Read With Abandon: With or Without, Book 3 Online

Authors: J. L. Langley

Tags: #Romance

With Abandon: With or Without, Book 3 (2 page)

BOOK: With Abandon: With or Without, Book 3
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Chapter Two

 

“I’ll suck you so good you won’t know what hit you.”

Aubrey stumbled, catching the toe of his dress shoe on the thick burgundy carpet. His stomach tightened, and his dick tried to perk up, but he kept walking. Carson Lopez could likely suck the chrome off a ball hitch if he put his mind to it. The man had a mouth like a dockside whore. To say Aubrey was tempted was an understatement. Not only was Carson slim, brunet and handsome—Aubrey’s type—but Carson was safe and had as much to lose as Aubrey if anyone found out about them.

Aubrey hesitated for a split second. No matter how badly he wanted to, he couldn’t. He had things to do, namely getting one Matthew Mahihkan settled in and ready to go to college next Monday.

“I can’t.”

They rounded a corner and strolled toward the elevator.

Carson leaned close and whispered again as they stopped in front of the inlaid walnut doors. “Come on, you want a quickie as much as I do. Admit it.”

Glancing at his watch, Aubrey hit the down button. “Ah hell, it’s not a case of admitting it, but I can’t, I’m sorry. I was supposed to be back in Atlanta two hours ago.”

Carson turned to face Aubrey and waggled his eyebrows. “I’ll make it worth your while.” His voice took on a singsong tone that made Aubrey chuckle.

“I have absolutely no doubt ab—”

“Ahem.” Carson scooted backward and his gaze strayed past Aubrey’s left shoulder. The scent of his lust took on a tangy, nervous quality. “CEOs at six o’clock,” he mumbled. Pulling his laptop case in front of his groin, he asked, “Did you rent a box for the Falcons games this season?”

Aubrey smelled the two board members before he heard or saw them. One was human, the other was the only fellow pack member in the company, Orin Boskie.
Great.
Just what Aubrey needed, a wolf who could smell Carson’s arousal. Oh well, at least he hadn’t let himself get worked up. As far as the other wolf was concerned, Carson was young and human. The wind could blow and get him aroused.

Aubrey caught the words “too young” and “untried” before turning his attention back to Carson. “Nah, last season Tara and I ended up staying at my place to watch the games more often than not. I decided it was a waste of money. Besides, my dad rented a box for company use again.”

“Reynolds. Lopez.” Ralph Katchum drew up beside them.

“Boskie. Katchum.” Carson nodded a hello.

Aubrey tipped his chin in acknowledgment. “Ralph. Orin.” He’d always been taught to call his elders by the more formal address, mister or missus—as were most Southern children—so the personal address made it much harder for the men to be dismissive. And hopefully it kept the fact that he was now head of Reynolds Inc. foremost in their minds.

“Gentlemen.” Sidling up to Katchum, Boskie bobbed his sandy-brown head and lifted the hand that wasn’t holding his briefcase.

Where the hell was the elevator? Aubrey had been cooped up with these two and their reluctance to agree on the new agenda all morning. He shifted his weight, leaning a bit closer to the green marble wall next to the doors. It shouldn’t be taking this long. They may be on the top floor, but it was a private elevator.

As if reading Aubrey’s mind, Katchum pushed the button. The newspaper he’d held under his arm fell to the floor in front of him. “Well, damn.” He began to stoop, but his knees popped and creaked, making him straighten back up.

“Here, let me get that.” Aubrey knelt to retrieve the paper. The big bold headline read,
Dennison resigns after sex scandal.
Skimming the page, Aubrey stood. James Dennison was a CEO of a rival company.

“Damned sad state of affairs.” Katchum pointed at the paper. “He was a hell of a businessman. A real asset to Glencorp.”

“Yes. Nice man too.” Aubrey had met Dennison a few times at fundraisers. Aubrey frowned and tore his attention away from the print, rolled the paper up and offered it to the older man.

Katchum waved it away. “Keep it. I’ve read it.”

“Thank you.” Aubrey tucked the paper into the open pocket of his laptop bag. “When did this happen with Dennison?”

“Where’ve you been? It’s been going on for the past two days.” Boskie scoffed and rolled his eyes. The reaction was more fitting to a teen than a fifty-year-old man. He must be spending too much time with his granddaughter.

Aubrey clenched his teeth. He’d been busy planning for the board meeting and Matt’s arrival. He hadn’t caught the stocks much less the news in a couple of days.

Boskie continued, oblivious to Aubrey’s reaction. “He got caught in his office with an intern. A
male
intern.”

Katchum nodded. “They were going to fire him for gross misconduct, but he resigned before anything could come of it. Such a shame after twenty-four years with the company. The board probably would’ve left it be if he’d been having an affair with a woman. Just last month one of the other CEOs was in the news for having an affair with his secretary and he wasn’t even reprimanded.”

“Serves him right if you ask me,” Boskie sneered. “The man is stupid. This is Georgia, not California. That stuff doesn’t fly here.”

The elevator dinged and slid open. Aubrey said a silent thank you. He hated listening to that crap. As the other men filed into the elevator with their backs to him, Aubrey closed his eyes for a moment. It wasn’t fair. If he remembered correctly, Dennison was unmarried. It wasn’t like he’d been committing adultery. That was big business in the South for you though. Aubrey willed his anger to recede and followed the others.

As the doors slid closed, Boskie cleared his throat and pushed the number one on the control panel. He focused his attention past Aubrey to Carson. Boskie was quiet for several seconds. His gaze strayed downward, lingered slightly and ambled back up. “How do you like being assistant manager here at the Macon Buchanan, Lopez?”

What the—?
The hair on the back of Aubrey’s neck and arms stood up, making him suppress a shiver. The air was suddenly way too thick to breathe, and Aubrey cleared his throat.
It’s coincidence.

“I like it very much.” Carson fidgeted, rustling the fabric of his suit. “The staff here is fantastic, a pleasure to work with.”

Aubrey rolled his shoulders to release the tension in them. Boskie may have his offices here, but he couldn’t possibly know about Carson’s sexual preference. Carson was as careful as Aubrey was.

“It’s always been my favorite of the chain as well.” Boskie brought his briefcase in front of him, holding on to it with both hands.

Shifting his laptop bag to the other shoulder, Aubrey took a deep breath. Inside the closed area, werewolf sense of smell was more of a curse than a gift. Katchum had applied a little too much aftershave this morning and Carson’s nervousness reeked in the small space. There was also a hint of arousal…and it wasn’t coming from Carson. Aubrey swallowed hard, trying to keep the surprise off his face. Good grief, he’d stepped into
The Twilight Zone
.

Somehow, Carson ended up right behind Aubrey. The heat of his body radiated against Aubrey’s back and a breath of warm air flowed over his neck. Boskie stared at them, but when he noticed Aubrey watching him, he looked away.

Why was Boskie acting strange? Aubrey’s palms grew sweaty, and his throat clogged up. Had he given himself away? He put distance between himself and Carson. This uncertainty wasn’t like him. All that talk about Dennison being forced to resign had him jittery. He tugged at his tie. He had to do something to cover the scent of his unease. “It’s hot in here.”

Katchum nodded. “It is.”

Aubrey glanced at Carson. He wore a blank expression and outwardly no one would know he was uncomfortable.

Stepping forward, Aubrey nearly mashed himself against the control panel. He needed space.

Finally the elevator stopped and the doors opened.

Aubrey couldn’t leave soon enough, but he allowed Katchum and Boskie to exit first. They moved aside for Aubrey and Carson to follow. Before the execs left, both turned and offered their hands to Aubrey to shake.

After Katchum made his escape, Boskie slapped Aubrey on the shoulder and stretched his neck, baring it slightly. The move was nearly imperceptible. No one watching would think anything of it, but Aubrey noticed the sign of respect. As Boskie left, he called over his shoulder, “Tell your old man I said hello and to give me a call. We should plan an outing of golf.”

“Will do.” Aubrey gritted his teeth. The asshole had just cut Carson, pretending like he didn’t even exist.

Carson sidled up to Aubrey again. “Let’s do golf,” he mocked quietly.

God, Aubrey hated golf. “Let’s not. Why do old men think golf is the end-all be-all to business associations?”

Laughing, Carson started them moving. His unease had evaporated entirely. “No clue. What is it you’re dying to get back to Atlanta for? You seem distracted.”

“I have to meet a friend.” Aubrey should ask Carson about what happened back there, but he wasn’t quite sure how to bring it up. Would Aubrey have even noticed Carson’s anxiety if not for his werewolf senses?

“Uh-huh.” Carson’s smile widened.

“Not that kind of friend.” Of all people, Carson should know Aubrey didn’t have those kinds of friends. It was safer that way. All the rest were one-night stands. No names, no ties. Aubrey liked it that way. Carson was an exception, but still he was only an acquaintance. They didn’t hang out or anything.

Aubrey’s phone chimed, indicating a new text. He pulled his reading glasses from his jacket pocket and put them on before taking his phone out.

The text read,
OMFG! He’s gorgeous.

“Tara.” Aubrey had no idea what Matt looked like, but odds were good that since he was from Aubrey’s brother-in-law’s former pack Matt was Apache.

“Are you really going to marry her?”

“What?” Aubrey lowered his phone and gave Carson his full attention.

“Every time you mention her you get this huge grin on your face.”

He did?
Aubrey shrugged. “Tara and I—”

His phone chirped again. He pulled it up and read it.

I really really like him. He’s a sweetheart.
Which Aubrey had already figured out from the texts and Keaton’s glowing praise.

Aubrey rolled his eyes. “I have to go rescue Matt from Tee. She thinks he’s gorgeous.” He stuffed his phone back in his pocket and took his glasses off, doing the same with them.

Carson followed. “Ah. Don’t want someone honing in on your girl, eh?”

No, that wasn’t it at all. Aubrey waved to Carrie at the front desk and headed out the automatic doors. He wasn’t jealous. Was he? He didn’t think he was. What if Tee and Matt dated? It wouldn’t mean they wouldn’t want him around. “No seriously, I need to rescue Matt.”

Carson shrugged. “Oh, so it’s the other way around. Don’t want
her
honing in.” His voice held a hint of amusement.

Aubrey gawked at him.

Laughing, Carson smacked him on the shoulder. “I’m kidding. Oh man, you should see your face.”

Aubrey groaned. “Asshole.”

Carson laughed harder.

Stopping at the trunk of a black Jetta, Carson fished in his jacket pocket. The trunk of the car opened, and he turned his back to Aubrey to stow his laptop case. He shut the trunk and stepped closer to Aubrey. “Have fun with your friends. Maybe we can get together next time you’re in town.”

“Yeah, sure.” Aubrey waved and headed to his car. Jealous of Tee? Aubrey snorted. That was ridiculous. He didn’t even know Matt. He had an odd affinity with Matt, but they’d only talked through text messages. Aubrey couldn’t pick Matt out of a lineup or recognize his voice. Just because a person clicked with someone didn’t mean they knew them. Technically, he and Matt weren’t even actually friends yet. Not really…

 

 

“If you don’t fuck her, I swear I’m disowning you.”

Clutching the phone to his ear, Matt stared out the bedroom window at the city below. He had the urge to bang his head against the glass. Here he was, way out of his element, in an apartment that cost more than his dad made in a year, with a woman who was his newly discovered mate, and the one person he’d called for help couldn’t be serious. “Logan—”

“She’s fucking hot. I’m looking at a picture of her when she was Miss Georgia on the internet right now and—”

Sterling, Logan’s best friend, said in the background, “You’re an idiot, Logan. Give me my phone back and stop surfing the net on it. He’s gay for crying out loud. It goes against his nature.”

“Nature? What’re you talking about? It has nothing to do with— That is fucked reasoning. He’s a wolf, and his nature is to be with his mate. The whole wolf-mate thing overrides the gay thing.” Logan groaned like he was put out at having to explain it to Sterling. “Matt? Listen, just go with it, okay? I mean, if she’s your mate, then she’s your mate, what can you do about it?”

Matt nodded, before realizing his brother couldn’t see him. “Yeah, I know it’s just—” Now he wasn’t sure. He had an inkling his situation may be a lot more complicated than he’d first thought.

When he’d walked into the apartment, the scent of his mate knocked his breath out of him. His eyes blurred for a moment, threatening to change, but he blinked the shift away. Why did his reaction to her keep fading and strengthening? Any time he was in an enclosed space with her his reaction to her scent intensified.

BOOK: With Abandon: With or Without, Book 3
10.96Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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