CRUEL (The Buck Boys Heroes Book 2), page 16
“Can you write a note to Mr. Marks to excuse me from our meeting tomorrow because I can’t move?”
I look over to where Juliet is on the bed. She fell there after riding my cock again. That happened after I fucked her against the wall with her legs wrapped around me and my fingers sliding over her perfect ass.
“You’re meeting with Thurston tomorrow?”
One of her eyelids cracks open. “Is there a parrot in here?”
That sends me into a deep-seated laugh unlike anything I’ve experienced in years, maybe ever.
She moves to sit. “I don’t think I can walk. Can you get Alcott to piggyback me to Mr. Marks’s office?”
With my laughter fading, I shoot her a look. “Piggyback? What is that?”
“Oh my god, you cookie-cutter billionaire.” She jumps to her feet on the mattress. “You’re not serious, are you? You know what a piggyback ride is.”
“If it involves fucking, I’m going to fire Alcott because I can piggyback you, Juliet. I’m the best you’ll ever have.”
“You’re so arrogant.” She laughs. “Turn around.”
“I’ve seen all of that before.” I gaze at her nude body. “I’ll be seeing it again.”
Her hands drop to her hips. “Turn around, Kavan.”
I do as asked.
I feel her hands land on my shoulders. “Step forward a little bit.”
I do that too.
When her legs wrap around me from behind, I move to kiss one of her palms before I place it back on my shoulder. “This is a piggyback ride?”
“It is when you move,” she whispers in my ear. “Take me to the kitchen, please. I’m craving a snack.”
I start to move forward as she slides her arms ahead, pressing her chest flat against my back. “Let me guess. Peanut butter and jelly.”
“Hell, no.” She laughs. “I want some of that honey ice cream I saw in the freezer. I could eat that everyday.”
Laughing, I take off in the direction of the kitchen wondering how this became my life and hoping that it never goes back to what it used to be.
Chapter Forty-Three
Juliet
Brad: I have something you need to see! Meet me at the usual place.
I gaze at the text message that just popped onto the screen of my phone. I’ve been at Marks Creative for the past two hours waiting for Mr. Marks to see me.
I have my laptop so I can show him the article that focuses on the future of Bane Enterprises.
Last night after Kavan finally fell asleep I made the decision to turn in this article. It’s not what Mr. Marks wants, but it’s what my relationship with Kavan needs.
The other article I wrote delves into who Kavan Bane is as a man. It’s a glimpse of him through my eyes. It’s deeply personal.
“Juliet!” Shirlene calls to me as she approaches the doorway to what might be my permanent office.
I’m hopeful that I’ll have the opportunity to continue to write for New York Viewpoint, but if I get bumped back to covering celebrity gossip for RumorMel, I’ll do my best until another opportunity pops up here or with another media organization.
I glance around the space.
It’s a lovely office, decorated in soft tones with an office chair that is so comfortable I could fall asleep in it.
I almost did since I only got about two hours of sleep last night before I rushed home to shower and get ready for this meeting.
Margot was gone by the time I got to our apartment but she left a note on the kitchen counter telling me that we’re going to celebrate tonight.
I may just ask Kavan to reserve a table at Sérénité for my sister and I.
I have a feeling he can pull a string or two to make that happen.
“Juliet,” Shirlene repeats my name as soon as she’s in the doorway. “I meant to come see you sooner.”
“I’m good.” I wave her worries away with a hand in the air. “I’ve been editing my article, checking all the facts, you know, the usual.”
She chuckles. “I’ve lived the life of a journalist without living the life of a journalist.”
It takes me a second to make sense of that. “You must have a lot of memories about some of the biggest stories of the last…”
My voice trails because I don’t want to insult her by assuming she’s worked here for decades.
I assume she’s older than my parents based on her headshot on the Marks Creative website. She must have been in her early twenties then and it is a black and white shot. Perhaps, she was going for a more artistic headshot than everyone else.
“I’ve worked here a hell of a long time.” She laughs. “I’ve seen presidents come and go. I’ve witnessed a man stepping foot on the moon. I even got to read gossip about some Hollywood bigwigs before it went to print.”
“You’re lucky.”
“I do have to say that the story you’re working on is one I remember very well.”
Unsure, if she’s trying to get a sneak peek of my article, I snap the cover of my laptop shut. I want Mr. Marks to see it. If he approves, I’ll show it to Kavan for his final approval.
There isn’t anything sensational in it, so I’m confident he’ll be satisfied with it.
Shirlene helps herself to a chair facing my desk. She takes a seat crossing her ankles as she stretches her legs out in front of her. “Mr. Bane was a saint. He went out of his way to help anyone in this city who needed it. When he died it impacted a lot of people.”
“That’s what I’ve come to understand,” I say, choosing my words carefully.
“I don’t think it impacted anyone more than his son.”
I glance up to look at her face. “I agree with you, Shirlene.”
“The police dropped the charges.” She taps a finger against her knee. “I think that says something, don’t you? He may not have been cleared in a court of law, but that doesn’t make him guilty.”
“It doesn’t.”
“I’ve always wondered why he didn’t speak up and explain the dropped charges.” She sighs. “The District Attorney in Miami didn’t get into specifics. Maybe if she had he wouldn’t be living under this shadow of suspicions still.”
This woman speaks my language. I smile. “Maybe one day he will.”
Maybe, just maybe, there are more people who view Kavan in the same light as Shirlene.
My phone buzzes, so I drop my gaze to it.
Brad: Text me back, sunshine. I’m headed over to meet you on Madison now.
I pick up the phone to text him back to tell him that he needs to give whatever he has to someone else, but I don’t.
“Shirlene, how much longer do you think Mr. Marks will be?” I wince. “I don’t mean to be pushy, but I have a source who wants to meet up. It’s close. I’ll be back in fifteen minutes.”
She taps her forehead. “Damn, my memory is slipping. I came in to tell you Mr. Marks had to leave for the day, Juliet. It’s a family thing. His grandson, Penn, said Mama for the first time today, so Mr. Marks wants to hear that with his own two ears. He’s been trying to get that little guy to say grandpa, but that’ll take some time.”
I wouldn’t have pegged Mr. Marks for someone who blows off work for family, but I admire that.
“Perfect.” I slide to my feet. “I’ll go take that meeting.”
Chapter Forty-Four
Juliet
Holding onto the skirt of my dress, I race across the street and to the corner.
Telling Brad in person that I probably won’t be using him as a source anymore won’t be easy, but I have the name of the newest member of RumorMel’s team in my pocket.
I scored that when I ran into Hugo in the lobby of the building.
I told him about Brad, he handed me a few hundred dollars so I could grab the information if it was worth it.
If it is, I’ll drop it off at his office on they way back up to mine.
I race up the sidewalk when I realize Brad is already standing in our meeting spot. He’s wearing a bright yellow jacket, green slacks and a pair of black loafers.
The entire look works on him.
“There she is,” he calls as I approach. “Looking like a peach on a summer day.”
I smile. “You like this look?”
“That’s one of Margot’s dresses, isn’t it?” He points a finger at the peach lace dress I took from my sister’s closet this morning.
He should know since Margot treated herself to a session with Trudy to style her current wardrobe.
“And my leather jacket.” I tug on the lapels of my jacket. “It’s a little Juliet, and a little Margie mixed together.”
“It’s divine.”
I go in for a hug when he spreads his arms. “It’s good to see you, Brad.”
“I hear congratulations may be in order.”
Confused, I look into his face. “Congratulations?”
“You’re moving on up to the top floor.” He taps the tip of my nose with his fingertip.
“I just saw Hugo.” I shake my head. “I know that he didn’t tell you.”
“Every good source has a source.” He laughs. “I have mine.”
“Are you going to tell me who it is?”
“I guess she won’t give a shit if I do.” He shrugs. “It’s Shirlene.”
“Shirlene?”
“Aunt Shirlene to me.” He pats his chest.
“You’re Shirlene’s nephew?”
“By marriage,” he admits. “I do need to tell you that I have never shared anything with her before I shared it with you.”
I take some reassurance in that, although it doesn’t matter now that my assignments will be less gossip, more news.
“Including today.” He holds up a flash drive.
“What’s on that?”
“Something you can give to Hugo as a parting gift.”
I laugh. “You could have just called Hugo to come get it.”
“What fun would that have been?” He scoffs. “I needed to offer you a proper goodbye, although I will dig up some dirt on something New York Viewpoint worthy. You can count on that.”
“I will count on that.”
He nods toward the alley. “Please come into my office, Juliet.”
I shake my head. “I was mugged last time I went into your office.”
His jaw drops. “No fucking way.”
“Yes.” I nod, holding in a smile. “A guy tried to nab my purse after you left.”
“What an absolute asshole.” He narrows his eyes. “I know he didn’t get away with that flash drive because I saw the story about Corla’s engagement on RumorMel the next day. Good job on that, by the way.”
“Thanks.”
“Too bad she dumped her fiancé last week.”
I laugh. “You’re joking.”
“I’m not.” He reaches for my hand. “Why don’t we take this into the café down the street? I could use a shot of espresso and I’m feeling generous. I’ll buy you one too.”
I take his hand. “Tell me what’s on the flash drive, Brad.”
We set off side-by-side toward the café. “Two words. Trey Hale.”
I shake my head. “The baseball player who has dated virtually every woman in New York City? Present company excluded.”
“That Trey Hale.” He nods. “He was at someone’s studio with his new girlfriend. This one just might be the one, Juliet.”
“It won’t,” I say with confidence. “I’ll give you fifty bucks for the pictures. I’m sure Hugo will run with them.”
He drops the flash drive in my hand. “Deal.”
“I haven’t had a chance to show it to Mr. Marks yet,” I hesitate before I continue, “I don’t think he’d mind if the brilliant subject of my article had the first look.”
Kavan glances up at me. “Juliet, I’m in awe.”
I clap my hands together. “You’re happy with it?”
He slides to his feet. “I don’t know how the fuck you found all that information and wove it together the way you did, but it’s masterful.”
I glance at my open laptop. “I may still tweak it a bit, but I think it’s solid. It sends a clear message that Bane Enterprises is focused on the future and its most recent accomplishments.”
“I’m stunned,” he admits. “That’s not to say that I didn’t trust your talent, but this exceeds my vision.”
I sigh. “I just need to decide on a title for it.”
He nods. “I have every confidence that you’ll choose something as noteworthy as the article itself.”
“I will.”
He grabs my shoulders. “I think this deserves a celebration.”
A smile creeps over my lips. “I think so too.”
“I can have Nara change the menu for this evening.” He glances at his watch. “What do you want, Juliet? What are you in the mood for?”
“Calvetti’s spaghetti.”
He raises his chin. “That’s an excellent choice.”
“You’ve eaten spaghetti?” I tease. “With red sauce?”
He moves to give my ass a pat. “Is this spaghetti dinner going to happen before or after we fuck?”
“I love when you say that word to me.”
“Fuck?” he draws it out slowly.
“Verbal foreplay is a thing, Bane. You have the perfect voice for it.”
“Is it?” He tugs me closer to him. “Do you want me to whisper something in your ear that will make me more irresistible to you than I already am?”
I kiss his chin. “I want you to whisper something dirty in my ear.”
He brushes his lips over my jawline and up toward the lobe of my ear. “I want to fuck you, Juliet. Those sweet sounds you make when your tight little pussy is wrapped around my cock keeps me hard all day.”
I tug on his tie to lure his face down toward me. “All day?”
He takes my free hand and cups it around the outline of his erection through his pants. “All fucking day, Juliet.”
I give his tie one final pull before I kiss him until we are both breathless.
Chapter Forty-Five
Juliet
“Wake up, sleepyhead.” I dig a finger into Kavan’s ribcage.
One of his eyelids opens a touch. “Another round, Juliet? Let me sleep for five more, then you can sit on my face.”
I slap his naked chest. “You can’t be serious? We made love all night. I think I slept an hour.”
“Stop talking and sleep another hour and I’ll make love to you all day.”
I press a kiss to his lips. “That sounds divine, but today is the day I turn in my article. I’m going to read it over one last time before I email it to Mr. Marks.”
He wraps an arm around my waist. “You still have time. It can’t be more than five or six.”
I glance at the clock on the bedside table. “It’s after seven.”
“Well, shit,” he drawls. “I need to get up and workout.”
“You can sleep in today.” I run a hand over his forehead. “You worked out last night in this bed with me. I’ll send the article and then come back to wake you up.”
“Why don’t you send the article and then come back to sit on my face?”
“That works for me.”
“You’re a dream, Juliet,” he whispers.
I lean down to press my lips to his neck. Inhaling his scent, I close my eyes. “I’m real. This is real.”
His hand snakes down my back to my ass. “I know and I never want to let you go.”
I stay in that spot, nestled against him, reveling in his words until he drifts back to sleep.
“Pastries for everyone!” I announce as I exit the elevator and stroll into the penthouse.
After I submitted my article an hour ago, I planned on crawling back into back with Kavan, but he was sleeping so soundly that I didn’t want to wake him.
I snuck out to rush home to shower and change. Then, I stopped to pick up another assorted box of pastries to bring here.
“Do I smell something with lemon?” Nigel asks as he rounds the corner from the kitchen.
“Of course you do.” I laugh.
He grabs the box from me to take it to the dining room table. “Is Mr. Bane right behind you?”
I spin around. “Nope. I don’t see him anywhere and he’s hard to miss.”
He laughs. “By the way he was dressed when he left, I thought he was meeting up with you.”
“He left? How was he dressed?” The questions spill out of me.
He steals a glance over his shoulder at me. “Much like you are now. Jeans and a T-shirt, but Mr. Bane wasn’t wearing a cashmere cardigan and his hair will never measure up to yours.”
I move to stand next to him. “When did he leave?”
“I passed him on my way in this morning.” His gaze drops to his watch. “Thirty minutes ago, I’d say.”
Confused, I dive a hand in my purse to find my phone. “Maybe he went to find me? I left while he was asleep. I thought I’d have time to get back before he woke up.”
Nigel looks at me with a smile, but says nothing.
I connect a call to Kavan, but it rings straight through to his voicemail. “If you’re looking for me, I’ve been found.” I laugh. “I’m at the penthouse. Come home or call me.”
“I’m certain he’ll sprint here after hearing that.” Nigel chuckles.
I glance at the open pastry box. “I can’t decide what to have.”
“One of each?” Nigel suggests. “It’s hard to choose, isn’t it?”
Nara rounds the corner with a cup of coffee in each hand. She gives me one before she hands Nigel the other.
I take my first sip. “This hits the spot. Thank you, Nara.”
“You’re welcome.” She eyes the pastries. “You’re in a much better mood than Mr. Bane was this morning.”
I let out a slight chuckle. “You talked to him?”
“I talked to him,” she affirms with a nod. “He didn’t talk to me, but that’s typical.”
