Time Stands Still (Forever and Ever #51) Page 14

  “But it didn’t, Slade. I always knew you would settle down.”

  I didn’t. “I’m happy with the way things are, but I guess I’m struggling to let go of my youth. When people get married and have kids, they stop hanging out with friends and they become boring. Their entire lives revolve around their kids. I just don’t want to end up like that. I want to keep my old life but embrace my new one.”

  “Just because we’re married and have kids doesn’t mean we can’t have fun anymore.”

  “When was the last time we did have fun?” I countered. We’d been too busy dealing with kidnappings, family fights, a premature Cedric, my wife being harassed. No, we hadn’t had fun in a very long time. “Remember when we used to go to Wal-Mart and build a fort in the dog food aisle? We’d hide in there all night and play games until the next morning?”

  Cayson smiled at the memory. “How could I forget? Remember when we almost got caught?”

  “I was almost shit my pants I was so scared.”

  Cayson chuckled. “We were little shits.”

  “Still are.” That’s what my father would tell me. “It’s mandatory to grow old. But it’s not mandatory to grow up.”

  “Well, I think we’ve matured a little. Give us some credit.”

  I interlocked my fingers behind my head. “When did we become adults?”

  “I don’t know…when we started college?”

  “Nah. I wasn’t an adult then.”

  “Then when?” Cayson asked.

  I tried to search for the right moment. “I guess when my dad made me do a bunch of dumb shit around the shop before he allowed me to move up and do bigger things. He gave me a serious reality check. I learned the value of a dollar and what hard work meant. I guess that’s when.”

  Cayson nodded. “I guess when I got my apartment in the city is when I became an adult.”

  I rolled my eyes. “You’ve been an adult since we were two.”

  “I don’t think so. I’ve done some dumb things.”

  Not like I have. “Time seems to pass so quickly now. I just don’t want it to pass me by in a blur. I don’t want to be boring or one of those obsessive parents that only cares about his kids.”

  “Boring?” Cayson asked incredulously. “Slade, you’re a rock star. You could never be boring.”

  I didn’t feel like a rock star. “Let’s make a promise right now. We aren’t going to be like everyone else. We’re still going to do fun things. We’re still going to be us.”

  “I can make that promise.”

  “A blood oath.”

  “Well…I’m not getting blood in my office so how about a handshake?”

  “Pussy shit, but okay.” I stood up and extended my hand.

  Cayson took my hand and shook it. “To never being boring.”

  “Forever and ever.”

  ***

  I walked into the apartment and tossed my keys on the counter. I was sweaty from my workout at the gym. Now that I was a public figure I had to hit the weights five times a week. I wasn’t big on lifting weights. I preferred cardio activities like martial arts and running. Cayson was thick and muscular but I’d always been on the lean side. Weights were more necessary for him than they were for me.

  My phone lit up with a text message from Trinity. What are you doing?

  Just got home from the gym. Why? I leaned over the counter and watched the three dots light up the screen.

  Just curious…

  It was a strange thing to say, especially for Trinity. She usually just said what she needed to say. The entrepreneur inside her liked to get right to the point. What’s up?

  It’s nothing.

  Okay, it was definitely something. Do you want me to bring you anything?

  I was going to see if you wanted to come by but you probably want to take a shower and stuff.

  She wanted me to come by but she didn’t want me to bring her anything? The message was cryptic—extremely. I searched my mind to figure out a way to decode this strange message. Then it dawned on me. Horny, baby? I grinned from ear-to-ear, my self-esteem skyrocketing.

  No.

  She so was. Her hormones were all over the place. She wanted to have sex constantly. Now she couldn’t go to sleep until she had it good and rough. The release of hormones somehow stopped Olympia from kicking and helped Trinity to sleep. The only reason why she wouldn’t just come out and tell me was because she was embarrassed—because of her belly.

  Which was absurd. I’ll be there in fifteen.

  You don’t need to come. Just forget it.

  Man, she was bipolar. I miss you. I want to see you. That should soften her up. Her confidence took a nosedive the second her belly started to show. Since she was having my baby and everything I didn’t give her shit about it.

  She finally gave in. Okay.

  ***

  I greeted Abe before I walked into Trinity’s office. I shut the door behind me so Abe would keep his distance. We wanted some privacy—serious privacy. I hadn’t showered since the gym but I knew she would like that. Trinity liked watching me sweat. It’s one of things that turned her on.

  She was sitting behind her desk with her hair in open curls. It trailed down her breasts and framed her beautiful face. She wore a brown cardigan over her dress, hiding her belly. From this angle you wouldn’t even know she was pregnant. “Hey.” She quickly glanced me over, her eyes settling on my shoulders and arms. They were thick and pumped with blood from my workout.

  “Hey.” I planted both hands on the desk and leaned over, moving my mouth to hers. I gave her a soft kiss without any tongue, wanting to ignite her without going for the kill right away. “You look beautiful,” I said against her lips.

  She melted underneath me, her lips moving with passion. Her tongue slipped into my mouth and she took it to the next level immediately. She even moaned.

  Damn, she was hard up. I pulled away and scooted everything on her desk to the edge. “Right here.” I patted the hard surface.

  She eyed it without interest. Then she left her desk and waddled to the couch just a few feet away. The curve in her back had become more pronounced as Olympia became bigger. That was one of the sexiest attributes about her body. I loved kissing her there when I thrust from behind her.

  However she wanted it, I would give it to her. But her swollen belly made certain positions impossible. The best way for us to get frisky was when she was on all fours.

  She pressed her chest to the back of the couch and folded her knees underneath her. Her ass hung out at the end, arched and ready for me.

  My dick was hard but it just became harder. She was like a cat in heat. She was desperate for me to be inside her, putting herself on display so I could make love to her as quickly as possible. She didn’t even want any foreplay. I pulled up her dress to her shoulders then pulled thong down to her knees. I stared at her slick pussy, admiring the moisture the pooled right at her entrance. My running shorts and boxers were off instantly.

  I rubbed my cock against her wet folds and felt my own pre-cum ooze. My spine shivered with pleasure. I even closed my eyes because I knew this would feel amazing. Nothing turned me on more than Trinity’s desperation. When she wanted, needed me, it drove me crazy. She wanted me so bad that she wanted me to fuck her in her office—something she said she never wanted to do.

  I slipped my cock inside her in a fluid motion because she was soaked—and so fucking tight. My entire shaft moved inside her until I was balls-deep. My spine shivered with ecstasy. I wanted to say inside her pussy forever.

  Trinity released a loud moan and a shiver. She couldn’t contain herself even though her assistant was right outside the door. Her unbridled moans and pats were driving me crazy. I wanted to keep listening to them but I didn’t want her to feel embarrassed later. Her hormones took the wheel and she fell prey to her passion.

  I leaned over her, penetrating her even further, and then I covered her mouth with mine, silencing her moans. Sex in this positio
n could be awkward but I was a bit of a guru. I continued to move deep inside her, kissing her at the exact same time. I already wanted to come because she was so sexy. She devoured my lips and rocked her hips back into me, wanting more of my cock.

  I wanted to do this forever but I struggled to last. The more enthused she became, the harder I struggled. My cock throbbed deep inside and ached for released. But I stayed the course and concentrated on his pleasure instead of my satisfaction.

  But I knew I couldn’t do that forever.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Conrad

  As soon as I walked in the door I noticed something was different. The coffee table had been wiped clean, the flat screen didn’t have a single speck of dust, and the rug on the floor had been vacuumed.

  And the pent house smelled clean.

  Macy emerged from the kitchen wearing one of Lexie’s aprons. Apollo was at her feet, stuck to her like glue. “Hey. You’re home. Dinner will be ready soon. I’m making lasagna.”

  I didn’t even know Macy could cook. “That sounds great.”

  Apollo stared at me but remained by her side.

  “Lexie home yet?”

  “No. I haven’t seen her.” When she spoke of her sister it was no longer with disdain. It was actually with a bout of positivity. “But I’m sure she’ll be home soon.”

  I looked down at Apollo. “Hey, boy. How was your day?”

  He turned around and followed Macy back into the kitchen.

  “Traitor…” Since Macy was home all day it didn’t surprise me that they became best friends. Every time I left the house to go to work, Apollo saw it as an act of betrayal.

  “I’m going to take a shower,” I called into the kitchen.

  “Alright,” Macy said back. “It’ll be ready by the time you’re done.”

  I’d never seen Macy cook in my life. I didn’t even know she knew how. And she cleaned the apartment better than any maid I’d ever had. I walked into the bedroom and immediately noticed my dry cleaning hanging up in the closet, the new sheets on my bed, and the fresh towels that had been stocked in my bathroom.

  I could get used to this.

  ***

  I drank a beer while I watched the game. Apollo would normally sit with me and rest his chin on my thigh, but he was busy following Macy everywhere like a lost puppy.

  I tried to only be half offended.

  I eyed the time on my phone and wondered why Lexie hadn’t come home yet. She was already later than she usually was. But it was unlike her not to call or send me a text.

  Very unlike her.

  The paranoia started to sink into me. After everything my family had been through, I always jumped to the worst possible conclusion. What if she was hurt? What if someone took her?

  I tried to keep calm. I knew I was being ridiculous.

  I pulled out my phone and typed a message. Hey, baby. Are you all right? I sent it off and waited for the three dots to appear. The screen remained blank and there was no response. It didn’t mark it as read either.

  Chill, Con.

  Chill.

  Just when I really started to panic, the door flew open. Lexie marched inside and slammed the door behind her. “My boss is a fucking asshole.” She threw her purse down and it made a noticeable thud when it hit the hardwood floor. Her keys rattled from inside. Her cheeks were red with angry and she had murder in her eyes. “I should have kicked his ass then and there.”

  I rose to my feet and felt the territorial side of me emerge. Someone messed with my fiancé and I wasn’t thrilled about it. “What happened?” I walked around the coffee table until I was in front of her.

  “This new therapist he hired made a pass at me the other day. I told him to take a hike and that was the end of it.”

  Someone hit on my fiancé? I don’t think so, asshole.

  “Then he did it again today. But this time he was creepy. He came into my office and shut the door behind him…I can’t explain it. He didn’t touch me but it was inappropriate nonetheless. He made a comment about my ass in my skirt.”

  Rage.

  Fire.

  Violence.

  I was about to snap.

  Lexie continued on. “So I told my boss what was going on and you know what he said?” She put both of her hands on her hips. “That I shouldn’t dress like this?” She pointed at her outfit, which was a skintight blouse tucked into a pencil skirt. Her curves were on display and she looked fine as hell—but not slutty. “Apparently, I’m dressed like a whore.”

  Macy came out of the kitchen when she heard the commotion. “What a dick.”

  “Pissed me the hell off,” Lexie continued. “He didn’t defend me and he acted like I was the problem. I’ve been working there for years and he just turns the other way when I’m harassed. I stormed out of there and didn’t even pack my things. Fuck that place.”

  I should comfort her, but I couldn’t. I was too pissed off to even touch her. My arms should have been locked around her, and I should’ve been kissing her forehead. But I didn’t want to lay a hand on her because I was afraid I might hurt her. The veins in my neck were tight with unease, and I felt the adrenaline coursing through my system.

  I was going to kill both of these motherfuckers.

  No one insulted my fiancé and got away with it.

  There were so many things I wanted to say. But I also didn’t want to say anything. The darkness was descending and I was losing control. I had a blood lust that couldn’t be satiated. I finally managed to say something. “I’ll take care of it.” The threat was unmistakable in my voice. A Preston was the last person you should fuck with.

  “I don’t want you to take care of it, Con. I already quit and I’m not going back. But it pisses me off we live in the 21st century and sexism is still going on. My boss actually thinks I deserve this treatment because of the way I dress. What kind of excuse is that? It’s just sickening.”

  We took sexual harassment very seriously at PIXEL. We wanted all our employees to feel safe coming to work, especially our women. Since we treated our employees so well they weren’t willing to jeopardize their job for anything so cases like that usually didn’t happen.

  It pissed me off Lexie wasn’t treated with the same respect. “There will always be men like that wherever you go. I’m sorry.” It was the sad truth of the matter. Some men would always see women as inferiors no matter what year it was. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.” I didn’t sound sincere at all because I was so angry.

  “It just hurts that my boss didn’t care. Like, he didn’t care at all. Fucking pig.” She slipped off her heels and threw them across the room. Her hair was a mess from running her fingers through it so many times.

  Apollo came out of the kitchen and stopped at her side. He looked up at her with his black eyes, knowing something was wrong.

  The second Lexie looked at him she relaxed. She kneeled down and scratched him behind the ears. “You’re such a sweetheart.”

  He rubbed his head against her leg, being affectionate.

  “Thanks.” She smiled as she continued to pet him.

  Macy kneeled down beside her and gave her a sad look. “Sorry that happened to you…”

  Lexie looked at her, and the surprise on her face couldn’t be hidden. “Thanks.”

  “You don’t need that place anyway,” Macy continued. “Stay home and play with Apollo all day. He would love it.”

  Lexie sighed as she stared at Apollo. “I think I may have to.”

  There was no way in hell she was working ever again. She was officially a housewife—protected under my regime. Hopefully she realized that on her own so I wouldn’t have to remind her.

  And show her the kind of monster I really was.

  ***

  Dad walked into my office with a coffee in his hand. “Did you get that email I sent you?”

  “Yes,” I said coldly. “If it bounced, you would know.” I didn’t take my eyes off my screen.

  Dad li
ngered by the door before he walked inside. “Any reason why you’re a little bitch today?”

  I deserved that and I knew it. “Lexie quit her job yesterday.”

  “And that’s bad because…?” Dad sat in the chair and sipped his coffee. “I thought that’s what you wanted. I know that’s what I would want.”

  “Her colleague harassed her, and when she reported it to her boss, he said she shouldn’t dress like a slut.” I couldn’t even say the words without reaching my boiling point. My hand immediately balled into a fist, and my head thudded with a migraine.

  Dad stared at me in shock. “Fucking prick.”

  “I know. I haven’t decided what I want to do. My first impulse is to hunt the guy down and beat the shit out of him. But I know I would get sued like a motherfucker.”

  “Then let’s sue them. We could bury them.”

  “Lexie doesn’t have any evidence—just her own account. And that doesn’t do much. I want to hurt the guy who intimidated her. And I want to beat the shit out of her boss for being a sexist pig.”

  “Both of those aren’t great options.”

  “I disagree.” There was no way in hell I was going nothing. That wasn’t an option. Lexie would be justly represented. No one fucked with my fiancé and got away with it.

  “You can always hurt someone without touching them,” Dad noted.

  “Not nearly as satisfying.”

  “Not if you do it right.” He leaned back in the chair and took another sip of his coffee.

  “Maybe I should hire someone to jump both of them. I can’t be sued for that.”

  “Still not satisfying enough—and it’s cowardly. Lexie is your wife. You need to handle it yourself.”

  “I know.” And I would. I’d just have to figure it out. I wish I wasn’t the CEO of an empire. I’d have nothing to lose and could beat the shit out of that guy without any serious repercussions. I could sit in jail for a few months, but that was nothing I couldn’t handle.