“Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?" -What a Girl Wants. Director: Dennie Gordon Summer "Thanks Peter." I open the door of the Aston Martin and cross the sidewalk to the 7 A office building. I am already two minutes late. It had been a surprise when Karma had called me last night and asked me to come over. What was more shocking? Sinclair had allowed me to leave. It was unlike him, to let me out of his sight. He liked me by his side, in bed and out of it. And every second in between. Possessive Jerkface—and I use that term affectionately, I promise. He'd told me I must go if Karma needed me. He'd insisted that Peter drive me, and I had acc epted. I didn't want to put myself in a situation where the Mafia could get to me either. It would only compromise Sinclair's standing to do so. Besides I had found my way back to him, no way was I going to lose him again. Still, a little bit of distance is also healthy, right? One night away from him, to have space to myself, to recuperate from the impact of his physical closeness that I am reeling from... Surely, my sore pussy and my thighs that have been getting one hell of a workout this last month would appreciate it... You'd think? I hasten my st eps. I had the money to buy out the apartment we'd rented and gift it to my sister. It had taken a good chunk from the money that had hit my bank account. Yeah, London's a bloody expensive city. I had almost not acc epted the cash, but Karma had reminded me that I had earned it fair and square. It was part of my deal with Sinclair. Besides, it means I have a base and Karma has a home— as Sinclair had not hesitated to remind me. This once, the alphahole had been right too. So, I had taken the money and used it. He'd also had a bodyguard assigned to Karma, for which I was grateful. I had acc epted a job with him... as the Director of Marketing for FOK Media and 7 A Investments. The quizzing division he'd mentioned earlier? That was off the table. Instead, I was relaunching my marketing consultancy as a quizzing company, using the money that I had earned. It would be s eparate from any of Sinclair's other business interests. When I'd mentioned this to Sin, he'd been more than supportive. He'd suggested that I pitch it for a loan with FOK Media to fund international expansion, rather than dip into my personal funds. Hmm, it couldn't be because he wanted to watch out for me, huh? It did make business sense though, so I'd agreed. I glance at the time on my phone. Damn it, I’m five minutes late now. I’d wasted time at Karma’s this morning, not wanting to say good-bye. I’d have taken the tube to save time, but Sin had insisted I wait until Peter arrived to pick me up. Sinclair Sterling, still an alphahole. But he was my alphahole. Mine. My fingers tingle and my scalp tightens. So close to seeing him again. His masculine scent, that hard voice, those beautiful lips that could tease me to orgasm, while his tongue stabbed in and out of me... in a simulation of how his cock would be buried inside of
me... soon, very soon. Moisture teases my core. Damn. How, I've missed the man. Missed his dominance, the sense of security, his warmth, his closeness, his ability to look inside my soul, and read my fears. I am complete when he is in me. Corny much? I huff out a breath. If this is love... Well, I don't want to know the alternative. It isn't all physical—okay, a lot of the attraction is, and my poor ravaged cunt appreciates that, honestly. It's more... It's the way he follows me with his gaze, the way he watches me when he thinks I am not aware, how he holds the door open for me, loans me his jacket without asking if I am cold. How he'd agreed to my ke eping a s eparate room in his house, no questions asked, even as his lips had firmed at the suggestion. Surprised? So was I. I had wanted an expression of my ind ependence, a place I could retreat to, where I could think, read, stare into the distance. He has his study and this retreat is mine. It is a room that opens up off of his bedroom, that he had insisted on, and I had agreed. No use prodding the monster more than needed, right? He'd invited the rest of the Seven home—at my suggestion— and we'd played... One guess. Yeah, movie trivia night. OMG. It was hilarious, and addictive, and there had been sparks flying between my friends and some of the Seven. Karma had been absent that night... All the more reason that I had made sure to go when she had called yesterday. We'd spent the night talking, gossiping, and she'd waved goodbye to me this morning with a strange look in her eyes. My footst eps slow. Maybe I should have stayed with her, found out what was bothering her? I am sure that she'd called me to discuss something... but every time I had tried to bring it up, she'd changed the topic. And I... I had been too consumed by my new obsession, my passion, my love for the man who Sinclair Sterling is turning out to be. Sin. As sinful in deed as in name. As sexy as hell when he spanks me, torments me to the edge, then makes love to me with a tenderness that soothes away the pain. I reach the entrance to the offices of 7 A, then barrel through. My chunky wedges slip, then catch, and I careen past the rec eptionist, who flashes me a smile, "He wants you to go up to his offices." "Oh?" "Can't get enough of you, huh?" I laugh, "Me neither." "I don't know what you're doing to him... I mean, other than... You know." She flushes. "Didn't mean it that way, Mrs. Sterling." "Summer, I told you to call me Summer." She beams. "Summer. He's different since you came into his life." "You mean one notch less than horrendous?" "Many notches less than horrible." "Ha." I smirk, "Don't let his charm get to you." Her forehead furrows. "You're not jealous that he spoke to me?" I laugh. "If I got envious of every woman who glanced at my husband..." I shake my head. "He has that impact, huh?" She sighs, "You're one heck of a lady, Summer."
I grin, "Be sure to tell him that." "You bet I will." I wave my goodbye then, race for the bank of elevators and take his private elevator up. Glance up at the camera in the far corner. Yes, there is one; he had it installed, and only he has access to the feed. So, he can track me as I approach his office, he said. I know, slightly cre epy, but... it means I can do this: I raise the hem of my slim pink skirt, it's conservative exc ept for the slit that goes up to mid- thigh. Flash him the long line of my thigh. Then laugh. Heat simmers off the surface of the security cam... Hope you got that, Alphahole. Two can play this game. Haven’t you learned that by now? I blow him a kiss as the elevator slows to a stop. The doors slide open and I race out on the executive floor. I'd insisted on my office being three floors down, with the rest of the team. He'd looked as if he was about to lose it... Then, he'd agreed. Huh? The man is trying, though he ends up calling me up for meetings five times a day. Once he'd met me halfway... in the stairwell, and we'd... Ah! Made out. It had been hot, I confess. We'd been late to our next meeting and he didn't care. Y ep, he's definitely trying. Wonder what he'll ask for in return though, hmm? I pass the desk where Meredith normally sits. It's empty. Huh? Pick up speed, reach his office, prise open the door, and there's no one there. What the—? My heart picks up speed. I place my tote on his desk, then cross the floor to the door that opens into the adjoining conference room. Swing it open and see him. His back is to me. He grips the window frames with his arms outstretched on either side. His bic eps bulge, stretching the perfectly cut sleeves of his tailor-made suit. My breath catches. He's as fucking hot as... Sin. If ever a name appropriately fit a man, it is his. His dark jacket clings to every hard plane of his back. His waist is so damn narrow and that tight butt. I gulp. I know how it feels to palm that ass. Those powerful thighs with a smattering of hair that chafes across my sensitive skin. The thick calves, the wide stance. "Bird." I jerk my chin up. I hadn't made a sound. I swear the man has eyes at the back of his head. "I know you're there." I huff. "Come on in, I've been waiting..." I st ep in and the door closes with a snick behind me. "Come close, you know I don't bite..." He laughs softly, turns around. "Not always." I gasp. "You... you shaved." He smirks. Without the hair that covered his chin, his lips are exposed in all their glory, and that square jaw —"You have a dimple in the center of your chin?"
He frowns. "It's..." "Don't say it." "So sweet." His cheeks redden. "You make me sound like a cupcake." "I'd love to lick off your cream." His gaze widens. "Come again?" "I'll come as many times as you want, if you promise to ke ep that school-boy look." He prowls forward, "Care to r epeat that?" “Ah!" I take a st ep back. He ambles closer. I move away, until my butt hits the door. I search for the handle behind me as his long strides eat up the distance between us. "School boy, huh?" He leans forward on the balls of his feet. The light haloes his perfect features. That indigo glare envelops me, the scent of testosterone saturates the air, and I swallow. He raises his hand, tucks a strand of dark hair behind my ear. I'd opted to ke ep my natural auburn locks, and he loves it. Loves me as I am. Maybe this is what it means to be into someone? When you miss a person even when he's standing right in front of you, eating you up with his gaze, when you know he's as turned on as you are. And you can't wait for him to kiss you, own you, possess you, write his name on every cell of my body, script his language on my pussy, drag his tongue across the underside of my foot as he sucks on my toes before he bends me over and— "Shall we shag now, or shag later, Baby?" He waggles his eyebrows. "Austin Powers." I throw my hands up, "Of all the movies to quote from, you had to choose that one?" He raises his shoulders, "I'm a guy, what did you expect?" "Flowers, hearts, chocolate?" I count them off on my fingers. Okay, so you’ve got two out of three there. "Maybe a ring?" I let my lips curve up. "Nah, just kidding on that one." Not. I slap at his shoulder. "Whatever it is you have planned, Sinclair, it won't buy you into my good graces— not after that completely pathetic attempt at trying to be romantic.” He slides his hand into his pants pocket and his brows draw down. “Seriously, if you think Austin freakin' Powers is your role model to be amorous then—" He yanks his hand out, pats his breast pocket. "What are you doing?" "Nothing." "It's something." "Jesus, woman, give me a break, I am trying—" "What?" I frown. "You're acting all mysterious and I hate it."
My pulse rate ratchets up. "Give me a second—" "What? Why?—" He drops to his knees. "No." I st ep back, hit the door again. I angle my shoulders, and his forehead smooths. The breath rushes out of him. "Summer Cora West, will you be mine?" He holds up his palm. The sunlight slants over his head and golden flames explode from the single perfect yellow sapphire set in the center of beaten gold. I swallow, lift my gaze to his face, "Why?" His eyebrows lower. "Why?" I flatten my lips. "Why should I marry you... a second time?" He glares up at me. "You really want to do this now?" "Now." I tip up my chin. "Convince me, Sinclair Sterling, what's in it for me?"