Heat (Parker Reed Book 1) (4 page)

He sat back, a smug smile spreading on his handsome face.

I stared at him, wide-eyed and beyond sexually frustrated when the limo came to a stop.

He pulled me to a sitting position and grazed a hand up my inner thigh. “You’re going to be my…assistant. You will do, say, and be what I want when you’re under my roof.”

I jumped when his finger brushed over the top of my mound. “What does that mean?”

He kissed my shoulder. “Look at me.”

I slowly turned my head, meeting his heated stare.

He continued teasing my lower area but didn’t delve any deeper like I wanted him to. “You’ll see, little one.” He released me completely and left the limo.

I shivered at the loss of his hands no longer being on me. What the hell was I thinking? He was my boss. I was his assistant. Whatever that meant.

“Coming, angel?” He reached a hand in.

No. Unfortunately, I wasn’t. I grumbled to myself and took his hand, letting him pull me out of the vehicle.

He caressed his fingers over my collar bone. “Be at my office at 8am tomorrow morning.” He slid back into the limo, which took off down the street; I didn’t move until it disappeared from sight. Well,
that
was interesting.

My lips tingled, remembering his mouth on mine. His tongue inside me. God, what I wouldn’t give to explore more of him. To feel his hands on my body. Caressing. Kneading. Massaging. Bringing me to heights of ecstasy I knew he could.

“Oh, Parker. Who are you?” And why are you affecting me this way?

“I hate to act like a nag—”

“Then don’t,” I mumbled, throwing my bag on my bed.

“Keely.”

“Troy.” I met his stare head on, placing my hands on my hips. “Talk to me like my best friend. Not like a parent.”

“Fine.” He grabbed my hand and sat me down on the bed. “Tell me about your evening and that fine specimen you had a sandwich with.”

I laughed, my cheeks heating. “We didn’t stay out for long but it was nice. He was...nice.”

“Did he ever tell you what he hired you for?”

“Uh...to be his assistant.”

“Oh.” Troy frowned, his perfectly arched eyebrows furrowing in the center.

I poked him in the ribs. “Don’t frown. You’ll get wrinkles.”

He nudged me in the shoulder. “What does being his assistant actually mean?”

“I’m...I’m not sure.” I sighed.

“Be careful, baby girl.” Troy cupped the back of my nape and kissed my head.

“I will.” I had to. I needed to protect my heart that had been shattered before. I wouldn’t go through that again. I couldn’t.

“How much do you know about him?”

“Dale’s Deli was a thing he and his mom used to share.” I shrugged.

Troy looked at me. “Hmm...Tabloids said his mom passed away but who knows how true that is. You know how they make up shit just to get readers. It’s disgusting really.”

“I mentioned that to him but he got defensive,” I said, a twinge of guilt soaring through my stomach at pressing him over the subject.

“Don’t believe the news or tabloids, but they say she committed suicide.”

I gasped. “Really?” No wonder he was hard around the edges. My heart hurt more for him but he no doubt hated sympathy from others.

“Yeah.” Troy clapped his hands together and rose to his feet. “I’m heading to
Nine
. Wanna come with?”

I shook my head, stifling a yawn. The idea of heading out to a club at that moment, when I had my first day on the job tomorrow, was not a smart move. “Early morning ahead.”

He winked. “Gotta rest up for Mr. Sexy tomorrow.” He waggled his eyebrows.

I giggled and pushed him out of my room. “Goodnight, Troy. Have fun.”

“Sleep well, babe.”

Warm lips cascaded down my collar bone to between my breasts. Licking and sucking a nipple into the hot mouth, a growl erupted around the room.

I was in a sleep-filled fog and moaned, arching under the touch of my dream lover. “More.”

Rough, calloused hands massaged and kneaded, caressing a path down the sides of my body to a spot that ached. So much pain from no release. It hurt in all the right places, which only a certain someone could satisfy.

Emerald-jeweled eyes stared back at me, heating with lust and desire. “Lay back and enjoy, pet.”

My eyes shot open at the deep voice. Glancing around my room, I realized I was alone; sure as hell, a flutter of disappointment twisted in my belly.

I huffed and checked my alarm. Only ten minutes before I had to get up anyway, so I decided to start my day.

If the bags under my eyes were not an indication of the restless sleep I had, my achy muscles sure were.

After taking a quick shower, I threw on a floor-length maxi dress. It was dressy but comfortable. Business casual like I assumed the dress code would be. Although, I wouldn’t mind if jeans and a t-shirt were appropriate.

Smoothing out the blue-and-white striped skirt of the dress, I made sure to adjust the red top that was attached to it. I looked like I should be boating but shrugged. It would have to do.

I pulled my long, blonde curly hair into a bun and applied some red lip-gloss. Satisfied with my appearance, I grabbed my bag and left the apartment.

The cool morning air washed over my skin, sending a shiver down my back. It felt nice after the hot dream I had. Dreaming about my boss was way inappropriate. My lips tingled, remembering the kiss we shared last night.

Making my way to the closest coffee shop, I stopped suddenly when I saw a black limo parked out front.

I shook myself.
Lots of people use limos, Keely
. Yeah. Right.

Forcing myself to take a step forward, I headed inside the coffee shop and joined the line. The scent of coffee beans, spices, and baked goods invaded my nostrils, making my stomach growl.

“Two venti coffees, please. Your strongest.”

My eyes popped up at the familiar deep, smooth voice coming from the man standing at the counter. The black pinstriped suit clung to his large, hard body, fitting him in all the right places.

Parker
. My mouth watered, my stomach giving a flip. My body was hungry, in need of substance that wasn’t food. My cheeks heated, momentarily surprised at the way he affected me.

His back straightened and he looked down at me over his shoulder. A slight smirk spread across his ruggedly handsome face. “Whatever she wants,” he turned back to the barista. “Is on me.”

I coughed. What I wouldn’t give to take him up on that.

He winked at me and grabbed his drinks. Making his way towards me, he leaned down to my ear. “I look forward to seeing you in my office...pet.”

My eyes widened and I couldn’t help but stare as he left the small cafe.

“Ma’am?”

I cleared my throat, as I turned back around. “Sorry.” I quickly made my order and headed to Reed Industries, not knowing what Parker had in store for me. I didn’t know much about the man but that the kiss we shared left an undying need fluttering in the pits of my being. Desire unfurled deep in my belly just thinking about the guy. He had stirred something inside of me: darkness, to the point where all I thought about was him and I hadn’t even known him for twenty-four hours.

Before I knew it, I was standing in front of the overwhelming building heading towards my impending doom. I clutched my purse tight against my body, rolling my shoulders back and forth until the knot in my neck loosened.

As I made my way into the clean and crisp office building, my breathing accelerated, my body tingling. The closer I got to Parker’s floor, the louder the blood rang in my ears. My heart beat louder and harder as I got closer and closer to him. All I could think about was his hands on me. The taste of his breath. The scent of his skin.

By the time I made it to his floor, I was trembling with an unexpected want. Anxiety gnawed away at my gut, twisting and turning in its wake.

“Miss Price?”

“Hi Liz,” I squeaked out at the receptionist.

She smiled softly and shook her head. “Mr. Reed is ready for you.”

I took a breath and walked past her.

“Keely?”

“Yes?” I answered, stopping in my tracks.

“Be careful,” she whispered.

I chewed my bottom lip and nodded before pushing through the big double doors. “Mr...I mean, Sir?”

Parker stood at the large window that overlooked the city, his hands clasped together behind his back. “Come here.”

I closed the door behind me, placed my coffee and purse on the table, and walked over to him.

Without looking at me, he grabbed my hand and pulled me in front of him before placing his hands on my shoulders.

The slight contact sent a shiver over my body, the tiny hairs on my skin standing at attention. “Sir?”

His large hand moved to my throat, his thumb grazing back and forth over the side of my neck. His hold was gentle but strong.

It did things to me that I couldn’t explain. It made me feel…
owned
. Like I belonged. For once in my life. It should have scared me but it didn’t. Warning bells should have gone off in my head, but they never did. For some reason, being this close to another man, to Parker, I felt safe.

“What do you think of the view?” he asked, keeping his hands on me.

“Um...” I glanced out the window and stared in awe. The morning sun was just rising, peeking out over the tall buildings with an orange reddish glow, kissing the city. “Breathtaking,” I answered.

“I agree but I was thinking of moving my office or moving to a different part of the city altogether. I’m not sure. What do you think, Keely?”

I stared up at him. “You want my opinion?”

He tilted my head and leaned me against him. “Yes, angel, I do.”

The connection I felt with this man terrified me. His big body pressed against the back of mine; parts of him pushing into me that were larger than what I could have ever imagined.

He placed his hands on the window, caging me in. “Tell me.”

“I...I really love the view. You can watch the city wake up and it’s…it’s like you’re on top of the world.” I couldn’t help but note the symbols on his knuckles, the intricate designs on his forearms. Did he have tattoos everywhere? More piercings? What made him get them in the first place?

“What are you thinking about, little one?” he whispered in my ear.

“Your tattoos,” I breathed.

“Do you like them?” His lips grazed over the shell of my ear spreading a hot tingle over my body.

I nodded. “They’re against everything a businessman is supposed to look like.”

“And what does a businessman look like?” He grabbed my wrists and placed my hands on the window, holding me in place.

My heart gave a nervous start at being restrained but a bigger part of me enjoyed it. “Clean shaven.”

He brushed his cheek against mine, the slight stubble scratching at my skin. “What else?”

I chewed my bottom lip. “No piercings or tattoos.”

“No? Well, that’s boring.”

“Parker...I don’t know what you want but—”

He pushed into me. “You’re not stupid. You clearly know what I want.” His grip on my wrists tightened.

I gasped when he ground his pelvis against my rear. The hard erection he was sporting made a moan escape my lips. “Why?”

“I like the way you submit to me,” he purred in my ear and let me go.

On shaky legs, I turned to him as he sat in his large leather chair. “I...what do you mean?”

“You don’t know me but your body is comfortable enough with me to do what I want.” He rubbed his chin. “Subconsciously? You’re mine and you don’t even know it yet.”

My mouth opened and closed. I didn’t know what to say. I felt like maybe I should apologize for giving in so easily. “So just because I apparently bend to your will, that’s the reason why you want me?”

He rubbed the scruff of his jaw, a slight smirk spreading on his face. “You do things to me that no woman ever has. The idea of getting inside of you is all I think about.”

My jaw dropped at his casual confession. “Well…I’ve been with a man like you. I’m not doing that again.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

I nodded, swallowing hard at the cold confidence that oozed out of his pores.