The Billionaire Boss (7 page)

Chapter Nineteen

Ariel knew he was an uninvited guest, but he wasn’t going anywhere. He sat down and ordered the steak with a side of potato.

The meal was neither pleasant nor unpleasant. Whatever January and Scotty had been talking about was now nil and void, and the conversation turned to talk of software programming. Scotty’s attention was no longer on January, which is what Ariel wanted.

January didn’t seem to mind. This made Ariel smile inwardly.

Maybe she isn’t really interested in Montgomery, but wants to make me jealous.

Ariel was sure he wouldn’t give Scotty the contract.  He didn’t need the man lingering round his office. January was his and his alone, and Ariel intended to keep it that way.

“I must excuse myself.” Scotty dabbed a napkin over his mouth. “I have a client to see in twenty minutes.” He smiled. “I'm sure January doesn’t want to sit through our tech talk. I’ll put the check on my tab on the way out.”

As soon as he was outside of earshot, Ariel turned to January. He felt the heat between them. “I want you to keep far from him.”

“Why, because you say so?”

“Yes.”

“Whatever.”

“Don’t forget that I’m your boss.”

“But for how long?”

Ariel was shocked. “Why are you acting this way? I'm sure you know how I feel about . . . your great work.”

“Yes, I know that you think I'm a good worker, a good
temp
.”

“The other night is still bothering you.”

January shrugged. “Why should it not?”

Ariel sighed. “It's been bothering me too. I don't want you to think that I don't want you.

“Well, you’ve certainly fooled me.”

She was being difficult. “Did Scotty say something to you?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” January shook her head and exhaled loudly. She placed her palms on the table and closed her eyes before looking at Ariel. “Look, this bitchiness isn’t me. I don’t think I can be your assistant. I need to work because I need the money, but I think it’s better that I stay away from
you.
I don’t want to be one of your temps.”

That was it.

Ariel ran a hand over his mouth. “Is that what Scotty told you? That I have a thing for temps?”

January didn’t answer him.

“It’s a lie, plain and simple. I’ve never been with an employee of mine aside from you. I could’ve, but I haven’t.”

January watched him closely. He could tell she was trying to decipher who told her the truth.

“Scotty’s bad news, January. He served time in prison for fraud. He’s good at what he does, but he still has some shady ways.”

She said nothing. Finally, January sighed. “I'm just wondering why you and Scotty are friends in the first place.”

“First of all, we’re not friends. And second, what were you and Scotty talking about before I got here?”

“We were talking about you, actually,” January said softly. She stood. “I'm ready to go back to work. Excuse me.”

“I can drive you back.”

“No thanks.”

***

January’s withdrawal pulled a trigger on Ariel’s heart.

He knew if he didn’t let her in, he’d lose any chance of them being together.

The bond that they formed in the beginning had collapsed, but Ariel hoped that a relationship was still a possibility.

January had become distant from him, but no matter what she thought, he wanted her.

She’d chipped away at the ice covering his heart.

Chapter Twenty

January had conflicting feelings about Ariel, so she kept a low profile at work. She didn’t do anything besides her data entry work. Thinking about Ariel and trying to figure out her feelings for him just left her exhausted.

Unfortunately, Ariel was the type of boss that constantly moved around the workplace. Although January’s desk was on another floor from his main office, Ariel regularly popped in.

Truth be told, she wanted to see him if only to appreciate his physique. He was tall, sexy, and magnetic.

But she wasn’t willing to have him play with her fragile heart any longer. She decided to try to be strong.

Ariel was a smart man, and being her boss, he could demand she be his assistant. If he did, she’d be as professional as possible.

One day passed and then the next. Surprisingly, she didn’t hear anything from either Heather or Mary. Perhaps Ariel had gotten the message.

Or maybe he’d decided he could easily find someone else if January didn’t want the job. 

She was relieved to be home after another long day at work. She’d debated that morning whether to go to work since it was her birthday, but had opted to go since she didn’t have any other plans. She received calls from her parents, family members, and friends throughout the day and she was fine with that. January didn’t make turning twenty-two a big deal.

She threw off her heels and tossed her car keys on the side table. She then headed for the kitchen where she took a frozen and put it in the microwave.

While the food heated up, she went to the bathroom to take a shower. Afterwards, she got out of the tub and wiped the foggy mirror so she could see herself.

Knock
.
Knock
.

January’s neck snapped toward the front door.

Who’s that?

January sighed and got a towel. She wrapped it tightly around her body and went to the door, where she looked through the peephole.

It was a UPS man.

She opened the door and was blown away by a large bouquet of pink and white roses.

A wide smile spread across her face. They were beautiful.

She signed for the flowers and took the bouquet inside. Somehow, she knew who had sent it.

She’d never received such an extravagant bouquet before. 1-2-3…January counted thirty-six roses.

She had to put them in three separate vases.

January walked around her apartment, trying to find the right spots to put the vases. The flowers definitely brightened up the small, cozy space.

She’d left the card on the dining room table that came with the bouquet till last.

She walked over to the small white envelope and opened it.

Dear January,

You’re a lovely lady. Sending you birthday wishes.

Ariel

January scrunched up her nose.

She wasn’t sure what to make of Ariel’s note. The roses were a loving gesture, but the note could’ve just as easily come from a friend.

You’ll have to try harder than this.
January tapped the card against her open palm.

She walked over to the vase in the center of the dining room table and inhaled.

As much as January appreciated the flowers, she wasn’t going to open herself up to the billionaire again so easily.

Chapter Twenty-One

Ariel was in a festive mood. He’d gotten the business deal he longed for. Michelle had called that morning and offered him the deal for preinstalled software. Logis App was partnering with a computer giant. The deal would not only set Ariel up for life, but following generations of Cunninghams for years to come.

When I have children.

He sipped from his coffee cup and drummed his fingers on his desk. Ariel then checked his e-mail. Nothing from January.

Not so much as a simple thank you for the roses.

Ariel had to act soon.

He’d thought about showing up at her door the night before, but stopped himself. He imagined whisking her off her feet and offering to take her on a shopping spree. But Ariel didn’t see January as the type of woman to align with his imagined scenario, especially when they weren’t on the best terms.

He had enough life experience to know that he couldn’t let things fester like they were. The more time past, the more likely they’d end up at a standstill.

Ariel couldn’t afford to get too lost in his thoughts though. Mary rested the documents for the deal on his desk. He and his lawyers would later go over the documents with a fine-teeth comb. He wasn’t one to sign documents without a complete understanding of the terms.

***

Ariel stepped out of the car with a box of expensive chocolate in his hand. He’d spotted January’s car in the parking lot, so he knew that she was at her apartment. He only hoped that she’d let him in when he showed up at her doorstep.

Chapter Twenty-Two

It was the second evening in a row that a knock on the front door took January by surprise. She wasn’t used to visitors.

“Who is it?” she called.

She walked to the door and looked through the peephole.

Oh my goodness.

“It’s Ariel,” she murmured to herself.

January couldn’t believe Ariel was at her home. She looked down at the red nightie she had on. Her chest heaved in excitement.

She wanted to run and check herself in the mirror, but he’d heard her ask who was there.

She opened the door. “Hello.”

“Hi.” Ariel handed her a box of chocolates. “Can I come in?”

January opened the door wide enough to allow Ariel entry.

Ariel paused after entering the apartment and turned to January. “Let me just get this off my chest. I’m sorry for not saying anything to you about how things went between us. I know you might’ve been confused about it, but I only wanted to be sure I was ready to give you what you want.”

January sighed. Ariel’s words sounded so good.

“Things can be resolved between us, but we both have to be prepared to move forward.”

January nodded.

“Things will be different this time. I’m all in.”

January couldn’t believe her ears. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

January felt her heart beating faster and faster. She glanced over at the center table and saw one of the vases of roses. “Thank you for the flowers.”

“You’re welcome.” Ariel looked around at her apartment. “Nice place.” He came closer to January and slid his hands down her shoulders.

She felt a shiver run down her spine.

They began kissing and she sighed with pleasure.

Ariel stepped back and began to strip as January watched. She was giddy about what was happening. His body was just as amazing as she remembered. He took off his polo shirt, revealing a six pack underneath and strong, chiseled arms. Then he dropped his boxers. His manhood stood at attention, impressive and hard.

Ariel’s excitement might’ve been apparent but January had no intention of holding back or being shy the second time around. There was no time for meekness with a man she’d been dreaming about since the first day they met. He moved toward her again and they kissed. Ariel’s hand went to her hips and she felt the heat of his palms.

To January, the pieces were finally coming together for them.

Ariel wrapped her up in his arms and January’s nipples stiffened. His kisses were perfect, soft but firm. Ariel possessed her with his mouth, his tongue moving with skill as it coaxed, nudged, and amplified January’s desire.

There was nowhere else she wanted to be at that moment. January felt Ariel’s passion heating up and she began to sweat through her flimsy nightie. His hands went to the straps, then Ariel looked at her. She smiled at him and his eyes trailed to where his hands were. He kissed her right shoulder and moved the straps off.

The nightie fell to the floor.

Ariel inhaled when he saw her nakedness except for a pink tong.

Ariel was a complicated man. But January was prepared to take her time knowing him.

He was perplexing but still he’d drawn her in like no other man before him. His power was somewhat frightening, but January believed he would be generous with her.

He was careful with revealing his emotions, yet he was willing to peel back the layers for her.

She had not been able to block him out of her mind and her heart.

And in that moment, January realized that she’d never wanted to.

She didn’t want to run from her emotions, though she wanted to take her time in revealing more of her self—her inner self—with Ariel.

She could feel his passion. He wanted her.

“You are amazing,” he said softly, his breath close to her ear felt intimate.

January smiled and bit her lower lip. Ariel picked her up and she signaled to him where her bedroom was located.

“This is a great room,” he said as he put her on the bed.

“Thanks.” Her room was airy with two big windows, which she always left cracked, and decorated in warm colors.

Ariel ran his hands along her curvaceous body. Then he opened up her thighs, exposing January’s wet panties.

Ariel smiled mischievously and began rubbing her center. Then he came toward her and kissed it.

“Oh.” January’s legs began to turn to jelly.

Ariel moved back and smiled. “Not yet.” He felt the sides of her tong. “Thin material,” he said, and within seconds, they were off with a tug.

January grabbed him and Ariel leaned into her. His head dipped as he kissed her left thigh and stuck his tongue out to taste her brown flesh, before he moved to her right. His mouth brought her pleasure and January moaned in anticipation.

“You sure do things on your own time,” she said.

She felt Ariel’s lips curve up as he smiled. “Would you prefer no foreplay?”

January hesitated. She wanted to feel Ariel inside of her.

He stopped what he was doing and looked up. “You’ll like a one-minute man?” he asked teasingly.

She shook her head. “I just want you so badly, Ariel.” Her hips thrust up, but Ariel continued to toy with her, kissing, nibbling and licking from her thighs up to her breasts.

January felt like she needed a shower to extinguish the heat permeating throughout her body. They were so close, but Ariel was making so that she almost wanted to beg him to enter her.

She sighed loudly, and he kissed her on her body one last time.

She was hot and wet and
ready
.

And when Ariel and her eyes locked, she smiled. His eyes looked hungry. He grabbed her hips, positioning himself perfectly above her.

January breathed out with anticipation.

“Welcome home.” She wasn’t sure where those words came from. But she wanted Ariel to know that he was wanted, that he could come back again and again. She wanted him to know that she was his resting place. He made her feel desirable.

“Please,” she cried out.

“You never have to beg, darling. I’m yours.”

His hips hovered over her mound. Ariel’s mouth went close to January’s ears. “Do you know that you honor me,” Ariel whispered.

“How?”

“Because I’m entering unchartered waters.”

And then January felt the tip of Ariel’s manhood. He began to push down slowly, easily, dipping, his hips moving in a rhythm. January was catching her breath. The sensations new and savory. She closed her eyes.

“You feel delicious,” he said. Suddenly, Ariel plunged into her and January gasped. The pain was sharp and unexpected. Her eyes widened. Could her body deal with the pulsating feeling, she wondered. But no sooner had she asked herself the question, the pain sunk into sensations she hadn’t expected.

She felt burning in her lower abdomen. It pressed against her. She felt previously unknown muscles tightening.

“Ahhh.” She bit her bottom lip.

“Come for me,” Ariel told her.

January’s breathing increased. She tightened her legs around Ariel’s waist. He moved skillfully, rhythmically, and January felt her eyes roll back.

Her toes began to tingle and her entire body shivered as euphoria rolled throughout her body.

Ariel’s throbbing dick was relentless in its pressure and pleasure.

January couldn’t stand it any longer. She cried out as she came, the sweat between them making her feel drenched.

Ariel’s hips began to move faster as he plunged yet further into her. “Oh, baby” he growled as he came. Now they were both satisfied and their bodies remained connected as January and Ariel lay with intertwined legs on her bed.

“Stay with me,” he said. “I want to build a life with you.”

“Do you? Are you sure it’s not the after-effects of sex talking?” January asked. She knew that her heart could easily lock onto Ariel.

He tilted her chin upward with his hand so that she looked at him. “Despite what you may think, I’m not a man who sleeps around. I’ve always known what it is that I want in life. And I want you to be a part of it.”

January’s heart skipped a beat. She squeezed him and nuzzled closer. “Okay.”

Ariel sighed. He began to stroke her hair and January felt herself being lulled to sleep.

She yawned.

“Are you going to sleep so soon?”

She nodded.

“I wanted to go another round with you.”

She laughed softly as sleep beckoned her.

Ariel kissed her forehead. “It’s okay, you’re tired,” he said. “How about I cook you breakfast tomorrow?”

“That sounds great.” They kissed.

“I love you,” Ariel said.

January smiled. Ariel’s confession was music to her ears. He was smart, handsome, charming, and all hers. “I’m sure you can tell that I love you too.”

Ariel sighed contentedly and began to rub her back. “Lucky us.”

“Why’s that?” January looked up at Ariel.

He smiled and gave her a kiss on the lips. “We can finally start showing each other how we really feel.”

January sighed and closed her eyes, falling asleep in the arms of the man she’d been dreaming about.