I unmuted my microphone.
“My admin will call you in a few minutes,” I cut in, my voice hoarse, “to arrange tomorrow’s meeting. I hope we can come to an amicable agreement. Until then.”
I shut down my browser and yanked off my headset. “Come here, angel.”
My chair was shoved back and I’d hauled her out before she had the chance to come out on her own.
“You’re a machine!” she gasped, her voice as rough as mine, her lips red and swollen. “I can’t believe you didn’t even twitch! How can you— Oh!”
The tiny scrap of lace she wore as underwear dropped to the floor in pieces.
“I liked those panties,” she said breathlessly.
Lifting her, I set her bare ass on the cool glass, aligning her perfectly to take my cock. “You’ll like this more.”
—
“ANGEL.”
Like a sleepy kitten, Eva blinked at me as I stepped out of my office washroom. “Hmm?”
I grinned at finding her still slumped in my desk chair. “I assume you’re okay.”
“Never better.” She reached up and ran a hand over her hair. “Missing the brain you just f**ked out of me, but otherwise, I’m feeling excellent, thank you very much.”
“You’re welcome.” I headed toward her with a warm damp washcloth.
“Are you trying to set a new record for most orgasms in a single day?”
“An intriguing proposition. I’m willing to give it a shot.”
She held out her hand as if to ward me off. “No more, maniac. You screw me again and I’ll be a drooling, babbling idiot.”
“Let me know if you change your mind.” I kneeled in front of her and urged her legs open. Waxed smooth and pretty pink, her cunt was lovely. Perfect.
She watched me as I cleaned her, her fingers reaching out to comb through my hair. “Don’t work too hard this weekend, okay?”
“As if there’s something else worth doing without you around,” I murmured.
“Sleep in. Read a book. Plan a party.”
My mouth quirked. “I haven’t forgotten. I’m asking the guys tonight.”
“Oh?” The laziness left her eyes. I pulled back before her legs closed. “What guys?”
“The ones you want to meet.”
“You’re calling them?
I stood. “We’re getting together.”
“To do what?”
“Drink. Hang out.” Returning to the bathroom, I tossed the washcloth in the hamper and washed my hands.
Eva followed me. “At a club?”
“Maybe. Probably not.”
She lounged against the doorjamb and crossed her arms. “Are any of them married?”
“Yes.” I slung the hand towel back on the rack. “Me.”
“That’s it? Is Arnoldo going to be there?”
“Maybe. Likely.”
“What’s up with the short answers?”
“What’s up with the interrogation?” I asked the question, but I knew. My wife was a jealous, possessive woman. Lucky for both of us, I liked it. A lot.
She shrugged, but it was a defensive gesture. “I just want to know what you’re doing, that’s all.”
“I’ll stay home if you will.”
“I’m not asking you to do that.”
There was a smudge of dark makeup beneath her eyes. I loved mussing her up and giving her that just-fucked look. No woman wore it better. “Get to the point, then.”
She made a frustrated noise. “Why won’t you tell me what you guys have planned?”
“I don’t know, Eva. Usually we meet at one of our places and drink. Play cards. Sometimes we go out.”
“Trolling. A group of hot guys who’ve got a buzz and want a good time.”
“That’s not a crime. And who said they’re attractive?”
She shot me a look. “They’re trolling with you. That means they’re either hot enough not to completely pale in your shadow or too confident to worry about it.”
I held up my left hand. The bloodred rubies in my wedding band caught the light. I never took the ring off and never would. “Remember this?”
“I’m not worried about you,” she muttered, her arms dropping to her sides. “If I’m not f**king you enough, you need help.”
“Says the wife who couldn’t wait fifteen minutes.”
She stuck her tongue out at me.
“That’s what got you f**ked right there.”
“Arnoldo doesn’t trust me, Gideon. He doesn’t really want you with me.”
“It’s not his decision to make. And some of your friends aren’t going to like me, either. I know Cary’s on the fence.”
“What if Arnoldo tells the others how he feels about me?”
“Angel.” I went to her and caught her by the hips. “Talking about feelings is predominantly female territory.”
“Don’t be sexist.”
“You know I’m right. Besides, Arnoldo knows how it is. He’s been in love before.”
She looked up at me with those uniquely beautiful eyes. “Are you in love, Mr. Cross?”
“Irrevocably.”
—
MANUEL Alcoa slapped me on the back as he rounded me. “You just cost me a thousand dollars, Cross.”
I leaned against the kitchen island and shoved my hand into the pocket of my jeans, wrapping it around my smartphone. Eva was midflight and I was alert for any word from her or Raúl. I’d never feared flying, never worried over someone’s safety while traveling. Until now.