“You can behave, and I will reward you, or you can misbehave, and I will punish you. I’m fine either way.” The low, husky drawl of his voice gives me goosebumps, and I shiver thinking about the options.
Fuck.
“You're in trouble still.” I narrow my eyes at him, but sadly, this time I’m not as convincing.
“Yes, as you keep saying, but you have yet to tell me why.”
I cast a glance at the monitor only to find that none of the many faces there seems to be paying attention to us. Nathan’s finger hooks under my chin, turning my gaze back to his as he watches me expectantly.
“They can’t see or hear us right now. I would never let another man witness you in a less than desirable state, and I don’t care for them to hear whatever it is you have to say to me.”
I’m a puddle…
How does he know just what to say?
Wait, why was I mad again?
“Are you stealing my birth control?” The question slips out, and I hadn’t meant to say it now. I’d had every intention of waiting until after his meeting, but there it is.
“And what would make you think that?” he asks, and while his face remains carefully controlled, something feels different.
“Alex said you were.” He doesn’t deny it, but I feel the need to explain myself. “See, I thought I misplaced it when I moved in, so I ordered more, and IknowI put it in the medicine cabinet, but it's not there. I tore my bathroom apart looking thismorning, and when Alex asked what I was looking for, he got all weird about it. When I asked Alex what he knew, he simply said, ‘You're asking the wrong brother.’So here I am, asking therightbrother.” I say it all in such a rush that I’m left gulping for air at the end, but man, do I feel better now.
Nathan simply watches me for a moment before he throws his head back and laughs, and the sound is so deep and rich that it feels like a hug.
I could get lost in him, in this feeling. Being with him, with all of them, is so easy; something about it just feels so right that the idea of life before them makes my chest feel tight.
It doesn’t last long, and before I know it, Nathan once again sits perfectly in control of himself, looking down at me, though his smile is still mostly in place. “You won’t be needing that anymore,” he says in my ear as he reaches toward his desk for the mouse.
That can only mean one thing.
“Wait, no, let me up, Nathan.” I attempt to stand, but he pulls me back down onto his lap, his fingers gripping my hips hard enough that I let out a breathy little whimper that has nothing to do with pain.
“No. You're going to have a seat and either behave or not, and I’ll handle you accordingly after my meeting is over.”
“Wait!” I shout before he can click the mouse, restoring their ability to hear and see. “What do you mean I won’t be needing it anymore?”
He leans down, pressing a kiss to my cheek before whispering in my ear despite us being the only two actually in the room.
“You really should read things before you sign them.”
With that, he clicks the button, and all I can do is pray that I look halfway presentable.
Crap, why did I come here again?
For the next thirty minutes, I sit on his lap as he talks about I don’t even know what. I stay as still as I can manage, which isn’t very well with his hard length pressed to my ass. Every minute is torture, even though his hand has been resting on my hip, in the same spot. The most he does is rub his thumb up and down in what should be a soothing fashion, but it’s not soothing, and at this rate, I fear I’ll soak right through my underwear and dress.
At forty-five minutes, I feel like I’m losing my mind, ready to crawl out of my skin. I can’t stop moving, trying to find a way to sit that isn’t so uncomfortable and won’t lead to my ruining his pants.
Nothing is helping, though, and really, I just need to leave.
I wonder…
I try to move off his lap, but his fingers tighten, holding me in place even though he doesn’t miss a beat in whatever he’s saying.
I huff and fall back against his chest, annoyed with him and myself.
Why did I think I could handle this man?
