He’s right, but I need a moment to recover and pull my thoughts together. And this call is the perfect opportunity.
“I know you usually have things to do on Saturday,” Zack says. “Satoshi and Jenna said you wouldn’t have to come in until eleven thirty.”
“I’m warning you, Aspen.”
Like he cared about my warning to stay away from Grandpa! Resentment lances me, and I’m more determined than ever to ignore Grant. My call with Zack doesn’t concern him, and he needs to shut up and wait until I’m ready, just like I did with him when he was dealing with his mother.
“I’m sorry. Are you busy? It sounds like you’re with someone,” Zack says.
“No, it’s fine,” I say blithely, hiding my annoyance that Grant’s being loud enough to be heard. But what I’m really upset about is that I can’t seem to ignore his presence behind me because even though I’m speaking to Zack, most of my focus is on Grant—and what he might be doing to get my attention. “Just the TV.”
Grant grips my hips and drives into me in one swift stroke. I gasp, stunned that he’s already rock-hard again—and that having him back inside me feels even better than before.
“Are you okay?” Zack asks.
“Yeah,” I gasp, my voice choked.
Grant pulls back and drives into me again, harder and deeper. He grinds against me, his hands on my breasts. He nips the side of my neck, then sucks hard, like he’s branding me with his kiss. Hot streaks race through me all the way to the tips of my toes. I should tell him to stop, but I can’t. Nothing right now could make me tell him to stop. Not when I want more of him.
“Tell him who you’re with, Aspen,” Grant rumbles, his voice seething.
I’ll be damned if I do what he wants. “My phone’s out of battery. Bye,” I say, and hang up.
From the tight flexing of his fingers on my flesh, I know my disobedience pissed him off. Sure enough, there is a swift, stinging slap on my ass as he begins thrusting. It should feel punishing, but it feels incredible instead.
Another orgasm rises hot and fast, then shatters over me, just as powerful as the one before. I scream as I ride the wave, furiously conflicted that I can come in a situation like this. But in a moment the languid postcoital bliss threatens to extinguish that anger.
He pulls out and comes all over my ass. His large hands smear the liquid on my butt like he’s marking his territory. I push him away, turning around. My knees are weak and shaky, and I lock them tightly so I don’t stumble and embarrass myself. I grab his pants off the floor and try to clean my butt, but he takes my wrist.
From the stubborn set of his mouth, he isn’t going to be reasonable. Fine. I’ll just pretend I don’t have anything of him on me.
I drop his pants. He lets go of my wrist.
“What’s wrong with you?” My attempt at sounding firm is ruined because my voice is raspy from the back-to-back orgasms.
“Are you working at some bar with Zack?” he demands, his chest rising and falling. Thank God he didn’t get a chance to rip off his shirt, because his bare torso at eye level would be a distraction I can’t afford.
“What if I am?”
“You need to quit.”
I scoff. “No, I don’t.”
“Yes, you do. Because I just told you to.”
“Oh, youtoldme to.” If arrogance were a credit card, his would be a black AmEx. “Well, I hate totellyou, but you don’t have that kind of authority over me.”
His eyes narrow. “It’s against the firm’s policy.”
“Yeah, for your fancy MBAs. Not the admin staff.” He opens his mouth, but I raise a finger. “Don’t even. I already checked with HR. It’s fine as long as the part-time work doesn’t interfere with my duties.”
“Fucking HR,” he mutters, his aquamarine eyes flashing. “So you’ll continue to work with that asshole?”
If I didn’t know better, I might think he was jealous. But you can’t feel jealous over somebody you don’t care about. I steel myself against any more ridiculous notions. I refuse to delude myself that Grant is capable of being a decent human being—because that would allow him to slip behind my shield.
“When did you start caring whether or not I work with an asshole? I’ve been working for one for weeks now atGrantEm.” I give him a pointed smile. “Surely I can work with another, although calling Zack an asshole is totally unfair. He’s one of the nicest guys I know. Unlikeyou.”
Fury burns in Grant’s eyes. It’s a bit intimidating, but I’m not backing down. If I do, I’ll have to give in to him, and I’d rather lick the foyer floor.
