Page 55 of Audacity

‘Good. That’s good. Get them on board with your vision before they’ve even walked into the room.’

‘Myvision?’ He holds up the pages of what should be a briefing document and instead is a solid pitch, and I have the good grace to laugh.

‘Our vision.’

‘That sounds more accurate. But I reckon Dad’ll love this stuff. He grew up on the Dublin docks. He’ll get it.’

‘And your mother?Godthat’s good,’ I moan as his thumb circles my instep hard.

He lays the briefing document down and circles my ankle with his other hand. ‘She’ll agree with the core of it, I think. I mean, it would be hard not to. But she loves Eleanor.’

‘How?Why?’

He purses his lips before answering. It’s something he does a lot. He’s never in a hurry, never one to say something without measured consideration.

‘Validation, I suppose. Having people like Eleanor on board credentialises my parents. They may be very wealthy, very successful, but there’s a part of them that still sees themselves as interlopers. You know what London high society is like—it’s a melting pot of old money and new. Eleanor provides that old-money gloss that they feel gives them some respectability.’

‘That’s ridiculous. From the sounds of it, your parents are about a million times more impressive than her.’

‘Maybe so.’ He strokes his fingers along my foot, his grip deliciously firm. ‘But sometimes it seems as though they’re still trying to find a way to belong. Even after all this time.’

CHAPTER 25

Gabe

I’m perched on the front edge of my desk, rereading Athena’s epic briefing document when she turns up for work on the morning of the foundation meeting. I let my gaze track her as she reverently places her oversized handbag on her desk and saunters through to my office.

‘Wow.’

‘Thank you. Good morning.’

‘Pulling out all the stops, I see. I recognise that dress.’

It’s the navy one she wore to her interview here, the one that somehow makes her look like a boss and a sex kitten all at once. It’s formal enough to be parent-friendly, but in this ravenous man’s eyes it showcases every delectable curve.

She smooths her hands over her hips as she approaches. ‘I thought you might like to take it off later.’

I let the briefing tome fall to my desk and hook her around her waist with my arm, tugging her closer so she’s standing between my legs. She is simply bewitching.

Every weekday, she is mine to do with as I please, and it’s a privilege I take great delight in. That said, the more we mess around, the deeper I fall into this yawning abyss of need. Every fuck, every intimacy, feels like a silken strand of Athena’s web,ethereal-looking but alarmingly strong, and this little fly is as disinterested in resisting as he is powerless.

We’re almost nose to nose. ‘Actually, I’d like to take it offnow. I’m feeling… antsy, I suppose. I rarely enjoy these sit-downs with my family. I’d like to take the edge off.’

I run my fingers down the length of her exposed zip until I can cup her arse, and she tilts her head so her lips are against my ear. Her voice is low, seductive.

‘Not on your fucking life.’

I jerk back. She’s never once declined my advances since she started here, and she’s perfectly entitled to, obviously—I just didn’t see it coming. Not from her body language.

‘No?’

‘Gabe, if you think I’m going to let you throw away that edge before this meeting, you’re sorely mistaken. You need to hold on tight to whatever edge you have with both hands.’ She slides a hand around the nape of my neck. ‘Think about it. You’re like a happy baby bear when you’ve just had an orgasm. An entire SWAT team could rampage through this place after you’ve come and you’d be totally oblivious. There’s no way I’m letting you go in there like that.’

I stare at her in disbelief. ‘That’s not true!’

She smiles sweetly. ‘Oh, darling. It’s very true. And very endearing.’

‘I distinctly remember you telling me at our first dinner together that one of your services is fluffing your bosses before big meetings,’ I counter mulishly. I’m not letting this go. Not unless she tells me she doesn’t want this, in which case I’ll obviously drop it immediately.

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