Page 18 of The Dragon in the Corner Office (Monstrous New York #1)

Chapter 18

T rue to his word, Cyrus has kept his distance over the past few days. But I don’t miss the way his eyes linger on me, especially my ass, every chance he gets. And when we happen to be in the break room or copy room alone together, he makes sure to invade my space until I’m surrounded by a wall of his cologne. The hint of vanilla has my insides turning into a knotted mess.

It’s like I’m a blushing schoolgirl and my legs turn to jelly every time he brushes his fingers against mine. The hint of warmth from his skin sets a swarm of dragonflies loose in my gut .

I’m not this woman. I don’t swoon over men—yet here I am.

One thing’s for sure, I can’t deny my growing feelings for Cyrus any longer.

Even now, his cerulean stare burns my skin from across the conference room table, pulling my attention from Mr. Andrews, who drones on and on about his extravagant weekend plans in the Hamptons. Must be nice.

“That sounds lovely, sir. I hope the weather cooperates for you,” I say, winking at Cyrus before I swing my head toward our boss.

“You just never know this time of year. Now, I have a tee time with my brother in a half hour, so why don’t you give me an update on your current project?” His eyes swing expectantly toward Cyrus.

Once again, Andrews shows his true colors, defaulting to Cyrus, simply because he has a dick between his thighs. Heat bubbles from my core—and not the good kind, the kind born from anger.

Just a little longer , I remind myself. A few more commission bonuses and I’ll be able to afford the startup costs for my own firm. I’ll finally be my own boss.

Unblinking, Cyrus locks eyes with me. “Actually, Ms. Bauer has been spearheading this project. What she’s come up with is spectacular, and I think you’ll be impressed.”

Cyrus’s words settle some of the previous irritation trickling through me. “Thank you, Cyrus. ”

“And everything is on schedule? The board expects a presentation at the end of the month.” Mr. Andrews cuts his beady eyes toward me, gleaming with condescension.

I sit up straighter, rolling my shoulders back. “Yes. As soon as the client accepts our offer, we’re ready to move forward, sir.”

His face turns an unnatural shade of red that has my hackles rising. “You haven’t secured the property yet! This is a rookie mistake, Antoinette. Not something I’d expect to see from a seasoned agent, such as yourself.”

“Sir, he’s—”

He holds up a hand, silencing me and adding fuel to the anger in my veins.

I hate being interrupted.

“Fix it, Antoinette. Or you won’t have a job here anymore.” With a final glare, he stands from his chair. “Don’t fuck it up, Ms. Bauer. I took a chance on you before; I won’t do it again.”

A curt nod to Cyrus, and he’s gone, the conference room door slamming shut behind him.

All I see is red; it bleeds into my periphery and clouds my field of vision. Under my skin, my dragon uncurls and scales break through the surface.

In a rage-fueled blur, my feet carry me to my office. Voices echo around me, but they’re muffled, like I’m underwater.

Grabbing the first thing I can—a stack of papers on my desk—I swipe them on the floor. A few sheets burst into flames from my heated touch.

Before I can reach for the poor potted plant on the corner of my desk, heavy hands latch onto my shoulders and spin me. “Princess, stop.” The glacial blue of his eyes douses the inferno inside me instantly.

How does he do that? How does he calm my inner dragon with a single touch? A single look?

“Talk to me, Antoinette. Let me in—please.” His voice is soft and soothing as he leans his forehead against mine.

A lesser man would be afraid; my blazing eyes, the smoke swirling around us, and my skin is hotter than lava. But not Cyrus. His inner strength shines through in these moments when it’s just the two of us.

I promised I would try to let him in, even if it’s hard. Time to make good on that promise. Blowing out a breath, I draw my strength from him, focusing on the ring of dark navy surrounding his pupils. “I’ve had to fight every day to get where I am in my career. So when he doubts me… or overlooks me because I’m a woman, it makes me furious.”

He nods, big hands coming up to cup my face. “I’m not going to pretend to understand what you’ve been through, princess. And I’m sorry if I was a chauvinistic asshole at any point in the past. But I promise I’ll be by your side through all the ups and downs. Okay? ”

Licking my suddenly dry lips, I nod. “Yeah. And thank you for sticking up for me. Your words meant a lot in there, even if they rolled right off Mr. Andrews’s back.”

“You’re welcome. He’s an asshole. And he’s always given me the creeps. His brother’s even worse.” His large frame shudders and he pinches his eyes shut. When they open again, there’s heat behind them. “Thank you for letting me in, Antoinette. I know it’s not easy. And maybe I can help relieve some of the tension.”

Peeling away from me, his mouth breaks into a lopsided grin as he approaches the door to our office. “Hey, Pen!”

Penelope appears in the doorway a second later. “Yes, Cy.”

Pulling out his wallet, he slips his credit card from its slot and hands it to her. “Can you grab the three of us some lunch? How about that new bistro that opened down the street? Get a few options… and take your time.”

Credit card in hand, she scampers away, and Cyrus closes the door, clicking the lock into place.

“What are you up to, Mr. Wilcox?” The rasp in my voice floats across the quiet office.

Cyrus pulls the cord on the blinds of the door, effectively shielding us from prying eyes. There’s a wicked glint in his pale eyes when he turns toward me and stalks across the tile floor. Somehow, he appears larger, broad shoulders threatening to pop the seams of his suit jacket .

Bracing my butt against the edge of my desk, I tip my head back, maintaining eye contact as he comes to stand in front of me.

He towers over me, reminding me there’s a significant difference in our heights. Even if I do have the advantage of being a shifter, he still has at least eight inches on me.

Hands braced on either side of my hips, he leans in close, minty breath heating the side of my face when he growls, “I know we said we’d keep this quiet at work, but you need to relax. And I know just how to help, princess.”

I’m almost ashamed to admit the wanton sound that tumbles from my throat when his fingers slip to the hem of my dress. Ever-so-slowly, his rough hands slide the flowing material up until the red satin between my thighs is on full display.

I moan, knowing exactly where this is headed. But nerves wiggle their way into the back of my mind. “What if someone comes looking for us?”

Fingers digging into the fat at my hips, he boosts me onto the desk. “The door’s locked, and that was our last meeting for the day.” The gravel in his voice has a trickle of arousal coating my panties. “I know you like to be in charge, Antoinette, but it’s my turn now. Do you understand?”

I shake my head, resisting the urge to submit. “Fuck you, Cyrus.” The hissed words turn into a moan when he glides a thumb over the front of my panties, pressing down on my clit.

“No, princess. I’ll be the one fucking you right now.” His thick fingers hook in the sides of the scrap of fabric and glide it down my legs. My jaw falls slack when he brings the balled-up ruby fabric to his nose and sucks in a breath. “Damn, you’re delicious.”

I know for a fact I’m not getting that pair back when he shoves them in the pocket of his slacks, a wolfish smirk on his handsome face.

Wetness trails down my inner thighs as he continues to toy with me, running a finger around my opening, but never breaching me. Asshole .

“Wilcox, stop teasing and make me come.” I rock my hips forward, chasing his touch.

His chuckle melts over my skin like warm butter. At this point—his torturous fingers still circling my clit, never venturing where I want them most—my words are all bark and no bite.

Blunt teeth nip at my neck, then my earlobe, before he whispers, “Turn your brain off and come on my tongue. Can you be a good little dragon and do that for me?”

My hands skim over the thick material of his jacket, the wool rough against my palms. Shoving it off his shoulders and arms, the heavy garment thuds to the floor. “Then get on your knees for me, Cyrus. Make my pussy gush for you. Can you be a good boy and do that for me?” Smirking, I throw his words back at him.

His answering groan ripples through me, zipping straight to my clit as he lowers to his knees. Under the thin white cotton of his dress shirt, the corded muscles of his arms flex and roll, causing more honey to leak from my aching cunt.

Those warm hands coast up my legs, latching onto my knees and spreading me wide, making room for his impossibly broad shoulders. The look on his face is that of a man possessed, starved, and feral. A lock of dark-blonde hair falls over one eyebrow as he licks his lips and leans closer.

Giving in to my baser needs, I stroke a hand through the thick strands and clutch the roots, guiding him closer to the source of his desires. “You do look rather good on your knees, Wilcox. Now put your tongue where it belongs.”

Cupping his cheek, I give it a light smack and he growls, deep and low in his chest. His gaze is otherworldly, nearly glowing with lust as he peers up from between my spread thighs.

He’s fucking perfect, this man I’ve waited two-hundred years for.

The first lap of his tongue has my fingers tightening in his hair and my back arching. Hard as diamonds, my nipples scrape against the lace of my bra, and I wish, more than anything, we were both naked and in the sanctuary of my nest right now .

But as Cyrus swirls his tongue around my clit, all coherent thoughts are wiped from my brain. Helpless to my own lust, all I can do is mewl and whimper when he thrusts the thick muscle deep into my pussy. The inner, ribbed walls give way, making room for him to eat to his heart’s content.

“Cyrus, yes,” I sigh, bracing my free hand behind me. I use the leverage to roll my hips against his face. His nose nuzzles my clit, sending a shock wave through me. I’m not going to last much longer. “Right there.”

Ever the good boy, Cyrus takes direction well and continues to feast, licking up every drop of my arousal as it leaks from me. Replacing his nose with his thumb, he strums vigorously at my clit until my toes curl inside my red-soled stilettos. His moans of ecstasy vibrate against my core, only heightening my own pleasure as I slingshot into orgasm.

“Yes, Cyrus!” I scream, tugging on his hair, not caring if I suffocate him with my flesh. All I care about is prolonging my own euphoria as my hips roll against his face, riding out the last wave until my fingers and toes tingle.

Once my muscles relax, my eyes spring open, heart fluttering like hummingbird wings in my chest. “Do you think anyone heard me?”

Standing before me, Cyrus wipes around his mouth with his fingers before sucking them between his lips, moaning loudly. One glance at the obvious bulge in the front of his pants makes his own need blatantly clear. His eyes open, still burning with lust, and he smirks. “Do you really care?”

I scoff, shoving his chest, but he catches my wrist and tugs me to him. Our mouths crash together, and I whimper, tasting the tangy nectar of my own release on his tongue. “Yes, I care,” I mumble between kisses. “I don’t want people to think I slept my way to the top.”

When we break apart, there’s a hint of sadness in his eyes. “Shit, princess, I didn’t even think of that. You were tense and angry. I was just trying to take the edge off and distract you.”

I smile at the sincerity in his tone. “I know, Cyrus. And I don’t blame you for what others may think. Plus, I do feel better. You, however, seem to have a problem.” I point at the erection straining against his zipper.

Pink bursts onto his cheeks and the tips of his ears. Cute .

He runs his fingers through his now messy hair, trying to comb the strands back into place. “This was about you, Antoinette. Not me. Although, I wouldn’t say no if you wanted to repay the favor tomorrow night.”

His salacious wink has my cheeks heating.

“On our mystery date?”

He laughs, probably at the confusion on my face. He’s told me next to nothing about where he’s taking me this weekend, besides the fact he’s introducing me to his family.

And to pack a bag, specifically casual attire .

To say I’m stressed is an understatement.

On cue, the familiar nerves I’ve become friends with since letting Cyrus behind my walls push their way to the front of my mind.

This is the first time I’ve actually dated someone. None of my past flings have been serious enough to warrant much more than a warm body on a cold night.

I’ve never had someone take me away for a weekend, let alone meet their family. What if I say the wrong thing? What if they don’t like me?

I know I can come off cold and standoffish.

“Penny for your thoughts.” Wrapping his arms around me, Cyrus pulls me against his chest. The fabric of my dress falls down to cover my lower half when I stand. Leaning my head between his firm pec muscles, his heart beats rapidly against my ear, soothing my frazzled nerves.

Tipping my head back, I meet his gaze, shocked by the simmering emotion shining through. “I’m just nervous, I guess.”

He strokes a finger along my jaw, swiping the tip under my bottom lip as he speaks in a quiet voice. “Don’t be. They’re going to see how amazing you are the second they meet you. Okay?”

I nod, but before our conversation can go any further, there’s a soft knock at the door. Probably Penelope with our food, and I reluctantly pull out of his warm embrace. He flashes me a smile over his shoulder while he unlocks the door, letting Pen into the office.

My cheeks heat, the flush trailing down my neck and chest when she winks at me, heading to the conference table in the corner of the office with three large bags of food.

“You buy the whole place, Pen?” Cyrus teases.

She giggles, taking multiple Styrofoam to-go containers out of the bags. “You said to get a few different options. Just following orders, boss man.”

As I lean against my desk, I let their playful back-and-forth hum around me, filling my heart until it’s ready to overflow. I’m finally not alone and it’s everything I’ve always wanted.

Hopefully, after this weekend, my family will grow even bigger… all thanks to the asshole staring at me with twinkling blue eyes. “You coming, princess?”

Pushing off my desk, I cross the room toward what I hope is my future.