Chapter 4

4

brIAN

S he's everywhere.

I've avoided her for three days now, but somehow, Blair is fucking everywhere. I swear I smell her scent, honey, and daisies each time I turn a corner. She works on a totally different floor than my office, but we keep running into each other. On the elevator, in the cafeteria when I go down for a coffee...everywhere.

And she's more beautiful each time.

It seems like my interest in Blair hasn't gone unnoticed by Tanner if the barrage of complaining text messages he sent me is any indication. He never explicitly says he knows there's a connection, but he's been demanding I fire her, complaining like a pathetic boy about how she dumped him for no good reason.

The idea makes me snort. Why is he even surprised? There are endless reasons for Blair to have dumped Tanner. The fact that there's something hot and secret between us is just one of a million. But his insecurity over her being in the office has caused him to become more and more aggressive, and I can tell Blair's feeling the strain. Besides, he's not above calling her names, so what did he expect really?

I have a feeling I'll have to put a stop to this soon.

My phone vibrates and Tanner's name lights up the screen.

Dad, please. Blair doesn't belong in an office. She's inexperienced, and she's been such an ice queen. Please get rid of her.

The words are like gasoline on the embers burning within me. My son thinks he can come here to my office and tell me who should work and who shouldn't. That he's trying to use me, his father, to control a situation where he clearly fucked up, is a slap in the face. And now he's going to start telling me who belongs and who doesn't?

Oh, hell no.

My son may be older than Blair, 24 to her 19, but he's a boy. He has no fucking idea what the world is really like, and he has no place dictating terms. And that goes double for his girlfriend.

Well, no. Not his girlfriend. My Blair. MINE.

I text back, Get your ass in my office, NOW.

No, Dad. I'm not coming to the office if you're just going to bitch at me about this.

I'm done playing around. The boy is in his twenties, and it's high time he learned some goddamn respect.

That's the third time you've disrespected me today, Tanner. Now, do I need to come down there and drag your ass up here, or are you going to walk like a man?

There's a pause . I'm on my way.

Apparently, public shame is still a powerful enough tool to get Tanner to fall in line. My blood is boiling. If he wasn't my son, I'd be giving him the ass-kicking of a lifetime right now.

I wait until he knocks on the door before telling him to come in. He's got a defiant look on his face, and I'm not going to stand for it.

"Have a seat," I command and he obeys. "I'm sure you're aware of why you're here."

He shrugs. "My ex-girlfriend is working for you, and I don't think she's qualified."

"Is that so?" I lean back in my leather office chair, raising an eyebrow. "Is that why or is it because she broke up with you?"

"The first one," he insists. "She doesn't know what she's doing."

The thing is, Blair has been a great worker so far. She's smart and quick-witted. Even if I didn't want her badly enough to burn the world down to get to her, she'd be a good employee. Better than Tanner, anyway. "Oh, really?"

"Yes. Really."

"So, tell me. Why bring her here in the first place, demanding that I hire her, and then immediately changing your mind when there's turmoil between the two of you? You made the decision to have me hire her, Tanner, and now you have to live with your stupidity. She wants nothing to do with you anymore, and with the way you're acting, I can't say that I blame her. She's a sweet, smart, gorgeous young lady who doesn't deserve your bullshit."

Tanner throws his hands up in the air. "Are you serious, Dad? You're taking her side over your own son's?"

"I guess I am," I confirm. "She's not your fucking enemy. I am."

"What?" His voice becomes small, maybe even scared. Good.

"You're being an idiot. And until you start acting like a fucking adult, I don't want to hear another word out of you. And, I'll tell you something else. If you keep acting like a brat, you're not going to have your job, either."

"You can't do that! You can't run the company forever. I'm your only son."

Leaning forward with my elbows on the table, I grit out, "I made this company and will take it to the grave with me if I have to. I suggest you start treating your father with respect. That goes for Blair too. You don't treat her like she's a toy. In fact, I don't want to see you or hear about you speaking to her again. To you, she's a stranger. Got it?"

His eyes are wide, but he's nodding. "Got it."

"Now get out."

Tanner leaves the room, and I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I've decided Blair, and the time is now.

I'm going to make her mine.

Shutting the office down, I don't expect to find anyone still working. But of course, with the way the universe has been fucking with me, I see a light still burning in the copy room and the silhouette of someone inside. A curvy, familiar silhouette.

Taking a deep breath, I walk over to the room and peer inside. Just like I thought, Blair is inside, working and looking frustrated. Seeing her feel any kind of negativity pisses me off, and I'm determined to get to the bottom of it.

"Blair," I rumble, and she jumps, whipping around to face me.

When she sees that it's me, she looks sheepish. "Oh. Hi, Mr. Beckett. Sorry, I was just trying to catch up on a few things so I'm not so behind tomorrow."

"Well, it's time to go," I tell her. "There's no way in hell I'm leaving you here alone." Then, I take a risky chance. "Why don't you come to the top floor? That's where my penthouse is."

Her eyes go wide as saucers. "You live here? In Beckett Tower?"

"It's a lot nicer than it sounds," I laugh, pushing my hands into my pockets. "I like to keep an eye on my empire."

"That makes sense." Blair shuffles her pile of papers nervously. "But, um. No, I have an Uber on the way, actually, to take me back to my apartment."

Disappointment is sharp and cutting, but I don't let it show on my face. I should be relieved she isn't so trusting as to go up to the apartment of a man she barely knows. Still… I'd like to have sweet Blair alone all to myself. Now and forever.

"In that case, I'm walking you out."

"Oh, you don't have to do that, Mr–"

"Blair I swear if you call me Mr. Beckett one more time and not Brian, I'm going to have to punish you."

Again, her eyes go wide, but this time she blushes too, the innuendo as clear as day. "Sorry, Brian…but…um…you don't have to walk me out."

Leaning against the door frame, I ask, "But do you want me to?"

Her voice is small when she answers, "Yes."

We descend the elevator together, combustible chemistry brewing between us until it's almost at a boiling point. I'm all too aware that it's just her and me in the entire building and that no one would disturb us if I wanted to have my way with her right here and now.

She'd be all too willing, I can tell. The way she sways closer to me as the elevator lowers and the stars in her eyes when she tilts her head back to look at me…well. Those things speak even louder than words.

In the lobby, the lights are low, and there's a car idling outside of the doors, waiting on my sweet Blair. I don't want her to go. I want her to stay with me, to admit that she belongs in my arms and not in whatever shithole New York apartment she must be inhabiting. But I know if I push her too far, it will be even harder to seduce her. I have to be patient.

Blair clutches her hands in front of her and inhales. "Brian, I just want to say that it's been so nice working here at your company. Thanks for taking a chance on me."

I'm going to kiss her. Fuck, I know I should give it more time, but I'm going to kiss those sweet lips right here and now. My body is already starting to go rogue.

"Blair," I growl.

She takes a step towards me, and then another, until we're toe-to-toe. My pulse is pounding, and all I can think about is her mouth and how soft it will be against mine.

Just then, the sound of a horn blares from outside, and she jumps back, startled. It's her car, waiting to take her home. Home to some shitty apartment where she'll spend her night alone, thinking about me. I can't have it. I can't have her leaving here, not yet. Not like this.

"Ignore it," I tell her, my voice gravelly with desire. "It's just you and me, Blair. Just you and me."

My hand comes up to cup her jaw, and she lets out a soft gasp, her eyes fluttering shut. She's perfect. So fucking perfect. My thumb brushes over her lower lip, and I feel her tremble under my touch. Her skin is so soft, and she smells so sweet. It's taking everything in me not to push her up against the wall and claim her mouth. But I know I have to go slow. I can't scare her off.

"Blair, you're driving me crazy," I murmur, my lips ghosting over her skin. "I can't stop thinking about you."

Her breath catches in her throat, and she opens her eyes, staring up at me. "Brian," she whispers, her voice trembling. "Somebody might see us."

"So? I don't care about them. I care about you." I brush a strand of hair from her forehead. "You're perfect, Blair. Perfect."

"Brian..." She leans into my touch. I know she wants me as badly as I want her. I can see it in her eyes, hear it in the hitch of her breath. But she's holding back. She's scared.

"Don't be afraid," I tell her, my voice low and soothing. "Let me take care of you, Blair. Let me show you how good it can be."

"I… I've never..." Her words trail off, but I understand.

She's nervous. But I'm still going to kiss her. Kiss her like a man starved. I burn with the need to stake my claim, but her lips will have to do…for now.

"Just relax, Blair." My hand tangles in her hair. "I've got you."

And then I kiss her.

Her lips are plump and yielding, and I can't help but groan as I pull her body flush against mine. She feels so fucking good. Better than I imagined. She melts into me, her arms coming up to wrap around my neck, her fingers tangling in my short hair. She tastes like heaven, and I'm drunk on her scent.

"Mine," I growl against her mouth, and she gasps, her eyes darkening.

"Yes," she breathes, her voice barely a whisper.

That's all I need to hear. I crush my mouth to hers again and kiss her hungrily, my hands roaming over her curves. She moans into my mouth, her body pressed tightly against mine. I can't get enough of her. She's everything I've ever wanted. Innocent and just as drawn to me as I am to her.

We break apart, both of us breathing hard. She looks dazed and beautiful, and I smile.

"This is just the beginning," I warn her. "Every time you step into this building, you'll be proving to me more and more that you know you're mine, sweet Blair."

I let my hands fall away, even though every bit of my manhood is screaming at me to touch her, more and more and more. "Now go, before I can't let you."

Blair bites her bottom lip, and she doesn't move a muscle.

"Now," I command.

She swallows and turns, scurrying out of the lobby and into her car.

My body is still on fire for her, but she's gone, and now the only thing left is to take care of myself. But the thought of jerking off with the taste of Blair on my tongue is not what I want. No, the only thing that will satisfy me is having her completely, and I'm going to make sure she understands that the next time she steps foot into this building.

Until then, I'll dream of her. I'll fantasize about her body and the way she trembled under my touch.

But tomorrow… Oh, tomorrow is a new day.