Fated (19 page)

He
frowned but nodded resignedly. I was relieved when he kept to his word for the
rest of the day, treating me professionally although with more familiarity. It
was hard not to notice his frequent glances towards me while I was working, but
I just chalked that up to sexual awareness, since I was feeling the same thing.
It took all my willpower not to gaze at him hungrily, reliving every moment of
our intense passion on Saturday.

I
was engrossed in writing an email when my chair was suddenly pulled away from
the desk, its wheels sliding easily on the floor.

“Hey!”
I exclaimed in protest as I looked up at Caden, whose hand was still on the arm
of my chair. He leaned over and placed his other hand on the opposite arm of
the chair, towering over me. “I was in the middle of writing an email!”

“It’s
six o’clock,” he growled as he wrapped an arm around my waist and hauled me up.
“Work is over.”

I
barely had time to open my mouth to respond when his mouth swooped down on
mine, kissing me so hungrily that I could do nothing except wrap my arms around
his neck, clinging to him as I kissed him back. All the sexual desire that had
been suppressed the entire day came surging forward, and I moaned into his
mouth when he pushed my hips into him, grinding his erection against me. I was
already wet and aroused, and I pushed back against him, the ache between my
legs becoming even more desperate.

Caden
broke the kiss, trailing his mouth down my neck until he reached the top of my
blouse. He reached up, quickly unbuttoning it before I realized what was
happening.

“Caden,
wait.” I put my hands over his before he could push my shirt off my shoulders.
The last thing I wanted to do was stop him, but someone had to be the voice of
reason. “We said we were going to keep things separate. Making out in the
office is
not
keeping things separate.”

Caden
wasn’t discouraged. He simply leaned down and trailed hot, open-mouthed kisses
down my chest, licking the exposed top of my breast that was straining against
my bra. “The workday is over. And
making out
is not what’s on my mind, unless
it’s a euphemism for screwing you senseless.”

My
breath caught in my throat and it became ridiculously easy to cave in to my
desires. Maybe he was right. Even though we were at the office, the workday was
over. Did the location really make a difference?

I
acquiesced with a moan and released his hands, allowing him to push my blouse
off and unhook my bra, letting it drop to the floor. He pushed me back until I
was leaning against my desk. I propped myself up with my arms as he leaned
down, drawing an aching nipple into his mouth and sucking hard. I whimpered
when his other hand burrowed underneath my skirt, stroking my wet folds through
my panties that were already soaked.

“I’ve
been thinking about this all damn day,” he muttered as he dragged his mouth to
my other breast, lavishing the same attention to the hardened peak. My only
answer was a cry when he pushed the fabric of my underwear to the side and
plunged two fingers deep inside me. My hips lifted frantically as I pushed
against his hand.

“Caden!”
I cried out as he thrust his fingers in and out of me. I shuddered when his
thumb swept against my swollen clit, the pleasure so acute that I didn’t think
I could take it.

His
mouth found mine again, and we kissed feverishly, frantic to get closer to each
other, as if we wouldn’t be satisfied until we swallowed each other whole.

I
made a sound of protest when he pulled back, but I didn’t resist when he
gripped my hips and turned me around, bracing my hands against my desk.

“Lean
forward, Lauren,” he ordered hoarsely and I immediately complied. I quivered
with anticipation when he pushed my skirt up and pulled my panties down so they
pooled around my feet.

“I
can’t wait,” he bit out. I heard him unzipping his pants and craned my neck to
look behind me. Caden’s face was tight with desire as he fumbled on a condom,
looking more out of control that I had ever seen him. His eyes burned into mine
as he gripped the back of my head and leaned down, kissing me fiercely. He
swallowed my cries when he slammed into me with such force that I was pushed
forward onto the desk.

“Shit.”
He took a deep shuddering breath, closing his eyes. When he opened them again,
worry was mixed in with desire. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,”
I answered hoarsely. His sudden thrust that sheathed him totally inside of me
had taken my breath away, but I was so wet that the pleasure was tinged with
only a slight discomfort that was rapidly fading. “Don’t stop.”

Caden
took the encouragement to heart as he gripped my hips, his thrusts relentless
as he slammed into me over and over again. All I could do was hold onto the
desk, unable to smother the keening cries that escaped me.

“You
feel so fucking good,” he snarled, sounding almost feral as he impaled me so
hard that I was vaguely aware of my body knocking things off my desk, the force
of his thrust pushing me forward until I could go no further. I had never felt
anyone so deep inside of me; had never felt so fully possessed. I cried out
when he reached underneath me and stroked my engorged clit.

“Don’t
stop!” I cried out. “Oh God, I’m so close!”

“Lauren,”
he growled. “I want to feel you come.”

The
tension snapped inside me as wave after wave of searing pleasure shuddered
through my body. I heard a hoarse cry behind me and felt Caden’s erection
jerking inside of me. It prolonged my climax, as each jerk made my lower body
convulse again.

When
I came down from the high, I realized how illicit our position was. I was bent
over my desk, naked from the waist up with my skirt pushed up, my panties still
around my ankles, resting on top of my heels. I glanced behind me and saw that
Caden was still fully dressed except for his pants and boxer briefs that he
hadn’t bothered taking off, now tangled at his feet. His shoulders and head
were hunched over as he tried to control his breathing. My breath caught when
he lifted his head, his golden eyes transfixing me. He smiled slowly, making my
pulse quicken.

“I
can say with certainty that this has been the best Monday ever.”

His
light mood dispelled any awkwardness I may have felt, and I laughed as I
straightened, feeling him slip out of me. Even so, I self-consciously leaned
down and pulled my panties up as I watched Caden do the same with his pants and
underwear after he discarded the condom. I hastily pulled down my skirt and
reached down to grab my blouse and bra.

I
protested when Caden swooped down and picked them up before I could. “What are
you doing?”

“You
don’t need these. I’m just going to be taking them off again once we get
upstairs.”

Excitement
stirred inside of me when I realized he wanted more tonight, but my sense of
self-preservation kicked in. As much as I was determined to enjoy our physical
relationship, I needed to make sure I didn’t get mired in too deeply in all of
this. It would become too easy to depend on Caden’s company, to crave it when
he was no longer around. I needed to keep this casual and easy.

“As
much as I appreciate the invitation, I need to get home.” I tried to temper the
refusal when I saw his frown. “Maybe some other night.”

He didn’t
look too happy, but he didn’t push it. I held my hand out for my clothes and
was surprised when, instead of handing them over, he gently dressed me. I had a
hard time not staring at him as he buttoned up my blouse, unused to the feeling
of being cared for by another person.

When
he was done, he gave me a light kiss. “See you tomorrow.”

I
echoed his sentiment as I grabbed my things and gave him a slight smile. I was
feeling off-kilter, more from his gentle gesture than the fierce sex we had
just engaged in. I was relieved to escape the office, praying that I could
handle whatever was happening between me and Caden.

The
next few days settled into a pattern. Caden and I would remain friendly, yet
professional, during the workday, but the moment the clock hit six, he would be
all over me. Not that I minded. But every time he invited me upstairs
afterwards, I refused with an excuse. I needed to make sure I had my head on
straight before I got any deeper into this.

I
was feeling in control on Friday when I arrived at work, and wondered if today
I would relent and go upstairs with Caden. As much as I enjoyed having sex in
the office, it was getting a little uncomfortable.

I
was surprised to find the office empty when I arrived. Caden usually beat me to
the office, which wasn’t surprising since his commute was a walk down the
stairs. As I started the workday, I admitted to myself that I was a little
disappointed by the lack of his presence.

As
the day wore on, there was still no sign of Caden. I tried to not be annoyed
that he hadn’t left any sort of message or called to tell me whether he was
coming in today. He had no obligation to let me know about his whereabouts and
I reminded myself that I had no claim on his time.

It
was mid-afternoon when the buzzer for the front door sounded. I frowned as I
walked up to the intercom. Caden wasn’t expecting anyone, and the only person
he welcomed without an appointment was Michael, and he had just stopped by
yesterday for lunch.

I
groaned when I saw Caden’s agent’s face pressed close to the monitor, his
squirrely features making my stomach turn. Joseph had made himself scarce since
the night of the Greenwood Gallery opening, and the last thing I wanted was to
deal with him without Caden.

Regardless,
I buzzed him in and hoped he wouldn’t insist on waiting around for Caden.

Joseph
made no attempt to hide his perusal of me as he entered the office.

“Where’s
Caden?”

I
rolled my eyes inwardly at his lack of greeting and demanding tone, but I
forced myself to be polite. After all, I was still Caden’s employee and Joseph
was still his agent.

“I’m
not sure. Do you want to leave a message for him?”

Joseph
shook his head angrily. “I’m tired of leaving messages that he never returns.
Tell me where he is before this gets ugly.”

He
advanced closer to me, but instead of shrinking back, I felt a surge of anger
wash through me. Men like Joseph Samuels thought you could take, take, take,
with no regard for whom they were taking from. Men like him made my skin crawl,
and I stared at him distastefully as he lurched forward.

“I
told you, I don’t know where he is.” I narrowed my eyes, unable to resist a
barb. “Although I don’t blame him for not returning your calls. You seem to
care more about lining your own pockets than Caden’s well-being.”

Joseph
spluttered, his face turning red as he grew enraged. He poked a fat, pudgy
finger against my chest, hard enough to push me back. A rage went through me, a
familiar coursing of anger towards a man who dared to try and impose his will
on me.

“Touch
me again and you’ll regret it,” I bit out, trying to keep a rein on my temper.

He
sneered at me, leaning in closer so that I could smell his fetid breath against
my cheek. The scent of alcohol was unmistakable. “Do you think you have any
authority here? You’re just one in a long line of bitches. I make Caden money.
You just answer his fucking phone.” His beady eyes slid down me consideringly.
“Or do you do more than that?”

Before
I could respond, he reached out and grabbed my breast, squeezing painfully. A
dozen emotions rushed through me, but the dominant emotion was white-hot fury.
My mind blanked of rational thought as I lunged toward him, my only thought to
hurt him before he could hurt me.

Chapter Fourteen

I
was propelled solely by rage. I was vaguely aware of Joseph’s cries as I
attacked him, but that only fueled my frenzy as I focused on hurting him.

I
abruptly felt an arm encircle my waist like an iron band, pulling me off him. I
shrieked in fury, enraged that I was being deprived my victim. Because he was
the victim, not me. I would never be the victim again.

I
scrabbled at the arm around me, frantic to continue my attack, but it was an
unmovable force.

“Shh,
calm down.” I felt my feet touch the floor as I was settled on the ground but I
still wasn’t released. I didn’t have to turn around to know whose hard body was
cradling mine from behind. I didn’t want to turn around when I heard him say my
name. “Lauren.”

My
chest was heaving and as quickly as the anger had erupted, my body fell limp as
I shuddered. Joseph scrambled up from the floor, his eyes wide with fear and
anger. There were long deep scratches down his face and his shirt was ripped at
the collar. He wiped his sleeve against his face, choking when he saw the
streaks of blood.

“Are
you fucking crazy?” he screamed, although he didn’t come any closer. He shifted
his gaze to look at Caden behind me. “She’s insane! You need to get rid of
her!”

Caden
ignored him as he loosened his grip on me enough to turn me around. I kept my
head down, deeply ashamed that he had seen me acting like an animal. And I
had
felt like
an animal. An animal intent on killing its prey.