Devotion (The Seductors Series Book 3) (3 page)

“I love you, too, Sweetheart,” he beamed, wrapping his fingers around my hair and tugging me down toward his lips. It was only a chaste kiss, but I could feel all the love that was poured into it from the two of us.

When we broke apart, Oliver looked up and I could tell from the stance in his body that he could see his father. I slid off his lap and turned in the direction he was looking.

My heart broke watching the frail old man making his way toward us with Gail. He looked so lost, gazing around at everything and yet nothing. Oliver resembled his father a lot. I took his hand in mind, squeezing it for reassurance. He turned to look at me, giving me a half smile.
Yes, I’m here, Oliver. You’re not alone anymore.  

“Look who has come to visit you, Francis,” Gail beamed once they reached us. “You remember Oliver, don’t you?” Francis gazed down at his son, looking at him as if he were a stranger. I couldn’t even
imagine
how hard this was for Oliver. His own father had no idea who he was.

“I don’t think we’ve ever met,” Francis frowned. “But it’s lovely to meet you.” He held his hand out and Oliver shook it.

“It’s nice to meet you, too, Francis. Would you like to take a seat with Jade and me on this beautiful day?” Oliver offered, gesturing toward one of the other seats around the table.

“I will, thank you.” Francis took a seat opposite us. “It is a beautiful day.” I couldn’t take my eyes off Oliver and his father as they sat looking at each other. Would Francis begin to recognize his son? I knew Oliver was desperate to introduce me to his father, but would he surface today?

“How have you been, Francis?”

“Do I know you? You seem strangely familiar to me.”

“We’ve met a few times. I’ve brought someone very special to meet you today, though.”

“Are you talking about the angel sitting next to you?” Did Oliver’s father just call me an angel?

“Yes,” Oliver chuckled, wrapping his arms around me. “This is my girlfriend, Jade.”

“It’s lovely to meet you, Francis,” I smiled warmly.

“I didn’t realize angels could walk amongst us,” he frowned. “How did you escape heaven?” Was he being serious? What did I even say back to that?

“Jade isn’t an
actual
angel. She just happens to look like one.” Oliver saved me, stroking my arm.

“What did you say your name was again?”

“Oliver.”

“I have a young son with the same name.” My heart was bleeding, watching the pain in my love’s eyes. “He’s at school right now.”

“I think I know him,” Oliver smiled sadly.

“He’s a good boy. It’s not easy bringing up a child alone, but he’s my lifeline. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him.” Oliver took me by surprise, getting up really quickly and walking away. I wasn’t sure what to do. Did I stay with his father or follow him? “Was it something I said?” Francis asked me worriedly.

“No,” I smiled. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be right back.”

I found Oliver on the other side of the mansion, leaning against the wall with his face in his hands.

“Hey,” I soothed, pulling his hands away from his face, wrapping them around me instead. He basked in our closeness, pulling me even closer to him while inhaling my skin. “You don’t have to hide from me. I can’t even imagine how hard this is for you.”

“I’m sorry, Jade. Every time I see him, it feels like I’m losing him all over again. I have all this money and power in my hands, but I can’t save him. It drives me
insane
! Why can’t there be a cure? Why can’t I
save
him? He’s slipping through my fingers and I’m scared shitless, knowing that one day I’ll come here and he’ll have forgotten me for good.” He buried his face in my neck and I held him close, running my hands lovingly down his back.  

“I’m here, Oliver. It’s okay. You don’t have to go through this alone anymore.”

“I just want my father back. Am I asking for too much?” he whispered into my neck.

“I know, and I wish there was some way I could get that for you, but life has a way of testing us. You need to make the most of the time you have with him. He’s still in there somewhere. He was still talking about you, just in an earlier life.”

“I don’t like you seeing me like this.”

“Don’t say that. You don’t have to hide with me. I love you. You can always be yourself around me, no matter how you’re feeling.”
 

“I don’t know how you do it.” Oliver glanced up at me, taking my face in his hands before turning so I was pushed against the wall. “You make
everything
more bearable. Jade, you talk straight to my heart, and I can’t believe that you’re mine.” I wasn’t given a chance to respond as his lips crashed violently onto my own.

“Let’s go back to your father,” I groaned against his mouth, pulling at his bottom lip with my teeth. My body had exploded into a frenzy; I needed to get him alone as soon as possible.

“Okay,” Oliver panted, gripping my hips painfully. “You can feel this, right?”

“Ugh…yes, I can feel it. Let’s finish visiting with your father, then I can take you back to your mansion and work out some of that aggression you’ve got inside you.”

“How do you…?”

“Oliver, I know what it’s like to be angry with the world. I’ve been fighting it for ten years. Sex is a good way to let off some steam. Surely you know that,” I winked, stepping away from him.

“Mmm…are you talking about hard fucking, Jade?” I gawked at him, feeling my body begin to burn.
Oh, he wanted to play, did he?

“Well, I was meaning any kind of
fucking to be honest, but hard fucking sounds like fun.” It was a good thing no one was around to overhear our conversation.

“Fuck, let’s go and find my father.” Oliver grabbed my hand quickly. Someone was clearly in a hurry.

We stayed with his father for a little while longer, but when he began to get tired and confused, we knew it was time to leave.

“I can’t believe he thought I was an angel,” I sighed on the drive back.

“I can. Jade, you are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. My father may have lost his mind, but he still knows what pure beauty looks like—and that’s you.”

“You can be incredibly sweet.”

“I’m just a man in love,” he grinned over at me. I’d never tire of hearing those words.

The mansion was quiet when we got back.

“It looks like we’re alone,” Oliver purred, running his hands over my backside. “How do you feel about some hard fucking right now?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” I giggled, getting a head start as I ran up the grand staircase. Oliver was chasing after me seconds later.

I managed to reach the bedroom door before he caught me.

“Got you!” he laughed, grabbing me from behind. I screeched, kicking when he lifted me up over his shoulder. He smacked my butt as he walked into the bedroom, closing the door behind him with his leg.
 

He threw me down on the bed and undid his pants, gazing down at me with hungry eyes. “Hard fucking, you say?” He quirked his eyebrow, letting his pants fall to the floor.
Holy shit! He was stripping first—Oliver meant business.  

“Yes,” I pleaded, opening my legs, making my black lace panties visible to him under my skirt.

“Mmm…is that my invitation, Jade?” He grabbed my legs, pulling them further apart before running his hands up my skirt. I bit my lip, holding in a groan when his fingers hooked into my panties and pulled them down. “If I’m going to fuck you senseless, I’ll need you nice and wet first,” he whispered, bringing his hands up my body. They stopped at my shirt, and with one hard tug, Oliver ripped it right open. Fuck, it was so primal. I wanted him inside me badly. I was already drenched, I could feel it. The ache between my thighs was almost unbearable.

“Oh God, Oliver,” I yearned, fisting the covers behind me as his lips descended onto my chest. He pulled the cups of my bra down, making my breasts pert, waiting for his
talented tongue and lips.

My hips were moving on a rhythm of their own while he suckled my nipples one at a time.

“Wrap your legs around my waist,” he ordered from his place at my chest. I did as he asked, and the moment I arched up toward him, he slid inside me. “Fuck, Baby. You’re so damn wet already.”

“Fuck me! Just fuck me!” Yeah, I was losing my mind again. Oliver had that effect on me. He didn’t waste any time slamming back into me, though. My arms wrapped around his neck while his hands cupped my ass as he began to really move in and out of me.

“Was this what you wanted?” he panted, thrusting erratically.

“Ugh! Yes! YES!”

“That’s it, Beautiful. Take my cock! Fuck, you feel
so
good!” I wasn’t sure when the real Jade slipped through my defenses, but before I knew what was happening, I was pulling his lips down to mine, and while my tongue was invading every inch of his mouth, I had managed to turn us so that I was on top.

“I want to fuck you,” I snarled, pinning his arms to the bed as he gazed up at me in surprise.
  

“I’m yours. Do whatever you want,” he groaned as I began to grind against him, rolling my hips and taking him all the way down. “Holy shit, Jade!” Oliver threw his head
back, closing his eyes as he succumbed to the pleasure I was giving him.

“Do you like that?” I purred, rolling my hips over and over again.

“Fuck, yes!”

“What about this?” I began to bounce up and down on his cock, taking him all the way down and back up.

“Shit! Don’t stop. Keep fucking me like that. Shit, I can feel your ass hit my balls when you go all the way down.” I did as he asked, but sped up a little. I was so close; I gripped his legs behind me, using them to balance as I fucked him with everything I had.

We both exploded with an earth sha
ttering orgasm moments later.

“Jesus Christ! Jade, you never cease to amaze me. I thought
I
could fuck hard, but the way you just rode my cock. Shit! You can fuck me like that anytime you want! Night or day, you don’t even have to ask—just take me!” Wow! I guess that meant he enjoyed it, then.

“I have no idea what came over me,” I muttered. I suspected that Richard and Claire might be back soon, so as much as I wanted to, I knew we couldn’t spe
nd the rest of the day in bed.

“I think you were letting your frustration out, too. Besides, I didn’t mind one bit,” Oliver purred in my ear, nipping at my neck. “Like I said, you can use me
any
time you want.”

“Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind,” I giggled, pushing him down onto the mattress so I could stand up to get a shower. Oliver was still gloriously naked and
very
distracting. “You should think about getting up.”

“Why? Am I tempting you again?”

“You’re always tempting me, but you’re aunt and uncle will be back soon. We need to at least make an effort.”

“Okay. I’ll take a shower with you if I must,” he teased, jumping up and chasing me into the bathroom.

Being in Richard’s company was still uncomfortable, but I managed to endure it for Oliver’s sake.

It was difficult because, deep down, I knew Richard was right to not trust me. He was looking out for his nephew, no matter how jealous he was, Richard cared for Oliver and was trying to steer him from any harm, and the biggest danger—no matter how hard I tried to deny it—was me.

“What are your plans for tomorrow?” Richard asked, looking toward Oliver once we had all retired to the living room after dinner.

“I need to pay Macy and Dylan a visit at the laboratory.”

“You’ve been in a lot of meetings with them over the last few months. How is their research going?”

“Slowly. I need to talk about funding, to decide if it’s worth continuing their research or not.” I noticed how careful Oliver was with his choice of words. Richard knew nothing about the
power core, after all.

“I think it’s a waste, spending money on developing nuclear power for the stations. We already have that. The weapons industry is where the money lies.” Oliver must have given him some explanation about the funding after their argument a few weeks ago. It was clever using the nuclear
energy, as it wasn’t a complete lie.  

“That’s
your
opinion, Uncle.”

“Oliver has a point, actually, Father,” Tom called from the doorway, bringing a tray of coffee in with him. “Everything evolves. I think it’s wonderful that he want’s to take Kirkham Industries to even greater heights.”

“Are you fishing for a summer job, Thomas?” Oliver chuckled.

“Maybe,” Tom snorted, handing the coffee around. “I think you should give Oliver more credit than you do, Father. He doesn’t have it easy.”

“Did I ask for your opinion?” Richard snapped. “You are still in college, what could you possibly know about running an industrial business?”

“You’re a lawyer. You don’t run Kirkham Industries, either—Oliver does!” I sat gawking at Tom. Richard seemed to bring out a lot of rage in
people, that was for sure.

“Thomas! You do
not
speak to your father like that. Plus we have company!” Claire looked in my direction.

“My apologies, Jade,” he sulked. “I didn’t realize I wasn’t allowed to have an opinion.”

“I think you should go up to your room,” Richard seethed. “None of us want to watch your tantrum!” Tom stormed off, slamming the door behind him.

“What was all that about?” Oliver asked, taking a sip of his coffee. “I’ve never seen Tom act that way before.”

“He’s having a hard time at college. Sam is getting better grades than him, and I think the stress is starting to show,” Claire sighed. “I’ve tried to talk to him about it, but he keeps shutting me out.” Oliver looked thoughtful for a few moments before getting up.

“Excuse me for a moment. I’ve just remembered that I need to make a call.” It was a little white lie and I knew it. He was going to talk to Tom.

Claire and I made small talk while we waited for Oliver to come back. Richard seemed a little restless and got up, leaving us alone.

“He doesn’t know how to handle the boys when they are like this,” she whispered. “To be honest, Oliver is better with them most of the time. I’m not sure if it’s because he’s younger, or just that he understands them.”

“Oliver has so many levels. I think he could connect with anyone,” I grinned.

“Promise me you won’t break his heart again. He loves you so much, Jade.”

“I won’t, I promise. I’m in love with him, too, Claire. He means everything to me. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Good, because I happen to be very fond of you, too,” she grinned, touching my hand. “It’s late. I’m going to retire for the night, but I’ll see you in the morning.” With no sign of Oliver, I decided to do the same. It had been an eventful day today, meeting his father and then all the
mind-blowing sex. An early night was just what I needed.

“I have no idea what you just said,” I giggled at Oliver as he tried to explain some technical phrase to me. He was currently giving me the grand tour of his research laboratory near his family home, and I was fearful, wondering what answers I might get about the
power core. I wasn’t ready to give him up yet.

“It doesn’t matter. You don’t need to know what they do.”

“You lost me at gigatonnes, I’m sorry,” I teased, nudging him. “This place is really impressive, though.”

“You haven’t seen half of it yet.” He looked like a kid in a candy store.
Oliver was the sexiest nerd I had
ever
met.

“Promise me you won’t use big words unless you really have to.”

“Deal,” he chuckled, taking my hand in his.

My head was spinning as he showed me around the different departments from Testing to Engineering to Analysis to Materials. I never knew how much was involved in nuclear energy, and this was only a small part of his job.
    

“Have you had enough yet?” he asked. “There is just one more department I want to show you, but I need to get the access key first.” What department would need an access key?
Jade, you already know. He’s taking you to the secret laboratory.  

“Sure,” I mumbled, looking down at the floor. I’d been here before—I was reaching the end of my mission, and it was already starting to burn deep in the pit of my stomach.

Oliver darted off down the hallway, coming back a few minutes later with a key card in his hands.

“Where are we going now, then?” I asked, following him as Oliver opened door after door with his card. Talk about security. I was trying to pay attention to all the access codes, but it was impossible.
   

“You’ll see. This area is highly secured. Only one other person has the code to gain entry. I’ve shown you the testing area where Dylan and Macy work, this Macy’s secret laboratory at the moment.”

“You’re showing me the power core, aren’t you?”  

“Macy has made a breakthrough, Jade. She’s stabilized it.”

“What does that mean?”

“The
power core is ready. I need to make a decision, and fast,” he sighed, reaching the last door and punching in his security code.  

Holding my breath, I followed him into the room.
 

It was like any other research laboratory, but the glass window in the far corner drew my attention instantly.
 

“The
power core is over there,” he sighed, motioning toward the window. “You’re safe. It needs a reaction to be set off. Plus, the containment chamber is made of steel.” I walked toward the glass and took in the power core. It was smaller than I’d imagined, and was stored in a thin, silver rectangular shaped box.

“It doesn’t look like much, does it?” Oliver mused, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.

“I don’t even know what it
should
look like.”

“This is just a smaller scale of the
power core. The elements are all there. Macy has been doing the routine checks. All that’s left is for me to make the decision on whether or not to test the core with the machine.”

“How would you do that?”

“I have a testing facility in Arizona. My company has developed a machine that only loads
this
power core. The reaction created by it would burn out my standard machines.”

“Would you test before making a final decision on the project?”

“It would be difficult. It takes a lot of people to run a routine test. If I decided to pull the plug, it would be difficult to keep it under wraps.”   

“You have loyal staff. Sylvia told me about Imogen Windom trying to bribe her a few years ago.” He spun me around, and I noticed that a playful smirk had crossed his face.

“And I heard about your conversation with Imogen while I was in Brussels.” Crap, I’d forgotten about that. “You gave her quite a tongue lashing, I understand.”

“I can’t stand her. She’s vile. How dare she demand you call her! I was livid.”

“I’m not sure I’ll ever want to replace you as my PA, Jade. I’m hoping Alicia doesn’t come back.”

“What happened to not wanting to mix business with pleasure?”

“You changed that. I want you with me always.”

“I want that, too, but this job was only temporary. My love is art, Oliver. I’ll want to go back to that at some point.”

“I know, Beautiful. I just love having you with me, but I’d never get in the way of what you want to do.”

“Have you heard from Alicia lately?”

“A few weeks ago. Her immune system is still low. I can’t see her coming back for at least a month or so.”

“And all this started from a fever. I know I don’t like her, but I do feel sorry for her.”

“Your compassion is one of the many things I love about you.” He leaned down, brushing his lips against mine before kissing me deeply. “What would you do if you were in my shoes?” he whispered when our lips broke apart. Why did he have to ask me that!? It was hard enough being in this room with him, mere feet away from the one thing that could destroy us.

“I don’t know enough about your work. You can’t ask me that!”

“Jade, you know me better than anyone else. I trust your judgment more than my highest paid advisors.”

“I don’t know what I’d do in your position, Oliver, but if you’re really having to think about it, you need to question why. Maybe you’re right—is the world ready for a weapon like this?”

“I don’t know what to do. Some positive things could happen because of it, like the amount of energy it can produce. It’s not something I can just throw away, but…I…” He was losing it.

I placed my hands on the side of his face, making him look directly into my eyes. “Relax. You have time to really think about this, Oliver. You are the CEO of Kirkham Industries because it’s in your blood. You were born to make this decision, and whatever you choose, it will be the right one. You need to have more faith in yourself.” He nodded with sad eyes. “I’ll help you through this as much as I can, too, even if it takes weeks. We can talk about the pros and cons.”
  

“What did I ever do to deserve you?”

“I feel that way about you daily,” I beamed as he pecked my lips.

“Come on, let’s get out of here. I want to take you to lunch. Maybe we can start talking about these pros and cons in bed afterward?” He always had the best ideas.