SOPHIA
The drive to work with Dad is easier than I expect it to be which has me on pins and needles. Considering I’ve made out with each of his friends, I should feel guilty. I should be sweating bullets and be waiting for the shit to hit the fan, but it’s easy between us like it always has been.
Dad’s just one of those people.
“So, honey, how are you settling in?”
“Oh, everything is great, Dad. The company is really welcoming.” I tell him with a smile.
“And home? I’ve noticed that you’re spending a lot of time in your room lately. Is everything okay?” He asks, looking at me at a red light.
I roll my eyes. “I’m the only girl in a house full of guys.”
“I’m sorry.” He nods. “I’m worrying too much, aren’t I?”
“Just a little. But it means you care.”
And I know that. Just like when I know he walks me in on his arm and I get that nasty look from Sasha, I can ignore it. My dad would do anything to make me comfortable and happy. I still remember telling him that I was looking for a place to stay for a few weeks and how quickly he volunteered himself.
When my mother tried to argue, he offered to get me my own place in the city, to take care of everything. He didn’t start arguing with her right away. I hug him quickly before going to my own office.
New York could offer me a real-life outside of my mother and father. Here it doesn’t seem to matter who I am. Or at least, it doesn’t for long. Before going through my emails, I write a sticky note to myself – a reminder I desperately need.
Check out New York.
It’s been so easy to get wrapped up in these guys and my dad that I’ve forgotten exactly where I am. The city that never sleeps. The city has everything any person could want and some. It’s paradise itself – to everyone in different ways.
There’s a knock on my door, and Roman walks in. He looks all business, but I can’t help but think of the last time we were in his office together, the way his hands stroked over my skin, the promise of more building up between us, the heat and insanity that churned in the air even when we were doing nothing at all.
I swallow and squeeze my thighs together tightly. His presence alone shouldn’t affect me like this. But it absolutely does. I swallow and toss my hair over my shoulder. “Hello, Mr. Agosti.”
“I have a special assignment for you.” He murmurs, not coming any further into my office.
“Oh?” My eyes focusing on his seem to make him move.
The space between us disappears as he walks towards me. I cling to my desk, trying to control my reaction that seems to have a mind of its own. He sits at the single chair across from me and nods.
“It’s important.”
“Oh! I’m happy to help however I can.” I promise, folding my hands together. “What is it?”
The corner of his mouth lifts. “I would like you to play babysitter.”
“What do you mean?”
He leans back in the chair, spreading his legs, so his massive body looks even bigger. I can’t believe I sat on his lap in his office. I should have been facing the other way, should have let him know how wet I was, how much I enjoy kissing him and surrendering control to him.
“Sasha has been … questionable lately.”
“She hates me.”
“I’m sure that’s impossible.” He says with a smirk. “But I haven’t been getting nearly as many opportunities as Gunner has lately.” I feel myself flush hot all the way down to my breasts. “When it comes to our clients, I mean.” He says as a matter of fact.
“And I have a feeling that she’s not exactly happy with her place here, so she may not be doing the job justice. If any of us hang around her or investigate, I know that she’d suck up and get even less done. Any ideas?”
“If you have IT install a tracker on her computer, you’d be able to check into her activity and how much she actually does on the computer every day,” I say with a shrug. “That’s probably the least invasive method to monitor her accurately.”
“And perhaps you could talk with her as well, make it clear that time with the company means nothing if we don’t see the expected performance?”
“She already thinks I’m actually dating my dad … and not related to him. I don’t think she’s going to take any advice from me.” I snort. “But the IT monitoring could work very well.”
Roman nods once then stands, closes my door, and walks around my desk. I shrink back into my chair, and he curls a strand of my hair around his finger. “The second task is Neal.”
“Neal?”
The only thing that exists for me at this exact moment is him – Roman – taking up everything around me. I smell his cologne, so entrancing and warm, feel his body around me, see his controlled eyes as he leans closer.
His thumb traces my bottom lip, and he turns my chin up gently. “Neal. His numbers are good, but they could be better. We haven’t really seen any improvement while he’s been here, and I think that’s because he needs to be reminded regularly to do his job. What do you think?”
“I … yeah.”
“So you’ll check in with him throughout the day? Be your sweet, charming self and get him to work?”
I gulp, and my eyes flick to Roman’s lips. Fuck, what is he doing to me? I want to say yes, to make him smile, to see what he’ll do if I’m obedient. Maybe I’ll get a reward? Like his mouth stealing mine as his fingers edge up my skirt and slip under my panties.
“Sophia?”
“Yes. Okay.” I answer in a high voice I barely recognize.
“Good.” Roman leans closer, his nose brushing mine. “I appreciate you.”
I giggle, then swallow. “This is outside the job description.”
He chuckles, and his lips brush mine as he speaks, sending shivers racing through my body and heat pooling in my lower stomach. “Then I’ll be sure to compensate you.”
“I don’t want a raise.”
“I know.” His lips press to mine slowly. He draws back just enough to speak. “Tell me what you do want, Bambina.”
“Roman … I ….”
“If you don’t tell me, I won’t give it, Sophia. I need a yes, or I’ll go back to my office and call IT.”
“Yes.”
One three-letter word. That’s what’s kept him in check?
Roman grips my hair tightly, jerking back until my lips part for him. He kisses me like a starving man feasting on the last plate of food he’ll ever see. His tongue strokes deep, claiming me as his. I whimper against his mouth but lick his tongue before he groans and pulls me tightly against him.
I feel him hard and big against my belly. Every line of him is hard, but his cock. Oh, god, I fucking need it. I need him bending me over my desk and burying himself deep inside me over and over again. I groan against his mouth, and he answers, nibbling my bottom lip before stroking over it with his tongue.
When he finally draws back, I’m panting, my nipples are hard, and my legs are shaking. I know my bottom lip is puffy and raw, but Roman doesn’t look like he’s half done with me. Still, he takes a slow breath and nods.
“Tomorrow morning, I’ll show you where I jog.” Roman says, slowly walking to my door pushing his hard-on down. “I think you’ll like it.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll call IT so you can start with Sasha on Monday, but Neal needs attention now.” Roman pauses at the door then turns to face me. “I trust you can handle yourself around a man like him?”
“You’re right,” I whisper, cutting myself off before I can say more.
I haven’t thought about Neal or any other man since these four have come into my life. I usually know how to handle guys. Subtle ways to tell them no, then there’s always the larger, louder ways. The only people who’ve managed to get under my skin and turn me into the personification of need and want are these men I don’t have any business with but can’t seem to leave alone.
Roman nods to me. “I’ll talk to you at lunch, just to make sure everything is going well.”
“Okay.”
He has me down to the smallest sentences in the human language. After a wink and a smile, he shuts my door, giving me the moment and a half I need to collect myself. I let my breath out in a woosh, but even that’s shaky.
“Jesus. They’re going to be the death of me.” I whisper to myself.
I’ve never had my control tested so intensely … and I’ve never failed as badly as I did yesterday. I kissed Nick in the elevator. The elevator! Anyone could have seen. And now, kissing Roman in my office again?
After another five minutes to get the blush out of my system and to put the heat in my skin to rest, I brush my fingers through my hair and head out to Neal’s desk. He’s missing. I sigh and run my fingers through my hair.
I’m not stupid. I’ve seen how he looks at me. So I turn to his deskmate and ask if she’s seen him. She huffs. “He’s getting food … or something … oh. No. There he is.”
Turning, I find him flirting with another girl who works here. She’s half interested, but I recognize the look in her eyes that says she would rather be working. I cross the room, feeling twice as powerful in my heels, especially when Neal is so wrapped up in the innocent girl he doesn’t see me coming.
He certainly notices when she doesn’t reply, and then he notices me crossing my arms in front of him. “Neal.”
“Sophia!” He jumps to attention. “I … um, were you looking for me?”
“Yes. Mr. Langston said that you are one of the best salesmen, but he was worried that he hasn’t seen you at your desk making the calls he relies on.”
Neal stares at my mouth, and I pout. “I was hoping to see exactly what the top salesman here does, but I suppose I could go to the next person on the list if you’re busy right now.”
He shakes his head and quickly walks me back to his desk. “No. No. I’m more than happy to show you exactly what I do all day.”
“I can’t wait.”
Neal shows me the system they use, then he starts calling clients. I take notes, and we talk about things for a bit, but he tells me quick ‘fun facts’ about his life between calls. How he helps support his sister and his niece because he loves kids, and family comes first. Then he tells me about all the events he goes to with models and actresses, showing me pictures that have ended up online of him with different women.
At lunch, he clears his throat. “But really, I was just a way to keep creeps away. I’m sure it comes off badly.”
“Well, I don’t think so. I think when you put your mind to something, you can accomplish it easily. In fact, I plan on keeping up with your career here, just to make sure we’re doing what we can to provide the right incentive to bring out the best in you.”
He licks across his lip as he looks me over. I know that look, and I know exactly what kind of game I’m playing. I’ve done it enough when babysitting kids. Just dangle what they want most in front of their face, challenge them, and watch them fall in line.