The Company You Keep

“Are you almost ready?” Donovan shouts.

“I’m coming.”

“If your boss has his way you will,” he jokes. The fucking asshole has no idea. I didn’t tell him about this afternoon because he would be laughing so hard.

Once I’m dressed and ready to go, I meet Donovan in the living room. He’s got a shit eating grin on his face. “Wow, you look fucking hot as hell.”

“Shut it. Let’s go.”

“Okay. Relax. Let’s take my truck. At least it’s clean.”

“Fuck off,” I toss out.

“I will later.” He winks then holds the door open for me. We get to the party at the office just as it’s kicking off. I don’t see James anywhere, but I’m not sure I’m ready to meet his girlfriend. It’s bad enough he kissed me like that when he has her, but to meet her and see him touch her is too much.

“I’m going to mingle,” Donovan says, making his way to the buffet table where many people are gathered.

Chapter 7

James

I see the fucker the second they walk into the building. He needs to get the fuck gone. I want to rip his heart out. I stalk her from behind, trying to hold back the memories of her moaning in my arms and the taste of her lips out of my head before I forget everything and take her.

“Excuse me. We haven’t met. I’m Donovan. Piper and I grew up together back in Iowa. She’s my friend, and I’ll tell you one thing. If you hurt her again, I have a huge farm to bury you on. And I’ll test out that theory about pigs and human bodies if you know what I mean,” he whispers harshly.

I knit my brows, knowing he’s threatening me, but what he says confuses me. “I didn’t hurt her.”

“Oh no? Then you’re blinder than she is. You pushed her away because you want her so much it’s killing you to keep her around without claiming. Well, I saw you outside her apartment for the second night in a row. You want her more than she can fathom. And in my opinion, the feeling is mutual. I’m leaving. Make sure she has a ride home.”

“She’s not going back to her apartment tonight.”

“Good. Merry Christmas,” he says, walking out of the office party.

I turn around and hunt for her. She and I need to talk. I see her in a conversation with one of the mail clerks, and she’s smiling. My anger burns red hot when he grabs her hand to take her onto the makeshift dance floor we set up. I’m on them in a second, cutting in. He doesn’t hesitate, and lets go of her. I slide my hand around her waist and pull her to me.

“We need to talk,” I whisper.

“Um…I need to find my date,” she says, looking around the room and not at me which ticks me off. They may not be fucking, but I don’t like that he’s staying at her place. She’s not going back there again unless it’s to pick up her shit.

I squeeze her tighter, getting her attention back on me. I shake my head, and with my teeth clenched, I say, “No, you and I need to talk about this morning.”

“Are you firing me?” she whispers leaning into me.

“No, but I want to clarify something,” I reassure her, my thumb rubbing her back gently.

“Where’s your girlfriend?”

“I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“But you said…”

“Let’s talk privately. People are looking at us.”

We go into the locked conference room that’s soundproof. I’m sure everyone’s curious, but I don’t give a fuck. I’m claiming her as mine, and I no longer give a fuck who knows. I don’t care if I’m forced to sell the companies for less because we created a scandal, but I’m not going to let this escape me. I almost lost her to that fuck who left the party, bowing out.

“My date might come looking for me.”

“He’s not going to. And please don’t talk about him right now.”

“What’s going on? I told you that I wouldn’t tell anyone. I didn’t even tell Donovan.” I can’t take it anymore. The jealous beast in me has held back for too fucking long. I grab her around the waist and sit her on the table, then crush my mouth to hers. She melts into me, forgetting about her friend.

“You’re mine, Piper. No more waiting, no more denying this.”

“What?” she utters, dropping back to look at me.

“You heard me. I can’t stop thinking about you. I don’t care if this fucking company crumbles as long as I have you.”

“But…you said…”

“Said what?”

“You said that you were going to have a baseball team full of kids.”

“And you’re going to be their mother,” I growl, slamming my lips back onto hers. I slide my hands under her dress, pulling that tight fucker up to cup her little pussy. “You’re going to have my babies, aren’t you?”