Eden's Pleasure (Pulse Book 1) (39 page)

“That’s really nice, honey. I’m glad for you, and you’re happy, girl?” Mikala patted her on the knee before standing.

“I’m really happy, Mik.”

“And you deserve to be, honey.”

Mikala put her arms out for a hug. Eden hugged her friend back, glad that Mikala was there for her. She could be such a mother hen, always concerned with her happiness and well-being, which Eden appreciated, but at times she could also be smothering and domineering, and Eden loved her for all of that.

“I guess I’ll have to start looking for an apartment soon.” Eden put it out there, waiting for the battle.

Mikala gathered up her clothes and disconnected herself slightly from the conversation before going on. “Honey, you can stay here for as long as you need. You have a lot on your plate right now with the new job. Relax,” Mikala ordered, not revealing that she secretly loved having Eden around and the idea of her leaving again made her blue.

“Well sooner or later, I’ll have to,” Eden said seriously.

“I know, honey, but for now you’re here for me to take care of.” Mikala laughed and gave her a big sloppy kiss on the cheek, a silly gesture to break the serious conversation that she liked to avoid at all costs.

“Want to go shopping tomorrow?” Eden asked.

“Would I turn down an excuse to spend money? What are we shopping for?”

“I need to get a present for Chase. I missed his birthday on the seventeenth,” she announced.

“What are you planning to get him? You going to do a party? You can use one of the private rooms if you want,” Mikala offered.

“No thanks. No party, I’m thinking of something a little more
personal
.” Eden grinned to her friend.

“Oh, I get it. You don’t want anyone cramping your style! I don’t like parties, anyway. Well, goodnight, and you have fun with your planning.” Mikala gave her another hug and laughed as she headed off down the hall to her room, humming the happy birthday song to razz her.

“Goodnight, smart ass.” Eden laughed and checked her phone again just in case, pouting when she discovered there was nothing more.

***

“Hey, man, you back already? How did it go?” Mason asked as he flipped through a fitness magazine at the kitchen table, only looking up for a second.

“It went well. Dinner was nice.”

“That’s all you’re giving me? Nice?” Mason asked, throwing the magazine aside to give his undivided attention to his best friend. He wasn’t for a minute letting him get away with a casual nice or otherwise. He wanted the dirt, and he was going to get it.

“What? We’re going to keep seeing each other,” Chase told him casually.

“That’s great, man. She’s good? You’re good?” Mason got up from the table, grabbed two glasses, set a bottle of Jack Daniel’s on the table, and slapped Chase on the shoulder.

“I’m good.”

“Nice, good, that’s it?” He waited patiently, but nothing more was being revealed. In fact, Chase seemed strangely unnerved. “So why so quiet? Sulking cause you didn’t get laid?” Mason laughed.

Chase poured himself at least four fingers of Jack, an unusual amount for him, and sat at the table across from Mason, who watched with amusement. He took a slow sip and swished it around his mouth before swallowing the warm liquid. He felt its warmth as it moved down his throat, then downed the remains of the glass and poured another, shooting it back and feeling the welcome burn.

“How do I tell her I love her…without scaring her away?” Chase asked, taking Mason by total surprise. Shocked all to shit would have been an understatement for what Mason was thinking. He knew Chase had strong feelings for Eden, but to hear him say it so coolly, like he was telling him tomorrow was just another day, was beyond shocking.

“Fuck me.” Mason rubbed at his face with both hands and downed his own glass in one large mouthful.

“Don’t act all stunned, jackass.” Chase poured them both a fresh shot and tapped his glass to Mason’s.

“I’m more surprised that you said it out loud…look, Eden rocks. Just tell her. She might surprise you. You know women live for that shit, the lovey dovey crap.” Mason cleared his throat. “Feelings and girly bullshit, you can have it man. It’s so not my style.”

Chase raised his eyebrows to his friend. “I know that that’s bullshit. You were in love once, you remember how it feels.” Chase emptied his glass and set up a few more rounds while Mason momentarily lost himself in thought.

“I still love my wife…I always will.” The painful truth tore at his heart. He was happy for his friend, happy for them both. He almost wished he could find that kind of love again, then the moment passed as swiftly as it came. “You’re not goingto scare Eden away.”

“You sound so sure. How would you know?” Chase asked, starting to feel the effects of the strong liquor.

“I just do.” Mason cleared away the bottle and glasses and came back to lean his elbows on the table to talk to his friend, knowing the secret that he shared with Eden, but remembering his promise to her. He would never break the trust that they shared, not even for his best friend.

“Go to bed, man.”

“I’m going…love you, man!” Chase blurted, leaving the room.

“You seriously need to get laid.” Mason laughed. He watched Chase as he headed to his office, sadly with no intentions of going near his bedroom.

***

“Mr. Dean asked me to remind you that there’s a board meeting at ten this morning, and just bring yourself and a pen,” Amanda relayed, putting Eden’s coffee and messages on the desk.

“Just bring myself and a pen?” Eden asked, confused at such a silly request.
This is my first board meeting, so maybe I have a lot of signing to do?
she thought.

“Not sure, Miss Fox, that’s just what he said.” Amanda shrugged, and left the office, closing the door behind her.

“Besame Mucho” starting playing from her purse, and she smiled reaching for her cell, knowing it was a text from Chase waiting for her.

You look so beautiful this morning! Sorry I had to be away all weekend, see you at the meeting. C.

My pen and I will be there. And how do you know how I look? E.

You always look beautiful to me baby! C.

She smiled to herself, putting her phone to the side, and set her focus on her messages, one of which came from Ross Simons Jewelry Store, where she and Mikala went on Saturday to pick out a gift for Chase. Her item was ready for pickup; she would get it on her lunch hour.

Eden spent most of her time leading up to the meeting going over design concepts and revisions, making fabric picks and color changes for several of the deadlines that were looming in the next few weeks. These were the first contracts for the new team, and their importance was immeasurable.

Back in her office, she rummaged through her purse until she found her favorite pen and scribbled on a notepad, making sure that it was working. She couldn’t think why he had worried so much about a pen. Perhaps it was just to take notes. She wasn’t going to drive herself crazy over it. She had a tendency to overthink things. She took the stairs since it was just one floor up. When she came through the door into the reception area, she stopped to ask Jessica which room the board meeting was in, and made her way down the hallway of glass walls until she came to the right one.

Inside, she was welcomed by Deanna, who introduced her to several of the board members. Eden shook hands, then sat at the far end of the table, keeping a happy distance but still a spot where she could stay involved. Rheanna sat near her mother’s side, dressed in her usual black ensemble, shamelessly flirting with one of the older gentleman, oblivious to all. She glared at Eden before returning her attention to the overly interested man.

Chase came into the room and shook everyone’s hands, smiling and sharing conversation, asking how their wives and families were keeping, children, etcetera. Eden watched him with great interest. This was her man. Her heart fluttered when he turned his attention to her, smiling from one corner of his sexy mouth. He sat next to her, holding up his pen and clicking it. She did the same, and he sat back in his seat smiling. Eden looked at him, furrowing her brow in confusion.

“In time,” he whispered, and his minty breath crossed her face, sending a rush over her. She licked her lips, wishing she could kiss him.

Black folders were handed out to each person, outlining the agenda for the meeting. Eden opened hers and started to read it over, trying to divert her attention from the sexy scent of the man beside her. It was working until Chase sat forward and touched her arm as he reached for his folder. He opened it and turned to the back of the first page, which was blank, and scribbled something, tapping his pen to draw her to look.

Hi.

It was all so clear to her now, like the text fun, this was going to be a naughty pass-the-note-in-class game. She bit the inside of her lip to stifle a laugh. He was in such a playful mood lately, and she relished the excitement that it gave her. She rolled her pen in her fingers and started to write her reply on the back of her page, excited with the idea of being mischievous in a room full of people.

Hi yourself.

Nice pen.

Thanks.

Lunch?

Can’t today sorry!

Sad face.

Rain check?

Sure baby. Dinner?

Perhaps.

Restaurant or my place?

Your place could be dangerous.

My place it is then! Big smile.

LOL we could do pizza?

And a movie?

Sounds good what movie?

Don’t care, we can make out.

Really big smile.

Love it when you blush.

Stop! Lol

Do you know how hot you look today?

Do you?

Do you know what I’d like to do to you at this moment?

Is it hot in here?

The group was directed to turn to another page, and the pair did so, but to the back of it. Eden was feeling quite naughty and a little heated. She hoped that her face wasn’t giving anything away as she glanced at Chase, noting that he was fiddling with his pen while answering a question directed his way. When he was finished with his conversation, he looked at her, smiled, and wiggled his pen, and she moved her attention to the paper again as the meeting moved on. Too bad she had absolutely no idea what had been discussed, she would have to read over the file after.

Visualize.

What?

My hand on your breast.

Oh my!

My hand on your knee.

Yes
.

My hand on your hot thigh.

Yes, yes
.

My hand under your skirt.

What if I said…

What?

I wasn’t wearing panties!

You’re killing me. Big smile.

Big smile.

Good thing the meeting isn’t over.

Why?

I have a big problem.

What???

Hard-on!

Lol

She glanced over to see that, indeed, he was sporting a nice sized swell under his dress pants, making her heart race, creating a puddle down below. How she missed the pleasure that he gave her. She reached for her glass of water and took a sip to calm down before she created an embarrassing scene.

I wish I were that glass.

?

And your lips were touching me.

(Blushing)

Stay the night.

I don’t know.

I’m not asking!

What happened to taking it slow?

I promise to take it slow baby! Agonizingly slow!

(Blush) Maybe!

That’s better than no. Big smile.

Big smile!!!

When the meeting was over, the group stood, making small talk and shaking hands. Each member of the board wished Eden a long future with the company, telling her how happy they were to have a design department with such a talented designer. Checking her watch, she saw it was nearly twelve thirty. She needed to get to the jeweler.

“Eden, could I see you in my office for a moment?” Chase asked, his face void of any expression, not giving anything away to the rest of the remaining group.

“I have a minute,” she answered, and they walked painstakingly untailored to his office in silence.

Chase slid open the door and waved her in ahead of him. Once inside, he closed the door. Moving to her, pulling her roughly into his hold, he closed his mouth over hers and gripped both cheeks of her rear end tight to him, rubbing his arousal into her with a shift of his hips. She dropped her folder to the floor and wrapped her arms around his neck, darting her tongue into his mouth, seeking out his tongue in a dance of delights.

She pulled away, breathing heavy and flushed. Chase straightened himself, smirking as he watched her do the same. He picked up her folder from the floor and handed it to her, running his hand along her arm seductively as she took it.

“I’d love to stay and play, Mr. Dean, but I must go,” Eden said, provocatively.

“You’re such a tease.” He laughed.

“Mmm…” She hummed with a cheeky grin.

“Until tonight,” he said, reaching out to touch his fingertip over her plumped nipple, evident through her satin blouse.

“Behave yourself, Mr. Dean…until tonight!” She giggled, biting her lip.

She opened the door and walked down the hall, wiggling her butt just a little exaggerated, for his eyes only, which she knew were fixed on her ass. She heard his moan and turned to see him leaning in the doorway arms, crossed with a smile on his gorgeous face.

***

Eden practically ran to the jewelers. Her time was limited due to a scheduled meeting with a new client shortly after lunch. The playtime she shared with her man after the meeting didn’t help, but it turned out to be the highlight of her morning.