GUNNER
Inod my head to Sophia from my office. Matt rolls his eyes. “You’re worried about her talking to Neal?”
“I’m worried that he’s going to weasel his way into her life.”
“You say that because you want her.”
“Which is why I’m telling you this and not her father.” I hiss. Not that I’m wrong. Neal is a bastard who is great at playing hero. I’ve seen him bring smart women down to his level with perfectly constructed lies. He’s a salesman who specializes in selling himself to women that are far too good for him.
“I don’t want anything happening to Sophia. She has so much potential here.” Matt says.
His eyes focus on me though. I roll my eyes. “I’m behaving … mostly. I want this to work with her. I haven’t seen Miles this happy in years. I swear, he has the proud papa glow. I’m not going to fuck that up.”
Matt sighs. “Roman has her incentivizing Neal.”
“That’s supposed to be Nick’s job.”
“You don’t believe me. Go ask her yourself.” Matt says, stealing my stress ball and tossing it. He shakes his head. “I don’t have time to meddle like I used to, man. I have a wedding coming up. And you and the other guys need to stop thinking with your dicks and start preparing for my special day.”
I roll my eyes. “I wear a suit, I do a speech I’ll think of on the spot, and I will happily watch Bella walk down the aisle and tell you everything we’ve known for months.”
“That’s fucking ominous.”
I chuckle and shove him. “That she doesn’t have eyes for anyone but you, brother. We saw the writing on the wall a long time ago. She’s been yours for months, and I don’t think she could be happier if she tried.”
Matt lights up and hugs me briefly. “Thanks. I have to go deal with Sasha now.”
“Oh?”
“I.T. stuff that doesn’t fall under the security umbrella.”
“Well, if you need a distraction.”
“If you’re offering, let’s go. She’s easier to manage when there’s some eye candy.” Matt chuckles.
I walk out of my office and make a quick stop when I see Sophia ahead of Neal. She nearly runs into me and blinks a few times before swallowing and taking a slow breath. No blush for me today? I’ll have to fix that.
“Sophie, everything okay?”
“Of course.” She leans her head to the side. “I assume you guys have a hive mind or something when it comes to work.” She stumbles over the last part of the sentence, and then a blush flares on her cheeks.
“How so?”
“Don’t you make decisions together? I thought Roman would have at least told you that I’m supposed to be helping with … productivity.”
So she is keeping him in line and making him do his job. Damn, Roman has an interesting idea of keeping her away from Neal by throwing her directly at him. I force a smile and nod.
“If you need anything, please let me know.”
“I think I can handle it.” She says, then smiles slightly. “But thank you.”
“My offer isn’t limited to work, sweets,” I whisper in her ear. “I’ve noticed the long showers.”
She gasps, then coughs. I walk away, being sure not to look back. I like keeping her on her toes, so she’s not sure what to expect. Neal glowers at me, and I hear him very softly say. “What did he want.”
“Oh, just to make sure I’m finding everything okay.”
“Ah. They seem … interested in you. I mean, aren’t you supposed to be our office manager?”
“Oh, no. I’m starting in that position, but I’m helping wherever I can. The more I can do for the business, the better.”
I chuckle at that. She hasn’t dropped the knowledge that she’s the CEO’s daughter? Life would be so much easier for her if she did. Neal wouldn’t bother her. Sasha would fall into line. Hell, she could have whatever she wanted.
So why bother keeping it a secret?
I shake my head of the thought and head out to the lobby. Sasha eyes Matt suspiciously, but when she sees me, she lights up. “Gunner!”
“Sasha.” I nod.
She stands up and walks to me. “How has work been? Are you busy enough?”
“Those consistent meetings keep me sharp as a tack. I’m sure I have you to thank for them?”
Roman did tell me he hasn’t been getting quite as many meetings lately, not since he snapped at her when she mouthed off to Sophia. The man needs to learn to read people better and to actually follow through on what he finds out about them instead of just tossing that information to the side and being a dick.
“No!” Sasha shakes her head. “They just ask for you. So they must have good taste.”
She bats her lashes at me and smiles. “Is there anything I can help you with today? Matt’s doing the updates on my computer, but I’m more than happy to get you lunch or … anything.”
Her eyes flow down my body to my cock. Sasha has stuck her nose in plenty of places it doesn’t belong, and at one point, I was happy to let her flirt, let her try and snare me, even if it just meant a quick blowjob in my office.
Now I see through her. The twinkle in her eyes, the hungry and blatant lust on her face, neither hide the expectation and darkness underneath. I’ve met plenty of women like Sasha since Miles’ company has gotten big. They want what’s in my pants, but it has nothing to do with my cock. It’s all about power and money.
If she had the choice, Sasha would take my money and run.
Once Matt gives me the thumbs up, I ask Sasha to make sure my lunch comes directly to me and if she’ll bring it herself. She giggles and nods happily, not suspecting a thing. Which keeps her busy for the rest of the day while Sophia continually checks on Neal.
At four-thirty, Miles comes in and asks if I can take Sophia home. At my look, he sighs. “I know she’s my daughter, man. Don’t give me that face. I just have these conferences in Singapore, and you know the time difference.”
“No worries,” I reassure him. “I can handle it.”
“Really?”
“I can get her from point A to point B,” I say sarcastically.
“Thank you.”
At five, I collect Sophie, which definitely bothers Neal. He looks me over but remembers his place and nods. Sophia waves him goodbye, and he heads out before we do. I wink at Sasha, making her grin.
Once we get in the car, Sophia shakes her head. “Wow.”
“Did he hurt you? Touch you? Try something?” I demand, facing her and looking her over.
“No.” She rubs her temples. “He just never shuts up. For any comment I make, I swear there’s a whole story. But he’s … fine.”
“You don’t have to lie to me.” I snort, buckling up before starting the engine. “We’ve all met Neal.”
“Is he really that bad, though? Other than annoying and full of himself, he kind of reminds me of a really excited five-year-old. He just needs someone to give an ounce of validation, you know.”
“And when he does more than the job we hired him to do, he’ll get it. Especially if he stops spending half the workday talking to every woman he can in the office.”
Sophia considers that and doesn’t say a word until we’re parked in front of the house. I roll my eyes. “What? Where’s the sass? I can handle it.”
“He may talk to girls in the office, but I have yet to suspect him of kissing or making out with them.” Then that sly look comes into her gaze. “And I definitely haven’t caught him with his zipper down.”
I lean towards her, holding the back of her neck in my hand. “That’s because he doesn’t have an office to enjoy after talking to you.”
“Eew.”
“What did you think I was all hot and bothered for, sweets? It wasn’t your daddy.” I almost growl.
Sophia licks that lush bottom lip, and I can’t resist. Fuck the rules, fuck everything except this moment. I kiss her softly, then deeper. I’m starving for her, and one kiss just isn’t enough, just like kissing her neck wasn’t enough the other night. I need her response; I need to feel that she wants me as much as I want her.
It helps ease the guilt.
Sophia’s hand slips along my jaw as we kiss in the car. I lick deeper into her mouth until she sucks my tongue, dragging a moan from deep in my belly. I shake my head, keeping my forehead against hers.
“Fuck, and that was before you did that little trick.”
“Oh, the tongue thing?”
“No, the fucking rabbit out of the hat. Yes, the tongue thing.” I growl before kissing her deeper, faster. Her nails drag down my arms, and she pushes herself against me until she whimpers and draws back. I glare at the console. “Fucking car.”
She laughs and shakes her head. “Don’t yell at the car. It can’t help how it’s made.”
But it’s driving me insane because I want to edge her skirt further up her thigh and see whether these are stockings or thigh highs. If their thigh highs … oh fuck. I’d love to see her in thigh highs, lingerie, with my cock in her mouth.
Her thighs squeeze together as I stroke the top of one. “Sophia …”
“Gunner.” Her hot, husky voice does me in.
I kiss along her throat as my fingers drag up her thigh. When I feel the elastic of the thigh-high, I groan and pull it tight before letting it snap against her thigh. She gasps, and her thighs part, welcoming me to take further advantage.
It’s gotta be a sin not to touch her exactly where and when she wants, but instead, I undo her seat belt and pull her inside. I want her the right way, not a quick fuck in the driveway, hoping no one else sees.
Sophia’s face burns red as she walks to her room. “I’m … I’m getting a shower. Can you order dinner?”
“What do you want?”
“Pizza, Chinese? Whatever.” She hurries, not looking back.
Fuck, I blew it. I order dinner while trying not to curse at myself. Nick comes home and looks at me as I pace the kitchen. He clears his throat. “Roman is going to be running late, and I think Holden’s asleep.”
“Miles got hung up too. Movie night?” I offer.
“Hell yeah!”
I nod. “I’m going to invite Sophie. She needs to get out of her room more.”
“Well, then why don’t we take her out clubbing instead? With us both there, she’ll be safe, and it’s Friday. What grown girl wants to stay inside with two old men watching a movie?”
I chuckle. “That’s a damn good plan, Nick. We’ll eat, then head out. Rock paper scissor for DD?”
“We have these things called taxis.” He reminds me.
But our gaze holds. I don’t give two shits about who’s driving. I have a much bigger concern in mind. I’m a horny bastard on the best of days. With Sophia and alcohol, I have a feeling I’m not going to be at my best. Nick swallows and then nods after a moment.
“One. Two. Three. Shoot.”
He’s paper, I’m scissors.