Ms. Jenkins stood there for a few, long, painful moments, before shaking her head. “Fine, but if this backfires, I knew nothing about it.” She shook her head again as she turned to leave. “I’ll be praying for you, son. You’re going to need it.”
No shit, but it was a chance he had to take.
I Seriously Hate Him...
Chanti was mad enough to spit nails. It didn’t really matter she had absolutely nothing better to do with her night, but that didn’t mean she wanted to spend it dropping off crap at Egan Braun’s house. Maybe she should’ve given him the damn numbers a week ago, but she’s always turned them in at the last minute. He had to choose now to work from home? Probably had a hot a hot date with some big breasted bimbette. The thought made her a little sick to her stomach. Alone with no one watching she could freely admit she hated the nameless, faceless bitch who got to kiss Egan, touch him in a way a woman touches a man she wants.
Long ago, when Egan had first started at Open Arms he had attempted to flirt, but Chanti hadn’t been foolish enough to take him seriously. A man like that was used to having women tripping all over themselves just to get him to smile at them. Independently wealthy, devilishly handsome, witty and possessing more charm than any man had a right to, he probably had a harem of women, one for each night of the month. Instead of looking foolish she had blown off what he had no doubt considered harmless flirting. It was better than falling for it.
Too bad Mr. Perfect just couldn’t handle a woman failing to fawn over him. Somewhere along the line he’d gone from friendly flirting to biting sarcasm. At first it had thrown her, not sure what she had done to deserve the little jabs he threw her way. He never talked to anyone else in the office like that. That’s when she’d started to hate him. Why did he have to single her out for his disdain? She’s never done a dam thing to him.
Remembering why she hated Egan helped bolster the courage she needed to knock on his front door. Well, more like bang, but who was asking? She expected it to take a while. He was probably making himself all beautiful, or spreading rose petals on his sheets, the asshole. She was completely unprepared for the door jerking open so fast. So much so, she kind of tripped inside.
Bastard.
“Hey there little Fierce. Come on in. You can read off the numbers to me. Already set up in the study.”
With that he turned, she guessed she was supposed to follow. Gracing his retreating back with a glare, she straightened, closed and locked the door, before following him into his den of iniquity. She hated to admit it, but Egan had excellent taste. His condo was large, decorated in a modern, easy style of earth tones that invited a person in, giving off the air of a home rather than your standard bachelor pad. Man, she really hated him.
The study was no different. He’s set up big comfy chair side by side in front of a massive mahogany desk. Unlike her own office space at her place, this one immaculate, everything in its place. Chanti had no desire to be this close to Egan, no desire to be here at all. All she wanted to do was drop off the damn paperwork and be gone. There was an all-night marathon of military disasters on the History Channel.
“Look, I’m not staying. I’m here to drop off my reports. I’ve got something to do tonight.”
Give myself a makeover, take a long bubble bath, and contemplate how Napoleon could’ve taken over Western Europe...
She would never admit any of that to him, of course, ’cause hey, a woman had her pride. Let him think she finally had a date even though it was well known she shied away from men after her last wreck of a relationship.
“Hot date?” The smirk on his face was just too much.
“Yep. Decided to finally give in to Kevin’s constant pleas.”
The silence that descended was deadly. Chanti hadn’t thought before she’d said it, she’d only wanted to get that damned knowing grin off his face. Kevin was well known around the office as a first rate, certified womanizer. He specialized in turning a woman out and leaving her crushed. Callous to his very core, Kevin seemed to have a personal mission in life to run through women of all shapes, sizes and colors. Rich, handsome and ruthless made him deadly. There was literally no way in hell Chanti would ever consider going out with someone like him.
“I’d thought you smarter than that, Chanti.” The use of her real name instead of his nickname hurt in some weird way. The soft disappointment in Egan’s voice was yet another surprise.
What was it to him anyway? It wasn’t like he spent his nights alone...Right?
“Look, it’s none of your-”
The kiss threw her completely off kilter. One moment she was standing there all bravado and bullshit, the next she was crushed against Egan’s hard, lean frame. Oh God, he felt so damn good! He didn’t just kiss her, he took her mouth in total possession, forcing his way inside and devastating every last one of her defenses. He’d lifted her cleanly off her feet with no effort at all. Her legs seemed to have wrapped themselves around his waist somehow. Certainly she hadn’t done that on purpose. And she was going to break off the kiss too, just as soon as her insides stopped melting into a pool of lava.
It wasn’t until his lips began to travel that Chanti realized she was sprawled on his very clean desk. The papers she’d intended to hand to him and run were scattered all over the floor. She was going to tell him about that too, only his hands had somehow managed to free her of her shirt and was making free with roaming over her body. Lord, how could a caress start a fire so hot? When he cupped her breasts nothing could’ve stopped her whimper from escaping. His thumbs pressed against her nipples through the satin of her bra, causing her to mentally curse the material that kept his skin from making contact with her own.
Seriously, she really was going to break this up, just as soon as she got the shirt off him. Not because she wanted to touch those rock hard abs she’d felt through the fabric, but just because he took her shirt off and turnabout was fair play. The reality of what lay under that shirt took her breath away. Talk about sculpted! It was too much of a temptation not to run her finger nails over the light golden surface, watching deep red welts form— not the kind that implied a fight, but rather a marking that could only come from amorous activity. Egan’s corresponding hiss made her clit jump. When he grasped her hair, forcing her head up and back so he could pin her with those green eyes of fire, she damn near came. Yeah, it was dangerous to put your hands in a black woman’s hair, but he not only got away with it, he made her love it.
“You won’t be going out with Kevin, or any damn body else…tonight or any other night,” Egan growled, accentuating his rather high handed command with a thrust of two incredibly thick fingers inside her all too needy sheath.
How long had it been? Despite being embarrassingly wet, his fingers were a tight fit. Chanti gasped, hanging on to his shoulders for dear life. Her hips lifted, thighs widening begging for more. Lord, his gaze was so hot, so intense. A shattering orgasm rolled through her before she could call it back. She’d wanted to challenge his assumption that she’d just capitulate to his autocratic command. Speech was impossible, because the man just refused to stop his most excellent manipulation of her body.
“Ummm, the first of many.” His words were serious enough, but it was the look in his eyes that had her believing he spoke the gospel. “I’m going to taste you now, baby. I’m going to bury my head between your thighs and brand you with my tongue.”
Yesssss!
Her heart leapt with his words, her body opening wider for any invasion he chose. She was in serious trouble here, and there was just no way to stop it. She’d wanted him for too long, dreamed of this in the privacy of her own bedroom, away from prying eyes. But he had known; somehow he’d read her need. The reality of what she’s secretly wished for was way more intense than she’d been prepared for.
“Shut up and do it, if you think you can.” That probably would’ve sounded so much more challenging if she hadn’t been panting for him. Chanti didn’t care. If today was all she’d ever have of Egan, she wanted it all. The memories of this would have to last her forever sohe’d sure as shit better make it good.
“Don’t push me, baby.” God, why did he have to sound all dominant like that? It was bad enough she was putty in his hands. “I’ve been waiting too long to make you mine.”
Wait-what???!!!
The Girl Is Mine!
She was killing him. Egan knew there was no way he could make this the slow, sensual seduction he’s planned in his mind. It was too hot, too intense. Hell, he’d planned to ply her with a gourmet meal cooked by his own two hands, fine wine and pleasantness for once. He’d wanted to get underneath that tough shell she surrounded herself in. Once again, she’d pushed him past the point of endurance. Not that he believed for a second she would be caught dead with a male whore like Kevin. Just the very thought of her with another man...
Dropping to his knees, he dove between her thighs. No slow, lingering licks or gentle teasing. Egan was on a mission. Her taste burst on his tongue like the sweetest nectar of the gods. He dove in, savoring her cries of ecstasy every bit as much as her sweetness. He drove her body ruthlessly, cupping her hips to keep her close. He wanted it all—her clit, her channel…fuck he was never going to get enough.
Only when she pulled on his hair, trying desperately to get away did he even consider stopping.
“It’s too much.” Her voice was no more than sexy little rasps of sound. He knew in that moment he had to hear that sound coming from her at least once a day for the rest of his life.
Not too much, not nearly enough. But there would be time for that later. Watching her, those deep, soulful brown eyes half closed slumberously sexy, he had to have her. Already his cock was so hard it hurt. Pressing against his jeans every bit as insistent that he claim her, he knew there would be no way he could wait for the bedroom.
Rising slowly he took a little step back, slowly releasing his throbbing shaft from his pants. He waited, watching her face intently. Ultimately it was her choice. It would kill him but if she didn’t really want this he’d stop. His heart stood still as he waited, scared more than he would’ve believed possible that she might reject him.
A swipe of her delicate little pink tongue against her lower lip had Egan breaking out in a sweat as she regarding him. Her eyes lifted to his, her legs opening ever so slightly more for him. That was all he needed. The second it took to position himself at her opening was too long. He needed this, needed her. This was it for him, he knew it to the bottom of his soul. Once he took her, she would be his irrevocably. Maybe he should warn her, but he didn’t. He couldn’t take the chance she’d turn and run. She’d been running from him for far too long as it was.
He pushed inside, slowly…too slowly. Good God, she was tight! His chest tightened as he entered inch by excruciating inch. Her vaginal walls were like molten liquid silk. Despite his intentions of branding her, marking her as his, he knew she’d done the same to him. A helpless groan escaped as he made his way fully inside, staying perfectly still to let her adjust to him.
“If you don’t move, I swear to all I hold dear I’m going to murder you Egan Evander Braun.”
She knew his middle name. As absurd as it was, especially given their current position, it made him smile like an idiot. No way could he move just yet though. The last thing he wanted to do was take her like a maniac, especially given his actions up to this point. There’d been nothing smooth about their coming together. The woman drove him to drastic actions, challenging his very manhood. And he was just sick enough to love every second of it. He didn’t want to lose all control, powering inside her like a maniac.
However, he hadn’t counted on the erotic dance of her hips underneath him. She moved in a shimmy older than time, tempting him beyond all control. His hips moved on their own, despite his very best intentions. At least he wasn’t bucking like an idiot. His movements thankfully were measured, complying with her unspoken demands. He wasn’t gentle. Lord knows he’d wanted to be. There was no way to pull back on the surges forward. He had to be here inside her like this. He had to take her, had to make her his. He needed her so bad he thought he might die from it.