head to her entrance, she sighed.
He stared at the arousing sight of his cock hammering her neatly trimmed pubic curls beneath the hem of his buttoned-down shirt. Her pussy lips plumped with each thrust, signaling her oncoming climax.
She murmured his name, and he lifted his gaze. She twisted her upper body, exposing one breast. She pinched the nipple.
“Are you close, babe?” His orgasm burned in his balls.
“Yesss.” Her eyes drifted open and shut, her hips meeting his pelvis with every thrust.
“What would you like, love?” He pumped.
“For you to touch me.”
“Where?”
“My clit. Please, Zach. I just need a light touch.”
Growling, he swept one hand to her clit. The other firm on her hip, he massaged her nub in rhythm with his pumping. The delicate skin of her spine glowed, and her red-gold curls burnished to copper in the dim lamplight. The heady scent of their lovemaking blossomed between them.
She called out his name as her sweet cunt squeezed his cock. With one last thrust, he poured himself into her, his heart and every cell in his body exploding. He sagged on top of her, careful not to crush her, remaining quiet until their breathing slowed.
Brushing her hair off her shoulder, he kissed her neck.
A satisfied sigh drifted from her mouth. “Thank you, Mr. Halliday. I needed that.”
“You’re welcome. You may return to the secretarial pool now.”
“Sir, may I ask, were you satisfied with my performance?”