Office Fling (Manhattan Bad Boys BWWM Interracial Romance) Read online

Emily

  No matter how exhausted I am or how deeply I sleep, the vibration of my phone can always wake me up. Even when I leave it in my purse on the other side of the room. Ashton’s still asleep beside me. One of his muscular arms is thrown over my waist. I slowly shimmy my body to the edge of the bed and swing my legs over. There’s an ache between my thighs as I move. It makes me smile. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt the satisfying ache of a good lay.

  I reach my bag just as the vibrating stops. My eyes are bleary, still clogged with sleep from a restless night. It takes a few minutes to find my phone in the depths of my black silk-lined purse. When I finally fish it out, the light from the screen is so blinding I drop the phone.

  Ashton groans softly in response to the thunk of the phone hitting the floor but he doesn’t stir. I don’t know why I suddenly feel secretive about my movements. Ashton and I screwed in the back of a car for crying out loud. I haven’t done anything like that since high school when screwing in a car was the only option.

  Still, I don’t want to be rude and disruptive while he sleeps. I think Jade’s toddler years have forever terrified me away from waking anybody up when they’re sleeping. I decide to go into the bathroom to look at my phone. In there I can turn on a light and not damage my retinas further.

  Once in the bathroom, I focus on my phone. I have four missed calls from Jordan. Consequently, she’s left me four voicemails. The most recent one was left three minutes ago. It must’ve been her calling. What a strange hour to call. Isn’t it late?

  I glance at the time on my phone. It’s six-thirty in the morning.

  Jesus. That’s right.

  We fucked all day yesterday. And then passed out by evening from exhaustion.

  Only a slightly ridiculous time to leave a voicemail. How was it so early? It felt like two in the morning to me. I could easily sleep for another five or six hours.

  I pull up the first voicemail and listen.

  “Hi, Emily. It’s Jordan. Just wanted to let you know that we avoided the media through some clever backdoor maneuvering. One more thing you won’t have to deal with, right?” Jordan pauses and laughs awkwardly. I can’t tell if she’s stressed, tired, or both. Probably both. “I’ll keep you updated on everything.”

  She hangs up and I move on to the next voicemail.

  “Hi, Emily. It’s Jordan. Again. I realized that I never got the chance to thank you for all of your hard work. Your mom’s office really saved our asses. However, I think your firm’s going to have to foot the bill for the hotel. Technically, the firm made the mess. I’m just kidding. I’m sorry, I’ve been up for eighteen hours straight. But still, thank you!”

  I cover my mouth to stifle my laughter and pull up the third voicemail.

  “Hi, Emily. It’s Jordan. I bet you’re getting sick of hearing my voice by now, right? Just wanted to let you know that Homeland Security is questioning the Broadstreet men about the leaked documents. I’m not allowed in the room. I’m not even supposed to be making this phone call. I had to smuggle my phone into the bathroom. They have someone guarding me. I told them I had lady problems and to not mess with me. Now I know what makes a Homeland Security officer quake in his boots. I’ll give you an update as soon as I can.”

  Homeland Security? That can’t be good. I can’t smooth talk my way into an agreement with Homeland Security. Ashton might be able to do something. I’ll have to see what the last voicemail says.

  “Hi, Emily. I managed to get Homeland Security out of our hair for now. They didn’t take anyone in, which is definitely a blessing. I realize it’s early but call me as soon as you get this so we can talk strategy. Bye.”

  I set my phone on the bathroom counter and ran a hand through my bed-tousled hair.

  The situation isn’t ideal but it could be a lot worse. Homeland Security’s involvement could lead to complications. If I’d known this was going to happen, I would’ve never asked my mother for a favor. I have to give her a call now. I doubt she’ll answer but I have to try.

  I turn on the shower to obscure my words in case she does pick up.

  As I predicted, she doesn’t answer her phone. She’s probably deep in an Ambien coma right now. If it weren’t for the handsome man in bed on the other side of the bathroom door, I’d be jealous of her sleep.

  “Hey mom, it’s me. Homeland Security’s just entered the picture at work. I don’t know all of the details yet.” I speak softly into the phone to avoid the echo of the bathroom. I decide to turn on the shower for good measure, just in case Ashton wakes up. “I just want you to be aware and be careful. If you can’t take the risk, just let me handle things. I’ll talk more later. I’m not home right now. I have Clarice from next door to me watching Jade and you can always reach me if you need.”

  I hang up just as the bathroom door opens. I clutch the phone to my chest. My heart pounds beneath my ribs.

  “I’m sorry,” Ashton laughs. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I heard the shower running. I wanted to surprise you. Were you on the phone?”

  “Yes,” I blurt. “I was just listening to some voicemails. I gave my mom a call to check on Jade but didn’t get an answer.” It’s not a lie. Besides, Ashton will find out about Homeland Security’s involvement soon enough. We both have to work later.

  “I’m sure Jade’s fine,” he grins.

  “You’re right. I know, I worry too much.”

  “That’s a good quality in a mother.” Ashton’s eyes roam over my body. “When did you put that on?”

  I run my hands along the black silk nightie I wore.

  “Years of sharing a house with a tiny person who asks too many questions has ensured I never sleep naked.” I try not to wince over my explanation. Talk about a mood killer.

  Ashton smirks and closes the distance between us. He runs a finger along the strap of the nightie and slips it off my shoulder. Maybe that wasn’t a mood killer after all.

  “Yesterday sure was something,” he murmurs.

  “It was.” My voice is breathy. Goosebumps rise on my arms where he touches me.

  “I felt like a teenager again,” he chuckles. “It’s been ages since I’ve done it in the back of the car.”

  “I was just thinking the same thing.”

  “Of course, we aren’t teenagers. We don’t have to sneak around to have a little fun.” He rests his hands on my waist and pulls me in close. I snake my arms around his neck.

  “No, but we’re adults and we have things to do. Like work.”

  “That’s true.” He plants a trail of kisses along my neck and all thoughts of work and Homeland Security fly out of my head. “And we’ll go into work eventually. But first, I’m not finished with you.”

  “Oh?” I let my eyes flutter closed as his hand slips down my body and under the short hem of my nightie.

  “That shower’s only going to get hotter and steamier. Shall we take advantage?”

  To answer his question, I slip the other strap of my nightie off my shoulder. Ashton gently pulls the nightie down over my breasts and lets it pool at my feet. I stand before him completely bare and allow him a few moments to run his hands over my body.

  His strong hands slide from my hips up my waist to gently cup my breasts. While he gently massages them, I reach forward and runs my hands over the smooth planes of his chest like I’m trying to memorize it. I pull down his boxers and wrap one hand around his stiffening cock.

  “Anxious, are we?” He purrs.

  “Impatient is more like it,” I shoot back. I step away, taking my hands from him. I look at him over my shoulder as I step into the shower. The water is scalding hot but I don’t turn it down. The searing heat makes my skin feel all the more sensitive.

  Ashton follows me in. Steam swirls around him, giving him an otherworldly appearance. He could be one of the old Greek gods. I move so that my back is against the wall. Ashton wastes no time. I wrap my arms around his neck while his hands grab the backs of my thighs. He lifts me off my feet then sl
owly lowers me onto his cock.

  “Oh, my God,” I shudder. He feels amazing, even more amazing than he did in the car. I tighten my legs around his waist, forcing him deeper inside me. His moans rumble deep in his chest. Each time he lifts and lowers me, my breasts brush against his muscular chest. The friction is wonderous.

  Ashton slowly drops one of my legs, looking into my eyes the whole time. Once my foot is on the floor, he moves my other leg so that it’s draped over his shoulder. All the while, he keeps thrusting his huge cock in and out of me.

  I twist my torso to accommodate the new position. Pleasure explodes as he reaches new depths of me. Keeping one hand on the leg over his shoulder, he lets his other hand roam over my body. He strokes my stomach, plays with my breasts and runs his finger over my lips. I take his finger into my mouth and suck. He bites back a grin.

  When I release his finger, he brings his hand back down. My core is completely open to him. He presses his thumb against my most sensitive place. He starts slow and gentle, slowly building on the pleasure as he buries himself inside me over and over. He builds me up and up and up until stars explode behind my eyes and my whole body quivers around him.

  He waits until I’m in the throes of my climax to remove his hand from the apex of my thighs. He grabs my waist and holds me steady while he pounds into me. I let out a shuddering moan when I feel him reach his release.

  He lowers my leg and holds me against him. I lean into him, allowing him to support me.

  Boy, am I in trouble. I knew Ashton would prove to be a marvelous distraction but I didn’t think he’d be this good. Whenever I’m alone with him, my worries disappear like smoke. I didn’t anticipate feeling like this. Ashton is more than a distraction. He’s proven that he can take care of me.

  The real question is, what comes next?

  19

  Ashton

  As Emily gets dressed—and I can’t help sneaking a peek because she’s absolutely stunning—I order us some breakfast, and I smile when she walks out of the bathroom.

  “I ordered us some breakfast, I figured that we could get it to go and then head back over to Broadstreet. I want to get a head start on the day and get to work on this.”

  She saunters over to the bed and sits down, smirking up at me as she places a playful kiss to my cheek, giggling.

  “You start the day with shower sex and you arrange for breakfast so we can get to work?” She asks with a smirk, dramatically sighing. “Where have you been all of my life?”

  I laugh and roll my eyes, shaking my head with a grin as I stand from the bed, walking over to my closet to get dressed.

  “I did say I was one of a kind.”

  “That you did. As sweet as your gesture is, we don’t need to worry about getting over to Broadstreet in such a hurry. I’ve already got a plan in the works.”

  I stop what I’m doing and look back at her, my confusion and disbelief written all over my face as I scoff, chuckling.

  “What do you mean you’ve already got a plan in the works? And how is not doing our work part of that plan?”

  She sighs and playfully grins—which would be much more enticing if she were making more sense—and gets up to walk over to me, pressing herself to my back and placing a kiss between my shoulder blades.

  “It’s a plan because our firm needs to look unconcerned.”

  Right, being unconcerned about a giant leak that could cost millions is definitely a plan we want to be following; is she insane? Though, she is proving to be pretty brilliant and I do know she’s good at her job—great, actually—so I’m curious.

  “Excuse me, what?”

  I turn around with a chuckle and smirk, shaking my head as I try to wrap it around what she’s even talking about.

  “Please explain to me how hiding our clients is being unconcerned.”

  She waves her hand and dismisses me, though with a smirk, her tone light and casual. She’s clearly confident in what she’s doing, I’ll give her that.

  “Ashton, anyone who’s under as much media scrutiny as Broadstreet is right now would be doing the same thing; they’d be laying low and trying to keep things quiet. That’s not suspicious, that’s smart.”

  Okay, so she has a point there.

  “And.” She adds with a grin, a teasing smirk on her lips. “We aren’t going to be doing nothing; we’re going to be putting the finishing touches on the dinner party. That’s tonight, remember? At your place. It’s really important for this case so we need to make sure that everything is perfect.”

  Okay, so I’d definitely forgotten about the dinner party, though I still don’t really understand how that’s important right now. Having said that; we’re no longer dealing with simple suits and laws at this point, we’ve got a PR nightmare that we need to disperse, and that’s her area of expertise, not mine.

  “Right. Well I’m not exactly sure how this is all going to play out or how it’s going to help, but this is your ball game, not mine.”

  “Look Ashton; I’ve got everyone coming who could have or would have leaked the document, and I think I can even get us our own copy.”

  I pinch the bridge of my nose and sigh, trying not to let myself get annoyed but I still don’t get it.

  “Why do we need the document, what does that matter now? It’s already been leaked; what good is our own copy going to do?”

  “It matters,” she purrs, pressing herself against my body and resting her hands on my chest. “Because we need to be able to prove that the men we’re defending didn’t participate in the massacre that the press is insinuating that they did. Just because there was a massacre, doesn’t mean our guys did it.”

  I can feel her hands roaming and I smirk, taking them into my own and placing them on her hips with a chuckle, refusing to let her derail this conversation.

  “Okay sure,” I say with a smile. “But then we’ve got a whole other slew of issues to deal with. How are we going to avoid sedition charges? Having classified documents and then revealing them is basically asking for it, and there isn’t really a way out of that pool once you dive in.”

  “I know, which is why we need a copy of the leak and a copy of the unredacted file; that way we can have the list of names who committed the massacre made public.”

  I smile and nod, running my hand along her waist and pulling her in.

  “Thus proving the innocence of our guys. You’re brilliant, you know that?”

  “I do,” she giggles, leaning up to kiss me before she strolls over to grab her phone. “Which is why I’m going to get a head start on the planning for the party and make sure that everything is arranged.”

  I nod and chuckle, turning around to finish getting dressed.

  “That’s probably for the best; party planning isn’t exactly my forte.”

  “You don’t say?” She teases, laughing. I turn around and give her a playful glare, pulling another one of those beautiful laughs from her. It fills the room and her head falls back as she does, and I can’t help the way that my gaze lingers on her. I shake myself from my daze and finish getting ready, but then I hear her say my name and she almost sounds nervous.

  I turn around and tilt my head with a smile, my curiosity further piqued when she actually looks nervous.

  “I was wondering if I could ask you a favor?”

  I’m not really sure what sort of favor she’d need from me right now—especially since she’s already using my house for a dinner party—and I smirk, walking back over to her and pulling her in.

  “Sure, Emily, what do you need? If you’re going to ask me to dance at tonight’s party I’m afraid it’s a ‘no’,” I chuckle, shrugging playfully, “I know I’m handsome but I’m not the entertainment.”

  “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”

  “I will neither confirm nor deny that.”

  “Mhm.” She rolls her eyes with a sigh as she smiles, and then shakes her head, gesturing to her phone.

  “I’ve got a million calls to make
and I still have a ton of last minute details to iron out for the party tonight, so I was hoping that maybe you could pick up Jade from my mother’s for me?”

  Okay I was not expecting that, and I must not be hiding my shock very well because she smirks and playfully swats my arm.

  “Oh relax, it’s not that big of a deal. I’d do it myself, but my mother is going to bombard me with a thousand questions about leaving the firm, and I just really don’t have the time or the energy to deal with that right now.”

  She trails her finger along my jaw and slides her hand into my hair, gorgeous eyes staring up at me with an exaggerated pout.

  “Please?”

  I smile at her with a sigh and nod, chuckling.

  “Since you used your manners, sure, I’ll go get Jade. Is there anything specific I need to know?”

  “Thank you so much, Ashton. And no, nothing specific. Just pick her up and bring her back.”

  She leans up and presses her lips to mine, smiling then pulling away.

  “I mean it, Ashton. I really appreciate it. Thank you.”

  I pull her in for one last kiss, and then give her a wave goodbye, chuckling to myself as I go over the last couple of days. Three days ago I wanted nothing to do with this woman, and now here I am, heading out the door to pick up her daughter from her Mother’s house while she plans a dinner party at my house.

  What a strange turn of events.

  20

  Emily

  I’ve been sitting in Ashton’s house arranging things for the party, practically on my phone constantly. It’s been hours long and one thing after another, so when I hang up the phone and realize I don’t have any more calls to make before tonight, I breathe a sigh of relief and slump down into the kitchen chair. Don’t get me wrong; I love to plan a good party and it’s definitely one of my stronger skills, but it takes a lot of work. So, to realize that I’ve got it all organized and I’ve got nothing left to except get ready is putting a positive spin on the whole situation.