Page 9

I made it downstairs where everyone at Benedict Technologies was congregating, and the large crowd of people almost made me turn around and leave. In year’s past, I had funded various parties throughout but I had obviously never attended one. Bea had tried to convince me numerous times to join her at one, but I had gracefully declined.

Being around a lot of people was not my scene. I hated the loud chattering from conversations and the looks I would get when I made a beeline for the shadows. On occasion, when I’d had to go to events, the women would flock to me and I didn’t relish the rejection I would have to give them.

So why am I down here?

That was the million dollar question, but the answer was clear. As I made my way inside and went straight to the back, only stopping to grab a beer along the way. I never took my eyes off of a certain brunette, though. Brynn Davis. The woman was going to be the death of me.

If you’re not the death of her first.

I ignored the voice in my head that constantly felt the need to point out my sins. I knew who I was, even if no one else in this room did. The constant pressure I was under to hide that dirty and evil part of myself was like a noose and one that seemed to grow tighter around my neck with each minute I spent watching the current object of my desire. An object. Was Brynn simply a warm body put in my path? The quick answer was yes, but the accurate one was a resounding no.

Something about the damned siren called to me, and a part that was hidden deep inside. A part I hadn’t even acknowledged since Aria. I used to try my best to protect her from the monsters of the world, but I couldn’t save her from the one she most needed protection from. It was a double-edged sword and one that still cut me so many years later.

No, I was here because Brynn tempted me, and not just since our first encounter. Earlier, she had been in my office in the exact same costume she had on now. While she had pranced around me with that ridiculous tail, she had no idea the visuals she was providing. Or the inspiration. She might think the Cheshire Cat was harmless, but I had a drawer full of tails at Lotus, and any one of them would look great on her.

I was hard just thinking about coating the metal bulb with her cream, then sliding it into her perfectly rounded ass. I would put it in place, then direct her to crawl in front of me. That type of play wasn’t my usual kind, but she could make anything worth my while. The woman was a temptress, and curiosity over her, the costume, and the type of event she would throw had me down here drawing confused looks from those that I employed.

I tipped my beer can back and took a large swig from it. The moment she detected my presence, my entire body stiffened. She stared at me for several long seconds before flashing one of those mega-watt smiles at me that she evidently shared with others as well. I could see the way that numerous men watched her, their own slacks displaying their interest in her. The very thought of any of them daring to even consider touching her had me...

I couldn’t even finish my own thought because I saw Brynn coming over to me, and she wasn’t alone. I quickly finished the rest of the can of beer and tossed it in the nearby trash can when she finally made it over to me.

“I’m glad you decided to come down and party with us. I?—”

“I’m not staying,” I interrupted before she could say more.

“It’s nice to finally meet you,” the brunette said, as she extended out her hand. “I’m Andi?—”

“I know who you are, Miss Lowe,” I interjected, cutting her off as well. “The party looks to be a success.” I knew Brynn would likely launch into dialogue, so I quickly added, “I had only meant to stop in for a few minutes. I need to leave.”

“But you can’t, Mr. Benedict,” Brynn said. I turned an arched a brow at her, but before I could ask why, she continued. “You’re just in time for the dessert judging contest.”

“Dessert contest?”

Andi then started to speak for Brynn, quickly explaining that there were a number of desserts to be judged, and the winner would be chosen by whoever had the most dollars. “You really should cast a vote, Mr. Benedict. After all, BT is doubling the donations.”

I did briefly remember Brynn asking me which social cause I wanted to donate to. It was always the same, and that group was the Bay Area Sexual and Human Trafficking Coalition. The place was near and dear to me because they worked to save the many men, women, and especially children who were trafficked for one nefarious reason or another. They provided awareness of the epidemic, as well as resources to combat it. They even provided additional care to those rescued, including housing, clothing, counseling, and drug rehab.

“I don’t know. I really need to?—”

This time, Brynn was the one to interrupt me. “Just taste a few. There’s something for every taste you can imagine.”

My eyes moved to hers, and I smirked. The best dessert was right in front of me, and already remembering how sweet Brynn tasted on my tongue, I was tempted to drag her upstairs for a sample. She took a small step back as if she knew where my mind had gone, and I was still about to decline for a third time when Andi spoke.

“It won’t take very long.”

Her own eyes were pleading, and I exhaled sharply. “I guess a few couldn’t hurt.”

The women smiled and turned, and I was once again provided a view of Brynn’s ass. In those tights, those markable globes were even more pronounced than usual. Whoever the designer was of those, he deserved a prize for sure. While Brynn’s ass was a work of art, that material and the way it clung to certain parts made her a true fucking masterpiece.

I followed behind them, and decided instead of starting at the beginning, I would just stop whenever something caught my eye. There were so many pastries from eclairs and macarons to cannoli and even tiramisu. There were also more cookies, cupcakes, and tarts than I could even name, and I had almost chosen a Miguelito until a plate of baklava caught my eye instead. Everything was Halloween-themed, so a lot of it was in different shapes including a childhood favorite which had been cut into circles to resemble a jack-o-lantern with walnuts for the eyes and teeth.

It had been a while since I had tasted the Greek pastry. Growing up, I had eaten my weight in it, and now my mouth was literally watering. I grabbed one from the plate, and as soon as I put the small morsel into my mouth, I was transported back to days of my youth when Aria and I would run along the Greek coast with a square of the pastry in one hand and a soumada in the other. I chewed the treat and tasted each layer from the phyllo dough to the walnuts, spice, and honey. It was a flavor explosion on my tongue, and a blast back to a past I wanted to forget.

I forced myself to swallow down the rest of it, then grabbed a dollar from my wallet. I put it in the container in front, then walked away, leaving Brynn and Andi to look after me. I only stole a glance when I had finally stepped through the exit, and by that time, Colin had joined them as well. Brynn was still looking toward me, so I disappeared and went back upstairs.

While I had planned to work in my office for another few hours, I now just needed to get out of here. I grabbed the paperwork I would need at home, then left Benedict Technologies. A short while later, I had my laptop and the taken paperwork on my desk at home. I was all ready to put in another few hours, and this time without any interruptions.

Or so I thought.

I had barely answered more than two emails when I was afflicted with a gnawing tickle under my skin. My flesh was prickly, and deciding I was just hot, I quickly removed my dress shirt, and returned to my desk. It was for naught, and after several more breaks to turn down the air-conditioning, grab a bottle of water, or splash some cool water onto my face, I realized the weird sensation had nothing to do with the air temperature.

It was me.

I couldn’t concentrate because I wanted to be putting in overtime doing something much better, or someone as it was in this case. I wanted to fuck Brynn, not that it was a sudden desire. I always wanted to sink balls deep inside of her, but I wanted to even more tonight than other nights. She was weakening me, and I allowed it. From the moment I met her, I had been doing everything uncharacteristic of who I was and what I had become. I had actually developed a conscience of sorts, and an affection that made my skin crawl.

I stood up, pacing back and forth, alternating between looking out one of the large floor-to-ceiling windows at the city and bridges in the distance, to the dark walls of my penthouse. The space had been completely redone when I purchased this unit, and the color scheme and décor had once matched my cold, dark heart, but it no longer did.

There was something warm in my chest, blooming as hope, but for something I couldn’t ever truly have. I might be a trusted protector of women back in my teens or at Lotus, but the truth was that I was a murderer, and a cold-blooded one at that. Would Brynn one day face my wrath? I sure as hell hoped not, but since these violent attacks on those I had even an inkling of affection for were things I couldn’t remember at the time, it didn’t matter. The scene I would find myself in, and the blood that coated my hands, only served to remind me of the evil lurking inside of me.

I finally let out a sigh, then grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the liquor fridge. I wasn’t in the mood to work any more at the moment, so I decided to check out Olympus. I hadn’t been on the site in a while, and that was because the only one I wanted to talk to was in my office in the daylight, and in my text messages at night.

She was also in my dreams, and as I closed my eyes, it wasn’t the same type of one that normally tormented me. Tonight, she was upset at me leaving the way I did, and deciding to just touch base with her, I opened my eyes.

She wasn’t on Olympus, so I pulled out my cell phone, sure that she would be home by now. After all, I had wasted a number of hours since I had gotten home. I scrolled through the very few contacts I had in it, then hit the button to compose a message.

I know it’s late, but I was curious about how the event went today.

She answered right away which surprised me, but also provided hope that she was at home and settled in with that beast of a dog she owned and yapped about constantly.

Hey! Everything went great. It was a smashing success.

Which dessert won? And, are you home safely?

I had wanted to know that, even though I shouldn’t have given a damn about the last part.

I just made it home about thirty minutes ago. It took a while to clean everything up. You definitely picked a winner though, Sir.

A winner?

Yes. After you tried just the baklava, everyone flocked over to that table to see what it was that had caught your eye. You’re such a mystery at BT, and so respected. Your choice won by a landslide.

I chuckled. She thought it was respect, but I knew a lot of the employees there feared me. It was evident in the way that they would scurry upon seeing me, and how someone like Andi who had worked for me for over two years finally got the nerve to even address me tonight, and only when with Brynn.

What was it about that particular dessert?

It reminded me of home.

Home, as in Greece?

I frowned. I didn’t want to discuss my past with anyone, least of all her.

Yes. I was born and raised there.

Greece is so beautiful. At least, it is in pictures. You will need to tell me about growing up there some time. I would love to hear all about it. Were you close to Santorini? Or Athens?

I despised discussing that part of my life with anyone, and I’d had to make it clear to Bea that it was off topic to her over the years. I would now have to do the same with Brynn.

It doesn’t matter, not that it is any of your business, either. I will see you in the office on Monday. Goodnight, Miss Davis.

With that, I tossed my cell phone onto the nearby cushion. It chimed with a notification, but I was done with the conversation. I had simply wanted to ensure she made it home, which she had, and now my concern could disappear.

Leaving my cell phone where it was, I took another swig from the bottle of whiskey before I returned it to the liquor fridge. From there, I went into my bedroom. Once finished with my shower, I got into bed and tried hard not to imagine the smile and sense of wonderment that had to be on her face as she had excitedly typed those questions to me.

I knew this woman, mostly from the time I had spent observing her especially since she started work at Benedict Technologies. If I even entertained this line of questioning, she would become more invasive and I couldn’t have it. I wouldn’t. With that firmly cemented in my head, I reached over and flicked the lamp switch, then went to sleep.