Page 50

FIFTY

Kinsley

Brantley is standing just outside my office door, and he’s staring at me with an intensity that has me shifting around in my chair. His jacket is off, his sleeves rolled up to his forearms, and the look on his face is positively thunderous.

I’m not sure if I’m afraid or completely turned on.

Maybe a bit of both if I’m being completely honest with myself.

“Let’s go.”

I shiver as his deep, rumbly voice works through me. Definitely turned on. “Where are we going, boss?”

He doesn’t answer because, of course, he doesn’t. That would require speech, and I’m pretty sure he’s only capable of grunting right now. Which is why he gives me a hard look and walks off.

What the heck got into him?

He seemed fine when I saw him a few hours ago.

I scramble out of my office chair and grab my purse and a notepad in case this is an unscheduled meeting. Or a scheduled meeting that somehow got messed up. Between his long legs and fast walk, I scramble to catch up with him. He doesn’t slow down or look back to make sure I’m following him—prick—he just keeps going until he gets to the elevator.

He jams his finger into the down button. Once. Twice. Oh, five times. I’m sure that makes a difference.

Something has obviously crawled up his ass and died so I keep my tone light and jab him in the ribs. “And here I thought we were taking me to look at the possessed copy machine with Maverick and Mr. Fitz. Although, rumor has it, the dang thing hasn’t made a single strange noise since last week.” Nothing. Not even a twitch of his lip. “Feeling like some coffee? Maybe you want to go back to that place you like?”

I’m goading him, I know I am. Just like I know there’s no way he’ll ever step foot in that coffeehouse again, not after that guy wrote his number on my cup. Am I cruisin’ for a bruisin’? You bet, but maybe I’ll finally get him to fulfill his promise to spank me. Either that or maybe, just maybe, I can get him to crack a smile. He needs a little more help over the ledge.

Still, James is hovering close by, so I make sure I’m quiet as I speak. I might be poking the bear, but I can do it discreetly.

“I heard Zach brought up my transfer again. I do miss working downstairs.”

That gets him.

The elevator doors open and after I skip inside, he stomps after me, pinning me to the back of the contraption, the cold metal biting into my back. As soon as we get moving, his hips press against mine, and his hand wraps around my throat as the other slams into the wall beside my head.

“I know what you’re doing,” he growls, his lips inches from mine but still too far away for my liking.

I grin, my fingers walking up the length of his tie. “What exactly am I doing, boss ?”

The elevator comes to a jolting stop, it’s ding a warning. This time of day, there’s going to be more people piling in here with us. At least we’ve passed our floors.

With another growl, one I feel straight in my clit, Brantley pushes away, and somehow in a matter of seconds manages to put himself in the corner with me in front of him. A few people get on from the eighth floor and a few more from the sixth. Not people we know. No one from the firm.

Brantley is hovering behind me. Not touching me, but close enough I can feel the heat of his skin, the electric tingle of his gaze. This is so much worse than anything else. Knowing how close he is, yet he’s still so far away. The first floor couldn’t come fast enough.

“You’re testing my damn patience, that’s what you’re doing.” He’s at my ear, his words low, rumbly, and every single one of them has my core clenching.

I turn ever so slightly and whisper back, “That doesn’t sound like something I would do.”

He grunts, his hand grabbing my hip, his fingers digging into my flesh. “Do you always have to be a brat?”

I turn all the way around, batting my eyes at him and smile. “Well, I mean, you did chop off a man’s tie because I said it was nice. I think that makes you a brat.”

His jaw works back and forth as he tries to formulate a response, but it’s too late. The doors open and everyone, me included, make our way out of the building. However, I can only enjoy being in charge for about two point five seconds because I have no idea where we’re actually going.

“I chopped off his tie because I didn’t like it.” He’s at my elbow, grabbing it and steering me in the opposite direction I was standing.

“Whatever you tell yourself to sleep at night,” I say in a sing-song voice. “You never said where we were going.”

Another grunt. Well, I should have expected that. I guess this is going to be a surprise venture.

I walk beside him, letting us fall into a comfortable silence. The further we get from the office, the more Brantley starts to relax. His shoulders fall bit by bit, and his entire persona no longer radiates “fuck off.” He even puts a hand in his pocket, leaving the other one to occasionally graze mine.

I’m so gone for this man—all three of them actually. Maverick spent the entire weekend at my place, playing video games with Colin during the day and fucking me senseless at night. When he didn’t cook, Wyatt made sure to have meals delivered even though he was stuck at the office with Brantley. And this stoic man beside me? He took time out of his hellish sounding Saturday to video call with Colin for over an hour and then snuck in that night to fall asleep next to Maverick and me.

We shouldn’t all work together, but we do. And no, I don’t mean in the actual work sense.

The four of us are all so different, yet we fit perfectly.

Having a real family was never in the cards for me; at least, that’s what I thought until they wormed their way into my life. Our relationship is unorthodox and happened so fast, yet I’ve never felt something so right.

These men are mine as much as I’m theirs.

He pulls me to a stop outside a cute boutique store a couple blocks away from the firm. Lune de Luxe. The name isn’t familiar, but the big glass windows displaying various lingerie sets gives them away. And judging by the very fancy French name, everything in here is going to cost a pretty penny.

I raise my brows and turn to face him, very proud of the fact that my mouth is only hanging open slightly. “You’re taking me shopping?”

His cheeks darken, and he rubs his hand along his freshly shaven jaw. “I told you I’d buy you a whole lingerie store.”

“Wait.” I clutch his hand and bring it to my rapidly beating heart. “You didn’t actually buy this place, did you?”

For the first time since I’ve seen him today he cracks a smile. “No, but I was tempted. Come on, dove, pick anything you want.”

“Maybe one new set.” And that’s only because everything in this store looks perfect. And sexy. And dang if I don’t want to wear something new for him.

My fingers tighten around his, and I practically drag him in the store while he laughs behind me. I was right, this place is magic, full of fancy lace and—I sneak a peek at the nearest price tag—yep, expensive as fuck.

“Welcome to Lune de Luxe, my name is Claire.” A pretty brunette flits over to us, her eyes all over Brantley, but he barely gives her an ounce of attention. “Is there anything I can help you with, sir?”

“Whatever my girl wants.” He smiles at me for the second time today. It’s just a freaking smile, but it makes the corners of his eyes crinkle, and I melt. I’m a puddle of goo in the middle of black and white lace. Oh, and a really cute purple bodysuit with garters.

There’s so much beautiful stuff in here; I’m flitting from rack to rack, touching a few things, drooling over others, but the exorbitant price tags keep me from pulling the trigger. He offered to buy me anything I want; I know this. Yet, I can’t bring myself to spend his money. Not like this. Maybe I can buy myself a set. I’ll have a little money left over after all the expenses associated with Colin’s surgery. It’s not like I’m paying rent right now either, but I’m keeping that money stashed. I’ll inevitably be moving out of Brantley’s building, and I’m sure I’ll need it for deposits.

I manage to circle the store and find a light pink lace bra and panty set on the half price rack that would look good on…well, my rack.

Only when I turn around with the lingerie in hand, Brantley is already at the counter with Claire, loading set after set into black and white striped Lune de Luxe bags.

He’s not…is he…

Holy shit, he’s buying everything I stopped to look at. Every single thing. There must be thousands of dollars in there.

I shove my discount find back on the rack and sprint over to him, just in time for him to grab the receipt and slip it in his wallet.

“What are you doing?” My voice is hushed as I grab onto his elbow.

He turns toward me and shrugs. “What’s it look like?”

“You can’t buy me all that. It’s so much.”

His eyes soften, and he sweeps his thumb across my cheek. “There’s not a thing I wouldn’t do for you, dove. I’d give you the world if you’d let me.”

The breath stutters out of my lungs, and I have no idea what to say, especially when Claire and the other girl behind the counter audibly swoon. Thank you doesn’t seem like enough, and I love you…well, while it may be true, I don’t think this is the best time to throw those three words around.

Brantley Ellis is grumpy, irritable, short, but he’s so fucking perfect for me it hurts.

I blink back a few tears threatening to break free. “Brantley, I?—”

But I don’t get the chance to finish my sentence. His thumb brushes across my lips before his mouth lowers to mine. His kiss is soft, gentle, and full of so much restrained passion. I don’t know how I’m going to go back to the office and pretend everything is normal when my heart is about to beat out of my chest.

I want him to hold me, to cocoon me in his warmth, but at the same time, I want him to lose control, to fuck my brains out, to remind me that I belong to him.

I need him. Wyatt. Maverick.

I need them more than my next breath.

But should I still work for them?