“I know, but I’m hungry for one thing only.”
“You’re insatiable, Mr. Hillside,” I quipped as I began to trail kisses up and down his neck.
“But Miss Wilkinson, you wouldn’t have it any other way. Plus, Piccolo’s opens in thirty if we’re quick.”
“Deal.” I kicked the balls of my feet into his ass, and we made our way into the bedroom for a feast neither one of us could deny.
* * *
The next morning, Tate was a grumpy asshole because I wouldn’t allow him to escort me to work. I’d been adamant about hailing a taxi home and not allowing him to drop me off at my apartment. It wasn’t that I was ashamed, anything but actually. I just wanted to show him that we didn’t need to be the couple that was attached at the hip from the word go. We were both successful, strong business people and we needed to weave our lives together. It wasn’t going to happen with the snap of a finger, no matter how much Tate wished it would. We had just started to open our hearts to one another; that would take some adjusting from everyone. Our families would all need to get used to the fact that we were a team now.
I hadn’t been home and needed a fresh outfit, not to mention underwear. No matter how much he protested that his boxer shorts and shirt would be perfect business attire. I’d have loved to have seen his face if I’d taken him up on that offer and had a client present. He’d have gone all alpha and had them escorted from my office within seconds. But I bet the sex after would have been off the scale.
With a smirk, I picked out a sexy, matching black set of underwear, similar to the set Tate tore away from my body, and decided that I needed to wear my favorite dress. I rarely wore it unless it was a five-star client, given its three grand price tag. I was scared to catch a thread on the lining but today was different; I was different. The design was what made me smile, black with a thick white line from the collar along the sleeve and down the right-hand side; sleek lines, just how Tate loved them. He didn’t need to know my obsession with his favourite era. The silk lining encased my skin like a glove, and I wished he could’ve seen me like this. Why had I not let him bring me home? I don’t know how, but Tate Hillside had unlocked the broken, inner side I’d kept locked away for far too long. Now it was time to be free and heal.
As I pulled up outside Wilkinson Holdings Corporation, I could feel that it was time to start the first day as a new woman.
“Billie, could you let in my next client, for some reason it’s blanked out?” I asked, as I pressed down the buzzer on my phone and scanned my calendar, confused with just the time blocked out. A sharp quick knock on the door and my mouth watered as I saw the tall silhouette in the opaque glass.It couldn’t be.“Enter.”
“Miss Wilkinson, thank you for seeing me.” He edged closer before he pulled back the chair opposite my desk and took a seat. “I was very lucky to get a last-minute slot in your hectic schedule.” He smirked.
“Tate,” I exclaimed as I gripped the edge of my desk and pulled myself in. “I’m at work. This is my business,” I hissed as he placed his briefcase on his knee and opened it up, pulling out two files before he placed them in front of me.
He closed the case and slid it onto the floor by his chair before he looked up at me.
“I know it is, Sutton. I know.” He sighed as he tapped the top of the files with a pen he pulled out of his top pocket. “That’s why I’m here. Whenever we’re together, it seems like our mouths are otherwise occupied and we end up not talking.”
“That’s true.” I ran my eyes up his body and ran my tongue across my lips before I winked.
“See,” he joked. “You’re addictive and that fucking dress, Miss Wilkinson; don’t get me started on that…”
“Tate,” I warned.
“I know, I know,” he countered. “That’s why I’m here. We made a promise about work.”
Tate opened the files and took a shaky breath before he handed me the files to read.
“What’s this? Tate?” I questioned as I started to scan the words in front of me but saw the emotion filled eyes fixated on me. “Talk to me, please.”
“Sutton.” He stood up and came around the desk before he dropped to his knees by my feet and threw the papers on the table. He grabbed my hands in his and stared deep into my soul. “These are liquidation papers for Hillside Investments. I’d never ask you to give up everything for me, but I would give it all up for you in a heartbeat, if you needed that.” He brought my hands to his mouth and gave a kiss to the top. “Sign those papers, sweetheart, and all I have is yours. I don’t need it. All I need is you.”
“Tate…” I stood up and pulled him up from the floor into my arms. “I’d never ask that of you. Business and pleasure can work together. We can work together and be a team.” I placed my finger over his lips to stop him from talking. “I’m yours and you’re mine. Nothing else matters. No one.”
I reached for the papers on the desk and held them in my hands, before I tore them to shreds.
“Now that business is dealt with, can I say I really do appreciate how fine you look today, Miss Wilkinson? What time do you finish your meetings?” Tate smirked as his hands circled my waist and he pulled me in close.
“Five pm, like every day. I believe your schedule is the same.” I grabbed the lapels of his suit jacket.
“We have to change our work hours. I am not okay with being away from you for that long.” Tate placed a chaste kiss against my lips as he bent down and ran his fingers along the white line on the collar of my dress.
“Out, Mr. Hillside. Now.” I grabbed his ass and made him jump upwards.
“Oh, you’re pushing your luck Miss Wilkinson, just wait until later. I’ve plans for us.” He grinned as he waltzed straight out of my office and into my brother and dad before he caught my eye. “Give my girl five before you barrel in there with demands.”
Well, that’s one way to let the family know. Fuck.
Epilogue