Page 64 of Glitter & Guns

“Wonderful. If you have any further questions regarding security, let our office know. We’d be happy to set up a phone call to address these concerns going forward,” I informed him with a bright smile. “I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day.”

He looked like he was going to argue with me but instead spun on his heel and left my office without another word.

twenty-six

Amomentlater,Mrs.Laningham entered, looking surprised. “That was fast. Did everything get worked out all right?”

“Yes, I believe for the first time, Mr. Molina is understanding matters more clearly,” I shared, giving her a wink.

She chuckled and shook her head. “You have much of your father in you, don’t you? The spitting image of your mother, but that mind of yours is all Colmazio, that’s for damn sure.” Her smile turned all business as she handed me a stack of files and a list of names clipped to the top. “I wanted to give you these to look over when you have a chance. They all work with the company so they’re already vetted, but if you don’t see anyone who catches your eye, then feel free to conduct a search of your own.”

“Thank you truly, this will be such a help.” As I followed her out of the office, I glanced at my watch. “I need to run to another meeting with Braxton. Would you let Daddy know if he needs me just to call?”

“Certainly, dear, now go on. It’s good for that stubborn man to have you to lighten the load around here,” she answered, patting my arm reassuringly.

I headed down the hall with my stack of employee records then paused and looked back for Boykov. The man was already on my heels, having appeared out of thin air which was impressive for someone his size. “How do you do that?”

“Lots of practice and good shoes,” he answered instantly.

A bark of laughter caught me off guard as I continued toward the elevator. “Why can’t the others be more like you? Seriously, I feel like every other man who works for me is wound so tight they can’t take a fucking joke,” I commented as the doors to the elevator closed, and Boykov used his pass to unlock the controls and take us to the parking garage.

“Please don’t take offense when I say this because I do think you’re a lovely lady.” He started making me incredibly curious as to what was going to follow. “The difference is that I don’t want anything more from you than friendship. On the other hand, those lieutenants of yours are a mixed bag of in love with you, in lust with you, and then there’s the one whose soul you hold in the palm of your hand.”

Stunned, I blinked at him for a few moments, trying to wrap my head around what he’d just said. “You’re pulling my leg, right? I know what you mean about the whole lust thing. If Jace and Braxton tried any harder, they would be laying in my bed buck-ass naked. I’m assuming you’re talking about Ryker when you mentioned holding his soul, but damn the man has an odd way of showing he fucking cares. Everything that comes out of his mouth is a disaster.”

“There was only one woman I ever loved, and when I thought I was losing her, I acted like an idiot. Said all the wrong things and eventually pushed her away just like I feared I would. Thing was, she didn’t feel the same about me, and you can’t force someone to love you. I’d have fought for us, but if she wasn’t going to join in the fight, there was absolutely no point,” Boykov shared.

“So is that when you swore off relationships?” I asked. “Feel free to tell me to fuck off if it’s too personal.”

“No, I’ve always had that rule, but she made me break it. Then I find out it was purely lust on her side, and she was already promised to someone as the old families do. It was her last chance at living life before she was forced to settle down, becoming a dutiful housewife,” Boykov answered with a shrug. “Life lessons we learn the hard way.”

“Yeah, that I understand,” I muttered as we exited the elevator to find a car waiting for us.

Boykov opened the door for me, and I slipped in and was surprised to find Braxton already in there, grinning at me. Boykov took the front seat, and we were off to the High Heel.

“Um… hi,” I greeted once I got over my shock.

“I figured it would be easier to just pick you up, giving you a chance to pull yourself together before we arrive,” he explained, offering up the clothing.

He’d grabbed a black silky tank top for me. I flicked my gaze forward to the front of the car but a screen was already going up to separate us, giving me some privacy. Waiting a moment for it to go up all the way, I undid my jacket and placed it over my lap. I quickly put my hair up, getting tired of it being down, but I froze as a finger caressed the swell of my breast.

“So it’s true,” Braxton whispered.

I grabbed his hand and looked him in the eye. “Don’t.”

He shook his head. “Out of all of us, I have zero ground to stand on. I’m the fuck boy, remember? It’s odd, though. I’m not sure why seeing another man’s mark on your body makes me feel like stabbing the mayor in the dick. Fuck, even when Jace comes back with scratches or other signs that he’s been with someone, it’s no big deal.” He paused, searching my face as if he looked hard enough he’d find the answer he was looking for. “Why? Why is it different? We’ve never even been together? You don’t owe me anything, and we aren’t beholden to each other in any way. In fact, you’re my boss. You, by right, should be able to do whatever the fuck you want.”

As he talked, my grip on him loosened, and he pulled his hand out of my grasp to let them ghost along my jaw. Then they trailed down my neck, over my collarbone, to once more dance over the swell of my breast where the faint mark of a hickey showed. My breath started to quicken at his touch, my mind sending me flashes of what we did on the dance floor—the feel of his lips on mine, his hands caressing my nipples as he pressed me against Jace.

Before I knew what I was doing, I shoved until he was flat on his back with me on top of him, devouring his mouth. He opened for me, allowing me to explore him with a hum of pleasure. His hands stroked up my back until he came to my bra, where he paused almost as if asking permission. When I didn’t stop him, he flicked open the hooks and brought his hands to cup my breasts. Nimble fingers massaged them, swirling around my nipples, encouraging them into hard peaks.

Breaking our kiss, he latched onto the one with the mark, his tongue flicking over my sensitive flesh, making me moan. The sound cut off as I remembered where we were, and there were two people in front. I’d already had my sexuality used against me once today, I wasn’t going to allow it again. Biting my lip, I felt my nails dig into the leather as Braxton undid my pants and slipped his hand between my legs.

“Let me please you, Mistress,” Braxton requested as he left his hand lingering there without making contact. “Allow me to wash the memory of that moment from your body and mind. You did what you had to, but I refuse to let this beautiful body be marked by a man who isn’t worthy of you.”

Looking down at him, I saw the need for my permission staring back at me. If I said no, he’d stop, but did I want him to?

“Do you think you’re worthy of me?” I asked.

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