Next to Always: Shattered Innocence Trilogy Book Two (26 page)

Dylan pushed away from her desk and headed out of her office to the conference room. It was no surprise that Rade was on her heels. If he wanted to play this game with her, let him. It was bad enough having Richard follow her around like a lost puppy, but to have Rade guarding her was unbearable. Being distracted was the last thing she needed. It was more than a distraction for her. He was beginning to have an effect on her womanhood.

Dylan should have known there was one purpose and one purpose only for the abrupt meeting. Nothing like being ambushed three to one. There could be only one reason for this meeting, and she knew Rade was behind it. By the time the meeting was over, Dylan was talked into to signing the proposal, but not under the original terms. She was thankful that she was able to convince them to drop her share of the company to ten percent, leaving Rade, Keeve and Mason with equal shares of the remaining ninety percent. Dylan also convinced them that they would all have equal say in the financial decision, but that Dylan would still be in charge of the finances. Even though Dylan was hesitant in signing the agreement, she knew she had to. By signing, it meant that she no longer had to work closely with Rade. It was what she wanted, after all, only now she wasn’t so sure.

After the meeting from hell, Dylan was glad to see it was five o’clock. Gathering her things, she turned off the lights in her office and headed down the hall. Rade was talking to Jessica and Lucy. She never saw anything more disgusting than the way those two were throwing themselves at him. Dylan felt a ping of jealousy when she saw Jessica rub her hand up and down his arm as they all laughed together. Ignoring her feelings, Dylan walked past them, trying to hide her reaction to their display. Rade turned his head towards her as he saw her face when the elevator door was about to close. With a quick, “Gotta go,” he sprinted to the elevator door and placed his hand between the doors, and then willed them stop from closing. Entering the car, he took his place beside Dylan and gently clasped her hand with his. He knew what she was thinking and he felt like an ass for what he just did. Lifting her hand, he brought it to his lips and softly kissed it. Dylan just looked at him without a word. He wasn’t going to have this effect on her. Caught off guard, she pulled her hand from his and crossed both arms across her chest, signaling her discomfort.

*****

The ride to her apartment was silent and awkward. Sitting beside Rade with no words between them was hard enough, but to have actual contact, innocent as it was, was pure torture. Dylan was relieved when her apartment building came into view. Richard pulled the Bentley to the curb. Dylan needed to escape fast. She didn’t wait for Richard to open her door. It was at that moment that she wished she lived in a secure building so she would be able to get away from Rade long enough to lock herself in her apartment. No sooner than she stepped out of the SUV, he was there right behind her.

As soon as they got off the elevator, Dylan made a beeline to her door. Her only hope was being able to get inside before Rade could follow her in. She thought she had cleared her entry until Rade’s expensive loafer stopped the door from closing. Since he was much stronger than her, Rade pushed his way into her apartment with little effort.

“Why can’t you just leave me alone, Rade? I don’t want you here,” Dylan cried.

“I’m not about to leave you alone, Sweetness,” Rade said firmly.

“Don’t call me that. Save your pet names for some other plaything,” Dylan shouted.

“Is that what you think, Sweetness, that you are my plaything?” Rade choked.

“I think you have made that perfectly clear. Now get out.”

“I’m not leaving.”

“Get the fuck out.”

“Not happening.”

Dylan saw the smirk on Rade’s face. It was like he was teasing her. She couldn’t handle it. Her anger took over, with her fist landing square against his cheek. She knew she nailed it because not only could she feel the pain in her hand, there was a small trickle of blood coming from his lip. She wasn’t as lucky with the next punch, because as soon as she let it fly, Rade’s hand was there to stop it. She wasn’t going to let him win. She still had another arm, she could swing and two legs. With everything she had, she kicked and punched him. Her assault was stopped short as Rade lifted her body effortlessly.

“Put me down. I hate you,” Dylan screamed.

Rade knew she didn’t hate him, because only days before she told him she was falling in love with him. Maybe he should let her hate him, then he wouldn’t have to break her heart. The problem with that theory was that he couldn’t. He would never be able to let her go.

Pushing the bedroom door open with his foot, Rade struggled to hold on to Dylan. Once he reached the bed, he placed her down as gently as he could, considering she was wiggling and thrashing to get free. Rade looked at her tear-soaked face. Just as she was ready to attack, he grabbed her arms and pulled her body to his. As mad as she was at him, he could still see the desire she had for him. Taking her by the back of her neck, he pulled her in for a kiss. There was resistance at first, but as soon as their lips met, she was all his. Her desire for him increased as her hands wrapped around his neck. Nothing and no one would ever stop the passion they shared together. Entangled as one, like the heat of an ember, waiting to be ignited. Rade placed his hands on her ass, lifting her from the bed. He couldn’t get enough of her. The ripping sounds of material filled the room as their clothing began to fly. Each kiss, every touch consumed them. Rade turned his body enough to allow him to sit on the bed with Dylan still in his arms. Her body was straddled across his lap. He could feel the heat radiating through the scrap of lace material that was covering her. Rade tenderly placed his hands on her breasts and caressed them between his fingers. Dylan’s back arched slightly and her head fell back when he began lightly pinching her nipples into taut peaks. Lowering his mouth, he took one of her breasts in his mouth, while caressing the other. Her skin was sweet with a hint of salt from her recent struggle. Gliding his hands down her silky body, he cupped her ass with one hand while grasping hold of the thin strap of her thong with the other. Giving in to the hunger for her, he wrapped the small strap around two fingers and pulled until the strap gave way and he was able to finish tearing her panties from her body.

There was nothing between them, only heated desire. Slipping his hand between her thighs, the energy that he felt earlier turned into an inferno as the wetness between her folds coated his fingers. Moving his mouth to her neck, trailing warm kisses along the way, Rade whispered, “Tell me how much you want me, Sweetness.” Dylan replaced his word with a kiss as she lowered her mouth to his. No words could describe how much she wanted him. Even as angry as she was, she could never be without him. Lifting her hips, Rade gently lowered her onto his cock, and with one thrust penetrated her channel. There was no gentleness this time with his movement, only the undying need to be inside her. “Oh God, Rade, I need you.” Dylan’s words broke with a sudden sensation. She was on the edge of her own release. Biting her lip, she tightened her walls around Rade’s shaft, hoping to take control of her release. Rade increased his movements as he pushed deeper and deeper inside her. With each thrust, her ability to hold her climax weakened until she could no longer refuse her body's desire to break. Screaming his name, “Rade, Rade, Rade,” over and over, her desire won. Rade’s submission to his own ecstasy wasn’t far behind as he pushed deeper inside her, hitting the point between pain and pleasure. Taking her in his arms, he captured her lips with such reverence that his control succumbed to his own need, taking him to euphoria.

CHAPTER TWENTY

“Can’t you do anything right? I ask you to do one simple thing,” Chloe hissed. “I can’t believe I trusted you to take care of her. Instead, you come back looking the way she should have.”

“We have a problem, Mistress. There was someone else in her apartment and it wasn’t Rade. I don’t know who he was, but he took me out like nothing,” Alex confessed.

“I don’t need your excuses. That bitch is still with Rade. I need her taken out of the picture. No more games. Do you understand? One more chance, pet. I don’t care how you do it,” Chloe scolded. “Now go to the play room and wait for your punishment.”

“But. Mistress,” Alex began.

“No buts, pet. Now go,” Chloe demanded.

Alex turned on his heels and went to the playroom. He had no desire to piss off Chloe. He knew how ruthless she could be. He owed her everything. He was at the end of his rope when she took him in. His father disowned him when he was only fifteen. He didn’t know that the man he got a part-time job with was his father’s worst enemy. Alex tried everything he could to win his father’s trust, but he wouldn’t give in to him. This left him alone and homeless. Then Chloe came along and took him in, trained him to be her submissive. She was eight years older than him, but she treated him like a man who only belonged to her. She gave him the love and affection he lost when his father threw him in the streets. Alex knew he needed to do right by her. He knew what had to be done.

*****

Rade was up and ready to go by seven o’clock. He requested Richard stop by the penthouse with a change of clothing before he picked them up. Dylan was still asleep when he arrived. He wanted her to sleep in because of the late night. She didn’t have to be to work until eight-thirty. Checking in on her, he could see the bed was empty. He could hear the water running in the bathroom, which alerted him that she was up and showering. He also noticed that she had her outfit that she planned to wear to work laid out on the bed. Rade wasn’t too impressed with her choice of attire, so he rummaged through her closet and picked out something more preferable. He wished that she would take the clothing she left behind at his penthouse. It was, after all, hers. Walking to the bed, he exchanged her selection with a black pencil shirt, emerald blouse, and black stiletto heels. He would have preferred something in red, but her current wardrobe didn’t have anything in red. It was definitely in need of an overhaul.

Rade heard the water turn off and decided that was his cue to make his escape. Opening the door to the bathroom, Dylan saw the clothing lying on her bed. She smiled, knowing it was not the outfit she initially chose. She had to admit that Rade did have an eye for putting things together when it came to clothing. Dressed and ready, Dylan stepped out of her room. Rade was standing in the kitchen wearing a dark gray suit, a black and gray striped tie, and a crisp white shirt. He looked perfect, powerful and in control. Dylan would never get enough of him.

“Good morning, Sweetness. I hope you slept well,” Rade asked.

“Very well, thank you. I just need coffee,” Dylan replied.

“I asked Richard to pick some up. He should be here right about now,” Rade said as he looked at his watch.”We need to go if you don’t want to be late.”

Dylan grabbed her purse and followed Rade out of her apartment, making sure the door was locked before they left. Just as Rade said, Richard was waiting out front of her apartment building, holding her favorite vanilla latte in a tall Starbucks cup along with a huge blueberry muffin. “You’re an angel,” she said as she placed a soft kiss on Richard’s cheek.

Rade just rolled his eyes at Richard as he slid into the back seat with his own Americana in hand. If Dylan didn’t know better she would have said,
“This is better than sex.”
Only she knew nothing could top sex with Rade. Dylan barely finished her muffin when Richard pulled in front of her office building. She was just about to say goodbye to Rade when he stepped out with her.

“You don’t need to walk me in,” Dylan stated.

“Actually, I’m meeting with Keeve and Mason this morning,” Rade declared.

Dylan wondered what the meeting was about, since everything was laid out the day before. Instead of asking she let it go. Dylan and Rade entered the elevator, when Dylan thought it was a perfect time to ask Rade about Evan.

“Have you decided what you’re going to do about Evan since you know he’s your brother?” Dylan inquired.

“Half-brother and I’m not going to do anything. The last thing I need is one more thing to worry about,” Rade replied

“How can you say that, Rade?” Dylan questioned. “If I knew I had a brother out there, I would make every effort to meet him.”

“Well, you don’t, so you need not worry about it,” Rade shot back sternly.

Dylan looked over at him, not believing he could be so sweet in one breath and such an ass in the next. Crossing her arms, she diverted her eyes to the steel door, keeping her remarks to herself. When the doors opened, Dylan exited first, not waiting for Rade to escort her off. Jessica and Lucy right away greeted Rade without even acknowledging that Dylan was standing a few feet in front of him. She would never get used to seeing the effect that Rade had on other women. Ignoring them, she headed to the breakroom to grab another coffee.

Alex was already setting up the coffee pot. It was one of those large percolators that made at least fifty cups at one time.

“Hey, Alex,” Dylan greeted him.

“Hey, Chica,” Alex said happily.

Without fail, Alex was his usual perky self. Dylan would give anything to be that happy every day. Looking at him, Dylan couldn’t get over how badly he looked. Someone really did a number on him. She wished she knew who it was. She would give him a piece of her mind.