Page 81 of Conflagration
“You got it, bro. Now go get your woman.”
AS I enter the kitchen, I find the wine bottle Amelia was using for comfort earlier and pour myself an oversized glass of wine, downing half the contents with one long swallow. Just as I’m about to head into the backyard, the door opens and Branson slips inside. His is expression is hot and hungry, catching me off guard.
Relief washes over me that he wasn’t there to witness the scene with Megan. I’ve never been a proponent of violence, but sometimes, a bitch has it coming. And hopefully that little altercation stays between Megan and me. Branson doesn’t need to know the vile things she said about him, and by the look on his face, there’s only one thing on his mind—and it’s not his ex.
He stalks towards me, the intent on his face clear. I barely have time to place my wine down when he takes my hand and pulls me out of the kitchen, down the hallway, and out the front door. The entire time, he’s silent, his strides longer than usual, leaving me practically running to keep up.
“Branson,” I say, but it’s as if he doesn’t hear me. I wrench my hand out of his and stop once we get to the edge of the driveway. “Branson!”
As he turns to face me, he looks equal parts annoyed and aroused. He lifts an eyebrow, and I have to wonder what’s gotten into him.
“What the hell’s going on? And can you please slow down? I know we don’t have far to walk, but Jesus, if you go any faster, I’m going to twist an ankle in these heels.”
His eyes soften, and he leans down, scooping me up into his arms. I let out a surprised shriek then wrap my arms around his neck as he starts walking towards home, still not letting me in on our sudden departure. He carries me with ease, not breaking a sweat or breathing heavily, and the farther we get from his parents’ house, the more turned on I become, no longer caring what his deal is.
Burying my face into his neck, I place my lips against his skin, giving him light kisses at first before nibbling gently. A low growl escapes his mouth and he picks up the pace, causing me to grin. Apparently, we’re on the same page. When our house comes into view, my belly tightens with anticipation. You’d think I’d be used to this by now, but no matter how many times Branson slides into me and rocks my world, I still can never get enough. I don’t know that I ever will, which is a damn good sign for our life together.
Lifting up, I bring my lips to his ear, nipping his lobe. “All night, I’ve been thinking about your cock being inside me. Ever since you had me pressed up against the door, I haven’t been able to get it off my mind. Take me inside, Branson, and make good on your promise. Show me just how bad you can be.”
Without a word, he finds his keys and unlocks the door, using his foot to close it behind us as he moves into the foyer. He loosens his hold and sets me on my feet, giving me no time to catch my bearings before he pushes me up against the door—much like he did before we left for the party. Only this time, we’re chest to chest, and I wonder if he can feel my heart pounding as he pulls me into him.
His hands move around my back, where he expertly unzips my dress. With nothing to hold it up, it slides to the floor, his expression darkening as he takes in the sight of me standing before him in nothing but my heels and a tiny pair of panties. Instead of feeling bare and unnerved, I’m feeling sexier than I ever have thanks to the appreciation in his gaze. I’m on full display for him, and he’s eyeing me as if he’s never seen anything more beautiful. He makes me feel beautiful. He makes me feel so much more than I ever have, and it’s astounding how he’s transformed me.
Just as I’m about to request he join me in losing his clothes, he moves forward and pushes me until my back is once against resting on the door. He takes my hands and lifts them up over my head, restraining them. I glance at his tie, half hoping he’ll finally tie me up like he’s been teasing for so long. He must see the hunger in my expression as he lets out a small moan and lowers his head until his lips capture mine in a searing kiss.
“God, I love you,” he whispers, peppering kisses along my jaw, sending shivers throughout me as he makes his way down my neck, one hand holding my joined wrists above my head as the other roams my body, touching every spot as if emphasizing his words. “I love your mouth. I love your fucking tits. I love your ass, and goddammit, Ariana, I love your fucking pussy and how you’re always so damn ready for me,” he growls as he pushes my panties aside and slides his finger into me with extreme ease. “You’re wet for me, baby. I’m the only one who makes you this aroused.”
Even though I know he’s not asking, I still nod. “God, yes, Branson. Only you. No one but you,” I breathe as I push my hips up, trying to get some friction.
But he steps back, out of reach. He adds a second finger and uses his thumb to push down on my clit. As he works me over, he continues to restrain my hands, an act that only increases my arousal. It’s not long before I’m panting, writhing, and arching my back as he brings me to orgasm with just his hand. As I try to catch my breath, I lean my head back against the door and slowly return my eyes to his gaze.
“I thought I promised I’d be taking care of you tonight,” I tease once I finally regain my senses.
“Baby, the way you take care of me means more to me than you’ll ever know. But tonight? Tonight, I’m taking care of you, and I’m not stopping until you’re screaming my name.”
He loosens his hold on my hands, and I press them against his chest, sliding them up to undo the knot in his tie. After slipping it off his neck, I hold it up for him. His eyes are questioning, and I place it in his hands.
“You want to take care of me? Then let’s start with this.”
His eyes darken at my suggestion, and he scoops me up and throws me over his shoulder as he rushes down the hall to our room, where he takes care of me in more ways than one.
Let’s just say that I’ll never look at a necktie the same way again.
THIS DAY couldn’t go any fucking worse if it tried. After I storm off the elevator after having left a board meeting, Caroline tries to get my attention. Not in the mood, I bark orders at her to hold all my calls for the rest of the afternoon, barely registering the look of surprise on her face—one I haven’t seen since I came back from my accident.
I curse, knowing I’m being a bastard. But as I throw my briefcase onto my desk and settle into my chair, I wonder if I’m getting too soft. If I’ve let the happiness of my home life bubble over into how I act at the office. Not that I want to be a supreme dick, but I’m entitled to my bad fucking moods and gruffness.
With a heavy sigh, I think about the board meeting I just left. The one I’ve been waiting for all of my life, the one I should be celebrating—yet I can’t stop stewing over how it all went down. It was a disaster. Actually, it wasn’t, and that’s what’s pissing me off. This is my moment and I can’t even fucking enjoy it.
When Dad sprung the impromptu meeting on me, I was pretty damn surprised. Sure, he’d hinted at retiring, but the last thing I’d expected was for him to have me in the room when he discussed it with the board. As I listened to the meeting being conducted around me, talking about me as if I weren’t even there, a vast array of emotions swirled around in my head. This was fucking it. Finally, all my hard work was going to pay off, and I was more than ready to take the reins from Dad. Even when Mr. Donahue, the same one from all those years ago, admitted that he hadn’t thought I was ready, it didn’t bother me.
Until her name came up.
As the meeting dragged on, it became apparent that this wasn’t the first time the board members had heard of Dad’s wish for retirement. Instead, he himself had started spreading the word at the Labor Day party a couple of weeks ago, and it became my spontaneous audition. Mine and Ariana’s.
I’ll never understand the concept of having the CEO be a family man. How or why that translates to running a company successfully has always escaped me, but that’s what the board wanted. A goddamn fucking family man.
The board, having met and been completely taken by Ariana—as most people are when they meet her—came to the consensus that she’d be the perfect fit as the wife of the CEO of Wellington Enterprises, even going so far as to mention how much my own mother could teach her. Knox and Amelia Wellington handing over the reins to Branson and Ariana was suddenly the perfect plan for everyone.
