Page 14 of His Dark Desire

I smile as I follow her to the dance floor. I truly lucked out on having her as my best friend. I’m not sure that there’s anyone else who’d put up with my shit nor is there anyone else who’d put up with Briar. I love her just as much as I love my own sister, Becca.

As our favorite song fills the room, Briar and I begin to move, our bodies pressed together as the beat of the music invades our senses and we begin to grind and sway in perfect synchronization, lost in the rhythm and energy of the moment. My face lights up with a grin, God, I’m having the best time.

A warm, intense gaze pierces through me, sending a shiver down my spine. I know without looking that it belongs to Joe. I turn, pressing my back against Briar's chest as we move in sync to the rhythm. My eyes lock with Joe's and all other distractions fade away as we continue to dance.

“Girl,” Briar shouts in my ear. “He can’t take his eyes off you. He’s enamored by you for sure.”

I lift my shoulders and shrug. “He’s my boss,” I tell her as I give Joe one last lingering look before turning back to Briar. “Nothing will happen between us.” Not again, anyways.

She rolls her eyes. “I saw the way he was looking at you, I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”

My heart once again starts to race. God, this is beyond crazy. I shouldn’t be excited about the fact that Joe could want me. He made it perfectly clear that nothing would happen.

When I turn back to the bar, I notice that Joe’s gone. He’s no longer here and I can’t help but feel relieved. I need to focus on work, not him.

I just hope that it’s a lot easier said than done.

CHAPTER 5

Joe

Coming to the club was supposed to be my way to unwind. Being so fucking close to Hazel in my office today nearly drove me to the edge. I wanted to come to the club, maybe find a woman, and forget about her. But Christ, that didn't happen. Instead, I walked in and saw her, her sexy fucking body sway to the music as she and her friend danced. It was fucking hypnotic; I was in a trance as I watched her lose herself in the rhythm.

The more I watched, the more I wanted her. I came here to unwind, not get even more worked up.

I can't have her. I wish I could, but I fucking can't. I'm married to a viper, one that I'm getting rid of as soon as it's fucking possible. But with Christina being a viper, she's a dangerous one. I've no doubt that the bitch can and will try to start a fire somehow and I need to be in position to put it out if, and when it comes. I start something with Hazel and there's no doubt that Christina will do something to fuck with her. I won't allow that to happen. Not now. Not fucking ever.

I arrive back home and grind my teeth as I think about Hazel in the club still. The assholes who were watching her, wanting her, there's no fucking denying just how gorgeous she is, and I know that she'll be hit on. I couldn't be around and watch it happen. I'd end up killing someone if they tried that shit in front of me. I'm not stupid, I know that there will come a time when Hazel will get with another guy, I just don't want that shit to be in my face.

I strip out of my suit as I move toward the bathroom, I turn the shower on and pull off the rest of my clothes. Getting into the shower, I let the water cascade onto my back. The pressure hitting the knots in my shoulders at the right angle. I’m beyond fucking stressed, I have everything riding on making this whiskey and bourbon business a success. I want to be as close to my daughter and grandson as possible and for that to happen, I need to ensure that I have everything I need right here.

My mind once again goes back to Hazel. Christ, she’s fucking beautiful, I can't seem to get her out of my head. Her smile, her laugh, the way she tilts her head when she's listening to me intently. I reach for the body wash, trying to distract myself from thoughts of her. I start to wash my body, getting rid of the grime of the day.

It’s no fucking use. My cock is thickening as memories of the kiss hit me.

I can still feel her lips against mine, the gentle pressure from her soft lips driving me wild. My heart races as I remember the way she released that tiny moan; it was so fucking sexy. I wanted nothing more than to bend her over my desk and fuck her senseless. The sensation is too much to bear, and I can feel myself getting hard. I try to regain control over my thoughts, but it's too late. My erection grows even thicker and harder, and I can't deny the overwhelming desire for her any longer.

With a shaking hand, I wrap my hand around my cock and begin to stroke it, imagining her fingers tracing the same path. The water cascades around me, muffling the sound of my breaths as they grow heavier with desire. My thoughts become consumed by the feel of her body pressed against mine, the way her skin tasted, the way her moans came from the back of her throat, the way her breath hitched.

As I continue to stroke my cock, I picture us lying in bed, our bodies entwined in passion, her moans becoming louder and more insistent. I imagine the way she'd grind down her hips against me, I imagine the way she'd cry as she grows closer to her own release. My grip tightens on my cock, and I can feel beads of sweat forming on my body, a testament to the intensity of my own pleasure rising.

With the water still cascading down onto my body, I begin to imagine her on her knees, her lips wrapped around my hard cock, the sensation of her warm mouth enveloping me driving me closer to the edge. My mind is filled with erotic images of her, her eyes locked on mine as I fuck her mouth. I can feel my balls tightening, the tension building and building. My breath hitches in my throat, my teeth clench in anticipation as the first wave of pleasure engulfs me.

I let out a guttural moan, my orgasm washing over me like a tidal wave. My cock twitches and pulses in my hand as I come.

I finish showering, my mind a little calmer than it had been when I left the club. I dry off, and thankfully, my thoughts are no longer focused on Hazel but on my daughter and grandson. I haven't seen them in a few days, and I need to rectify that. Once I'm dressed, I quickly send a text message to Gabby asking if she's free this week for dinner. She doesn't make me wait and tells me to come over tomorrow.

I've made some of the biggest mistakes of my life, most of them are in relation to Gabriella, but she's the best thing that has ever happened to me and I'm so fucking pleased that we've managed to repair the fracture in our relationship.

“Hey dad,” Gabby greets me as I enter her home. “How are you?”

"I'm doing well, sweetheart," I reply, enveloping Gabby in a warm hug. The familiar scents of her home - cinnamon and fresh flowers - wash over me, soothing my soul. My gaze lingers on the family photos adorning the walls, capturing cherished moments frozen in time. The majority are of her and Anthony, but there's more than a few of me that are hung on the way with both of them. I can't help but smile at the sight of my grandson's toothy grin in one of the frames.

“Good, you’re working too hard, anytime I call the office, you’re either in a meeting or not there. Is everything okay?”

I chuckle softly, knowing my daughter always had a keen eye for noticing things others might miss. "Just some big projects on the horizon, nothing I can't handle," I reassure her, though I appreciate her concern more than words can convey.

Things had been so rocky for years, I’m grateful that she was able to forgive the stupid mistakes that I made and she let me have a relationship with her. It was hard at first, I’d never been a present father, I didn’t know what to do and Gabby was an adult, but she made it a lot easier than it should have been.

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