Page 104 of Pressure

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The cool Colorado air made Lance tug his leather jacket on as he stepped off his plane on Thursday evening. For once, there wasn’t a board meeting, so he’d arrived late, intent on crashing until morning. He still hadn’t heard whether or not Marissa was accepting his employment offer and he had no idea if she would be at Solitaire this weekend or not. An alert told him she’d paid membership dues and withdrawn from the house submissive program which gutted him but at least it looked like she still wanted to be part of the club. It gave him hope but the suspense was fucking killing him.

Now that she was back in his life, he didn’t want to lose her. Even if that meant not sleeping with her, he had to have her in his world. It wasn’t complete without her. He just had to make her see that.

He’d spent the week agonizing over her while trying to clean up the shit storm at Moss Tech. Reputation was hard to earn in this industry but it was easy to ruin and he was on the verge of doing just that if he didn’t fix his problems.

There were just too many damn questions he didn’t have answers to.

Twice, he’d nearly canceled his trip to Colorado this weekend, but he knew it was his second home and these people were his family. The chance he might see Marissa had also been a driving factor in his choice to get on the plane tonight.

He walked into the Glenview and smiled when he saw Isabelle sitting at the desk.

“Still don’t know how to take a day off, do you sweetie?”

Isabelle glanced around and giggled. “Only under threat of a spanking from Garrett. I can’t help it. It’s in my DNA. I enjoy keeping busy. Especially when he travels so much.” Her voice grew quiet and a bit sad as she handed him his room key.

“Hey,” he breathed, letting his fingers wrap around hers as he took the key. “The election is in a few weeks. You’ll get him back soon.”

She smiled. “Thanks. Being around all of you helps too.” A guest stepped out of the nearby elevators and approached the front desk. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and nodded to the stranger as he turned to step into the recently vacated elevator car.

When the doors slid closed, he laid his head against the wall and let his eyes drift shut. It had been a long week. In the hallway on the highest floor, he pulled his bag behind him and looked for his room. He was just staying for one night before moving to Solitaire for the rest of the weekend.

As he slid his key into the slot, a door farther down opened, and he looked up just in time to see Marissa stepping out. His hand froze and the light on the door switched from red to green and back to red again.

“Um. Hi,” she said, giving him a little wave.

Key still in the door, he turned and strode to her, intent on fisting a hand into her hair and crushing his lips to hers. She held up a hand and pushed it to his chest, keeping him at bay.

“Down, boy,” she murmured.

“Christ, Marissa. I can’t do this. We should be sharing a room.”

Her eyes grew sad. “I’m not so sure we should.”

“And my job offer?”

She gave a half smile. “I’m still considering it. I um. I gotta go. See you tomorrow.”

Lance felt his fists clench. Where was she going at nearly nine at night?

As if she sensed his question she sighed. “Calm your protective ass down. I’m meeting Patrick and Austin for a drink.”

He relaxed and nearly smiled as she brushed past him.

With a shake of his head, he went back to his door and pulled the key free and tried unlocking it again.

Inside, he stripped down and took a long hot shower but visions of Marissa showering with him had his cock standing at attention, so he yanked the knob for the cold water and shivered as it coursed down his body. He was a god damn mess over a woman. Something he didn’t think was possible anymore.

Not just any woman. Marissa had always been his and they both knew it.

♦♦♦♦

Marissa sat in Solitaire’s conference room and swiped at her red-rimmed eyes. She’d been staring at screens and files all day, stopping just long enough to shower in her cabin and change into something slightly more party appropriate. Try as she might, she’d found nothing to connect Jodie to Lance’s past or her own, but she knew the woman was involved and she wouldn’t stop until she proved it.

It was just after seven and she knew she needed to make an appearance soon. But Lance was likely out there and after running into him in the hotel last night, she wasn’t sure if she was ready to face him again. His gaze as he’d stalked down the hall toward her screamed sex and dominance. He’d had every intention of trying to kiss her until she stopped him. At least she knew he still respected no.

Austin poked her head in. “Come on, woman. You’ve been working all day. Let’s get you a drink.”

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