Page 123 of The Art of You

My father simply shook his head and left, and I settled back on a stool, much more relaxed with him gone.

At the sound of a text, I removed my phone from my pocket. Seeing Bella’s name there changed my mood.

Bella: Tell me everything. All the good news. I know you have some. I can feel it.

I wasted no time and responded, letting her know we landed every investor we’d gone after today.

Bella: Feel like celebrating now? I happen to be sitting at your desk at our office. I wouldn’t mind winding up on top of it, though.

Me: Already on my way.

Bella: Good. I’ve been a bit bratty today (so Constantine said before leaving the office), and you might need to . . . you know.

Me: Handle your attitude in the way only I can, huh?

Bella: Abso-freaking-lutely. But use your words, sailor. Tell me what you plan to do to me when you get here. We have the place to ourselves, so screaming is not off the table. Or the desk, as things may be.

The exchange with my father was now long gone from my mind.

After locking up, I shielded my eyes with my Ray-Bans and went to my truck parked out back behind the bar.

Once behind the wheel, I texted back a dirty message as she’d requested. An explicit, and very direct description of what I planned to do to her.

Kiss every inch of her body. Take each nipple between my teeth. Run my mouth over her heated skin. Spread her legs open. Worship her. Kiss and suck and fuck her with my mouth before I did so with my cock.

Bella: Getting naked and ready for you now. You better hurry.

Bella: Actually, I’ll leave my high heels on for now. Twist my hair into a braid that you can tug in case I’m a bad girl.

Thank God my bar was near our security office. Jesus, I was unbearably stiff. How the hell had I waited this long to be with her? I had no damn clue, and I’d never find out what it was like to go without her again.

I pulled out of the parking lot and voice-texted her back while driving, offering her more encouraging words while she waited for me to get to her.

When I stopped at a red light, a for sale sign in the window of an art studio caught my eye. Bella was still struggling to draw, even though I knew how much she wanted to. A few times a week I’d wake to her standing in only my T-shirt in front of a blank canvas. A gorgeous sight to open my eyes to, but my heart broke at the fact she’d yet to put the pencil or brush to paper.

I quickly typed the realtor’s phone number into the notepad of my phone, an idea taking root in my mind. Christmas was next month, and there was nothing more that I’d like to do than help pave the way for a little holiday miracle for her. After all, her being with me was mine. Having her in my life was like waking up to the best gift every day.

I set my phone aside, and once the light turned green, hauled ass to get to her.

The second I opened my office door, I found her exactly as she’d promised. Naked, in black pumps, on my empty desk.

She was stretched out, resting on her forearms, knees bent. She lazily drew her hand down the center of her body while casually rolling her head to the side to peer at me.

I locked the door and removed my tie, allowing it to hang around my neck as I approached her.

“Mmm. My sexy businessman today,” she murmured in a sensual voice.

I reached for her ankles and abruptly dragged her to me. I had every intention of coming inside her one day. When we were both ready for that next step of her having our child. After we were married, of course. No plans to piss off Senior—a.k.a. her father. And especially not her mother. That one scared me more than her dad did.

“Ready to adjust my attitude?” she teased.

“Fuck yes.” I was breathing hard as our eyes connected, and I growled out, “Ifyou’re ready for me.”

She nodded her permission, sliding her tongue along the seam of her lips to taunt me.

“Use your words, darlin’.” I knelt in front of the desk, leaning in so my breath moved over her sex as I kept her ankles captive in my palms. “Tell me,” I began. “What. Do. You. Want. Me. To. Do?”

Epilogue

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