Page 63 of No Redemption

“Absolutely, sir.”

I hang up and make my way back to the office, counting down the seconds till I can leave and head to pick her up.

I take a shower in my office bathroom, putting on a fresh suit but leaving my five o’clock shadow. I know Emery likes it when I have a day or two’s growth of stubble on my face. I think she likes the way I drag it against her thighs when I’m devouring her.

I tug my sleeves, fastening my cuff links and straightening my tie before heading out of the office and down to my car. Before heading to the penthouse to pick her up, I stop by the club, double-checking everything is in place.

“I’m shocked you aren’t going to leave me waiting,” I say against her temple as I place my hand at the small of her back. “I’ve started to grow fond of it.”

“I know how much you love delayed gratification.” She smiles, pecking my lips gently so she doesn’t smear her lipstick.

“You look stunning, my love.” I inhale her scent, the warmth of her perfume hitting me right in the balls. Every time I smell her scent, it drives me wild.

“You look very handsome.” She drags her eyes down me as I reach to open the passenger door for her. “Too handsome actually. Maybe we could skip dinner?”

“Delayed gratification, remember?” I swat her ass playfully before closing the door behind her. That’s exactly what I plan to put her through during dinner.

We arrive at Oriole, a favorite restaurant of ours in the city. We say hello to the host who takes us to our private table away from the rest of the crowd where a bottle of champagne and wine are already waiting for us.

“What’s the occasion?” Emery asks, lifting her glass to clink it against mine. “Are you proposing again?”

“Something like that,” I wink, not wanting to give the surprise away. “Tell me how your first day at the office went.”

“It was great.” Her eyes light up when she talks about work. It’s still brand new to her but the passion she has for furthering the good her father’s company has and will do is infectious. I want to see her succeed. I know she will, and I can’t wait to see what she accomplishes. “It felt strange being back in those offices. I remember when my dad used to take me once in a great while when I was a kid. It felt the same but completely different at the same time. I had a few people come up to me, introducing themselves and telling me how they remembered me stopping by as a child.”

“I’m so happy for you, sweetheart. I still think that someday, I’ll see you sitting behind that same CEO chair your father sat behind.”

“We’ll see about that.” She smiles. “For now, I’m just so happy with this role and I can’t thank you enough for helping me along the way, for believing in me.”

I reach across the table and take her hands. “I will always support you and believe in you, even if you doubt yourself.”

“This is why I love you.” She grabs a napkin and dabs it at the corner of her eyes. “Hard to believe you’re the same man who tossed a rag on me the first time we hooked up and told me to clean myself up.”

“Ah.” I shake my head in embarrassment. “Yes, well, that was a very different version of me. One I’m not very proud of.”

“I kind of like that version of you too; that’s the version that I—um, that I wanted.” She blushes.

“You did, didn’t you?” It makes me chuckle to think of miss proper and sweet Emery Wagner wanting a man to degrade her, to use her. I lean back in my chair, reaching down to obviously adjust my rigid cock. “I can’t say that it doesn’t turn me on to know you like when I’m a little rough with you.”

“Yeah, it’s exciting.” She sips her champagne, reaching for the bottle to refill her glass. I grab the bottle, filling it up. “Are you sure we can’t skip dinner?” She giggles, the champagne clearly going straight to her head.

“Now where is your patience, Mrs. Bishop?” I lean forward and take her glass from her. “I need you aware of your surroundings a bit later, darling.”

“Is there something after dinner?”

“Surprise number two.” I hold up my fingers.

“Do I get a hint this time?”

I level my eyes at her, lowering my voice. “Do you remember your safe word?”

“Flower,” she says softly.

“Good girl. You might need it.”

* * *

The ride to the club is quick but long enough that I can sense the tension building between us. I move my finger slightly across the exposed skin of Emery’s thigh.

---