Page 40 of You & I, Rewritten

I don’t know how much time has elapsed, but I feel myself rising from my seated position behind the lighting that’s been set up. Graham shoots me a questioning glance that I ignore.

“What a weird and inappropriate question to ask, Hannah.” I didn’t even intend to say anything but seeing the hurt and confusion radiating from Lana’s gaze compelled me to speak. “Especially in a room full of strangers where you haveabsolutelyno idea what people have going on behind the scenes.” I’m standing directly behind Lana now, my gaze narrowing at Hannah, fully aware that I’ve just ruined whatever shot the cameras were trying to capture. “While Lana most certainly can speak for herself, I hope that somehowyouaren’t suggesting that people, regardless of the struggles they’ve faced, aren’t deserving of grace and compassion when seeking absolution? That those who struggle with mental health issues or are plagued with addiction aren’t worthy of redemption?”

Hannah, her face pinched in horror, realizes her misstep, and attempts to back pedal.

“I…No, I wasn’t insinuating…”

I wave off her feeble attempt to regain control of this situation. “Oh no, Hannah, that was rhetorical.” I place both hands on the back of the couch Lana’s sitting on, leaning toward Hannah now. “That type of insensitive and dated thinking has no place here, so unless Lana has anything else to add, I think this interview is over.” I extend my hand to Lana, which she takes, a smile forming on her lips.

“Nope…I think that about covers it,” she says, allowing me to pull her up from her seated position and throw my arm around her shoulders.

“Have a good rest of your afternoon, Hannah…Make sure you get this all cleaned up so Mr. Austin can get back to work. Thanks!” I call nonchalantly over my shoulder as Lana and I walk side-by-side out of the office.

* * *

I know I should be doing the right thing by Lana’s career right now. I know that the right thing is to smooth things over between Lana and Hannah, to make sure that her career isn’t at risk of being tainted by this interview. But right now, I don’t want to do the right thing and judging by the way Lana stormed out of the office, shrugging off my offer to join her, I don’t think she cares about the so-called “right thing” any more than I do.

Instead, I just sit alone in the now-empty conference room, Hannah’s question on a loop in my mind.But are their actions redeemable?Doubling over in my chair and putting my head in my hands, I just want this day to be over.

“You doing okay?” I didn’t even hear Graham come in.Sneaky bastard.I look up and see he’s leaning casually against the head of the conference table; his demeanor is soft but I can see the tension he’s carrying. Clearly, this afternoon’s events didn’t sit well with him either.

Am I doing okay? Is this a joke?I know Graham isn’t responsible for how I’m feeling right now, but what the hell kind of question is that? Of course I’m not doing okay. I single-handedly just tanked Lana’s career before it even began, embarrassing Graham, and his father, in the process.

“I’m fine,” I say with as much calm and grace as I can manage when I’m truly fighting the urge to scream.

His jaw tightens, locking his eyes on mine, a dark fire burning just beneath the surface. “It’s okay if you’re not fine.” He slowly crosses the room until he’s standing before me, his powerful frame looming over me. “Because I don’t feel fine at all, Will. I’m enraged, quite frankly.”

Fuck, I knew I messed up.

His hands reach for the lapels of my suit coat, gently tugging so I’m forced to stand, our chests pressing against one another. I catch a whiff of his spiced cologne, the scent instantly spiking my desire.What is he doing?

Graham’s expression softens. “Have I told you lately how impressed by you I am?”Wait, what? I thought…But before I can continue thinking, his hands tangle in the hair at the base of my neck, pulling my mouth toward his. “Will…I am….in awe…ofyou,” he breathes against my mouth, those intoxicating lips crushing over mine between the words I didn’t know I needed to hear until now.

“But I…” I try to interrupt in between the need of his lips. “Graham…I don’t understa…”Oh hell.His tongue dips into my mouth, sending intense flashes of arousal coursing through me so I do what my body clearly wants and kiss him back with everything I have.

He presses my back against the wall, deepening our kiss. His hands are on my waist and I moan at the feeling of his erection pressed against my thigh, his hips colliding with mine.

“Take off your pants.”Here?He eases back ever so slightly, just far enough to look me in the eyes. “Everyone’s gone for the day. Take. Off. Your. Pants.Now,” he says, kissing up my neck between every word. When his mouth finds mine again, I know I’m going to do what he says.

I fumble with my pants, a hunger now replacing the confusion I initially felt, and when they drop to the floor, pooling over my shoes, Graham drops to his knees, pulling my briefs down with him. My throbbing dick springs free, begging to be touched.Now.

Graham looks up at me as he plants a soft kiss on my tip, letting his lips linger for a moment before fully taking me in his mouth. His hands grip my hips and ass as he takes me in deeper, causing me to drop my head back, growling in ecstasy.More, fuck, so much more.

“You like that?” he teases.

“More than you’ll ever fucking know.” I’m panting as he trails his lips along my hip bone.

He gives my cock a squeeze, sliding his sweet tongue over me ever so slowly, all while peering up at me, his eyes hooded with desire. He stands, his hands pushing up the fabric of my shirt, the burn of his fingertips on my bare skin making me tremble. When his urgent lips claim mine again, he’s driven by a need that’s only matched by my own. “Fuck me, Will. I need to feel you inside of me,” he whispers in my ear, his lips causing my body to shiver as he grinds his hips into mine, the fullness of his bulge begging for release.

My eager fingers pull at his suit pants, unfastening the buttons at the same time he quickly removes my shirt, his lips never leaving mine. I throw my entire weight into every ounce of our kiss, reveling in the hard planes of his body and moaning when my hand cups his throbbing cock. Graham’s breathing is heavy, his rising and falling chest creating the only distance between us now.

“Come here,” I say as I guide him back to the conference table, both pairs of pants still around each of our ankles.Classy.Turning him around, I run my hands over his chest as he pushes back against me, his head resting back on my shoulder.

“Tell me what you want, baby,” I gently whisper into his ear. “Tell me what you need.” My words cause his back to arch, his hands reaching back to pull me somehow closer to him. He turns his head toward mine, our lips barely touching.

“Please, Will…give me all of you,” he begs against my lips.

I press him forward, his hands now resting on the table in front of us as I plant kisses across his shoulders and down his back until I reach the band of his briefs. Pulling them down to meet the pants at his ankles, I run my hands over the beautiful sight of his now exposed ass, causing Graham to push back against my touch and my own cock to twitch.Someone’s eager.

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