Church Read online

  The abrupt way he spoke put me on edge more than the vision of male virility he exuded. He stands and I realize he’s tall, a foot almost over my 5’5 height. The black suit he’s wearing makes his blond hair and blue-green eyes standout. I’m utterly fascinated, and not sure why because he’s incredibly rude.

  “Do I have something on my shirt, Ashley?” The smirk on his gorgeous face made me blush, and I shake my head.

  “No, sir, but I’m not sure what you want to know.” Crossing my legs, I clench my hands together on my lap, not sure why this man affects me this way. No one has before. I can’t look away, those lips that face. I’m mortified and intrigued, completely out of my comfort zone.

  “You can start with how you know Deshawn. Should I assume your gay?” The question startled me, because no one has ever asked that of me.

  “No. I’m not. He’s my friend. I don’t think I have a preference about sex.” Inwardly I groan, that wasn’t the right thing to say, and my humiliation grows to enormous proportions.

  “Interesting.” I’ve amused him. The small smile on his face is echoed doubly in his gaze. I wished the ground would swallow me up. “So, your bi?”

  “I don’t have sex!” I’m frustrated by this line of questions and I want to punish him for making me feel embarrassed. “Is that appropriate to ask?” Returning to that prim and proper young lady my granny raised me to be, I glare at him.

  “Probably not, but I rarely follow protocols.” His smile widens and for a moment I’m breathless at the impact of his million-dollar smile.

  Sanity returned and I realized this man is mocking me. “I don’t appreciate being teased, Mr. Church.” He hurt my feelings and I looked down at my hands wanting to leave this interview.

  “Come now, Ashley, I had hoped you were stronger than that.” Why did I feel bad for disappointing him? Raising my eyes to his, I refused to let him bring me to tears.

  “What about you, Mr. Church. Are you gay?” Deciding to give him back a little taste of his rudeness, I wasn’t prepared for him to chuckle. The sound is deep and smooth like hot molasses.

  “No. I’m not.” He pulls a folder out of a drawer, and puts it in front of me. “Before we discuss anything about me or my company I’ll need you to sign these. I’m very particular about privacy. I’m sure you understand.” His smile has returned to a sarcastic smirk, and I’m happy to have a reprieve with the paperwork.

  It’s all very formal but after reading it I get the gist. It’s a standard non-disclosure form protecting Mr. Church from internal leaks. Signing it without concern, I pushed it back to him, meeting his gaze which nearly made me internally combust. What is it about those eyes?

  “Back to our conversation, how well do you know Deshawn?” There was no humor in his demeanor now, he’s very serious and I feel the need to shrink back in the leather chair. I refrain but only by sheer will.

  “He’s my best friend. The only person I know in the city, and I’d do anything to repay the generosity he’s shown me.” Honesty was always the best answer, I’ve always felt and there was no shame in our friendship.

  Leaning forward, Mr. Church splays his hands wide across the desk, and peers into my eyes. “Anything? Are you sure about that?”

  I don’t understand where the confusion was in my description, but answer him. “Anything. I’m sure you have people you’d do the same for.”

  A humorless chuckle left his full lips. “I’m sure I don’t. I’ve worked very hard not to need to be indebted to others.” He stood, turned toward the large window that goes from ground to ceiling and clasped his large hands behind his back. My eyes are instantly drawn to his round ass, and I hate my lack of professionalism. “You’ll do.”

  That was it? The interview was over? He hadn’t asked any questions about my education or what skills I had. “You’re giving me the job?” My voice showed the confusion I felt.

  “Yes. The job is definitely yours.” The sarcasm in his voice it was as confusing as being given a position without in-depth questioning. “You will pack a bag and meet me at this address tonight at eight.” Turning back to me, he held out a business card, which I took. His cold blue eyes looked angry about the decision, and I didn’t understand any of this.

  “A bag? Sir, I’m sorry but I have no idea what you’re expecting of me yet.” Was travel part of being his intern? This was all so very odd.

  “What I expect, Ashley, is for you to do exactly as your told without any questions asked. Human resources will take care of your paperwork today. My secretary can direct you to that department, then you meet me there tonight. Are we understood?” He never raised his voice but deepened it instead, and I nodded because for whatever reason the man scared the hell out of me.

  “Good. Now leave my office.” He turned back to the window and I understood why everyone here was terrified of him. I’d never met someone so intense. Forcing myself to pull my shoulders back, I walked out of the room not really taking a breath until I closed the door behind me.

  “You survived, I see.” Gretchen smiled at me and I wasn’t sure how to feel. Being out of that room made me feel safe again.

  “Apparently.” I didn’t mention I felt like I’d had a brush against the devil himself. “I’m supposed to ask where Human Resources is located.” I needed a cool drink of water, my mouth felt like cotton, and a place to sit down because my legs were still shaking.

  “He gave you the job. I’m impressed! Usually he takes weeks to make a decision for a personal assistant.” At least I knew my job title now.

  “Isn’t that what you are?” I didn’t understand the pecking order yet, but she was sitting outside of his office and I had no idea why he’d need two people taking care of him.

  “I’m his administrative secretary,” she explained. “You’ll take care of his personal needs and I’ll handle the business side. I must say I’m surprised, he usually has an older woman handling this.” Gretchen has this strange expression on her face, but I can’t decipher what’s confused her. If she was a day over thirty I’d be surprised.

  “Deshawn said he talked to him about me being his intern. I just graduated college a few months ago.” I didn’t know what she wanted me to say, so I explained what I knew.

  “Wow. That’s another first.” Gretchen laughed softly then her eyes moved to his office doors and put a hand over her mouth. Lowering her voice to a whisper, she glanced my way again. “Interns never work with him. Don’t take this wrong, because you seem like a very intelligent young woman, but he’s always said interns were incompetent and he didn’t have time to train. You must be special.”

  “Maybe he just owed Deshawn a favor.” I shrugged at her personal comments, I was sure Mr. Church wouldn’t approve. He seemed like a no-nonsense man. Why was I defending him, even mentally? The man didn’t seem like he needed anyone in his corner.

  “Perhaps.” The look she gave said she wasn’t convinced, but it wasn’t my place to judge why he did anything. He’d plainly pointed out he wanted someone to follow orders. I hoped I lived up to whatever expectations he had because making him angry? That literally made me want to throw up. “Third floor. You’ll see a sign when you get off the elevator. Um. Good luck.”

  I thanked her, even though the strange expression on her face was saying I was going to need it. As I walked back to the elevators, I finally relaxed a little, and gave myself a mental pep talk. It didn’t matter why he’d hired me, I was no longer unemployed and could afford to help Deshawn with bills until I found a place of my own. That thought made me nervous. I loved having my best friend close by and knew I’d never be able to afford the rent in his building.

  That was a thought for another time. For now, I needed to take care of paperwork. Human resources was easy to find, and the next few hours felt more like an inquisition instead of preparing to work for this company. Even my fingerprints were digitally recorded. I guess it made sense in a business this big. After receiving my badge, the process was over.

>   I remembered then to call Deshawn and he said to meet him in the lobby for lunch. I was ready to celebrate, I think, because I still felt strange about the interview process. Shaking that feeling off, I decided to enjoy being employed. Fifteen dollars an hour seemed high compared to the salary in Alabama, so that, I was truly excited about.

  “I’m glad things went well.” The relief on Deshawn’s face when he joined me made me feel guilty for not finding a job sooner. Maybe he was struggling with the payments on his penthouse suite? I returned his hug and breathed a huge sigh of relief. “Let’s grab a cab, so I can feed you.”

  We were standing in the large, marble-tiled lobby, and I nodded, ready to leave. My stress level was through the roof and a nice glass of wine was on my radar. “Where are we going?”

  “Don’t worry your pretty little head about that, I know what you like.” He batted his false eyelashes and I grinned. Deshawn knew me better than I knew myself, so I couldn’t argue, especially when he was in diva mode. Wrapping his arm in mine, we walked out the large glass doors, and my heart felt light again.

  We ended up a pizza bar, and I wanted to hug him again. This was one of my guilty pleasures and I’d be working out in the gym for enjoying. I didn’t care. We ordered a fully loaded pizza and if a slice made it into a to-go box it would be a miracle.

  “How can someone so tiny put away that much food, baby girl?” Deshawn had crammed a few pieces down his throat compared to my three and I grinned.

  “I’ve got mad skills.” I picked up my glass of wine and sat back in the booth so full, I wasn’t sure how I was walking out of there. With my hunger gone, I remembered that I had to meet Church tonight. “You didn’t tell me I had to take trips with your boss.”

  “What are you talking about?” I wished I hadn’t said anything because Deshawn looked stressed out again.

  “He told me to bring a bag and meet him at an address from a business card.” I had no idea where he was taking me, or what clothing I needed. Taking the card out of my purse I handed it over to him.

  “That’s his place.” The second Deshawn spoke the words, panic filled his eyes. “Look, hon, you don’t owe me anything, remember that. I thought I could do this and somehow live with it, but I’m not sure I can.”

  “I owe you everything.” Letting me move in with him and taking care of all the bills might not mean anything to him, but to me it meant the world. No one had ever been so good to me, except my Granny Louise, and she’d left to be with God. “Besides, what does this have to do with Mr. Church?”

  “I’m sure you figured out today he’s not a very nice man. He uses people and then spits them out when he’s done.” Deshawn’s hand came to rest over mine on the table. “You’re a sweet but gullible woman, honey, and no match for someone like him. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  “Wow. Thanks for the vote of confidence.” I didn’t know a lot about the world, and what I did know came from Deshawn. My granny had raised me with her old-fashioned ways, which pretty much made me an outcast with kids my own age.

  “I love you just the way you are. I just don’t want to see you get hurt. Most women could tumble in Church’s bed and realize it didn’t mean anything. I’m not sure you could.”

  “Shut up.” I laughed incredulously. “I’m not sleeping with him.” My face heated and I couldn’t believe my best friend would insinuate something like that about me.

  “You won’t be able to resist, no woman has.” He shook his head, and held my hand tighter. “I know I’d be in there if he swung the other way.”

  “I love you to pieces, but that’s just dirty talk and I don’t want to hear it.” The thought of me doing anything with Mr. Church made me so nervous my pizza was threatening to come back up. He scared the living daylights out of me, even if I refused to let him know it.

  “We tell each other everything, and I know you don’t like to talk about sex. I had to warn you, though. He’s going to think you owe him, but I’m the one that does, not you.” He stood up and released my hand. “My lunch break is almost over, let me drop you off.”

  Back at the penthouse, I thought about what Deshawn has said but it didn’t make a lick of sense. Mr. Church hadn’t look interested in me at all, if anything, he seemed annoyed. Deshawn was being overprotective and I couldn’t be angry about that. I mean sure, he’d glanced me over, but I’d gotten the feeling he liked to intimidate women that way. It didn’t mean a thing.

  I packed a couple of dresses and some comfortable clothes, too, since I had no idea where the man was taking me. With that task done, I decided to relax in a nice, hot bubble bath. Pulling my blonde hair up into a ponytail, I undressed, got the water ready, then sank down into the fragrant bliss with a soft moan.

  Two things in life relaxed me more than anything. Laying out in the sun and bubble baths. New York didn’t have the blazing sun of Alabama, at least I hadn’t seen it yet and it was already April. The high today was only fifty degrees. I was already missing granny’s backyard. My baths would have to do.

  Closing my eyes, I let all the tension leave my body, and somehow drifted off to sleep.

  Mr. Church’s face filled my mind and he walked toward me wearing nothing but a pair of jeans. His arms were ripped with muscles and his tanned chest was free of hair. He walked over and knelt by the tub, and I held my breath as his hand reached over to cup my breast. The pleasure was unbelievable and I arched my back to feel more.

  “The things I want to do to you would make you blush.” A devilish smirk found his face as his hand inched from my breast beneath the water and cupped my sex. “You will be mine.” His soft but demanding words made me whimper and that turned into a moan as those long fingers delved between my legs taking me to paradise.

  Sliding under the water I woke up, choking, and feeling humiliated over the thoughts I’d been having of my boss. It was just a dream, I told myself, but I could still feel the pulsing need that illusion made me feel. Letting out the water, I climbed out of the tub, wrapping quickly in a towel. I wasn’t interested in any man that way, and especially not one like Mr. Church.

  Deals

  Sebastian

  She was late. Punctuality was a trait I expected of any employee and Ashley would be no different. The petite blonde was beautiful and I looked forward to fucking her senseless. Her loyalty to her friend would make her easy to bend to my will. Not that I needed any help. Women found me irresistible and once they’d been in my bed they always begged to return.

  Deshawn hadn’t explained our deal. That was apparent from her shock in my office so he got a small reprieve for that. He’d offered her up like some virgin sacrifice to cover his ass, that I should be honored to accept. He belonged in a jail cell for stealing from me, and had my curiosity not been piqued by the woman, that’s where he’d be.

  No one defied me. A piece of ass wasn’t something I usually considered trading, but since I wanted the little innocent, I decided to make a concession. A rare occurrence. Deshawn was going to pay back every penny he owed me so the little blonde bombshell? She was what sealed the agreement. I’d wouldn’t fuck her without permission, but no one ever turned me down. She would be mine. Using her to fulfill my needs then sending her on her way when I was satisfied maybe I’d consider his debt paid in full. Along with the money, of course.

  “Mr. Church, your guest has arrived.” The quiet knock on the door to my study along with the words I wanted to hear made me smile. This should prove to be an interesting night.

  “Send her in and I don’t want to be disturbed again tonight, Mason.” My servant was well-trained in my preferences and I considered him one of the few people I trusted. He’d been with my family all my life, as I’d brought him with me when I moved to the states.

  She was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, and I wasn’t sure if I was amused or insulted. I’d never had a woman arrive in casual attire in my home. Most were dressed to seduce, and oddly enough, I was discovering I liked this more laid-back sens
e of fashion on her.

  “You’re late.” Standing up I walked over, towering over her petite frame. The T-shirt accentuated her full breasts and I decided there was something to be said about a woman wearing one. She was perfection.

  “Traffic was horrible.” She raised her chin stubbornly and I was going to enjoy breaking in this little beauty. “So, why am I here, Mr. Church?” She swallowed nervously and I loved knowing she was intimidated.

  I ignored her excuse and looked her over, taking in every curve. “Call me Sebastian. We’ll be spending time together and there’s no need to be formal here.” That’s the name I wanted on her lips when I grabbed her hair and fucked her from behind. The thought had my cock aching.

  “Fine. Sebastian.” She sighed deeply, her breasts lifting and falling, tempting me to taste them. “Why am I here?”

  Telling her to drop to her knees and use that mouth for what it was made for probably wouldn’t get me what I wanted, so I improvised. “I made that perfectly clear in my office. Whatever I ask and nothing less.” I motioned to my desk and the chair before it. “Sit.”

  She rolled her eyes and my desire to push her up against a wall grew even stronger. Thankfully, she didn’t tempt the fates and walked over to sit that very sexy ass down like I’d asked. “Could you be a little more specific, please?” The please was spoken on a scowl, and I knew I needed to teach her manners.

  “How clear can I be? You’re here to take care of whatever needs I might have. I want you at my disposal twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.” Her easy to read green eyes widened and I liked knowing I’d shocked her.

  “You expect me to live with you?” Could anyone be as innocent as her gaze portrayed? It had to be an act. “I can’t do that.”

  “Then walk out that door and don’t look back. I’m not a patient man, Ashley. That’s the position I’ve hired you for.” If she left, Deshawn would have to dig something else out to make up his betrayal to me, but if she stayed, I would own every inch of her.