Twisted Together (Monsters in the Dark #3)(90)

"Merci." I grabbed Tess's hand, dragging her away from the sterile first impression of the manager's level. The only things visible were Helen's desk, a large matching mosaic sparrow behind her, and some comfy chairs in the adjoining room for early appointments to wait.

Tess tugged on my hand as I strode through the floor, nodding at passing workers. I didn't have a fucking clue who they were. I only needed to know the top of commands; the rest of the workforce was their problem.

"We're not going to your office?" Tess asked, dodging a woman carrying an armful of files. Her eyes danced around the floor, taking in the large windows that let washes of natural light and the amazing view of Paris inside. Plants and paraphernalia gave the place a homely feel. No partitions separated workers-everyone had free reign on where they wanted their desk to be. Some were clumped together in a circle, others with lined up neatly. But all surrounded a large break area with a big TV, gourmet coffee and food, and a fulltime masseuse to work out any kinks.

"We can't," I said.

"Why not?"

"It's gone." I waved back at a man I distantly remembered, who'd helped with a local merger. Frederick's office was at the end, next to mine-or rather my temporary one.

"Gone?"

I looked into her blue-grey eyes-looking more grey thanks to the colour of her jumper. "You seriously didn't think I'd be able to let it stay standing after what happened."

Tess shook her head. "You destroyed it?"

I nodded. Just like the room where I'd let her hit and scar me. It was demolished. Forever. Good fucking riddance.

The moment I saw her hair on the bathroom floor and the empty syringe, I knew I couldn't let the diabolical thing remain. It was empty rubble up there now. "I'll convert it to a helipad eventually, but right now, the birds can have it."

She pulled on my hand, yanking me to a stop. Her eyes locked onto mine. "Thank you."

My forehead furrowed. "For what?"

"For getting rid of it. I can handle a lot of things but I don't think I could've stepped foot in that space again."

I looked around to see if people were watching. People pretended to be busy, but I knew we were the entertainment. But-oh, fuck it. I dragged her close and kissed her. Her fingers squeezed my chest. Pulling back, I whispered, "Don't you think I know that?"

Stepping back, I added, "And I didn't do it just for you, Tess. I couldn't go back there either. I would rather my entire company came crashing down than ever go back into a room where I failed to protect you."



       
         
       
        

Tess's eyes swam; her cheeks pinked as she blushed. Blushed? What the hell was she blushing about? I'd had her hanging upside down with my tongue as far as it could go inside her while I drove my cock into her mouth. That was blush-worthy. Having me admit I tore down an office in her honour was not.

"You're far too good to me."

I shook my head, hating the twisting in my gut. I wasn't. I was the opposite. Complete fucking opposite.

She lowered her voice. "Q … I've been so wrapped up in me, I haven't asked what's going on with your business. Did everything that happen ruin your company's reputation?" Her shoulders stiffened. "I didn't cost you your livelihood, did I?"

Before worry could consume her, I grabbed her chin. "Now is not the time to talk about it, but no. It didn't." I placed my hand on her lower back, pushing her the remaining distance to Frederick's office. If she started asking questions about my unspoken hobby, I didn't want it to be on the busy floor with overeager ears.

Little did she know that yes, what I'd done had gotten out. And no, it hadn't ruined my image. In fact-I couldn't quite believe what was happening. Another reason why I needed to talk to Roux.

Arriving at his door, I rapped my knuckles against the frosted glass. I kept telling him he needed a receptionist, but I suppose he'd taken my job while I focused on Tess, and Helen worked for him now.

Frederick opened the door with his back to us. His hair wasn't its usual perfectly slicked style, seeing as one hand was lodged in the strands. His attire of understated three-piece navy suit with elegant purple tie made me very aware I wasn't exactly dressed to impress.

I missed wearing a tailored wardrobe-but I didn't miss why I wasn't wearing them-I'd much rather be bone-fucking-naked if it meant I could ravage Tess twenty-four-seven.

His voice raised in a French curse as he removed the Bluetooth headset from his ear, spinning to confront us. His face, with its perfect skin and manicured eyebrows, looked about twenty years old not thirty.