After taking a deep breath, I dropped to the floor and started doing push-ups. My morning routine was the same every day. I woke up, exercised, showered, got ready for work, and then started my day. It helped keep my head clear, and it put me in the right mental state to face the challenges ahead.
Thirty minutes later, I was dressed and out the door, only stopping to give Samson a goodbye pat on the head. He yawned loudly, curled up on the couch and fell back to sleep.
My office was located several floors below, and when I arrived, my assistant, Lucy, immediately rose from her desk.
“Good morning, Mr. Willingham.” She straightened her blazer and smiled. “Your eight o’clock meeting with HR has been moved to nine, and you have several messages waiting for you.”
“Good morning. Coffee?” I walked past her and into my office.
Lucy followed me inside. “I was just about to make a run. Large French Roast with two creams and no sugar.”
“Thanks, Ms. Barns.” I leaned against my desk. “I don’t know how they do things at Patterson Advertising, but here, assistants get the coffee before their bosses arrive. No matter.” I waved my hand and grinned. “You’ll learn.”
The color drained from Lucy’s face. “I’m sorry, Mr. Willingham.” In her rush to respond, she stuttered, “I was going to get it earlier but got side-tracked by a phone call.”
“I wasn’t aware you were so easily distracted,” I said, still teasing her, but it didn’t seem she was getting the message, so I tried again. “It was my impression you were a great multitasker. You said so yourself in your resume, and Phoebe Mac told me it was one of the strengths you highlighted in your interview with her. You wouldn’t have fibbed, now would you?”
“I did, I mean … I am, and, no, sir, I wouldn’t,” Lucy stammered and attempted to assure me. “The caller was particularly persistent. It took nearly twenty minutes to get them off the phone.”
All joking aside, I wasn’t surprised by her excuse. I was the Managing Director, and my phone was constantly ringing off the hook. Between investors and salespeople, everyone wanted a moment of my time to try and get me to buy whatever they were selling.
“There will always be pushy people, Ms. Barns. It’s your job to handle them quickly and efficiently.”
She inclined her head. “I understand. They were adamant about speaking with you. I will do better next time.”
I supposed I’d taken it a bit too far based on the fear written all over her face. Note to self: sarcasm and humor—apparently, not my thing. “Ms. Barnes, I was teasing you. It’s all right. Please, take a minute to compose yourself.” I smiled in an attempt to lighten things up. Scaring women wasn’t my idea of paradise either.
“Um, okay, Mr. Willingham.” I could visibly see a weight lift from her shoulders, and she let out a breath. “But I do apologize for your coffee, sir … the phone call. It’ll not happen again. I’ll—”
“All right.” I cut her off, trying to put her out of her misery. “Let’s get down to business. Who called, and what was it about?”
Lucy consulted the iPad. “A woman named Ella Rawson.” She read the message in front of her. “She was quite aggressive. We went back and forth because she wouldn’t tell me the reason for her call.”
My stomach dropped as soon as I heard the name, and I snatched the iPad from Lucy. “Are you sure she said her name was Ella?”
“Ella Rawson.” Lucy nodded, eyes wide. “Yes, sir.”
I hadn’t heard that name in a long time.
Images of mischievous hazel eyes and strands of auburn hair sliding through my fingers assaulted my memories. Memories I’d worked hard to lock away.
I couldn’t fathom what Ella could possibly want. We hadn’t seen each other since the night two years ago when I’d saved her from two assholes in a dark alley. After that night we spent together, she’d effectively frozen me out. I couldn’t say that I blamed her—the press was as aggressively interested in me at that time as they were today—the difference being that, back then, they’d provided a useful smoke screen of nasty MC activity and suggested liaisons (the first accusation was, let’s say, not incorrect, the second, just ridiculous—mostly) that left me free to become attached to no one and nothing but my work.
“Oh, Marcus.” I heard her gasp.
I pulled her hands away from me so I could enter her. “Relax.”
Ella spread her legs apart, and when I thrust into her, it was the most intense sensation, and she started to moan immediately—not faking or exaggerating her pleasure, but just … voicing it.
“You’re mine,” I whispered in her ear.
I drove into her. I was in control. Fast and hard, I kept a good pace, filling her completely—we rocked together. Ella ran her fingers through my messy hair and threw her head back, gasping as my body moved above her, in and out—fuck, she felt good.
“Oh, my God, it feels wonderful.” I heard her say, echoing my thoughts.
She thrust her hips back into me. Faster and harder still, I pushed into her again and again until she was opening her mouth in the throes of an intense orgasm. She clung to me tightly, and I held her there, suspended in that moment.
I couldn’t stop staring at her. She was gorgeous beyond belief…
I realized Lucy was waiting for me to respond. “I’m sorry, my mind was somewhere else.” I sat down. “Are you still making that coffee run?”
“Of course, Mr. Willingham.” She took a step toward the door. “I’ll be back shortly.”
“Thank you, Ms. Barns.”
I turned my attention back to the iPad as my assistant rushed out of the office. Ella’s number stared back at me, almost like it was taunting me. I placed the iPad on my desk and drummed my fingers on the surface, debating whether to call.
On the one hand, I tended not to get too attached to women. Relationships were few and far between for me. I didn’t have the time to devote to them—or the desire. Not that what Ella and I had could even remotely be considered a relationship. Still, we’d had unbelievably intense chemistry, and it was the memory of her smile that had me reaching for my phone.
It only rang once before she answered. “Hello?”
I didn’t expect the sound of her voice to hit me like a freight train.
It was a lower register than most women’s, and hearing it brought back a wave of emotions I wasn’t prepared for. My heart slammed against my ribcage, and I had to take a breath before I answered. “I heard you called.”
“Marcus,” she said breathlessly. “I’m surprised … you called back.”
“Sure, why wouldn’t I?”
“The last time I called you didn’t. Long time ago. Your assistant told me you were busy.”
I felt a sting of regret. I hadn’t suspected she would call. Even though I felt immediate anger rise at the thought of my former employee, I had no intention of opening that can of worms again. “I’m sorry. I have a new assistant now. Long story.” I leaned back in my chair and paused for a moment. “It’s been a while.”