Page 29 of Serena (Shattered Queens #1)

Gabe can’t help but smile, and damn, this family is full of handsome men and charmers. I turn to face Ian. “Did you have anything to do with Byran Carson getting fired from Phoenix Marketing?”

“Yes, I did.” Ian looks from me to his brother.

“How do you know?” the younger Kayde asks.

“Well, he just yelled at me over the phone. Accusing me of getting him fired.”

“He did what?” Ian shouts loud enough to make me flinch.

As if ready for orders, Gabe stands up. “I’ll take care of this. We’ll talk later.” With that, he turns to me. “Don’t answer his calls. If he tries to contact you, let us know.”

“Okay, but I need answers.”

“That is up to my brother, I’m afraid.” Then he walks out the door.

I take a seat in front of Ian. “What the hell, Ian?”

“Is that all you have to say to me, Mi Reina?”

“Stop calling me that.”

“No. Don’t think I haven’t noticed that you’ve been avoiding me all week. What did I say about running?”

“I can’t do this right now. Just tell me.”

He opens the top drawer of his desk and pulls out a black folder, handing it to me.

“What is this, Ian?”

“Take a look, Mi Reina.”

I start to read the documents. It’s a police report on Byran Carson—a couple of reports.

“I ran a background check on the marketing team.

Imagine my surprise when I found out this information.

I spoke to the firm's CEO, and he assured me he had no idea how this got past them, but I do. It seems that Byran knows someone in the hiring department who helped him pass the background check when he applied. That person has also been fired.”

Byran’s been arrested for a couple of DUIs, which should have landed him in jail. I’m assuming his parents had something to do with the cleanup. They always do. I look up and see Ian’s eyes locked on me.

“Mi Reina, I know he hurt you in the past. That part was obvious at the gala. Truth be told, when I found out who he was, I thought about killing him, but the only reason I didn’t is because this would get back to you, and I’m not putting you at risk.”

“Please stop talking like that.”

“Like what, Serena. The truth? Baby, you can’t keep running, but if you do, I’ll always catch you.”

I stand up to leave, dropping the file on the desk.

“Don’t fucking walk away, Serena.”

As I'm about to do just that, he walks around his desk and makes it to the door before me. Damn, he’s fast. He pushes me against the door, his hand on my throat.

“Do you think I haven’t noticed the way you clench your thighs every time I’m around?

Do you think I don’t see your nipples get hard when you're in the same room as me? Do you know how many times I’ve wanted to bend you over?

Fuck you, so everyone here knows you belong to me?

I’m constantly hard for you. I bet if I lift up your skirt, you’ll already be wet for me. Won’t you, baby?”

“Yes, and I hate you for it.”

“Keep telling yourself that, Serena.”

“I don’t need you to fight my battles. I can fight them all by myself.”

“Mi Reina, I know you can, but that doesn’t mean you have to. Now, if Byran contacts you again, I will kill him, Serena, I promise you that. You are an infuriating woman, you know that?”

I can’t help but smile. He always seems so in control, so when he loses it because of me, it brings me great satisfaction.

“You remembered,” I say, catching him off guard. “The jícama.”

“I remember everything about you.”

God, his words do things to me; they shouldn't, but they do. I lean in to him again and kiss him. This time, I’m wearing heels, so it's easier to wrap my arms around his neck, which has become one of my favorite things to do. He removes his hand from my throat and lifts me by my thighs. I don’t even think about it as I wrap my legs around his waist.

“Fuck me, now and hard.” I’m not shy about what I want.

“Whatever my girl wants, my girl gets.” He groans as he bunches my skirt up to my waist, then, in a swift move, he rips my panties and puts them into his suit pocket. He fumbles with his zipper, so I help. Desperate for him. Shit, what if someone sees us? As if reading my mind.

“Don’t worry, this cock is going to take care of that needy cunt, but you will need to be quiet. There are still some people working.”

His cock is at my entrance. “I knew you were wet. This isn’t going to be gentle; it's going to be hard and fast.”

I roll my eyes. “Just fuck me already.”

Without hesitation, he slams into me. “I’m going to need you to keep that smart mouth of yours quiet.

” He pulls me away from the door and moves us to the wall behind his desk.

“I’ve missed you, Serena. I’m the one begging; please let me in.

” He kisses me, swallowing my moans and cries.

His thrusts are brutal and deep, just what I need from him.

“Come, baby, I have you. I’ll always have you.” I feel my pussy clench his dick as I let go, and he follows. We stay like that for a couple of moments, then he pulls out, and we watch as his cum drips from my pussy.

“That’s hot, don’t you dare clean up.” Again with the ordering.

“I can’t believe I just did that.”

“We just did that. First time, but not the last time. I’m going to fuck you on every surface in my office.”

“Ian, I’m serious.”

“Hermosa, so am I.” He takes my chin and lifts my face to his. “Go on a date with me.”

“Are you asking, or are you ordering?"

“Serena, will you please go on a date with me?”

I know I should say no, but we’ve already crossed so many lines.

“Yes, Ian.”

“This weekend?”

“I can’t this weekend. I have a kid’s party to go to. The weekend after?”

“Sounds perfect. Would you like company for this weekend's festivities?”

“No, one day at a time, right?”

“One day at a time, for you, remember I’m miles ahead. One more thing. Augustus will be your driver moving forward.”

What the fuck. “Absolutely not.”

“Either that or you move in with me.”

“No to both. You’ve lost your mind.” I get off the desk and put myself together. “By the way, this isn’t me running. This is me walking away from a ridiculous conversation.”