Devotion (The Seductors Series Book 3) (5 page)

“Yes,” he replied calmly. “If you’ve flown all this way just to see if I’ve made a decision, you’ve wasted your time. I haven’t come to a conclusion yet.”

“Oliver, Dylan isn’t stupid. He knows something is going on, and I can’t keep lying to him. We wouldn’t have even
made
this core if it wasn’t for his help in the early stages of development!”  

“This isn’t something we can just throw into the world, Macy! You may have designed this core, but I
own
it! I’m not sure the world is ready for this level of energy. We’ve already been through this!”

“You also told me not to tell a soul, yet you confide in
her
!” Macy sneered toward me.

“That is my given right! It’s
my
power core! Jade isn’t just anyone, either. I trust her with my life!” I wasn’t sure if I needed to step in and defuse the situation, so I remained silent.

“I need an answer, Oliver. You can’t keep me hanging like this. It isn’t fair.”

“I know,” he sighed, running his hands through his hair. “I just need a little more time.”

“You have until next week.”

“You have no right to give him a deadline!” I finally snapped. “Oliver will make his choice when he is good and ready!”

“Don’t try and pretend you fit into
this
world, little girl,” Macy goaded. “You have no idea what you are getting involved in! You should stick to just typing emails.” I had to hold myself back before I broke character completely.  

“Macy, I suggest you leave my office right now before we both say things we’ll regret!” Oliver was furious, I could tell by the tone in his voice. “I mean it!” he threatened as she stood there pleading with him using her eyes. At his last warning she stormed off, slamming his door behind her.

“Well, that was a great way to start off my birthday week,” Oliver chuckled. “I wonder what tomorrow will bring.”

“How can you be so calm?”

“What other choice do I have?” he shrugged. “Macy can’t do anything. I own the core.”

“Have you made any kind of decision yet?”

“I’m swaying more to burying it. It will get misused or stolen if I don’t. Right now, with the way warfare is, its release would do more harm than good.”

“So you’d destroy everything? The core
and
the research?”

“Yes, it’s the only way. I don’t want it falling into the wrong hands, and it would be too much to ask Macy to hold onto the research. It would make her a target.” I could feel my palms begin to sweat. Why did he have to use the word
target
?

“You shouldn’t be worrying about this anyway. It’s your birthday tomorrow,” I beamed, sliding onto his lap.

“You mean I can finally fuck you on this desk?”

“Is that all you care about?” I slapped his chest playfully.

“You know it’s not, but I have to admit, I’m really looking forward to it.”

“You’re unbelievable,” I laughed, kissing him softly.

“I don’t want Alicia to come back next week,” he breathed against my lips. “I’m too used to having you around all the time.”

“But now that I’ve moved in with you, I’ll be there every night when you get home. Isn’t that how couples are supposed to be?” Oliver nodded, but he was still pouting. “You can keep thinking about taking me on your desk once she’s is back. You will have done it by then,” I whispered in his ear.

“Shit, you can’t say stuff like that!”

“Why? You say stuff like that to me all the time and I have to deal with it.”

“I make you horny at work?”

“Daily,” I teased, knowing it would drive him crazy.

“We need to change this conversation, Beautiful. My cock can only take so much teasing.”

“Shall we go back to these figures?”

“I think that’s for the best,” he smirked as I slid off his lap, noticing his pants were already bulging. Some things would never change.

“Are you sure the
power core hasn’t been advanced?” Sonia asked one more time. “We need to be sure before we steal the prototype.”

“The core is volatile. It keeps burning out. I’ve checked all the laboratories—this is the most advanced core they have,” I lied. Now that I knew Oliver was destroying the real
power core, I could put my plan into action to keep him and the real core out of harms way.  

“Alicia can double check when she is back next week. I’m sure she’ll be able to get close to Dr. Reynolds and extract any other information he might be hiding.”

“You think I’m lying?”

“No, but we need to be sure. Jade, you know what this mission means to us. I’ll need you back at headquarters so we can plan the steal and your fake kidnapping. It will be easier to do it all at once. You and Alicia will need to work out how to gain access to the
power core before you come, though.”  

“I’ve already worked that out. All we’ll need is Oliver’s
pass card to gain access into the laboratory and the code to unlock the power core from its case. I know he has one of the keys, and I’m guessing that Macy or Dr. Reynolds has the other. I’ll be able to work out the codes, too. Oliver uses memorable birthdays most of the time. Oh, and Miles will need to create a carrying case for the core—something made from steel for safety reasons.”

“It seems I’ve underestimated you, Jade.”

“I told you I would complete this mission. I have too much at stake.”

“Okay, I’ll start the preparations for the steal. It will only take a matter of weeks to arrange.” I couldn’t find the words to respond.

“I’m proud of you, Jade. I know this can’t have been easy. I’ll be in touch soon.” I was glad she hung up before I needed to speak, because I was only barely able to catch the low sobs as they hit my chest.

How was I going to say goodbye to Oliver? My heart wouldn’t be able to stand it. I wasn’t going to worry about that right now, though. It was his birthday tomorrow and I planned on making it as memorable as possible. It would be the last time I’d get to spend with him for a while, after all. I had to fight the fear that it might actually be the last I’d ever spend with him.

“How’s your breakfast, Birthday Boy?” I smirked over the table.

“I’m still trying to get over my wake up call.” He choked a little on his eggs and bacon that I’d made. Mrs. Davis was willing to take a step back from her duties today so I could spoil him.

“You liked that, huh?”

“Waking up with your mouth wrapped around my cock? Umm…yeah. I liked that
a lot
!” I giggled into my coffee mug. That was just the beginning of his surprises today.

“You’ll get your gift after work.”

“You mean there’s more?”

“Oh, much more,” I grinned.
 “I’ll need to leave work early, though, to get it ready.”

“As long as I’ve had you on my desk, I can live with that.”

“Is that all you can think about?”

“That and the fact that I get to spend my birthday with my beautiful girlfriend. I stopped celebrating my birthday when my father got sick. It just wasn’t the same.”

“That’s kind of sad, but I can understand why. I’m the same way with mine.”

“Well, I’ll be able to make your day perfect, too, when it comes.” I tried to stop the smile from falling off my face. My birthday was months away, and I knew for a fact that I wouldn’t be with him then. “I missed your last birthday, right? It was when…when you…” He trailed off, unable to finish his thought. I nodded, giving him a half smile. “That means you’ll get double the gifts next time.”

“We need to think about getting ready for work or you’ll be late.”

“I’m the boss. I’m allowed to be an hour late on my birthday.”

“Not when you have an overseas conference call at nine,” I chuckled. “Come on. I’ll even scrub your back in the shower if you want.”

“What about the front?” He was such a guy.

“I’ll do the front, too.” I shook my head as I followed him upstairs.

The morning went quickly. Oliver’s conference call ran over, so we didn’t get chance for lunch, which made him a little crabby. Every
time he tried to get me alone in his office, someone called or arrived to see him. I thought it was hilarious, to be honest, especially when I told him I was wearing stockings and a garter belt.

“If I didn’t know you so well, I’d say you planned this,” he mused as I transfer
red another call to him.

“It’s not my fault everyone wants to wish you a happy birthday,” I pointed out with an apologetic look. He grumbled something under his breath before taking the call. I brought him a coffee just as he hung up.

“Lock my office door, Jade. I’m about to burst if I don’t have you soon!”

“But you have a meeting in fifteen minutes.”

“That’s all the time I’ll need, trust me,” he begged. I tried to hold my giggle in. Oliver was well and truly worked up. I walked toward the door and was just about to close it when Sylvia appeared.

“Mr. Kirkham, your appointment has arrived early,” she called. Poor Oliver. It looked like he’d have to wait a little longer.
  

 
 The rest of the day was much the same. Every time Oliver thought we were finally alone, we got interrupted.

“I need to head back to the apartment to get your gift ready,” I sighed, handing him some files.

“But I haven’t had my other gift yet.”

“There will be plenty of time for that tonight.”

“But it won’t be on this desk. You said I only get that right on my birthday, and I don’t want to wait another year.”

“We’ll have to drop by one weekend when we’re not working then,” I grinned, leaning in to peck his lips. It was only supposed to be a chaste kiss, but Oliver surprised me by pulling me onto his lap.

“I could take you right now,” he purred, his hand running up my skirt.

“The door is open,” I gasped, slapping his hand away.

“Do you really think that would stop me?” I knew it wouldn’t, but I really needed to get back to the apartment. I had a lot to do before he got back.

“Surely you can wait a few hours?”

“Okay, go and get my surprise ready. What time do I need to be home?”

“No earlier than six. I need time to get it all ready,” I beamed, kissing him passionately. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, Beautiful,” he sighed, stroking my face.

“Thank you for all your help, Mrs. Davis,” I stressed. “I’m not sure I would have gotten all of this done without you.”

“It’s my pleasure. Oliver hasn’t celebrated his birthday in such a long time. It’s wonderful to finally do something.”

“I hope he likes it. I mean, what do you give the man that has everything?”

“He’ll love it because it’s from you,” she smiled, touching my face. “Well, I better leave you to it. I’m staying with my sister tonight.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I thought you’d like the apartment to yourself. I know you’ll look after Oliver. You have everything covered,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

I needed to get dressed; I was only in my black silk robe and sexy red underwear, but I still had half an hour until Oliver would be back. After setting the table outside, I lit all the tiny candles that lined the pathway to the balcony.

I was half way up the staircase when I heard the door open and close.
Damn Oliver!
He was early!

“Didn’t you listen to me earlier?” I huffed, crossing my arms as I turned to face him.

“I didn’t want to wait any longer.” His eyes began to roam over my body. He had a way of making me feel naked even when I was fully dressed.   

“Now, I have no idea if you’re talking about your surprise or me,” I giggled as he began to slowly stalk toward me one step at a time.

“Jade, you know it’s always you I want—the surprise can wait.” That familiar ache between my legs began to burn.

“We can’t. I’ve already made dinner. If we don’t eat now, it will be ruined.”

“You’ve made me wait all day, and you know the things that I can do to you on this staircase.” Oliver didn’t play fair!

“I know it’s your birthday, but please let me do this for you. I just need to quickly get dressed and then we can eat. After that, you can do whatever you want to me.”

He was now on the same step as me, his breath on my neck as he pulled me toward him. “I’ll agree on one condition,” he whispered, opening my robe a little to expose my red bra. “You don’t get dressed. I love you like this, in silk and sexy red underwear.”

“Deal.” I pecked his lips before sliding out of his arms. “You might as well slip into something more comfortable, too. Mrs
. Davis is out for the evening so we have the place to ourselves.”

“Mmm, you have thought of everything,” he mused before heading upstairs.

I was turning the steaks over when Oliver came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

“You smell so good,” he purred, kissing down my neck. “So what are we having for dinner?”

“Steak with a peppercorn sauce, served with fancy, twice baked potatoes and vegetables.”

“Twice baked potatoes?” he chuckled. “What’s that?”

“It’s an English recipe that goes great with steak.” I turned around, wrapping my arms around his neck while taking him in. He was only in sweats and a T-shirt, but he’d never looked sexier. “You can open your gift now if you want. The food will be another ten minutes.”

“You didn’t have to get my anything, Beautiful. This is enough,” he sighed, rubbing his nose against mine before capturing my lips with his.

“It isn’t much,” I breathed against his mouth. When I led Oliver outside, he smiled at all the tiny lights that lit the night.

“You’ve really been busy, huh?” he mused, taking in the table outside that I’d set for us.

“Mrs. Davis helped a little, but I wanted to make it special for you.” Stretching, I picked up his gift, suddenly worried about whether or not he was going to like it. “I hope you like it.”

“I know I will,” he smiled. “I’m guessing it’s a painting?” The gift was a little obvious, but the painting itself was a powerful piece and had a hidden meaning. It expressed what he meant to me, and I was afraid he might not see that. “Wow, Jade,” he gasped, studying it. “I love it. It’s a very sexual, yet loving piece.”