Page 39 of Purchase Power
Chapter 12
Noah forced himself to take a break late in the afternoon. Thanks to multiple disruptions throughout the day (which didn’t simply stop with David’s visit and Stacey’s meltdowns) he would be working after dinner. He wouldn’t skip dinner, though. He wouldn’t even have it delivered to his office so he could keep working. That might mean missing dinner with Stacey, and that was about as good of an idea as canceling her therapy appointments for the rest of February.
If he wanted to avoid eye strain and leg cramps, however, he would get up from his desk around four and do something else. He stared at the chess game and made a move that later had him slapping his palm against his head. Too bad he was a man of character. Even in a game against himself, he wouldn’t undo the move and start over again. It completely defeated the purpose of playing against himself.
How was he supposed to learn from his mistakes if he pretended they didn’t happen?
Yet Noah was too distracted to keep playing. He paced in his office, pinching the bridge of his nose and wondering if he should take a longer break to have some proper exercise. His thoughts wavered between David’s predicament and Stacey’s ongoing issues.
Most of all, though, he thought of Lucy.
Naturally, his damned crotch twitched every time he imagined her in her suite. Taking a shower. Doing yoga in front of the window. Lounging in front of the TV with her laptop balanced across her bare midriff, because why wouldn’t he imagine her with some of her clothes missing? He imagined what she looked like sipping her drinks and changing her clothes. None of it had to be for him. It could entirely be her own private existence. Didn’t mean he eschewed thoughts of her chewing her nails, rubbing her bare legs, or…
Dear God.Had he seriously imagined her touching herself on the couch? Why the hell would she be doing that? That was the worst place for her to pleasure herself.
Yes, that’s really what I’m concerned about. Not the fact she has enough insatiable lust inside of her perfect body that I don’t have a hope of placating.
This wasn’t like him. He didn’t pine after women in the middle of the day. He didn’t fantasize about them looking at the camera of his mind’s eye, biting their lips, and slipping their hands between their legs while never glancing away.I’d kill to watch her touch herself like that…The fantasy continued in his distracted head. Lucy, on her back, legs spread and finger stroking her clit until she had no choice but to explode in ecstasy. What would Noah do?
Touch himself, too, of course.
He wanted to lean against the doorway to her bedroom and rub himself through his trousers while she pleasured herself for his spectacle. Noah could do it. He wasn’t above whipping it out and touching himself to completion.Preferably somewhere on that gorgeous body of hers…Lucywasgorgeous, wasn’t she? Every inch of her soft skin was youthful perfection, from the taut elasticity of her thighs, to the buoyancy of her breasts as her bra struggled to contain them during the heights of her pleasure. That must be the case, if her nipples were always falling out of her bras.
“You turn me into a mess, Mr. Gabriel,”he imagined her saying with that lilt in her voice.“My clothes can’t stay on my body when you’re around. I have to take them off. I have to have you. Where have you been all my life, sir? Why do you keep me cooped up in here, when you could have me whenever you want? That’s the deal, isn’t it? Come on, give in. You’ve already given in twice. Isn’t the third time the charm?
Noah stopped his pacing. It didn’t relieve the tension in his loins. Sure enough, when he glanced down, he had made a fool of himself.
The smart thing to do was to go to his room and take care of it. Bring his fantasies with him, which most certainly didn’t belong in his office. There was nothing sacred about this office.God, no. Not when I’ve covered it in enough bleach to rid myself of the worst memories.Gabriel Manor boasted a better, more appropriate room for a home office closer to the front of the house where one could meet with guests and clients, but Noah refused to use it. Instead, it was a lounge for the house staff. A guarantee he never had to go in there. Why would he want to? He could still hear Stacey’s tears every time he walked by those cursed doors.
Yeah, that would kill his hard-on. Too bad. Why did his thoughts always have to turn to something dark as soon as he was starting to feel good?
Punishment. Self-flagellation.If Stacey could never feel good like that in her life, what gave him the right? To be a Gabriel was to suffer.
Sex was always associated with the demons inside one’s soul. Didn’t he know that now?
If it makes me demonic…He stood before the window, gazing at the empty lawn and the trees beyond.Then so be it, I suppose. It’s not like I’m paying her to be an angel.
He was paying her to be available. Her safe word was the only thing that could stop him. Why would he let anything else stop him?
Noah tore himself away from the window. Without regard for his condition, he left his office unlocked and marched toward the guest suite on the other side of the house.
Out of everything he could have considered, informing Lucy of his impending arrival should have been at the top of his list. He had been considerate enough last time. Why not now? Why was he so stricken with lust and greed that he didn’t bother to control himself? Was it really so difficult? Was he truly a slave to his sexual desires? Did nature dictate this?
He only thought of Lucy, with her full lips, heavy eyes, and supple body that would be the hottest thing on Earth if she wore a set of lingerie or sweatpants.
She wore sweats today.
“Oh!” He hadn’t bothered to knock when he unlocked the door with his master key and stared at her on the couch. Lucy slammed her laptop shut and left it on the coffee table before standing.She’s doing this on purpose.Those sweats hung off her hips, taunting him to come over and lower them the single inch required to access her pussy. She didn’t wear a bra. Those nipples? Already rock hard for him in that baggy crop top that hung so loosely on her torso that he kept thinking about their first encounter.Her, bent over the couch, my cock ramming into her tight cunt and my palms grabbing those delectable breasts.He had never heard a woman make the sounds Lucy uttered that night. Noah had surprised her – not only with his youth and virility, but with his impressive lovemaking abilities. No woman could fake an orgasm like that. She could rehearse the sounds, but he couldn’t make her body shudder like that on command.
Every inch of her screamed for him. He was inclined to answer her call.
“Mr. Gabriel.” Lucy brushed the hair from her face. “I wasn’t expecting you. Sorry I…”
He closed the gap between him. A little too quickly. Unless he wanted to completely destroy their reputations, he would backtrack and lock that door behind him. “I didn’t give you a reason to expect me,” he said. “Isn’t that part of the deal?”
“Uh…” Lucy must have realized what he was there for, since her arms quickly covered her chest and her legs welded together. Oh, didn’t she want him? Was she suddenly changing her mind, now that it was real?Have I misjudged?The small part of Noah’s conscience screaming at him to go back and start over – this time like a fucking gentleman, thanks – was overshadowed by the roaring heat between his legs. Fine thing for his body heat to center in his cock. The rest of him may have shivered from the chills, but at least he had plenty of warmth to share with the woman looking at him like he had lost his mind. “I suppose it is. I take it you’re here for…”
He was now only two inches away from her. Close enough to grab her and make her his.Again.As if he wouldn’t be spending this whole month laying claim to every inch of her body. He had paid for the privilege. Noah liked to think it was a bonus to all the money she received.
