Page 21 of Corporate Bondage

I was determined to act unaffected by him. Last time he had caught me unaware but not this time. I unlocked the office door and pushed it open. He released my waist but entered after me, kicking the door shut behind him.

“I thought you were a chef,” he remarked as I widened the distance between us. I walked around my desk to sit even though I didn’t have anything to do here. I wanted him to know there was a shift of power here. This was my kingdom, and I had the keys. He couldn’t control me here, and he had to play by my rules.

“I am."

“But you also own this place.” His tone was accusatory as though he felt betrayed I hadn’t given him the complete information.

I shrugged. “I didn’t think it mattered.”

He gave me a crooked smile and I tugged at my tie. Fuck, he was hot. Dressed in formal attire, he had my cock indecisive about what it really wanted. Was it going to be Tate or him? I was more troubled that I finally allowed the thought free reign. The more time I spent with Keith, the more my obsession with Tate waned. I wasn’t ready to give up on Tate and me yet though. Not by a long shot.

“You’re right,” he replied. “It really doesn’t matter. Chef or businessman, I’m game for a little role play now and then.”

I scowled at him. “Have you been doing anything to come between them?”

He walked around my desk with his usual confident swag. He pushed my chair out from the table and planted his ass on the desk before me. “I hired a private investigator who is on the case,” he answered. “Linc will be following Bryan. He so much as sneezes near another man, you can be sure it will be reported to us.”

I nodded in approval. “It would be so easy if we caught him cheating on Tate. A quick and sure-fire way to get him out of the house I bought!”

He frowned at me. “The house you bought?”

I glanced at my watch to check how much time I had left to give to this man. At least I had an excuse to cut our chat short. “Yes, Tate left me in charge to buy him a home after his wife and daughter died. I bought this one because I love it. It was meant to be for us. Now your tramp of an ex-boyfriend has been using my kitchen, and I get very possessive about my kitchen.”

He glanced at me as though I was demented. “What the fuck’s so important about Tate anyway?”

“Oh, nothing,” I answered sarcastically. “Only that he’s been the closest person I’ve ever had in my life. He’s been my best friend all through college and adulthood, and Bryan is about to ruin that!”

“Shit, dude. How are you certain that you are in love with him, as opposed to you loving him as a friend? Everything you just explained to me says you love him as a friend. A very jealous friend.”

I glared at him for trying to dictate to me how I felt. “Stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?” His eyes were full of amusement, and I wished he wasn’t so fucking close.

“Like I’m the one with the problem,” I snapped at him, desperate to extinguish the jeering look in his eyes.

“Hey, don’t get all upset. You’re the one who doesn’t know if he loves his best friend or is in love with him.”

“And you’re the one who made a deal to fuck a complete stranger. Yet you look at me like I’m the pathetic one.”

The instant the words were out my mouth I regretted it. The amusement on Keith’s face disappeared. He used his foot to catch the lower rung of the chair and pull me forward. He gripped my chin and leaned into me, the whisper of alcohol on his breath hitting my nostrils.

“You want to see how pathetic I can get, Gio?” he asked, his eyes boring into mine. He would not look away and hypnotized I couldn’t either. “Right here, right now, a little discipline is in order.” He brushed my cheek with the soft pad of his thumb and leaned forward until his lips were next to my ear. “And, you’re going to like it.”

The man knew how to move fast. I had to give him that. He was off the desk and dragging me out of the chair by my necktie. I liked believing that my initial shock was what made me comply. I struggled when he slammed me hard against the desk. I brought both my hands down quickly on the surface to break the impact of my fall.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I exploded.

His hand was around my neck pressing me to the desk. “I’m going to teach you the first lesson you need to learn about Keith Eardley. You do not want to make him angry.”

Why the fuck was he talking about himself in the third person? He released my neck, and both his hands wrapped around my front from behind me and reached for my belt buckle.

“What? Now?” I bellowed. “It can’t be here, Keith.”

“I don’t recall us agreeing on a place,” he snarled at me. “I only recall you agreeing. You do agree, don’t you, Gio?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. I only nodded, heart pounding, pulse beating hard, terror rising, passion fighting against my common sense. There was no way I could possibly want this…want him.

Yet, I lay with my head to the desk as he undid the front of my pants and pulled both pants and boxers down my hips, over my ass and to rest at my knees. My chest heaved against the desk, and I blushed because he would think I shaved for him. Goddammit. Why had I? One criticism from him and I had been to a spa the next day to get completely waxed. He now ran his hands over my naked ass.

---