Chapter 190

Grace

His eyes fluttered and went hazy for a moment. It was exhilarating to have this much power over him. I'd never felt sexier. He looked at me like he was doing everything he could to hold on to his sanity. His grip on my ass tightened. I was so sure he was going to put me on the desk. I clenched tight around nothing, shuddering and wanting. I wanted him.

Give it to me.

His eyes flashed. They widened with what looked like surprise. Then, the heat simmered in them. I could feel how much he wanted me just as easily as I could feel how pleased he was.

Why? I didn't know. He smiled, soft and indulgent. He cupped my cheek.

“I will," he said, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver through my whole body. I shuddered. "As hard and fast and deep as you can take."

I bit my lip. My heart fluttered. My gut clenched. I could see it. I could hear myself crying out. I could almost feel the way his fingers would dig into my hips, the hard edge of the desk pressing into me. I quivered. I could taste his mouth on mine, something spicy and sparkling on my tongue.

I licked my lips, and he drew closer. It was like soda fizz and something more, dancing on my tongue as he licked into my mouth. The heat pooled and grew, spreading and burning its way through every thought I'd had.

Now. I wanted it now. I pulled him closer, enjoying his mouth, wanting more. When he leaned back, I tried to follow, but he pressed a finger to my lips. His eyes were sultry and all too teasing, too coherent. What happened? Why wasn't he…

Why wasn't he as desperate for it as I am?

"This is a lesson, pet," nipping my lip. "No stars until we get through it, hm?"

"Stars?"

"Bright, gold stars, love," he promised, his breath whispering against my neck. "I don't want you to forget to celebrate your wins."

"I'm trying to celebrate."

"No, you're rewarding," he blew a stream of cool air across my nipple and switched sides. "Celebrate. Let me celebrate, and then you'll have your stars, hm?"

I moaned. "Charles, I'm going to combust."

"Not without my tongue in you."

I clenched my thighs around his waist. The shock of pleasure was almost painful. He dipped his head, sucking hungrily. He pressed our hips together and rocked us together.

"Come on, Grace. Focus. Tell me."

"You're teasing me."

"You like it."

I did. As much as I liked having the power to make his eyes flutter, I liked this so much more. The way he wouldn't just melt to me or give in to what I wanted. I could feel his power and barely restrained passion. I wanted more. My hips rolled again. I felt his cock jump and pulse with heat.

“I talked to the alpha of Duncan.”

He lowered his lips back to my breast, sucking hungrily and palming my ass with his other hand. I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“H-He knew my father… They were—” I shuddered. “Friends, I think.”

“Oh?” He growled against my breast. “Allies?”

“Could have been,” I whispered, letting my head fall back as he sucked and thrust against me. Pleasure jolted, spiraled, and rushed. I was already seeing stars and so close to coming it was embarrassing.

“I—He told me about Fenris’ company being listed on a stock market, something about it not being open to the public—Charles, please—”

He pulled back with a lingering suction before flicking his tongue over one of my pebbled nipples.

“IPO stocks?”

“I don’t know,” I almost sobbed, tugging at his shoulder. “Please, I—”

I yelped as he slid his hand between my thighs, teasing me, playing with me. I could hear how wet I was, feel it in the way his fingers slipped and slid, just barely pulling back before sliding into me. I was so tense. Shaking. Wanting. Needing.

“Charles,” I said, shaking him. “Charles, please.”

“Focus,” he whispered, low and sultry. “IPO? Or something else?”

“I don’t know! Something private,” I sobbed, leaning into him and thrusting my hips against his hand. He pulled back just before his fingers slipped inside. It was maddening. I was so close. If he would just—

“Zaibatsu listing?”

“Yes!” I cried, the words sparking my memory. “Yes. He was—His wife—She’s a financial person—”

“A Zaibatsu broker?”

“—he promised to get me the details. Soon. Hostile—Wanted to—Buy out—”

“You’re planning a hostile takeover?” He asked, his voice pleased as he finally sunk a finger into me. "How vicious of you. Tell me more, sweetheart."

I shuddered, clenching around it, but it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t deep enough. Big enough.

I needed it.

Give it to me.

He growled. Answer me.

“Yes… Can’t… Capital. I don’t—Charles—” He gave me another. I went still, his finger curled, drawing me closer and closer to the edge, pressing on that spot that had stars swarming in my vision.

"Charles, please, you're driving me crazy…" I panted. "Please… Please let me."

He chuckled. "I've pushed you a bit much?"

"Charles," I whined, rocking on his hand, clenching tight. "Please."

“You’ll tell me the rest?”

“Whatever… Charles, please—”

He twisted his hand, thrusting deeper and just at the right angle. Stars burst in my vision, and the heat and pleasure rushed through me, but it fell short as he pulled his fingers free and lifted me. I reached for his belt, desperate to have him. Desperate for it, but my fingers were shaking too much to get his belt undone. I could see his cock straining against his trousers.

“Charles, I want—Please—Help!”

He chuckled and cupped my jaw in his hand, forcing me to look into his eyes.

Stop.

My whole body went still. My fingers were hooked into his waistband, but I didn’t move.

“It’s important,” he whispered. “Time-sensitive, and I want to taste you. Lay back.”

I lay back, my spine melting at the request. I shuddered and let my legs splayed open. He looked down at me with a smile and trailed his fingers down between my chest. His fingers were burning against my skin, but I felt like I was already on fire.

“Show me,” he said. “Wider.”

My face heated, and I spread my legs wider, hoping he would just give me what I wanted before I burst into flames. He looked so unhurried. It made my gut clench with need.

He sank down. “Tell me what else Magnus told you. What you plan to do, Grace.”

I whimpered. Shaking with need. His eyes were burning hot with intention. I could feel his hot breath ghosting over me, cooling and heating me up at once. Melting me.

“Let me celebrate you,” he said, kissing the inside of my thigh. “Let me reward you.”

I closed my eyes and threw my head back. “Lunar Remedies is right between Silver Eclipse and Duncan.”

He hummed. His mouth drew closed.

“I-I… The plants. The oil plants are all destroyed, but I… I think if I can use Duncan’s empty warehouse to house things, t-turn Lunar Remedies into a factory, I can—Oh.”

The first hot pass of his tongue was enough to make my brain boil. My eyes fluttered at the slow, deliberate rasp of his tongue. He hummed. Delighted, like he’d never tasted anything more delicious. I grasped as much of his hair as I could manage, trying to hold him in place, wanting more, but his tongue went still. Slowly, he drew his hands down my arms and pried my fingers from his hair. I twisted, pushing my hips against his mouth. He licked, flicking his tongue, and guided my hands to the edge of the desk.

Stay.

I clenched the edge of the desk so hard I was sure the wood was creaking in my grip. He licked, slow and deliberate. Savoring like he couldn’t get enough. My eyes stung at how good it felt, how much more I wanted and didn’t think I could take. I felt myself drawing closer and closer. The tension in my gut, hot and bright, twined tighter and tighter until it was just short of too painful, yet he just held me there. His tongue slowed, drawing lazy, maddening circles, and I looked down at him, helpless. He stared back at me. His eyes glowing. A low, demanding rumble shuddered through me.

Tell me.

He could not be serious.

He rumbled again, more insistent. A warning. Desperation clawed at me. He couldn’t stop now. He couldn’t stop when I was so close. I tried to focus, scrambling for the words.

“Affiliate territory,” I gasped, arching into his mouth as he sucked. My eyes rolled back. My toes curled. Close. So close. So close. “Duncan—Annex. Ally. Industry.”

Was I making sense? Did it matter? He grasped my hips and sunk his tongue into me with a slow, deliberate push. I screamed, quaking.

The sound of strange chiming filled the air, and Charles pulled back sharply just before I tipped over the edge.

“Charles?”