Page 67 of Total Abandon

“I did.”

She grumbles something that sounds like “men,” before prying herself out of my arms. I reluctantly let her go and take the glass she presses into my chest. “I’m out of here before you maul me any more.” She turns on her heeled boot and walks away as I let out a low chuckle, giving me an eyeful of an ass so rounded and tight it should come with a warning label.

After poking my head around Diego’s door to check on him, I fire up the laptop in my study. PG leaps onto my desk and scarpers across my keyboard in a flash of black fur, typing nonsensical letters into the password box.

“Oversized rat,” I mumble as he scoots into the shadows behind an armchair in the corner, grumbling audibly back at me like I’m the inconvenience and not him.

Noticing an email at the top of my inbox from an address I don’t recognize, I click it and scan the text. The message is one simple line.

Thought you might like to see this.

I frown at the file attached, leaning back in my chair and running a palm up my jaw, contemplating. Biting out a grumbled curse, I quickly lock the file into a closed circuit in case it’s a trojan horse, and load it up. The document contains fifty pages of focus group findings for X-tech’s Renoir project. It only takes me a few minutes to scan the information and by the time I’m done, I’m fucking pissed. Beyond pissed. I want to hunt down Sweeney’s address and tear his slimy little head off his fucking shoulders. Without having eyes on the coding, this is as close as I’m going toget to evidence that their software is exactly the fucking same as mine.

Flicking back to the email, I quickly back-search the address and pull the IP it was sent from, forwarding it to Lucian with a message to investigate it as soon as he is back. Forcing in a deep breath through my nostrils, I sit back and take a moment to clear the red haze descending over my vision. There is a reason I’ve got a reputation in the business world for being cutthroat and this asshole is about to enjoy a firsthand education as to why.

***

Flinging an arm above my head, I stare at the dark ceiling. The last time I checked my watch, it was 2 A.M. and I’d resolved not to check anymore. My mind won’t shut off about work, but I’m not stupid—part of the reason I’m not asleep is that Chloe isn’t home yet. Reminding myself for the tenth time that she’s a fully grown fucking adult who can look after herself, I roll onto my front and shove my fists roughly beneath the pillow.

It would be impossible for her to go out and not get attention from men in a garbage bag, let alone a teenager's wet dream of a cowgirl outfit. The thought makes me lift my head and start attacking my pillow with my fist to pummel it into a more comfortable shape.She’s got your ring on her finger, Guerra.Fake or not, as far as the outside world is concerned, Miss Devlin is off the market and that settles my nerves a fraction. Suddenly, I’m very pleased I chose a rock you can see from space.

A dull thud perks my ears and I pause, listening. I’ve left my door ajar for this reason and after a few moments, I hear the unmistakable sound of soft footsteps casing up the hall, accompanied by a light whoosh of what sounds like a hand being dragged along the wall. Another thud, louder this time.

“Ouch, fuck! Shhh!” Flipping onto my back, I tuck an arm behind my head and stare at the dark doorway. “I’m talking to a table.” A muffled snort erupts, like she’s clapped her hands over her mouth to stop from laughing and it spilled out of her nose instead. “Aaaand now I’m talking to myself.” I wrestle back a smile and listen to the soft scuffling noise that ensues. “Eh, fuck it and fuck you, table.”

The handle jolts softly in its socket as my door is pulled open wider. Since my eyes are adjusted to the dark, I can see her appear, looking slightly unsteady on her feet. Her hand grapples at the wall blindly.

“Other side,” I say dryly, making her squeak and leap back, clutching at her chest.

“Don’t scare me like that!”

“Oh sorry, did I make you jump while you were sneaking intomybedroom?” I smile as she swaps sides, her fingers finding the light switch and flicking it on. It’s a dimmer switch, but she’s whacked it on full blast so that bright light floods the room. Grumbling a low sound from my chest, I blink a couple of times to adjust my eyes.

“Oops, sorry.” She twists the switch down to a low glow and grins stupidly at me from the doorway. She’s definitely drunk, but still looks like heaven. Fiery red locks curl down her back, some pulled to the front so they frame her face like a ruby fucking halo.

“Good night?”

“Didn’t get arrested, so I’d say so.” Her hips sway as she walks over to the bed, throwing down her purse and crawling up onto the comforter. I hike one brow as I watch her crawl up the bed, my dick leaping to attention. Pure, unadulterated mischief sparkles in glassy ocean eyes. Typically, I make it a rule not to have sex with drunk women. But I guess when you’re fucking as regularly as we are, there is no risk that she will wake up feeling taken advantage of. Another brand-new situation to find myself in.

She crawls up my body and settles herself on top of me, her still booted legs straddling my hips. My hands jump to the pale, creamy skin on her thighs and slide up to her hips, taking what little of her dress there is with them.

“I figured I’d do my bit for the animals.” She smirks, her hands disappearing behind her back. After a second of silence, the metal zipper at the back of her dress vibrates through the air and it’s tossed onto the carpet. Good, it looks better there.

“Oh?” My eyes slide over endless, freckled skin. Red lace panties, no bra, and heavy tits swaying invitingly, she looks like a goddess. I sit up, my arms locking around her waist as we come nose to nose. The sweet tang of tequila clings to the breath that’s coming in a little choppy as her hands land on my bare shoulders.

“Yeah.” She reaches one hand up and plucks off her hat, squashing it down on my head instead. “Save a horse, ride a cowboy and all that.”

I throw myself at her so that we’re both tumbling. Her back hits the bed and she gasps as I close my mouth over her parted lips in a kiss that consumes me. The hat falls to the wayside as I slide my tongue into her mouth, flicking and stroking at hers like I can’t get enough. Like I might die if I don’t map every inch.

“Stay there,” I growl, tearing myself away from her soft, plush lips and kneeling back so I can reach my nightstand.

After spending far too long fantasizing about all the things I want to do to her, I stocked the drawer full of tricks just for an occasion such as this. I pull out a bottle of lube and a small bullet vibrator. Not even bothering to shut the drawer, I sling the items onto the bed beside her. She’s propped on her elbows, watching.

“Oh, so you wanna play, do you?” she purrs and I see the delicate flex of her stomach muscles.

“Yeah baby, we’re gonna play.”And I’m going to win, I add silently. I’m back on her in an instant, my hand buried in her hair, tugging it so her head tips back and her mouth grazes mine. “Pick a safe word, Chloe.”

“Red,” she breathes without hesitation as she wraps her legs around my hips, and I smile. Figures.